After the eunuch finished speaking, envy welled up in his eyes, as if he were seeing a man regaining his virility.
Shi Muyuan remained calm, looking down at Mo Sang below.
"I appreciate your gesture, Ambassador Mo. However, I'm not feeling well and can't drink this wine. It's a pity," she said.
After that, she deliberately narrowed her eyes, raising the corners of her eyebrows slightly. Every move exuded a heroic air.
At this point, she thought Mo Sang would give up.
But unexpectedly, he let out two hearty laughs, picked up his wine cup again, and even took the opportunity to jest in front of all the court officials.
"I've traveled a long way from the barbarian lands. Along the way, I've heard that the Empress Dowager loves wine and pleasure. It seems those are just baseless rumors from the common people!"
Mo Sang laughed. Many officials who had always been at odds with the former Empress Dowager turned their heads, their mocking expressions evident. The loyal old officials, on the other hand, hung their heads in shame.
Cui Qizhou glanced at her imperceptibly, then shifted his gaze away in disgust.
With an Empress Dowager like Shi Muyuan in power, the dignity of the court officials had long been lost!
The former Empress Dowager had kept male concubines and indulged in drinking and pleasure in her leisure time.
Shi Muyuan's memories suddenly became crystal clear. She just didn't expect to be so humiliated when taking the blame!
She looked at Cui Qizhou, who seemed nonchalant, then stood up and picked up her wine cup. Her steady steps were slow yet exuded an awe - inspiring dignity.
As she approached Mo Sang, Shi Muyuan slightly raised the corners of her mouth. "Ambassador Mo has come from afar. Naturally, you may not know that our country is prosperous, our people live in peace and contentment, and with the great national teacher Cui Qizhou guarding us, I can surely enjoy a little wine in my spare time."
"Otherwise, how can I live up to the elegance?"
Every word Shi Muyuan said seemed reasonable but was actually full of fallacies.
After she finished speaking, she deliberately cast her eyes on Cui Qizhou.
If he didn't help her out of this difficult situation, he wouldn't be able to sit there absent - minded either!
Cui Qizhou rubbed the wine cup in his hand and let out a disdainful snort.
Shi Muyuan deliberately got closer. "National Teacher, do you have any objections to what I've said?" Her eyes were as sharp as knives, filled with coercion. Obviously, she had ulterior motives.
Didn't he know that she was the most vengeful? He had mocked her in front of so many people before!
Under everyone's gaze, Cui Qizhou rubbed the wine cup in his hand and let out a soft laugh. "The Empress Dowager is absolutely right. When men should be the defenders, women should naturally rely on a powerful backer."
Obviously, there was a hidden meaning in his words. He was implying that she only knew how to enjoy herself and didn't do any proper work!
Cui Qizhou was famous across the four continents and had extraordinary abilities. Naturally, he had great prestige.
Seeing that Shi Muyuan had managed to evade his provocation and even mocked him in return, Mo Sang suddenly felt his face was on the line.
He was the most valiant man in the barbarian lands, highly respected. His stubborn nature was like that of a yak, and he couldn't stand being outwitted.
"I don't understand. According to the Empress Dowager's words, does it mean that without the National Teacher, there would be no capable officials in the court?"
The speaker might not have meant anything malicious, but the listeners took it to heart.
His words had undoubtedly offended all the court officials except Cui Qizhou.
"Please forgive us, Empress Dowager. We come from the barbarian lands. Mo Sang has been practicing martial arts since childhood and is reckless and rude," the left envoy following Mo Sang exclaimed in a cold sweat. He quickly knelt on the ground and spoke tremblingly.
If they really offended this unpredictable and all - powerful Empress Dowager, it might lead to a war!
Everyone was terrified, unable to imagine how Shi Muyuan would punish them.
However, the person on the high seat now was no longer the former blood - thirsty and cruel Empress Dowager, but Shi Muyuan. The corners of her mouth were slightly raised, and the golden eyeliner at the corners of her eyes no longer exuded the former dignity.
"It's okay. It's just a bit of joking. I'm not such an old - fashioned person that I can't tell right from wrong," she said.
Shi Muyuan scanned Cui Qizhou. He was still sitting upright below, with no emotion on his cold face.
He and the former Empress Dowager were like water and fire, completely incompatible.
But through the memories of the former Empress Dowager, Shi Muyuan understood everything. It wasn't because Cui Qizhou was selfish. He just didn't want the great country to perish in the hands of the former Empress Dowager and hated the Shi family's control of the court!
It seemed that he noticed Shi Muyuan's gaze. There was no longer the former impetuosity and hostility in her eyes, but more of a calmness that came from worrying about the country and its people. Cui Qizhou was quite surprised.
Seeing that Shi Muyuan's expression was normal, the left envoy tried his best to pull Mo Sang back to his seat. But Mo Sang showed no sign of remorse. He stepped forward directly, bowed briefly to Shi Muyuan, and his words were full of provocation.
"Since the Empress Dowager is so reasonable, how about making a bet with me?"
Mo Sang's tough features were tinged with a hint of provocation.
As the Empress Dowager sitting on the high seat, how could Shi Muyuan refuse? If she didn't agree, she might become a laughingstock.
"Ambassador Mo, just speak your mind," she said, biting her teeth. She thought to herself that being a high - ranking Empress Dowager was really not an easy job!
Seeing that Shi Muyuan had taken the bait, Mo Sang's smile grew wider.
"The loser shall voluntarily cede half of the country's territory. I wonder if the Empress Dowager would agree?"
What?
It was simply absurd!
"Empress Dowager, you mustn't!"
"Please think twice, Empress Dowager!"
The prime minister and the minister of the court knelt in front of the palace. When Shi Muyuan was in a difficult situation, she noticed the victorious smile on Mo Sang's lips.
Shi Muyuan sneered in her heart. This Mo Sang looked strong but didn't take the right path!
Nearly dozens of court officials knelt on the ground. An unknown anger welled up in Shi Muyuan's heart. She hated nothing more than a villain getting ahead. So she agreed to the bet.
"I'd like to see what kind of bet this is," she said.
Oh my god!
Hearing this, the prime minister leaned backward and almost fainted.
Mo Sang laughed wantonly, as if he had already obtained half of the country's territory. His tone became even more arrogant.
"For the friendship between our two countries, the topic of the competition shall be decided by the Empress Dowager."
After all, they were a vassal state. If they won too easily, they might be criticized.
Seeing Mo Sang like this, Shi Muyuan had a sudden inspiration. Her eyes fell on the stone statue of the kylin not far away. It was rumored that he was extremely powerful, right? But since ancient times, few people could lift it!
"I've always been a peaceful person, not one to compete with others. So the competition should not be too difficult for anyone. How about competing to move the stone statue of the kylin outside? The one who moves it the most steps wins," she said.
Sure enough, as soon as Shi Muyuan said this, the whole court was in an uproar.
They're crazy! They're really crazy!
The tribute envoys all snickered to themselves, thinking that they had already got half of the country's territory. Mo Sang immediately bowed and then rolled up his sleeves and walked towards the stone statue of the kylin.
Even when the envoys had mocked Shi Muyuan before, Cui Qizhou had remained indifferent. But now he couldn't sit still anymore. His face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Empress Dowager, are you feeling unwell?" Otherwise, how could she make such a bizarre bet?
"How could I be unwell?"
Shi Muyuan felt more awake than ever. For such a profitable bet, she had to be fully focused.
As if afraid that Cui Qizhou didn't believe her, Shi Muyuan even stood up deliberately, raised her eyebrows at him, while the latter disdainfully pursed his lips and turned away.
Noticing Cui Qizhou's disgust, Shi Muyuan felt awkward and sat down.