CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 461: IT’S NOT ABOUT WINNING OR LOSING, IT’S ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH

Chu Qi’s words seemed to be a compliment, but in reality, they suggested that Yan Hongzhao was just a sword-dancing, inexperienced young girl, implying that the Crown Prince of Dawei had made a careless appointment.

Sure enough, upon hearing the words of the King of Chu, the expressions on the ministers’ faces were mostly strange.

This General Rujin, upon assuming her new post, had executed the previous Deputy General, and afterwards, numerous ministers submitted petitions, all of which were suppressed directly by the Crown Prince.

One couldn’t help but suspect that it was the enchantress Yan Wanqing who had whispered in his ear, and recalling the recent death of Liu Pingzhi, the newly appointed Minister of Public Works, everyone felt a shiver down their spine.

"His Majesty of Chu may not be aware, but not only is my sister good at sword dancing, but her skill with the whip is even more marvelous," Yan Wanqing’s voice suddenly rang out.

Chu Qi, upon seeing Yan Wanqing engage in conversation with him, a trace of smugness flashed in his eyes. He feigned surprise, "Sword dancing has already been perfected, to what extent can the whip be used? We are genuinely curious."

"Nothing more than having lashed through all the dens of thieves in Dawei, just a trifle," she said with a bit of Inner Strength, ensuring everyone present could hear.

She reminded these weathercock old fellows that, although Yan Hongzhao was young, she had merits to her name!

Merely being the foremost in eliminating bandits was enough to leave these old ministers in the dust!

As expected, after these words were spoken, the expressions on the old ministers’ faces were extremely varied.

"Just watching whip dancing is rather dull; how about someone from His Majesty of Chu’s side comes out to have a friendly contest with General Rujin, how about it?"

Before these ministers’ hearts could settle, they heard the enchantress herself initiate a challenge for a martial contest, sending their hearts into their throats once again.

Before Chu Qi could speak, an old minister hurriedly rose from his seat and addressed Yan Wanqing, "Replying to the Crown Princess Consort, General Rujin was just recently injured, it would be somewhat difficult for her to compete in a martial contest."

You enchantress! So vicious that you won’t even spare your own sister!

Yan Wanqing, under the gaze of Dawei’s ministers, slightly curved her red lips, "No matter, my fifth sister is nearly recovered. As the guest desires to see, how could we not satisfy such a request."

"Crown Princess Consort, please reconsider!" This matter between two nations was no trifling affair; how could this enchantress think so impulsively!

Yan Wanqing, as if she hadn’t heard the voices of opposition around her, stared directly at Chu Qi, "What say you, Your Majesty of Chu?"

Chu Qi’s turquoise eyes flashed with a demonic allure as he chuckled lightly, "Naturally, since you’ve proposed it, we shall certainly satisfy the request. General Rujin is a female general, perhaps we should also send a woman—"

"Your Majesty of Chu," Yan Wanqing interrupted him, "My sister is no ordinary woman, and this matter concerns both nations, so please do not underestimate her."

Chu Qi knew Yan Wanqing was a demoness, and his previous words were just a pretense. He could continue along her line of thought, "With General Rujin injured, if we were to win, it would be a rather hollow victory."

"In the martial arena, it is a contest of skill, unrelated to victory or defeat, only life and death," she said from her prominent seat with a clear and firm voice, her gaze intense as she spoke each word.

A fight to the death!

The banquet had barely started, and already they were facing a life-and-death struggle!

The ministers of Dawei were completely panicked.

Enchantress, oh enchantress!

Why wouldn’t the Crown Prince take control?!

Just drinking, drink after drink, never seen you drink so much before!

The ministers felt a burning frustration, unable to do steel. Today, the Grand Tutor, Qin, was absent again, and there was no one among the ministers with enough influence to speak before the Crown Prince, leaving them in helpless anxiety.

Looking on as Yan Hongzhao had already signed her name on the life-and-death agreement, passing it to her waiting Maid with an unchanged expression.

And the Chu Kingdom truly did not hold back.

Speaking of a hollow victory, they sent forth a burly man, large and towering; his fists were as large as bowls, and one punch could probably tear through Yan Hongzhao’s intestines.

The old ministers were heartbroken and could not bear to watch any longer.

Miss Chen peeled an orange, meticulously removing all the white pith before placing it before Qin Erya, seeing that she kept her eyes on the scene below, she said, "People of the Yan Family always like to show off, but this time, I’m afraid they might lose more than they bargained for."

"The match hasn’t started; how can you know the outcome?" Qin Erya asked blandly, without even glancing at the orange.

She had accepted the invitation of the Crown Princess Consort to enter the palace, yet her grandfather had not come with her.

From a distance, she swept her gaze toward the two sitting in the place of honor, the best spot in the arena, from where all the action was clearly visible.

Indeed, grandfather was right, position determined power.

Power determines whether you can have all your desires.

Miss Chen said without a second thought, "That Yan Hongzhao got injured at the Liu Family a few days ago, and I heard it wasn’t a light injury. Now, she dares to come out and compete with people from the Chu Kingdom, making it obvious that she wants to lose. It’s fine if she shames herself, but she’s dragging all of us into disgrace along with her. The Yan Family really has no sense."

The more Miss Chen spoke, the angrier she got. Her gaze swept over Shen Shuyun and Li Chengxiang, and thinking back to the scene where they had just kowtowed to her, her expression finally showed a hint of improvement.

But what she hadn’t expected was that the young girl playing the guzheng had just given her a sweet smile.

Miss Chen frowned slightly.

This... seems to be the sixth sister of the Crown Princess Consort.

Why is she smiling at me?

It doesn’t look like she means well. Could it be that Li Chengxiang has complained to her, and this little girl is planning to stand up for them two?!

With just her?

She looks like she doesn’t even have two ounces of flesh on her arms.

Miss Chen snorted coldly, arrogantly shifting her gaze away.

At this moment, seeing the orange she peeled for herself, Qin Erya hadn’t moved at all. A glint of darkness flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly masked.

Qin Erya’s gaze swept across Yan Wanqing’s face, noting her lack of worry, and so she shook her head, "She might not lose."

Yan Wanqing had never fought a battle unprepared.

Since she could openly propose a martial competition in front of everyone and even establish a life-and-death declaration,

It meant that she had made complete preparations in her heart.

Moreover, Yan Wanqing was extremely protective, particularly affectionate and caring for her siblings in the family, and would never put her sister in danger.

So, analyzing the situation, it may seem like the Chu Kingdom had the advantage, but not necessarily. Perhaps it was all just a strategy to lure the snake out of its hole.

Seeing Qin Erya speaking for the Yan Family, Miss Chen felt even more displeased, "Miss Qin is kind-hearted, but the Yan Family is full of cunning people. Do you know about the former emperor’s issue?"

She spoke in a very low voice.

Qin Erya glanced at Miss Chen and said, "It’s about to begin." She didn’t want to hear Miss Chen gossip.

Speaking ill of others behind their back is a despicable act.

Those who enjoy listening to such talk are not good people either.

She, Qin Erya, disdained to do such things.

The matter of the former emperor—she knew far more than these noble ladies did.

Therefore, she understood even better the character and talent of Yan Wanqing.

Such a woman, if she were a man, would certainly be a generation’s hero.

But, sadly, she was born a woman, so she could only be labeled an enchantress.

Enchantress...

A term full of thrilling excitement.

A word that she, Qin Erya, might never experience in her lifetime.

Miss Chen, silenced by her words, couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

What’s with the act, constantly pretending to be more righteous than everyone else.

Below the stage.

The competitors entered the arena, with Yan Hongzhao holding a red whip in her hand, clearly not an ordinary item.

The brawny man sent by the Chu Kingdom was clenching a Wolf Fang Club, half the height of a man, covered in iron spikes, with remnants stuck between the spikes, sending chills down one’s spine.