Return to the hotel.
Xiao Feng, Xu Zhu, Ba Tianshi, Zhu Danchen, A Zhu, A Bi, and others were waiting inside the room.
They searched for a long time without any results, and were extremely anxious.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Duan Yu return.
Zhu Danchen hurriedly asked, "Young Master! Where were you taken by Murong Fu? Why are you covered in mud?"
Duan Yu smiled wryly: "I'll go take a bath and change first, and then I'll let my second brother tell you the details."
Li Huan vividly recounted Duan Yu's experiences that evening.
Xu Zhu was shocked: "Kumārajīva has lost all his martial arts skills and will surely starve to death in the dry well!"
Xiao Feng said, "Kumārajīva's obsession with martial arts led to his moral failings. Furthermore, he attempted to kill my fourth brother and Murong Fu because of the Tibetan prince's marriage proposal. He deserves to die!"
Zhu Danchen said, "Murong Fu's secret trip to the city with the young master was definitely not as simple as catching frogs."
Ba Tianshi said, "That's right, Murong Fu is plotting something, he wants to take advantage of catching frogs to kill the young master!"
Zhu Danchen said, "Tonight, let's keep our eyes open and guard the young master's door to prevent Murong Fu from launching a sneak attack."
Ba Tianshi nodded.
Li Huan said no more and went back to his room to rest...
...
the next day.
The grand recruitment ceremony for the Western Xia prince consort was solemnly opened at the Xihua Palace.
In the center of the hall sat the Emperor of Western Xia.
On the east side sat Prince Zongzan of Tibet.
On the west side sat Duan Yu, the prince of Dali.
This position was originally reserved for Xiao Feng, the Southern King of Liao, but Xiao Feng insisted on not taking it and gave it to Duan Yu.
There were as many as two hundred distinguished guests attending the banquet in the hall.
Li Huan knew that these two hundred people were all wealthy and powerful, and that they had either bribed relevant officials or used connections to gain entry to the Xihua Palace to attend the banquet and participate in the selection of the imperial son-in-law.
The Western Xia emperor picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, put down the cup, and left the table.
The distinguished guests were stunned and surprised by what they saw.
The emperor left without saying a word or even looking at the bride. How could he possibly choose a consort?
Li Huan knew that the idea of "selecting a consort" was the idea of Princess Li Qinglu of Western Xia, and she controlled it entirely. The Emperor of Western Xia was only responsible for the operation and did not interfere.
Li Huan rushed out of the main hall, took out a folding dining chair and a stool from the electric tricycle, quickly set up the stall, and started shouting!
"Boxed lunches for sale! Boxed lunches for sale! Delicious boxed lunches!"
"Buy my lunchbox and you'll have a chance to win the princess's favor!"
This shout was incredible; it seemed to possess a magical power, attracting two hundred distinguished guests inside the hall to surround the electric tricycle.
"Who is this person? How dare he set up a stall and hawk his wares inside the palace?"
"He is the leader of the Central Plains martial arts alliance, and his skills are superb. It's not surprising that he has set up a stall here!"
"Buying a boxed lunch gives you a chance to win the princess's favor?"
"What are we waiting for? Let's buy some boxed lunches!"
...
Murong Fu hurriedly asked, "Alliance Leader Li, what chance do we have of winning the princess's favor by buying the boxed lunches?"
Li Huan said, "You must be wondering why the Emperor of Western Xia doesn't personally choose a consort or even examine those he does choose, right?"
Everyone agreed.
Li Huan said, "I am proficient in divination and have already calculated that after everyone has eaten and drunk their fill, Helian Tieshu, the head steward of Yipintang, will come to summon everyone to have tea in the outer study of Qingfeng Pavilion, where the Western Xia princess resides."
"At that time, the princess will present three questions to test the candidates for the position of prince consort!"
Murong Fu hurriedly asked, "Which three questions?"
Li Huan picked up a ladle, banged it against the food bucket, and announced loudly!
"Buy a thousand boxed meals, and you'll know the first test question!"
"Buy two thousand boxed meals, and you'll find out the second question!"
"Buy three thousand boxed meals, and you'll find out the third test question!"
"By buying the boxed lunches and learning the exam questions in advance, we can prepare thoroughly and give the princess a satisfactory answer!"
"Dear guests, don't miss this opportunity! Come and sell boxed lunches!"
The scene erupted in uproar.
Murong Fu then hurriedly asked, "Only by answering three questions correctly can one pass the test and become the prince consort?"
Li Huan said, "Yes, becoming a prince consort is that simple! The princess doesn't care about appearance, background, or status; all that matters is that the applicant answers these three questions correctly!"
Murong Fu's face showed delight, and he looked confident.
In terms of intelligence, Murong Fu considered himself exceptionally intelligent.
Prince Zongzan snorted: "Spreading rumors! How do you know so much? You're not the princess's personal maid!"
Li Huan said, "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear me just say that I'm an expert in divination?"
Prince Zongzan retorted, "If you were proficient in divination and knew the answers to the three questions, wouldn't you be able to win the princess's heart and become the prince consort of Western Xia? Why would you need to set up a food stall in the palace?"
The crowd discussed it and agreed that Prince Zongzan's words made sense.
Li Huan said, "If I become the prince consort directly, how am I supposed to earn money?"
Prince Zongzan laughed heartily: "Now that you've become the prince consort, you'll enjoy endless riches and honors, so why worry about money?"
Li Huan shook his head: "You don't understand. Earning money by selling boxed lunches at a stall gives you a sense of accomplishment, completely different from the sense of accomplishment of being a prince consort!"
"Besides, I consulted the oracle last night, and it turns out I am not destined to be the princess and cannot become the consort of the Western Xia!"
"Hahaha..." Prince Zongzan laughed mockingly, "I don't need to consult the oracle to know that you will never become the prince consort, hahaha..."
Li Huan said, "Since I can't become the prince consort, what's wrong with me setting up a stall here to sell boxed lunches?"
Prince Zongzan was speechless and stopped smiling.
Li Huan said, "Each boxed meal costs one hundred taels of silver!"
"The first test question is worth a thousand boxed lunches, the second test question is worth two thousand boxed lunches, the third test question..."
"Alliance Leader Li!" Murong Fu interrupted Li Huan, "I'll buy a thousand boxed meals first!"
Li Huan said, "One hand pays the money, the other hand pays the exam questions!"
Murong Fu said, "I came to the palace for the banquet without bringing enough gold and silver. I will present them to you when I return to the inn."
Li Huan said, "Alright, even if I don't trust Young Master Murong's character, I can't doubt his wealth!"
The words had a hidden meaning, and Murong Fu, without time to ponder them, quickly asked, "What is the first test question?"
Li Huan quickly took a boxed lunch from the food bucket and handed it to Murong Fu.
"This dish is called 'Stuffed Belly with Meat'!" Li Huan pointed to the stuffed belly and introduced, "It's a specialty dish from Arab countries. Try a bite!"
"Pork Belly Stuffed in Belly" was introduced to China from the Arab region during the Ming Dynasty and was listed as a delicacy in the imperial court before spreading to the common people.
Murong Fu had never seen "meat stuffed in a belly" before, nor did he have any interest in tasting it.
"I'll eat later. Please tell me the first test question, Alliance Leader Li!"
Li Huan raised his eyebrows slightly: "The first test is in the 'meat-stuffed belly,' so take a bite!"
Murong Fu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he grabbed the "belly-wrapped meat" with his hand and took a bite.
Suddenly, a note appeared from inside the "belly-wrapped meat"!
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