Chapter 616: Shock After Shock

The crowd was surging, sweating like rain.

Using these words to describe Jinghua at this moment is not an exaggeration at all.

Everyone was waiting in anticipation.

This was the Longyan Dynasty's first public Offering Ceremony. In the past, these people had only heard of this rare treasure or that unearthed curiosity... Of course, in the minds of these people, what treasures could those barbarian nations possibly have? It was just an extra layer of novelty!

Today.

They could see it with their own eyes!

Excitement!

This honor could be shared even by commoners like them, so how could they not be happy?

The ceremonial official came out, followed by another round of singing praises, and the entire venue erupted once more in shouts of "Long live, long live, long, long live our Emperor."

These tedious formalities finally concluded, and only then did Grand Eunuch Zhou step out holding a horsetail whisk, shouting at the top of his lungs: "The nations offer their tributes!"

"The nations offer their tributes!"

It was time!

Everyone felt a surge of excitement in their hearts.

They had already begun to discuss what rare items would appear this year.

Because of the hot weather, the proceedings began immediately.

Accompanied by the playing of ceremonial music, the first of the Eighteen Envoys finally took the stage amidst the anticipation of the masses.

"The Juyan Envoy, offering the Kunlun Cold Jade Bed, wishes the Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty boundless longevity, may his life span be as long as the heavens!"

The ceremonial music rose again as an envoy delegation from the Western Regions walked slowly forward.

Upon hearing of this Cold Jade Bed, everyone's expression changed drastically. This small nation of Juyan had really gone all out this time! Juyan was a small country near the Kunlun Mountains, located beneath the snow-capped peaks; it had few resources, so the Longyan Dynasty generally paid little mind to it. However, do not let the small size of the Juyan Kingdom fool you; the country was not poor, but rather quite wealthy! This was all because it was rich in Kunlun jade, and the jade culture of the Longyan Dynasty was very fond of it.

And the Kunlun Cold Jade Bed they were offering at this moment had begun to attract attention several years ago.

The Juyan Kingdom had discovered this giant piece of jade on a snow mountain. After it was unearthed, it was considered a miracle. The Juyan Kingdom hired the best craftsmen to carve it into a jade bed according to its size. This jade bed was naturally cool during the summer.

At the time, many people had coveted it for a long time.

The Loulan Kingdom was a major power that wanted this bed, and it almost sparked a war because of it.

Fortunately, the Longyan court stepped in to mediate in time, and that war, which was on the verge of breaking out, was called off.

Afterward, the Juyan Kingdom made this bed their national treasure.

Just imagine, they would rather risk the destruction of their nation than lose this bed.

But today...

They had actually brought it out!

They were going to offer it to the Longyan Emperor!

The entire venue was in an uproar.

This opening was too explosive, wasn't it?

"Oh?"

Xie Tianyao's expression also shifted as he heard this. He had heard of this jade bed for a long time; it was said that although the jade bed was icy, it would not be cold enough to harm anyone. Sleeping on it was warm in winter and cool in summer, and it could even treat his chronic headaches.

It was only out of regard for the dignity of a great power that he had not forcibly seized it.

Yet today...

"My god!"

"What has gotten into this Juyan Kingdom, to be so generous this time?"

"Heh, they were probably bullied too badly by Loulan... They've come to cry for help!"

"That's true!"

"But this opening is truly spectacular!"

The entire venue was filled with heated discussion.

Liu Zheng also blinked his eyes.

It had only just begun, and there was already such immense pressure?

The Cold Jade Bed!

It was carried up by the Juyan people, and in an instant, everyone's eyes were drawn to it. Although it was covered with a layer of cloth, it could not block the cold air emanating from beneath it, which rose up under the scorching sun.

A treasure!

This was absolutely a rare treasure, and a gift from nature, from the heavens themselves!

"Long live, long live, long, long live our Emperor!"

"Long live, long live, long, long live our Emperor!"

The Juyan people knelt down.

"Good!"

Xie Tianyao was overjoyed and laughed aloud: "Good! Juyan, good! Reward them!"

This, however, put the ceremonial officials in a difficult position. This was the Cold Jade Bed! A priceless treasure—how could one set a price on it? Generally speaking, after an offering, the reward given by the Longyan Dynasty should be at least double the value! How were they supposed to calculate that?

They were in a bind.

Xie Tianyao also realized this.

Indeed.

How should he reward them?

The Juyan people immediately said in a loud voice: "Respected Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty, we in Juyan only wish to have back the grazing lands along the Gutu River; we beg the Emperor to grant this!"

"We beg the Emperor to grant this!"

Only then did the people realize what was happening.

So, the Juyan people were aiming for this?

Upon hearing this, the Loulan Envoy delegation all changed color.

The grasslands along the Gutu River, which were occupied by Loulan during the conflicts between the two countries, are indeed a lifeline for the Juyan Kingdom.

"Good, granted!"

Xie Tianyao did not even think, waving his hand grandly.

The Juyan people were overjoyed and knelt to express their gratitude.

"Long live, long live, long, long live our Emperor!"

"Damn it, those cunning Juyan people!"

The people of the Loulan Envoy delegation all looked grim.

One person snorted coldly: "My lord, it is fine; our gifts are not necessarily inferior to theirs! Can't we just ask for them back?"

The lord leading the delegation then laughed heartily.

The Juyan people, having obtained what they wanted, although they felt pained over this Cold Jade Bed, could only lift the cloth in front of everyone.

This naturally caused a wave of gasps throughout the venue.

Cold air lingered, magnificent and beautiful!

The jade bed carved from white jade made people unable to take their eyes off it.

"Present the tribute!"

One envoy delegation finished presenting, and then another followed.

This time it was also a small country from Central Asia.

The gift they presented, while not as overbearing as the Cold Jade Bed, was not bad either; it was a huge sapphire from Central Asia, which was standard and decent, but in previous years, this would have been enough to take the top spot! It seems that in order to make things difficult for Longyan this time, these small countries have really spent a fortune!

This time.

Xie Tianyao, without the slightest bit of heartache, continued to wave his hand grandly.

Reward!

Reward them with one thousand head of cattle and horses each, ten thousand bolts of silk, ten thousand pieces of porcelain, and ten thousand jars of fine wine!

That small country was nearly overjoyed to death.

Liu Zheng, on his side, and the Ministry of Rites, were nearly heartbroken to death.

These were all paid for with his own money!

The third, an envoy delegation from Nanyang, once again set off a small climax.

What they brought for Xie Tianyao was a Warship crafted from yellow crystal! What was incredible was that the size of this Warship actually rivaled a real ship! The frame of the ship was made of Refined Steel, and it was covered entirely in yellow crystal! Such a ship, under the scorching sun, shone brilliantly and glittered, extremely eye-catching.

The whole venue exploded!

The whole venue gasped!

Have these envoy delegations this year all brought out their entire family fortunes?

Xie Tianyao waved his hand grandly...

Reward!

Fifteen thousand head of cattle and sheep, fifteen thousand bolts of silk, fifteen thousand pieces of porcelain, fifteen thousand jars of fine wine...

"Pfft..."

Liu Zheng had already started leaning against the wall.

However, he did not expect.

The one who hurt him the deepest.

Was also the one who loved him the deepest...

The fourth.

The Loulan Envoy delegation finally began to present their tribute.

This time.

It was a direct ultimate move.

A Loulan treasure.

The "Li Bo Documents"!