The emperor of Yongfeng Kingdom was incompetent and tyrannical. He sent them to Lingfeng Kingdom for two reasons: to protect himself and to establish a good reputation to prevent invasion by other countries.
Lingfeng Kingdom is poor in land, and the reason why other countries have been wary of it for many years is simply because of its strength. Even the common people are comparable to other soldiers. Unless they don't want to live, no one dares to touch this place.
Yongfeng Kingdom and Lingfeng Kingdom have good relations, so naturally no one dares to invade Yongfeng Kingdom. This is why the emperor sends people here every year. Even if they are insulted, they still come without hesitation.
"We're doomed. Even the Emperor can't help us..." The head of the delegation was ashen-faced. They couldn't see the Emperor of Lingfeng Kingdom, and they couldn't leave. They had no idea when this would end. "I'll go and beg them right now. The Emperor will definitely be willing to see us!"
Song Tangxue shook her head: "It's no use. They won't listen to what you say here. They only care about your skills. If you can beat them, then go."
Many of the members of this delegation were exceptionally powerful, but they were still slightly inferior to them. Only Zhan Ming could defeat them, which would only make people think that Yongfeng Kingdom had no one else.
Just then, there was a knock at the door; it was someone from the Lingfeng Kingdom.
"His Majesty requests that you proceed to the palace for a banquet at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM)."
The envoy leader was secretly excited. They were so close, and the emperor was finally willing to see them: "We will definitely go."
...
At the palace banquet, the concubines dressed in their finest attire, adorning their heads with every hairpin they could find, making everyone dizzy upon entering.
Seeing this scene, the civil and military officials couldn't help but twitch their lips. They hadn't participated in the palace banquet for many days, yet these concubines were still the same as before.
Song Tangxue stood at the end. If you paid attention, you would notice that there was someone next to her. The person was wearing a cloak and could not see his face. But judging from his aura, he was no ordinary person.
"The Yongfeng Kingdom delegation has arrived—"
They sat down, and Song Tangxue felt someone staring at her. She turned around and saw Xie Qianzhong, who even blinked at her.
Song Tangxue blushed: "Be careful, don't let anyone see us."
Xie Qianzhong appeared in the house early this morning. As soon as Song Tangxue woke up, she saw him leaning against the window. The breeze stirred his hair, and his bald head, which was part of the daytime shading, fell right on his shoulder. Hearing the noise, he turned his head slightly.
"Tang Xue, how was your rest?"
Song Tangxue was still a little sleepy and thought it was all a dream. Every time she woke up, he was already gone.
"Tang Xue?" It wasn't until Xie Qianzhong called out Song Tang Xue's name that he realized everything in front of him was real.
Xie Qianzhong had also finished dressing, and there was still a slight chill on his body, as if he had been standing outside for a long time. It was just before dawn, and Song Tangxue didn't even know when he had left.
Why haven't you left yet?
Xie Qianzhong was somewhat saddened upon hearing this: "Are you trying to get rid of me?"
"Of course not, it's just a bit of an accident. The delegation is about to depart, so I have to get up quickly." Song Tangxue was much more awake now.
Xie Qianzhong had already prepared Song Tangxue's clothes and a basin of hot water. These were things that maids usually did, but he had prepared them all himself.
"I will go with you today."
Xie Qianzhong will be leaving in two days. He can't delay any longer with the Emperor, or it will arouse suspicion. Although he hasn't had a proper rest these past few days, seeing Song Tangxue safe and sound is more important than anything else.
“Your face is too conspicuous; everyone in the delegation knows you.”
Xie Qianzhong was exceptionally handsome, and many women in the capital were enamored with him. Thinking about it made Song Tangxue a little jealous, but it only proved that she had good taste; such a good man belonged to her alone.
I came to my senses.
Unexpectedly, Xie Qianzhong went to such lengths to disguise himself for the sake of being with him. Only his general face could be seen under the bamboo hat and veil. However, since the delegation was quite familiar with him, it was hard to guarantee that someone would recognize him. Xie Qianzhong did not eat anything from beginning to end, which disappointed many people who wanted to see his true face.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
The Emperor was different from what Song Tangxue had imagined. She had thought he would be a very dignified person, but from a distance, he was the least noticeable one. Although he was wearing a dragon robe and a jade crown, his face was always gentle and he did not have any domineering aura.
"My beloved ministers, please rise. This palace banquet is for you all only. Please do not be reserved and speak freely!"
Immediately afterward, everyone began to move around freely. The fact that they could talk and laugh so unrestrainedly in front of the Emperor was a scene that would never be seen in Yongfeng Kingdom.
"Your youngest daughter is really amazing. My Rou'er has been talking about her for ages. If we ever get the chance, we definitely want the two kids to have a good competition!"
"You flatter me. My child also says that Rou'er is a prodigy. There's no better time than today, so why don't we give her a try?"
The two officials chatted amiably and spontaneously decided to have a martial arts contest today. The Emperor naturally agreed. The two women stood in front of everyone, both wearing sleeves that were tied up, and their eyes and brows exuded a heroic spirit.
No wonder everyone says that the people of Lingfeng Kingdom all know martial arts. Seeing it today, I can confirm that the reputation is well-deserved. Even ordinary women know a little bit about it.
"I've long heard that Rou'er has recently become obsessed with martial arts, and I wonder how skilled she has become. Today, I must broaden my horizons and see for myself. If she wins, I will reward her handsomely!"
The two of them fought fiercely and showed no mercy, showing no consideration for each other just because the other was a woman. After a few rounds, the outcome was quickly decided. The woman named Rou'er was exceptionally strong and defeated her opponent, raising her head to the side.
"Indeed, Rou'er's kung fu has improved considerably. Issue my decree: the Right Chancellor has done an excellent job in educating his daughter; he shall be rewarded with one hundred taels of gold."
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."
With the two of them taking the lead, everyone else also became interested, and the palace banquet obviously turned into a martial arts arena. The members of the delegation looked at each other, and it seemed that the emperor had forgotten about them.
"I'm going out for some fresh air."
Since she had no immediate need for herself, Song Tangxue decided to go out for a walk and learn about the situation in Lingfeng Kingdom. There was a reason why Lingfeng Kingdom had been able to exist until now. As the country with the fewest changes in dynasties, not only was the emperor good at governing, but more importantly, the people were very united. Even if an enemy came, everyone could pick up a sword and rush to the enemy, making everyone a soldier.
It looks simple, but it's actually very difficult to do. Throughout history, only the Lingfeng Kingdom has been able to achieve this.
"The weather is nice today. If I were in Yongfeng Kingdom, I would really like to go out for a walk."
Xie Qianzhong also came out. He participated in this palace banquet only for Song Tangxue. Now that she was gone, there was no need for him to stay any longer.
"Yes, even though the sky is clear today, something big is about to happen."
The Emperor's hosting of this palace banquet was definitely not that simple. Since they entered, no one had given them a second glance, completely forgetting the existence of the delegation.
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