Ming East India Company

During this period, Zheng Jiong, as before, sent a delegation to purchase raw silk from the Ming Dynasty around Fuzhou. Due to the court's ban on trade with the East this year, the price of raw silk plummeted. In addition, the delegation was provided with food and lodging by the Ming government, which greatly reduced the cost. As a result, Bai Ling made a fortune.

But Bai Ling couldn't be happy inside; she knew the real test was yet to come.

After resting in Fuzhou for half a month, the imperial decree was issued, allowing Ryukyu to send an envoy to the capital. Zheng Jiong and Bai Ling selected fifty people, including the chief and deputy envoys, the king's uncle, and interpreters, who were escorted by Fujian officials and traveled north along the tribute route. The remaining personnel stayed at Rouyuan Post Station to wait.

Along the way, they passed through Fujian and Zhejiang, and entered the Grand Canal in Yangzhou. The post stations and ferry crossings along the way provided them with food and lodging in accordance with the standards for envoys from vassal states. With carriages and horses accompanying them, they finally arrived at the capital of the Ming Dynasty—Beijing—after two months.

On the day they arrived in the capital, after only a few hours of lodging, Bai Ling and Zheng Jiong received an imperial eunuch's decree instructing them to quickly bathe and change.

The inexperienced Zheng Jiong immediately panicked and went to Bai Ling to report:

"Master Lü, I fear something terrible is about to happen!"

"What happened?"

Zheng Jiong reported nervously:

"Generally speaking, we only need to bathe and change clothes the day before we are to meet the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The fact that we are being asked to bathe and change clothes today means that the Emperor will be meeting us tomorrow."

However, according to normal custom, after a foreign mission arrives in the capital, it stays at the Huitongguan (a special guesthouse), where officials from the Honglu Temple (the Court of State Ceremonial) teach it court etiquette. Within three days, the envoys and their entourage practice the five bows and three kowtows, becoming familiar with the court proceedings. But we are to meet the emperor after only one day; I fear there may be something amiss with this trip.”

Bai Ling remained quite calm:

"This is a good thing; it means the emperor is eager to see us. If it were just a formality, that would be truly bad."

That night, Bai Ling lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She carefully recalled her experiences over the past month, from being the daughter of a merchant to facing the destruction of her family overnight, and now suddenly becoming a guest of honor of the emperor...

There's a saying in my hometown: "In the morning you're a lowly official, in the evening you're in the emperor's court." I never imagined it would actually happen to me.

Suddenly, Bai Ling smelled a strange odor. Although it was very faint, she was absolutely certain that she wouldn't mistake it.

Because she had castrated more than a dozen eunuchs in the past month, she was extremely sensitive to their peculiar odor.

It wouldn't be unusual to encounter two eunuchs in this place, but this time the smell was too strong; this person was definitely an old eunuch who had been in the palace for many years.

Bai Ling cautiously touched the knife hidden under her pillow, then tucked it into her bosom and got out of bed.

Through the paper window, you can see a faint light outside.

Bai Ling knew that anyone who could enter the meeting hall at this time was definitely not an ordinary person. Since she couldn't avoid it anyway, she might as well come and meet them.

Bai Ling stood up and opened the door. A man with a wrinkled face but no beard stood before her.

"I am Luo Sigong, the Chief of the Eastern Depot, and I pay my respects to the Ryukyu Envoy."

Bai Ling was taken aback for a moment, but decided to cover it up first: "This eunuch has mistaken me for someone else! I'm just the interpreter for the delegation. The envoy isn't me; he's in the next room..."

"Girl, stop pretending. My men have been monitoring you the whole way. The so-called Ryukyu envoy was extremely deferential to you, asking for your permission on everything. How could a mere interpreter possibly have such influence?"

Besides, young lady, you don't understand us Eastern Depot people. We are much more perceptive about men and women than ordinary people. Your little tricks can't fool us at all.

A woman, yet she insists on disguising herself as a man and even infiltrating the tribute-bearing procession to the capital; she must be a high-ranking and powerful figure in Ryukyu!

Seeing that her true colors had been seen through, Bai Ling decided to stop pretending.

"That's right, I am the new queen of the Ryukyu Kingdom. People call me... um... Lady Viper." Bai Ling couldn't help but reveal her nickname.

"Madam has a refined taste." Luo Sigong didn't bother to dwell on Bai Ling's strange title.

"For the Ryukyu Queen to risk her life, she must have important business to attend to in the capital this time!"

Bai Ling stared at the other person warily. She could vaguely guess the reason for their visit, but she still tried to conceal it:

"What our Ryukyu delegation wants to do is none of your business!"

"I think it would be best if the Princess made things clear here, otherwise when she comes to my Eastern Depot later, we won't be speaking to Her Highness in this way."

Luo Sigong's tone already revealed murderous intent.

Sweat beaded on Bai Ling's forehead. Although she didn't know Luo Sigong's methods, she had seen many wealthy businessmen from the capital in the past, and from their word of mouth, she could also understand the terror of the Eastern Depot prison.

Bai Ling's mind was racing. She knew she absolutely couldn't panic now; the more panicked she became, the easier it would be for the other party to spot her flaws and lead her by the nose...

She began to calmly analyze why Luo Sigong had come to see her. Could it be blackmail?

Impossible. I haven't even met the emperor yet. Normally, an envoy can only receive a lot of rewards after meeting the Ming emperor. I can't squeeze much out of him now.

They couldn't possibly be here to cause trouble; otherwise, they could just report it to the Eastern Depot directly without resorting to any tricks.

There is only one explanation: the other party needs something more from you, and you have something more tempting in your hands.

With this in mind, Bai Ling's expression calmed down. This time, she was determined to make the other party reveal their trump card first.

"As a foreign envoy personally summoned by the Emperor, you, sir, have secretly taken me to the Eastern Depot. I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to the Emperor later!"

A slight smile appeared on Bai Ling's lips.

These words made Luo Sigong's face very unhappy, and his tone became even more fierce:

"Princess, don't forget that you concealed your identity and infiltrated the mission to my Great Ming. If it were me, I could report you to the Emperor for plotting something sinister. At best, you would be detained for a few months; at worst, you would never be able to return to Ryukyu in your lifetime."

After all, a hostage of royal rank is someone our Great Ming Dynasty would consider acceptable.

Bai Ling was not intimidated by these words:

"If you want to report this, you can do it now. Why are you making threats here?"

He then turned and left, feigning nonchalance.

"If my father-in-law comes so late at night just to tell me this, then please forgive me for not being able to keep him company."

After saying that, Bai Ling made a move to walk into the house.

Sure enough, after only taking two or three steps back, the other side hurriedly stopped him:

"Your Highness, please wait. I have requested an audience so late at night because I have an important matter to ask of you."

A smile appeared on Bai Ling's lips; the old eunuch was indeed getting restless.

"Tell me! What do you want?"

"I want to get a share of the spoils from Ryukyu's future military achievements."