"Alright, it's settled then. The contract has been drawn up. Come and sign it," Li Shimin said with a smile.
Zhenzhu Tong Sijin walked with a slumped face, his steps unsteady. When he got to Wang De, he saw the newly written contract. The ink on the paper was still wet, and every word Princess Chengyang had said was written down without omission.
He found the designated spot and signed the contract.
They had no other choice. This time, the common people were in great need of warm clothes for the cold, and the nobles were also curious about these new woolen sweaters. From the top - down, they were all urging him to conclude this deal.
Even if they couldn't marry the princess, they couldn't return empty - handed.
"Your Majesty, the respected Tian Khan, your humble servant hopes that the friendship between the Turks and the Tang Dynasty will last for generations," Zhenzhu Tong Sijin bowed again and was supported away.
The more arrogant he was when he first arrived in Chang'an, the more miserable he was now.
Manjing watched for a long time. So this was their high - ranking official? He didn't seem so great after all.
Why did the Khan put so much trust in him? Was he getting old and his eyesight failing?
The Turks had to pay a high price to buy the woolen sweaters that the palace servants were already wearing. According to Chamberlain Feng, each palace servant had a set of woolen sweaters and trousers, and the price was lower than on the market, only sixty wen per set.
Most masters wouldn't let the palace servants pay for them. Instead, they would generously cover the cost. It was like the mung bean soup distributed daily in summer.
Li Jingyun was satisfied. She sat next to her father, looking for praise. "Father, how was it? Did I handle things well?"
"Of course. Hongxuan did an excellent job. You've solved the problems that were bothering your father and your sisters," Li Shimin didn't spare any praise and complimented Li Jingyun for nearly two quarters of an hour.
All kinds of words came out. Elders like Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and Tang Jian also chimed in.
In short, it was a group of elders amusing a child.
Li Jingyun felt extremely comfortable with all the praise. Li Chengqian looked at her tenderly but didn't say much.
With the example of the Turks, dealing with Tubo would be easier.
Li Shimin asked Li Chengqian and his younger sister to oversee the matter together. He set up a screen and, just like when they were competing for the naming right of the library, hid behind the screen to watch.
This time, the most intense argument wasn't between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo but an internal strife among the Tubo people.
Li Jingyun proposed, "Each woolen sweater will be sold at 450 wen, and each sheep will be priced at 1000 wen. What do you think?"
Lu Dongzan had been worn out by recent events and didn't want to haggle. After all, the money and sheep had nothing to do with him. He just wanted to return to Tubo to rest quickly. "Your Highness, Tubo agrees to this pricing."
But Sangbuzha objected, "No, the price is too low. We can't agree."
"Why not? This is the will of the Zanpu! Do you want to go against the Zanpu's words?" Lu Dongzan said sharply. He knew he couldn't win an argument against Sangbuzha, so he directly brought up Songtsen Gampo.
Sangbuzha was extremely anxious. "The woolen sweaters are 100 wen more expensive than those for the Turks. Aren't they taking us for fools? A sheep should be at least 3000 wen, and we have to drive them all the way to Chang'an. How much will that cost? The princess only offers 1000 wen. We'll lose so much money!"
In his anxiety, he blurted out in the Tubo language.
Lu Dongzan gave him a cold stare and replied in the Tubo language too. "This is the Taihe Hall, not in front of the Zanpu. Watch your mouth. I'm the chief envoy of this mission to the Tang Dynasty!"
Sangbuzha sighed deeply, his expression extremely conflicted. He had so many words in his throat but didn't know how to say them.
He knew very well that with Lu Dongzan's character, he wouldn't listen. No matter how much he said, it would be in vain.
He knew the prices in Tubo, but Lu Dongzan might not care at all. In Lu Dongzan's eyes, the lives of the common people had nothing to do with him and wouldn't affect his prosperity.
"I haven't finished speaking yet. Don't rush to argue," Li Jingyun said. "If you send more than 10,000 sheep each time, the sheep - raisers will be rewarded with six taels of gold. What do you think?"
"Six taels of gold? Is Your Highness serious?"
Lu Dongzan's eyes lit up at the mention of this number.
"Why would I lie to you? Think it over. This is a once - in - a - lifetime opportunity," Li Jingyun said. Then she glanced at her elder brother. Seeing him smiling, she felt more at ease. She pulled over a brocade stool and sat down, waiting to see their reaction.
Lu Dongzan thought to himself that six taels of gold was a huge sum of money anywhere!
Surely Sangbuzha wouldn't object again?
"We agree, Your Highness," he replied quickly, as if afraid Li Jingyun would change her mind.
Sangbuzha looked at Li Jingyun and felt something was off.
"Your Highness, I have a question. Since 10,000 sheep are surely raised by many people, and they are all sheep - raisers, who will get the six taels of gold?" Sangbuzha asked.
"The one who raises the most, of course. Why are you even asking me this?" Li Jingyun thought Sangbuzha's question was strange.
He seemed quite smart, so how could he ask such a stupid question?
"Your humble servant understands."
After Sangbuzha said this, Lu Dongzan was afraid he would cause more trouble. He asked some people to hold him back and even wanted to gag his mouth, warning him not to speak nonsense anymore.
"Your Highness, isn't it time to sign the contract? Let's do it now," Lu Dongzan said.
"Feng!"
Li Jingyun called out. Chamberlain Feng walked over with two pieces of paper. One side was already signed, and only their side was left.
Seeing this, Sangbuzha understood that this wasn't a negotiation but a notice.
What was even more disheartening was that they had no ability to resist.
Lu Dongzan signed the contract neatly, bowed respectfully, and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. Your humble servants will take their leave."
"Go," Li Chengqian finally spoke.
Behind the screen, Li Shimin pointed at Li Jingyun, who was sitting on the main seat with Li Chengqian, and whispered, "Guanyinbi, look at our Hongxuan. Have I raised her well?"
"Hongxuan is smart and has done a good job. If she were a bit duller, things wouldn't have turned out like this," Empress Zhangsun said. After going around in circles, she still didn't admit that the Li family was not only stubborn but also had a hard mouth.
Li Shimin laughed too. "If she weren't smart, I wouldn't have dared to let her get involved in court affairs. If she were as simple - minded as the fifth son, she'd be sold and still count the money for others."
"The fifth son is the result of decades of enmity between the Li and Yin families. If he had been raised by me or Concubine Wei or Concubine Yang, maybe things wouldn't have turned out like this. Shian is doing a good job. Maybe he can be set on the right path," Empress Zhangsun said in a low voice.