Finest Servant

Chapter 429 Beguiled

Glancing up, Seo Jang Geum was seen dressed in traditional Goryeo attire, a beautiful, vibrant pink blouse complemented by a light blue wide-bordered long skirt that gently unfolded, blooming like a spinning petal. The young palace maid had lightly applied makeup; her large eyes faintly adorned with a layer of grey eyeshadow, and her face flushed with patches of red, looking stunningly attractive.

Looking at Seo Jang Geum in this state, it didn’t seem like she was here to negotiate, but rather to talk about love. Lin Wanrong smirked and said, “Miss Seo, you look truly beautiful today, even more radiant than the fairies in heaven by threefold.”

“Thank you for the compliment, My Lord.” Seo Jang Geum bowed her head respectfully, her face reflecting both joy and a hint of sorrow. She quickly guided him to a chair nearby and spoke softly, “Please have a seat.”

Lin Wanrong was puzzled. Was the negotiation concerning the life and death of Goryeo to take place in this hall? Seo Jang Geum was being too careless. While hesitating, he heard her gently say, “—I will assist you in changing your shoes.”

Seo Jang Geum crouched down, an indescribable shyness in her eyes, as she removed his mud-soaked boots and replaced them with a brand-new pair of cloth slippers, gently slipping them onto his feet.

He had enjoyed this sensation before, but tonight was different. There was something odd in Seo Jang Geum's expression, a mixture of shyness and pain, quite intriguing.

Not bothering to dwell on it, Lin Wanrong enjoyed being served by the young palace maid and contentedly sighed, laughing, “Miss Seo, you are too courteous; I could have done this myself. But speaking of which, you Goryeos are quite particular, taking off shoes before entering a room, much like how we in Great Hua undress before bed.”

Seo Jang Geum gave a slight smile without replying, leading him by the sleeve upstairs. He had been to this place before, and the negotiation room seemed to be on the top floor.

The young palace maid walked ahead, looking fresh from a bath, her long hair tied up with a delicate scarf, appearing natural and intimate. Her skin, like crystal, shimmered under the dim light, exuding mysterious hues. Her full bosom moved slightly with her steps, giving hints of her enticing figure, letting the imagination wander. The long skirt brushed the floor, smooth and soft, and a faint fragrance wafted into the nostrils, melodious and lingering, precisely the exquisite rose perfume exclusively sold by the Xiao family.

Women were born to be admired by men. Holding onto this grand notion, Lin Wanrong's gaze naturally fell on the young palace maid, scanning her chest a few times, internally lamenting how rare it was for Goryeo to produce such a naturally beautiful girl. No wonder their descendants were impatient and resorted to surgery to create beauty.

“My Lord, do you remember what you said last time?” Reaching a higher level, just about to step onto the platform, Seo Jang Geum turned back, her cheeks faintly flushed, and asked softly.

“What I said last time?” Lin Wanrong shook his head in confusion, “Miss Seo, I've said more words than the meals I've eaten; which sentence are you referring to?”

Seo Jang Geum lowered her head, “When you came last time, you said that our Goryeo rooms are private, and only relatives may enter.”

It seemed to be so, and Lin Wanrong nodded with a smile, "That's what I've heard, but you also told me that honorable guests could enter as well. I remember correctly, don't I?"

Seo Jang Geum hummed in agreement, sighed, and slid open the door, bowing respectfully, "My Lord, please come in!"

It was the same room as last time, but its appearance was somewhat changed. Inside, the floor heating was warm, red candles burned brightly, and a red silk handkerchief was folded on the low table beside a tall vase filled with bright red azalea flowers. The dewdrops on the petals were crystal clear, and they were in full bloom, their faint fragrance permeating the room and refreshing the mind. The entire room, dominated by red, radiated a joyful atmosphere.

Lin Wanrong was surprised and exclaimed, "So Miss Seo is the true master of flower arrangement! My apologies, I had no idea!"

Seo Jang Geum slightly bowed her head and softly said, "Jang Geum has been detained in Great Hua for a long time and has grown quite fond of the people and things here. But as a daughter of Goryeo, I cannot be greedy for the riches of another place. When it's time to leave, I only wish to take this bunch of bright red Jindallae back to Goryeo to cherish forever, as a token of gratitude for your teachings, My Lord."

Seo Jang Geum's gesture was indeed unusual; coming to Great Hua without bringing silk or tea, but only a few Azaleas that would wither in days, revealed a certain noble taste. Lin Wanrong laughed, "No need for such formality; they are just a few small flowers and not worth much money. If you like them, I'll have someone pick a cartful for you tomorrow. You can take them back to Goryeo and have fun spreading flowers every day."

Seo Jang Geum chuckled, leading him in. Once he was comfortably seated at the table, she sat opposite him. The little palace maid clapped lightly, and a Goryeo woman entered from outside the door, serving wine, food, and fragrant tea, before respectfully withdrawing.

Seo Jang Geum gracefully lifted her long sleeve, revealing her fair wrist and delicate fingers. She picked up the small pot, filled the wine cups, and presented one to Lin Wanrong with both hands, a look of both shyness and melancholy in her eyes, "Wanrong Oppa, this is Soju I brewed myself; please taste it!"

Lin Wanrong had tasted it before and found it water-like. He laughed, "Today, we're here on official business. It wouldn't be good to get drunk and make a mistake, so let's pass on it."

"You must not trust Jang Geum," the little palace maid said, her face downcast, her eyes filled with tears, as she almost began to cry. "Please be assured, even if I lose my life, Jang Geum will not harm you." She brought the wine cup to her lips, tilted her head back, and drained the liquid in one gulp, choking and lightly coughing, tears shimmering in her eyes.

Lin Wanrong hurriedly stopped her, "Miss Seo, what are you talking about? This is Great Hua's territory, how could I worry about you harming me? What would you gain from harming me?"

Seo Jang Geum gritted her teeth, nodding, refilled the cup she had just drunk from, and gently said, "My Lord, Jang Geum toasts you!"

The rouge and powder from her lips still marked the cup, and a faint pink color floated on the clear wine. This girl was indeed stubborn. Lin Wanrong shook his head and smiled, accepting the cup of Soju and drinking it all in one gulp. It was cool to the taste, slightly spicy but with a hint of sourness, quite unique.

"Thank you, My Lord," Seo Jang Geum nodded slightly, her expression suddenly becoming extremely serious, "My Lord, regarding the negotiations between our two countries, let us begin! To demonstrate our country's sincerity, please allow Jang Geum to read our King's authorization letter first."

Lin Wanrong broke into a sweat, realizing that even the authorization letter had to be read. This Miss Jang Geum was really meticulous, not willing to overlook the smallest detail. Seo Jang Geum pulled out the prepared document from the pocket of her long robe, placed it in front of Lin Wanrong, and read it aloud, her voice crisp, "… Green hills and clear waters, with flowers as the matchmaker, I, the King of Goryeo, Yi Seong-Cheol, hereby authorize Seo Jang Geum to represent me fully and negotiate friendly relations between our two nations with the esteemed representative of the Heavenly Dynasty…"

The royal decree of the King of Goryeo was, of course, written in the Goryeo script. Lin Wanrong wondered how Seo Jang Geum had translated it, as it seemed to resonate somewhat with the Emperor's tone. Perhaps she had imitated the style of the Great Hua. Seo Jang Geum calmly finished reading, and said softly, "Sir, it's your turn!"

"Oh, right, I have an imperial edict too." Lin Wanrong pulled out the four-word edict from his bosom, held it up high, and read aloud, "The great land of Great Hua, bestowing equal blessings. A magical handsome man, named Lin San. His achievements are great, with strength to move mountains. He is granted the duty of a statesman, a heavy responsibility to bear. To negotiate with Goryeo, of utmost concern. Success will bring peace, failure war. Thus, it is decreed!"

He spoke with flair and invention, shaking his head and wagging his tail. Seo Jang Geum could only see the large characters "Imperial Edict" on the back, and assumed he was not lying, unaware that the edict contained hidden meanings. Hearing the strong words from the Emperor of Great Hua, the young palace maid frowned and sighed in concern.

"Our Emperor is truly eloquent. Miss Seo, we can begin now, can't we?" Lin Wanrong put the edict away, took a sip of tea from the cup beside him, and said leisurely.

"Yes!" Seo Jang Geum replied, bowing, her face exceedingly solemn, "Mr. Lin, regarding your country's proposal to assist my country conditionally, the King of Goryeo has been informed and has consulted with his ministers. The conditions your country has set are indeed too harsh, and not only the King but even the royal family finds it difficult."

Lin Wanrong nodded. Seo Jang Geum spoke wisely, opening with a statement that neither agreed nor refused, maintaining an ambiguous stance. Since they were representing their respective interests, Lin Wanrong didn't feel the need to be polite and laughed, "Miss Seo, you are right. The conditions set by Great Hua are somewhat harsh. But as you said, they are only somewhat harsh. Compared to Dongyin's invading and committing atrocities, Great Hua's demands, which neither harm people nor seize cities, protect the people of Goryeo and preserve the royal family, all at a great cost to ourselves, are truly compassionate. Miss Seo, in today's world, there is no other country as loving in its harshness as Great Hua."

Seo Jang Geum knew she was no match for him in a debate. Not bothered by his rebuttal, she spoke gently, "Sir, what the one country, two systems proposal means to Goryeo, I believe both our countries are very clear about. Even if the Dongyin invaders are driven out, Goryeo will fall into Great Hua's grasp. Our nation will lose its sovereignty, and the beloved royal family will become a mere ornament. How can the King explain this to his subjects?"

Lin Wanrong sipped his tea, smiling slightly, "Miss Seo, whoever has the responsibility must bear it. In other words, Great Hua helps Goryeo, preserves your homeland, and how you explain it to your subjects is Goryeo's royal family's business. Great Hua has neither the responsibility nor the obligation to intervene. To put it bluntly, in the dealings between nations, we can only look at the results, not the process. No one is a philanthropist. Miss Seo, since you are sitting here, you should have this realization."

Negotiating with Lord Lin was genuinely not something that the young palace maid desired to do. Hearing his stern refusal, a mixture of bitterness and sweetness surged within her heart. She lowered her head and said, "My Lord, is there no other way to resolve this? You are so clever; you must be able to think of something."

"I am clever, but at this moment, I'd rather be a bit foolish." Lin Wanrong shook his head, casually saying, "Miss Seo, I presume you already have an idea in mind. Instead of waiting for my great Great Hua to make a concession and waste time, why not share your thoughts?"

Seo Jang Geum was silent for a moment, not speaking, the candlelight crackling softly as if striking her heart. The bright red festive colors that filled the room were strikingly at odds with the current atmosphere. Lin Wanrong gave the young palace maid a casual glance. She was biting her lip, her snow-white skin under the lamp radiating a crystal-like transparency, and her slightly upturned mouth forming a beautiful curve, revealing her determination.

"My Lord," Seo Jang Geum finally began, "After painful consideration, our King has finally come up with a compromise. If Great Hua is willing to send troops to assist, our Goryeo will cover all of Great Hua's military expenses and compensation. We will pay tribute to Great Hua annually with no less than one hundred thousand taels, and the King of Goryeo will personally come to the capital to pay homage. Additionally, to express Goryeo's sincerity, if Great Hua is willing, our King is prepared to send the Crown Prince as a hostage to reside in Great Hua permanently. He will not return to Goryeo without the Emperor's permission."

The matter of sending a hostage had always been considered a great disgrace throughout history. The fact that the King of Goryeo was willing to send his heir apparent as a pledge to Great Hua was an extreme concession. Lin Wanrong, however, was unimpressed. He chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Miss Seo, I advise you not to play these tricks. A hostage is but a person. In this world, people can be the most valuable and the most worthless. The Crown Prince is of value to Goryeo, but in the eyes of Great Hua, he may not even be worth a blade of grass. If one Crown Prince is lost, ten or a hundred can be raised. As for the annual tribute of one hundred thousand taels, to Great Hua's power, that is but a drop in the ocean. To speak bluntly, we are at your mercy, and you are at our disposal. Goryeo has yet to recognize its position, which deeply disappoints me. Continuing in this manner, even if we talk until tomorrow, there will be no result. I really worry for what will happen to Goryeo tomorrow!"

He sighed with sympathy and pity, playing with the cooling tea cup, and then fell silent.

Seo Jang Geum's small hand clenched tightly, her lips turning pale, and her face darkening in waves as she pondered for a long while. The room was as silent as death.

With a soft "clink," Lin Wanrong tapped the lid of the teacup and stood up. Seo Jang Geum was jolted from her thoughts by his movement. She jumped up and grabbed his sleeve, her voice tinged with a hint of tears, "Wanrong Oppa, where are you going? You can't leave!"

"Who said I'm leaving?" Lin Wanrong smiled, "The tea has gone cold; I'm calling for some fresh tea." He paused for a moment, his expression serious, "However, Miss Seo, you really must hurry. The time being wasted now is yours. With every passing moment, who knows how many Goryeo people will perish in the flames of war?"

"Sir," Seo Jang Geum's lips were bitten through, and wisps of fresh blood seeped out, "your idea of 'one country, two systems'—we in Goryeo can accept, but about the matter of stationing troops—"

"The matter of stationing troops is non-negotiable!" Lin Wanrong heavily pressed the tea cup on the table with a clang, startling Seo Jang Geum so much that her whole body trembled. Seeing his determined expression, grand and imposing like an insurmountable mountain, the young palace maid looked up at him with a mixture of admiration and heartache, tears gathering in her eyes, but she desperately held them back.

Lin Wanrong turned his head away, refusing to look at Seo Jang Geum's face, for fear that his soft heart would ruin the grand plan. With a determined wave of his hand, he declared, "One country, two systems; what does 'one country' mean? The stationing of troops signifies sovereignty; it's the sovereignty of our Great Hua and Goryeo as one entity. If even the military can't be stationed, and judicial and administrative powers are all in your hands, may I ask, where is this 'one country' of Great Hua and Goryeo?"

His voice resonated like a tolling bell, filled with overwhelming momentum. At this critical juncture, Seo Jang Geum also seemed to gather much strength, firmly saying, "Sir, stationing troops is acceptable, but Goryeo must also have its own army; this is our bottom line. Beyond this step, Goryeo would rather shatter like jade than remain whole like tiles."

‘So, you've finally spoken the truth.’ Seeing Seo Jang Geum's teardrops fall, but turning her head away, stubbornly refusing to let him see them, Lin Wanrong felt amused yet also somewhat respectful. At such a critical moment, she, a young girl, disregarded personal pride and shame and stubbornly defended her country's interests. From her standpoint, there was no fault.

"Don't lightly speak of shattering like jade or remaining whole like tiles," Lin Wanrong shook his head, leisurely saying, "Miss Seo, I understand and even agree with your desire to retain armed forces!"

"Wanrong Oppa, is what you're saying true?!" Seo Jang Geum seemed not to believe her ears, looking up at him, two lines of beautiful tears rolling down her cheeks, poignant and touching.

"Do you need me to repeat myself?" Lin Wanrong's face was adorned with a mysterious smile.

"Yes, yes, I heard you," the young palace maid exclaimed joyfully, seizing his hand with a sweet smile, "Wanrong Oppa, you are so kind!"

‘I hope you maintain the same opinion after hearing my full thoughts,’ Lin Wanrong chuckled twice, "Miss Seo, are you sure you really heard me clearly?"

Seo Jang Geum joyfully nodded vigorously, "Of course, you said you would allow Goryeo to retain arms—" She stopped abruptly, astonished, "Sir, the arms you mentioned are—"

This young palace maid finally understands. Lin Wanrong spoke calmly, "Miss Seo, you guessed correctly. Great Hua can permit Goryeo to retain some armed forces. But these arms are only for maintaining regular law and order, assisting in handling crimes, similar to our catchpoles and constables in Great Hua. Their training will be the responsibility of Great Hua, and their weapons will be provided by Great Hua in proportion to basic security needs, without private manufacturing or imitation. As for other security matters, they needn't trouble themselves with those."

Seo Jang Geum's heart plummeted from elation to icy despair. What Lin Wanrong said sounded nice, about preserving some arms for Goryeo. But what use could these controlled catchpoles and constables be? Great Hua merely saw them as tools, maintaining Goryeo's security; only Goryeo's people could carry it out.

All the words had been spoken, and Lin Wanrong sat quietly, waiting for Seo Jang Geum's decision. He could say for certain that the King of Goryeo had already anticipated the final outcome. Authorizing Seo Jang Geum to negotiate with the Great Hua was merely to gain more benefits. Whatever the results, they would not exceed their expectations!

"You already knew our bottom line, didn't you?" The distant voice seemed to come from the horizon.

"There's no such thing as a bottom line at this point," Lin Wanrong chuckled. "At this stage, your greatest bottom line is that there's no bottom line!"

"Sir, meeting you has been the greatest mistake of my life!" Seo Jang Geum bowed her head, tears falling.

"Jang Geum, you might not believe it, but I'm forced to do all these things. With my temperament, I would have been carefree in the Xiao family. Why would I come here and upset you? Life is full of ups and downs, and no one can foresee what will happen tomorrow." Lin Wanrong spread his hands, looking somewhat helpless.

The young palace lady sighed deeply and gently clapped her hands. A Goryeo maid entered the room, holding a tray with writing implements. Seo Jang Geum picked up the brush, but before she could put it to paper, tears dropped onto it.

Lin Wanrong took her hand, and after a moment of closed-eyed contemplation, Seo Jang Geum's pen flew across the paper, recording the matters discussed between the two nations. The King of Goryeo's seal had already been affixed, showing his trust in Seo Jang Geum.

Seeing no objection, Lin Wanrong, to emphasize the seriousness, clumsily signed his name with a brush. Thus, the first territorial agreement of Great Hua in a hundred years was born in his hands.

Seo Jang Geum stared at the words she had personally written, standing dumbfounded for a long time, then suddenly threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Wanrong Oppa, your heart is so cruel!"

"These matters are not something a girl like you can bear," Lin Wanrong sighed, comforting her by patting her shoulder. "In such a weak position, anyone would have failed. Your performance today has been excellent, even better than I imagined. If you want to blame me, I'll accept it!"

"I don't blame you; this is my fate. Wanrong Oppa, hold me tight! Sir, hold me tight!" Seo Jang Geum's tears fell like rain, as she clung to him, soaking his chest.

Sigh, this girl's requests always put one in an awkward position, Lin Wanrong thought, holding her voluptuous body, feeling helpless.

"Wanrong Oppa, do you think I'm beautiful?" Seo Jang Geum gradually stopped crying, lifting her head from his embrace, her face flushed with a bright red tint. Her teardrops made her jade-like skin even more delicate and lovely.

‘She is indeed a bit beautiful,’ Lin Wanrong thought, feeling his eyelids growing heavy, looking at the little palace lady's face. It became blurry, and he toppled over, fainting.

"Wanrong Oppa, please forgive me! Meeting you, Jang Geum has been very happy!" Seo Jang Geum slowly rose to her feet, gazing at his slumbering figure, tears falling in strings. She gently pulled at her clothes, and with a rustling sound, they fell away, revealing her exquisite, flawless body, lying under bright red azalea flowers, endlessly tempting...

In his dreams, Lin Wanrong felt like he was in a small boat, caught in a vast sea of waves, sometimes reaching the peak, then falling to the depths, feeling as refreshing as if he'd had a sauna.

With a cry, he suddenly opened his eyes. Seo Jang Geum, along with the room full of azaleas, had vanished, leaving him lying in the negotiation room, his clothes scattered about, beneath him a small blooming flower, its red color dazzling.

He had been drugged! A thunderous noise exploded in his head, and his entire body went numb.

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