Chapter 1087: Qingqing Understands My Heart

After Prince Jin finished speaking, he had an expression of ’I disdain to associate with you’.

The civil and military officials were furious to the extreme.

’Hey! We won fair and square, how come it seems like it was given away by you!’

’People of the Western Xia are indeed treacherous and shameless!’

At this moment, Yang Chenyi suddenly stood up.

He walked over slowly, picked up two wine cups, observed them while asking.

"Prince Jin, are you saying... this is evidence?"

Prince Jin glanced at him a few times, not recognizing the person before him.

However, seeing the other party dressed plainly, he concluded that this person was not part of the Royal Family.

At most, he was from an ordinary family.

Those silver needles were as fine as hairs, definitely unrecognizable by someone not skilled.

Therefore... he should not be able to recognize the silver needles.

Prince Jin stuck to his guns.

"That’s right!"

"If it weren’t for you intentionally messing with these things, how could our warriors lose!"

Even if they didn’t hit directly, they were distracted.

So it’s your fault!

Everyone was stunned by Prince Jin’s strange logic.

Each wanted to refute but didn’t dare to speak rashly.

Yang Chenyi also laughed.

"Oh?"

"Your warriors are truly special, even afraid of two wine cups..."

"Speaking of which, such warriors... we have as many as we want in the Great Chu Dynasty!"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproarious laughter from below.

Prince Jin turned purple with rage.

"You...!"

"You should not speak nonsense!"

"I don’t want to say more, you win if you win, there’s no need to take advantage and act clever!"

Yang Chenyi said with a smile.

"Prince Jin, don’t be angry!"

"The wine cup was thrown by myself; I saw something and couldn’t help but resort to this last resort, please forgive me, Prince Jin!"

Prince Jin said coldly.

"Oh? What did you see?"

He was confident the other party could not possibly recognize his silver needles, so he dared to ask this question.

He never imagined he was stepping into a well-crafted trap.

Only to see Yang Chenyi raise the wine cup to his face.

Holding it up to the light, picking something off, and squinting for a thorough look.

Cold sweat broke out on Prince Jin instantly.

’What’s going on? Could it be he’s really able to see?!’

’If it’s true, and he reveals it...’

How disgraceful for a Prince of Western Xia to use such a mean trick as hidden weapons during a duel.

With so many people watching, it was truly humiliating to bring such shame to the Great Chu.

Prince Jin’s face turned from green to white, then from white to black in an instant.

After a labyrinthine of thoughts, he finally made a decision!!

Admit it!

Losing the duel and being exposed for hidden weapons, in comparison.

The former is much less damaging, so...

In a speed rivaling flipping pages, Prince Jin changed his expression, stood up, and angrily reprimanded the warrior.

"Idiot, having lost, why aren’t you stepping down quickly!"

"Being trained for so many years yet still lacking skill, I truly wasted my effort on you!"

The warrior, knowing he was outmatched, quickly saluted.

"I am incompetent, please, Prince, calm your anger, I will step down immediately!"

After speaking, he clasped his fists towards Zhao Junyan.

"Thank you Seventh Prince for your guidance, I am truly no match!"

Zhao Junyan was somewhat at a loss, but after glancing at Yang Chenyi beside him, he went along and said.

"It’s nothing, it’s nothing!"

After the warrior stepped down, Zhao Junyan also withdrew.

Yang Chenyi smiled brilliantly.

He twirled the wine cup, smiling.

"Prince Jin, you’re joking!"

"The Western Xia warriors are burly and skilled; they look like natural talents, how can they be called unskilled?!"

"What I did was just a little joke earlier!"

"Winning or losing doesn’t matter, friendship comes first!"

"Don’t you agree?"

Prince Jin forced out a smile uglier than crying.

"Yes, yes, Young Master is so gracious!"

Hearing this, Yang Chenyi nodded, satisfied, and left.

Prince Jin wiped the sweat from his forehead, finally relieved.

’Finally saved face!’

’If it weren’t for my quick reaction, today would surely end in embarrassment.’

’My daughter was right, the people of the Great Chu Dynasty are indeed cunning and sly!’

’In all this fuss, not only did I lose the duel, but I ended up looking petty and unable to accept loss!’

’And they not only won the duel but also magnanimously said that winning or losing doesn’t matter! Emphasizing their strength and magnanimity!’

’Both being great nations, I somehow have been put beneath them, it’s simply...’

Prince Jin gnashed his teeth bitterly.

’It’s all my negligence!’

’Letting them take advantage while pretending to be humble!’

He cast his daughter a glance.

Feeling quite guilty inside.

Previously, he underestimated the situation, thinking of marrying off his daughter and then coordinating inside and out...

Now it’s better to take the long view!

At this moment, Hai Feng was sitting with her head down beside Fifth Master, her expression unclear.

The officials of the Great Chu Dynasty, after a round of subtle jabs, returned to the main topic.

Everyone tacitly forgot the subject, returning to laughing and talking.

The banquet’s atmosphere became lively again.

That day.

The banquet lasted until evening to conclude.

After the civil and military officials had dispersed.

Zhao Junyao had someone see Prince Jin and others to the guesthouse for a good rest.

In the evening, there was no other entertainment, just letting them engage in free activities.

Nicely dubbed: Exhausted from travel, it’s unfit to disturb, you should rest well.

Actually... he just didn’t want to bother with them.

...

At nightfall.

The dinner was just laid out at Duanning Palace when Zhao Junyao arrived.

Seeing his face full of coldness and fatigue.

Xia Ruqing felt a bit distressed.

After saluting quickly, she passed over a cup of hot tea.

"Have a sip of warm tea!"

Zhao Junyao reached out and accepted it.

Xia Ruqing said with a smile.

"You must be exhausted, Your Majesty should quickly change and dine!"

Zhao Junyao nodded.

Seeing the table laid with his favorite dishes.

Light, not greasy, and tasty, his tired expression relaxed.

"Still, Qingqing knows me best!"

Xia Ruqing was somewhat surprised and burst into laughter.

"Your Majesty, why do you say this?!"

Zhao Junyao also smiled a little.

"It’s nothing?!"

He got up to change his clothes, looked around.

"Where’s Yue Er?"

Xia Ruqing laughed.

"Today, Yue Er went to play in the snow, she was having such a blast that I couldn’t stop her, she’s already had dinner and gone to sleep!"

Zhao Junyao thought of his little daughter clad in red, happily running and jumping in the snow.

His mood instantly brightened.

"That girl is lively by nature, you shouldn’t restrain her too much!"

Xia Ruqing could hardly believe her own ears.

"Restrain her?"

"How would I dare?"

"If she’s not allowed out for a day, she could tear down my palace!"

"Your Majesty has spoiled her!" Her tone carried a hint of complaint.

Zhao Junyao chuckled.

"Alright, Qingqing!"

"I know you also can’t bring yourself to be strict with her!"

Xia Ruqing glared at him playfully.

"Eat, eat!"

Zhao Junyao, in a fine mood, picked up a piece of food with chopsticks.

"Hmm! This lotus root is good, it’s refreshing in taste and crisp to bite!"

Not flavored by other condiments, it maximized the fresh aroma of raw lotus root.

To an emperor accustomed to rich flavors and gourmet delicacies.

The most primal flavors of food are more enticing.

That evening.

Zhao Junyao, not having eaten much at the banquet, had a great appetite.

He ate dish after dish!