Chapter 31: The Rebirth of Zhao (4)
"What is the main business of the Han Kingdom?"
Zhao Ziheng suddenly spoke not about what the ministers were discussing, but about the business of the Han State?
"It's food, Your Majesty—"
An official from the Ministry of Revenue quickly replied.
"...Summon the Han envoys and have the Ministry of Revenue quickly draft the losses that the Han should bear this time. They must mention that after establishing trade with our Great Zhao, the price of grain will be reduced to 50% of the original price within two years, and the price of other items will be 70% of the original price. After our Zhao economy recovers in two years, the price will be adjusted back to the original price to grant the newly issued policy rights. Remember to trade with our country at twice the original volume, and pay tribute to our Zhao country every harvest season according to the annual sales volume."
"yes!"
Zhao Ziheng made a decision quickly, and the ministers were suddenly speechless.
" Your Majesty, are you planning to—"
A minister looked at Zhao Ziheng in astonishment, not daring to speak directly...
"Since there is a great opportunity, why not take advantage of it? If the King of Han really dotes on this Princess Quan, then this should not be a big deal to him. Since they dare to challenge the authority of our Great Zhao, let them bow down to us forever—"
To the ministers, Zhao Ziheng's words seemed a little cold-blooded, but there were countless alliances between countries through marriage, and they were all using each other. But when they heard what Zhao Ziheng said, they still felt a little disheartened.
"Let's stop here today. Please report the rest of the discussions in the form of memorials."
"yes!"
The court meeting ended just like that.
Afterwards, Zhao Ziheng met with the Han envoy and conveyed the decision and the document with his imperial seal to the Han envoy. The Han envoy knew the seriousness of the matter and immediately set off to return to the Han Kingdom...
Speaking of which, Zhao Ziheng had been busy with government affairs and restoration work, and had never visited Princess Quan. He had only seen her once on the way to the capital, and that was through a gauze curtain. If the Han Kingdom was to be vassal, Princess Quan must stay in Zhao. The grain industry of the Han Kingdom would be of great help to the recovery of Zhao. Since he was going to marry her, Zhao Ziheng felt it necessary to see Princess Quan again before that, so he went to the detached palace [Ziqiong Palace] in the harem where Princess Quan was accommodated.
Although [Ziqiong Palace] is located in the harem, it is slightly more remote than other palaces, and there are fewer people coming and going. It is used as a place for house arrest and accommodation of Princess Quan. There are imperial guards guarding outside the palace. After all, Princess Quan is an important figure to the Han Kingdom, and treating her well is a must, but she should not be set free easily.
"A little higher—"
“Yes, yes—”
Three figures were making small movements beside the tree against the wall in the palace. A woman in light blue was stepping on a woman in pink, and another woman in pink was supporting the woman in light blue. It seemed that the woman in light blue wanted to climb the tree? The three of them were sneaky, and no one in the huge palace came to stop them.
"I asked you to come up a little bit—"
"yes--"
When the pink-dressed woman on tiptoe struggled to lift the woman on her back, finally with her efforts the woman climbed up the tree.
"Hey, this is not easy——"
The woman in light blue clothes climbed up the tree branch with great effort and was adjusting her posture.
"Princess, be careful—"
The woman in pink who had supported the woman in light blue shouted anxiously, and another woman in pink also got up from the ground.
"There's nothing to worry about once you've climbed up—"
It turned out that the woman in light blue was Princess Quan. She bent over the branch and prepared to stand up. She didn't realize that she was stepping on a belt. When she just straightened her waist, the belt under her feet started to work...
"ah--"
"Princess--"
Princess Quan was tripped by the belt under her feet, and she fell from the branch. This sudden scene made the two maids at a loss, not knowing what to do. At this moment, a figure appeared and caught the falling Princess Quan...
I thought it would be painful to fall from such a high place, but I didn't feel any pain at all, and my body seemed to be floating in the air? So I opened my eyes: Zhao Ziheng's haggard face, different from the sloppy look of other bearded men, Zhao Ziheng with a beard can be said to be more charming, coupled with his original handsome appearance, and his deep eyes with a little melancholy...
"you--"
Princess Quan, who was not so attracted by Zhao Ziheng's appearance that she forgot herself, spoke in surprise. Zhao Ziheng looked at Princess Quan in his arms, her silky hair sliding down his arms, her soft and light body. He didn't know what words to use to describe her. Bright eyes, white teeth, skin like cream, willow-leaf curved eyebrows, icy skin and jade-like bones were not enough to fully describe her beauty, especially her black and bright eyes that seemed to be able to speak. If Zhao Ziheng had not already had someone in his heart, he would definitely fall in love with her at first sight...
"What are you doing?"
Facing such a beautiful lady with unrivalled beauty, Zhao Ziheng asked Princess Quan questions without showing any emotion.
"I--"
Because she felt guilty, Princess Quan didn't dare to look directly at Zhao Ziheng. More importantly, she didn't want Zhao Ziheng to see her shy face...
"What?"
Zhao Ziheng knew that physical contact between men and women was not appropriate, so he put Princess Quan down. Her body was so light that he could not feel its weight.
"I just wanted to look up the tree and see the view—"
She found an excuse to put Zhao Ziheng off. At this moment, she felt her heart beating faster. She shyly walked to the two maids and hid her face, as if she was afraid of being seen...
"oh?"
Zhao Ziheng looked at Princess Quan's strange behavior with half belief and half doubt. Although he couldn't say that he believed it, he thought that she would not do anything stupid. But she behaved strangely and deliberately avoided him. Was she hiding something?
"But you, who are you? Why are you here?"
Since she moved into the Ziqiong Palace, no one had ever stepped into it except for the palace maids who brought food and drinks. There had always been only her and her two maids here. Princess Quan would of course be curious about the first visitor, and a man at that.
"I am Zhao Ziheng!"
Zhao Ziheng, who seldom wore dragon robes, naturally told Princess Quan his name.
"What--"
Princess Quan, who was shy just now, turned around and looked at Zhao Ziheng when she heard his name. Although she had seen him once before, she could not see his appearance clearly through the gauze curtain. The two maids had never seen him before and of course did not know him. No one would have thought that Zhao Ziheng would come alone. Thinking that it was Zhao Ziheng's idea to lock her up here, she developed a good impression of Zhao Ziheng whom she met for the first time. This made Princess Quan suddenly have mixed feelings and she didn't know what to say.
