Selling wife for fame? Kick out the scumbag and marry the new emperor to enjoy the harem of favors

Chapter 159 Are you the ancestor on the offering table?
Upon hearing these words, everyone from the Empress Dowager down to all the officials of the Great Jing changed their expressions.

Shangguan Yi's use of the term "vassal king" was a blatant reference to how Zhao Xingjin ascended the throne.

What good things could they possibly say? It must be an insinuation that Zhao Xingjin's ascension to the throne was illegitimate.

If the biological father is not buried in the imperial mausoleum, then he is not a true monarch, and his position would be illegitimate.

Xie Jiu frowned and glanced at Gao Sui, thinking to himself that someone who could represent his country on an envoy was indeed not to be underestimated; every word he said was meaningful.

However, Zhao Xingjin wouldn't let them make up stories, and sure enough, Prince Heng quickly spoke up.

"After my elder brother ascended the throne, he honored our mother as Empress Dowager and posthumously honored our deceased father as Emperor Xiaoren. He should naturally be buried in our Zhao family's imperial mausoleum. It seems that Lord Shangguan only has a superficial understanding of the affairs of our Great Jing. I wonder what your monarch's intention is in sending Lord Shangguan here. When our envoys travel to other countries, they are afraid of not understanding things carefully enough and breaking taboos. Could it be, as Lord Xie said earlier, that Lord Shangguan is intentionally speaking rudely and trying to ruin the alliance between our Great Jing and Xichi?"

There's no need for Zhao Xingjin to deal with Shangguan Yi; that would be beneath him. The Prince of Heng is Zhao Xingjin's younger brother, so it's appropriate for him to handle it.

Seeing the cold face of Prince Heng, Shangguan Yi immediately put on an apologetic expression.

“Your Highness, you misunderstand. I have always been a bit blunt, but I have never intended to hinder the friendly relations between our two countries. It’s just that His Majesty has not been on the throne for long. When I was sent here before, I met with Emperor Hui. At that time, His Majesty was still a prince and we did not have any contact. Now that I have come again, there have been too many changes, and I have indeed lacked understanding.”

These words sound like an apology, but in reality, they mean that he had previously discussed matters with Emperor Hui, but at that time Zhao Xingjin was probably playing in the mud somewhere and couldn't even get a word in edgewise. Now that he's on a mission again, he naturally doesn't have a complete understanding of Zhao Xingjin.

"Emperor Hui was tyrannical and cruel, bringing chaos to the world. Heaven decreed his execution. Lord Shangguan comes from a prestigious family in Xichi Kingdom. It is said that the Shangguan family has been loyal to the emperor and loved the people for generations, and every member is an upright and honest gentleman. How could he not see that Emperor Hui was unworthy of his position and unfit to be the emperor? Yet now, when we mention our old friendship, Lord Shangguan seems quite familiar with Emperor Hui. This makes one wonder if Lord Shangguan's understanding of the four words 'upright gentleman' is different."

Xie Wei's sharp voice rang out again.

Shangguan Yi was already angry when he heard Xie Wei's voice, and Xie Wei's words were even more impolite, which made him even angrier.

He immediately chuckled softly.

"The so-called loyalty to the emperor and love for the people naturally means loyalty to the emperor of Xichi and love for the people of Xichi. On this point, I have a clear conscience. The former Emperor Hui was indeed incompetent and foolish, but since he was the Son of Heaven, he was ordained by Heaven and was different from a subject."

"It's like a hat and shoes. No matter how tattered a hat is, it's still worn on the head. No matter how good, expensive, or new the shoes are, they're still worn on the feet. If you wear shoes as a hat on your head and feel smug and think it's great, that's ridiculous."

His analogy made Xie Wei's gaze turn cold.

Not only him, but Zhao Xingjin, who had maintained a gentle expression, also had a gloomy look on his face at this moment.

Xie Jiu looked at the old scoundrel named Shangguan Yi and frowned slightly.

This statement compares Emperor Hui to a worn-out hat and Zhao Xingjin to new shoes, implying that the officials of the Great Jing Dynasty are all ridiculous people who have their heads turned upside down, wearing shoes as hats.

The implication is that no matter how good Zhao Xingjin was, he was still a subject, and no matter how incompetent Emperor Hui was, he was still the emperor. Zhao Xingjin's ascension to the throne was an act of regicide by a subject, an act of insubordination. Even if he sat on the throne, his position was illegitimate and he was not the emperor ordained by Heaven.

After pondering for a moment, Xie Jiu slightly raised his chin and spoke softly.

"The ruler is like a boat, and the common people are like water. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. The emperor is the one who is supported by the people when he is virtuous, and abandoned by the people when he is not virtuous."

Her voice rang out calmly, and was especially clear in the quiet hall.

All eyes quickly turned to her. Xie Jiu, though dressed simply and elegantly, was in no way inferior in terms of imposing presence. At this moment, her beautiful eyes calmly looked at Shangguan Yi, with a hint of disdain and arrogance.

"Such a simple principle is known to all scholars in Dajing, even children who have only recently begun their education. Surely Lord Shangguan, residing in Xichi, has not heard of it? Your mention of shoes and hats is indeed laughable, but what's even more laughable is that I wonder where you place yourself, sir, to be so picky about everyone from superiors to inferiors." He chuckled lightly, "I wonder if you, sir, are a shoe being trampled underfoot, or a hat on your head? Tsk, neither seems quite right. Perhaps you are the ancestor sitting at the offering table?"

"Furthermore, I have another question. Before the founding emperor of Xichi Kingdom ascended the throne, Xichi was the Zhang Dynasty. Was the founding emperor of your country killed by a subject or was it ordained by Heaven?" Xie Jiu raised her eyebrows, her expression undisguisedly deliberate.

Dynasties change, isn't it the same in every country? Why would Shangguan Yi bring this up?

Upon hearing Xie Jiu's words, Shangguan Yi's face suddenly turned ashen, then quickly flushed red, with the veins on his forehead throbbing prominently.

Those already somewhat protruding large round eyes were now wide open, looking like a goldfish.

If it weren't for his status and location, he would have loved to immediately step forward and give Xie Jiu a good scolding.

Not only him, but everyone in the Xichi Kingdom delegation looked grim. Even Zhao Zaiyan, who had been calm all along, was now turning pale and flushed.

But Zhao Xingjin, sitting at the head of the table, couldn't help but smile, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at Xie Jiu.

That was practically an open round of applause.

Xie Wei was also surprised to see this side of his sister. He looked at Xie Jiu with mixed feelings, wondering what Xie Jiu had gone through to become so sharp yet sophisticated.

"Oh, is Lord Shangguan angry? You are a high-ranking official of the Western Chi Kingdom, please don't stoop to the level of a mere woman like me!" Xie Jiu said, but the sarcasm in her eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

Shangguan Yi gritted his teeth, so angry that he choked and couldn't speak.

Seeing that he was about to explode, Zhao Xingjin slowly said, "Nonsense, how dare you speak to Lord Shangguan like that? I have really spoiled you. Hurry up and sit down."

The reprimand was delivered in a gentle and indulgent tone; it was just a formality.

They didn't even ask Xie Jiu to apologize to Shangguan Yi, clearly approving of what Xie Jiu had just said.

Of course, this was also a warning to the people of Xichi Kingdom not to push their luck any further.

Shangguan Yi naturally understood.

As the saying goes, "When you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head." When you're on someone else's turf, you can't be too presumptuous.

So he didn't say anything more, and sat down sullenly, flicking his sleeves.

A shadow crossed Gao Sui's eyes. He tightened his grip under his sleeve, then relaxed it. He turned to Zhao Xingjin with a smile and said, "It's nothing, it's just a few words of casual conversation. Lord Shangguan wouldn't take it to heart. Your Majesty, I find this plum wine quite good. I'd like to offer you another cup!"

He was showing weakness on his own initiative, so Zhao Xingjin gave him face and raised a glass with him.

The banquet that followed went exceptionally smoothly, without any further mishaps.

Zhao Xingjin was in a good mood and drank quite a bit with his ministers in the second half of the event, eventually becoming somewhat drunk.

The Empress gently and considerately offered him a cup of tea to help him sober up. "Your Majesty is drunk. Why don't you come and rest in my palace?"

"No, thank you." Zhao Xingjin waved his hand. "You still have to take care of Zhaoqing and Lingyi. I'll go to Consort Xie's place tonight."