Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 940: Chapter 748: Family Banquet or State Banquet?

“In the Great Zhou, one man can have multiple wives and concubines, whereas in our Bashu and Southern Border, one woman can have multiple husbands! On this point, both sides should take a step back. Our Southern country’s daughters will marry with your clansmen without seeking multiple husbands, and your men should also refrain from having multiple wives and concubines. One woman and one husband, one husband and one wife, a pair for a lifetime! Can it be done?” Gu Changsheng swirled the glazed cup and spoke with a keen spirit.

Upon hearing this, a group of madams immediately rejoiced. How is this taking a step back? This is simply an unexpected delight. They initially thought that if this matter succeeded, their young men would have to tolerate their wives having multiple husbands. But now, it seems they had overthought the situation!

The Left Prime Minister and Minister of Revenue, along with others, were also overjoyed upon hearing this.

Counting carefully, Bashu and the Southern Border women have yet to marry outside their tribes. Even Southern Chen and their affiliated Liaodong of the Northern Country didn’t have this privilege! It is known that the Crown Prince and the Southern Emperor’s grand wedding is a major national event. Even though in the future, the two states will benefit from trade relations, isn’t every country fraught with intricate power struggles? Even if there’s a willingness at the top, any slight move from those below makes things difficult!

But intermarriage between nobility is different. Since they are intermarried, they’re family now. Family doesn’t speak as strangers, so who wouldn’t facilitate things for them?

This is also why intermarriage has been a prevalent practice throughout history. There’s simply no more reliable relationship than this!

“Don’t be so quick to smile—I haven’t finished speaking!” Gu Changsheng spoke again and continued, “That madam also mentioned pros and cons, so I’ll speak frankly. You all are leaders of influential households in the Great Zhou, lowering your status to allow your clansmen to marry our Southern country’s daughters merely to gain some wealth from us. However, our Bashu and Southern Border have always been female-centric, building a nation based on women. Therefore, intermarriage and commerce are feasible, but after marriage, if a male is born, he takes the father’s surname and belongs to your Great Zhou. If a female is born, she must inherit the lineage of our Bashu and Southern Border. Is this acceptable?”

“Yes! Yes! Extremely acceptable!” The Madam of the Minister of Revenue exclaimed, overjoyed.

It’s about meeting each other’s needs and receiving what is due!

The Great Zhou values males over females, placing importance on progeny whereas the Southern country values females over males, emphasizing the Witch Gu female lineage! What could be more delightful?

“In that case, let’s make it settled. I will ask my female officials if anyone is willing to give up three thousand lords to marry any of your Zhou Dynasty men, then make arrangements!” Gu Changsheng raised his cup, and the group of madams quickly followed suit, even the male guests like the Left Prime Minister and others across the way raised their cups to toast Gu Changsheng.

Nobody expected that such a significant matter concerning the intermarriage and trade relations between two countries could be so easily discussed at an ordinary family feast!

The Minister of Revenue couldn’t help but glance at his own wife. When the anecdotes from this feast are spread, it is likely that all the Imperial Decree Ladies present will be recognized for their significant contributions to the nation, with their status potentially even elevated a few ranks. Who knew, these women’s diplomacy might even be recorded in the annals of national history!

The Left Prime Minister, Sang Jie, seemingly understanding the Minister of Revenue’s thoughts, raised his cup to him with a smile, “Who could foretell that the Southern Emperor is a woman…”

Everything unsaid, even though the emperor is female, indeed women are easier to negotiate with, and right now, at this ceremonial family banquet, with the perfect timing and setting, such a major issue concerning trade relations between the two countries was effortlessly settled!

“Thinking it over, it seems our clan has taken great advantage of the Southern Emperor; how could this set my heart at ease?” said the Madam of the Minister of Works, quite honestly feeling a bit conflicted.

Saying “our clan” indeed refers to the Great Zhou’s side; both sides are fully aware but chose not to speak it explicitly at the family feast.

Intermarriage is just the beginning. Trade is also a beginning. As long as the intermarriage succeeds, the Southern country and the Great Zhou can be truly considered one family; those above and below will likely follow today’s agreements. Even ordinary families could freely move in the Southern country, and even better, they could marry Southern country’s daughters and gain prosperity!

In the long run, there would truly be no distinction between them, sharing honor and disgrace; even if the Southern country becomes more fierce, the Great Zhou would have no worries!

“It’s simple enough; calculating it, our clan marrying Southern country daughters gains benefits, so why not reciprocate by marrying our daughters over to them as well?” said the Madam of the Minister of Revenue with a smile.

Gu Changsheng smiled faintly and remained silent, holding his cup.

The madams present were all from families of high officials and were not from small households inexperienced. Naturally, they knew the gravity of the matter and immediately began discussing in earnest.

“This is greatly beneficial; we marry one of yours and also send one of our daughters over. It is said that the Southern country’s men have lower status than women and find it hard to marry. Wouldn’t this be mutually beneficial?”

“Indeed, as the Southern Emperor said, our daughters married out of the clan desire nothing else, only asking for one wife and one husband—is everyone satisfied with that now?”

“Exactly! But the Southern country values the Witch Gu bloodline, the female lineage. Thus, when our clan’s girls marry over, they must be properly documented, and if the Central Plains daughters bear children, without prior consent, they must not seek any Witch Gu lineage inheritance!”

“Precisely! Talking about all this seems tedious; we, as women, are inevitably shallow in our knowledge and depend on the Southern Emperor to have female officials draft a plan, so our family lords can discuss without omissions!”

“…”

“…”

The madams, with a word here and there, truly started considering things from the Southern country’s perspective.

The more Gu Changsheng listened, the more pronounced the curve at the corner of her mouth became. The expressions of the elder statesmen behind her, including Hongyan Jiaojiao, also relaxed.

Everyone prefers dealing with straightforward people!

In life, one should be content and repaid kindness in kind—thus, reciprocity becomes courtesy!

Although these Madams spend most of their time in their secluded inner chambers and there is no lack of dirty business in vying for favor, compared to those court officials who toy with power and schemes, their hearts are relatively simple!

Since entering the Capital City, Gu Changsheng had never attended any national banquets held by the Great Zhou as the Southern Emperor, not even when the marriage negotiation was imminent. She never discussed the relations between the two countries, treating it entirely as a marriage matter in an ordinary family, talking only about propriety, not state affairs!

However, her marriage with Zhou Mu is a national wedding after all. Now that her father has arrived in the Capital City, the wedding date can soon be set. Since it is a national wedding, discussing state affairs is unavoidable. Rather than waiting until after the marriage, which might affect her relationship with Zhou Mu, it is much better to reach a consensus in such a harmonious situation! Although Gu Changsheng is not afraid of such matters, achieving agreement under these peaceful circumstances is truly for the best!

Both parties getting what they desire—isn’t this a win-win situation?

The opening of trade routes is imperative. By then, her Southern Border Bashu would naturally be impacted by foreign cultures. Instead of being compelled later, it would be better to take advantage of the situation now. In so doing, the rules are set early, the framework established, and the future influence on her Southern Border Bashu remains under control—isn’t that truly beneficial?

With a charming smile, Gu Changsheng stood up holding the luminescent cup and walked towards the seats of the Left Prime Minister and others. Upon seeing her approach, the Left Prime Minister and others naturally also rose with their cups in hand.

“Gentlemen have good eyes—having virtuous wives like these Madams at your homes, where husband’s and wife’s efforts multiply results, I am sure that after tonight’s banquet, the Great Zhou owes a great debt of gratitude to you and your Madams!” Gu Changsheng lifted her cup, speaking with a smile.

“This is thanks to the Southern Emperor’s guidance, otherwise, this affair might have seen twists and turns for a long time!” The Left Prime Minister’s elder face was full of wrinkles from smiling, never so delighted before, he tilted his head back, emptying the cup.

If not for the Southern Emperor suggesting that their Madams attend, if not for the Minister of Revenue’s wife valuing gain and mentioning the matter, where would the opportunity arise to finalize the major issue of inter-country trade and marriage alliance at a usual family banquet?

A usual family banquet? Ah! No!

The Southern Emperor extends the invitation, and right as the Ruler of the Southern Country is about to finalize the wedding date, this Heavenly Palace feast is certainly no usual family banquet!

It was destined not to be a usual family banquet from the start!

Compared to a national banquet, it is even more so!

“In this life, having the fortune to attend such a grand feast must ensure one’s name is recorded in history forever!” The Minister of Revenue was so excited he gulped down his drink the moment he raised his cup. Usually not such a bold drinker, he coughed repeatedly, even bringing tears to his eyes, yet the smile on his face was unmistakable.

“Then it is thanks to the Lord and the Sovereign Highness’s blessing for coming to the Capital City, I shall not toast the Southern Emperor this time. Lord, you temporarily substitute for the Sovereign Highness, and return two cups of wine to me! When the Sovereign Highness awakens from his dream, I will bring my wife here to ask for another drink!” The Minister of Works, being a seasoned character, turned to speak to Gu Taitian seated in the higher position, daringly proposing to use one cup of wine to toast two people and get two cups in return!

Hearing this, Gu Taitian’s smile deepened further, signaling the Female Officials beside him to fill another cup of wine, he raised the cup towards the Minister of Works, “In that case, let us hope your kind words come true, when my beloved wakes, Taitian will certainly prepare fine wine and dishes so we can drink to our heart’s content!”

The Minister of Works’s words were truly likable, tailored to the listener, knowing that Gu Taitian cared most about the person in the coffin beside him, with an underlying prayer for the early awakening of the one in the coffin, how could one not feel comforted by hearing such words?

“Lord, do not favor one over the others, when your family is reunited, we too will come to ask for wine to drink!” The Left Prime Minister immediately echoed with a laugh, “This Heavenly Palace’s fine wine is not something an ordinary person can drink just like that, Sang Jie is extremely honored!”

“Thanks for your kind words, cheers!”

“Cheers!”

“…”

Gu Changsheng watched with a smile at her father who rarely smiled so heartily, exchanging a glance with Zhou Mu, everything conveyed without a word.

Cups clinking and toasting, round after round, the feast truly was a genuine celebration for both guests and hosts!

However, only one person was completely perplexed!

Soh Wu’s robust body sat behind the seats, taking a crispy fried meat piece and chewing it forcefully. Unable to bear it any longer, he finally stepped forward with a cup in hand, his coarse arm nudging the laughing Left Prime Minister, Sang Jie, as he conversed with Gu Taitian, knitting his brows in confusion and speaking up, “You old foxes, what hint are you all really getting at in your words?…”