***
Unlike Empress Dowager Cheng, Empress Dowager Zheng was Jing Huaixu's biological mother. Even if she couldn't get through to General Du, she could still put pressure on Jing Huaixu directly.
Jing Huaixu had encountered Empress Dowager Zheng's domineering demands countless times, and each time he simply delayed the matter.
In short, the Xuanjia Army cannot be allowed to be coveted by the two empress dowagers. Unexpectedly, Jing Yan took the initiative to approach Jing Huaixu, specifically to give his two younger brothers a chance.
Set tests for them, and let the most capable ones enter the Xuanjia Army.
In the Imperial Garden of the inner palace, everyone gathered together. When Jing Yan said these words, Empress Dowager Cheng's eyes lit up.
Empress Dowager Zheng frowned. It was clearly she who had asked Jing Huaixu for the item alone, yet Jing Yanfei had publicly organized a competition. She hesitated.
"Your Highness, is the competition dangerous?"
Jing Yan: "Grandmother, since my second and third brothers have this intention, it is just right to expand the Xuanjia Army and create a vacancy for a centurion."
"Your subject does not show favoritism to anyone, but only considers the abilities of my second and third brothers. However, I would also like to remind them that as princes, they have already enjoyed many advantages, and the trials they will face will surely be arduous and dangerous."
"Your Majesty, I can only guarantee to save their lives. Minor injuries and serious harm are unavoidable. If my second and third brothers feel it is inappropriate, they may simply give up."
"So dangerous!" The fact that she had suffered a minor injury but was seriously injured had already frightened Empress Dowager Zheng. She was greatly surprised.
The two empress dowagers each favored Jing Shuo and Jing Lu, and Jing Huaixu thought Jing Yan was confused and easily let the two of them join the Xuanjia Army.
Upon hearing the rules again, it seemed that Jing Yan was trying to advance by retreating.
Jing Huaixu smiled and smoothed things over: "Mother, if Shuo'er and Lu'er want to join the army, I can arrange for them to join elsewhere. The Xuanjia Army is the Crown Prince's brainchild, so it is only right that they have a competition."
"Didn't the Crown Prince also give a prize? A commander of a thousand men in the Xuanjia Army can only lead his own soldiers. Who knows how long it would take for the men below him to climb up the ranks."
"If Shuo'er and Lu'er are afraid, they can learn literature and politics."
Jing Huaixu asked Jing Shuo and Jing Lu for their opinions: "What do you two think?"
Jing Shuo needed to achieve military merit in order to marry into a satisfactory family. He knew that Jing Lu was always weak and not assertive, and would definitely not be able to beat him, so he couldn't wait to agree.
“Father, I am not afraid and am willing to try.”
Consort Cheng glanced nervously at Empress Dowager Cheng when her son readily agreed to such a dangerous task. To her surprise, she saw a look of approval in Empress Dowager Cheng's eyes, leaving her speechless.
Jing Lu looked bewildered. He first glanced at Empress Dowager Zheng, then at Jing Huaixu, and finally at Jing Shuo, who had readily agreed, and his elder brother, who had given him the opportunity.
With a hint of helplessness, he cupped his hands and said, "Your subject... thanks Your Majesty, and your younger brother thanks Your Majesty."
The two agreed to the contest, and the time was set for three days later. The palace was just waiting for news.
The lively gathering quickly subsided, and Empress Dowager Zheng thoughtfully instructed Jinglu to follow her.
On the way, Empress Dowager Zheng said worriedly, "This is not just empty talk. No matter how many books you have read, it is useless. You should still fall ill in three days."
Jing Lu hesitated: "But... I have already promised Father Emperor. It would be spineless to desert in the face of battle. Besides, my second brother has already gone. If I just give up and let my second brother join the Xuanjia Army, wouldn't you, Grandmother, be inferior to Grandmother Cheng?"
"I can't bear to see you injured," Empress Dowager Zheng said, her heart trembling at the thought of what could have been a minor or serious injury.
Jing Lu: "Grandmother, your grandson knows to cherish his life and will not force himself to endure it. He will come down as soon as he can no longer hold on."
Empress Dowager Zheng shook her head in frustration at the end: "Alas, I thought it would be just a matter of saying a word to your father, but who knew that Jingyan would cause such a mess. It's obvious that your father still loves the Crown Prince the most."
"Otherwise, we wouldn't have had the idea of sending you to Anguo as a hostage in the first place."
Jing Lu laughed heartlessly: "After all, my brother is capable, and wasn't I just lucky enough not to go?"
***
Three days later.
Jing Shuo and Jing Lu left the palace early in the morning to participate in the competition, and Jing Yan went with them to the training ground in the suburbs.
The trap is located in the forest and consists of seven checkpoints. At the end of the checkpoint is a bronze sword. Whoever takes the bronze sword and returns first is the winner.
Before the two set off, Jing Yan repeatedly reminded them solemnly.
“I have already told you about the dangers in the forest, and I have not hidden anything from my father either. You are responsible for your injuries. If you give up, I will not make fun of you.”
Jing Shuo was eccentric. Hearing this, he was not afraid at all. Instead, he looked at Jing Lu with a mocking smile and saw that he was wearing newly made armor and knee pads, making him completely invulnerable.
He teased, "Jinglu, did you hear what your brother said? If you're scared, don't go in, or you'll get a scrape."
“Grandmother made me wear this,” Jing Lu said helplessly. He also had a mask on his face, which he had struggled to pull off, but he stubbornly shook his head: “Second Brother, I must try it on.”
Jing Shuo sneered and raised an eyebrow at Jing Yan: "Brother, since Jing Lu has no regrets, you shall give the order."
Jing Yan glanced at Jing Shuo, his dark eyes unusually calm, revealing no extra emotion whatsoever.
"Jing Shuo, since Jing Lu has no regrets, you shouldn't either. I've given you a chance, let's see if you can win a place in the Xuanjia Army."
Jing Shuo smiled, his whole body brimming with ambition: "I definitely will."
Jing Yan stopped looking at him, raised his hand and waved it down, and then Jing Shuo and Jing Lu ran into the dense forest together.
Rong Ying walked up to Jing Yan and looked at the figure that was gradually getting smaller, puzzled.
"Your Highness, these were things you used to hone your skills. Do you really need to waste your time fooling around with the Second Prince and the Third Prince?"
Jing Yan looked up at the sky, his expression calm.
“They are all my brothers, and they will enter the court in the future, but no one has taught them how to be subjects. I will teach them.”
Although Jing Shuo and Jing Lu did not have any guards with them in the dense forest, soldiers were stationed at various checkpoints along the way to monitor their progress.
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