At dawn, the Western Hills Palace was shrouded in a thin veil of mist.
Today, envoys from Northern Rong were to be granted an audience. There could be no room for the slightest mishap.
The imperial guards of the Palace Front Command stood solemnly along both sides of the hall, their armor gleaming brightly. The atmosphere was grave and imposing.
After roughly fifteen minutes, the shrill voice of a palace eunuch rang out from within the hall.
“His Majesty arrives—”
Everyone immediately straightened their robes and filed into the hall, taking their places in orderly ranks.
Inside Yong’an Hall, gold and jade glimmered everywhere, while carved dragons coiled around the pillars.
Upon the imperial throne at the center sat Emperor Pingkang, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe.
He was already past fifty, yet his face was ruddy and full of vitality. He looked vigorous and hale, with the air of a man still in excellent spirits.
Emperor Pingkang swept his gaze across the assembled officials. His eyes paused briefly on the Crown Prince before he gave a slight nod and spoke.
“Where are the envoys from Northern Rong?”
At the sound of his voice, Cui Yu stepped forward, bowed, and replied in a steady tone, “In answer to Your Majesty, the envoys from Northern Rong arrived yesterday. Your son has ordered the Court of State Ceremonial Affairs to arrange lodgings for them at the Guest House outside the palace and has had interpreters instruct them in court etiquette and prepare for translation. The Northern Rong envoys are now waiting outside the hall for Your Majesty’s summons.”
Although he was overseeing the reception of the Northern Rong envoys, the specific arrangements were being handled by the Court of State Ceremonial Affairs and the Ministry of Rites. He only needed to direct the overall proceedings and did not have to attend to every detail personally.
Emperor Pingkang nodded. “Summon them.”
The eunuch before the hall immediately called out in a high voice, “Summon the Northern Rong envoys to audience—”
The announcement echoed outward in successive waves.
The hall doors swung wide, and sunlight poured inside.
A group of people entered from outside.
Leading them was a man of roughly thirty years of age. He was exceptionally tall and powerfully built, with broad shoulders and a massive frame. He wore the traditional clothing of the Northern Rong grasslands: a cross-collared robe fastened on the left, a leather belt with a gold buckle around his waist, and deerskin boots on his feet. Every step he took was vigorous and forceful.
His features were rugged, with thick brows, deep-set eyes, high cheekbones, and slightly thick lips. His black hair had been braided into several plaits that hung down his back. From head to toe, he exuded the wild, fierce spirit unique to the grasslands.
This was the eldest prince of Northern Rong, Agula.
Behind him followed a young man whose build was nearly as imposing. He looked to be just over twenty and was similarly tall and broad-shouldered. His features bore some resemblance to those of the eldest prince, though he appeared younger and more hot-blooded. His sharp eyes were like those of a hawk as he looked around the hall, making no attempt to conceal his curiosity and scrutiny.
He was the fourth prince of Northern Rong, Batu.
At the fourth prince’s side walked a woman.
The eyes of everyone present naturally fell upon her, and then… quite a few people in the hall could not help wincing.
This should be the Northern Rong princess who had come to marry into the imperial family. However, the princess was extremely tall—nearly half a head taller than the average man of Great Yong. She was also unusually robust, without the slightest trace of the graceful delicacy or gentleness expected of a woman of Great Yong.
She wore a long robe cinched at the waist and leather boots on her feet. Her black hair had been braided into countless tiny plaits, each tipped with silver ornaments that chimed as she walked.
Many of the officials seeing the princess for the first time were inwardly shaken.
They had heard vague rumors that the Northern Rong princess was powerfully built, but hearing such a thing was one matter; seeing it with their own eyes was quite another.
Still, everyone present was well-seasoned in courtly affairs. Their expressions returned to normal in an instant.
When the group reached the center of the hall, Agula knelt on one knee according to the etiquette previously taught by the interpreters of the Court of State Ceremonial Affairs. Placing his right hand over his chest, he said, “I, Agula, envoy of Northern Rong, have come by order of my father the king to pay my respects to the Son of Heaven of Great Yong.”
To everyone’s surprise, the eldest prince’s command of Han was remarkably fluent. Clearly, it was not the result of a single day’s effort, and many officials looked faintly astonished.
The rest of the Northern Rong delegation followed him in saluting.
Emperor Pingkang raised a hand slightly. “You may dispense with the formalities and rise.”
Agula and the others stood. He then ordered his men to present the gifts they had brought. The tribute from Northern Rong consisted of the usual fine horses, sable pelts, pearls, and other treasures. The list of gifts was handed over by an interpreter, while officials from the Court of State Ceremonial Affairs carefully checked and recorded each item.
Afterward, Agula presented the letter of credence with both hands. The reception of foreign envoys followed a set procedure, and everything proceeded smoothly.
Once the letter had been presented, Agula spoke again, his tone warm and cordial.
“Emperor of Great Yong, I came south by order of my father the king. Along the way, I saw that the mountains and rivers of Great Yong are magnificent, its lands fertile, and its people living in peace and prosperity. It has truly opened our eyes. As the old saying goes, Great Yong is the Middle Kingdom, rich in resources and abundant in wealth. If Great Yong and Northern Rong can establish lasting neighborly relations, it will surely be a blessing to the people of both nations. My father is willing to put an end to hostilities with Great Yong, form a lasting alliance, and maintain friendship for generations to come.”
As Emperor Pingkang listened, a pleased expression appeared on his face, and a hint of smug satisfaction showed in his eyes.
The border wars had continued for years. Now that Northern Rong had taken the initiative to seek peace, he naturally felt that it was the result of his own civil and military accomplishments. Stroking his beard, he was just about to respond when Agula spoke again.
“Your Majesty.” Agula turned slightly and gestured toward the woman behind him. His tone was solemn. “This is the most beloved daughter of my father the king, Princess Ulan Tuya.”
At his words, Ulan Tuya bowed respectfully before turning her gaze toward Emperor Pingkang upon the imperial throne.
Agula continued, “My father wishes to marry Ulan Tuya to Great Yong as a symbol of our sincere desire for lasting friendship between the two nations. The princess is the apple of his eye and possesses a noble status. His wish is for the princess to enter the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace. Only then can the two nations truly be considered one family.”
The moment his words fell, the hall descended into sudden silence.
The smile on Emperor Pingkang’s face froze slightly, and the corner of his eye twitched.
Many of the officials in the hall also watched their expressions shift repeatedly.
The Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace?
The Crown Prince already had a Crown Princess. There was no way Northern Rong could be unaware of that. Yet Agula’s words clearly showed that they intended to send their princess into the Eastern Palace despite knowing full well of the Crown Princess’s existence.
In the midst of the silence, a woman’s voice suddenly rang out.
“Emperor of Great Yong.”
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice. To their surprise, it was Princess Ulan Tuya who had spoken.
“I have heard that General Qi is a brave and formidable warrior, victorious in every battle. He once led eight hundred cavalrymen eight hundred li deep into the grasslands, forcing our army to retreat three hundred li. A warrior such as him is greatly admired by the women of Northern Rong.”
As she spoke, her tone shifted.
“And in recent days, I have learned that His Highness the Crown Prince is the nephew of this very Great General Qi. I imagine that His Highness must be a man of exceptional courage as well.”
There was a matter-of-fact quality to Ulan Tuya’s voice.
“We Northern Rong women admire only brave warriors, and we are willing to marry only brave warriors. A man who can draw a bow to shoot eagles and ride into battle to slay his enemies is the only kind worthy of becoming my husband.”
The hall fell silent once more.
The civil officials standing in one line wore a variety of expressions, and many of them frowned inwardly as they cursed.
Barbarians, indeed—they understand nothing of propriety!
They dare flaunt mere brute courage in the court of Great Yong!
A woman actually presumes to speak of marriage arrangements? How utterly improper!
Yet none of them could voice such thoughts aloud.
That was simply the custom among Northern Rong women. What could they say? Besides, could they really argue with a woman in open court?
Some people were also secretly worried. The Crown Prince was the foundation of the nation. If he married a princess from Northern Rong and their child inherited steppe blood, then should anything happen in the future... it would plant an enormous hidden danger.
Everyone turned to look at Emperor Pingkang on the throne.
Emperor Pingkang’s expression darkened slightly. He glanced at Princess Ulan Tuya, then at the Crown Prince. Suddenly, he smiled, stroked his beard, and said, “The princess has only just arrived. There is no need to rush this matter. Let her familiarize herself with the place first; we can discuss it later.”
After a pause, he changed his tone and said with a smile, “You have all come from far away. I have already prepared a banquet. Let us take our seats first.”
Hearing this, Agula was not anxious in the least. He smiled and bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
*
In less than an hour, the entire Western Hills Palace had heard that the Northern Rong princess who had come to marry into the imperial family had declared that she wanted to marry His Highness the Crown Prince—and that she had said it herself before every civil and military official in court.
For a time, the news became the subject of animated discussion everywhere.
When Shen Yanshui heard about it, she was holding half a watermelon and eating it with a small silver spoon, one scoop at a time.
The watermelon had been taken out of the well only that morning. With the summer heat blazing outside, a fine layer of moisture still clung to its rind.
She had scooped out the very center and put it into her mouth. The sweet, refreshing juice burst across her tongue at once—cool and sugary, carrying the unique freshness of summer.
It was utterly delightful.
When she heard Dongyi tell her the news, her hand paused for only a moment before she continued bringing the spoon to her lips. She chewed slowly and swallowed.
Dongyi watched her from the side and finally could not hold back any longer. In a small voice, she asked, “Mistress... aren’t you worried at all?”
That was the princess of Northern Rong! She had heard that the woman was exceptionally tall and sturdy, with broad shoulders and a thick waist... If His Majesty really bestowed her upon the Crown Prince, and the two of them happened to quarrel one day, a single punch from that princess might send all of them flying!
Chunping was usually steady and composed, but now she could not help imagining the princess’s physique. Then she thought of how her mistress was currently with child. If that princess entered the household, saw how much His Highness the Crown Prince doted on their mistress, and grew jealous or resentful... If things turned physical, even if the maids fought with all their strength, they probably could not protect their mistress.
After all, the people of Northern Rong were supposedly rough, unreasonable barbarians who had yet to be civilized...
The more Chunping thought about it, the more anxious she became. Her brows drew tightly together.
Dongyi and Quanfu wore worried expressions as well. Only Nanny Wang stood quietly to one side. She had frowned at first, but after seeing how calm her mistress remained, she said nothing more.
She had served her mistress for so long that she knew Shen Yanshui was not someone who acted without a plan. Since she was not in a hurry, she must have had everything under control.
Seeing Chunping’s troubled expression, Shen Yanshui smiled and said, “Don’t worry. At present, it is merely that the Northern Rong princess has taken a liking to our Crown Prince. His Majesty has not agreed to anything yet, so what is there to be anxious about?”
Her tone was remarkably lighthearted. When she finished speaking, she scooped up another spoonful of watermelon.
She truly was not worried.
Not only because Lady Shen had previously mentioned that a princess sent to marry into the imperial family would not enter the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace, but also because the Crown Prince himself had told her the same thing.
Still, she felt that the Crown Prince had probably not told her everything at the time.
What he had said, in essence, was that the heir apparent was the foundation of the nation. If he married a princess from Northern Rong, their children would possess steppe blood, and that bloodline would pose a hidden danger.
The powerful nobles and scholar-officials of Great Yong looked down on Northern Rong regardless of whether they won or lost a war with them. In their eyes, the people of Northern Rong were all uncivilized barbarians. Emperor Pingkang naturally thought the same way.
Thus, even if Emperor Pingkang was wary of the Crown Prince, he would not go so far as to send a Northern Rong princess into the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace.
Later, however, she had pondered the matter herself and decided there was another, more important reason the Crown Prince had not mentioned.
If the Northern Rong princess entered the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace, would that not make Northern Rong the Crown Prince’s maternal relations? If Northern Rong secretly supported the Crown Prince in stirring up trouble, the situation could become difficult to predict...
For example, they might try to incite internal unrest in Great Yong. She refused to believe that Emperor Pingkang could not see the danger in that.
So she really was not worried.
Unhurriedly, Shen Yanshui ate the entire half watermelon, one spoonful at a time.
She scraped the last trace of red flesh from the rind and set down her spoon, completely satisfied. Then she reached toward the other half beside her.
Nanny Wang’s gentle voice rang out at just the right moment. “Mistress, this fruit is cooling in nature. Since you are pregnant, you should not eat too much. Be careful not to harm your spleen and stomach.”
Shen Yanshui’s hand stopped in midair. Looking at Nanny Wang’s gentle yet unmistakably firm face, she sheepishly withdrew it.
Fine. If she could not have any more, then she could not have any more. There were still plenty of other delicious things to eat, anyway.
“Go and send several of the winter melons in the courtyard to Her Majesty the Empress, Sister Zhang, and Younger Sister Xu. Don’t forget the Second Prince’s Consort and Secondary Consort Yun, either.”
Over the past few days, she had actually noticed a few things. The Second Prince’s Consort had been unusually warm toward her. After making some inquiries about the Second Prince, she had more or less figured out what was going on. The Second Prince seemed to be growing increasingly close to His Highness the Crown Prince?
As for the Sixth Prince... she truly could not see anything particularly outstanding about him.
If she absolutely had to praise him for something, it would probably be that he always appeared gentle and courteous, as though he were eager to recruit worthy talents.
What an act.
Chunping and the others promptly acknowledged the order. When they saw their mistress’s expression suddenly change, however, they did not dare say anything more.
*
Several days passed in this manner.
Shen Yanshui had grown increasingly sleepy over the past few days. She went to bed early and had no idea when the Crown Prince returned or when he left in the morning.
Yesterday at noon, however, the Crown Prince had found time to come back and have lunch with her.
That was when Shen Yanshui learned from him about the progress of the court’s discussions with Northern Rong.
The Northern Rong envoys had spent the past several days haggling with Great Yong. Most of the negotiations concerned matters such as opening trade markets, along with a host of other trivial issues, including the demarcation of borders and the return of prisoners.
There was a great deal to sort out, but according to the Crown Prince, they had nearly reached an agreement. The matter should be settled completely within the next day or two.
Aside from that, Her Majesty the Empress had arranged for Princess Ulan Tuya to stay at Linyun Pavilion on the western side of the palace compound. Court matrons had been teaching her the language and etiquette of Great Yong.
Several days earlier, when the princess had paid her respects to Her Majesty the Empress, all the noblewomen residing at the palace had attended. Shen Yanshui had seen Princess Ulan Tuya then.
She was tall and very sturdily built, with wheat-colored skin. She looked brimming with vitality and seemed as though she knew how to fight.
Most importantly, she was not unattractive. Her features were deep and sharply defined, with high, prominent brows and a straight nose. Her appearance carried a distinctly heroic quality, giving her a bold and spirited air.
Just as Shen Yanshui was thinking about this, Dongyi’s voice came from outside.
“Second Prince’s Consort and Secondary Consort Yun have arrived.”
Shen Yanshui hurriedly rose, straightened her clothes, and went out to greet them.
The Second Prince’s Consort wore a blue beizi, while Secondary Consort Yun was dressed in a goose-yellow blouse and skirt. The two entered the courtyard one after the other.
As soon as the Second Prince’s Consort entered, she gave Shen Yanshui a thorough once-over. Seeing her glowing complexion and bright, smiling eyes, she could not help shaking her head.
“You certainly know how to keep your composure.”
After exchanging greetings, Shen Yanshui smiled and ushered them into the main reception hall. She ordered tea to be served, then sent someone to bring chilled melons.
Once seated, the Second Prince’s Consort took a sip of tea before saying, “There are rumors going around that His Majesty intends to bestow the princess sent here for a marriage alliance upon His Highness the Crown Prince. And yet here you are, taking your ease as though nothing has happened.”
These past few days, news had been flying all over the imperial residence. The question of where Princess Ulan Tuya would end up had remained unsettled, and many people were saying that she might truly be entering the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace.
The Second Prince’s Consort had come today intending to offer Shen Yanshui a little comfort.
But… judging by the situation, it seemed she had been worrying needlessly.
Secondary Consort Yun, who was sitting nearby, was studying Shen Yanshui as well.
She had originally expected to see a woman who was haggard and grief-stricken—or perhaps even furious.
After all, with something this serious happening, how could any woman not be anxious?
Yet this Worthy Lady Shen was something else entirely. Her complexion was rosy, her eyes were smiling, and she looked utterly calm and at ease, as though nothing at all had happened.
Secondary Consort Yun was genuinely puzzled.
Ever since she learned that a princess from Northern Rong was coming to the capital for a marriage alliance, she herself had been on edge for quite some time.
Although the Sixth Prince had already been assigned a principal consort, the position of secondary consort was still vacant. She had no desire to serve the same husband as some crude, barbaric woman from Northern Rong.
“Your Highness flatters me,” Shen Yanshui replied with a smile. “This concerns the state and the nation. It isn’t something I can decide. All I can do is follow His Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince’s arrangements. There’s no point in worrying over something that cannot be hurried. It’s better to keep an open mind.”
The Second Prince’s Consort looked at her calm, composed manner. Although she had long known how dearly the Crown Prince favored Shen Yanshui, she still could not help feeling envious.
Worthy Lady Shen’s attitude clearly showed that she had been spoiled by the Crown Prince to the point of having nothing to fear.
Then again, the Second Prince’s Consort thought as she recalled the appearance of that Northern Rong princess and compared her with the lovely, graceful woman before her, how could the princess possibly compare with Shen Yanshui?
With such confidence, it was only natural that she was not anxious.
At the same time, however, seeing Shen Yanshui like this made her even more wary of the many women in her own husband’s inner residence.
In the past, she had generally preferred to turn a blind eye. She had never paid much attention to how those women schemed and fought for favor, because… His Highness enjoyed watching them become jealous over him, vie for his attention, and act coy and spoiled.
There was simply no way she could manage them all.
But she certainly did not want a “Worthy Lady Shen” appearing in her own residence.
As a result, she had kept a very close eye on the secondary consort and the newly favored concubine whom her husband had brought to the imperial residence these past few days.
Fortunately… ever since her husband had shown an interest in drawing closer to the Crown Prince, and learned that she was rather close to Worthy Lady Shen, he had begun to value her a little more.
As Secondary Consort Yun gazed at Worthy Lady Shen’s smiling, lotus-like face, it was clear that she and the Second Prince’s Consort had thought of the same thing. Along with her envy, a trace of jealousy quietly arose in her heart.
She remembered something she had heard a few days earlier.
It was said that the Crown Prince had secretly taken Shen Yanshui out of the palace in plain clothes to attend a temple fair in a nearby village…
Such affection was something every woman in the palace understood. It was no longer the ordinary sort of favor a man showed a woman.
Gold, silver, jewelry, and other rewards were easy for men of noble status to give. Even raising a woman’s rank was considered perfectly ordinary.
But to take time out of his busy schedule and deliberately accompany a concubine on a private outing in plain clothes… What woman could hear such a thing and remain calm? Who could avoid feeling envious and jealous?
She had even begun to secretly wish that, one day, the Sixth Prince might show her the same kind of affection…
The Second Prince’s Consort smiled and said, “I was worried about you for nothing. It seems I was simply fretting over nothing…”
The two women chatted for another half an hour before finally rising to leave.
Shen Yanshui saw them to the entrance and watched them depart with a smile. Only after they had gone some distance did she turn around and return inside.
Goodness… she had finally sent them off.
Although the Second Prince’s Consort had said nothing but pleasant things, the way Secondary Consort Yun had looked at her had somehow made Shen Yanshui feel a little uneasy.
*
By the afternoon, news arrived.
Emperor Pingkang had issued an edict betrothing Princess Ulan Tuya to the First Prince as his secondary consort.
When the news reached Chengxin Hall, Shen Yanshui was embroidering with Lady Zhang, whose health had only recently recovered.
She had been thinking that although she was not good at needlework, she could at least sew a pair of little socks and a cap for the baby in her belly.
Thus, she had enthusiastically drawn out quite a few adorable designs for little caps and was in the middle of sewing one when she suddenly heard the news.
She looked up in surprise, though not entirely surprised.
“The First Prince’s secondary consort?”
Lady Zhang, who was beside her, froze for a moment before suddenly letting out a long breath. She clasped her hands together and murmured, “Amitabha.”
Chunping, Dongyi, and Quanfu all looked relieved as well.
Although their mistress had seemed not the least bit worried these past few days, it was still better that the woman had not entered the Eastern Palace.
After all, she was a princess from Northern Rong, and the matter concerned relations between two countries. If she entered the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince could not possibly ignore her completely.
Now, their anxious hearts could finally settle back into place.
*
In the imperial court, the wrangling that had continued for several days finally came to an end.
After the Northern Rong envoys held repeated discussions with the Court of State Ceremonial and the Ministry of Rites, they ultimately settled on an annual payment of a certain amount of silver and silk, as well as the opening of three border trade markets. Merchants from both sides would be permitted to trade there and obtain whatever goods they needed.
Other matters, including the borders, prisoners of war, and fugitives, were also resolved one by one.
This time, Great Yong had the Crown Prince and Qi Mingchuan presiding over the negotiations, along with numerous senior officials either participating directly or keeping a close watch. Northern Rong had gained no advantage at all. When its delegation left the negotiating table, many of its members wore distinctly sour expressions.
That evening, Emperor Pingkang hosted a banquet at Yong’an Hall to entertain the Northern Rong envoys.
The hall was filled with the pleasant sound of zithers and flutes, while goblets and cups passed back and forth.
Emperor Pingkang sat upon the imperial throne, a smile on his face and an obviously good mood about him. The First Prince, Agula, occupied the seat to his right. The Fourth Prince, Batu, and Princess Ulan Tuya sat below him. All three had changed into Northern Rong ceremonial attire.
After three rounds of wine, Agula suddenly rose and walked into the center of the hall with a bowl of wine in his hands. He bowed toward the imperial throne and spoke in a loud, resonant voice.
“Your Majesty, throughout my journey south, I have seen and heard much. I am truly filled with admiration for Great Yong’s prosperity and splendor.”
As he spoke, his tone suddenly shifted. His gaze fell upon the Crown Prince, and he smiled.
“I have heard that His Highness the Crown Prince of Great Yong is accomplished in both civil and military matters, and is an extraordinary man indeed. I humbly request the honor of competing with His Highness, so that I may witness the bearing of Great Yong’s heir apparent for myself.”
As soon as his words fell, the entire hall abruptly fell silent.
No one knew when the music had stopped, and the dancers had already withdrawn.
The civil and military officials filling the hall exchanged uneasy glances. Quite a few of the civil officials’ expressions darkened.
That eldest prince of the Northern Rong is simply outrageously discourteous!
How unbecoming of him to challenge the Crown Prince to a duel right at the state banquet between our two nations? He is indeed a barbarian, with no grasp of proper etiquette at all!
The Crown Prince is the foundation of our nation, how can he be so casually spoken of in a duel?
Just as the Minister of Rites was about to stand up and speak, Crown Prince Cui Yu had already risen to his feet.
Cui Yu stood as straight and firm as a pine tree, his face calm as he looked straight at the eldest prince of Northern Rong, his voice steady and clear, spreading across the entire great hall: "What is there that I dare not do?"
After saying that, he turned to the imperial throne, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "Your son, Your subject, humbly asks for Father Emperor's permission."
Many of the military officials in the hall immediately felt their spirits soar!
Excellent!
The Crown Prince of our Great Yong should be just like this!
The civil officials, however, had varied expressions on their faces. Some thought that a gentleman should never stand where danger may befall him, let alone the Crown Prince?
Others believed that if they refused this challenge now, would that not be seen as cowardice?
Would that inflate the arrogance of the Northern Rong and diminish the majesty of our Great Yong?!
Hearing the Crown Prince's request to take the duel, the faint smile on Emperor Pingkang's face froze for a moment. His eyes sank, his gaze rested on Cui Yu for a brief instant, then shifted to Agula who was standing in the middle of the hall.
Agula was as stocky and strong as an ox, standing there like a solid wall, forming a sharp contrast to the Crown Prince's slender, elegant, yet upright bearing.
Emperor Pingkang's gaze slowly drifted to the left side of the hall, landing on a certain person.
That person immediately stepped forward.
It was Vice Minister of Rites, Minister Liu.
Minister Liu's face wore a displeased look. He took a step forward, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this subject believes this is not permissible. His Highness the Crown Prince is the heir to the nation, his status is far too noble to be so lightly spoken of in a duel. If any harm were to come to His Highness's precious person, the consequences would be unimaginable!"
Several other civil officials stood up one after another, chiming in in agreement.
"Minister Liu speaks the absolute truth. A gentleman does not place himself in peril. His Highness the Crown Prince, with a body worth ten thousand gold, cannot easily fight a duel with others!"
It is true that His Highness the Crown Prince was personally taught martial arts by the old Duke Fengguo when he was young, but that was many years ago. All these years, the Crown Prince has never touched a weapon, and he looks so refined and scholarly now, it is more than likely that his martial arts skills have long fallen into disuse.
Just look at that eldest prince of Northern Rong, with his broad shoulders and thick waist, a physique like a small mountain, he clearly is a fierce, ruthless character at first glance.
If His Highness the Crown Prince loses, where will the face of Great Yong be? Even if he wins, if he gets injured in the process, it would still be a loss not worth the gain.
Cui Yu frowned, about to speak, when he heard his Father Emperor open his mouth.
Emperor Pingkang said: "All of my esteemed ministers speak reasonably."
Cui Yu's face turned instantly somber.
Qi Mingchuan's expression had also darkened considerably, and all the military officials in the great hall wore looks of deep frustration.
His Highness the Crown Prince had already accepted the challenge, yet these civil officials had blocked it with just a few words. What kind of sense did that make?
Where was the national prestige of Great Yong?!
If the challenger from Northern Rong wasn't the eldest prince himself, who had specifically named the Crown Prince to duel, they would have stepped forward long ago to fight and show off Great Yong's might!
Emperor Pingkang turned to Agula and smiled, "I cannot very well reject the eldest prince's wish for a duel... My eldest son, the Prince of Guangling, has been skilled in martial arts since childhood. Let him fight the eldest prince instead, what do you say?"
Hearing this, Agula shifted his gaze away from the Crown Prince, looked at Emperor Pingkang, and asked with a confused look on his face,
"Is it that Your Majesty's heir is not the Crown Prince, but this Prince of Guangling?"
The moment these words fell, the entire great hall went so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
Cui Yu's face remained calm.
Many gazes instantly turned to the Emperor and the Crown Prince...
His Highness the Crown Prince looked as calm as ever, no emotion could be read on his face...
But the Emperor...
Many officials caught the expression on Emperor Pingkang's face, and their hearts sank unconsciously.
His Highness the Crown Prince has the bearing of a wise sovereign, and he is the legitimate heir born of the Central Palace Empress. Most of them, apart from those opportunists who seek the glory of supporting a new sovereign, naturally hope that after His Majesty passes away, the imperial power can be transferred smoothly and peacefully.
Otherwise... the entire imperial court will inevitably be engulfed in a bloody storm.
But His Majesty's attitude is truly hard to fathom...
"Presumptuous!" The Minister of Rites stood up, his face stern as he looked at Agula, "His Highness the Crown Prince is the heir to our Great Yong, he is naturally His Majesty's successor. What exactly do you mean by those words, Great Prince?!"
Agula still looked confused, and said calmly, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Perhaps I misunderstood Your Majesty's meaning earlier. It is just that we Rong people value martial strength above all else, so I wished to duel with the Crown Prince, so that all the warriors of our Rong tribe can see that the future Son of Heaven of Great Yong is also a first-class warrior, and thus make the people of our Rong submit to you wholeheartedly."
The smile on Emperor Pingkang's face stiffened.
If the Crown Prince wins, then the Crown Prince's prestige... He narrowed his eyes.
In only a moment, Emperor Pingkang burst into hearty laughter, then immediately said, "Great Prince, you do not know. The Crown Prince is brilliant and intelligent, but he has been frail and sickly since childhood. Though he practiced martial arts when he was young, he has never been proficient in the ways of combat. The Prince of Guangling, however, has trained in martial arts since he was a child, and is highly skilled with bow and horse. A duel between him and the Great Prince will surely be a match between two equally skilled opponents."
Among the ranks of military officials, Qi Mingchuan's expression had turned so dark it could not get any worse.
Saying such words in front of the Northern Rong envoys is practically telling the Northern Rong that the Crown Prince of Great Yong is a weak, feeble man who cannot carry a shoulder pole or lift a hand!
Marquis Xuanyi, who was in charge of the imperial bodyguards, also darkened his expression.
Hearing this, Agula glanced at the somber-faced Crown Prince, then looked at Emperor Pingkang, and said with a smile while cupping his hands, "If that is the case, I look forward to testing my skills against the Prince of Guangling."
......
The banquet dispersed.
Cui Yu walked out of the great hall, his face cold and expressionless, striding forward with long, rapid steps.
The night wind carried the coolness of the mountains, blowing his robes to flap loudly. His face was icy cold, his jaw clenched tightly, and his eyes were so dark and heavy they looked terrifying.
Zheng Yuande, who was trailing behind, had to trot all the way just to barely keep up with his pace. The cold sweat on his back was chilled by the night wind, making him shiver involuntarily.
His heart was filled with both injustice for His Highness the Crown Prince, and deep worry...
He did not dare make a single sound, carefully following quickly behind, even softening his breathing to a near hush.
They arrived all the way back to the Chengxin Hall.
Chunping and Dongyi, who were waiting at the entrance, spotted the Crown Prince returning from afar. They were about to step forward to pay their respects, only to see His Highness the Crown Prince wearing an unprecedentedly ugly, cold face, striding past them straight into the inner chambers.
The words on the tips of their tongues all got stuck back in their throats, their hearts pounding with fright.
They had never seen His Highness wear such a terrible expression before...
Inside the inner chambers, Shen Yanshui had just finished her bath, wearing a sheer, water-red sleeping robe, her hair still half damp, when she heard the commotion outside. She lifted her head, and saw the Crown Prince walk in with large strides.
That noble, aloof face of his was now covered in a layer of frost, heavy, suppressed emotions pressing between his brows.
Shen Yanshui was stunned for a moment, and spoke in surprise, "Your Highness?"
The words had barely left her mouth when Cui Yu was already standing right in front of her. Without a word, he reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace.
He held her so tightly.
Shen Yanshui instinctively lifted her hands to hug him back, gently stroking his back, not saying a word immediately.
After a long while, Cui Yu slowly loosened his hold a little, but still did not let her go. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his voice so low and hoarse it was barely audible.
"......A-Yan."
