Chapter 79 - Meng Zhang's secret

Later, the letter sent by Feng Long arrived in Nanchang. Meng Zhang was walking in the city with Xie Yun, so the pigeon had to wait until they come back.

It didn't take long for them to come back. Xie Yun walked to his room, so Meng Zhang was alone. As he noticed the pigeon, he immediately picked up the letter:

-"Greetings to his Majesty, Meng Zhang. I, Feng Long, am planning a way to visit your empire and renegotiate some commercial treaties. We are concerned about our excessive reliance on Anhui so we think a new treaty between our empires is going to be beneficial for both of us. Given that our cities are so far apart, and I want to do it in person, I humbly ask your majesty to lend four racing horses for us. We will have to change them in Shangrao and Yingtan. This is expected to cut our journey time to less than half compared to using a carriage and conventional horses. We are all set, just waiting for your reply. Cordially, Feng Long, emperor of Zhejiang".

-A new treaty, this interesting! But I think Xie Yun will not be very happy to see Feng Long here. It is better to hide it from him...- Meng Zhang thinks.

Meng Zhang walks to the door, closing it. He then sits down and starts to write a reply. A few moments later, Xie Yun arrives at his room. He finds it odd to see the door closed, and knocks on it. Meng Zhang quickly hides the letters, gets up, and opens the door for Xie Yun. He bows:

-Please, you can rise... - Meng Zhang smiles, helping him to rise.

-Your majesty, are you frightened about something? I have hardly ever seen your door closed. 

-No, I'm... I'm ok, I just wanted to get rid of some cold air currents...

Xie Yun notices a pigeon in the window:

-Hey, your majesty, a pigeon!

-Ah, yes... But it has nothing attached to it.

-Surely... But it seems to be waiting to get something... A normal pigeon would not stay there doing anything.

Xie Yun moves ahead, and Meng Zhang blocks him:

-Xie Yun, please... Let it alone...

-What's going on, your Majesty? It is just a pigeon!

-Yes, but... But I'll try to paint him later, that's why it is standing in the window... - Meng Zhang feels embarrassed.

-Painting??? I've never seen you do one...

The pigeon flies away. Xie Yun smiles:

-Well, I think you will have to paint without any reference.

-I lost my motivation... Please, let me alone...

Meng Zhang lowers his head, and walks to his bed, sitting on it. Xie Yun realized he had annoyed the emperor, and leaves the room:

-I'm sorry... I'll take my leave.

Xie Yun closes the door, as he does so, Meng Zhang locks the door out and moves back to his table, resuming the letter he was writing. The pigeon returns to the window a few moments later.

To speed things up, Meng Zhang sent another document, authenticating it using his imperial seal, so Feng Long just need to show it to get the horses. 

He then attaches it to the pigeon, and it flyes away. Xie Yun appears at the door and knocks on it. Now free, Meng Zhang walks to the door and opens it. Xie Yun bows to him:

-I apologize to your majesty for annoying you before... It was not my intent...

Meng Zhang smiles, helping him to rise:

-Sometimes I like to stay alone for a while... But you are my prince, and also my partner. This is what matters.

-I acknowledge your majesty's will. 

Xie Yun smiles and moves out of the room. Meng Zhang sits down and thinks:

-What is really making Feng Long travel all this distance when he could simply send a letter? There must be other reasons behind this...

 ...

◄Previous chapter                  Next Chapter►