The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1710 - 1704: Kicked Against a Brick Wall

Hearing Batu kowtow to apologize and beg for mercy, Wu En and Bayin finally came to their senses.

They were originally sons of the grasslands’ princes and nobles, quite powerful, their father was a commander of a thousand households, and their grandfather was a commander of ten thousand households.

It should be known that before, the grasslands only had a Khan, no king.

It was later influenced by the Great Chu Country and surrounding states, along with establishing a royal capital and building a huge palace.

The Khan and the princes and nobles all settled in the royal capital and no longer lived nomadically as before.

In the past, any matters were discussed between the Khan and a few trusted commanders of ten thousand households.

Since the current King of the Grasslands visited the Great Chu Country, not only did he bring back a woman from Chu State, who became Queen Ah Lan, but he also imitated the Chu State’s court system and established a grasslands court.

However, the grasslands and the Great Chu Country were indeed different, so besides the commander of ten thousand households, a few civil official positions were added, like Grand Guardian and Chancellor.

Some people, mostly from declining noble families, having no hope of family prosperity in the grasslands, decisively followed the grasslands’ envoy to the Great Chu, seeking a way out.

These people, upon reaching the Great Chu, claimed to admire its culture and stayed there.

Representing the grasslands, they studied the Great Chu’s script at the Imperial Academy and observed the Imperial Court and its officials in the Capital City.

Later, when the Prince of the Grasslands eloped with Qi Le, and the Great Chu in anger expelled all grasslands people.

Once these people returned to the grasslands, life naturally became difficult.

However, they were smart and seeing Qi Le favored by the Prince of the Grasslands, as she was originally from the Great Chu Country, they gathered around Qi Le and became her support in the grasslands, stabilizing her position.

Once Qi Le stabilized and became Queen Ah Lan, these people influenced the King of the Grasslands to choose a fertile land as the royal capital and settled down.

After the grasslands court was established, these people naturally became a literati group opposing the Martial Officials Group.

Over the years, the literati group has controlled most of the court’s voices, making life increasingly difficult for the Martial Officials Group.

On one hand, the original Martial Officials Group, the old princes and nobles, wanting to retain their former status, naturally despised the literati group and Queen Ah Lan behind it.

Were it not for Queen Ah Lan being childless, with the older princes being sons of the Second and Third Queens, and the King of the Grasslands deeply trusting and relying on Queen Ah Lan, granting her significant power, they would have acted long ago.

Currently, a delicate balance exists in the Grasslands Royal Capital, with the Second and Third Queens belonging to the Martial Officials Group, the traditional nobility.

The Fourth Queen represents the new nobility from the literati group, with a son favored by the King of the Grasslands.

The old princes and nobles who have held power for a lifetime have both hatred and fear for Queen Ah Lan and Qi Le. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

However, their descendants, having seen Qi Le at banquets, are captivated by her, being young, impulsive, and self-assured.

In their eyes, though Queen Ah Lan is noble, without heirs, the grasslands’ custom allows widows to be taken by brothers or nephews after the father’s death.

If they could gain the Queen’s favor, after the current King of the Grasslands passes, why couldn’t they become her consort and embrace the most radiant moon of the grasslands, the divine figure from the heavens?

Moreover, in the last decade, the literati group has grown, suppressing the Martial Officials Group, who feel understandably uncomfortable being below them despite their originally esteemed status.

Ambitiously, they consider allying with the Queen, thinking making her happy and favoring the Martial Officials Group would be beneficial.

Many of the younger generation in the Martial Officials Group think this way, with Wu En and Bayin being among the most prominent.

After many efforts, they finally got noticed by the Queen, and being given such important tasks to do, they hoped to execute them beautifully and gain maximum benefit for the grasslands, making a name in front of the Queen.

But unexpectedly, they met with misfortune, and though they made a name in front of the Queen, the outcome was so serious they almost lost their lives.

The earlier fanciful notions vanished instantly.

The two trembled, casting aside youthful pride and conceit, prostrating below the throne, shivering in fear.

After Qi Le finished reviewing the last stack of documents, she had the leisure to look up and glance below.

"Does Ben Kedun eat people, to scare you like this? Can’t even lift your heads?" Her tone turned gentle and joyful, seemingly with a hint of laughter.

Especially the final syllable, like a hook, made one’s heart itch.

Wu En and Bayin’s hearts uncontrollably raced, and they couldn’t help but lift their heads.

Right into Qi Le’s joyful gaze, instantly, the two were dazed and disoriented, seeming as if the only thing left in the world were Qi Le’s eyes.

Not until a long while later did they recover, as if descending from the clouds, unclear of the situation.

They only heard the Queen softly instructing, "After all, they are young, making mistakes is inevitable. Considering their ancestors’ past achievements, give them another chance!"

Then a light laugh: "You must do your tasks well; if you mess them up again, even your grandfathers coming wouldn’t help! Remember?"

Both in bewilderment agreed, and were escorted out.

Outside, standing in the courtyard, feeling the sun and wind, they slowly came to their senses.

Looking at each other, they shared a sense of after-survival joy and an arising immense ambition and desire.

Looking back at the palace, thinking of the person sitting high in there, even more determined to succeed.

In the palace, in front of Batu, Qi Le’s expression became several degrees colder, but Batu knew this was a more genuine side of Qi Le.

After hearing Batu recount the incident, Qi Le couldn’t help but chuckle, "No wonder it’s..." The last words too soft for anyone to hear.

Batu dared not ask, having reported everything, he kept his head down awaiting Qi Le’s instructions.

Qi Le tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table, half smiling, she said, "Now you’ve learned the consequences of underestimating the enemy? That battle back then, we only succeeded because Chu wasn’t prepared. When Chu retaliated, didn’t they reclaim quickly?"

"This time with the trade route, besides our grasslands, the Great Chu has other options, but you didn’t believe it, always thinking Chu had no choice but us. Arrogantly thinking you’d squeezed Chu’s throat, sure to extract concessions! I warned to proceed cautiously, but you doubted, suspecting because I’m from Chu, I speak for Chu. Now you’ve hit a brick wall?"

Her words struck deeply, everyone present, besides Batu, including several officials from the literati group, all kneeled before Qi Le, asserting they dare not!