"Your Imperial Majesty, Chieftain Burat is requesting that you join him in the courtyard." Sze Chang informed Ye An.
"What? Right now?" Ye An quirked her head sideways, mildly astonished at the sudden request.
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. If it's not an inconvenience." Sze Chang bowed his head slightly while Chieftain Burat stared straight at Ye An unflinchingly.
"Alright, let's go then." Leaving their food half-touched, the group went out to the adjoining courtyard.
When they stepped out into the courtyard, Chieftain Burat gave instructions to his men and both of them left after that. He then spoke softly to Sze Chang so that the Minister of Foreign Affairs could translate his words. "Chieftain Burat is saying that unfortunately, he doesn't have any great-granddaughters your age, only a great-grandson. So a marriage to strengthen this alliance wouldn't be possible. But he would like to present you with an offering of gifts."
"You're too kind, Chieftain Burat." Ye An said, guilt nagging at her conscience. The Northern chieftain only smiled and shook his head humbly. It was the first time Ye An saw this friendly side of Chieftain Burat directed towards her.
After a few minutes, Chieftain Burat's men returned. Ye An heard the clopping of hoofs on the cobblestoned pavement before the men reappeared. Both of them held the reins of eight white horses and a white camel between them as they walked towards the chieftain. Where the saddles usually go on the animals, glossy midnight blue silk covered them.
Sze Chang gasped at the sight, whispering urgently into Ye An's ears. "Your Imperial Majesty! It's the nine white gifts! The most sacred offering in Northern culture! And it is especially sanctified if the chieftain, the leader of all Northern tribes, is behind the gift! They are even covered in blue silk scarves which are only ever used for gifts presented to someone whom the giver highly respects."
The pale animals glowed ethereally under the moonlight. Ye An couldn't stop herself from reaching out and petting one of the horses closest to her. The pearly white horse huffed and shook his mane elegantly at the contact. Even Xi Chen couldn't seem to process what he was looking at. He had never witnessed such delicate yet imposing creatures even with all his years in the military.
Ye An couldn't seem to find the words to convey the weight of her appreciation for the chieftain's gift. "This is.. I'm absolutely lost for words, Chieftain Burat. Thank you."
"It's my pleasure." Chieftain Burat replied in the common tongue.
"I don't even know what I could present to you in return for such a generous offering, I'm not even sure we have anything we could offer that is quite to that level." Ye An exclaimed.
Sze Chang translated Chieftain Burat's reply. "The chieftain said that there is no need for a return gesture. This is his gesture to return Your Imperial Majesty's offering of friendship."
"That is quite a grand gesture of return." Ye An praised, still in awe of the gifts she had received from Chieftain Burat.
"He wanted me to pass along the message that no gesture is as grand as the offer of a friendship." Sze Chang smiled.
YOU ARE READING
THE NIGHT EMPEROR: 夜安王 【The Night Emperor Book 1】| ✔️
Historical Fiction☑ COMPLETED "There are enough bad things in life, hold on to whatever it is that gives you joy." For the past 22 years, the Empress Mother has held onto the Dragon Throne that was rightfully Ye An's. Now, Ye An has finally ascended to the throne. Bu...
