The Western Xia envoys had been quietly deliberating for a long while. After court adjourned, one of them, surnamed Yang, came looking for Hua Chun.

“Prime Minister, your eloquence is truly beyond compare. I dare not try to match wits with you,” he said the moment he arrived, his manner exceedingly gracious. “This visit is mainly to deliver some things to you, my lord.”

Hua Chun was on her way out of the palace. She glanced at him and said, “I have clean hands and empty sleeves, and I never accept gifts. I hope the envoy will understand.”

Lord Yang walked alongside her, his face creased into a chrysanthemum of smiles. “This subject is well aware of the Prime Minister’s ways. But this gift… it isn’t gold or silver, nor is it antiques or jade. There’s no harm in the Prime Minister taking a look.”

Hua Chun shook her head. “I need to go home to accompany my wife. Please make way, my lord.”

“Ai, ai!” Envoy Yang followed her closely all the way out of the palace, chattering on. “Our Western Xia truly wishes to forge lasting friendship with Great Liang. Why must the Prime Minister keep us at arm’s length? Could it be you look down on Western Xia for being small and poor, and disdain minor officials like us?”

“Your country is very wealthy,” Hua Chun said. “At the very least, you have a great many gold mines.”

With that, she briskly climbed into her palanquin.

The man followed alongside the palanquin, still refusing to give up. “We do have many gold mines, but there are only about twenty-some sites. That can’t sustain an entire nation. Great Liang’s commoners are people, and Western Xia’s commoners are people too. If His Majesty opens his mouth this time and demands half our gold mines, what is Western Xia to do?”

“Before the gold mines were discovered, the people of Western Xia still lived in peace and contentment. There’s no need for the envoy to worry so much,” Hua Chun said with a smile. “Furthermore, His Majesty has no intention of forcing Western Xia to hand over the gold mines. The decision rests entirely with you.”

Easy to say, but Great Liang’s attitude made it plain: refuse and be attacked. Was that what they called the decision resting with them? The Western Xia envoy wanted to weep, yet could only steel himself and keep following Prime Minister Hua’s palanquin, chasing after it all the way out of the palace.

“They’re actually rather clever,” Prince Xi remarked, standing before the Xuanzheng Hall, watching Envoy Yang’s movements with a soft laugh. “They’ve grasped the key point.”

Zhanshui said in a low voice, “Should this servant go keep watch?”

“Go,” Yuwen Xi said, the corner of his mouth curling. “If he accepts anything at all, send someone to report to His Majesty immediately.”

“Yes.”

At the gate of the Prime Minister’s residence.

Hua Chun strode swiftly inside, but the man behind her clung on just as tightly, sighing as he walked. “The Prime Minister’s residence is even grander than our Western Xia’s imperial palace.”

Nonsense—if Western Xia’s palace were as grand as this residence, she’d eat her own name backwards! Hua Chun gritted her teeth. Unable to chase him away, she could only lead him into the reception hall, plastering on a smile as she looked at him. “What exactly does the envoy want?”

The envoy simply sat himself down uninvited, smiling brightly. “To be honest, the Prime Minister’s illustrious reputation has spread widely even in Western Xia. Among the dancers who came to Great Liang this time is Western Xia’s foremost beauty, who has admired the Prime Minister for a long time. She asked this subject to be sure to let the Prime Minister meet her, so…”

Huh? Hua Chun instinctively glanced down at herself, then said with a strained smile, “No need. I already have a wife and don’t intend to take a concubine.”

“For the Prime Minister to say such a thing is rather hurtful,” Lord Yang sighed. “She traveled a thousand miles just for one glimpse of you, my lord. She never said she must marry the Prime Minister. Why must you be so heartless?”

Hua Chun fell silent. Outside, quite a few people from Western Xia had already entered—it seemed a fair number had trailed after her. The servants of the Prime Minister’s residence didn’t dare stop them, only standing cautiously off to the side.

Was this meant to be a siege? She raised an eyebrow, her expression distinctly displeased.

“My lord.” Qing Niao came out and, seeing the scene, frowned. “Who is this?”

The envoy seated nearby startled, looked her over, then stood and said, “This subject is Yang Yuanchen of Western Xia, here specifically to make the Prime Minister’s acquaintance.”

“I see.” Glancing at the crowd gathered outside, Qing Niao smiled. “Please sit for now, I’ll go make tea.”

“Mm.” Hua Chun looked deeply at her and nodded.

Qing Niao withdrew with a smile and went straight to find Pin Tan. “Report to the palace—it’s no good sign that people from Western Xia have come to the Prime Minister’s residence.”

“This servant understands,” Pin Tan said, and hurried off.

Hua Chun’s heart was in turmoil, uncertain whether Qing Niao had grasped her plea for help. Sitting in the hall watching more Western Xia people filing in from behind, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this group might simply be lacking in sense.

If they wanted to bribe her, the least they could do was be discreet about it—was that so hard? Following her the whole way out of the palace, then storming into the Prime Minister’s residence with this many people—were they afraid others wouldn’t notice? And besides, before sending a gift, shouldn’t they have done some research first? Hua Jinghua was famously indifferent to women, yet they thought to send him a beauty?

Rolling her eyes, Hua Chun sat in silence.

“Prime Minister, look,” Lord Yang said, pointing toward the door. “She’s arrived.”

Following the direction he indicated, Hua Chun froze slightly.

A figure in a golden long dress swept in, dressed in dancing robes, her face veiled, but her eyes were extraordinarily beautiful, very much like someone from the Western Regions—deep, elegant features, and long lashes.

She truly was a beauty, even more striking than Huo Xianrou.

Someone like this would suit Yuwen Jie perfectly, wouldn’t she? A man who collected beauties like him would surely take interest in her. Pursing her lips, Hua Chun asked, “What is this young lady’s name?”

Envoy Yang smiled. “Her name is Ling Niang. Does the Prime Minister like her?”

Hua Chun said, “She’s certainly lovely to look at, but unfortunately, this humble official only cares for my wife. No one else, however beautiful, catches my eye.”

Hearing this, the envoy grew somewhat displeased. “Surely Ling Niang is no less than your esteemed wife?”

“There are plenty of people in this world better than my wife,” Hua Chun said, shaking her head. “But unfortunately, I happen to love her specifically, and that won’t change.”

His expression darkening, Yang Yuanchen shot Ling Niang a look. She lifted her veil and said softly, “Ling Niang seeks no rank or title—only to stay by the Prime Minister’s side in service. That alone would be Ling Niang’s good fortune.”

The voice was soft and sweet, the kind that seemed to melt one’s bones. Hua Chun shivered, picked up her tea, and drank in silence, stalling for time.

Watching their manner, it seemed very much like they meant to force the matter. Accepting favors made one beholden to others, and having gifts practically thrown through one’s window like this was truly infuriating and helpless all at once. Saying more wouldn’t get through to anyone, so she might as well simply wait them out.

Yuwen Jie was reviewing memorials when a censor entered to report: “Your Majesty, several Western Xia envoys have been invited to the Prime Minister’s residence by the Prime Minister himself. This subject does not know what is happening there. This subject feels such conduct harms the court’s reputation for integrity, and begs Your Majesty to investigate and mete out punishment.”

Western Xia envoys? The emperor frowned, glanced at him, and said, “I am aware. Zichong, take some men and go look into it.”

“Yes,” Huo Zichong replied.

Not long after the censor withdrew, Eunuch Qin scurried in again and leaned close to whisper, “Your Majesty, the Prime Minister requests reinforcements, saying he is trapped in his residence by the Western Xia envoys.”

The same matter, yet two different accounts? Yuwen Jie pressed his lips together, thought for a moment, then rose. “Help me change my robes.”