Cultivating Immortality, Starts with Green Plum

Chapter 286: Appointing You to Go on a Diplomatic Mission to the Dragon Palace of the North Sea (4000 words, two in one)

When we arrived at the city gate of the Wu Kingdom's imperial capital, some officials were already lining the streets to welcome us.

Moreover, the ranks of these officials were not low. For Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan, this was already an above-standard reception.

However, faced with such an excess, no one said anything. Even the censors, who were always quick to criticize others, remained silent.

This has to be maintained.

One is the only princess of Wu State, who has just rehabilitated a vassal king. She has enforced strict military discipline and clearly defined rewards and punishments during her marches and battles, and has made great contributions in destroying the vassal state.

The other is the only number one scholar in the history of Wu State who is both civil and military, and also the youngest number one scholar in the history of Wu State. After traveling for a year, he killed the leader of the Hehuan Sect, defeated Chen Yun, and ranked second on the Qingyun List. It is even heard that Xu Ming played a major role in the civil strife in the Hehuan Sect this time.

One is Wu Yanhan, one is Xu Ming, and the other is Qin Qingwan.

These three people have become the representatives of Wu State.

As for Xu Xuenuo.
She doesn't even have a name in the family tree and is no longer a Wu person.

At the beginning, many people still associated Xu Xuenuo with Wu Guo.

But after so many years, the Wu Kingdom has somewhat forgotten about Xu Xuenuo.

"I'm coming."

Seeing the motorcade, all the civil and military officials who were basking in the sun perked up, faced the direction of the motorcade, bowed and saluted, and shouted in unison: "Welcome Her Royal Highness the Princess and the Civil and Military Officials back to the capital."

In Xu Ming's sedan, Zhou Wanfeng lifted the curtain and glanced at the gate of the imperial capital. He covered his face and chuckled, "This is quite a big scene. When I was in Jiangnan County, I heard your story. In the past, the status of Wuguo's bastards was very low. Have you ever thought that there would be such a day? From a despised bastard, you have become an existence that no one dares to ignore?"

"I haven't thought about it. It doesn't matter to me." Xu Ming lifted the car curtain and walked down.

Looking at Xu Ming's back as he walked away, Zhou Wanfeng smiled softly and said to himself, "That's right~ How can a person like you, a bastard, be restrained~"

Zhou Wanfeng did not get off the carriage at this time.

Although Zhou Wanfeng usually likes to tease Xu Ming, she also knows her limits. Her reputation as a "slut" is not good, and she must not affect the reputation of little brother Xu Ming.

After Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan got off the carriage at the same time, they came in front of the civil and military officials and saluted: "Welcome, everyone. I am really a little overwhelmed."

"Hahaha, Lord Wenwu and Her Royal Highness the Princess are too polite." The Minister of Rites smiled, "You two have made great contributions to our Wu State and enhanced our national prestige. It is our honor to welcome Her Royal Highness the Princess and Lord Wenwu."

"Now that you've said that, I'm a little afraid to go into the city." Xu Ming joked.

"That won't do." Minister of Rites Xiong Wentian said with a smile, "If the civil and military officials don't enter the city, then His Majesty will peel off my skin, right?"

Xu Ming looked at Xiong Wentian and couldn't help but recall the conflict between himself and his son Xiong Haizhi when they were young.

Later, he and Xiong Haizhi entered the Blood Pagoda and became comrades-in-arms.

In fact, it can be said that there is no acquaintance without fighting.

"I wonder how Haizhi is doing now? Is he okay?" Xu Ming asked.

Hearing Xu Ming asking about his child, Xiong Wentian was stunned for a moment and felt quite touched. He didn't expect that the other party still remembered Hai Zhi.

Xiong Wentian smiled and said, "Thanks to Mr. Wenwu's concern, Haizhi is now serving as the centurion of the fifth battalion of Xuefutu. Everything is fine."

"Well, that's good." Xu Ming nodded.

"You two, it's getting late. Please go into the city. Don't be late. His Majesty has been waiting for you for a long time." Xiong Wentian turned sideways and stretched out his hand.

"Thank you."

Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan exchanged polite words again, then they both mounted their horses and entered the imperial city.

In the imperial city, people lined the streets to welcome them.

The roads were crowded with people, and flowers were thrown at Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan. People kept shouting "Princess", "Mr. Wenwu".
Especially women.

Women all over the world like talented men, and women from Wu State are no exception.

However, the Wu State also advocated the use of force.

Therefore, it would be even better if you can play as well as be talented.

And Xu Ming just meets these two points.

Xu Ming wrote many poems that have been passed down through the ages. He was hailed as the hope of the entire literary world of Wu State and the future leader of the literary world of Wu State. His poem "Dielianhua" in particular touched the hearts of countless women.

In addition, Xu Ming had served in the army and joined the Xuefutu Army, and was ranked second on the Qingyun List.

All of this was filtered for Xu Ming.

Among the ladies in the imperial capital, there is a saying: "If I can meet Xu Lang once, what does life and death matter?"

This shows how popular Xu Ming is among the women in Wudu.

Now Xu Ming is wearing a blue shirt, riding an armored Arabian horse, with a slender body and handsome looks. With the blessing of the idol filter, his elegant temperament has left countless women "falling in love with him once they see him for the rest of their lives".

Xu Ming felt that it was not good for him not to reply to others, so he nodded to the women on both sides of the road who were calling his name.

As a result, some women were so excited that they fainted on the spot.

"It seems that you are very popular among women." Wu Yanhan looked at Xu Ming and snorted coldly, with a hint of jealousy in his voice.

"I really don't know that. It wasn't like this before." Xu Ming shook his head helplessly. "I haven't been back to Wudu for a long time. But it's not just me who is popular. Her Highness the Princess is no less popular."

"Humph"

Wu Yanhan turned his head.

Wu Yanhan does have many admirers.

Moreover, Xu Ming is only popular with women, but Wu Yanhan is the type that is popular with both men and women.

After all, Wu Yanhan is very beautiful, and when wearing armor, she looks even more heroic. She is the kind of queen who is both cool and beautiful. It is really hard not to be moved by her.

Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan arrived at the gate of the palace, changed into a carriage, and entered the palace.

Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan were both taken inside to bathe and change clothes.

The women who helped Xu Ming bathe were all very good-looking and should have been specially selected by Emperor Wu.

When they helped Xu Ming bathe, their cheeks were flushed, and there was even some anticipation in their expressions, as they really wanted to be favored by this number one scholar.

But the top scholar just asked them to go out and said they could wash themselves.

In the end, these women could only walk out with regret.

When Xu Ming arrived at the flat ground in front of the imperial study, Wu Yanhan was already standing in the square waiting.

At this time, Wu Yanhan was wearing a bright red dress that dragged on the ground. Her slender waist was bound by a cloud-like belt, making it look even thinner than a hand. There was a seven-treasure coral hairpin in her hair, which made her face look like a lotus.

The girl's face was extremely beautiful, with a pair of phoenix eyes that were naturally charming yet awe-inspiring. Her black hair was combed into a bun, which was gorgeous and graceful. The pearls, the size of her little finger, were as bright as snow and twinkled like stars in her hair.

The girl's previous heroic spirit in armor was gone, replaced by the gentleness and elegance of a lady from a noble family.

"Sorry for the wait." Xu Ming walked forward. Although Wu Yanhan was a princess, she was also a subject, and a princess like Wu Yanhan had to follow the rules sometimes.

In a meeting like this between the emperor and his ministers, the people summoned were Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan. Wu Yanhan had to wait until both of them arrived and then go in together.

"I just arrived too." Wu Yanhan placed his hands in front of him. "Comparatively, I thought you would be one or two sticks late."

"Why?" Xu Ming asked in confusion, "I'm never slow in taking a shower."

"Nothing." Wu Yanhan turned and walked towards the imperial study, "Let's go."

Xu Ming walked beside Wu Yanhan, and Eunuch Wei, who was guarding the door, took Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan into the imperial study.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"My daughter greets my father."

In the imperial study, both of them bowed.

"Hahahaha. You two don't need to be so polite," Emperor Wu got down from the couch and looked at his most proud young man and his most beloved daughter. "You are exhausted from the journey, so please don't blame me for summoning you here as soon as you get back."

"Your Majesty, that's not right." Xu Ming responded, "I have been traveling abroad for a year. After returning to the imperial capital, I should report to Your Majesty about my situation over the past year."

"Hahaha, good!" Emperor Wu patted Xu Ming's shoulder and said to Wei Xun beside him, "Why don't you give seats to Her Royal Highness the Princess and the Minister of Civil Affairs?"

"Yes Yes Yes"

Wei Xun flatteringly took two golden nanmu chairs and placed them under Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan.

Xu Ming told Emperor Wu about his year of travel.

There are some things Xu Ming talked about, but there are some things Xu Ming did not talk about.

Most of the things are just roughly described.

If I were to explain it in detail, I'm afraid I won't be able to go home today.

Moreover, in Xu Ming's opinion, this was just a formality. The Emperor Wu must have heard about the important matter. After all, Tingfeng Pavilion, the largest intelligence agency of the Wu Kingdom, was not just a decoration.

And it was exactly as Xu Ming thought.

Emperor Wu did know everything about Xu Ming through Tingfeng Pavilion.

Not to mention that Emperor Wu also sent a protector to Xu Ming, and she would occasionally send messages back.

It's just that this protector has a somewhat eccentric personality and doesn't really obey orders. There are some things that Xu Ming's protector won't tell her, and whether she passes on the message or not depends entirely on her mood.

Not to mention that after Xu Ming entered the Baiwa Secret Realm and Tianxuan Gate, this protector had no way to follow him.
Wu Yanhan also reported some of his battle results to Emperor Wu.

"You two did a great job!"

After hearing Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan’s reports, Emperor Wu was very satisfied.

"Yan Han's meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion this time is actually secondary. The most important thing is that you led the army to be clear about rewards and punishments, and to manage the army in a proper way. On the battlefield, you used the real to attack the fake, and used the fake to cover the real. This is really rare. Even the old general Da Guozhu said that you have the style of Taizu.

I have considered this reward for a long time."

Emperor Wu had his hands behind his back.

Emperor Wu: "Wei Xun!"

"Your servant is here." Wei Xun quickly knelt in front of Emperor Wu.

The Emperor's voice was dignified without anger: "Draft an edict. Princess Wu Yanhan leads the army well. Wherever she goes, everyone will be loyal to her. She will suppress the rebellion, destroy the vassal states, and be named the King of Qin!"

Wei Xun's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Wu Yanhan and Xu Ming both frowned.

It was normal to confer titles of nobility and appointment as prime minister after suppressing a rebellion, but it was not normal to confer the title of "King of Qin".

The Wu State originated in Qin, and at that time Wu State's Taizu proclaimed himself the King of Qin.

The princes of the Wu State in every generation needed to lead the army to fight in wars, and all the princes were given the title of "King of Qin".

The title "King of Qin" is not just a simple word meaning "king". In a sense, it symbolizes the position of the crown prince.

In other words.

Does Emperor Wu want his daughter to become the first empress in the history of the entire Central Plains?
It goes without saying that when the civil and military officials get to know about this, there will be a huge uproar.

After all, there has never been such a precedent in the human dynasty.

"Xu Ming, what do you think of my reward?" Emperor Wu looked at Xu Ming.

"Your Majesty's decision is certainly correct." Xu Ming bowed and said something very clever, "In my opinion, Your Highness Princess is both virtuous and talented. She is as capable as any man, and she is a martial god. She is fully worthy of the title of 'King of Qin'."

"Hahaha, well said." Emperor Wu was very satisfied.

The Martial Emperor, who had seen countless people, could naturally see that Xu Ming really thought Yan Han was suitable and he truly supported Yan Han.

"King of Qin, why don't you express your gratitude quickly?" Emperor Wu said to his daughter in a joking tone.

Wu Yanhan bowed deeply: "Thank you, father."

"Yes." Emperor Wu nodded in satisfaction and looked at Xu Ming. "As for you, Xu Ming, you have also won a lot of face for the Wu Kingdom, but I haven't made up my mind yet. When I have made up my mind, the imperial edict will naturally reach the Xu Mansion."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xu Ming thanked him.

But to be honest, Xu Ming didn't want to be rewarded.

If he comes with another reward like "granting marriage", it will be very troublesome for me.

"Okay, King Qin, you can leave first. I have something to say to the civil and military ministers." Emperor Wu waved his hand.

Wu Yanhan glanced at Xu Ming with some worry, but did not move.

"What are you doing? Are you still worried that I will eat Xu Ming?" Seeing his daughter so worried about another man, Emperor Wu, as a father, felt very complicated. He always felt like the cabbage was eaten by a pig, even though he liked this pig very much.

"Then I'll take my leave." Wu Yanhan stepped back and left the imperial study.

"It seems that you have a good relationship. This is the first time I see my daughter caring so much about someone. She has never cared so much about me." After Wu Yanhan left, Emperor Wu said with emotion.

Xu Ming: “.”

Xu Ming didn't know how to reply, and he smelled a hint of jealousy.

"Forget it, forget it. A girl cannot be kept at home when she grows up." Emperor Wu waved his hand and pulled out a letter from the desk. "Take a look at this."

"What is this?" Xu Ming took the envelope.

"An invitation letter from Beihai," Emperor Wu said, "designating you to be an envoy to the Dragon Palace of Beihai."

(End of this chapter)