A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

An Guo Shao Ji raised the imperial staff and edict high, saying, "Seeing the staff is like seeing His Majesty the Emperor in person."

"Does the King of Nanyue intend to rebel?"

An Guo Shao Ji roared towards the palace.

"The Han envoy must not misunderstand."

At this moment, Lü Jia came out from inside and gestured for the surrounding soldiers to put down their weapons.

"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding is there?"

An Guo Shao Ji pointed his sword at Lü Jia, clearly indicating that he would kill Lü Jia at the slightest provocation.

"The King of Nanyue is inside. Please, Han envoys, follow me inside..."

Lu Jia originally intended to ask for an audience, but after looking at the eunuch, he changed his mind and asked to go in.

"No need."

An Guo Shao Ji sheathed his sword.

"Please convey to the King of Nanyue that he should bathe and fast for three days, and respectfully await the imperial decree!"

Goodbye.

After saying that, An Guoshaoji turned and left.

Regardless of whether it was Lü Jia or the King of Nanyue who did it, he absolutely would not allow such an act that damaged the dignity of the Han Dynasty.

"A Han envoy?!"

Lü Jia extended Er Kang's hand, but An Guo Shao Ji remained unmoved.

It's a bit of a mess. Lü Jia didn't expect the Han envoy's reaction to be so strong.

This is their royal palace in Nanyue.

The Han envoy dared to be so arrogant.

Are all Han Chinese this brave?

Anyone who didn't know better would think this was Chang'an.

But it doesn't matter, since he was using the name of the King of Nanyue anyway, so the King of Nanyue will take the blame for whatever happens.

The King of Nanyue said, "I really thank you. It is my honor to have a minister like you."

Inside the palace, the King of Nanyue finally learned what had happened in front of the palace, and his face turned ashen.

Not only Lü Jia, but also the Han envoys, none of them showed him any respect.

He is, after all, the King of Nanyue, how dare he do this! How dare he do this!

The King of Nanyue clenched his fist helplessly and could only sigh in frustration.

Queen Jiu was somewhat at a loss. Looking at the incompetent King of Nanyue in front of her, she seemed to see An Guo Shao Ji through the layers of palace walls. Did she really make the wrong choice back then?

Snapped!

The King of Nanyue slapped him across the face.

"You slut, are you watching An Guo Shao Ji?"

"I don't."

Queen Ju defended herself.

"snort!"

"That would be best."

The King of Nanyue snorted coldly. He couldn't deal with the Han envoy, nor could he deal with the Lü brothers, so surely he could handle a queen?

Seeing the King of Nanyue like this, Queen Jiu felt even more regretful.

"Someone, prepare a bath for me. Also, order the imperial chefs that I will fast for three days."

.......

Three days later.

An Guoshao and others returned to the palace.

This time, the Southern Yue Kingdom finally realized its place and sent a palace attendant to guide them in with utmost respect.

An Guo, Shao Ji, and the other two stood in the center of the palace, holding high the Han envoy's staff and the imperial edict.

"King of Nanyue, heed my decree."

An Guo Shao Ji stared at Zhao Ying Qi in front of him, and at Queen Jiu sitting beside him. Zhao Ying Qi said humiliatingly, "Your Highness, receive the decree."

"Your Majesty, according to etiquette, you should kneel to greet him."

What made him kneel before An Guo Shao Ji?!

That's absolutely unacceptable.

"No."

Lü Jia also stood up to stop it, saying that if this were done, the reputation of the Southern Yue Kingdom would be completely ruined.

What he wanted to lose face was Zhao Yingqi, not the face of the entire Nanyue Kingdom.

He even thought of the King of Nanyue.

"Why not? Isn't Nanyue a vassal state of the Han Dynasty? To see the imperial edict is to see His Majesty the Emperor of Han. Isn't it only proper for the King of Nanyue to kneel and receive the imperial decree?"

"Could it be that the Southern Yue Kingdom harbors rebellious intentions?"

An Guo Shao Ji's tone grew colder and colder, and in just a few sentences he defined the Southern Yue Kingdom as having rebellious intentions.

No, no.

I have traveled south and have always been loyal to the Han Dynasty, never harboring any disloyal thoughts.

Lü Jia shook his head and said

"That's not your opinion, King of Nanyue, what do you think?"

"I have lived in Chang'an for a long time and have long admired His Majesty the Emperor of the Han Dynasty. If His Majesty the Emperor were here, I would naturally kneel to greet him."

"But the Han envoy was ultimately just an envoy and could not represent His Majesty the Emperor."

"Please forgive me, Han envoy."

An Guo Shao Ji did not respond, but stared coldly at the King of Nan Yue. The entire palace was eerily quiet, eerily quiet.

Many people can hear each other breathing.

"Shaoji, why be so aggressive?"

Left with no other choice, the King of Nanyue gave Queen Jiu a meaningful look.

In Chang'an, you call me Shao Ji, and I won't argue with you. But here in the Southern Yue Kingdom, where he holds the imperial staff, what should you call me?

As her childhood sweetheart, Queen Jiu could naturally see the meaning in An Guo Shao Ji's eyes.

He cursed An Guoshaoji's heartlessness in his heart, having already put the fact that he had abandoned An Guoshaoji behind him.

Putting that aside, is An Guo Shao Ji without fault? Can't An Guo Shao Ji, a grown man, forgive this weak woman?

"Why must the Han envoys do this? I presume that His Majesty the Emperor of your country gave instructions before the envoys set out, and the envoys themselves hoped to complete His Majesty's orders as soon as possible."

Unfortunately, Emperor Wu of Han's true intention was clear: to find a pretext to attack the Nanyue Kingdom.

Rather than actually fulfilling the tasks outlined in the imperial decree.

If they actually allow the King of Nanyue to submit to the Chinese, they will be in deep trouble when they return.

Such territories that surrender are too unstable; the Han people only trust the land they themselves conquered with their own swords and spears.

"His Majesty's dignity must not be insulted."

"If we lose the dignity of the Han Dynasty for the sake of this mission, we should atone with our lives."

An Guo Shao Ji said coldly.

Queen Jiu had nothing to say.

"King of Nanyue, please decide quickly whether to kneel and welcome us?"

The King of Nanyue looked at Lü Jia with a troubled expression. On this matter, they should be on the same side.

When Lü Jia saw the gaze directed at him by the King of Nanyue, he turned his head away.

He also didn't want to offend the Han envoy, as he would need the Han envoy to recommend him as the new King of Nanyue in the future.

"This humble prince kneels to receive the imperial edict from His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty."

The King of Nanyue knelt before An Guo Shaoji in humiliation, his last act of defiance being to kneel and accept the imperial edict from His Majesty the Emperor of Han.

He was kneeling before the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, not Anguo Shaoji.

It didn't matter; as long as the King of Nanyue knelt before him, An Guoshaoji was very happy.

It was very enjoyable.

As for whether it was he who was kneeling, or the imperial edict and scepter in his hand, that was unimportant.

Seeing that the King of Nanyue had knelt down, the other ministers of Nanyue also knelt down before Anguo Shaoji, led by the Lü brothers.

"I have received the Mandate of Heaven to rule over all lands, my virtue extends to the four seas, and my benevolence brings peace to all customs. The King of Nanyue has guarded the borders of Yan for generations, and has been devout in fulfilling his tribute duties, which I greatly appreciate. In the past, King Wu of Zhou was the first to establish relations with China, and to this day, generation after generation has upheld the rites of vassalage, ensuring the eternal peace and prosperity of the southern regions. This is a blessing for the nation."

"To King Hu of Nanyue: You have inherited your father's legacy and sent your son to serve as a minister, a gesture of sincere devotion. However, I have heard of unrest within your kingdom, with secret alliances with foreign states. This is not the way of loyalty and filial piety. The constant principle of Heaven and Earth is unity; among the lords, none is more important than following the king. I hereby bestow upon you a bronze tally, a black jade tablet, and a red ribbon, to signify your merit in protecting the kingdom. Nanyue shall follow the laws and rites of Han, and Han shall send officials and generals to govern you."

"King of Nanyue, accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude."

"The young prince accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."

The King of Nanyue bowed again in humiliation, raising his hands above his head to receive the imperial edict from An Guo Shao Ji.