si-mexico Chapter 398
Chapter 398
If it wasn't him, then it had to be someone else!Oshima seemed to sense that the atmosphere had suddenly taken a wrong turn again, and he unconsciously shrank back into his chair.
He didn't understand why, despite sitting quietly and trying to be invisible, Beiyue and the others had swept their gazes over him several times. For a start, he hadn't provoked anyone.
In the suddenly quiet atmosphere of the parlor, only Yanji, with his peculiar way of thinking, assumed that Beiyue must have offended Yue Fuguang, which led to the recent warning. Seeing Yue Fuguang's attention focused on Beiyue and his group only confirmed this speculation in his mind.
Unable to resist asserting his presence, he spoke up, Junior Preceptor, regarding my earlier request, I wonder what your thoughts are. Our court has shown utmost sincerity this time, I...
Yue Fuguang set down the teacup in her hand. The crisp clinking of the cup against the lid startled the few people secretly trying to solve the mystery and cut off the rest of Yanji's words.
Yanji. It was the first time Yue Fuguang looked at him directly. Yanji broke into a light sweat at being suddenly called by name. Meeting her indifferent eyes, his heart inexplicably trembled. That utterance of his name gave him the illusion of being called out by the grim reaper.
I told you last time, wealth, power, and fame are already in my hands. What do you intend to use to move me?
A mocking smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. What makes you so sure that I will definitely favor your so-called generous gifts?
The smile on Yanji's face froze. He only just remembered that despite talking for so long, he hadn't even presented his list of gifts yet.
Please wait a moment, Junior Preceptor! He hurriedly reached into his sleeve, and soon a bright red, gold-stamped gift list appeared in his hand.
While bowing to present it to Yue Fuguang, Yanji didn't forget to shoot a covert glare at Beiyue.
Beiyue was baffled by the glare and was almost angered to the point of laughing at his bridge-burning behavior.
Beiyue secretly ground his teeth. If he wasn't still preoccupied with figuring out who had poisoned him, he would definitely teach this fool a lesson.
Yue Fuguang carelessly took the gift list from Cuizhu. The first few items were fine; although precious, she already had plenty of them.
But when she saw the last two items, her heart couldn't help but stir. Building a temple to worship her—she actually didn't want the Dongyi people to do this.
After all, Dongyi was destined to be destroyed. She planned to send them all to mine after leveling Dongyi. If people worshipped her, she would feel somewhat guilty.
[Host, if the Dongyi people truly worship you, will you change your attitude toward Dongyi?]
No! Yue Fuguang's answer was resolute, without the slightest hesitation.
Mining was hard labor and far from the Dayan mainland. Transporting people from Dayan would be time-consuming and laborious. With the Dongyi people as ready-made laborers, why waste her own country's people?
What really tempted her was the final item: Dongyi was actually willing to gift her an island reef as a token of gratitude. Counting the one she won last time, wouldn't she have two overseas properties?
Yue Fuguang raised her eyes to appraise the seemingly composed Yanji. In truth, his frequently blinking eyes and unconscious swallowing had already betrayed his nervousness.
Placing the list on the table, Yue Fuguang tapped her finger lightly on the last item. Yanji, you expect to move me to act with a barren island reef where nothing grows? Have you forgotten that I already own an island just like this?
Saying this, she shook her head in boredom. There is nothing on it but sand, rocks, and seabirds. What use do I have for it?
Hearing Yue Fuguang's questioning, Yanji, who originally felt sixty percent confident, panicked slightly. He didn't know why, but in front of this official, he always felt his royal aura was completely crushed, leaving him lacking in confidence.
That was why he couldn't help but be verbally arrogant. Despite his smug appearance, it was all an act; he was actually very insecure inside. He just couldn't understand—compared to this minor, where was he lacking?
However, glancing at Beiyue and the others, who were usually even more boastful than him but were now as obedient as pet cats, Yanji finally felt a bit better.
These myriad thoughts flashed through his mind during just a few breaths of silence. He carefully pulled a nautical chart, or rather a partial map of the area surrounding the four islands of Dongyi, from his sleeve pocket. Please take a look, Junior Preceptor.
He unfolded the map, and he and Oshima each held one side. The map was about a meter long and wide, mostly depicting the ocean. In the center were four large connected islands, which should be the Dongyi mainland.
Scattered around the four islands of Dongyi were various large and small islands. The first one Yue Fuguang noticed was the small island she had won in the poetry competition.
Yanji pointed to an island situated at a moderate distance from the Dongyi mainland to show her. Please look, my lady. Dongyi's sincerity lies in this small island, named Chrysanthemum Island. Although it is true that no crops are currently grown there.
However, I believe that with your reputation as a divine maiden and your profound expertise in agriculture, you can certainly grow food. It shouldn't even be difficult to achieve a bountiful harvest of those three types of crops on Chrysanthemum Island.
He gave Yue Fuguang a fawning smile. I heard that the delicious sweet potato is particularly drought-resistant and can be planted even in sandy soil. You might as well plant plenty of sweet potatoes on the island.
He grew more excited as he spoke. You need not worry about the transportation of the harvested crops. As long as you can grow them, Dongyi is willing to purchase any amount at a high price, and we will cover the maritime shipping.
His blatant calculations were not only obvious to Yue Fuguang, but even Beiyue, Gantang, and the others could hear Dongyi's ulterior motives.
Beiyue's face darkened bit by bit. He knew Dongyi had offered Yue Fuguang heavy gifts this time, and he even knew a little about the gift of an island.
But he never expected that Yanji, who seemed to wear all his scheming on his face, would hide such a trick from him. He had even been used as a pawn.
While secretly cursing Yanji's cunning and hating his own carelessness, Beiyue had to admit that even he thought this was a brilliant idea!
There must be an expert guiding Dongyi from behind the scenes; Yanji's brain alone could never come up with such a scheme.
Dongyi was giving away a practically useless island reef. No matter what Yue Fuguang planted on it in the future, being so far from Dayan and so close to Dongyi, it would ultimately benefit Dongyi.
Whether they bought the crops or stole them, they couldn't lose!
Beiyue carefully stole a glance at the calm-faced Yue Fuguang. If he could see the problem, it was impossible for her not to notice. He just didn't know what she would choose to do.
The Dongyi people had long heard that this Junior Preceptor of Dayan lacked neither gold, silver, nor rare treasures, but only had an interest in land. The fact that she was worshipped by the common people as an agricultural deity proved her reputation was well-deserved.
Therefore, Yanji felt that if he just pushed a little harder, he could persuade this stubbornly impenetrable Junior Preceptor Yue.
Rest assured, Junior Preceptor. Although this island is not large, there is a small hill on it, and the hill has two freshwater springs.
As for whether it was enough to irrigate the land and crops, he stopped himself in time. Although Yanji had never been to Chrysanthemum Island himself, based on his experience and understanding of the folks at court, it probably wasn't enough.