New Year’s Eve

"That's definitely not feasible."

"oh?"

Emperor Hongwen and Prime Minister Dong never expected that Lu Yaoyao would answer so directly.

"Princess, isn't this right? An alliance means peace to us. This can be considered a good thing."

Wen Xiang said.

"Peace is naturally a good thing, but do you think Xirong came here just to seek peace with Dongzhou?"

"this"

Obviously it's impossible.

"Their purpose of coming is nothing more than to drag us, Dongzhou, into the water."

"At the same time, we are also afraid that we will cause trouble at this time. After all, they have been causing trouble at the border in recent years."

"If we take action at this time, they will face great pressure from both countries alone."

"By bringing Dongzhou together, we can first ensure that we will not face the attack from the two countries, and we can also use the grievances between Dongzhou and Beichu to divert the flames of war."

The three of them nodded in succession.

"Of course, in addition to these, there is a more important point. Xirong came to ask for help and formed an alliance. In what way?"

"Pay tribute?"

"It's impossible to pay tribute."

The three of them shook their heads.

"Then let's talk about what kind of value Xirong can bring to us to form an alliance. We can't just say a word from him and we will agree to form an alliance, right?"

"We have to be clear that Xirong is begging us, not us begging him."

"His Majesty also said just now that the situation in Xirong this year is similar to ours, and you should all know how much we have consumed after these major disasters."

"What about Xirong? They are a nomadic nation, and their national strength is relatively weaker than ours. It can be seen from their situation of knocking on the border over the years that they will have periods of drought."

"There are times like this every year, and this year's situation is like this. How much do you think they can come up with?"

The three people opposite were silent. After thinking about it carefully, they felt that Lu Yaoyao's statement made sense.

"The three of us have always thought about things from the perspective of the country. I am, to put it bluntly, a businessman."

"The alliance between the two countries can be regarded as a commercial cooperation. Since Xirong wants to get it, it must pay the same value. In the current situation, it is obvious that they cannot come up with a suitable price. For us, the alliance is so

It’s a loss-making business.”

"It makes sense to say that, you girl, you are quite shrewd in doing business at such a young age."

Emperor Hongwen looked at Lu Yaoyao with a smile.

Regarding Lu Yaoyao's words, he felt that they made sense.

"Then what method does the princess think Xirong will use to form an alliance?"

"Is it even necessary to think about it?"

"Since you can't take anything away, let's take people."

"You mean marriage?"

Lu Yaoyao smiled and nodded.

Then he looked at Emperor Hongwen and joked: "Your Majesty, it seems that he will be blessed soon."

"Go, go, you girl dare to say anything."

Emperor Hongwen glared at her angrily.

Prime Minister Wen and Prime Minister Dong looked at Lu Yaoyao in astonishment.

Princess Wanfu was really bold. She actually dared to tease His Majesty like this. What shocked them even more was that Emperor Hongwen was not angry at all.

"Wang De, please go to the imperial dining room and prepare the hot pot. Today I will leave Wanfu to have dinner in the palace."

Wang De responded quickly, and just as he was about to retreat, Emperor Hongwen spoke again: "Send to Fengqi Palace, and talk to the Queen by the way, and have a meal together."

"Your Majesty, I will leave now."

Emperor Hongwen only said to keep Princess Wanfu, but not them. Moreover, they were still in Fengqi Palace, and the two of them were very knowledgeable.

"Um."

Soon Wen and Xiang left the imperial study.

"Let's go to Fengqi Palace. I haven't played mahjong with you yet. I just don't have any official business today."

Naturally, Lu Yaoyao couldn't say anything about Emperor Hongwen's arrangements.

I followed him to Fengqi Palace. The palace had already received the news, and I didn't expect to see the two of them coming so quickly.

After hearing that Emperor Hongwen was going to play mahjong, she immediately sent someone to call Concubine De.

Lu Yaoyao was brought to the palace for dinner before leaving.

After returning to Lu Mansion, she didn't go out again.

As time passed, it was the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, and everyone in the Lu family began to prepare for the New Year.

Lu Yaoyao also received a message from the palace two days ago.

She had to go to the palace to attend the New Year's Eve banquet.

In the past few days, Xirong's envoys have also arrived in the capital.

Emperor Hongwen briefly received him, and the other party had not yet explained their purpose of coming. They would also attend this New Year's Eve banquet.

"Since Yao Yao is going to attend the palace banquet, let's make our New Year's Eve dinner a little earlier."

"Second brother, go outside the city and invite all your uncles over."

On New Year's Eve, at ten o'clock at noon, the Lu family courtyard was bustling with activity.

"Our Lu family has changed a lot this year, and it's getting better and better. It's all because of Yao Yao."

"The heads of each family are here today, so I will say a few more words."

"The capital is not as good as Jiangdong. Although Yao Yao's current status and abilities are extraordinary, we cannot act recklessly based on her status."

"Do business in peace and make money, and avoid causing trouble."

Everyone responded one after another.

"We don't cause trouble, but if someone provokes us, don't let us be bullied, just come and tell me."

Lu Yaoyao also spoke.

Everyone smiled, nodded, and gave a few compliments.

After lunch, the family sat together, drank tea, played chess and mahjong, and had a great time.

Lu Yaoyao also liked this kind of atmosphere. In the past years in Dongzhou, except for the lively New Year celebrations when she was a child, she was basically alone, celebrating the New Year with the autumn rain and autumn frost.

Such a lively scene this year reminded her of some New Year events in her previous life.

"What are you thinking about? It's time for you to draw the card."

On the mahjong table, Lu Mingxi stretched out his hand and waved it in front of Lu Yaoyao.

"Ah, I didn't think about anything. I just feel like I'm having a good year this year."

Hearing this, Yuanshi, Zhaoshi, and Lu Mingxi, who were at the same table, all looked at her, with distressed expressions in their eyes.

"You have suffered a lot these years."

"But it's all over. From now on we will have such a lively life every year."

"Um."

Lu Yaoyao smiled and nodded.

"By the way, cousin, how is Wu Jun doing lately? How is he doing at the Imperial College?"

Hearing her mention Wu Jun, Lu Mingxi's pretty face immediately turned red.

He said in a small voice, "It's all good. He even said before that he would come over and thank you properly."

"I don't really need to thank you or anything like that. As long as he treats you well in the future, I haven't helped the wrong person."

"Cousin. You."

Lu Mingxi's face turned redder.

"By the way, auntie, do we have to find a time to book cousin and Wu Jun's marriage in advance?"

"Well, I have already discussed it with your uncle and grandpa. After the Chinese New Year, I will find a time to invite Wu Jun to come over and discuss it."
Chapter completed!