The Prospective Imperial Son-in-Law Captain had been bound up like a dumpling by Li Wan's Word Spirit.
He sat with his head bowed in a damp, shadowy corner of a cave, racking his brains and still unable to understand how things had ended up like this.
As the Sovereign's favored prospective son-in-law, he was undoubtedly talented and highly regarded. His wedding to the Princess had been set for next August, and his future father-in-law had generously promoted him, even entrusting him with the task of receiving the Kang Country delegation and explaining its importance beforehand.
His country's Dynasty Name was Zhen. It had once bordered Gao Country.
When Gao Country was destroyed, Zhen Country naturally acquired a new neighbor.
Zhen Country was a small state surviving in the cracks between greater powers. It had neither natural geographical advantages nor enough troops to turn its surroundings into an iron fortress, easy to defend and hard to attack. On top of that, it had limited farmland and depended heavily on the Central Continent for food. These many constraints dictated its foreign policy: endure if it could, retreat if it must, preserve itself, and outlast its enemies! It had always fawned over Gao Country.
Gao Country's Sovereign, Wu Xian, was also a capable and virtuous ruler.
No one knew how capable he was, but he certainly had a good temper.
He not only accepted Zhen Country's flattery, but also didn't mind private exchanges between their peoples. Zhen Country obtained plenty of salt from Gao Country, and its merchant caravans could even use the neighboring roads. In gratitude, Zhen Country sent fine gifts on holidays to show its goodwill. It had also sent dozens of beauties.
Most of those beauties were bestowed upon meritorious officials.
Only one or two had managed to catch Wu