Sakai Hoshino looked at his nephew Sakai He's questioning eyes and softly said these four words: "After all the hardships, the joy comes."
After Sakai He heard these four words, his expression couldn't help but be startled.
Lean less.
Sakai He's somewhat stunned expression was instantly replaced by an expression of unbelievable surprise.
Although his understanding of Dalong culture is far less proficient than that of his aunt Hoshino Sakai and his younger sister Hanaki Sakuraori, he can still understand what these four words mean in Dalong culture and what they mean. .
"After all the hardship comes happiness."
"After all the hardship comes happiness."
Sakai He's lips trembled as he repeated the words "after all the hardships, the joy comes" twice, and looked towards his aunt with an excited and inexplicable look in his eyes.
After all the hardships, happiness comes, just four simple words.
However, just these four simple words are far worth a thousand words to Sakai He, the chief military officer of the Japanese envoy.
"Aunt...Aunt, is it true? You are not joking with the child, are you?"
Sakai Hoshino looked at the disbelieving look on his nephew's face, raised his white and tender hands, grabbed Sakai He's ears and twisted them gently but not hard.
"He'er, what do you mean by this? Do you think your aunt is lying to you?"
Sakai He looked at his aunt's unhappy pretty face and shook his head hastily. With a face full of flattery, he grabbed Sakai Hoshino's wrist and laughed a few times.
"Don't dare, I'll forgive you, aunt.
It’s not that the child doesn’t believe my aunt, but that the surprise came so suddenly that the child couldn’t believe his ears for a while.”
Sakai Hoshino looked at his nephew's smiling face full of ingratiation, covered his pretty red lips with his fingers and chuckled.
Naturally, she would not really be angry with her own nephew.
As my nephew said just now, this surprise was too sudden.
It should be noted that when I was in my room during the day, when I first heard the news from Liu Jun, why didn't I look like such an unbelievable surprise?
That is to say, I couldn't see the reaction on my face at that time, if I could see it.
Thinking about it, my reaction at that time was probably not as good as my nephew's expression now.
"Okay, stop pretending in front of your aunt and go with your aunt to see Mr. Liu."
"Auntie, is this really true?"
Naturally, Sakai He would not doubt his aunt, but in order to ensure that there was nothing wrong with his ears, he asked again.
Sakai Hoshino naturally understood why his nephew asked about his feelings again, because didn't he ask Liu Jun like this at the beginning?
Seeing his nephew's eager expression, Sakai Hoshino smiled and nodded.
However, Sakai Hoshino's character has always sought stability, and she would not give Sakai He a definite guarantee before the issue of awarding soldiers and equipment was officially finalized.
Sakai Hoshino frowned slightly and thought for a moment, then narrowed her beautiful eyes and let out a sigh of relief.
"I dare not say 100% of it, but it should be 90% or 10% possible."
Sakai He raised his hands and beat them together hard, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Great, not to mention nine out of ten, even if it's only sixty percent, my nephew can breathe a sigh of relief.
Auntie, let’s go there quickly, don’t keep His Majesty the Emperor waiting too long.”
"The past must pass, but before it passes, there is one thing that needs to be done."
Sakai He frowned, and the look on his face suddenly became nervous.
"whats the matter?"
Seeing his nephew's suddenly tense expression, Sakai Hoshino chuckled and shook his head.
"He'er, you don't need to be nervous, it's just a small matter.
It’s getting late, and Mr. Liu hasn’t had dinner yet. When we go to see Mr. Liu, we naturally have to prepare some fine wine and food.”
"That's it, aunt, you and sister Yingzhi go over first, and I'll go prepare the food and wine right now."
"Okay, let's go there first. Auntie is waiting for you outside the palace gate. You should try to hurry up and don't let Mr. Liu wait too long."
"My child understands. By the way, aunt, does His Majesty the Emperor have any special dishes that you want to eat?"
"Auntie asked Liu Jun before we came here, and he asked us to just prepare as we like.
As for what food and drinks to prepare, you just have to watch the preparations.
It doesn’t need to be too grand, and it doesn’t need to be too simple.”
"Yes, let's go get ready first."
"Ishibashi-kun."
"The official is here."
"I am going to my aunt and sister Yingzhi to visit His Majesty the Emperor. You can bring back the food and wine in the room to share with the brothers."
"Yes, I understand."
After Sakai Ga left in a hurry, Sakai Hoshino smiled lightly and nodded to Taro Ishibashi.
"Ishiqiao-kun, let's go there first."
"Miss Hoshino please, Miss Sakuraori please."
Sakai Hoshino didn't answer anything. He patted his daughter on the shoulder and walked out of the courtyard first.
Hua Qiyingzhi smiled and waved to Taro Ishibashi, and hurriedly followed in her mother's footsteps.
Taro Ishibashi watched Sakai Hoshino's graceful figure gradually go away, gritted his teeth, clenched his fists and punched the door frame hard.
After the mother and daughter disappeared into the courtyard, Taro Ishibashi let out a long sigh with a complex look on his face, turned back to the table and began to clear away the food and wine on the table.
"Mother."
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Did you feel that something was wrong with the way Mr. Ishibashi looked at you?"
"Yes? What's wrong?"
"Hmm~ Ying Zhi can't tell. I just think he looks very excited every time he sees you, mother."
Sakai Hoshino's lotus feet paused slightly, and patted the little girl's bun with a delicate face.
"Sakuraori."
"Mother?"
"Remember what my mother said, never mention anything about Mr. Ishiqiao in front of Mr. Liu.
Especially don't mention the thoughts you're feeling."
"why?"
"There is no reason, just remember what my mother said."
Hua Qi Yingzhi looked at her mother's serious expression and nodded with doubt on her pretty face.
"Okay, Sakurazhi knows."
"You are so sensible, you will always be my mother's good daughter,"
"By the way, mother, there is something Yingzhi wants to tell you."
"whats the matter?"
"Mother, before you went out to buy fabric this morning and didn't come back, your husband asked Yingzhi an inexplicable question."
"what is the problem?"
"The gentleman asked Yingzhi what he thought of Dalong and whether he liked Dalong."
Sakai Hoshino's delicate body trembled slightly, her expression melancholy was silent for a moment, and she looked down at her daughter with complex eyes.
"Really? Then how did you answer Mr. Liu?"
"Yingzhi answered sir, Dalong is very good, much stronger than our Japanese country."
"Then what?"
"Later, my husband asked me if I wanted to stay in Dalong?"
Sakai Hoshino looked at the girl's childlike appearance, and a look of panic flashed in his beautiful eyes.
"Then you...then how did you answer?"
"Yingzhi replied, sir, I don't know either, but I'm telling you, mother, you really like Dalong."
Sakai Hoshino's footsteps suddenly stopped, he put a pair of jade hands on his daughter's shoulders and squatted down, with an indescribable complex meaning on his pretty face.
"Silly boy, how do you know that mother likes Dalong?"
"Mother, from the moment we got off the ship and stepped onto the dragon, the smile on your face has never stopped.
In the past, when we were in Japan, you rarely smiled. Especially after your father passed away, you didn't smile for a long time.
But since arriving in Dalong, mother, you have changed and become more smiley.
In Yingzhi's memory, mother, you seem to have never been so happy, as if you have become a different person.
So Yingzhi thought, mother, if you don't like Dalong, why are you so happy?"
"me……"
After Sakai Hoshino heard his daughter's question, he stared blankly at the girl's childlike appearance. Her lips pursed and she wanted to say something, but she couldn't.
"Yingzhi, what happened next? What did Mr. Liu ask you next?"
"My husband probably wanted to say something at that time, but mother, you suddenly came back, and then the two of us looked at you, mother."
A trace of regret flashed in Sakai Hoshino's eyes, and he nodded twice with a wry smile.
"Well, mother knows."
"Mother."
"Why."
"Do you like Dalong very much?"
"Mother, mother doesn't know either."
The little girl raised her hand and scratched her forehead, smiling nonchalantly.
"Well, it turns out that you don't know, mother."
Sakai Hoshino gently rubbed his daughter's hair twice, stood up and looked at the lantern hanging under the corridor above, quietly lost in thought.
After a long time, Sakai Hoshino asked, seemingly unintentionally: "Sakura Zhi, mother wants to ask you, do you want to stay in Dalong?"
"Hmm~ I kind of want to stay, but I kind of don't want to stay."
"Why?"
"Mother, Sister Yue'er, Sister Lingyun, Sister Yunxin, Sister Lianniang, they are very good to Yingzhi.
When she was at our house before, Sakurazhi had never thought she was so happy now.
Because Sakurazhi wants to be so happy forever, Sakurazhi wants to stay.
But if we stay here in Dalong and don't go home, then Yingzhi may not be able to see her uncle and brother in the future.
If there is no chance to play with Sister Yue'er and the others in the future, Yingzhi will be sad, but if she can never see her uncle and brother again, Yingzhi will be sad as well.
So Sakura Zhi really wanted to stay here with Dalong, but at the same time she didn't really want to stay here.
Sakura Zhi doesn't know how to choose."
Sakai Hoshino looked down at his daughter's tangled and depressed face, and let out a long sigh.
"Oh, mother, isn't it like this?"
Sakai Hoshino's voice was a little suppressed. The little girl didn't hear clearly what her mother was whispering, and instinctively asked: "Ah? What? What did you say, mother?"
Please speak louder, Yingzhi didn't hear you clearly."
"Mom said I have the same idea as you."
"Oh! Then mother, do you want to stay in Dalong?"
"Mother doesn't know either. Let me think about it again."
"Yeah, yeah, Yingzhi knows."
Sakai Hoshino looked at his daughter's well-behaved and sensible appearance, leaned over slightly, took his daughter's wrist, and hurried towards the courtyard where he lived.
"Let's go, don't keep you, Mr. Liu, waiting too long."
"Mother."
"Um?"
"Whatever you choose, Yingzhi will do it. I will always be with my mother."
"Hehehe, silly girl."
After half a stick of incense, Sakai Ga held a tray with wine and food in his hand and hurried towards the courtyard where his aunt Sakai Hoshino lived.
Seeing the mother and daughter outside the arch, Sakai He breathed out a heavy breath.
"Auntie, little sister, I've kept you waiting for a long time."
"He'er, don't worry. After you meet Mr. Liu later, you can just follow his words."
"Yes, my child understands."
"Mother, Brother He, let's go see your husband quickly. Don't let him wait too long."
"knew."
"good."
Sakai Hoshino and others responded one after another, straightened their appearance, and walked through the arch of the small courtyard together.
"Hoshino has met Mr. Liu."
"Ying Zhi greets you sir, sir, how are you doing?"
"My minister Sakai congratulates His Majesty the Emperor, long live the Emperor."
Liu Mingzhi, who was quietly looking up at the moon in the night sky in the pavilion, came to his senses immediately when he heard the voices of the three people.
"Everyone is free of charge."
"Thank you Mr. Liu."
"Thank you sir."
"Thank you, His Majesty the Emperor."
After Sakai Hoshino gave his nephew a look, he took his daughter's wrist and walked to the front of the stone bench in the pavilion and sat down.
"Jun Liu, it will take some time to prepare the food and wine, so I kept you waiting."
"It doesn't matter, although night has fallen, it's still early, so a delay of a while and a half is nothing."
"Thank you Mr. Liu for your understanding."
After Sakai He placed the food and wine on the tray one by one, he put the tray aside.
"Your Majesty, time is too short. The ministers have simply prepared some wine and food. I hope your Majesty will not find it objectionable."
"sit down."
"My ministers obey, and I thank His Majesty the Emperor."
Liu Mingzhi picked up a piece of pickled fish with chopsticks and brought it to his mouth, then smiled and gestured to Sakai Hoshino and the others.
"I'm hungry, let's talk while eating."
Sakai Hoshino immediately nodded in agreement, stood up, picked up the pot and poured a few glasses of wine.
"Hey, listen to Mr. Liu,"
"Sir, Yingzhi is also hungry, so I won't be polite."
"Your Majesty, your ministers will be relieved if you are satisfied."
"Hoshino."
"Mr. Liu?"
"I think you should have already explained everything that needs to be said to Sakai He, right?"
"Liu Jun, me.
It’s true…it’s true.”
"Hoshino, don't worry, I don't mean to blame you.
Since you have told Sakai He everything you need to say, then I don’t have to waste any more time."
"Thank you, Mr. Liu. Before coming to see you, Hoshino told He'er all the things that should be explained to He'er."
Liu Mingzhi put down his chopsticks, picked up the drink and took a sip.
"Sakaiga."
"The minister is here."
"Since your aunt has already told you some things, I don't need to say more. You just need to understand."
"Yes, yes, the ministers understand, the ministers understand."
"I still said what I told you before, your Japanese country is a vassal state of the Great Dragon Kingdom, and the other countries are also vassal states of the Great Dragon Kingdom.
On the surface, there are some things that I would not be happy to do in a biased manner."
"His Majesty the Emperor is Holy Ming."
"I won't hide it from you. A large part of the reason why I agreed to your Japanese mission's request this time is because of Hoshino's face.
If Hoshino hadn't kept nagging in my ears about military preparations, I might not have made up my mind so quickly.
If you can get what you want, you have to thank your aunt for her selfless help."
"Yes, yes, I understand."
Liu Mingzhi looked at Sakai He's respectful expression of nodding his head and lowering his eyebrows, raised an imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth, and then picked up a piece of soy sauce beef and put it in his mouth.
"Although I have instructed the civil and military officials in the DPRK to resolve the matter of rewarding troops and equipment as soon as possible, the specific details still need to be carefully reviewed by you and them.
If you have any questions during these three days, just go directly to Mr. Wang of Honglu Temple."
"My ministers understand. Thank you, His Majesty the Emperor, for your kindness. Long live the Emperor."
"There is also a very important point about you. You must handle it properly."
"ah?"
"Um?"
"The ministers are confused, the ministers are confused, please enlighten me, His Majesty the Emperor."
Liu Mingzhi frowned and slammed the chopsticks in his hand on the table.
"I made this decision out of consideration for Hoshino. Do you think it's appropriate for everyone to know about it?"
Sakai Hoshino saw the unhappy look on Mr. Liu's face and hurriedly stood up to fill another glass of wine for him.
"Liu Jun, He'er is still too young. I hope you..."
"Um?"
Sakai Hoshino's delicate body trembled, and he put down the wine bottle in his hand and did not dare to say anything more.
Seeing his aunt's uneasy expression, Sakai He hurriedly stood up and saluted Mr. Liu.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty the Emperor, I will guarantee with my life that there will never be any rumors that are detrimental to Your Majesty the Emperor and the Dalong Court.
If you can't do it, the minister is willing to accept the punishment."