Wang Yanzhang completely disregarded the opportunity offered by Li Zhu. The two sides had been locked in a stalemate for so long that neither side would be satisfied until a victor emerged…
Besides, he's confident of victory now, so why would he admit defeat...
Even if he agreed, the Wang family wouldn't...
"How can this person be so shameless? He clearly lost, yet he still tries to force Yanzhang to admit defeat..."
"Exactly, I really don't know where he gets the courage to say that..."
"It doesn't take any courage, just shamelessness..."
Wang Yanzhang's arrogant gaze conveyed an air of certain victory...
The others also watched with amusement, waiting for Li Zhu to make a fool of himself!
What could he say given the circumstances? He'd given them a chance, but they weren't appreciative. And with so many people making sarcastic remarks, he could only reluctantly lift the giant cauldron...
I really didn't mean to embarrass these people; I am truly an upright and pure person...
After a moment of self-hypnosis, Li Zhu finally pulled on the rope in his hand. As the pulley system turned, the rope at the end of the giant cauldron was instantly taut, demonstrating just how heavy the cauldron was…
Everyone was baffled by this scene. Wasn't the prince supposed to lift the tripod? Why was he pulling the rope?
Soon, to everyone's astonishment, Li Zhu slowly hoisted the giant cauldron up...
Seeing the giant cauldron leave the ground and rise higher and higher, everyone's mouths were agape in astonishment. This was just too surreal!
Li Zhu only stopped when the giant cauldron was higher off the ground than Wang Yanzhang had lifted it. He held the rope with an relaxed expression, looking at the astonished expressions of the crowd, quite satisfied with the result…
"Our competition was to lift the giant cauldron off the ground, not specify the method. Shouldn't what I did count as lifting the cauldron off the ground? Besides, we've been talking for well past ten breaths; shouldn't I be declared the winner…?"
Li Zhu spoke softly, but everyone heard him clearly, because the entire training ground seemed to be silent except for the sound of breathing!
"Impossible... How could such a few broken things lift a giant cauldron? This must be an illusion..."
Someone shouted instinctively!
However, the Wang family wasn't entirely composed of scholars; they also included craftsmen. Faced with pulley systems and their proven capabilities, they were instantly captivated. The system's potential was immense; if used in building city walls, it could not only raise the walls higher but also save several times the time required…
"Your Highness, you have won..."
Even though he was extremely unwilling, Director Wang had no choice but to announce the result. After all, they had already said it before the competition started, and now it was too late to go back on his word!
"General Wang, you are now my personal bodyguard..."
Li Zhu smiled at Wang Yanzhang, his eyes filled with smugness, but to Wang Yanzhang, it was simply the joy of soon getting what he wanted…
His inner voice told him he couldn't agree, or his life would be ruined...
"No...I..."
"What? Does General Wang mean he's a man of his word? Does that mean I can assume all your military orders from now on are just empty promises?"
Li Zhu's words were extremely impolite, making Wang Yanzhang's face even uglier. However, he refused to be taken into Li Zhu's harem under any circumstances, so he continued to shout loudly.
"You cheated! You planned this competition all along! I don't accept this result! I'm not convinced!"
The Wang family members looked at Wang Yanzhang with strange expressions. They had previously mocked Li Zhu for being a sore loser, but now, it seemed the real sore loser was someone from their own Wang family. The patriarch had already announced the result, and he dared to jump out and protest! Wasn't this a slap in the face to the patriarch? It also made the Wang family seem utterly untrustworthy, going back on their word…
"You're not convinced? Then how will it take for you to be convinced?"
Li Zhu asked with great interest. He was strong enough to lift the giant cauldron, but he used a pulley system to humiliate the Wang family and show them whether he, the crown prince, was a good-for-nothing, and to see who would dare to look down on him...
The appearance of the pulley system astonished everyone, and the effect exceeded his expectations...
"Since this is a competition, it must be fair. What kind of skill is it to rely on external objects? If you're so capable, lift this giant cauldron with your bare hands..."
Wang Yanzhang was certain that Li Zhu couldn't lift it, which is why he was pressuring him so hard to get him to give up the bet of having a personal bodyguard!
"Will you submit once I lift this giant cauldron?"
"nature!"
"What if you still change your mind?"
"How could I, a dignified general of the New Tang Dynasty, break my word..."
After saying this, Wang Yanzhang looked away somewhat embarrassedly, his face flushing slightly. However, because he was dark-skinned, no change was visible, and he didn't reveal his guilty conscience.
Li Zhu rolled his eyes at him. "You're a man of your word? Then why didn't you admit the result of the competition? What about this matter?"
However, he wanted to convince Wang Yanzhang, so he didn't dwell on these things!
Although Li Zhu didn't want to take it to heart, he still wanted to tease the other person, so he gritted his teeth and said...
"Since that's the case, let's increase the stakes. If I can lift the giant cauldron, not only will you become my personal bodyguard, but your daughter will also become my personal maid. Otherwise, I won't lift the cauldron. Anyway, the Grand Tutor has already declared me the winner..."
Hearing Li Zhu's words, Wang Yanzhang hesitated. He could accept it himself, but to risk his daughter as well would be going too far. Even though he firmly believed that Li Zhu couldn't lift it, he didn't want to gamble with his daughter's life...
"I…"
Wang Yanzhang wanted to refuse, but he didn't want to let such a good opportunity slip by. Now, as long as he nodded, Li Zhu would actually lift the tripod. If Li Zhu couldn't lift it, then the Wang family wouldn't have lost...
"Since General Wang doesn't want to agree, then forget it. Just come back with me as a guard. You either come back with me directly as a guard, or you take a gamble and add your daughter as the stake..."
Li Zhu had one more thing on his mind that he didn't say: "When the time comes, you and your daughter will come back to the palace with me..."
"Okay... I agree..."
Wang Yanzhang gritted his teeth and agreed to the bet…
"Yanzhang, how could you be so impulsive..."
Wang Dao looked at him with disappointment and said, "Such a bet is clearly malicious. Whether you agree or not, it will be a blow to the prestige of the Wang family!"
"Master, I can't become the Crown Prince's personal bodyguard. Everyone in the city knows about his quirks. If I go, how can I face people in the future?"
Wang Yanzhang finally spoke his mind, bursting into tears, his heart filled with grievance…
The other members of the Wang family also looked at Wang Yanzhang with sympathy, but there was something else in their eyes...
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