Chapter 290: Martial Arts Competition
Zhou Zhilan, the first female steward of Prince Yong's Palace, is well-known in southern Xinjiang.
Not to mention her pretty appearance and powerful martial arts, the notice said that Prince Yong's palace would send off her bride with a ten-mile-long red dowry.
That is to say, whoever marries her will instantly become a phoenix.
There were no less than a hundred people who registered openly, but many people who had just arrived and did not have time to register crowded the registration counter.
Zhou Zhilan was dragged out of bed and dressed by maids before dawn in the morning, with Gu Huan directing her from the side.
It took nearly an hour before Gu Huan was satisfied.
When the two of them went to the old lady's room to have dinner together, they immediately amazed everyone.
Wang Linyi was the first to exclaim: "Oh my God, is this Manager Zhou? I thought it was a fairy that fell from the sky."
Zhou Zhilan has always been free and easy, but she has never been praised like this before, and her face immediately blushed.
She turned around and walked away: "I told you I don't wear makeup, I've never worn makeup before."
Gu Huan smiled and tried to pull her back, but failed: "Donghua, hurry up and take her back..."
Before he could finish his words, he saw Mu Junyan walking towards him with big strides. He had just returned from morning exercise.
Zhou Chunyu was following behind.
Mu Junyan paused and just stopped Zhou Zhilan.
Zhou Zhilan didn't dare to raise her head, but she could feel Zhou Chunyu's gaze.
She didn't dare to look at him, and bowed to Mu Junyan with her head down: "Greetings, Master."
"Zhilan? So beautiful? Before, even without dressing up, she would be crowded outside the door. Now that she's dressed up, isn't she going to be able to step foot inside the palace gate?"
Zhou Zhilan felt even more embarrassed, and stamped her feet with a stern face: "Master, you are making fun of me. Isn't this Madam's fault?"
Mu Junyan laughed loudly: "My wife is a great beauty, and she is the best at dressing up. But, she also needs to have a good foundation."
He turned around, looked at the dazed Zhou Chunyu and asked, "Manager Zhou, your sister is beautiful. Of course, there will be many people knocking on your door to ask for her hand in marriage. What do you think?"
Zhou Zhilan secretly looked up at Zhou Chunyu.
That usually smooth and graceful face was now as stiff as a board.
He nodded: "Yes..."
Gu Huan glanced at her husband and secretly gave him a thumbs up.
She walked forward, looked at Zhou Zhilan and said deliberately: "Sister Zhilan is so worried about the palace that she has no time to take care of herself and dress herself up. It's rare that Sister Zhilan also wants to find a good husband to marry, so that they can live a happy life together. Naturally, I will do my best to help Sister Zhilan choose a good husband."
Mu Junyan acted with his wife: "Well, I heard that several young generals of the Mu family army have signed up. An outstanding woman like Zhilan is very popular."
Zhou Chunyu stared at Zhou Zhilan without blinking.
When Gu Huan saw this, she thought there was hope.
He immediately added fuel to the fire: "Originally, with Zhilan's good status, there is no need for such means as martial arts competition to win a marriage. What if the winning warrior is big and strong and ugly? Manager Zhou, as the eldest brother, do you have this worry?"
Zhou Chunyu was stunned and murmured: "Rules are rules, and..."
Zhou Zhilan lowered her eyes and a surge of anger rose in her heart when she heard the words.
He didn't take himself seriously at all.
Zhou Zhilan suddenly raised her head and smiled brightly: "Yes, my brother said that the rules are the rules. Even if the other party is ugly, as long as he wins, he can marry me. I accept it!"
Zhou Chunyu saw that her smile was filled with sadness and her eyes were red.
His heart was instantly shattered into pieces, and the pain was so severe that he could no longer stay.
"My Lord, I have something else to do. I will take my leave now."
After saying that, he ran away as if escaping.
Zhou Zhilan's tears fell.
Gu Huan was also angry and glared at Mu Junyan: "How can he be a coward!"
Mu Junyan spread his hands innocently: "My husband is not like that."
Gu Huan was furious and wanted to add fuel to the fire to untie Zhou Chunyu's knot so that there would be no need for a martial arts competition to win his hand in marriage.
But he still escaped.
This is a tough time for Zhou Zhilan.
Gu Huan hugged Zhou Zhilan and patted her back gently: "It's okay, Sister Zhilan deserves the best man."
Soon, Zhou Zhilan wiped away her tears: "Dongqing, help me touch up my makeup."
Then he pulled Dongqing and left.
Gu Huan looked at her back with heartache.
Mu Junyan came over and took her hand: "Let's go and have dinner."
Gu Huan looked up at him and said, "Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt two people? They could have lived like this, and it would have been fine if they were siblings. But now that I'm forced into this, I don't know how it's going to end."
Mu Junyan hugged her and said, "Don't worry. Everything will work out when the time comes. If it's their fate, it can't be escaped. If not, it's better to let them go free."
Gu Huan thought about it and it seemed to be true.
If Zhou Chunyu only cares about his own face and ignores Sister Zhilan's lifelong happiness, then let a better man love Sister Zhilan.
As a woman, she will always be happy if she is loved by someone.
"I won't eat anymore. I'm here to accompany Sister Zhilan and support her."
Gu Huan broke free from Mu Junyan's hand, lifted her skirt and turned around to run.
"Hey, how can you skip breakfast?" Mu Junyan wanted to chase after him.
"No problem, send them breakfast."
The old lady came out smiling, and the maid beside her was already carrying a food box.
"Hurry up and send it to them. Today's martial arts competition to find a bride may take the whole day."
Mu Junyan sighed: "Fortunately, I married Gu Huan early, otherwise I might have to bear this worry."
…
The arena for the martial arts competition to win a bride was set up in the large square inside the east gate of Juzhou City. A large platform was built with big red pillars decorated with red curtains, and colorful curtains were hung on the golden railings, making it lively and bustling.
Gu Huan took Zhou Zhilan's hand and went onto the stage together. The people who were preparing to participate in the competition and the onlookers below suddenly became excited.
"Is this the female steward of Prince Yong's mansion? I thought she was a fierce old woman, but she is so pretty."
"That's right, brother. If you want to win the beauty, you have to work hard."
"That's a must."
"Miss Zhou is kind and beautiful, and she often helps people with Madam Mu."
"That's right. Let's not talk about her rich dowry and her beauty. Just look at her ability. Marrying her will definitely bring good luck to the family."
"That's right."
Zhou Zhilan felt shy for the first time in public.
She had never experienced being stared at by so many boys, all with burning eyes, as if she was a hot commodity.
It made her face turn red, and she showed a rare bit of girlish shyness.
Gu Huan said loudly: "Today is Zhou Zhilan's big day. I hope everyone will come to the duel with sincerity. If anyone dares to harbor evil thoughts, don't blame me for being rude."
"Don't worry, ma'am."
"Miss Zhou is beautiful, kind-hearted, and capable. Whoever marries her will be very lucky."
“Yes, yes.”
Suddenly, several handsome young men waved to Zhou Zhilan.
"Miss Zhou, it's me. Do you remember me? We fought together."
"Me too, Miss Zhou, look at me."
Gu Huan and Zhou Zhilan looked over together and found that it was indeed an acquaintance.
They were several young and promising generals in the Mu family army. They were all smiling and waving their arms vigorously, fearing that Zhou Zhilan could not see them.
Zhou Zhilan's face turned red all the way to her neck.
He quickly turned around and stomped his feet: "How embarrassing!"
Gu Huan was amused. She turned her body around and whispered, "Do you still feel shy? It's too late to back off now. Why don't you ask everyone if they allow it?"
"No."
"Yes, that's right. No, we must fight."
"Yes, Miss Zhou, the marriage proposal has been made, and you cannot go back on your word."
"That's right."
"Miss Zhou, don't be afraid. If anyone dares to come on stage, I will knock him down."
"Go away, I think you are a crooked person."
For a moment, there was some chaos and shouting below.
Akabane and the others hurried over to pull them apart and stopped them sternly.
Gu Huan pulled Zhou Zhilan forward and said, "Before the competition begins, I have something to announce."
She glanced at Zhou Zhilan and said, "Sister Zhilan and I are like sisters. Today, I will formally become sworn sisters with Sister Zhilan in front of everyone."
There was cheering from the audience.
Zhou Zhilan looked at Gu Huan in a daze.
It is normal to call each other sisters on a daily basis, but it is different to become sworn sisters in public.
Gu Huan held her hand and said, "Are you willing to be my sister?"
Zhou Zhilan's eyes were moist: "Yes."
Donghua and the others quickly set up the table, and the two of them formally became sworn brothers according to the rules of sworn brotherhood.
The drumbeats for the martial arts competition for a bride sounded rapidly, and a burly man jumped up first and bowed to Zhou Zhilan.
"Miss Zhou, I have admired you for a long time. Although I am not good-looking, I have no parents to serve and no brothers or sisters to take care of. If you marry me..."
"roll!"
Following a curse, a dark shadow leaped onto the stage and kicked the burly man, making him stagger.
There was applause from the audience.
The man was tall and burly. He pointed at the burly man and said, "Stop talking nonsense. Beat him first!"
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