After arriving at the Four Directions Inn, Shen Jing handed the remaining matters over to Lu Heng, while he himself found an excuse to hide in his room at the Four Directions Inn and enjoy some peace.
During this period of receiving the Yong Country Delegation, he would also temporarily reside at the Four Directions Inn.
Lying on the soft, large bed, Marquis Shen felt a wave of emotion.
A weak country has no diplomacy!
Damn it, it was also because Great Zhou's national power was not as strong as before.
If this were during Great Zhou's peak, how could Yong Country have so many trivial matters?
Damn it!
He really wasn't suited for this job!
If it weren't to avoid being stripped of his title, he wouldn't bother dealing with these annoying people.
After complaining for a while, Marquis Shen closed his eyes and pondered. Gao Yin and Hulü Xian had immediately engaged in a verbal battle with him, so they probably didn't have a good impression of him.
How could he make them willingly fall into his trap?
Just as Marquis Shen was racking his brain, there was a sudden urgent knock on the door. “Marquis Shen, this is bad! The Yong Country Delegation is causing a ruckus!”
Marquis Shen suddenly opened his eyes, quickly rushed over, and opened the door. “What's the commotion about?”
The person said in a flustered manner, “The Yong Country Delegation is not satisfied with the food we arranged, and they are all making a scene. Senior Minister Lu is still trying his best to appease them…”
Listening to the person's words, Marquis Shen immediately walked out.
Damn it!
What was wrong with the food they arranged?
Did they want to eat dragon meat or something?
These Sunzi were definitely deliberately causing trouble!
Soon, Marquis Shen arrived at the East Courtyard where the Yong Country Delegation was accommodated.
“You're giving us this to eat?”
“Great Zhou is too neglectful; they clearly don't take us seriously!”
“Everyone, this is the standard meal for Great Zhou when receiving envoys from other countries. We absolutely have no intention of being negligent!”
“Nonsense! Look, this is all coarse grain…”
As soon as Marquis Shen arrived at the East Courtyard, he heard the commotion coming from inside.
Lu Heng and several officials from the Court of State Ceremonial were desperately trying to explain to them, but the Yong Country Delegation was numerous and growing more aggressive.
Marquis Shen walked over but did not see Gao Yin or Hulü Xian. It was several subordinate envoys leading a group of guards who were causing trouble.
Seeing Marquis Shen approach, Lu Heng and the others looked as if they had seen a savior.
Before Marquis Shen could speak, a subordinate envoy rushed forward angrily. “Marquis Shen, is this Great Zhou's way of treating guests?”
“What's wrong? Is there anything inappropriate?”
Marquis Shen smiled. “If the esteemed envoy is dissatisfied with anything, just tell this Marquis!”
“Look at all this?!”
The subordinate envoy pointed at the food arranged for the guards and roared loudly, “Not only is there no meat, but it's all coarse grain! Are you trying to feed beggars? This is an insult to Great Yong!”
“This Marquis thought it was something serious! So it's just this?”
Marquis Shen chuckled and immediately instructed Lu Heng, “Remove all this food and send it to the streets to be distributed to the common people!”
“Yes!”
Lu Heng accepted the order and immediately had people remove all the food.
Hulü Xian stood at his room's entrance, peeking out through the gap in the door.
Seeing Marquis Shen order the food to be replaced, a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“Alright, alright, esteemed envoy, calm down.”
Marquis Shen appeased the subordinate envoy. “You've had a long and tiring journey; please rest well first!”
“That's more like it!”
The subordinate envoy nodded in satisfaction. “Our people are hungry. Marquis Shen, please have new food prepared and delivered as soon as possible. If you try to insult us again with such food fit for beggars, don't blame us for being impolite!”
“Alright, alright!”
Marquis Shen readily agreed. “Everyone, please wait a moment. When the palace prepares a banquet to entertain all of you, there will be all sorts of delicacies!”
“Hmm!”
The subordinate envoy smiled contentedly, but then immediately realized something was wrong. “Wait! Does Marquis Shen mean for our people to remain hungry until the banquet?”
“Otherwise?”
Marquis Shen smiled and countered.
Upon hearing this, the subordinate envoy immediately reacted and angrily shouted, “Are you playing games with me?”
“I think you are the one causing trouble!”
Marquis Shen's face suddenly fell.
Hearing Marquis Shen's words, Lu Heng's heart skipped a beat, and he frantically winked at Marquis Shen.
This was not the time to be confrontational with these people.
If things escalated, it would not benefit them in any way.
However, Marquis Shen seemed to completely ignore Lu Heng's signals, merely staring coldly at the few subordinate envoys who were leading the commotion. “You really think you're big shots, don't you? If you don't like the food, then go hungry! Otherwise, you can show some spirit and share the food arranged for you with your guards!”
The subordinate envoy was furious and glared fiercely at Marquis Shen. “How dare you! How dare you treat us so disrespectfully?”
“Great Zhou treats guests, not wolves!”
Marquis Shen looked coldly at the subordinate envoy. “If you are truly envoys from Great Zhou, then abide by the etiquette and regulations of an envoy! If you want to cause trouble, this Marquis will accompany you to the end, even if it means losing this marquisate!”
“Arrogant!”
The subordinate envoy was enraged. “This envoy will definitely petition the Great Zhou Emperor to punish you for your disrespect!”
“Don't overestimate yourself!”
Marquis Shen scoffed, deliberately raising his voice, “Do you believe that if this Marquis gives the Third Prince a benefit he cannot refuse, I can make you stay in Great Zhou forever?”
Marquis Shen's voice was not very loud.
But Gao Yin, who, like Hulü Xian, was hiding behind the door and observing, still heard it.
A benefit he could not refuse?
What kind of benefit could Marquis Shen offer that he couldn't refuse?
Facing Marquis Shen's counter-threat, the subordinate envoy's arrogance immediately weakened a bit.
Just as the subordinate envoy was about to speak, Hulü Xian, who had taken off his outer robe, walked out of the room and said with a dark expression, “What's all the noise? You're not letting this old man even bathe in peace?”
Seeing Hulü Xian walk out, the subordinate envoy immediately stepped forward. “Your Excellency, Great Zhou is disrespectful to us; they arranged for our guards to have only…”
“Shut up!”
Hulü Xian glared at the subordinate envoy in annoyance and reprimanded him, “You are also a leader of soldiers. When marching and fighting, it's good enough to have something warm to eat! Now you're being picky? Don't you even understand the most basic custom of adapting to local conditions?”
Faced with Hulü Xian's reprimand, the subordinate envoy immediately lowered his head and said nothing.
After subduing the subordinate envoy, Hulü Xian looked at Marquis Shen again. “Marquis Shen, the men of Great Yong are not afraid of hardship. Just arrange the food according to your customs here!”
Marquis Shen nodded. “Hmm, Senior Minister is indeed reasonable.”
Hulü Xian smiled, feigning ignorance. “By the way, where is the food Marquis Shen arranged for them?”
“Since your country's people didn't eat it, this Marquis had someone send it to be distributed to the common people.”
Marquis Shen smiled. “This Marquis also thanks all of you on behalf of the common people who received the food for treating them to a good meal!”
Hulü Xian frowned. “Marquis Shen, you wouldn't let all our guards go hungry, would you?”
“Of course not!”
Marquis Shen chuckled. “It's not far from the street here. Whatever you want to eat, this Marquis will have someone take you to buy it! However, you'll have to pay for it yourselves!”
Hulü Xian's eyes narrowed slightly. “Marquis Shen, this is going too far, isn't it?”
“It's your country's envoys who are going too far!”
Marquis Shen shook his head gently. “How about this? While the people who took the food away haven't gone far, this Marquis will take Senior Minister to see if the food your country's envoys called 'food for beggars' will be considered a delicacy by our Great Zhou people!”
