Chapter 1163: Building High Walls (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Since Cui Hui's return, Cui Zhi, who was already quite idle, has become even less enthusiastic about showing up for work, often missing appointments every few days. Today he invites Cui Hui out for fishing and horse racing, tomorrow he accompanies her to weed and plant flowers, the day after tomorrow he shows up for work, and the day after that he stays home with Cui Hui to listen to the rain and play the zither.

The two get along even better than before their divorce.

At first, Cui Hui found it novel, but after a while, he grew tired of his face and bluntly stated that he needed to see some fresh faces to relieve his boredom. Cui Zhi's smile froze, and he asked with a look of utter resentment and grievance, "Isn't my face more refined than theirs?"

He's handsome and knows how to take care of himself; what can others compare to him?

Cui Hui said, "True beauty lies in the bone structure, not the skin."

Cui Zhi emphasized, "My bone structure is also excellent."

Cui Hui withdrew his hand and corrected the misunderstanding: "The 'bone' I'm referring to is not the bone structure, but the bone age."

To put it in the parlance of "the five elements lacking virtue," one cannot simultaneously possess youth and the feeling of youth. That passion, vigor, and youthful exuberance are unique to that age; they vanish once one passes. No matter how handsome Cui Zhi may be, no matter how youthful his appearance, he is still the father of two sons and a daughter, a middle-aged man over forty. His core has long been filled with cunning, shrewdness, and treachery.

When Cui Hui was near him, he could not feel the passion of youth.

Cui Hui looked at the face and said, "It lacks the vigor and spirit of youth."

She longed to see the face she liked reveal its loss of control, its restraint, and its struggles for her sake, rather than having everything hidden, concealed, concealed, and endured—something that would quickly become boring. Cui Hui's words made Cui Zhi's expression more complex than a palette of colors, his eyes filled with intricate emotions.

I thought Cui Zhi would be angry for a while.

But Cui Hui clearly underestimated her ex-husband.

The next day, they went hunting outside the city.

Cui Zhi set off a step ahead, while Cui Hui arrived half an hour later. Even before reaching the hunting camp, separated by four winding mountain paths, Cui Hui spotted a man, almost shirtless, with a bow drawn and arrows released simultaneously, piercing three targets.

She could only see the man's well-defined back.

This person has fair skin, which indicates that they don't often sunbathe.

but--

Golden sunlight streamed down, accentuating the contours of his muscles, making it seem as if one could see the surging heat emanating from his skin. His muscles tensed with each movement, like a tiger poised to pounce. Cui Hui was almost mesmerized, but quickly regaining his senses, he asked his eldest son, who had come out for a stroll with his elderly mother, "Da Xiong, how many friends did your father invite to the hunt today?"

Cui Xiong said, "I don't know."

His father had a wide circle of friends; he corresponded with many influential families and local gentry in the southwest, and wherever he went, he could gather a group of friends, all of whom considered themselves his childhood confidants or close friends. Cui Xiong could only vaguely remember some of them.

I really don't know who came today.

Cui Hui was filled with anticipation.

After navigating several winding mountain paths, we finally approached the campsite.

Cui Hui found the man's back and profile increasingly familiar, until she saw his face clearly, at which point she was speechless with emotion.

Hehe, I thought he was some newbie.

I never expected it to be an old house undergoing a complete renovation.

Cui Xiong was also astonished.

In his memory, his father was always bundled up like a rice dumpling, in elaborate and intricate sets of clothes, layer upon layer. His wide robes and flowing sleeves gave him a refined and scholarly air. On the few occasions he'd seen him in hunting attire, even that was tightly wrapped, revealing only a small portion of his delicate neck. But today, he was so unrestrained, his clothes half-undone, the right sleeve pulled down and tucked into his robe…

I've never seen it before, I really have never seen it before.

The ladies and noblewomen of each household stared in disbelief.

Especially those of Cui Zhi's generation.

Cui Zhi had many admirers since his youth, and his marriage was highly sought after. If Princess Wang hadn't made the first move and made him the Imperial Son-in-Law, who knows how much bloodshed would have ensued. After his divorce, the noble families of equal social standing didn't want him because Cui Hui already had two sons and a daughter, and marrying their daughters into such a family would be a loss for them, not because he was less handsome than before.

Many people felt it was a pity.

Today, this emotion is at its peak. Who would have thought that the Cui family head, who is known for his uprightness, would have a figure so much better than his own man's? Not only is it delicate, but it's also white. When the sunlight falls, it looks like white porcelain and jade, making people want to reach out and touch it.

They just wanted someone else to do it for them.

What are you doing?

Cui Hui stepped forward and pinched his arm.

Cui Zhi sensed the admiration and dissatisfaction in Cui Hui's words, and leaned closer with a light laugh, saying, "Let the lady see Fang Gang's youthful vigor."

Cui Hui: "..."

Because of the king's influence, women in Qi, especially those from aristocratic families who already had few constraints, enjoyed more freedom than before. Previously, hunting was done in separate groups of men and women, rarely intermingling; now, that boundary had been broken.

Men and women of marriageable age can also take this opportunity to spend more time together.

This is especially a good opportunity for engaged couples to cultivate their relationship.

Miao Ne saw this scene as soon as her vehicle arrived at the camp. She looked at Cui Zhi, and then at Cui Zhi's eldest son who had come to pick her up.

Finally, the gaze moved from his neck and Adam's apple to his chest.

Her gaze was too direct and naked, and the boy blushed unconsciously, feeling inexplicably as if he were naked and being seen through.

"Nvjun?"

Miao Ne snapped out of her daze, chuckled, and offered her hand.

The horses used for hunting were provided by the Cui family's horse farm.

The warhorse brought by Cui's servant was comparable in quality to the warhorse of a high-level martial arts master. Its four hooves were well-proportioned and powerful, and its muscles were firm and full. It was clear at a glance that this was a rare and fine steed. Cui Xiong said, "Your Majesty, do not be afraid. It is very docile."

Miao Ne said, "Horses should be a bit more spirited."

Cui Xiong didn't catch the subtext: "Wild horses can easily injure people."

Miao Ne, however, said, "It's more interesting to conquer them."

Whether or not someone gets hurt is not important; what matters is the process and outcome of conquering the wild horse. Injuries are merely a negligible price to pay.

Cui Xiong: "...The Queen is right."

Miao Ne was an excellent rider, handling even such a large warhorse with ease. Cui Xiong took her to the shooting range to warm up and practice. The range was wide and flat, and the sound of several people talking drifted over on the wind. Cui Xiong didn't pay attention at first, but then he heard a familiar word and turned his attention. The place the man and woman were talking about was the place where his younger brother, Er Mi, had run away from home.

Cui Xiong listened attentively for a while.

Several people mentioned that a peerless beauty came from that place.

The beauty's name is—

Mi Fei!

Miao Ne was also listening to their gossip, and chuckled: "...Her appearance is as graceful as a startled swan, as lithe as a swimming dragon. Her beauty shines like autumn chrysanthemums, and her elegance flourishes like spring pines. She seems like light clouds veiling the moon, or drifting like swirling snow in a flowing wind... Such beauty is truly unimaginable."

Cui Xiong said, "People often exaggerate."

Every human being has two eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

"...Besides, a martial arts contest to choose a husband is absurd. How can such a serious matter as marriage be handled so lightly?" Cui Xiong thought it was just a gimmick, mostly a rumor spread among the common people. He just hadn't expected that not only the common people believed it, but also the noble families who heard the rumors, and they even used it as a topic of conversation to pass the time. They were truly bored and had nothing better to do...

Cui Xiong had absolutely no interest in this.

Miao Ne said, "I'm more curious about that person's appearance."

Cui Xiong: "The female ruler is no less than Mi Fei."

Just look at yourself in the mirror.

Given his mother's fondness for beautiful women, it's no surprise that Cui Xiong also had similar tastes in other women; everyone has an appreciation for beauty. In such a chaotic world, what's wrong with wanting to see something pleasing to the eye?

Miao Ne covered her mouth and chuckled: "My lord, you're just teasing me. But speaking of martial arts contests for marriage, I'm curious whether Consort Mi ultimately found her ideal husband. Who won the contest?"

The answer to this question was quickly found.

Those gossipy people mentioned—

My ideal husband has not yet appeared.

Those listening to the gossip exclaimed in surprise, "No one has won?"

Yes, no one won.

The martial arts contest to find a husband has been going on for ten days, with ten spots available each day.

The restrictions were added because the defender needed to recover their expended energy, and the ten fighters could take turns fighting, with the loser being eliminated.

The gossipy man was puzzled: "Ten days is a hundred people. If so many people can't even take down one woman, why are they still fighting?"

That's quite a tenacious spirit.

A normal person would break down after five or six days.

"Unless that Consort Mi is truly unparalleled in the world..."

Otherwise, how could he have such perseverance?

The person spreading the gossip revealed the truth.

"You all don't understand."

“Mi Fei’s mystery is only one aspect of it.”

Another reason is that the defenders weren't very strong.

It is said that the defender of the arena, through a strange martial arts intention, forcibly amplified her willpower from ten points to one hundred! Every match she fought was a bitter struggle, and challengers could see the hope of victory, but the defender gritted her teeth and persevered each time.

We were so close to winning.

I was so close to reaching it.

Who would give up so easily?

It started as a chaotic, back-and-forth battle.

As more and more wandering warriors, drawn by her reputation, gathered here, wicked schemes began to emerge. Those interested in Mi Fei would form teams of nine, with the first few working to wear down the opponent's stamina and martial energy, while the last to enter would attempt to overwhelm them. The arena was fought every day, and a single day was simply not enough for the defender to recover to their peak condition. In other words, with the right tactics, a sheer numbers strategy could eventually conquer this dilapidated arena and win the beauty's heart. They didn't see anything shameless about their actions; it was tactical, strategic, and audacious!

The group got into a lively conversation.

Miao Ne, who was listening in, interrupted them, saying, "That's what they say, but I still feel that the victory is unfair. Isn't this a bunch of grown men ganging up to bully a young girl? Mi Fei just wants to choose a strong husband through a martial arts contest, but these men don't have the ability to win in one battle and rely on others to stall and delay. Even if they win, they can't be considered true husbands."

These people didn't recognize Miao Ne, but they recognized Cui Jia Dalang, who was standing next to her. Looking at their appearances, they knew their relationship.

Lady Cui arranged for her eldest son to marry a daughter of a newly rich man.

To put it nicely, they're nouveau riche; to put it bluntly, they climbed the ladder through nepotism. Who would respect someone with that kind of background?

Starting with Cui Zhi, the Cui family became less and less picky.

The smiles of the gossiping group didn't reach their eyes.

One of them said, “Your Majesty, you are mistaken. Since it is a martial arts contest to choose a husband, the focus is on ‘martial arts.’ Winning is winning, and losing is losing. How can there be any talk of an unfair victory? Didn’t that Consort Mi have considered this before setting up the arena?”

"They've already sunk to the point of a martial arts contest to choose a husband, what's there to complain about? I'm just curious, if the person who delivers the final blow to the defender is a commoner, will this Mi Fei keep her promise?" As she spoke, the scene seemed to appear before her eyes.

The group exchanged a smile, their smiles tinged with mockery.

Someone said something in a strange tone.

"Probably, after all, Heaven is the witness."

If a powerful or wealthy family had taken a liking to Mi Fei, the outcome might have been different. She would have gone from following commoners to becoming someone's carefully kept canary in their backyard. Beauty is a resource that can be plundered; for ordinary people, possessing it is not necessarily a blessing.

It could also be a disaster.

This was immediately followed by a burst of elegant laughter.

Rather than mocking Mi Fei for her grand martial arts contest and the widespread fame of her beauty, it was more accurate to say they were indirectly criticizing Miao Ne. Cui Xiong was about to intervene when a whip blocked his way. Holding the whip, Miao Ne calmly replied, "Indeed, Heaven bears witness; once a move is made, there's no going back."

Shen Jun really made a killing this time.

A hundred or so brave martial artists served her like slaves.

Miao Neguang couldn't help but sneer at the thought of these people working with livid faces while cursing under their breath.

They came for her beauty, but ended up selling their physical strength.

Alas, lust is a double-edged sword.

In an era of scarce entertainment, Mi Fei had truly become famous this time. Many people at the hunting grounds talked about her; the women from noble families spoke of her mostly out of curiosity, while the men held her in more possessive gazes. They had seen all kinds of beauties, and initially weren't very interested in Mi Fei, until more and more people mentioned her.

Some things—

You may not like it, but you can't live without it.

Some people also wanted to use Mi Fei to curry favor with others.

Some people then probed Cui Zhi to see if he knew about this Consort Mi.

Cui Zhi naturally said he didn't know and wasn't interested.

But what was on his mind was why the people who had gone to investigate hadn't returned yet.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

Cui Zhi rode his horse around several times, shot a hundred or so arrows, and stopped to drink some water when a servant handed him a letter.

A letter related to Consort Mi.

This letter was delivered at great personal risk. The reason he didn't return in person to report was because he couldn't come back.

Upon reading the first half, Cui Zhi was startled.

Until I saw the second half.

The man he sent infiltrated the circle of wandering knights and went up to fight on the third day. Before stepping onto the stage, he assessed the strength of the defender and thought he could defeat him. But as soon as he started fighting, he felt like he'd seen a ghost! If he was strong, his opponent was strong; if he was weak, his opponent was weak. It was a perfect stalemate, creating the illusion to outsiders that the two were evenly matched. The spectators cheered him on, while he was beaten and rolled on the ground, unable to complain. After a fierce battle that lasted for fifteen minutes, he exhausted his strength and was cleverly knocked off the stage by his opponent, conceding defeat.

He lost, so be it; he can go back and report.

result--

Immediately afterward, someone approached him with the contract he had signed when he went up in the ring, demanding that he fulfill his promise. He was speechless and tried to argue. The other person shamelessly pointed to a small line of text on the contract and declared forcefully that the right of interpretation belonged to so-and-so.

A bet's a bet, and you have to accept the consequences!

Okay, he admits it!

I never imagined I'd be doing manual labor for someone!

Yes, this letter was sent out during a break from his hard labor. He had to work eleven hours a day!

Waaaaah, it lasted a full eleven hours!

All the wandering knights who lost in the arena were forced to do hard labor!

He dared not disobey, for the supervisor was the second young master!

〒▽〒

I went to take my driving test (Part 4) today with great excitement, but the test center told me I couldn't take it without standing guard... Waaah, how am I supposed to stand guard in this weather in Yueqing where it rains heavily every day?

P.S.: I feel that the fourth part of the driving test is much more difficult than the first part.

P.S.: Will JX3 be able to launch smoothly tomorrow?