"The most intelligent person in Great Xia?"
"Precisely."
After answering the new emperor's question, the envoy from Goryeo had a cumbersome chest carried forward.
The new emperor, already having psychological trauma from chests, desperately wanted to say 'no need', but understood that Goryeo was subtly trying to stir up trouble.
To display the might of Great Xia, even knowing it was a trap, the new emperor could only wait and see.
Compared to the new emperor's cautious defense, Lin Qingge was also on high alert.
"Sister Ningyue, is that person wearing a half-mask covering his eyes and eyebrows Fu Xun?"
As soon as Lin Qingge finished speaking, that person seemed to sense it and looked over, his mouth slowly splitting open to the sides.
The feeling of being targeted by a venomous snake instantly made all of Lin Qingge's hairs stand on end.
"Got it, no need to ask, it must be this guy.
Looking at his attire, is he an envoy from the Eastern Isles?"
Lin Qingge had encountered many perverts, but Fu Xun was the first to make her feel a chill down her spine with just a glance and a smile.
At this moment, the Goryeo envoy spoke, introducing:
"Your Majesty Emperor of Great Xia, the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Lock on this chest was crafted by several top artisans from Goryeo, and it is the first congratulatory gift presented this time.
It is said that Great Xia is vast and rich in resources, with countless talents emerging. I wonder if there is anyone present who is intelligent enough to try?"
"I believe opening a lock has little to do with intelligence. After all, in Great Xia, anyone with hands can open this thing."
Lin Qingge said as she got up from her seat and walked down.
As if worried about a trap within the chest, Leng Ningyue also followed down, feeling uneasy.
"This lady is...?"
"My surname is Lin, my given name is Qingge. I am the Princess of Changle, newly bestowed by His Majesty."
She had to admit, it felt great to introduce herself using her real name.
"So it is Princess Changle, my apologies.
Does Princess Changle wish to try?"
"Using the word 'try' sounds so distant. It's clear you can't open it yourselves, so I, Princess Changle, am reluctantly helping you for the sake of the two countries' relations."
Lin Qingge said this and had already squatted in front of the chest.
To put it bluntly, it was just a slightly more complicated version of a Rubik's Cube.
But no matter what it was, as long as it was a lock, there was no lock that she, Lin Qingge, couldn't open.
Before the Goryeo envoy could hide the mocking look in his eyes, with a few '咔咔咔' sounds, the lock was opened.
"See? I said anyone with hands could open this thing."
...
The Goryeo envoy, instantly losing face, maintained a calm demeanor and said:
"Since Princess Changle has such expertise in opening locks, why not open the remaining six locks as well? After all, the first lock was merely an appetizer to warm up."
"The remaining six locks?"
"Yes, the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Lock. As the name suggests, it has seven layers."
Lin Qingge heard this and corrected without thinking: "That's not called the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Lock, it should be called the Seven-Layer Exquisite Lock."
Good heavens.
Others made nested dolls, but these Goryeo people, with nothing better to do, made nested locks?
Opening locks was fine, it wouldn't take much effort anyway, but she hoped that as she opened layer after layer, a jar of kimchi wouldn't eventually be revealed.
That would be a grand joke.
Because she found carrying the nested chests too slow, Lin Qingge called Yan Tinghao, who was snacking in the corner, to help carry them.
While Lin Qingge's hands were busy, her mouth also did not stop.
"Envoy of Goryeo, is it?
Your Goryeo people boast of their intelligence and came to Great Xia with a seven-layer nested lock to show off, even saying that only the most intelligent people in Great Xia could do this and that.
Using this opportunity, I, Princess Changle, will pose two questions to you as a gesture of goodwill. Is that too much to ask?
Of course, if the people sent by Goryeo this time are all foolish and incompetent, then consider me as if I asked nothing."
Provoked by Lin Qingge's taunts, the Goryeo envoy raised his chin and said:
"I am all ears."
"There is a fierce hungry cat. Yet, when it sees a mouse, it runs away. What is the reason?"
"Because—"
The Goryeo envoy did not expect the princess's question to be so tricky and was caught off guard, hesitating for a long time without being able to give a coherent answer.
After waiting for a long time without a response, Lin Qingge stood up, feigning disbelief with exaggerated expression:
"No way?
Considering your country's actual capabilities, I specifically chose a question that even a five-year-old child could easily solve. You can't possibly answer such a simple question, can you?"
Lin Qingge's words caused the entire audience to burst into laughter. Even the new emperor, who was at odds with her, had a corner of his mouth curled into a smirk of satisfaction.
The Goryeo envoy clenched and unclenched his fists, and after a long while, he said in a very stiff tone, coldly:
"I wish to hear the explanation."
These four words were an indirect admission of defeat.
Lin Qingge shrugged and casually spoke words that were enough to make the other party spit blood:
"Oh, the cat went to catch the mouse, so naturally, it ran away!"
After speaking, she threw the other party a look of "you can't be taught," enraging the Goryeo envoy to the point where he almost coughed up a mouthful of old blood.
At the same time, she had also opened all the nested chests.
Yan Tinghao opened the last chest, revealing two brocade boxes covered with red cloth, neatly arranged inside.
Seeing this, the Goryeo envoy, forgetting his recent humiliation, proudly announced:
"Your Majesty Emperor of Great Xia, the final chest contains two treasures of our Goryeo: ginseng and deer antler."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingge let out a long sigh of relief, "Fortunately, it's not kimchi, soybean paste, or a soy sauce vat."
The Goryeo envoy, failing to cause trouble and instead being angered to the point of spitting blood, retreated to the side dejectedly.
As the saying goes, "One act ends, another begins."
Goryeo had quieted down, and the envoy from the Eastern Isles emerged, bowing and saying:
"Your esteemed Emperor of Great Xia, our Crown Prince heard of the might of Great Xia's warriors, and thus commanded the casting of an peerless divine weapon."
After the envoy from the Eastern Isles finished his introduction, the man wearing a half-mask, referred to as the Crown Prince by the Eastern Isles envoy, slowly opened his mouth:
"Great Xia has a saying that fits well: a precious sword belongs with a hero.
With heroes from various countries gathered here, wouldn't it be a pity not to have a sparring match? It's a rare opportunity."
The new emperor, who knew this was also an unruly person, maintained a calm demeanor and said:
"How does the Crown Prince of the Eastern Isles wish to compete?"
"Coincidentally, among my retinue are several sword masters. Why don't we simply draw a circle on the open ground in the center of this venue? Whoever is forced out of the circle shall be deemed the loser.
Furthermore, since it is a competition, there will be winners and losers.
Since everyone is in such good spirits today, how about we add a stake?"
"A stake?"
The new emperor frowned slightly. If he wasn't mistaken, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Isles kept glancing towards his side every time he spoke.
More precisely, he was looking at the Empress beside him.
This discovery displeased the new emperor greatly.
The Crown Prince of the Eastern Isles below nodded slightly and said:
"If your country wins, our Eastern Isles are willing to sign a twenty-year vassal treaty. However, if our Eastern Isles happen to win, I hope the Emperor of Great Xia will grant me one condition."