So, has he arrived?!
The king was in turmoil. Why would someone who hadn't been involved in worldly affairs for decades suddenly appear in the secular world? And what was he trying to do with that promise?
The important figures couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, and even the naive Princess Yu was too frightened to speak by the subtle yet tense atmosphere surrounding them.
Madam Song glanced at Luo Zhiheng with a dark look in her eyes, and then raised her voice again: "The rules of the championship are determined by the organizing committee. You two must obey and do your best to complete the competition. No one is allowed to leave the competition midway or give up halfway. Anyone who dares not to do their best is disrespecting the Silver Moon Kingdom and will bear the consequences!"
Everyone put aside their initial shock and listened intently to Madam Song's words. The annual World Grand Finals were always the most exciting part, and the final challenge to the champion was the most thrilling and suspenseful, because the final showdown's questions were personally set by His Highness the Crown Prince of Silver Moon Kingdom! What kind of questions would this mysterious Crown Prince present this time?
Zhuge Hualuan won the previous competition because of his chess skills. The questions were quite ordinary, and they were in Zhuge Hualuan's area of expertise. So people thought Zhuge Hualuan was very lucky. No one thought that the Crown Prince deliberately let him win. After all, the mysterious and unpredictable future ruler of Silver Moon Kingdom was considered quite noble and dignified in people's eyes.
Looking at the two beautiful young women in the arena, Madam Song announced loudly, "The theme of this competition is—a duel!"
These words shocked the entire audience! 16478510
For a moment, everyone's face was blank with confusion. A battle? How could there be a battle? What kind of battle? Talent competitions never had any battles; it was just playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and needlework, right? Even a girl would need to know how to do those things to compete in a battle. Why would they suddenly come up with such a question? 178.
Zhuge Hualuan was startled. She really hadn't expected such a strange question. But she quickly calmed down, a very strange smile on her face, and a hint of shyness.
Last year she won the competition, but the competition question was about her best skill, chess. At the time, she just thought it was too coincidental. It seemed like the question was specifically designed to target her strength. Could it be that they were deliberately helping her? Later, when she learned that it was the Crown Prince of Silver Moon Kingdom who personally set the question, she knew that the Crown Prince would not help her, and they didn't even know each other.
But this year... it's an unexpected match, literally a war, right? She couldn't help but laugh. Who would have thought that the most beautiful woman in the world, seemingly charming and alluring, was actually a child raised on horseback? She had a mother from the grasslands who was skilled in various weapons and martial arts, and she had been exposed to these arts since childhood, receiving training from her mother. She was already a budding expert.
Today's topics, whether about war or anything else, seemed tailor-made for her, as if they were specially designed to open doors of convenience for her and deliver victory to her. Two topics in two years in a row, both highly favorable to her, made Zhuge Hualuan unable to contain her imagination any longer. Could it be that the mysterious Crown Prince… had seen her? Was he interested in her?
Zhuge Hualuan was shy inside, but her face was full of pride and excitement. This time, taking down Luo Zhiheng would be a piece of cake for her. The Silver Moon Kingdom would also be hers for the rest of the year. She could also ruthlessly suppress Luo Zhiheng and prove to the world that she was better than Luo Zhiheng. This made Zhuge Hualuan even more excited, even impatient.
In contrast to Zhuge Hualuan's wild thoughts, Luo Zhiheng remained calm. Apart from an initial raised eyebrow in surprise, she remained lost in thought. She didn't even notice Zhuge Hualuan's provocative gaze.
"The battle, as the name suggests, means that the tournament will give each of you five thousand elite troops and let you lead them into battle on this desert! This competition doesn't require skill or strategy; you don't need to demonstrate the qualities and tactics of true soldiers. But you must fight to the end. The side with the most casualties after the competition will lose! If both armies are completely wiped out, then the generals will be the standard; whoever has more wounds will lose! You two can command the five thousand elite troops and fight however you want, but remember, this is real combat. Although you can't actually kill each other, swords have no eyes, so be careful. Do you understand?" Madam Song said loudly.
"Understood!" Zhuge Hualuan replied immediately, her voice excited.
Luo Zhiheng quickly glanced at Zhuge Hualuan. This woman seemed delicate and beautiful, and probably wouldn't like this kind of competition. If it were someone else, even someone like Bai Mingzhu, they would probably be gloomy and hesitant. Why was Zhuge Hualuan behaving this way? Luo Zhiheng sensed excitement in her emotions.
What is she excited about? Or is she very confident about this match?
Her mind raced, and Luo Zhiheng instantly realized—could this Zhuge Hualuan also be a hidden talent? She had known Zhuge Hualuan was no ordinary person, but she hadn't expected him to be a martial arts expert as well. Luo Zhiheng wasn't afraid, but…
She said slowly, "This isn't fair. What are you trying to do by having two girls compete in this? Are you trying to pick two girls who can lead troops into battle?"
Luo Zhiheng's question reflected the doubts of many who didn't understand, and Madam Song was naturally willing to explain: "The reason for setting this topic wasn't to make things difficult for you, but rather because it was chosen long ago. Back in the Mu Dynasty, the final competition was a talent show against a backdrop of war, and your performance won, didn't it? Besides, that competition was related to battle. This topic really isn't suitable for girls, but every year it's the same old competitions of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Don't you find it boring? Just as you said, if we can't change and innovate, I'm afraid the World's Number One Talent Competition will be eliminated sooner or later! That's why the competition has a topic related to the hottest topics of the moment."
“But this is not fair to me. Zhuge Hualuan has been sitting there leisurely resting, while I have been competing one match after another. I have exhausted my strength, and I am hungry, thirsty and tired. Naturally, I am not as strong as Zhuge Hualuan. If I lose, I will be unwilling to accept it.” Luo Zhiheng gave a reason that sounded very objective.
In short, she needed to buy herself some time to understand this Zhuge Hualuan; she felt that Zhuge Hualuan was very strange.
Madam Song was taken aback, thinking that what she said was too true, but Luo Zhiheng's face showed no sign of fatigue. Helpless, she still turned to look at the judges.
After discussing it for a while, the chief judge finally said, "You're right, how about we give you half an hour to rest?"
Luo Zhiheng nodded and then left the stage, never once glancing at Zhuge Hualuan again.
She walked straight to the pharaohs, first bowing to General Murong, and said obediently and gratefully, "Thank you for your help, General Murong. If it weren't for your strong support today, Heng'er would have been helpless. When we return to the Mu Dynasty, Heng'er will definitely treat you to a drink."
Upon hearing this, General Murong laughed heartily: "You said it yourself, so I'll be waiting for you to treat me to this drink. But I dare not take too much credit. You've given me a chance to reminisce about the past today. You could have done just as well without me. You're a promising young man."
"You flatter me." Luo Zhiheng smiled sweetly, perfectly portraying a well-behaved young girl. She then bowed to Elder Tong and said with a smile, "Greetings to the Ancestor."
"Good child, we're all family here, no need for formalities. Go and rest now. You need to do well in the upcoming competition, but don't be too eager for success or careless. Let things take their natural course. It's okay if you don't win the championship. Just do your best and don't force it. Don't hurt yourself." Old Master Tong's words were very pertinent and earnest.
The main reason was that Elder Tong didn't really want Luo Zhiheng to win. What if the Silver Moon Kingdom really had designs on Luo Zhiheng and came up with other temptations? If Luo Zhiheng couldn't resist and actually left with them, what would happen to Mu Yunhe? He didn't think it was a good thing. Luo Zhiheng could shine in the Mu Dynasty; she didn't necessarily have to go to the Silver Moon Kingdom.
Luo Zhiheng smiled bitterly to herself. She truly didn't care about the empty title of champion; she only wanted one of the beads from the champion's reward, and she only wanted to save Mu Yunhe. But she couldn't say this aloud; she had promised the King she wouldn't tell anyone. So in today's competition, she could only do her best and had to win!
"You're quite impressive. In all my years, I've never seen anyone like you. Your painting skills are superb, and your dancing is absolutely stunning. You and Hua Luan can become good friends. Hua Luan is a wonderful girl. The two of you together would truly be a pair of beautiful and talented sisters, wouldn't you say, brothers? Hahaha." The Painting Saint sang to himself, looking quite pleased with himself.
The elders of the Mu Dynasty sneered inwardly. Their Zhuge Hualuan had clearly misjudged Luo Zhiheng. "Friends?" they thought. "You've lived to be so old, yet you can't even see through something this simple."
Luo Zhiheng did not show any dissatisfaction, and said with a smile: "I'm afraid I'm not lucky enough to be Miss Zhuge's friend. Besides, if we were friends, it wouldn't be easy for us to go to the battlefield."
Before the Painting Sage could speak, the Music Sage interrupted, arrogantly saying, "You've already thanked Murong, why aren't you thanking me?"
Luo Zhiheng had been wondering why this old man was here, and why he was the Qin Saint. But for some reason, she couldn't stand the old man's arrogant expression, as if he had done her some great favor, and he was also acting a bit childish, secretly glancing at her. Luo Zhiheng pretended to be surprised and asked, "Ah? What are you thanking me for?"
The zither master angrily retorted, "I accompanied you just now too!"
"Did I ask you to accompany me?" Luo Zhiheng asked back.
The Qin Master was speechless. Indeed, he had just spontaneously offered to accompany her… But Luo Zhiheng couldn't be so disrespectful to her teacher! It was utterly rude! The Qin Master took a breath, about to reprimand his unruly disciple, but Luo Zhiheng had already nimbly walked past him… The Qin Master couldn't catch his breath, his face flushed red. This was incredibly disrespectful to his master!
The Painting Saint laughed heartlessly, while the Chess Saint patted him on the shoulder with pity and whispered in the Qin Saint's ear, "You'd better put away your clothes and your master's face. Luo Zhiheng doesn't even know who you are. Why are you putting on airs in front of her?"
Qin Sheng suddenly realized, oh right, he hadn't told Luo Zhiheng that he was going to take her as his apprentice yet, so he didn't know he should respect her today. Hehehe, he almost misunderstood the girl.
"What are you two whispering about?" the Painting Sage asked curiously, leaning over.
The Chess Saint had barely opened his mouth when he was interrupted by the Qin Saint, who said with a beaming smile, "Speaking of my disciple, she's here today, right here in the audience. My disciple is truly astounding! Everyone screams when she appears. And she's just too amazing. She doesn't even give me, her master, any face. I really adore my disciple. Didn't you just say you wanted to marry your granddaughter to my disciple? I think your granddaughter has no chance. How can my disciple be so outstanding? She's simply breathtaking!"
Qin Sheng was cursing inwardly: "You old bastard, how dare you laugh at your brother-in-law! I'll see how he makes you miserable today!"
The chess master quickly walked away, afraid that he might burst out laughing. This old guy was so unserious, he was playing tricks on people again.
The Painting Sage immediately scanned his surroundings with sharp eyes and said with a puzzled look, "I didn't hear any screams or shouts. If your apprentice is really that good, he is a good match for Hua Luan. I'll take a look first. If he's really good, then let the two children get engaged. Don't interfere. You should treat him according to seniority. Hua Luan will have to call you maternal grandfather."
The zither master said smugly, "That's your business. If my disciple doesn't like your Hua Luan, don't blame me."
"Hmph, I'm not just praising my own child, but my Hua Luan is sought after and fought over everywhere. But that person isn't even your apprentice yet. If he's interested, I might as well take him as an apprentice," the Painting Sage sneered.
"You dare to steal my man!" Qin Sheng was furious and instantly turned hostile.
The Painting Sage was startled; after all, he was his brother-in-law. He snorted coldly and didn't say anything. But he still offended the Music Sage.
"Aheng, are you tired?" Mu Yunhe reached out and pulled Luo Zhiheng over, asking softly.
Luo Zhiheng smiled and said, "I'm not tired. Don't worry about me during the competition. If you get tired, go and rest in the carriage. Don't worry about me. It's just a competition, nothing will happen."
Mu Yunhe shook his head and said, "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be wherever you are. I'll be here waiting for you during your competition."
Luo Zhiheng smiled brightly, but Murong Qianxue teased her, "I know you two are in love, but you don't have to be so mushy, really."
"I think it's great!" Princess Yu said innocently. But her aunt slapped her again, making her tears fall.
"What do you know, little kid? Get out of here!" Murong Qianxue scolded.
"How many years older are you than me? Why do you always hit me?" Princess Yu screamed indignantly, but dared not fight back, showing that she had long since succumbed to Murong Qianxue's tyranny.
Luo Zhiheng shook her head with amusement. Seeing Qi Wan and Xiao Xizi standing behind Mu Yunhe, looking at her expectantly with expressions full of admiration and adoration, Luo Zhiheng pointed at them with a smile: "Aren't you two keeping a good eye on the little prince? Are you getting too cocky?"
Xiao Xizi trembled and immediately knelt down, crying and saying, "Your Majesty, I am so wronged! Your Majesty went by yourself, I dared not stop you. Besides, I was so amazed by your breathtaking dance that I didn't know anything else. Please spare me!"
"Yes, yes, Miss's dancing is so beautiful, even more beautiful than before." Qi Wan nodded honestly, but one sentence stunned Luo Zhiheng.
Before? The Luo Zhiheng of the past could dance?! But wasn't the Luo Zhiheng of the past completely useless and unable to do anything? Luo Zhiheng was puzzled, but she couldn't ask now, lest it arouse suspicion. This was a big problem.
"Get up. I'll let you off this time, but you must keep an eye on the young prince during the council's competition. Don't let him move around too early. Go find the wet nurse now," Luo Zhiheng said to Xiao Xizi.
Little Xizi felt like he had been granted a pardon and quickly ran off.
The wet nurse arrived quickly, and Luo Zhiheng whispered in her ear, "Can you find a way to get information about Zhuge Hualuan when she was at home? For example, what is she good at? What else can she do? What is her personality like?"
The wet nurse thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll go and think of a way right away."
"Then hurry, you must come back and tell me within half an hour." Luo Zhiheng instructed. After the wet nurse left, she and Mu Yunhe got into the carriage. Since they were going to rest, they should do it properly. Besides, Mu Yunhe had been sitting for so long and needed to lie down for a while.
The two lay down in the carriage, embracing each other. Xiao Xizi and Qi Wan were holding the carriage door, and their silly, yet endearing, words could be heard from time to time. Luo Zhiheng squinted and suddenly smiled, "It would be nice if Xiao Xizi and Qi Wan were together."
"Then let them be together." Mu Yunhe hugged her tightly. At this moment, he felt peaceful and warm, and he was so comfortable that he wanted to do whatever she wanted.
Luo Zhiheng smiled and said, "It's a pity that it won't work. Xiao Xizi can't give seven bowls of happiness."
Mu Yunhe opened his eyes in confusion: "Why can't Xiao Xizi give me seven bowls of happiness? Isn't Xiao Xizi good enough?"
Luo Zhiheng stared wide-eyed and said dryly, "Are you stupid? Xiao Xizi is a eunuch. How can a eunuch marry a woman?"
"Why can't eunuchs get married? Can't it be just a man and a woman?" Mu Yunhe was also confused, looking blankly at Luo Zhiheng.
Luo Zhiheng was extremely embarrassed and completely bewildered. Mu Yunhe, are you too naive or a fool? How can a eunuch marry a woman? Wouldn't that harm the girl?
“Eunuchs can’t have children,” Luo Zhiheng said, her voice trembling slightly.
"Isn't childbirth a woman's responsibility?" The books say it's women who give birth. Mu Yunhe frowned. Was Aheng sick? How could she not even know that?
Luo Zhiheng bit her lip, looking neither like she was crying nor laughing, and said, "Little Hehe, it's true that women are born to have children, but without a man, a woman cannot have a child. A woman cannot have a child on her own."
“So let them be together. Xiao Xizi is a man too,” Mu Yunhe said matter-of-factly.
Luo Zhiheng felt utterly defeated! Completely defeated. She pleaded, "Little Hehe, do you even know what a eunuch is?"
Mu Yunhe said, "Eunuchs are men too."
Luo Zhiheng collapsed onto the bed. She felt it was necessary to get Mu Yunhe a preschool education book or something, otherwise she would also break down. Mu Yunhe really didn't understand anything that he should understand.
"Aheng, are you tired?" Mu Yunhe touched her face tenderly, otherwise he wouldn't have been so confused as to forget that Xiao Xizi was also a man.
"Yes, I'm so tired, emotionally exhausted. Little Hehe, do you know that if a man doesn't... doesn't have that thing, he can't have a child with a woman? Xiao Xizi is a man, that's true, but he doesn't have that thing, so the child won't crawl out of his belly on its own. That's why they can't be together. I was just sighing a bit." Luo Zhiheng said, blushing.
"Nothing? I can just find it for Xiao Xizi." Mu Yunhe was completely confused.
Luo Zhiheng gritted her teeth and finally said, "You don't have this thing, but he doesn't! So you can have a child with a woman, but he can't. You need this to have a child, understand?"
She pointed at the guy below Mu Yunhe, who had been quiet for days and hadn't been used for analysis, and said aggressively, "The Chess Saint is just trying to hide her blushing and racing heart."
Mu Yunhe felt a surge of heat throughout his body, a strange sense of embarrassment he couldn't quite explain. He stared blankly at Luo Zhiheng, when the wet nurse's call sent Luo Zhiheng rushing out immediately. Mu Yunhe was left alone, staring blankly at the roof of the carriage, his mind filled with Luo Zhiheng's words…
So, you need this thing to have a child with a woman, and you can't do it without it? So having a child requires this thing from the man, but how? Does it require both man and woman together? How do they have to be together? Did Father and Mother conceive him because they were together? Then how can he be with Aheng to have their own child?
Mu Yunhe suddenly felt a burning desire, a sense of anticipation and urgency. He had never thought about having children before, but this topic suddenly came up today, igniting a fire within him that instantly captivated all his senses, making it impossible for him to look away.
He desperately wanted to have a child with Aheng, but how could he do it? Mu Yunhe's handsome face was tense, his eyes full of doubt. Who could he ask?
Blushing as she listened to the news from her wet nurse, Luo Zhiheng couldn't help but give her a thumbs up: "That works too! You actually drugged Zhuge Hualuan's maid? So what this maid said is true?" Seeing the wet nurse nod, Luo Zhiheng chuckled strangely: "No wonder she wasn't afraid of the battlefield battle but rather looked forward to it. So she's been hiding her true abilities. She's hoping to make a name for herself on the battlefield and climb over me to get ahead. What a brilliant idea! But does she think I, Luo Zhiheng, am someone to be trifled with? She really doesn't know that I have what she's so proud of, and I'll let her know that she's really kicked a hornet's nest!"
Luo Zhiheng glanced back at the carriage, then turned and said, "Let's go now, no need to rest, let's fight her. I also want to see just how deep the unassuming Zhuge Hualuan is hiding!"
"But what about your injury?" the wet nurse asked worriedly.
"It's alright." Luo Zhiheng walked without hesitation and quickly arrived at the arena.
The people who were resting and waiting saw her arrive and instantly became lively again.
"I've rested well and am ready to start the competition at any time," Luo Zhiheng said to Madam Song.
Without saying a word, Madam Song waved her hand, and two sets of battle robes were brought up, one black and one silver-white, for the two to choose from.
Before Luo Zhiheng could speak, Zhuge Hualuan spoke first, smiling at Luo Zhiheng: "I should have been polite and let you choose first, but unfortunately there is one of my favorite colors here, so I will not be polite and choose first. I want the silver-white one."
Luo Zhiheng smiled and said, "It's alright. I just happen to dislike white, which symbolizes certain defeat and the raising of a white flag, a color of tragic mourning! I prefer the domineering and fierce nature of black!"