Two people stood in the center of the drill ground.
The man was handsome, and the woman was beautiful.
It should have been a pleasing sight, but the killing intent in the air ruined the beauty.
Lan Jinxiang whipped her long whip vigorously. The sound of the air being split rang in everyone's ears and tugged at their hearts.
Everyone held their breath, afraid that His Highness the Prince of Yan wouldn't be able to dodge the whip.
But their worries were unnecessary. How could His Highness the Prince of Yan not dodge the whip?
He stood with his hands behind his back in the shadow of the whip, dodging it leisurely and effortlessly.
He neither counterattacked nor let Lan Jinxiang hit him.
Xiao Rencheng leaned over and whispered in Xu Ziyi's ear, "Is he planning to use the delaying tactic, waiting for the hourglass to run out and then calling it a draw?"
Xu Ziyi grunted and said worriedly, "I'm afraid it won't be that easy. Xiang'er has the most fiery temper among the three sisters. She never gives up until she achieves her goal. If the prince doesn't let her have her way, I'm afraid..."
On the viewing stand, Caiyu was also anxious. She leaned over to Sheng Jiangli and said, "Brother A Li, with Second Sister's temper, will she stop if she doesn't land a whip on him?"
Sheng Jiangli smiled faintly. "Probably not. Why don't you shout and tell the prince to stand still and take a whip? Xiang'er will have a way out, and the fight will be over."
Caiyu twitched the corner of her mouth. "This concerns the country's dignity. Don't try to fool me."
"You're a smart girl." Sheng Jiangli smiled enigmatically. "Don't worry. The hourglass will stop soon. It'll be a draw."
As the judge blew the whistle, Song Yinghuai reached out and caught Lan Jinxiang's last whip.
The whip was pulled straight between them.
Lan Jinxiang tugged at the whip, but it didn't budge. She gritted her teeth in anger. "Your Highness the Prince of Yan has excellent skills!"
Song Yinghuai remained calm. He tried to keep his tone even to avoid provoking Lan Jinxiang. "Thank you for your compliment, Khatun. How about calling this round a draw?"
Lan Jinxiang narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Sure! The hourglass has run out. I have no choice but to accept a draw... Let go!"
Song Yinghuai seemed to see through her plan in her eyes. He thought to himself, If I don't give her a way out, she won't be willing to let it go.
Fine.
At least the country's prestige has been protected. As for personal grudges, if she wants to avenge Caiyu, then so be it!
Song Yinghuai let go of the whip. Before Emperor Guangwu and the officials could cheer, Lan Jinxiang's long whip lashed out like a poisonous dragon!
The whip was as fast as lightning, aiming straight at Song Yinghuai's face!
Everyone was shocked!
If this whip landed, his face would be ruined!
If His Highness the Prince of Yan's handsome face was split in two...
Caiyu couldn't help but stand up and shouted, "My lord, be careful!"
After all, he was the one she loved. Even though she thought it was inappropriate and decided to leave, she still couldn't bear to see him get hurt.
Hearing Caiyu's cry, a hint of joy flashed in Song Yinghuai's eyes. He moved just as the whip was about to land on his eyebrow.
"Pop!"
The whip landed on his shoulder.
A bloodstain oozed from his left shoulder, and the blood spread from his shoulder to his chest.
Everyone gasped in shock.
Lan Jinxiang had put all her strength into this whip.
The skin was split, and the flesh was torn.
Even Lan Jinxiang herself was stunned. She stood there holding the whip and said, "You didn't dodge?"
Song Yinghuai looked down at the wound on his chest and said calmly, "I tried to dodge, but I couldn't. Your martial arts are excellent, Khatun. I'm impressed."
"Pfft!" Lan Jinxiang felt deeply insulted.
He had dodged so effortlessly during the fight. His skills were clearly on a different level from hers.
Now that the fight was over, he was deliberately acting pitiful for Third Sister's sake!
Scheming!
Lan Jinxiang felt even more depressed after lashing out.
She had heard Third Sister's worried cry just now, and she felt like she had become Song Yinghuai's helper.
Emperor Guangwu finally let out a rare laugh today. "The Khatun is a woman, but she has such excellent martial arts. She can draw a tie with our great general of Ye. She is truly a peerless woman! I'm very impressed!"
"No wonder the Tartars have been able to thrive for so long. It seems that heroes emerge in large numbers!"
Lan Jinxiang glared at Song Yinghuai resentfully. "I'm not worthy of such praise. It's all thanks to His Highness the Prince of Yan's concession."
The martial arts competition ended in such a strange atmosphere.
In the afternoon, the Tartar envoy group would have a preliminary peace negotiation with the officials led by the Minister of War.
Lan Jinxiang was in no mood, so she returned to the post station first.
Emperor Guangwu's mood improved, and he ordered Xu Ziyi to continue escorting her.
As soon as Lan Jinxiang arrived at the post station, she said to Xu Ziyi, who was waiting outside the carriage, "You can go back."
Xu Ziyi was stunned for a moment, then quickly regained his composure. "I can wait for you here."
Lan Jinxiang was in a bad mood. Hearing this, she sneered, "What are you waiting for me for? In what capacity do you want to wait for me?"
Xu Ziyi's eyes flashed slightly. He said calmly, "I'm waiting for you to summon me. Whatever identity you want me to have, I'll have it."
Lan Jinxiang seemed to be amused. "I came in a hurry and didn't bring any male companions. I'm just short of a few... I think Lord Xu is quite handsome. Are you going to offer yourself as my lover?"
Xu Ziyi didn't seem to be insulted at all. He actually nodded and said, "I do intend to offer myself. Anyway, you tried me out yesterday. Didn't you say I was okay?"
"I asked my servant to buy a lot of erotic novels from the bookstore before I left... I'll study them and make sure you're satisfied."
Lan Jinxiang was shocked by his words. Her face turned green and then red. It took her a long time to squeeze out a sentence, "Get out! Go and wash yourself before you come and serve me!"
Xu Ziyi obediently agreed and went to ask someone to prepare water.
If she told him to wash, he would wash.
He was all about obedience.
Lan Jinxiang stomped her feet and went back to her room. As soon as she closed the door, there was a knock on the door.
Lan Jinxiang was furious. She turned around and opened the door. "I said wash yourself before you come... It's you?"
The man outside the door was tall. His shadow cast a long silhouette. He nodded to Lan Jinxiang and said,
"Miss Lan, it's me. May I have a word with you?"
Lan Jinxiang narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Looking at Song Yinghuai standing at her door, she hesitated and asked, "You didn't go to knock on Third Sister's door. You're knocking on mine. Are you sure you didn't knock on the wrong door?"
Song Yinghuai was still wearing the clothes he had worn on the drill ground. He hadn't even treated the wound on his chest. He just put on a long robe and came here.
It was obvious that he had come in a hurry to find her.
Song Yinghuai grunted. "I didn't knock on the wrong door. I have something important to discuss with Miss Lan."
Lan Jinxiang let him in. She didn't even invite him to sit down. She just crossed her arms and looked at him coldly, saying,
"Say what you have to say!"
Song Yinghuai didn't mind the embarrassment she gave him. He just smiled warmly and said,
"Miss Lan is representing the Tartars in the peace negotiation in the capital this time, but the Tartar troops are gathering outside the Shanhaiguan Pass, which is under my jurisdiction... It seems to me that the Tartars have no sincerity in the peace negotiation, right?"
Lan Jinxiang's expression remained unchanged. The corner of her red lips curled up in a mocking arc. "The Tartar troops have been in conflict with the prince's troops at the Shanhaiguan Pass for years. The prince should be used to it by now. I'll gather my troops, and the prince can just send his Yan Army to attack...
"Besides, the Tartar queen mother is in the territory of the Great Ye. The Khan is worried about my safety here, so he gathered the troops at the Shanhaiguan Pass just in case. What's so strange about that?"
Song Yinghuai moved his aching shoulder and said casually with a smile,
"If that's the case, Miss Lan and the Khan should also know that with my Yan Army here, gathering troops at the Shanhaiguan Pass won't help. You've gathered them in the wrong place."
Lan Jinxiang looked at Song Yinghuai in confusion. "What does His Highness the Prince of Yan want to say? Are you going to teach us Tartars how to fight?"
Song Yinghuai took a step forward and lowered his voice.
"What if I said I do have this intention?"
"If I help Miss Lan lead the troops into the pass, would you and the Khan be willing to share this prosperous country with me?"
Lan Jinxiang's face changed drastically. Her voice suddenly rose, full of anger. "Song Yinghuai!"