Chapter 126: Seeking Forgiveness?

"This..." For a moment, the members of the Japanese delegation to the Tang Dynasty were left speechless. They had just witnessed their own Ambassador Inugami and Vice-Ambassador Yakushi perform a formal Tang-style apology to a group of Tang officials.

Inugami no Toshiji, seeing his superiors forced to apologize due to this incident, felt a profound sense of self-reproach. However, as the ambassadors had given him no orders, he stood timidly in place, afraid to act rashly for fear of causing further trouble.

At this moment, Li Yi, seeing that the two leaders had finished their apologies, frowned slightly. The Japanese man who had caused the trouble at the Zui Xian Lou (Drunken Immortal Restaurant) had yet to come forward to offer his own apology.

"Ambassador Inugami, Vice-Ambassador Yakushi, I accept your apologies on behalf of the Tang officials for the time being." Li Yi smiled, but his expression suddenly shifted, turning dark and somber.

Narrowing his eyes, Li Yi said in a cold tone, "However... the man who acted so rudely at the Zui Xian Lou and even threatened to deal with us Tang people—why has he not come out to offer his apologies?"

The Ambassador and Vice-Ambassador were taken aback by this. They exchanged glances with a hint of irritation, lowered their heads, and began whispering to each other in their native Japanese.

Zhang Yuxuan and the other Tang officials were stunned. They had never imagined that even after the Japanese leaders had apologized, Li Yi would consider the matter unfinished. He was actually demanding that the specific individual who caused the offense at the Zui Xian Lou come out to apologize. Even more surprising, Inugami no Mitachi and Yakushi no Ehi did not refuse outright, but instead began to consult with each other.

"This..." The onlookers were astonished. "Is Physician Li being a bit too unforgiving?"

"If these Japanese men refuse after their discussion, how will things unfold?"

"Surely Physician Li wouldn't... order someone to give that Japanese man a sound beating to vent his frustration?"

The crowd murmured, feeling a mix of concern and curiosity. They knew Li Yi's character; if the Japanese refused, the man might truly end up being beaten. But then, considering Li Yi's status, they realized their worries were likely unnecessary.

Consequently, they stopped overthinking and felt a surge of pride in Li Yi’s firm stance. After all, whether in the Tang Dynasty or the preceding Sui Dynasty, Japanese envoys had always been treated with excessive courtesy, often catered to hand and foot. Li Yi’s refusal to back down, and his success in making the Japanese bow and apologize, instilled a sense of national pride in the Tang officials.

After a brief silence, before the ambassadors could speak, Inugami no Toshiji stepped forward from the group.

"Ambassador, Vice-Ambassador, the mistake was mine, and it is only right that I bear the consequences myself. I dare not trouble you both further," Toshiji said in Japanese. He then bowed to his superiors and added, "I ask for your permission to go to the proprietor of the Zui Xian Lou and offer my personal apology."

Inugami no Mitachi looked at Yakushi, who nodded helplessly. Mitachi sighed and said solemnly, "Very well, go then. We are friends of the Tang; let us not harbor grudges over such minor misunderstandings."

"Yes, Ambassador, Vice-Ambassador, I understand. I will go at once." With that, Toshiji headed toward the Zui Xian Lou. Seeing him leave, a long-awaited smile finally appeared on Li Yi's face.

***

Inside the Zui Xian Lou, Proprietor Xu had been at ease ever since his waiter returned with the news that Li Yi was coming. He had waited for some time, and when Toshiji failed to return with Tang officials to cause trouble, he found the situation rather amusing.

Proprietor Xu felt that relying on Li Yi had been a very wise investment, even if Li Yi did like to swindle him out of some silver now and then. The patrons of the restaurant, having seen no sign of the troublemaker, had long since put the matter out of their minds and returned to enjoying their meals.

"Miss Yue'er, this portion is for the Young Master, and this one is specifically for you. Please, enjoy," Proprietor Xu said with a flattering smile. Grateful that Li Yi had intervened, he had immediately ordered the kitchen to prepare fine wine and Li Yi’s favorite snacks the moment he saw Yue'er arrive.

Yue'er did not respond. She opened the food box to verify that the contents were to Li Yi's liking, then nodded indifferently and picked up the box.

"My thanks to you, Proprietor Xu. Farewell."

"Not at all, not at all!" Xu waved his hand, watching her leave. "Take care, Miss Yue'er..."

Just as Yue'er reached the door, she brushed past Inugami no Toshiji. Seeing that he was Japanese, she stopped and turned to watch. Toshiji, however, kept his head down, focused only on completing his apology, and did not notice her.

As Toshiji entered the Zui Xian Lou, all eyes turned toward him.

"He's back!"

"Wait... didn't he threaten to bring Tang officials with him? Why does he look like he isn't here to cause trouble?"

"Who knows? He's keeping his head down. Is he looking for gold on the floor?"

"These Japanese people, they really are strange..."

The patrons whispered. Proprietor Xu frowned as he saw the man approaching. Before Xu could speak, Toshiji clasped his hands and performed a deep, formal Tang-style bow.

"I spoke out of turn earlier and offended you, Proprietor. I ask that you be magnanimous and forgive my thoughtless mistake," Toshiji said, his head still bowed.

The entire restaurant fell silent in shock. Even Proprietor Xu stared in bewilderment, his mind reeling. Looking at the sincere posture of the man before him, Xu asked in astonishment, "You... are you actually asking for my forgiveness?"

He found the entire situation truly incredible.