CHAPTER 465: CHAPTER 464: SHAKING YOUR HEAD, YOU’RE NOT UP TO PAR

Looking at Xiao Pingfeng’s smug face, Chu Qi wished he could punch him and knock out those shiny white teeth.

How could a Crown Prince of such stature, soon to be a King, stoop so low to kick an opponent when they are down?

It was truly baffling.

Chu Qi couldn’t help but look at Yan Wanqing.

Is this the man you admire?

Really?

Just as Chu Qi’s face was turning ashen, little did he know that the Crown Prince’s smile did not reach his eyes.

The burly man was merely one of many people Chu Qi had brought with him.

However, Yan Hongzhao was the last resort he had reluctantly sent from his side.

Knowing this, his Crown Princess Consort had taken the initiative to propose that her own sister compete.

Such a woman who considered the best for Dawei and for herself, what more could he ask for in a wife?

And yet these old fools still thought about replacing his Crown Princess Consort!

No way!

At that moment, someone beside him tugged at his sleeve. The Crown Prince looked into those clear black and white eyes and curled his thin lips: "Thank you for your hard work."

Upon hearing this, Yan Wanqing couldn’t help but chuckle: "The hard one was my fifth sister. I was just sitting here very leisurely."

Chu Qi sat off to the side, their words piercing straight into his ears. It was truly annoying.

A lively battle had just ended, and now a song and dance performance was easing the atmosphere. Originally, Chu Yu had planned to showcase her talents during this time, but now with the Yan Family maiden’s zither performance capturing everyone’s attention, if she were to play the lute and be criticized for playing poorly, or even if she played well, no one would praise her as they would compare her against that maiden. Either way, she wouldn’t win.

So, Wuyang casually gave up on the thought.

After the martial contest, naturally, it was time for the literary contest.

The scholars from both kingdoms took turns stepping forward, a battle of wits below the stage, fiercely sticking to their own perspectives, a cacophony of hundred schools of thought.

Above the stands, the ladies under the autumn sun couldn’t help but yawn incessantly.

Li Chengxiang saw Xiaoliu’s eyes drowsy and persistently dozing off, he hurriedly sat next to her: "Did you go thieving last night?"

Yan Lingzhen leaned on her shoulder in a comfortable position: "Last night I was constantly helping Fifth Sister dispel Inner Strength, and it wasn’t until well past midnight that I could sleep, and then early in the morning the nursemaid in the palace hustled me up for washing and dressing up ... Life is too hard."

Ever since returning to the Capital City, she has had neither good food nor good sleep, gradually growing thinner.

Li Chengxiang, feeling sorry for her, gently adjusted the hair next to her and, watching the crowd below, said, "With noon approaching, many ladies have already left to rest. How about I accompany miss Xiaoliu to the side rooms?"

It was boring for the ladies to stay, so Yan Wanqing had ordered the palace maids to tell these ladies and misses at the start of the event that if they felt restless, they could leave early as long as they didn’t miss the lunch banquet later.

Yan Lingzhen thought that leaving now would afford her another hour of sleep, so she nodded: "Okay."

The two got up and walked outside.

As they were leaving, Yan Lingzhen noticed that Qin Erya was still sitting up straight, sipping tea delicately, the very image of a well-bred young lady.

For some reason,

inexplicably, Yan Lingzhen felt that this woman truly led a hard life.

Li Chengxiang and Yan Lingzhen left the scene and headed for the side rooms near the training ground, while Shen Shuyun stayed to continue watching the Scholar-officials’ verbal sparring.

Just as they were about to reach the side rooms, suddenly the door was violently pushed open.

A disheveled palace maid came tumbling out from inside.

Her face and body bore marks of injury, and with tears streaming down her face, she bolted out the door and fell hard on the ground. She even ignored the pain in her body as she crawled outward!

A large hand reached out from inside the door and brutally grabbed the hair of the palace maid, dragging her back inside.

"You wretched woman, taking a fancy on you is your good fortune. You dare to kick me? I’ll make sure you won’t live to tell the tale!"

The man, wearing only trousers on his lower body, exposed a dark complexioned upper body full of scars.

It wasn’t the attire and accent of a Dawei native.

Then it must be someone from the Chu Kingdom!

At this moment, Yan Lingzhen’s drowsiness had completely vanished, and she exchanged a glance with Li Chengxiang.

They saw caution and prudence in each other’s eyes.

To intervene or not to intervene?

If they were to intervene, it was a matter between two nations that would likely be downplayed.

If they didn’t, yet the woman was a Palace Maid from the Dawei Imperial Palace.

Yan Lingzhen’s keen eyes spotted the cinnabar mole on the Palace Maid’s wrist.

She was still a maiden!

They were separated by a large tree; the entrance was higher than their location, naturally obscuring them from view.

Yan Lingzhen whispered to Li Chengxiang, "Sister Li, quickly go find my elder sister."

She pushed her out and then stepped forward herself, shouting loudly, "Stop!"

Li Chengxiang, not as bold as the Sixth Miss, didn’t dare to delay and hurried back.

On this side, Yan Lingzhen had spoken up.

The man not only did not let go of the Palace Maid’s hair but instead yanked her up viciously by her scalp in front of Yan Lingzhen, causing the maid such pain that she couldn’t help but tear up. She looked at Yan Lingzhen and cried out loudly, "Miss Six, save me!"

The Palace Maid actually recognized her own self?

Then she had to be saved!

"Where did this little girl come from? Scram!" the brutish man cursed directly.

Yan Lingzhen stood there, cold as frost, "Let go!"

"I’m sparing you because of your youth, but do you want to serve me along with this dying girl?"

The words became more and more offensive.

Yan Lingzhen sized him up from head to toe, her gaze finally blatantly resting on a certain area, she shook her head, "You can’t handle it."

The man simply couldn’t believe his ears.

"Dawei people are known for their dignity and manners, but you, a young girl, have quite the nerve. If you think you can handle it, why don’t you try?" he finished and burst into laughter.

The Palace Maid’s complexion turned several shades paler.

She had thought Miss Six would have guards around her but had not expected her to stand alone here.

If she were to implicate Miss Six because of herself, she might as well die right now!

The Palace Maid’s eyes dimmed, having lost the will to live.

At that point, Yan Lingzhen said again, "You know exactly what I mean. Let go now, or bear the consequences."

"Just you?" he naturally knew what Yan Lingzhen implied, but this issue touched on his dignity, and he couldn’t possibly admit to it.

Seeing the girl’s insolence, he threw the Palace Maid to the ground. She wasn’t prepared and her forehead struck the steps hard, causing blood to flow profusely in an instant.

Yan Lingzhen’s face turned ashen.

She immediately rushed forward, taking three steps in two, and just as she was about to reach the Palace Maid, the man blocked her path, "Look at you, so eager, still thinking of approaching me?"

"Move!" Yan Lingzhen’s eyes already began to betray a murderous intent.

"You, this little girl—"

"Seeking death!" Yan Lingzhen didn’t even lift her eyelids as she threw a punch toward him.

Today, all her poison-laced silver needles had been taken away by the nursemaid in the morning; all she had left were her meager martial arts skills.

But her skills were like mere child’s play in front of this man from Chu Kingdom...