Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Finally, who could have imagined this? My minister returned from overseas and even brought back some native people!

— This was probably what the old emperor was thinking at the moment.

But since they had traveled such a long way, Da Xia, as the host, naturally had to receive them properly.

“They eat stewed food, brew fruit wine, and have a preference for spicy flavors. Their common food includes wild animals, cassava, and fish.”

The name “cassava” was given by Xie Luoshui. It resembled a sweet potato, but its color was like wood, so she named it “cassava.”

The ship also brought back quite a lot of cassava.@@novelbin@@

The old emperor nodded. So, when the banquet began, most of the dishes on the table were stews, along with other cooking styles, but only in small portions to prevent the Paraguayans from experiencing discomfort due to unfamiliar food.

Upon learning that Paraguayans ate their meals while sitting on the ground, the emperor waved his hand and decided to host the banquet outdoors in the wilderness. Both the emperor and his officials dressed in casual attire, either sitting on mats or directly on the ground.

Throughout the banquet, the Paraguayans kept talking to Xie Luoshui, mixing their native language with Daxia’s official language, accompanied by hand gestures. Occasionally, they would point at the old emperor. The emperor, however, simply smiled and let it pass.

The old emperor laughed heartily. “As it happens, there is wild boar at the banquet! This warrior has traveled thousands of miles across the ocean to our Da Xia—truly courageous. Xie Qing, tell him that we also have a tradition in Da Xia: we grant warriors a jar of wine and a boar leg to accompany it. Ask him if he can eat it!”

Xie Luoshui conveyed the message to Ilala through a mix of gestures and broken native speech.

These words greatly pleased Ilala.

He wanted to eat as he would in his tribe—raw. He wanted to reach for the warm gallbladder, the bloody liver, and mix the mother beast’s milk with its blood before drinking it. That was what a true warrior should do!

However, what Da Xia presented to him was not a whole wild boar but a single boar leg.

— At first, he thought that even though they had given him a boar leg, they would allow him to tear it from the carcass himself, showcasing his strength in the blood.

Ilala felt a little disappointed, but then he remembered that neither “Xie,” nor “Qin,” nor any of the other Da Xia people liked eating raw meat after hunting. They always took their prey back to the tribe to stew it.

Perhaps this was what “Xie” had explained as “seeking common ground while respecting differences.”

“Xie” had said that “seeking common ground while respecting differences” meant that near the Paraguayan tribe, there was another tribe. The people there also had yellow skin and used horses to measure wealth, just like his people. However, those people would drink the contents of a dead horse’s stomach when they were thirsty, whereas the Paraguayans would not.

— A long time ago, perhaps as far back as his mama’s mama’s time, it was said that the Quajadi tribe had once discovered a ship of foreigners. They traded five or six turkeys for an item called a “fishhook” from the ship, and a pair of wild geese for something called a “comb.”

Later, however, the Quajadi tribe became enemies with that ship’s crew. The way that tribe dealt with enemies was to capture them and eat them entirely. That ship’s people were never seen again.

However, something called a “horse” that they had brought with them became a war prize. Horses spread from the Quajadi tribe to other tribes and even became wild horses surviving on the continent.

Ilala liked “Xie,” liked “Qin,” and liked these “Da Xia people,” so he was also willing to prove himself as a warrior in the Da Xia way—by eating the wild boar leg!

Ilala made a playful face at the boar leg, then plopped down on the ground and tore into the meat with big bites.

He heard the Da Xia people cheering, calling out “hao!”

“Xie” had told him that Da Xia’s word “hao” was like the Paraguayan word skookum—meaning “great” or “awesome.”

Encouraged, Ilala ate even more enthusiastically!

He even felt a little touched and awed.

This leg was obviously fresh!

They must have slaughtered a pig just to give him this leg!

—The power of Da Xia was truly terrifying!!!

Xu Yanmiao found this whole situation fascinating.

[I never expected to meet such warm and hospitable South American natives after Thanksgiving.]

[Ah, sorry, that was probably a hell joke. May the Lord forgive me.]

The ministers kept glancing back at Xu Lang.

Strange? Why did Xu Lang’s words just now sound so sarcastic? Did he not like these natives?

If that was the case…

Qin Guan frowned and clicked his tongue in frustration. He regretted that he might have made a miscalculation.

The Vice Minister of Rites, He Bikan, glanced at him and chuckled, “Why overthink it? At worst, we can just send them back.”

Qin Guan realized he had a point and immediately relaxed. He then grabbed an orange from the fruit basket in front of him, quickly peeled it, and held it up to the Vice Minister’s mouth. “Here! Have a Huangqi orange! You often get dizzy and weak—eating more oranges is good for you.”

Then, with a playful grin, he added, “Can I stay over at your place tonight?”

The Vice Minister of Rites: “……”

He immediately gave Qin Guan a suspicious look.

Did something just run over his face just now?

Before he could say anything, another voice suddenly cut in:

“Year after year, longing fills my heart, year after year, the willow leaves dance upon the eaves…”

Many people turned to look. The Vice Minister also instinctively turned his head—

It was the Marquis of Yongchang!

The Marquis continued slowly,

“In the countryside, feelings go unspoken, longing for that jade-like face. Thinking of that jade-like face, reminiscing about the day we met, the moment lingering. Like Chang’e before my eyes…”

[WOW!!!] Xu Yanmiao’s attention was immediately captured.

[The Marquis and Little Tea Girl!!!]

[Can the Great General tolerate this?!]

Of course, Qin Guan couldn’t!

Who are you calling Chang’e?! Who is right in front of your eyes?!

With his naturally hot temper, he immediately shot up, ready to throw a punch.

[Fight! Fight! Slap him right in the face! How dare he recite poetry to a married man?!]

Qin Guan: That’s right!!!

His fist was itching to swing—

But before he could, the Vice Minister of Rites gave him a sharp pinch.

Qin Guan: “……”

He immediately deflated and lowered his head.

[Eh? Why didn’t you hit him? Qin Guan! Are you still a man?!]

The Vice Minister of Rites: “……”

Can you shut up for a moment?! I can barely hold him back!

The Marquis of Yongchang, adding fuel to the fire, flashed Qin Guan a provocative smile.

Qin Guan: “!!!”

[!!!]

[Whoa!]

Princess Xiangyang watched with great interest. “Antagonize him more!”

The old emperor, who had been enjoying the spectacle: “……”

Gao Shengxian! What does this have to do with you?!

The crown prince, slightly relieved, muttered, “I am not alone in my ways.” Then his father shot him a glare, and he immediately shut up.

However, General Qin had already learned his lesson.

He calmly extended the peeled Huangqi orange toward the Vice Minister of Rites. The Vice Minister hesitated for a moment but then opened his mouth and ate it. The general immediately shot a triumphant look at the Marquis of Yongchang.

Just as he was about to bask in his victory—

He suddenly heard a sharp inhale from behind him.

Turning around, he saw the Vice Minister’s face scrunched up in discomfort.

Qin Guan: “What’s wrong?!”

“It’s sour.”

Qin Guan looked down at the orange, then stuffed the rest of it into his mouth and chewed.

“It is a bit sour, but I ate the whole thing—didn’t waste it.” He spoke while pouring honey water for the Vice Minister.

The Vice Minister nodded slightly, looking pleased. “That’s good.”

[Tsk, tsk.]

Princess Xiangyang: “Tsk, tsk.”

[Huh? Why is Gao Xiang tsking? Wait… does she not know that the poem that’s been circulating around the capital lately—the one Lin Zhi wrote—is actually meant for her? Guess not. I thought even though Lin Zhi didn’t sign a name on it, the Jinyiwei would’ve traced it to the emperor, and the emperor would’ve told his daughter.]