Chapter 228 This time, he can't afford to lose
On behalf of the military officer, Wei Lingze accepted the envoys' request to have a discussion.
Zhaoling and Yuexi have been at war and at peace from time to time. Now that Zhaoling is a rich and powerful country, a competition can demonstrate the strength of the current military generals and intimidate the envoys, allowing the peace between the two countries to last longer.
Wei Lingze answered readily, and his words showed that he was confident of victory. His Majesty was very pleased. After drinking a cup with the envoys, he set the date of the competition for the winter solstice this year.
At that time, His Majesty will lead all civil and military officials and the envoys out of the palace for the winter hunt, and compete with the envoys in many aspects to demonstrate fairness.
The two sides had a pleasant conversation. When the envoys left, Xuanyuan Lang deliberately stayed last and said to Wei Lingze in his rather broken Zhaoling dialect, "Young General Wei, I look forward to competing with you again during the winter hunt."
Wei Lingze didn't take Xuanyuan Lang seriously. He glanced at the empty sleeve on his right side and said, "General Xuanyuan only has one hand left. If I win, I'm afraid it won't be fair."
After the ceremonial officer translated, Xuanyuan Lang finally understood what he said. He wasn't angry, but laughed out loud: "General Wei, are you saying this because you're afraid you won't be able to defeat me and will be laughed to death?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the envoys group started laughing.
Although Xuanyuan Lang had lost an arm, he did not show any sign of dejection. Instead, his fighting spirit was even stronger than three years ago. The members of the envoy group also believed in his strength and looked forward to Xuanyuan Lang defeating Wei Lingze in the upcoming winter hunt and avenging his previous defeat.
Since the other party had provoked him so much, Wei Lingze naturally could not give in. He straightened his back and accepted Xuanyuan Lang's declaration of war.
He would not show mercy just because Xuanyuan Lang was missing an arm. He would go all out and defeat Xuanyuan Lang as hard as he did on the battlefield three years ago.
After getting Wei Lingze's clear answer, Xuanyuan Lang and the envoys left happily, but Wei Lingze's face looked very ugly.
Xuanyuan Lang had a broken arm, so it wouldn't be shameful to lose to him. Besides, the envoys only had so many people, and they wouldn't publicize the matter after returning, so Xuanyuan Lang wouldn't be affected in any way.
But if he loses, he will inevitably become a laughing stock.
So he couldn't afford to lose this winter hunt, and he couldn't lose.
Wei Lingze was thinking in his head when he heard Li Huaijing's voice: "Ze'er, are you really sure you can win?"
Li Huaijing didn't mean anything else, his tone was full of concern, but Wei Lingze only found it irritating. He looked at Li Huaijing coldly and asked, "Uncle, do you think I can't even beat a cripple now?"
"That's not what I meant. It's just that you've been lying in bed for three years, and your leg has only just healed. I'm worried..."
Li Huaijing explained gently, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by Wei Lingze: "If my uncle was really worried about me, why didn't he just help me refuse in front of the emperor? What's the point of saying this now?"
Wei Lingze's tone was very bad, and he showed no respect to Li Huaijing as his uncle-in-law. Li Huaijing could only remain silent.
At this time, everyone from the Imperial Censorate came over, and Li Huaijing took the initiative to greet Shen Qingyuan: "Sir Shen, do you need anything after work? I would like to invite you to dinner."
Shen Qingyuan glanced at Wei Lingze, then said coldly, "Something's up."
Shen Qingyuan left after he finished speaking, and Li Huaijing quickly followed him to explain, "It's me who invited Lord Shen to dinner. It has nothing to do with anyone else. I want to talk to Lord Shen about your sister."
Shen Qingyuan had no intention of paying any attention to Wei Lingze, and Wei Lingze would not bother himself, so he walked past the two of them with a gloomy face and left first.
Shen Qingyuan didn't stop walking, and said calmly: "I really have something to do, and my mother only gave birth to me, I don't have a sister, Master Li has found the wrong person."
This statement completely distanced him from Shen Qingchi.
Li Huaijing didn't give up and continued, "Don't misunderstand, Lord Shen. I'm not here to plead for her. It's just that my wife and Madam Shen had a little unpleasantness because of this matter. I want to take this opportunity to apologize to Lord Shen to avoid affecting our friendship as colleagues."
"Lord Li has been serving in Wengzhou for many years. I don't have any friendship with him. If Lord Li feels that I am not distinguishing between public and private affairs, you can report me to the emperor."
"Sir Shen, I didn't mean to say that you don't distinguish between public and private matters. Besides, we met several times in the Yun clan school back then, so we can be considered classmates. I actually invited my husband today, so we can get together and talk about the past..."
"There's nothing much to talk about back then. I have things to do, so I'm leaving now."
Shen Qingyuan interrupted Li Huaijing directly and turned to leave.
His attitude was so firm that Li Huaijing couldn't chase him and pester him any further. After leaving the palace, he was told that the prince consort had also rejected his invitation.
Li Huaijing's expression couldn't help but darken.
He organized this dinner for Yun Wantang, hoping to ease the relationship between Yun Wantang, Chunxi and Princess Hengyang, but he didn't expect that even the prince consort rejected him.
Yun Wantang was a little disappointed when she heard that Li Huaijing was rejected, but she was more concerned about the winter hunt that would be coming soon.
She immediately came to the Wei family with the best knee pads and wrist guards, as well as a good bow.
"Congratulations, sister! As long as Ze'er defeats Xuanyuan Lang again in this winter hunt and takes first place, he will surely become famous again and a household hero in Zhaoling."
The Yun family did not expect the same thing as Yun Wantang.
During the three years when Wei Lingze was paralyzed, Yun prayed to God every day, just hoping that he would be healthy and safe. Now that Wei Lingze has really stood up, Yun just hopes that he will be well and doesn't want him to take risks to compete for fame and fortune.
"Zer's leg has only recovered a few months ago, and his strength is definitely not what it used to be. I want to go to the palace and ask the Queen not to let him compete with Xuanyuan Lang."
Yun frowned, her brows filled with worry. Yun Wantang disagreed, "Sister, Xuanyuan Lang already had an arm broken by Ze'er. How could he possibly win over Ze'er? How can you throw the baby out with the bathwater and ruin Ze'er's future?"
"How can a healthy body be more important than a future? What if Xuanyuan Lang comes here intentionally to seek revenge on Ze'er?"
Yun refuted, still feeling that it was inappropriate, but then she heard Yun Wantang say, "Sister, don't you want He'er to have a baby as soon as possible? If Ze'er can become famous again in the winter hunt, now is the best time."
The rest of Yun's rebuttal was choked in his throat.
She had asked her trusted maid to buy the medicine, but she had not yet made up her mind to use it.
Yun Wantang's words just now seemed like a spell that bewitched her.
The envoys have arrived in Beijing, and the winter hunting that will take place soon is the most important thing at the moment.
All civil and military officials will be busy with this matter. Even if He'er is angry afterwards, she will not choose to go home and cry at this time. Wait until Ze'er becomes famous again in the winter hunt. Even if He'er tells this matter, the Xiao family probably won't take it too seriously.
Now is indeed the best time.
But what if Ze'er loses?
Yun was still hesitant, so Yun Wantang grabbed her hand and said, "Sister, He'er has been bewitched by Cao Chunxi and Princess Hengyang. If you don't give her this drastic measure, there will be no future for her and Ze'er."
Yun pursed her lips, and the struggle in her eyes became firm.
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