A moment later, Mu Cuiwei came out from the other side of the garden and said with a smile, "The Second Princess is indeed a good scheme. Now that Fu Meier is so frightened, she will fight desperately to climb to a good ranking. If she really has a chance to win the championship, then the Second Princess can also get some benefits from the Emperor, Empress Dowager or Empress."
Baili Jing looked at Mu Cuiwei and gave a faint snort: "I thought you and Fu Meier had gone mad from being together. You didn't say anything about this, but suddenly sent me a message asking me to take action, which made me lose face. I haven't even punished you yet."
Mu Cuiwei's expression changed slightly: "Second Princess, you are so forgiving. How could I, Cuiwei, have the wisdom of the Second Princess? I never thought of these things. It's just that this Mei'er is useless. She was frightened by a few words. In the end, it was the Second Princess who was clever. Otherwise, Cuiwei would have been in trouble too."
"Hmph! Don't tell me you have no ambition. Would you be content if Fu Meier won a good ranking?" Baili Jing glanced at Mu Cuiwei indifferently.
Mu Cuiwei smiled shyly: "It's true that nothing can be hidden from the Second Princess. I'm quite confident that I can rank better than Fu Meier."
"Oh?" Baili Jing looked at her in confusion. Mu Cuiwei chuckled and whispered in Baili Jing's ear, "You really are shameless." Baili Jing smiled and glanced at Mu Cuiwei, "You really are shameless."
Mu Cuiwei smiled faintly and remained silent. As long as she gained a great advantage, who cared about shamelessness? Baili Jing was even more shameless, yet she was tacitly agreeing to it.
Because the Langya Continent Beauty Pageant is being held in the Great Zhou Dynasty today, housing prices around the capital have been rising steadily for the past year, and restaurant prices have also been increasing. Although there are some complaints within a hundred miles of the capital, they are also beneficiaries. After all, such an opportunity to make a fortune only comes once every few years, so who would want to miss it?
In the capital, the price of a room in some inns doubled, tripled, quadrupled, and even increased tenfold. Some famous restaurants even charged a thousand taels of silver a day. Hearing this price, some ordinary people would stumble, as a thousand taels was enough for a family's entire life. But this didn't deter guests; on the contrary, people flocked to participate. Who were these people participating in the beauty pageant? Although only those of the lowest social standing, such as prostitutes and singers, could participate, the journey from other countries to the Great Zhou Dynasty was already quite expensive. Add to that the food and lodging for the pageant, and wouldn't they need at least ten thousand taels of silver to return? This was something most families could afford. Although some from impoverished backgrounds were sponsored by wealthy gentlemen to participate, these were only a small minority.
Some people were willing to gamble, believing that if they achieved a good ranking, they could pay off any debts their families had accumulated. These were simply gamblers; the majority were genuine noble families, royalty, and nobility who, upon arriving in the Great Zhou, enjoyed showing off and competing. A thousand taels a day was nothing to them; some members of the royal family were willing to live there for ten thousand taels a day. Of course, the capital city also launched a number of properties for sale or rent at high prices, but even so, it was still not enough to satisfy the influx of people from the four kingdoms.
A month before the beauty pageant, most of the participating countries had already arrived. The royal families of each country had guesthouses in the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, making things convenient. As the organizer, the Great Zhou Dynasty was obligated to host a banquet for each participant before the pageant, ostensibly as a welcome feast, but in reality, a pre-contest show of force—a common practice among participating countries. As the organizer, the Great Zhou Dynasty naturally had the advantage of timing, location, and support. If they didn't achieve a good ranking this time, they would be ridiculed. Similarly, they had the right to intimidate other countries, making them wary and cautious, which would be highly beneficial to the competition.
Fifteen days before the beauty pageant, the Great Zhou Dynasty's imperial palace hosted a grand banquet. The banquet included members of the Great Zhou Dynasty's royal family, officials, various families, the contestants' families, representatives from the four great powers that had long been allies of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the other powerful nation on the Langya Continent, the Black Teeth Kingdom (surrounded by the Great Hong River to the west of the Great Zhou Dynasty), and the Miao region at the westernmost edge of the Great Zhou Kingdom. The Miao region was shrouded in mystery on the Langya Continent, yet it had produced two beauty pageant champions. As for the nomadic tribes east of the Great Zhou Dynasty, although they caused the two kingdoms considerable headaches, they had to temporarily set aside their prejudices at this time. After all, this was a tradition on the Langya Continent, and at such times, everyone had to feign goodwill.
On this day, the magnificent and vast Great Zhou Imperial Palace was bustling with activity. Everywhere you looked, there were people. Including the Great Zhou Kingdom, there were five major kingdoms. There were also all the contestants and some royal nobles, so you can imagine how many people there were.
The largest hall in the Great Zhou Imperial Palace, Chengde Hall, was being used as a banquet venue today. It could accommodate ten thousand people, but even with everyone seated, it felt somewhat small. The Emperor of Great Zhou, as the host nation, naturally sat high on his throne. Next were the envoys from the four kingdoms, and below them, four rows lined both sides, each row extending to the hall's entrance. A single word from any of them would create a deafening cacophony throughout the hall. Anyone sitting inside would be instantly swallowed up.
At this moment, Ouyang Yue and Li Rushuang sat together, whispering to each other. The banquet hadn't started yet, and everyone was stunned by the sheer scale of the event. All the young women participating were participating for the first time, feeling both nervous and excited. Those who had participated before, or accompanied others, also showed expressions of surprise; previous beauty pageants seemed to have far more participants. Some of the older spectators were even discussing the number of contestants in previous pageants.
Emperor Mingxian, seated on his high throne, stroked his beard and smiled at the eldest prince of the Daqian Kingdom, saying, "I wonder how the Emperor of Daqian is doing these years? Is he still so vigorous for his age?"
The eldest prince clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Thank you for your concern, Emperor of Great Zhou. My father is well. When I came, he told me to send my regards to the Emperor of Great Zhou."
"Hmm, he's very thoughtful."
Of the four kingdoms this year, all but the emperor of Da Gan came. The Miao King, a member of the nomadic tribes, had also sent a tribal khan, making him a king. Emperor Mingxian was slightly surprised, as kings rarely participated in the beauty pageant; usually, envoys were sent. In previous years, the Great Zhou would send at most a prince, and most often a first or second-rank minister was sufficient as an envoy. Da Gan was the same; now, they had sent their most promising crown prince. These four were clearly very interested in the beauty pageant.
"The Way of the Holy King of Miao Territory!" Suddenly, a eunuch outside the hall shouted in a shrill voice, startling everyone in the hall. They all looked out in silence.
The Miao King looked excitedly out of the hall. Although the Miao King was nominally the ruler of the kingdom, the true king was actually the Miao Holy King, who possessed the most mysterious Gu technique in Miao territory—a legacy passed down through generations. Judging from the Miao King's expression, he seemed unaware that the Miao Holy King would appear.
At this moment, four beautiful young women with graceful figures slowly walked into the hall. These four young women were by no means inferior to the many young and beautiful ladies in the hall, and were among the best in terms of appearance. However, the crowd did not linger on these four women. At this moment, they all stared wide-eyed at a man who slowly walked in. This mysterious and unpredictable Miao Jiang Holy King, a person that even the Miao Jiang King rarely met, actually appeared at this time. When the man walked in, many people gasped, extremely shocked!
☆、135、A rogue enters the room!
Everyone was astonished because this person's attire was extremely strange. He wore a mysterious purple robe embroidered with stunningly beautiful and rare plants, in shades of red, green, white, and black. This variegated embroidery, far from appearing chaotic, actually enhanced his mystery due to the harmonious interplay of colors. Most strangely, the Miao King's face was incredibly fair, almost translucent, yet red vines were painted from his forehead to the corners of his eyes. This striking contrast of red and white made him even more breathtaking. However, upon closer inspection, his phoenix eyes, slightly upturned, seemed to gleam with a certain light. But to Ouyang Yue, while the Miao King was undeniably alluring, his eyes held a chilling undercurrent…
Ouyang Yue wasn't surprised for long, but that didn't mean the others in the hall were as composed as she was.
Whether they were young ladies from prestigious families in the Great Zhou and Great Gan kingdoms who had seen the world, or royal relatives from smaller countries, the women who saw the Miao Holy King all showed expressions of infatuation and amazement. This man was charming and alluring, yet tall and slender with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and his features were very three-dimensional. He was both strong and gentle, making him truly flawless. How could anyone not be captivated by him?
Many noble ladies of the Great Zhou Dynasty were astonished. They had thought that the Seventh Prince was already the most handsome man in the world, but he was no less handsome than the Miao King. Perhaps the Miao King was slightly less handsome, but he was mysterious and peculiar. People have a sense of curiosity, and the Miao King was more important to the Miao people than the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. His status seemed even more noble than that of the Seventh Prince.
"Greetings, Holy King." The Miao people, led by the Miao King, had already begun to bow. Emperor Mingxian looked at the Miao King and laughed: "I didn't expect the Miao King to participate in the beauty pageant this year. This year's competition will obviously be even more exciting."
"Greetings, Emperor of Great Zhou. I have come uninvited, and I hope Your Majesty will not find this amusing." The voice of the Miao Jiang Holy King was very hoarse, yet it had an indescribable charm. At this moment, sunlight from who knows where shone on the Miao Jiang Holy King's face, giving it a golden glow.
Emperor Mingxian glanced at him with a cold glint in his eyes, but smiled and said, "Holy King of Miao, there's no need for such formalities. Please prepare a seat."
The Miao Jiang Holy King didn't stand on ceremony and returned to his seat. He merely nodded slightly to the eldest prince of Da Gan, the emperor of Hei Chi Kingdom, and the nomadic chieftain as a greeting. The king and chieftain of Hei Chi Kingdom didn't seem to mind much, but the eldest prince of Da Gan Kingdom felt somewhat uncomfortable. However, the Miao Jiang Holy King was a different kind of being. He couldn't yet seize the throne, so he naturally couldn't receive the same treatment as Emperor Ming Xian.
The banquet continued, but the atmosphere in the hall had lost its previous liveliness. Many people looked towards the upper seat, watching the emperors and envoys of the various countries talk, but most eyes were on the Miao Holy King.
Because of the large number of people at this banquet, although the seating was arranged according to rank, it was mainly based on the countries. The seats of the Li family and the Ning family were together. Li Rushuang couldn't help but hold Ouyang Yue's hand and said, "This Miao Jiang Holy King is so young. Shouldn't he be an old man? Is that a tattoo on his face?"
Li Rushuang had many questions in her mind. Ouyang Yue couldn't help but look up, but before she saw the Miao Jiang Holy King, she saw Baili Chen sitting slightly behind, with Leng Caiwen and Dai Yu sitting beside him. However, their expressions were rather unpleasant. Thinking of something, Ouyang Yue narrowed her eyes and smiled at Li Rushuang, "The Miao Jiang Holy King is a successor passed down through generations. Even the Miao Jiang King has no right to interfere with who the new Miao Jiang Holy King will be. Although the Miao Jiang King manages some political affairs in Miao Jiang, the most talked-about aspect of Miao Jiang's heritage is..." The throne will be inherited by the Holy King of Miao territory. This inheritance could be treasure, or something else entirely. Most importantly, the most mysterious Gu techniques of Miao territory are known only to the Holy King. Anyone can be the King of Miao territory, but there can only be one Holy King per generation. However, outsiders rarely see him. You might mistake him for an old man, which wouldn't be surprising. Perhaps he is an old man but looks young, or perhaps he has only recently assumed the throne. But these have always been Miao territory's secrets. It's likely that very few people on the Langya Continent have ever seen the Holy Kings of Miao territory throughout history.
Then Ouyang Yue looked at the Miao Jiang Holy King: "I don't know if it's a tattoo, but there is a kind of body painting that can also achieve the effect of a tattoo."
Li Rushuang felt dizzy listening to this. Although she used to follow Li Gang around, she knew very little about these secrets and tribal matters. This was the first time she had heard of them. She felt that the Miao Jiang Holy King was really mysterious and unpredictable: "But that can't be a tattoo, right? He wasn't disfigured, so there was no need for him to torture himself like that. Besides, the tattooing technique is probably something that no one else can learn."
Ouyang Yue didn't say much. Unless this person was a time traveler, it was indeed impossible with current technology. But looking closely at the pattern on the face of the Miao Jiang Holy King, it should be painted on.
Just then, the Miao King seemed to sense Ouyang Yue's gaze and suddenly turned around. Ouyang Yue felt a jolt and her head spin, but she quickly regained her senses. Her eyes widened as she stared at the Miao King in disbelief. His previously calm face twitched slightly, as if his entire face had transformed. He smiled faintly, and his eyes sparkled with a watery light. His face came alive, and he appeared even more alluring.
"Wow, did you see that? The Miao King was looking at me just now, and he even smiled at me. He's absolutely captivating."
"What do you mean he's watching you laugh? He's clearly watching me laugh. Don't flatter yourself."
“You’re all wrong. He was clearly looking at me. I could see it very clearly. Our eyes were looking directly at each other.”
"No... he was looking at me!"
"It's clearly me!"
"It's me!"
"It's me..."
"It's me, it's me..."
The young ladies from prominent families of the Great Zhou Dynasty sitting around Li Rushuang and Ouyang Yue were now arguing incessantly over a single glance from the Holy King of Miao Jiang. Their elders had to reprimand and persuade them to stop, and the argument gradually subsided. Ouyang Yue, however, frowned slightly as she watched their lively argument. How could they be alright?
Ouyang Yue withdrew her gaze, but did not notice the meaningful smile on the lips of the Miao Jiang Holy King. Ouyang Yue did not see it, but Baili Chen and Xuanyuan Chaohua had been paying attention to him. They felt their bodies visibly tremble wherever his gaze fell, and they were already on alert.
Before the main hall, the eldest prince of the Great Zhou suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Zhou, several countries have come for the beauty pageant on the Langya Continent. The pageant will not be held for another fifteen days, and we will have to wait a long time to see many of the great performances. Why don't we give them a sneak peek now? Let's have a friendly exchange of arts before the competition begins."
Emperor Mingxian smiled as he looked at the eldest prince of Daqian. He was trying to test the waters before the beauty pageant. Which of the envoys and members of royal family present didn't understand this? However, Emperor Mingxian had to accept it. The mighty Great Zhou Dynasty, and the host country at that, couldn't afford to lose face first: "Haha, good, that's a good idea. Just watching these songs and dances isn't very interesting. How about we select a few good contestants from our five countries to have a friendly competition first? What do you all think?"
The eldest prince laughed and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking. Let's do as Emperor Mingxian said."
Emperor Mingxian smiled and looked around the hall, saying, "Today, the five nations have gathered, and the many noble ladies have added much to this banquet. However, watching only songs and dances is rather boring. Why don't we invite each nation to invite a young lady to perform first, to liven up the banquet?" Since Emperor Mingxian had already spoken, and they were the host nation of this competition, of course no one would object. The hall immediately fell silent. These contestants were all very clever. At this time, they had to do everything they could to find out each other's special skills, which would help them win the championship. Naturally, they had to be extremely careful.
First to appear was a noble lady from the Kingdom of Black Teeth. Many people suspected that the name of the Kingdom of Black Teeth came from the fact that the people of that country had black teeth, but this explanation could no longer be verified. Now, they were just like the citizens of other countries. The one who appeared was a petite and slender woman with a very delicate and lovely appearance. At this moment, she stepped forward and greeted Emperor Mingxian and the others: "Yan Xue'er, the daughter of the Grand Scholar of the Kingdom of Black Teeth, makes a fool of herself." Her voice was very clear and crisp, and her smile made her even more adorable, immediately delighting many of the young men in the audience.
Yan Xue'er, dressed in a white dress, slowly walked onto the main hall. Suddenly, she spread her arms out and spun around rapidly, her whole body spinning like a top. It was only then that everyone noticed the intricacies of Yan Xue'er's attire. Although she wore a white dress, it fluttered as she spun, revealing another long dress underneath. The hem of this dress was made of layers of fabric, each a different color, creating a vibrant tapestry. As she spun, it resembled ribbons of color, swirling in the air like a rainbow—a beautiful, unique, and ingenious design that immediately drew the attention of everyone present.
Moreover, some of the dancing ladies watched Yan Xue'er with astonishment. From the beginning, Yan Xue'er had been spinning continuously at the same speed, like a puppet. The more she spun, the more fascinated they became, until she finally stopped on the fifth spin. Her face was only slightly flushed, her eyes were still bright, and she wore a bright smile, showing no signs of discomfort. The noble ladies from the five kingdoms who had originally planned to dance were now somewhat worried. Anyone who had studied dance knew that spinning was extremely difficult. Seeing Yan Xue'er complete five spins without any apparent difficulty, it was clear she hadn't used her full skill. But the skill she displayed was already beyond the reach of many of the ladies; how could they possibly win against her in a dance competition? Many had already begun to believe they were no match for Yan Xue'er.
The Emperor of Black Teeth Kingdom laughed heartily, "Yan Xue'er, not bad, not bad! I never expected my Black Teeth Kingdom to have such talent! Reward her! Reward her handsomely when we get back! Hahaha!" This smug display naturally made the Emperor of Black Teeth Kingdom beam with joy. The other four kingdoms' expressions changed slightly, but the Holy King of Miao Jiang remained unmoved, only a mocking smile flashing in his eyes. This King of Black Teeth Kingdom doesn't even know the talents of the young ladies participating in this competition; who would? He certainly knows how to talk!
The nomadic chieftain Hash waved his hand, and three people immediately rushed out. These three were all dressed in the clothes that nomads usually liked. The three gathered in the hall in a triangle, then dispersed, and then gathered again, dancing and singing wildly. Although it was very exciting, it was obviously inferior to the skill that Yan Xue'er had shown earlier. Hash did not care at all. These nomads had always lived on horseback. Because of their geographical location, they had to fight all year round. Such a people had no time to think about playing. They were the least concerned about beauty pageants among the five countries. Of course, if they could really win the beauty pageant, they would be happy to do so. But that was the difference.
At this moment, Jiang Qi, the eldest prince of the Da Gan Kingdom, also laughed: "Haha, the performances of both countries are truly unique and eye-catching. After watching them, I feel that our country's performance is somewhat lacking." He then clapped his hands, and a young lady dressed in yellow, exuding nobility, immediately stepped forward and said, "I am Princess Jiang Huan of the Ning Prince of the Da Gan Kingdom. I do not wish to perform directly. Without comparison, there is no motivation. I need to compete with others."
Jiang Qi, knowing full well what was going on, asked, "How does Princess Huan intend to conduct the competition?" Since the other countries wouldn't offer their opinions voluntarily, he had to take the initiative.
Jiang Huan smiled and said, "This year's competition is hosted by the Great Zhou Dynasty, so naturally I will compete against the Great Zhou Dynasty. I wonder if His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty can grant this princess's wish?"
This was clearly a deliberate attack. The two countries, Da Zhou and Da Gan, were roughly equal in strength and located in the north and south, respectively. They were direct adversaries, and for decades neither had yielded to the other, constantly engaging in open and covert struggles. If Emperor Mingxian did not agree, it would mean he was afraid. And why would he be afraid? "Of course, I can grant your request. Who in my Da Zhou Dynasty is willing to go to war?"
The hall fell silent. Yan Xue'er from the Black Teeth Kingdom was already a formidable figure. Although the nomadic tribes seemed rather ordinary, this princess of the Great Gan Dynasty was probably no less impressive. They wanted to compete, and winning would be an honor, but losing in front of so many people would be incredibly embarrassing.
Just then, a voice rang out, "This humble woman is willing to give it a try." A woman stepped out from the crowd. She was dressed in red, extremely beautiful, and had striking features. She was a stunning beauty who would catch anyone's eye. It was none other than Fu Meier.
Jiang Huan glanced at Fu Meier and smiled, "Oh, who are you? Tell me your name."
"I, Fu Meier of the Great Zhou Dynasty, dare to accept the challenge from Princess Jiang Huan." Fu Meier said seemingly respectfully, but her face was full of fighting spirit, which pleased Emperor Mingxian. Only the Empress was present today, and she kept telling Emperor Mingxian about Fu Meier's background. Emperor Mingxian knew about Fu Meier, but he could not know her like he did about her father, Fu Lin.
Jiang Huan sneered. In this beauty pageant, royal relatives and daughters of officials from various countries like to announce their names. If they don't, they are mostly people below the social class, and their status is naturally not very noble. Such people are quite bold to want to compete with her. She said, "Alright, you go first."
Fu Meier glanced at her and smiled, "Since the princess initiated the challenge, I dare not steal the limelight. Please, princess, go first." In this competition, whoever goes first may lose the initiative, and even if they come later, they may not necessarily gain any advantage. It mainly depends on strength. Jiang Huan looked at Fu Meier and couldn't help but laugh. Playing such tricks with her was completely useless.
"Bring the zither." Jiang Huan then sat down in the main hall, a zither placed before her. Her ten fingers were exceptionally long and slender, their touch on the strings like a beautiful painting. With a slight movement of her hand, gentle music flowed through the hall. Jiang Huan's music was exquisite and vivid, like a mountain spring dripping into one's heart, soothing and comforting. The audience listened with rapt attention. Suddenly, Jiang Huan's music took a sharp turn, like a cascading waterfall suddenly losing control and tumbling down, rising and falling dramatically, making the hearts of the listeners clench. Until the very end, the music gradually returned to tranquility and peace, the artistic conception vivid and lifelike. It was indeed a remarkable skill in playing the zither.
Immediately, someone clapped, then a second and a third. Jiang Huan smiled and walked back to her seat. Fu Meier looked somewhat solemn, but she was not afraid. She slowly walked out and said, "Your Majesty, this commoner also wants to choose a zither."
"Oh?" Emperor Mingxian raised an eyebrow slightly. This was Fu Meier's challenge, and it seemed that Fu Meier was confident.
Fu Meier was indeed confident. Although Jiang Huan's zither skills were good, they were still somewhat inferior to hers. She slowly walked to the zither stand, a faint smile playing on her lips, but didn't move immediately. Instead, she sat down and paused for a moment. Just as everyone in the hall was wondering why she wasn't moving, she suddenly reached out and plucked the strings heavily with her fingertips, and intense music immediately rang out. Jiang Huan's playing had a transition, but Fu Meier went straight to the climax. Everyone was startled, thinking she was acting recklessly, but undeniably, their attention was more drawn to Fu Meier than to Jiang Huan's earlier performance.
Ouyang Yue looked at Fu Meier and had to admit that Fu Meier's scheming was quite astonishing. Everyone only knew that Fu Meier started directly from the climax, but they didn't know that Jiang Huan had already smoothed out the ending beforehand. The two pieces were played very close together, and there was definitely no continuous playing of intense notes. Therefore, there was no situation where the passion subsided due to excessive excitement. Jiang Huan's ending was actually paving the way for Fu Meier. Ouyang Yue didn't know what Fu Meier originally wanted to perform, or whether it was changed on the spot. However, this piece was played very well. If the piece had been completed, it would definitely have been more outstanding than Jiang Huan's.
Jiang Huan, who had been full of confidence, suddenly changed her expression. Her eyes turned even colder as she looked at Fu Meier, but she smiled. At this moment, Fu Meier's smug gaze swept over her. Jiang Huan's lips moved, and she said something, but Fu Meier was stunned. Her face showed anger, but her thoughts were disrupted, and her hand did not follow up with a "snap." A broken note appeared, and Fu Meier could not continue. She could only try to calm down the melody to calm her mood, but the effect was greatly reduced.
The smiles on the faces of the people from the Great Zhou Dynasty instantly vanished, as if a bird dropping had fallen on their heads just as they were celebrating their ultimate honor, making them extremely unhappy. Emperor Mingxian looked at Fu Meier with displeasure, making her even more nervous. However, she gritted her teeth and finished the piece, then knelt on the ground. Emperor Mingxian remained silent for a moment. Jiang Huan, however, laughed: "Oh dear, this princess thought that the person who accepted my challenge would be someone extraordinary, but it turns out they're nothing special."
Fu Meier said angrily, "You... if the princess hadn't told me before... told me... I wouldn't have been distracted."
Jiang Huan was slightly taken aback, then chuckled, "Your name is Fu Meier, right? You're quite amusing. What did I say? I haven't said a word at all, as everyone around can attest. Besides, even if I did say something, a musician must be completely focused and unaffected by external influences while playing. You were actually affected by my words, which clearly shows your skills are quite mediocre. It's just empty talk, nothing more than theory. You're so self-important. You have no heart for the zither, so how can you play it? Aren't you disgracing the reputation of countless noble ladies with outstanding zither skills?"
Fu Meier's face flushed red and then turned pale as she was being talked about. Jiang Huan was clearly arguing unreasonably, but what she said left no room for rebuttal. She was right. So-called musical skills are supported by many factors: talent, ability, hard work, and, most importantly, focus and sincerity. Very few people can truly play with such selflessness. Fu Meier was distracted and failed when she played, so she couldn't blame anyone else. But how could she be willing to lose face in front of the people from the five kingdoms? Could she afford to lose face like that?
Fu Meier opened her mouth to retort, but Emperor Mingxian frowned and said, "Alright, go down." Fu Meier was stunned, but dared not argue, and immediately stepped down.
Jiang Huan laughed: "That's right. Losing is losing. Being stubborn and refusing to admit defeat will only make you more embarrassed. Fu Meier, you did the right thing."
The eldest prince, Jiang Qi, laughed loudly: "Jiang Huan, that's enough. Stop being so unreasonable. Miss Fu must be feeling quite upset right now, so don't add fuel to the fire. Today is just a friendly exchange. We'll settle things on the field, and then you can say whatever you want."
"Yes, Your Highness." Jiang Huan sat down, but the smugness on their faces was impossible to hide. Indeed, in front of the people of the five kingdoms, in the banquet hall of the Great Zhou Dynasty, they had defeated the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Not only had they gained face, but they had also trampled the Great Zhou Dynasty underfoot. How could they not be happy? They were ecstatic.
"The true strong are neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat. To remain invincible, one must undergo countless trials and tribulations. The first victory is not true victory; it is merely a stepping stone for the true strong." A clear voice suddenly rang out in the hall, and everyone was startled, turning to look in the direction of the voice.
In the front row sat two people: a middle-aged man in a blue prince's robe, smiling kindly, and a woman in blue beside him, her face beautiful and her demeanor dignified, a faint smile playing on her lips. Jiang Huan immediately rebuked, "Who are you? What do you mean by that?"
"I am Baili Nan, daughter of Baili Qia, the Prince of De of the Great Zhou Dynasty. As for the meaning of my words, Princess Jiang Huan should understand. If not, you can go back and think about it carefully. You should be able to figure it out eventually, so why ask?" Upon hearing Baili Nan's words, Jiang Huan's expression immediately changed, while Fu Meier, sitting in the distance, sneered. Both being princesses, Baili Nan hadn't even made a move yet, but he had already gained the upper hand in the conversation. If Jiang Huan couldn't understand it, what did that mean? She was incredibly stupid!
Jiang Huan glared coldly at Baili Nan: "You!"
Emperor Mingxian laughed heartily upon seeing this: "Alright, today was just for friendly competition. I think the ladies have only given a simple performance and haven't shown their true skills yet. Don't worry about it. The real competition is at the beauty pageant. Don't rush, don't rush. Now it's the Miao region's turn. I wonder who you'll send to perform?"
Just as the Miao King was about to speak, the Miao Holy King suddenly said, "Zi Si, go."
One of the four purple-clad beauties following the Miao King stepped forward. This goddess had a cold demeanor and simply said, "Bring me the archery target."
Two eunuchs immediately approached Emperor Mingxian, while the entourage of the other three kingdoms blocked the envoy king's path. Emperor Mingxian looked somewhat displeased but did not stop them. The beauty pageant included both literary and martial arts competitions, and the performance content had not yet been decided, so he naturally could not interfere. Immediately, someone in the hall prepared the target. As soon as the target was brought over, Zi Si said coldly, "Place the target at the entrance of the hall."
The crowd in the hall was slightly stunned. The hall was enormous, at least two or three hundred meters long, and such a distance seemed impossible. However, as soon as the target was set up, Zi Si took the bow and arrow, twisted her body, and with a "whoosh," shot an arrow. All eyes turned to her. "Clang, hum!" The arrow struck the target directly, even vibrating on it. Clearly, the speed and force were astonishing. What was even more breathtaking was that Zi Si could not only shoot from such a distance, but the arrowhead also landed precisely in the bullseye. Everyone in the hall was astonished. Such skill, hitting the bullseye from a hundred paces away, was something even many highly skilled men couldn't achieve. Her skill was truly amazing, and she was merely a maidservant to the Holy King of Miao Jiang.
Ouyang Yue was also stunned. Zi Si's technique was extremely swift and decisive, without any unnecessary delays. It was something that an ordinary person could never teach.
The hall fell silent. The Miao King was also stunned. Although the four women in purple were just maids of the Miao King, he usually had to ask for permission to see the King, so he had never seen them before. He knew that the King was very capable, but he did not expect that his maids were so powerful. He was shocked and looked at the King with some fear.
"Clap clap clap!" Soon, applause rang out in the hall like flowing water. It was clear that the most outstanding of the five performances today was this purple-clad maid. There were many dancers and musicians, whether it was Hei Chi or Da Zhou Da Gan, but very few could reach the level of "Hundred Steps Through the Intestines". Jiang Huan, Fu Meier and Yan Xueer all changed their expressions. They were originally very confident in their performance, but they did not expect to be outdone by a little purple-clad maid. It was really embarrassing, and they all frowned.
The five nations' pre-match sparring session ended somewhat unsatisfyingly because one person from Miao Jiang stole the show, and it also ended faster than expected.
After returning to the General's Mansion, Ouyang Yue immediately dismissed Dongxue and Chuncao. She then lay down on the bed to take a short rest. Suddenly, a "whoosh" sound came from inside the room. Ouyang Yue immediately sat up, and a moment later, a pair of fair, jade-like hands emerged from behind the bed curtains. Ouyang Yue frowned as Baili Chen's head poked in: "Wife."
"What are you doing here again?" Ouyang Yue said somewhat irritably. The agreement they made back then was just nonsense to Baili Chen; it was completely useless.
Baili Chen sighed, walked to the bedside and sat down, but then fell silent: "My wife, Master Minghui once said that the Gu poison in my body is very difficult to cure, and at least the higher-ups in Miao territory would know about it."