I traveled back to the Qin Dynasty, and the First Emperor begged me to become his empress.

Chapter 384 The Xiongnu Royal Court

Ying Wuyou wore a gentle yet confident smile, a smile as captivating as a flower blooming in spring. With graceful movements, she picked up the exquisite wine jug on the table, its patterns shimmering faintly in the candlelight. Slowly tilting the jug, the amber-colored fruit wine flowed like a lively stream into the glass before Lü Zhi, the liquid rippling gently and releasing a sweet, fruity aroma.

Ying Wuyou raised her wine glass, the fruit wine within appearing even more alluring against her fair fingertips. Her gaze was firm and bright, and then, she slightly raised her chin, saying in a clear and powerful voice, "A toast to all women!" Though her voice wasn't loud, it seemed to possess a power that pierced the heart.

Sitting opposite her, Lü Zhi narrowed her intelligent eyes slightly, keenly understanding the deeper meaning behind Ying Wuyou's words. It wasn't just a simple toast; it was an expectation for women everywhere to break free from constraints and pursue freedom and equality, a vision for women's future status. A hint of surprise and admiration flashed in her eyes, and without hesitation, she steadily picked up the glass of fruit wine before her.

Two wine glasses slowly approached each other, and at the moment of imminent contact, time seemed to freeze. A crisp "clink" rang out, a sound like a mysterious signal, or an invisible key, unlocking a new era. In this new era, women across the land may no longer be bound by traditional shackles; they will bravely step out of their secluded chambers to pursue their own dreams and write their own glorious chapters. The lingering echo of the clinking glass seemed to reverberate through the long river of history, foreshadowing a revolution in the destiny of women about to begin.

For the rest of the time, Ying Wuyou and Lü Zhi chatted happily, their conversation covering everything from the state of the world to anecdotes and personal preferences. Their dialogue flowed naturally like a gentle stream, as if they had known each other for many years.

Before long, a guard brought in a sumptuous meal. The exquisite dishes emitted an enticing aroma, making one's mouth water. Ying Wuyou smiled and invited Lü Zhi to dine with him, and Lü Zhi gladly accepted.

At the dinner table, they continued their pleasant conversation. Ying Wuyou shared his ideals and ambitions with Lü Zhi, who in turn offered him many valuable suggestions based on her wisdom and insight. The two enjoyed the delicious food while discussing current affairs, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.

This meal not only brought Ying Wuyou and Lü Zhi closer but also deepened their understanding of each other. From then on, Lü Zhi became Ying Wuyou's advisor, offering her advice and strategies, and together they wrote their own legendary story.

For the next period of time, both Lü Zhi and Ying Wuyou devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the affairs of the academy. However, things were not peaceful in the Xiongnu tribes thousands of miles away.

After Lu Jia and Liu Qi arrived at the Xiongnu border, they ventured deep into the Xiongnu territory under the guise of merchants. These two men carried an important mission; however, they encountered unexpected obstacles as soon as they set foot on the Xiongnu border.

As they reached the border, they were suddenly stopped by a group of people dressed in foreign attire. These people had menacing faces, were armed, and clearly had ill intentions.

Lu Jia and Liu Qi were startled, but quickly regained their composure. Lu Jia forced a smile and said in broken Xiongnu, "We are merchants, here only to do some business."

The leading Xiongnu snorted coldly, his eyes full of suspicion: "Who knows if you are spies sent from the Central Plains!"

Liu Qi quickly stepped forward, took out some exquisite silk from the Central Plains from the package, and handed it over: "Sir, these are for you, consider it a token of friendship."

The Xiongnu man took the silk, examined it carefully, and his expression softened slightly. Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar, and another group of Xiongnu came galloping towards them. Leading them was a burly, sharp-eyed middle-aged man. The Xiongnu who had stopped them immediately stepped forward and whispered a few words in the middle-aged man's ear. The middle-aged man's gaze swept over Lu Jia and Liu Qi, and he said coldly, "Come with us to see the Chanyu. If you are spies, we will not let you off easily!"

Lu Jia and Liu Qi exchanged a glance, inwardly realizing the danger, but they had no choice but to follow the group of Xiongnu people, unaware of what fate awaited them.

Lu Jia and Liu Qi were transported on a bumpy journey, their hearts filled with anxiety. Upon arriving at the Xiongnu royal court, the young Touman Chanyu sat on a high throne, his eyes coldly fixed on them. Touman Chanyu spoke first: "Where did you come from?"

Liu Qi said, "Reporting to the Chanyu, we come from the State of Wei."

Touman Chanyu looked at Liu Qi expressionlessly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He remained silent for a moment, then slowly asked, "You have come here from Wei, a long journey. You must have endured many hardships, right?"

Liu Qi nodded hurriedly, a fawning smile on his face, and said, "What the Chanyu says is absolutely right. We have endured wind and rain and suffered countless hardships to finally arrive at your place."

Touman Chanyu nodded slightly, then asked, "You say you've heard that doing business here can yield large amounts of gold, silver, horses, cattle, and sheep. Is that true?"

Liu Qi quickly replied, "That is indeed the case, Chanyu. When we were in Wei, we heard that your land is rich in resources, especially horses and cattle and sheep, which are of excellent quality. If we can bring goods from the Central Plains to exchange, we will surely obtain a great profit."

Touman Chanyu raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and said with a half-smile, "Oh? So you do have quite a business sense. However, in the land of the Xiongnu, not just anyone can come and do business."

Liu Qi's heart tightened, and he quickly said, "Your Majesty, we are well aware of your land's rules. We have come here with the sincere intention of trading with your people, and have no other intentions."

Touman Chanyu sneered and said, "Since you are from Wei, why don't you live and work in peace in Wei, instead of running to my Xiongnu territory?"

Liu Qi looked bitter and sighed, saying, "Your Majesty, you may not know this, but ever since most of Wei's territory was occupied by Qin, we have been forced to become Qin people. And Qin's laws are far too harsh. My brother was just starving and stole a steamed bun from someone, and he was to be branded. I couldn't bear to see my brother suffer, so I injured the soldiers and fled to this border."

Upon hearing this, Touman Chanyu's eyes flashed with surprise; he hadn't expected Qin's laws to be so harsh. However, he didn't show it, simply saying, "You have committed a serious crime by injuring soldiers."

Liu Qi immediately knelt down and kowtowed, pleading, "Chanyu, spare our lives! We had no choice; we were truly desperate. Please, Chanyu, have mercy and give us a way out!"