He didn’t know how learned Jiujiu was, so he was reluctant to let her participate in the competition. On one hand, he was considering the royal family’s reputation, but more importantly, he didn’t want Jiujiu to be criticized. He was very satisfied with his daughter-in-law Jiujiu and, of course, didn’t want to see her embarrassed.
"Princess Chen would like to know, why do the Second Prince and Princess Qiuxin insist on having Princess Chen participate in the competition?" Yang Mengchen looked at Qi Zonghao.
Qi Qiuxin wanted to speak up, but Qi Zonghao gave her a steely glance without leaving a trace and then smiled back at Yang Mengchen, "I have heard of Princess Chen’s overflowing talent and have admired it for a long time. This is such a good opportunity; I hope Princess Chen can fulfil this longstanding wish of mine."
Long Xuanmo’s face turned dark and frosty in an instant, his gaze toward Qi Zonghao cold and fierce: How dare he openly flirt with his woman; he was simply courting death!
The complexions of most of the people present turned equally unpleasant.
Meng Jinghui wanted to teach Qi Zonghao a lesson, but Meng Jingqi timely stopped him. It seemed that Jiujiu had an ulterior motive; they should just wait and see.
If the occasion had been different, Prince Duan would have really wanted to burst into laughter. Who didn’t know that Princess Chen was only versed in business and utterly lacked talent? Qi Zonghao was truly prodigious.
Looking at Long Xuanmo and Yang Mengchen, then at Qi Zonghao, Prince Jing’s dark eyes flashed with a hardly noticeable calculation.
"To my knowledge, the contestants from each country are determined by their respective countries, and other countries have no right to interfere. On what grounds and in what capacity does the Second Prince interfere with Dong Chu’s internal affairs?" Yang Mengchen asked indifferently, ignoring the meaningful gaze from Qi Zonghao.
Qi Zonghao seemed unconcerned, "As I said, I only admire Princess Chen’s talent and have no intention of interfering in Dong Chu’s internal affairs. Moreover, as long as the representatives and judges from each country have no objections, it’s not unprecedented to change contestants at the last minute."
The international judges nodded; Qi Zonghao’s words weren’t false. In the past, if a contestant suddenly fell ill or got injured, replacements could be made with the unanimous approval from the representatives and judges of all countries. Of course, if the person was unwilling to participate, no one could force them.
Lowering her eyelids slightly, Yang Mengchen remained silent for a long time.
Grand Prince furrowed his brows, exuding an awe-inspiring presence without anger: "This is Dong Chu, Second Prince should not be too presumptuous, or you’ll be responsible for the consequences!"
"If you don’t want to participate, then don’t. There’s no need to pay attention to irrelevant people," Long Xuanmo reassured his wife in a gentle voice.
Qi Qiuxin became anxious upon hearing this. If that vile woman didn’t participate, how could she humiliate her in front of everyone? How could she make Prince Chen see her superiority? But, remembering Qi Zonghao’s warning before coming, she didn’t dare to speak out of turn and could only look urgently toward Qi Zonghao.
After giving Qi Qiuxin an eye signal to reassure her, Qi Zonghao stared fixedly at Yang Mengchen, who was frowning in silence, his eyes shining with determination.
Before coming to Dong Chu, he had people thoroughly investigate some important figures, especially Princess Chen Yang Mengchen.
Born into a humble farming family and not versed in literature, her forte was in the way of doing business. Her skill at amassing wealth was so impressive that even Gong Qingyan, who was touted as a business prodigy among his subordinates, admitted his inferiority.
He initially did not take her seriously. After all, no matter how capable, she was just a woman, and moreover, a woman that another man had been with, which he scorned.
However, his sister’s words from the previous night reminded him, once his sister married Prince Chen and, with her beauty and clever ways, certainly she could win Prince Chen’s heart and slowly achieve the goal of controlling him.
And if Princess Chen were to be scorned by Prince Chen, she would surely be devastated. At that time, if he showed a little bit of concern and tenderness to Princess Chen, he would definitely gain her grateful affection. Winning her heart would be as easy as turning over his hand.
Once Princess Chen fell head over heels in love with him, he would then rename her and take her back to Xiliang, where she could create endless wealth for him.
Slightly lifting her eyelids, Yang Mengchen watched Qi Zonghao quietly, "If the Second Prince agrees to a condition of mine, I will participate in the competition."
"Please speak," Qi Zonghao said with a smile on his face, his deep eyes tinged with a barely perceptible tender sentiment.
With the corners of her lips slightly lifted in a trace of cold mockery, Yang Mengchen’s voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but it was laden with an indescribable implication, "Xiliang has borrowed Sanchuan, the Northern Region, Shangyong, Wuyang, and Jinchun, five cities of our nation, for some time now. If I win first place in five events of this competition, then Xiliang shall unconditionally return these five cities to our nation!"
As the words fell, everyone’s expression changed dramatically.
The Emperor was so shocked he nearly stood up, but he quickly composed himself remembering he was in the Jinluan Hall, and remained seated firmly on his throne. However, his hands, gripping the arms of the throne, clenched into fists, revealing his agitated state of mind.
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