Sun Meng'er's expression changed drastically: "Princess Consort Chen, don't talk nonsense. That's not what I meant. How could you involve Father Emperor? When did I say that Father Emperor was blind or stupid?"
Ouyang Yue looked at her with suspicion: "You're saying it now."
Sun Meng'er choked for a moment, staring at Ouyang Yue speechlessly. Ouyang Yue, however, said lazily, "Father is right here. I have some questions about the pregnancy to ask Consort Fen. Why don't I go and remind Father now?"
Sun Meng'er was terrified. It was a huge disrespect to say that Emperor Xian was blind or stupid. If he were displeased, he could have her killed. Sun Meng'er broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said, "No, no, I was just joking. How could Princess Consort Chen take it seriously?"
Ouyang Yue sneered: "So Consort Sun loves to joke. I thought Consort Sun was so shameless, talking nonsense, and disrespectful. It turns out it was just a joke. That's right, no one else would have thought to say such stupid things. Joking is fine. That's what I think too."
Sun Meng'er's face looked as ugly as if she had eaten shit. She didn't dare to utter a word when Ouyang Yue openly mocked and accused her. If she refuted Ouyang Yue, she would say that what Ouyang Yue said about Emperor Mingxian was true. If Ouyang Yue made a scene, she would not only lose her position as a concubine, but she would also lose her life. She gritted her teeth, glared fiercely at Ouyang Yue, and dared not speak again.
Baili Chen and the others glanced at Sun Meng'er with cold mockery. From beginning to end, Baili Zhi remained expressionless, simply drinking his wine calmly. Ouyang Yue raised an eyebrow, revealing a hint of interest.
The duel between Sun Ming and Leng Caixi officially began. Originally, Leng Caixi also wanted to test his opponent's strength by exchanging five moves first, just like Lin Changjian and Ning Zhuanghuai. Sun Ming was always very mysterious, and no one knew how deep his foundation was. Leng Caixi clasped his hands and smiled, saying, "Young Master Sun, please."
Sun Ming clasped his hands in a fist salute, but the next moment he thrust his sword forward. His swordsmanship was extremely precise and swift. Leng Caixi was startled and immediately turned around to block. However, in the instant he twisted his ankle, he felt a sudden pain in his leg and groaned in pain. He was a beat too slow, and Sun Ming's sword had already struck.
Leng Caixi was shocked and shouted angrily, "You! You dare to kill me!"
"Thump!" Leng Caixi collapsed to the ground.
Everyone present stared in shock, only to see a sword piercing Leng Caixi's chest, blood gushing forth—a fatal blow! He died just like that?!
☆、221、Fierce battle, chaos, Leng Caidie is seriously injured!
Leng Caixi lay on the stage, her body twitching a few times, her face contorted in a grimace, her eyes filled with hatred and resentment. Clearly, her death was inexplicable and sudden. However, it wasn't just Leng Caixi who was astonished; the onlookers were even more shocked. Even Sun Ming, who was also on the stage, was stunned. This Leng Caixi was truly stupid; how could she die like that?!
The scene erupted in discussion. Although Leng Caixi was only a son of a concubine, the second branch of the family had no legitimate sons, so Leng Caixi was just as favored as the legitimate sons in the Leng household. Sun Ming had just killed someone, and the Leng household was able to let it go. Of course, there was a major contradiction here: Sun Ming was from the Sun family, and so was Sun Shi, the second wife of the Leng family. The second wife of the Leng family had been very powerful in the Leng household all these years, and dared to act arrogantly in the mansion because of her background. Even if Sun Shi was unwilling, she was unlikely to do anything to Sun Ming, and she wouldn't dare.
"Sun Ming, you actually killed someone in public! Your methods are far too cruel!" Leng Yushan shouted immediately. Even if others didn't speak, as the head of the Leng family, Leng Yushan had to step forward at this time, otherwise it would be a heavy blow to the Leng family's reputation, something he couldn't do.
Sun Ming was also at a loss for words. He had thought Leng Caixi's movements were a bit strange, but he had attacked too fast to stop himself. He hadn't expected to kill Leng Caixi in one move. How could such a thing happen? He even felt it was like a prank. He forced himself to say, "Patriarch Leng, I thought Young Master Leng could dodge that sword strike, but who knew..."
"Oh, you think? You think there are many things, but now you've still killed Cai Xi, haven't you? Is it enough for you to just think it's okay? That's incredibly irresponsible. Isn't this treating human life like dirt? It's outrageous! How do you plan to take responsibility for this?" Leng Yushan was truly furious. If Sun Ming had acted all mournful and grief-stricken after killing Leng Cai Xi, one could say that Sun Ming was truly unintentional. But his frivolous attitude towards Leng Cai Xi's death, as if he had deliberately murdered her, was infuriating.
Of course, the second wife was actually more resentful. Leng Yuren didn't have much affection for this illegitimate son. Moreover, Leng Caixi's biggest flaw was that he liked to pretend to know what he didn't and had a high opinion of himself. Leng Yuren didn't like this son very much, but this was someone he had raised by his side for almost twenty years. How could he not have feelings for him? Even if you raised a cat or a dog, you might shed a couple of tears for it when it dies, let alone a lively and energetic person.
"Sun Ming, did you deliberately kill Cai Xi?!" Leng Yuren roared angrily. Sun Shi, who had come over and sat down beside him, turned pale and then flushed. She had no son to rely on, and Leng Cai Xi was someone she had planned to pave the way for her future. Did he think raising someone was so easy? Did he think raising someone without ulterior motives was so easy? Leng Cai Xi was dead, dead so inexplicably, and Sun Ming was still the same. After all, Leng Cai Pei was his cousin, yet he had acted so cruelly. Didn't he care about her at all? What did he take her for?!
“Leng Er, what you’re saying is going too far. What do you mean by deliberately killing him? Anyone with eyes could see that Leng Caixi was too weak to dodge Ming’er’s attack and was stabbed. Swords and blades have no eyes on this arena. It all depends on skill and eyesight. You can’t blame anyone else.” Sun Bocheng, the patriarch of the Sun family, also stood up to speak for Sun Ming.
"Nonsense! If Sun Ming's martial arts were truly superb, would he have been unable to retract his sword? Your Sun family has been spreading rumors, praising the third young master's extraordinary and mysterious martial arts skills, only to find out he's nothing but a show-off. Or is this all intentional on the part of the Sun family, deliberately killing their opponent on this stage to pave the way for themselves? Well, the Sun family certainly has guts, very guts!" Leng Yuren was a military officer, and no one would mind if he spoke rudely, but the meaning behind his words was shocking.
If the Sun family harbored such intentions, then they were truly malicious. The three young masters of the Sun family were already favorites to win the championship this time, but instead of relying on their own abilities, they wanted to use underhanded means to obtain the position of deputy commander. Even if they wanted it, others might not care, but would Emperor Mingxian sit idly by? If such ruthless people were brought into the palace, what a mess they would cause! Emperor Mingxian didn't want the palace to be filled with incompetent fools, but he also didn't want such ruthless people who could even kill their own in-laws. If the Sun family dared to admit it, they would be feared by everyone, and Emperor Mingxian would also be displeased. How could they dare to admit it?
Sun Bocheng angrily retorted, "Leng Er, you're just spouting nonsense. In a ring competition, swords have no eyes. Who can guarantee that nothing will happen? This was purely an accident. Tomorrow, he couldn't retract his sword at the crucial moment because he was too fast. Wasn't Leng Caixi unable to dodge because he lacked the strength? If it had been Leng Caixi who stabbed him, we could have dodged it tomorrow. Besides, if it were Leng Caixi in our shoes, she would have stopped, and we would have been injured anyway. You're a military officer, don't you even know that swords have no eyes on the battlefield? Leng Er, step back immediately and stop embarrassing yourself here."
Leng Yuren was furious. Leng Caixi had been stabbed to death, and now he couldn't even get justice. The Sun family was going too far!
Sun Bocheng turned around, clasped his hands, and said to Emperor Mingxian, "Your Majesty, what happened on the stage was purely an accident. I can guarantee that Ming'er did not do it on purpose."
Sun Ming knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times, saying, "Your Majesty, this humble subject absolutely did not mean it. Please make the final decision."
Everyone in the Leng family knelt on the ground. Emperor Mingxian remained silent for a while before saying with deep sorrow, "I am also heartbroken by Leng Caixi's death. However, I saw what happened just now clearly. It was indeed Leng Caixi who was slow in her footing before turning around. Although I am very saddened, there is no point in pursuing the matter further now. I will send someone to the Leng family with condolences. I ask the members of the Leng family to take care of yourselves."
As soon as Emperor Mingxian finished speaking, everyone present was stunned. In the past, Emperor Mingxian doted on Consort Sun and also valued and favored the Sun family. He had always been somewhat biased. Unexpectedly, after Consort Sun's death, Emperor Mingxian still remembered his old feelings. Or perhaps the new daughter sent by the Sun family was quite capable, as she had managed to win Emperor Mingxian's continued favor. It seems that the Sun family's glory has not yet ended.
Although the people of the Leng family had somber faces, they dared not say anything since the Emperor had spoken. Otherwise, they would be defying the Emperor and disobeying the imperial decree. The Leng family had lost a son born out of wedlock, and they dared not put the rest of the family in danger for him. So, they had no choice but to drop the matter.
Emperor Mingxian then said, "This time, when selecting a deputy commander, I want someone who is both literate and martial, with unparalleled wisdom. No matter what situation they encounter, they must have the ability to defeat the enemy. This is why I changed the final round of previous years to a series of challenges. However, I must also say that although swords and spears have no eyes on the arena, one must act according to one's ability. Alright, let the competition continue. Fushun, when you return to the palace, be sure to prepare a generous gift for the Leng family. I also feel sorrow in my heart at the death of Leng Caixi."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant obeys." Fu Shun replied immediately.
Emperor Mingxian's words struck everyone like a needle. This time, Emperor Mingxian was truly determined. Sure enough, the previous incidents in the palace had made him worried about his personal safety. They had heard rumors of his fury on several occasions, so they understood why he was being more selective this time. While the Leng family's incidents didn't affect the other families, what did Leng Caixi have to do with them? Not only were they unrelated, but they were also competitors. The more competitors died, the greater their chances of winning. They were overjoyed with Emperor Mingxian's decision and had no objections. Even if the Leng family had something to say, they would have to keep it to themselves. Ultimately, it was because Leng Caixi was less skilled. If he were on the battlefield, or protecting the Emperor in the palace, he might have been killed before the enemy even arrived. Leng Caixi's death, in the end, could only be attributed to his bad luck and lack of ability!
Inside Baili Chen's tent, Sun Meng'er breathed a sigh of relief. When Sun Ming killed Leng Caixi, her heart was in her throat. Now, she smiled with relief and said, "Father is wise. Leng Caixi was simply outmatched and couldn't avoid it, so it's only natural that she died."
Everyone else in the tent glanced at Sun Meng'er. They were all naturally unhappy that Leng Caixi had caused Leng Caiwen's injury. Sun Meng'er was right; Leng Caixi deserved to die. However, it was inappropriate for Sun Meng'er to say such a thing. The Emperor had already made a statement about this matter. The Sun family had won the competition and killed their opponent, which was already an advantage. Yet Sun Meng'er acted all smug and arrogant. She seemed rather foolish. A smart person would be sighing and lamenting the loss at this moment.
This is understandable. Sun Jiancheng has three sons and one daughter. His three sons are all outstanding, and his daughter, Sun Meng'er, is very well-behaved and cute from a young age. The whole family dotes on her like a treasure, so she was raised with the utmost care. Sun Meng'er is a bit arrogant and domineering, but she is very simple-minded and says whatever comes to mind.
Baili Zhi looked at Sun Meng'er and actually smiled, but it was unclear whether the smile was because he found Sun Meng'er cute or something else.
Ouyang Yue took a sip of the bird's nest soup, her eyes glancing almost imperceptibly at Sun Meng'er. She was recalling what she had just witnessed. Just then, Leng Sha returned to the tent and whispered a few words to Baili Chen. Ouyang Yue saw a strange smile on Baili Chen's face and knew what was going on. It seemed Leng Caixin and Leng Caihe had made their move.
That's right. Leng Caixi instinctively dodged Sun Ming's thrust, but her body suddenly stiffened, making it seem like she twisted her ankle. However, they didn't think so. Leng Sha, who had been watching from outside, naturally saw what happened. Leng Caixin secretly threw a dart that hit Leng Caixi's knee, causing her to be unable to turn around in time due to the pain. This led to Sun Ming accidentally killing Leng Caixi. This duel between deputy commanders was even more brutal than expected, and it seems the show is far from over.
Although Leng Caixi is dead, the competition will continue. After the 50-to-20 round, the semi-finals of 20-to-10 will begin, and the competition will be even more intense. The Lin family has one spot in the top 20, with Lin Changqi, the second son of the eldest branch of the Lin family, and the third son of the eldest branch of the Sun family both advancing smoothly. Ning Zhuanghuai of the Ning family is also among them. The Bai family is not participating. The Leng family's third branch, Leng Caixin and Leng Caihe, who were not taken seriously by anyone, have also made it into the top 20 by chance. The rest are some sons of officials and people from small and medium-sized families. However, the people from the four major families are the most likely to enter the top ten.
The competition to narrow down the top 20 to the top 10 remained the same, only with a slightly more relaxed time limit. And as everyone expected, the final top 10 contestants were not surprising. Lin Changqi from the Lin family, and the three sons of the Sun family, Sun Hai, Sun Quan, and Sun Ming, were all selected. Ning Zhuanghuai from the Ning family lived up to expectations, and Leng Caixin and Leng Caihe from the Leng family also squeezed into the top 10 as if by divine intervention. The remaining three were two young masters from aristocratic families and the eldest son of a military general.
Today, everyone has been exhausted from the preliminary rounds to the semi-finals. The final round will be held at the same time tomorrow. The final top ten finals will be very time-consuming, with each participant competing against the other nine participants in a round-robin format. There will be a total of many matches. Each win adds one point, and there are no draws. Losing does not deduct points. The person with the highest score at the end will be the champion of the competition. Emperor Mingxian will personally issue an imperial edict appointing him as the deputy commander. So this night is a time for the contestants to rest and recuperate.
After the gathering ended, the Sun and Leng families glared at each other for a while before leaving.
Upon returning to the Leng residence, Leng Yushan slammed his fist on the table and glared, saying, "The Sun family has gone too far! Sun Ming clearly intended to kill Cai Xi. I'm afraid no matter who goes up there, the outcome will not change."
Leng Yuren said in a deep voice, "Yes, the Sun family did this on purpose. It's really infuriating."
Sun's face was pale, but she kept her head down and remained silent. The person she hated most now was Sun herself. Over the years, Sun had brought many benefits to the Sun family after marrying into the Leng family. She couldn't have children herself. It was only after someone from the Sun family gave her a hint that she took Leng Caixi in and raised her. Then she secretly killed Leng Caixi's biological mother. At the time, Leng Yuren seemed to have some suspicions, but he didn't have any evidence, so he ignored Sun. Also, because Leng Yuren was a military general, he was often away from the mansion, so the issue of raising children became a big problem. Since Sun had taken the child in and treated Leng Caixi quite well, Leng Yuren didn't care.
Sun Shi genuinely cared for Leng Caixi, after all, she was Leng Caixi's future support in the Leng family. If she handled things well, she could ensure her livelihood for the rest of her life. She truly loved Leng Caixi. But Sun Ming killed this future support without hesitation. Wasn't this a slap in the face to the Leng family? Wasn't this trampling on her face? Leng Sun gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with resentment!
Leng Yushan looked at Madam Sun indifferently, snorted coldly, and turned to leave. Leng Yuren looked at Madam Sun and sighed. Madam Sun was just a collateral branch of the Sun family. The Sun family could use her, but if they were to say that they truly cared for her, it would be too shallow. That sincerity could vanish into nothingness at any time.
Inside the Shengwang Mansion, a furious roar erupted: "Those vile women from the Sun family have gone too far! They clearly killed my third brother on purpose! They were all relatives, yet they did such a thing! It's outrageous, utterly outrageous!" Who else could dare to shout like this in the Shengwang Mansion but the master himself? And this person was none other than Leng Caidie from the Leng family, now the Shengwang's principal wife.
Baili Mao sat to one side, his face grim. He had married Leng Caidie, which was a connection between the Sun and Leng families. Although Leng Caidie was of little use and essentially useless, her death in front of the Sun family was a slap in the face to the Leng family, even though he was out of favor. In the end, his father even seemed to side with the Sun family, which had stirred up conflict between the two families. This marriage alliance wouldn't change just because of a concubine's daughter who had married into the Leng family. In Baili Mao's view, the Leng family could divorce Sun whenever they wanted, but only after Leng Caidie died. Sun had no children to inherit the second branch of the family, which would constitute the first of the seven grounds for divorce. Now, Sun couldn't be proud of her Sun family background in the Leng family; instead, she had to be subservient. If things went wrong, she would be destined to be a discarded wife.
Leng Caidie understood this perfectly well, which was why she was so furious. The Sun family had contributed significantly to the Sun household over the years; were they now turning their backs on them? Naturally, she was enraged beyond measure!
Baili Mao frowned slightly. If the two families continued to quarrel like this, it wouldn't do him any good. However, seeing Leng Caidie's furious expression, her pretty face distorted with anger, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust. He had been extremely fond of Leng Caidie lately, all because of her family's situation. Now it seemed that Leng Caidie was truly unreliable. On the contrary, Baili Mao was somewhat concerned about the Ning family's recent intention to promote Ning Xishan to the position of concubine. Ning Xishan was quite attractive and much more low-key than Leng Caidie. The Ning family was ranked third among the five great families. Although the Ning family had declined, even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse. The more declining the Ning family was, the easier it would be for him to control them.
Are any of the princes born in this palace truly stupid? To be sure, apart from those who were harmed into becoming stupid or were born stupid, none of them are truly stupid. Even if they appear stupid, it's all an act. Baili Mao is one such person.
To be honest, Baili Mao's maternal family wasn't exactly weak. His mother, Consort Qi, was the daughter of the Minister of Works, a well-known and respected family. The Minister of Works held a high-ranking position in the capital. However, such a prestigious family was no longer enough once they entered the palace. The palace was a complex and powerful place, and with the Empress and Consort Sun wielding such influence and influence, even daughters of high-ranking officials had to act subservient and humble. Consort Qi had briefly enjoyed the Emperor's favor after entering the palace and was fortunate enough to become pregnant. After being framed repeatedly and nearly suffering a miscarriage, Consort Qi sought refuge with the then most famous Consort Sun. Over the years, Consort Qi and Baili Mao served her with utmost care, which earned them some trust. However, with the successive deaths of Consort Sun and Baili Jian, the Sun family, though not destined for ruin, would face repercussions if they did not actively seek refuge with a wise ruler. Therefore, after much deliberation, the Sun family decided to find a prince they could control to help them ascend the throne, and that person was naturally Baili Mao.
Having served Baili Jian for many years, Baili Mao was well aware of the advantageous relationships and ministers Baili Jian had with. Through secret contacts, Baili Mao quickly and secretly gathered these people. Although the Sun family appeared to be keeping a low profile, everything was still proceeding in secret. Of course, Baili Mao could not compare to Baili Jian at his peak, and there were still some who were observing whether Baili Mao was capable of handling the situation and had not yet made a statement. However, this group of hidden forces, if he cultivated them further, could naturally form a force that could rival the Crown Prince.
Born into the royal family, it's a zero-sum game where you either harm others or are harmed. Who wouldn't want to be in that position, holding the lives of all under heaven in their hands? Since Baili Jian's death, Baili Mao's ambition has only grown stronger. Unfortunately, if he had been able to propose to Ouyang Yue in the main hall, he dared say he would have been completely unafraid of the Crown Prince's power. It was all Huang Yu's fault for interfering; even in death, Baili Mao still felt a burning hatred whenever he thought of him. As for the secret agreement Baili Mao had reached with the Sun family, Leng Caidie was unaware of it. Of course, the Sun family's quick surrender was due to Leng Caidie's relationship with the Sun family, but now that Leng Caidie was here hurling insults, it meant the relationship between the Leng and Sun families was unlikely to be what it used to be. Baili Mao found her incredibly annoying.
"Alright, don't be angry anymore. There's no point in saying more now. This is the Emperor's order, and no one can change it. Besides, Leng Caixi is already dead. How do you expect the Sun family to take responsibility? Killing Sun Ming to pay for Leng Caixi's life? Your idea is too foolish. Let's just leave it at that. Don't mention this matter again in the mansion, lest it reach the Emperor's ears." Baili Mao said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Leng Caidie cried even louder: "You...you...he's still my own brother, we grew up together, how could we not have feelings for each other? He's your brother-in-law! How can you react like this when he's dead? Is Father Emperor senile and has become confused because of lust? I..."
"Shut up!"
"Smack!"
Baili Mao's expression changed upon being accused, and he raised his hand to slap Leng Caidie hard: "What nonsense are you spouting? How dare you criticize the Emperor? If you want to die, don't drag me down with you, and don't drag the Sheng Prince's Mansion down with you. Get out!"
Leng Caidie was stunned by the blow. Ever since she married into the Sheng Prince's Mansion, Baili Mao had doted on her, never even uttering a harsh word to her. Leng Caidie had always been like this, never hiding it from Baili Mao. This wasn't the first time she had accused and insulted others like this, and Baili Mao had never reacted to it. But this time, he actually hit her in a fit of rage, which Leng Caidie couldn't accept: "You, you actually dared to hit me!"
Baili Mao gripped Leng Caidie tightly in his hand, his face grim: "You wretch, have you forgotten where you are? This is the Sheng Prince's Mansion. I am the Sheng Prince, and you are nothing but a princess. I can marry you, and I can also ruin you. Since you entered the Sheng Prince's Mansion, think about how many things you've done behind my back. I liked Cui'er in my room, but two days later I discovered that Cui'er was having an affair with a guard. She was stripped naked and beaten to death. Do you think I didn't know it was you who did it? Who I like is my business. How dare you, a woman, interfere with my preferences? I've spoiled you too much, making you more and more lawless. I wonder who's really in charge of this Sheng Prince's Mansion now?"
"You!" Leng Caidie was shocked. Little did she know that Baili Mao had turned a blind eye to her before because he hadn't yet secured the Sun family's connection. At that time, he hadn't fully gained control of his power, so naturally he wouldn't oppose Leng Caidie, who was connected to both the Sun and Leng families. Instead, he doted on her and let her have her way.
Now, given the current state of the Sun and Leng families, he has to choose the one he relies on most to win over. The Leng family has always pretended to be elegant and aloof, not participating in imperial power, while the Sun family has already clearly helped him. Only a fool wouldn't choose them now, and he no longer needs to appease Leng Caidie.
"Smack!"
"What are you calling me!" Upon hearing this, Baili Mao slapped her again. Leng Caidie screamed and covered her chin with both hands. Tears immediately streamed down her face. She felt extremely wronged. Her brother had just died, and Baili Mao had changed his attitude. She felt so pitiful. She cried out and ran away.
Baili Mao frowned and said, "Send someone to keep an eye on her. Don't let her smash things and waste them, and don't let her leave the Shengwang Mansion. If she makes a scene there, tie her up and let her go hungry for a couple of meals."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Meanwhile, at the Prince Chen's residence, Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue returned and immediately told Leng Caiwen about the day's competition. Leng Caiwen was leaning against the bed, munching on an apple. She suddenly stopped halfway through, then held up the apple for Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue to see: "Look, this apple looks very appetizing on the outside, but even if there's only one worm inside, it still loses its appeal. The result is either throwing the apple away or cutting away the worm-eaten part. Although it still affects the appetite, it's still edible, and the loss is much smaller than throwing it away. If it were me, I would choose to cut it away and continue eating."
Leng Caiwen's words seemed somewhat irrelevant, but Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue pondered them deeply. The Leng family was already decaying from within, and the corrupt officials weren't just Leng Caixi alone. This time, the Sun family might have actually done the Leng family a great favor. Sometimes, those involved are blinded by their own perspective; those caught up in the situation can hardly see the problems. Having Sun Ming kill Leng Caixi might be a turning point for the Leng family. Judging from Emperor Mingxian's handling of this matter today, the Leng family's continued existence over the years wasn't because their choices were so correct, but simply because those above didn't want to touch them. The Leng family was a thousand-year-old clan with a complex and intertwined network of connections, but imperial power was supreme. With a single word from the emperor, whether you commanded a thousand troops or were a powerful clan, you were destined to die.
Back when Emperor Mingxian was vying for the throne, the Leng family remained neutral. Emperor Mingxian was besieged and only escaped with the help of Master Minghui. One can imagine how dangerous and difficult Emperor Mingxian's struggle for the throne was. Now, after many years on the throne, his foundation has gradually become stable. Doesn't he feel resentment towards those who stood by and watched back then, and are now living extremely prosperous lives? If Emperor Mingxian were to harbor any thoughts of revenge, the Leng family's thousand-year-old foundation would be destroyed in an instant. At that time, let alone the far-reaching consequences, if Emperor Mingxian wanted, he could find a hundred reasons to deal with the Leng family. At worst, he could fabricate two charges of treason and betrayal. Then, who would dare to utter a single word of dissent?
So when Ouyang Yue said that although the Leng family's neutrality allowed them to stand for a thousand years, they still faced decline and destruction, that was the meaning behind it.
The following day, the number of spectators was significantly higher than the day before. People from various prefectures climbed over doors and tunnels to try and get a spot inside to watch. This was a selection process involving the emperor's confidants, and no one dared to underestimate it. Moreover, news had spread that Sun Ming would kill Leng Caixi on the stage the next day. Naturally, they wanted to be there as soon as possible to observe the intense and thrilling match that involved various factions, as it could influence which side some people would choose.
People from the Ministry of War's residence naturally came along today. Li Rushuang and Ouyang Yue's carriages met on the way, and the two families' carriages came together. When they arrived at the courtyard, Baili Chen helped Ouyang Yue get out of the carriage, and Li Rushuang also helped Cheng Shi get out. At this moment, another group of carriages also arrived. Judging from the signs on the carriages, they were clearly from the Sheng Prince's residence.
A moment later, the curtain of the brocade-embroidered sedan chair was lifted, and Baili Mao jumped down from the carriage. He walked over with a smile when he saw Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue. Leng Caidie behind him was stunned for a moment, and then was helped down by her maid.
"Seventh Imperial Brother, Seventh Imperial Sister-in-law, what a coincidence, let's go in together." Baili Mao said with a smile. Compared to the other princes, Baili Mao's appearance was somewhat childish, and his smile was a little funny. However, Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue just smiled faintly.
"Seventh Imperial Brother, Seventh Imperial Sister-in-law." Leng Caidie was also helped over at this time, bowing her head slightly to pay her respects. Baili Chen gave a light "hmm" and then said to Baili Mao, "Ninth Imperial Brother, please."
"Seventh Imperial Brother, please." Baili Chen and Baili Mao naturally walked in front, followed by Ouyang Yue and Leng Caidie, with Cheng Shi and Li Rushuang at the very back.
Ouyang Yue looked at Leng Caidie beside her. Today, Leng Caidie seemed to have lost her usual arrogance and deliberately lowered her head. Ouyang Yue seemed to be thinking. As if sensing Ouyang Yue's gaze, Leng Caidie raised her head. Ouyang Yue blinked and saw that Leng Caidie's cheeks were a little red. She squinted her eyes and pondered.
Leng Caidie felt a little ashamed and indignant when she was looked at: "What are you looking at, Seventh Sister-in-law? Even if I am beautiful today, you don't need to stare at me with such jealous eyes. It's embarrassing."
Ouyang Yue smiled faintly: "Princess Sheng is indeed much prettier today, especially with her rosy cheeks. What kind of rouge did she use? It's so skillful. She looks so fair and rosy."
Leng Caidie gritted her teeth, about to speak, when Baili Mao, who was in front, seemed to sense something and turned to look at Leng Caidie, his eyes full of warning. Leng Caidie was startled and lowered her head again, remaining silent. Ouyang Yue watched, a smirk playing on her lips, but a cold glint flashed in her eyes.
Everyone took their seats. The weather was nice today; although it was winter, the temperature was not low, just normal body temperature. Emperor Mingxian did not order the tents to be set up today, but each household would prepare some warm clothing for the guests, so even sitting down, they did not feel very cold.
"Alright, let's begin." With Emperor Mingxian's command, the competition commenced. The Miao Jiang Holy King was absent today, which made Emperor Mingxian feel even more at ease.
The first of the ten to challenge was Sun Hai from the Lin family. Sun Hai was most strategic, but his martial arts skills were no match for his two younger brothers. Therefore, his result was four losses in six matches, scoring six points.
The second and third were the brothers Leng Caixin and Leng Caihe. Leng Caixin scored four points, while Leng Caihe only got three. The scores of the next two small and medium-sized families were also unsatisfactory. The sons of officials did well, getting five points, but unfortunately, they had no hope of getting the position of deputy commander.
Now only Lin Changqi, the second son of the Lin family, Sun Quan and Sun Ming of the Sun family, and Ning Zhuanghuai of the Ning family remain. It is obvious that the final choice will be made from among these four. If the six lose the competition, they will all lose to them.
"Bang!"
"Thump!"
Suddenly, a loud bang came from the arena. A somewhat disheveled figure stood up from below the arena. Seeing Sun Quan on the stage, he was unwilling to accept defeat, but still clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I lost."
This match was between Ning Zhuanghuai and Sun Quan of the Sun family. Ning Zhuanghuai was indeed formidable, wielding his sword with great skill and even overpowering Sun Ming. However, facing Sun Quan, whose martial arts were even superior, Ning Zhuanghuai was still a bit lacking and had to admit defeat with resentment.
Sun Ming then scored six points, leaving only Lin Changqi from the Lin family and Sun Quan from the Sun family for a final showdown. Although it was a series of battles, everyone understood that the final outcome would be a direct confrontation between the two, and whoever won would be the victor of the day.
Sun Quan went up first. From a young age, Sun Quan had been brave and strong, with solid muscles. Now, wearing a thin outer jacket, the muscles bulging on his chest and arms made him seem to have inexhaustible strength. At this moment, he pointed his arm and said, "Does Lin Changqi have the guts to come up here?"
Lin Changqi was also a martial arts practitioner, but his physique was much weaker than Sun Quan's. However, his eyebrows were sharp and his eyes were sharp like a hunter's. It was clear that the two of them were not following the same path of martial arts. At this moment, he leaped onto the arena and had a bit of the air of a chivalrous immortal. However, the cold expression on his face was somewhat detrimental.
Sun Quan coldly stared at Lin Changqi: "Whether the next round of elimination matches is held or not is irrelevant. The final match will be decided between us. I've wanted to meet you for a long time, and I never expected to have this opportunity. I will crush you in this arena match today."
Lin Changqi's voice was cold: "Anyone can talk nonsense and be arrogant, but it depends on whether you have the ability. I hope you still have this arrogance when I beat you down."