The man returned to the campsite on the grasslands, leaned in close to Batu’s ear, and quietly reported what he had seen and heard earlier.
Batu’s eyes flickered: "Are you sure? Didn’t hear wrong?"
The man nodded affirmatively: "Sir, I’m sure I didn’t hear wrong. There was indeed a woman, and it was the voice of a young woman."
This person was one of Batu’s confidants and couldn’t help but remark: "I didn’t expect this Lord Song to be so inseparable from won. Even when visiting our grasslands, he brings a woman along! Could it be that he’s afraid there aren’t pretty won on our grasslands—"
His tone carried a bit of disdain.
Batu said nothing. Based on his previous dealings with Song Chongjin, he knew that Song Chongjin was not a man of pleasure-seeking nature, but this was hard to say. After all, during negotiations, one can’t bring won. Who knows if Song Chongjin isn’t attended to by won once he returns to his chambers?
Of course, according to the information from Great Chu, this young Lord Song has quite a reputation for being afraid of his wife.
Could it be that the woman accompanying him on this mission is his famous wife?
Or is it because his wife is not by his side, so Song Chongjin dared to bring another woman along?
A thousand thoughts crossed his mind, but Batu dared not make a hasty conclusion. After all, this person was not only the leading envoy of Great Chu but also the only relative of Queen Ah Lan in Great Chu.
He was here to receive Song Chongjin’s delegation on Queen Ah Lan’s orders, with instructions to take good care of them and ensure nothing went wrong.
With Queen Ah Lan placing such importance on it, he naturally needed to be even more cautious.
After thinking it over, Batu finally said, "Let’s not make this public for now. Let’s be careful and investigate over the next few days to find out the woman’s true identity!"
The confidant nodded and retreated to the side.
anwhile, in the tent, Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu were having dinner. Since they had just left Great Chu, their food supplies were still quite abundant.
Not to ntion, each rchant caravan brought their own cooks and had plenty of their own delicacies. Throughout the trip, they rushed on during the day but could rest and allow their cooks to showcase their talents in the evening.
Delicious food always comforts the weary, and rewards one’s day’s labor.
None of the rchant caravans granted the opportunity were foolish. Every evening, they would proudly present their specialties to Song Chongjin’s main tent.
Though other delegation mbers might have a slightly lesser share, they didn’t miss out altogether.
So in recent days, Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu have savored quite a variety of dishes. As the quantity and diversity of dishes presented were excessive, they would pick one or two to try each day, sending the rest to the guards or distributing them among the hundred soldiers.
Thus, when the half-roasted ga was sent from the grasslands, they only glanced at it. After Wang Yongzhu checked it was non-toxic, they each sliced off a few pieces to symbolize their acceptance, then had the soldiers take it away to share and enjoy.
While eating, the two discussed how now that they were on the grasslands, every move would be watched. Earlier, Wang Yongzhu had stayed with Jinhoo’s caravan; the short ti went unnoticed, but if it prolonged, people would likely find out, and it would also be hard to hide from those in the grasslands.
Instead of being discovered and sparking various speculations, why not openly present themselves to everyone?
Moreover, the Emperor was very much aware that this was also Wang Yongzhu’s task, wasn’t it?
There was nothing to fear!
Having made their decision, the next day, before anyone from the grasslands ca to probe for information, Wang Yongzhu brazenly appeared.
The deputy envoy Fu Jian naturally knew about this. Upon seeing Wang Yongzhu, he greeted her with a smile, as if they t daily for greetings and pleasantries.
Though surprised, the other delegation officials kept their composure in front of the grasslands representatives and also stepped forward to greet.
The reception team from the grasslands stood stunned, and it was a while before Batu spoke: "Is this Madam the wife of Lord Song? How co we didn’t see her yesterday?"
Song Chongjin replied indifferently: "My wife was unwell yesterday, so she didn’t appear. Why, isn’t Lord Batu welcoming my wife to the grasslands?"
What a hat to put on! Batu quickly waved his hands: "How dare I! Lord Song misunderstood. What I ant was, the docunt didn’t ntion that Madam was part of the delegation, so we thought there were no won in the delegation. We indeed neglected Madam—"
Though he said this, everyone understood the implication. It was a subtle accusation that Song Chongjin unofficially brought a family mber along, against protocol.
However, Batu quickly changed his tone: "Had we known Madam was coming to the grasslands, we would have prepared so maidservants to attend her. Unfortunately, here in the desert, it’s an imposition on Madam, but once we leave the desert, we will surely find so close maidservants for Madam—"
Before Song Chongjin could speak, the deputy envoy Fu Jian cheerfully intervened: "Lord Batu must not have carefully read the docunt. It clearly states that there are twenty mbers in this delegation, and Lady Dingguo is included."
Wang Yongzhu also smiled and said: "Thank you kindly, Lord Batu, but I am not used to having others attend . There’s no need for maidservants!"
Batu was montarily dumbfounded—didn’t read the docunt carefully? Impossible, right? Smiling, he said, "Could it be I truly misread?"
Fu Jian decisively produced the docunt from his robes, presenting it to Batu and pointing: "Lord Batu, look here, led by Song Chongjin, with assistant Fu Jian, along with Lee Changnan, Zhang Congshan, making a total of twenty. ’Among them’ includes Lady Dingguo! If you don’t believe, you can count our delegation’s numbers—exactly twenty people."
Batu didn’t know if he should utter a profane phrase! He rembered the last horrid experience battling Great Chu officials for three days over a similar ’among them’ term—he didn’t want a repeat of that.
Great Chu officials’ ability to scrutinize wording was unsurpassed, all looking respectable but not behaving so.
He considered himself not eloquent enough to argue; he’d gain nothing and end up doubting his own intellect.
Forget it, no need to humiliate himself further.
Grinding his teeth, Batu endured, squeezing out a smile: "My mistake! My apologies! Please forgive , Madam!"
Wang Yongzhu glanced a bit more at Fu Jian—this one indeed a talent! Interesting! Though the wretched Emperor had given her such an unreliable task, the assigned auxiliary officials were quite competent.
At the very least, it showed when they reached the Wang Capital and wanted to act expediently, with Fu Jian present, she’d have no concerns about the other delegation mbers.
With Fu Jian stepping forward, Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu barely needed to intervene more. He, with a smile, took Batu aside to discuss sothing privately.
From then on, Batu didn’t approach them as intimately for the next few days, sparing them a lot of hassle.
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