Mythical Three Kingdoms

After learning this fact, Wu Yan abandoned any intention of digging pits, and instead adopted a very calm demeanor to solve various problems for the Kushan.

Anyway, seeing the situation, it seems inevitable that Kushan is doomed, so doing little or much is not as good as doing nothing at all. This ensures safety while also showcasing Kushan’s true intentions.

Three days passed quickly, during which Wu Yan kindly told the Kushan diplomatic mission about many taboos of the Han Dynasty, but he didn’t mention there were no princesses in the Han Empire. However, such matters belong to the secrets of the Inner Palace, so not mentioning it isn’t exactly a problem.

After Liu Tong ascended, early morning imperial meetings were mostly canceled. Meetings were not held daily but occasionally to resolve major issues or for the emperor to make some decisions.

Liu Tong herself couldn’t deal with these matters, as she never had the opportunity to engage with them during the times of Liu Hong, Liu Bian, and Liu Xie. Additionally, she understood her essential situation, so early meetings were generally avoided, while political affairs were handled by Cao Sikong and his assembly, allowing her to focus on her own interests.

Since Liu Tong’s ascent, early meetings were forcibly reduced to twice a month, and both times corresponded with particular festivals that necessitated attendance.

In ancient times, normal early morning meetings occurred every three, five, or ten days. Emperors like Ming Taizu, Chongzhen, and Yongzheng, who held daily meetings, were truly demanding individuals.

Moreover, since Liu Tong was a woman, the ministers did not strongly demand early meetings. After all, no rational official likes having to wake up at three or four in the morning to attend court.

Furthermore, with Cao Cao himself handling many military and national affairs, reducing early meetings to twice a month under Liu Tong didn’t lead to any significant problems, and the ministers felt this arrangement was perfectly acceptable.

As the morning bell rang, the Kushan diplomats, who had been tended to with baths and incense by Wu Yan for three days, finally prepared themselves with various gifts to pay an audience to Liu Tong.

Gifts like giraffes and lions had already been sent to Shanglin Park, while more common jewels and treasures were delivered to the government treasury. The treasures that envoys could present at the palace gate belonged to the category of rarities.

For instance, three-meter-long ivory, or pearls the size of fists—indeed, Vasu Deva I did not mess around regarding the quality of the treasures; the treasures were of exceptionally high standard.

The Kushan diplomatic mission this time included one Inner Qi separation. Among the four great empires, Kushan possessed the most instances of Inner Qi separation, owing the advantage to their belief system. However, the disadvantages are also evident there.

Many with decent talent might advance step by step following the solid methods practiced in the Central Plains, steadily training. With enough time, they can certainly achieve Inner Qi Manifestation Perfection. But in Kushan, sometimes constrained by the powers of the gods and buddhas they visualize, they might not even surpass someone like Li Tiao.

This represents the greatest disadvantage of the Kushan cultivation system. Many nobles visualize powerful gods and buddhas but cannot reach the potential limits due to their aptitude, while many obviously talented lower-class individuals are similarly restricted and cannot advance further.

This is why in the Han Dynasty, those reaching Inner Qi separation mostly attain Inner Qi Manifestation Perfection, even advancing to the ultimate level. Yet among the Kushan gathered to challenge Lyu Bu, only four managed to reach this level, as their power is severely restricted by the gods and buddhas they visualize.

The high caste controls the country’s resources and the powerful God and Buddha Visualization System, yet they generally cannot reach the limits. Conversely, the outstanding among the lower classes are stifled by system limits, unable to fully realize their potential.

This is a very dire reality but is one critical reason the high caste in Kushan can suppress the low caste. The vast number of lower classes occasionally gives birth to individuals with extraordinary talent, while the high caste extracts these talents to continually reinforce their status.

Indeed, this Kushan Vice Envoy with Inner Qi separation felt immense pressure the moment he entered Weiyang Palace, facing the military generals whose aura felt as deep as the sea, immediately sensing this nation’s might.

Once the Kushan envoys entered, Liu Tong, guided by her maid, stepped onto the throne, and all the Han ministers came forward to pay their respects.

It was at this moment the Kushan envoy comprehended the past events surrounding Yano Gaozhen and his associates. Although they knew from the beginning that the Han Dynasty’s Grand Princess, Princess, and Princess Shang were entirely different beings, nothing they had heard could match the shock of actually witnessing the Grand Princess seated high on the throne.

As a great power, Kushan can boast of facing many trials and storms. Naturally, their envoys have seen empresses before. But during this era, most emperors were men, and it was indeed Kushan’s first time seeing a female ruler of a great power.

If His Majesty had seen this scene back then, he might have understood why Ban Chao preferred to go to war with Kushan rather than propose marriage to the Grand Princess. A Grand Princess who can sit on the throne—she’s an empress! Marrying an empress is impossible unless it’s a small country with a sparse population forcibly marrying her. Compared to the Han Dynasty, Kushan was the one with a small population back then. The Kushan envoy was utterly devastated at this moment.

However, no matter how devastated he was, the Kushan envoy at least understood that marrying the Grand Princess was absolutely not something that could be brought up, so he decided to go through the formalities and ask for a princess instead.

The court meeting briefly reported the recent situation. Cao Cao was someone who got real work done, and with a group of capable ministers under him, the governance was naturally smooth. Moreover, Liu Tong had no habit of finding fault, so after some formal encouragement, the proceedings began.

Liu Tong was mainly here to see Kushan today. After all, Kushan coming as a great power with five hundred thousand armored soldiers to pay tribute significantly boosted the national prestige of the Han Dynasty. Recalling the time when King Ma Chao of the Qiang came to submit, Liu Xie was overjoyed.

Now, a great power that had been out of contact for a hundred years came to submit, resuming the alliance. Liu Tong felt it necessary to restore the nation’s prestige.

The long gift list greatly pleased Liu Tong. Unlike the Qiang in the past who completely came to embrace their thigh, Kushan was much more sincere. After reading through the gift list, the ministers also looked more favorably upon Kushan.

As for Wu Yan, who read the gift list, he chuckled inwardly. Indeed, the gift list was impressive, but after presenting the state documents, the Kushan envoy’s request for their emperor to marry a princess showed that this was not only a gift list but also a substantial bride-price, which was indeed sincere.

”The Great Yuezhi has always been our ally of the Han Dynasty, though we lost contact for a hundred years. Now that we meet again, it is fate between our two nations.” Liu Tong’s rich and melodious voice set the tone for the matter. It’s just an alliance charter, considering all your treasures, no problem.

”May the Han Dynasty and Kushan forever bond in friendship.” The Kushan envoy could understand Chinese, and hence, after Liu Tong spoke, he stepped forward respectfully, saying – everyone present thought Kushan’s words were well-placed.

”Present the Kushan state documents.” Liu Tong nodded in satisfaction, preparing to keep this original Kushan document and then have the Grand Herald draft the Han document for Kushan to sign.

The process here in the Han Dynasty differs from most other countries; the Han Dynasty drafts its own state document for others to sign, instead of drafting it mutually before signing. Hence, it sometimes happens that the state’s own document is entirely different from what the Han Dynasty sends over.

The only ones who could negotiate terms with the Han Dynasty on their state documents were the Huns, whose bones have long grown cold. As for other countries, sorry, the Han drafts the documents, and they’ve been pre-written three hundred years ago, you just sign them.

In short, it’s like a tyrannical clause, adjusted slightly for different countries in their terms. With a country like Kushan, formerly an ally, the Han Dynasty would not be too stringent.

After presenting the state documents to Liu Tong, the Kushan diplomatic mission took a deep breath because the main part was up next: seeking a princess of the Han Dynasty for Vasu Deva I.

Of course, the Kushan envoy didn’t have high demands. If an orthodox princess of the Han Dynasty won’t do, then even a clan lady who had been ennobled would suffice. But she must have royal blood. As for a true princess, the Han Dynasty had never married one off.

”Your Highness, the Grand Princess, my Emperor Vasu Deva I sent us to the Han Dynasty not only to present the state documents and connect with the Han Dynasty but also hopes that the Han Empire could grant our country a princess to be the Queen of Kushan. The entire Kushan earnestly pleads with the Han Empire to agree to this proposal.” This time, the Kushan diplomatic mission used telepathy, fearing to say the wrong word.

Thinking back to the time when Yano Gaozhen clashed with Ban Chao, it must have definitely been a translation error—probably translated as Grand Princess. Kushan doesn’t have terms like Grand Princess, Long Princess, or Princess; everyone is simply called Princess. If this was mistranslated and they ended up proposing for the one on the throne now, it would indeed be courting death.

Liu Tong was stunned, and then her face instantly flushed red, and even her neck reddened because, due to Emperor Ling, there was only one princess in the whole Han Palace, as Ling Emperor had only one daughter. Thus, when the Kushan envoy spoke, Liu Tong’s first reaction was, your emperor wants to marry me?

”You you...” Liu Tong was absolutely flustered. As there were no other princesses besides Liu Tong in the direct lineage of the Han Court, getting flirted with in front of all the ministers made Liu Tong extremely bashful and annoyed.

”Is the other party brainless!” Fan Qin, attending the court meeting, immediately used voice transmission to Chen Qun upon hearing this. Not understanding the situation and daring to utter such words, they must be courting trouble.

Similarly, as soon as the Kushan envoy uttered these words, the entire court was in an uproar. How many years has it been since the Han Dynasty hasn’t married off a princess? In the Former Han, it happened, but in the Later Han, it hasn’t. Are you Kushan trying to push your luck, courting death!