Chapter 958: People Compare, and It Kills You!
side with frustration and jealousy, suddenly saw five or six people walk in, and his face lit up with joy. 。But on closer inspection, he recognized Jia Yin and Jia Huan. After all, it was rare to find...Xindu is located in the middle-south of Tianwu, with well-developed waterways. Boat fleets frequently travel to and from the docks outside the city.
Even Li's fleet had to use the back door several times because of overcrowding at the docks and landed from the pier on the military camp side.
Although the common people considered themselves familiar with various types of ships, what they saw today still refreshed their understanding.
In the warm sunlight of spring, a fleet of ships carrying envoys from eight nations surged forward like a monstrous beast, crashing into everyone's vision.
The lead ship was several times larger than a normal vessel, pitch black and crafted from an unknown wood that faintly glowed.
The prow was carved with a ferocious beast's head, its eyes lowered and horns rising sharply and hard.
Ordinary ships would be shattered and destroyed by a single blow from this long horn.
On each side of the hull stood ten projectors, firmly fixed to the deck.
Wherever and whenever they meet the enemy, they can hurl heavy stones to smash the enemy into a pulp.
or pierce the enemy with a sharp spear.
If you're unlucky, the deck could be smashed and leak.
There were also two storage rooms on the ship, with small doors and windows. Though a little oppressive, they were the best protection when sailing at sea.
The eight large ships following behind were not as big as the lead ship, but they weren't much smaller either.
Now, there were quite a few people standing on the deck of the ship.
Different skin tones, different hairstyles, different eyebrows and eyes, different clothing, made the people of Xindu increasingly amazed, and they often exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh my, look at that person. They're so tanned! Do they spend all day out in the sun"
"What's black about him Look at that, he even has blue eyes and skin as white as a ghost!"
"Terrifying, too terrifying! Where is this person from Did hell just open"
"Keep your voices down! These are the envoys from Fan Guo, here to pay their respects! Didn't the government post a notice Remind us all to be respectful and not embarrass Tian Wu"
"Oh, I didn't say anything. I just haven't seen you before. I was surprised."
"Be surprised, but swallow it inside. Don't lose face in front of others!"
"Got it, got it!"
The people discussed fervently, striving to lift their heads and chests, upholding a sense of national dignity for Tian Wu.
Several officials standing at the front had already gone up to greet Li Lao'er together.
Originally, the matter of settling envoys was within the purview of the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department. But the envoys were brought back by the two sons of the Li family.
The Queen of Jin Buddha Country was even Li's granddaughter-in-law. For the convenience of communication and to better demonstrate Tianwu's importance and enthusiasm, the Minister of Rites personally sought out the emperor and temporarily borrowed Li Lao Er to help.
Li Lao Er readily agreed, after all, the two nephews had done a beautiful job, bringing honor to the country and their family.
This morning, An and Xi hurried back to the ship's fleet. The rest of the people from the Foreign Affairs Department, led by He, were already standing on deck.
Three years of wandering had changed them. Their skin was tanned, their bodies lean, and their expressions worn.
What remains unchanged, however, is their patriotic heart.
Now that I'm finally back in Xindu, I see fellow countrymen everywhere, and everyone is very excited.
Especially remembering those comrades who perished at sea, unable to return together, they were moved to tears.
The makeshift bridge was quickly built, and Jia An and Jia Xi took the lead in coming down, bowing to the crowd and exchanging pleasantries.
Home safety and Home joy could not help but once again stage an emotional scene with their second uncle, a familiar reunion drama.
After all, no one else knows that they snuck back home last night.
As a result, halfway through the performance, Li Lao San rushed over in a hurry, and along with the village chief and Zhao Shu, everyone else crowded in.
Jiā'ān and Jiāxǐ were surrounded by a crowd. Some patted their shoulders, others exclaimed that they had lost weight. They said that upon returning to the village, they must slaughter pigs and sheep to properly nourish them.
Their acting was no longer needed, their eyes were truly red with emotion.
Jixi hugged their father, Ji'an hugged the village head and Zhao Shu and several others. In an instant, they switched from their previous polite and gentle demeanor to that of a wronged child seeing their parents!
Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple were dumbfounded.
Li Laoer coughed twice, chuckling as he explained to his nephews, “After years at sea, everyone back home thought they’d had an accident. Now that they’re safely back, it’s no wonder everyone is so excited.”
Several officials nodded their heads quickly, indicating understanding.
This is not just politeness, if they were relatives from their own family, having accomplished such great deeds and returning home in triumph, I'm afraid they would be even more excited.
For this, they had gathered their children at home last night and scolded them for nearly half an hour.
All of them were young, full of vigor and ambition. The Li family's sons were all succeeding one after another. Why, with these pampered lives they led from birth, did they only frequent flower streets and willow alleys, indulging in food, drink, and entertainment
It has to be said, comparing oneself to others is infuriating!
After finally calming the excited elderly men, he made an agreement to return to Suijin Beach for a pig-killing feast in the evening. Only then did Jia An and Jia Xi have time to attend to important matters.
At this moment, ships docked one after another, and envoys from various countries disembarked in succession.
Officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Guanglu Temple hurried forward to pay their respects.
It is their duty to demonstrate Tianwu's national grandeur while also showing warmth and hospitality. Naturally, the Li family needn't worry about that.
The Li family has always cared most about their own, that is, Queen Ai Bei and her son.
Ai Bei lived in Quanzhou for a while and got along very well with people like Li Laotai. Not only did his Mandarin become much more fluent, but he also learned a lot about the customs and habits of the Teochew people.
Today, she chose a set of traditional clothing from Jinfo Kingdom. It was a silk blouse with cylinder sleeves and a stand-up collar, paired with a gauze skirt and a gold belt cinched at her waist.
The original three-quarter sleeves were specially changed to long sleeves, even covering the wrists tightly.
Therefore, the moment she appeared, even though she still drew gasps from the crowd, it wasn't because she was considered "immoral." It was because of the astonishment at a woman ruling and her striking beauty, which was so different from Tianwu Woman's.
Several officials had known all along that there was a queen among the envoys, but seeing her with their own eyes still made them feel somewhat awkward.
In Tianwu, for a long time, women have been subservient to men. Let alone a woman as the ruler, even holding an official position was impossible.
It's still somewhat awkward for them to bow to a woman now.
Ai Bei held her chin high, her expression dignified and solemn, embodying the majesty of a ruler with unwavering control.
When several officials bowed, she merely nodded slightly and then said, "Thank you for your hard work. Because my husband's family is here, I won't be staying at the inn. Please understand."
Her tone was a bit odd, but everyone could hear her clearly.
The Minister of Personnel knew that this queen was the granddaughter-in-law of the Li family, but the other officials didn't know. The common people watching the commotion didn't know either.
Everyone was momentarily dumbfounded.
"That woman said what Her husband's family is in our Tianwu"
"Yes, that's right! She is the queen, isn't she Queens can get married too"
Nonsense, why can't the Queen get married Don't you see her child is right there!
"Who on earth is so capable, they actually married the Queen!"
At this moment, Jiaxi walked forward and stood beside Ai Bei and her child, smiling as she opened her mouth.
Today's update is here ~~ lying. She blurted out, “I saw it with my own eyes! If you don't believe me, go find the Li family and ask them. The Li family fled to the south during the famine, and I even saw them a few days ago...