"Fool, wherever you are, that’s where I’ll be, never to part from you in this life!" She gently squeezed Long Xuanmo’s hand, her heart overflowing with happiness and gratitude: being able to love and be with Wende, she considered it a blessing earned over several lifetimes; how could she possibly abandon Wende and lead a carefree life herself?
With a determined voice, Long Xuanmo took his beloved wife into his arms: "Mm, we will never part, not in this life nor in any other."
The banquet continued in the Imperial Garden.
Observing Chu Dieyi sitting quietly next to Shao Mingyi, her demeanor calm like still water, occasionally engaging in low conversation with him, it was clear that they had a good relationship, and Yang Mengchen felt inexplicably reassured.
Sensing someone’s gaze, Chu Dieyi turned and saw the renowned Princess Chen. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with some emotion. Chu Dieyi felt a flicker of thought and nodded slightly in greeting.
Yang Mengchen returned a faint smile and then withdrew her gaze, inadvertently catching sight of Long Yanrou’s eyes, filled with jealous venom. A trace of cold mockery crossed the corners of her lips.
Long Yanrou hadn’t expected to be caught so plainly and didn’t recover for a moment. When she did, she saw Yang Mengchen smiling and talking with Prince Chen, who always wore a gentle expression. Long Yanrou bit her lip until it nearly bled, her handkerchief almost torn to shreds by her grip, her heart swirling with rage and indignation.
Damn that wretch, not only did she foil Long Yanrou’s wish to marry Crown Prince Meng last time, but she also caused the Ke Prince Mansion to lose face. Her mother was stripped of her power to manage the household and was placed under house arrest in the small Buddhist hall, and she was even forced to go to Huangjue Temple for reflection.
She believed that the only reason Crown Prince Meng didn’t take her as his Crown Princess Consort was due to this wretch’s sabotage behind the scenes; naturally, she attributed all her resentment to this wretch.
Casting a glance at the engrossed conversation between Yang Chengning and Shao Mingyi, Long Yanrou brimmed with disdain, annoyance, and dark plotting in her eyes.
The Emperor seemed in high spirits: "Tonight’s banquet has two purposes, one is to welcome the distinguished guests from the Taji Chang Tribe, and the other is to reward the brave and fearless warriors of Dong Chu. Everyone should feel free to enjoy themselves without formality."
Nevertheless, there were, in fact, very few who dared to act without restraint.
But Princess Higuirre stood up without being held back by Laksh or Batelgen: "Your Majesty, this time our Taji Chang Tribe has brought a treasure to offer to Your Majesty. However, Princess Higuirre has a condition—if Princess Chen’s archery skills surpass those of Princess Higuirre, we will willingly hand over the treasure with both hands. If not, we will naturally take the treasure back with us," she said, challenging Yang Mengchen with her gaze.
Everyone whispered; such audacity from a barbarian maiden to challenge Princess Chen so openly. Do they admire her courage or find her recklessly ignorant? After all, Princess Chen is not someone easily trifled with.
Long Xuanmo’s cold and handsome face darkened with a frosty gloom, and the look he directed at Higuirre was as if he were staring at a corpse, chilly and devoid of warmth.
Sensing the bloodthirsty aura suddenly radiating from Long Xuanmo, Yang Mengchen held his hand, her lips curving into a faint smile, instantly dissipating his fiery anger.
Glancing at Higuirre, Yang Chengning’s expression was cold and somber, his eyes deep as the ocean.
The young ladies who envied Yang Mengchen took pleasure in her misfortune, secretly praying that she would make a fool of herself in public; it was preferable to having her win all the good fortunes.
"Princess Higuirre, you must not be rude!" Laksh rebuked his daughter sternly, then apologized to the Emperor and Yang Mengchen: "Princess Higuirre has been spoiled by me; please forgive her, Your Majesty and Princess Chen!"
Batelgen also performed a ritual apology.
The Emperor frowned almost imperceptibly, not at all pleased with this brash young girl, but he maintained a magnanimous smile and said, "Princess Higuirre is young. The Empress and Princess Chen, of course, will not hold it against her."
Disregarding her father and brother’s well-meant admonitions, Higuirre directly challenged Yang Mengchen: "General Yang is brave and skilled in battle, and as the sister of General Yang, Princess Chen must not be so inept at archery that she loses face for him."
Yang Mengchen found it somewhat amusing; she had thought Higuirre was provoking her because of affection for Wende, but it turned out to be because of her second brother.
"It’s said that the Princess’s uncle is the Great General, yet her mother is as weak as a hen; according to the Princess’s reasoning, doesn’t that mean her mother also disgraces the honor of her uncle?" Chu Dieyi suddenly said indifferently, "Moreover, whether or not Princess Chen knows archery is none of the Princess’s business. What right does the Princess have to challenge Princess Chen, even risking the relations between our two nations? Don’t forget, Taji Chang has already submitted to Dong Chu. What right does the Princess have to show off her might in Dong Chu?"
Yang Mengchen looked gratefully at Chu Dieyi, who nodded slightly in response. For some reason, Dieyi couldn’t bear to see Princess Chen in trouble. This feeling was inexplicable and indescribable.
All eyes turned to Chu Dieyi, each face reflecting a different emotion.
"You..." Higuirre flushed with anger but persisted in her stare at Yang Mengchen: "Is Princess Chen afraid?"
A glint of cold light passed through Yang Mengchen’s eyes. She had no intention of taking this girl’s challenge seriously, but... she would reluctantly take on the role of this girl’s parents and teach her a proper lesson, showing this girl that there are always greater powers in the world!
"Does Princess Higuirre truly wish to compare archery skills with this Princess?"
Higuirre looked up proudly: "Of course!"
"This Princess accepts Princess Higuirre’s challenge. However, this Princess also has a condition—the challenge will commence as soon as Princess Higuirre convinces Chief Laksh to agree," said Yang Mengchen, her expression calm and composed.
"Father, agree to it," Higuirre pleaded, looking expectantly at her father.
Throughout the journey, she had heard Dong Chu’s warriors sing praises of Princess Chen’s intelligence and unmatched beauty, especially Yang Chengning’s icy disposition towards others, yet he always spoke of Princess Chen with warmth. Naturally filled with jealousy, she had resolved to outdo Princess Chen and prove to Yang Chengning that she was the most outstanding woman in the world.
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