Traveling through the busy farmland of a peasant girl

Chapter 340 Nangong Zhaolie's Worries

As the lights came on, the banquet hall was brightly lit, and the carved beams and painted buildings looked even more magnificent under the candlelight.

After Nangong Qi finished his dinner, he looked a little tired because of the heavy topic at the table. He had no extra interest in talking to Shen Li, so he waved his hand and calmly instructed the palace maids and attendants beside him: "Send Princess Fuxi, Xuanfeng Sanren, and Master Su back to their residence and take good care of them."

The palace maids and attendants quickly agreed and respectfully led Shen Li and his group out of the banquet hall.

Elsewhere in the palace, Xiqi Emperor Nangong Zhaolie was sitting upright on a carved pearwood chair. His bright yellow uniform embroidered with a six-clawed dragon pattern gleamed in the flickering candlelight. The dragon pattern seemed alive, baring its fangs and claws, demonstrating the emperor's majesty.

At this moment, his face was filled with astonishment. His eyes were fixed on the young eunuch Guo Zheng who was kneeling before him. He asked in a low and anxious voice, "Did the Fuxi County Master of Beichen Kingdom really say that?"

Guo Zheng was so frightened that beads of sweat covered his forehead. He fell to the ground, his body trembling slightly. After hearing the emperor's question, he kowtowed again and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I dare not lie. Every word was spoken by Shen Li herself. I have a good memory and I would never make a mistake."

Nangong Zhaolie narrowed his eyes slightly and thought to himself.

He knew Guo Zheng's abilities very well. It was precisely because this person had a photographic memory and was good at learning to interpret people's words and expressions and then repeating them one by one that he specially promoted him to be by the side of the prince. This was so that he could know the people and things around the prince at any time so that he could accurately control the situation and analyze the pros and cons.

Now, after hearing Guo Zheng's reply, his heart couldn't help but ripples, and he became even more curious about the Fuxi County Lady of Beichen Kingdom.

Nangong Zhaolie walked slowly in the palace with his hands behind his back. His figure looked somewhat solemn under the flickering candlelight.

He pondered for a long moment, then suddenly threw back his head and burst into laughter. His laughter was hearty and joyful, echoing throughout the empty palace: "That's great! That's great!"

As his laughter died down, he narrowed his eyes slightly, a complex light flickering in them, and continued, "I originally thought my son's experience in Beichen was just a casual affair, that he'd met a vixen who was adept at clinging to the rich and powerful, and even turned against me for her. I never expected that this Fuxi County Lady would be so talented."

As he spoke, he slapped the table beside him with a smile, causing the tea set on the table to sway slightly. He smiled and said, "My son's vision is as good as mine. He didn't choose the wrong person. This woman is indeed worthy of being Qi'er's Crown Princess!"

Guo Zheng had been kneeling on the ground. He carefully raised his head and listened attentively to every word of the emperor. He did not dare to miss a word, for fear of accidentally angering him.

But in the blink of an eye, Nangong Zhaolie's expression changed again. He frowned and muttered to himself, "What a pity! She belongs to Beichen and was even made a county lord by Xuan Ye. I believe she must have a very important position in Beichen. Xuan Ye will definitely not let such a talent go easily."

Seeing the emperor lost in thought, Guo Zheng hesitated for a moment before speaking respectfully, "Your Majesty, you've forgotten that her master is none other than the renowned Xuanfeng Sanren. I heard that the high-yield grain seeds, the rain-making method, the movable type printing technique, and other methods that benefit the people were all contributed by the county lady!"

He paused, as if mustering up courage, and continued, "Moreover, that Xuanfeng Sanren came with County Master Fuxi yesterday. With them was a young man named Su Ran, who claimed to be a teacher at the Shen Family Academy. He was an exceptionally handsome and elegant young man. Furthermore, the County Master also brought a maid named Chu Qiu. Judging from her appearance and demeanor, I think she's a skilled martial artist."

After listening to this, Nangong Zhaolie looked a little tired. He waved his hand impatiently, signaling Guo Zheng to leave.

Guo Zheng obeyed the order and hurriedly retreated respectfully to the palace gate, turned around and disappeared into the deep night, leaving Nangong Zhaolie alone in the palace in deep thought, the flickering candlelight illuminating his gloomy face.

After pondering for a while, he paced back and forth in the palace, his steps sometimes hurried, sometimes paused, his brows furrowed, his eyes revealing deep thought and planning.

The moonlight shone through the carved window lattices onto the ground, casting a shadow on his slender and slightly lonely figure, like a quiet and solemn painting.

"This Shen Li is indeed a rare genius." He whispered softly, and his voice echoed in the empty palace, carrying a bit of admiration and regret that was difficult to conceal.

"She is both stunningly beautiful and possesses extraordinary talent. It's not surprising that such a beautiful woman would have a few close female friends by her side."

His steps suddenly stopped and he stared into the distance, as if he could see through the palace walls and see the distant Beichen Kingdom.

"But the key issue now is, how can I help my son win Shen Li among her suitors?" His voice rose slightly, and his tone was more determined and eager.

"If I propose marriage directly, Xuan Ye will definitely not agree easily. He might even harbor resentment towards my son. This is definitely not a good idea."

He shook his head slowly, denying the thought that had just emerged in his mind.

"If we secretly send someone to abduct her, Shen Li is surrounded by experts, and she is deeply loved by the people in Beichen. If the matter is exposed, it will definitely cause disputes between the two countries. The loss will outweigh the gain."

His hands were behind his back, and his fingers tapped unconsciously, making rhythmic sounds, as if keeping time to his thoughts.

"Perhaps, we can start with the people around her? Her master Xuanfeng Sanren, that Su Ran, and her maid Chu Qiu... They have a close relationship with Shen Li. If we can win over one or two of them, perhaps it will add some strength to my son's marriage proposal."

He closed his eyes slightly, various plans and strategies kept emerging in his mind, but they were overturned by himself again and again.

That night, the lights in the palace were kept on all night. In his endless contemplation, he tried to find a delicate balance that would win the beauty for his son while not affecting the situation between the two countries.