Young Master Yu's sword was a foil, not lethal. However, if his movement even grazed Shi Ning'an a bit, it would carry a rather ambiguous meaning.
It was a pity that he was fast, but Rong Sui was even faster. In the blink of an eye, Rong Sui's sword had come over. With internal strength, the soft foil actually managed to break Young Master Yu's sword in two.
Young Master Yu stood there, stunned. The ladies in the palace hall had already stood up regardless and screamed, shouting for the Third Master.
Rong Sui had won.
Rong Heng glared angrily and said nervously, "Just now, what was Young Master Yu trying to do? He!"
Rong Xuan had long and narrow eyebrows. He sneered and said, "His target was Ning'an. It's a pity that he overestimated himself!"
Shi Ning'an's heart was pounding. Rong Sui had anticipated Young Master Yu's move, which was why he had actively requested the competition. Rong Sui was protecting her, but was it only because she was her mother's daughter?
Rong Heng clenched his fists. "This guy... It seems I have to teach him a good lesson."
Rong Feichi turned around again and glared at him. "Learn from your two elder brothers. Don't be impulsive about everything. Use your head more!"
As soon as he said this, Rong Feichi beside him actually blushed. If one were to talk about the most impulsive person in the family, apart from their father, it was him. Rong Xuan used to talk nonsense only when drunk, but usually he was always calm. And Rong Sui was so self - restrained that he didn't seem like a member of the Rong family at all.
Thinking like this, Rong Feichi looked at Rong Heng with great affection. He deeply felt that the eldest son and A Sui had both gone astray. Only this nephew, A Heng, was a proper and upright member of the Rong family.
Over there, the emperor had already bestowed rewards and laughed, "Young Master Yu, don't be sad. A Sui is a well - known warrior in our Great Zhou and comes from the mansion of the Duke of Rong, the marshal protecting the country. He is not an ordinary young man. It's normal for you to lose to him."
Young Master Yu had already regained his composure. He bowed and said some polite words, then went back to sit beside Wei Hongmiao.
There was even more malice in Wei Hongmiao's eyes. He whispered, "I've said before that Shi Ning'an is just a bit smart, not worth fearing. But the Rong family behind her can't be underestimated."
Young Master Yu slightly parted his thin lips. "So what? If I propose to marry her as the chief consort with proper etiquette..."
A glint flashed in Wei Hongmiao's eyes. He said again, "Your thought is a bit naive. With the Rong family around, it's absolutely impossible for you to marry Shi Ning'an. You've seen today's scene."
Young Master Yu disdainfully curled his lips. "With the ceremony for the chief consort, if I ascend the throne in the future, she will be the princess consort. I'll promise her to be the only princess consort in Northern Qi. Will the Rong family not be tempted? Will the emperor not consent?"
Wei Hongmiao originally wanted to say more, but suddenly looked up at the smiling emperor. He slowly curled his lips and didn't try to persuade anymore. If the emperor consented, what would the Rong family do?
The empress dowager had drunk some fruit wine and felt a bit uncomfortable. She originally wanted to stop the event, but just now the emperor had removed the serious threat from the Dong family. In a great mood, he had even bestowed rewards on several clan members. Perhaps a bit drunk, the emperor looked at the Rong family with approval, as if he wanted to open his mouth to bestow more rewards.
The empress dowager coughed and said, "Your Majesty, on my birthday, the birthday gifts presented by the Rong family every year are all extraordinary. Right now, I'm quite interested and want to see what the Rong family has prepared for me this year."
The emperor seemed to just come back to his senses. He stroked his chin and nodded.
Actually, the birthday gift prepared by the Rong family this year was just ordinary, but the empress dowager still praised it non - stop. She also repeatedly said that the Princess Zhaoming was the one who understood her best. She promised to send gold, silver and other valuables as rewards to the Rong family.
Shi Ning'an lowered her eyebrows and smiled faintly. As the Dong family declined, the Rong family should rise. But the one in power was wary, so they dared not bestow heavy rewards. It was really embarrassing.
She stood up, knelt down and bowed. "Empress Dowager, I'm grateful for your kindness. I've specially prepared a birthday gift to congratulate Your Highness on your birthday."
The empress dowager looked even happier. She waved her hand. "This girl is so filial. Come, let me have a look."
Then a maid inspected the thing presented by Shi Ning'an. Surprise showed in both of their eyes. When they unfolded it and presented it in front of the empress dowager, the emperor, the concubines and the queen all exclaimed in admiration.
The Noble Consort Xian said, "It's simply a masterpiece. The embroidered Bodhisattva is even more lifelike than the one in the temple."
The empress dowager was greatly delighted. She waved her hand. "Ning'an is indeed well - raised under the Princess Zhaoming. She really understands my heart. Ning'an, come here."
Shi Ning'an walked up slowly and knelt in front of the empress dowager.
The empress dowager took a hairpin and put it on Ning'an's head. She turned to look at the emperor. "Your Majesty, this girl's family background is rather rough, but I feel a kinship with her at first sight. Today I want to bestow a reward on her. Borrowing your Majesty's name, I'll confer on her the title of County Mistress."
The emperor looked at Shi Ning'an seriously. His eyes flickered slightly and his smile became even broader. "The Rong family has been loyal to the country. I've long intended to bestow rewards. Since the empress dowager likes this girl from the Rong family, how can I go against the empress dowager's will? Just follow the empress dowager's wish. Confer on Shi Ning'an the title of - County Mistress Zhonghui."
Zhonghui?
When a man rises steadily, the one in power is wary. So they might as well confer a title on the daughter. It would make them feel at ease. Fortunately, the Rong family had this girl, Shi Ning'an.
The Noble Consort Xian first said congratulations and then asked, "County Mistress Zhonghui's embroidered screen is really extremely beautiful. It must have taken a lot of effort. Look at this Manjusri Bodhisattva. He looks kind and is truly extraordinary."
Shi Ning'an lowered her eyebrows and head, looking extremely respectful. "Replying to Your Highness, since I was a child, I was raised in the Zeng family in Nanling. My great - aunt worshiped Buddha every day without interruption. There was a maid beside my great - aunt who was a famous embroiderer. I learned this skill from her. I've seen the Manjusri Bodhisattva so many times since childhood that he has been engraved in my mind. He symbolizes good luck. I think it's most appropriate to dedicate it to the empress dowager."
The Noble Consort Xian covered her lips and laughed. "It's really filial piety."
Shi Ning'an's eyes curved. She said again, "Empress Dowager, you can turn the embroidered screen over."
The maids turned the embroidered screen over and saw that it was an image of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
The empress dowager was extremely surprised. "Is this double - sided embroidery?"
Shi Ning'an lowered her eyebrows and smiled faintly. "I'm showing off my humble skills."
The empress dowager looked at Shi Ning'an lovingly. "At your age, with such an accomplishment, how can it be called showing off your humble skills? Does Miss Ning'an have anything else you want? I'll bestow it on you together."
Shi Ning'an lowered her eyes and looked innocent. "Empress Dowager, can I ask for anything?"
The empress dowager gave her a surprised look and then showed a smile. "Naturally."
Shi Ning'an kowtowed. "Empress Dowager, I beg the empress dowager for one thing. I want to decide my own marriage."
The empress dowager's eyelids twitched. She exchanged a look with the emperor.
They understood what the Prince of Northern Qi, Young Master Yu, meant. They had also seen clearly every move during the sword - dancing just now. The Rong family must have seen it clearly too.
The emperor picked up a fruit and ate it. Perhaps it was sour, he frowned and then laughed heartily. "I approve!"
He stood up. The empress dowager stood up too and they just left.
When Rong Sui came over to help Shi Ning'an up, Shi Ning'an just realized that her back was all wet with sweat.
They were silent all the way.
When they got back to the mansion, Rong Jian hugged Shi Ning'an in his arms. Tears welled up in his old eyes. "It's your grandfather who is useless..."
Shi Ning'an quickly shook her head and pretended to be angry. "Grandfather is not allowed to say so."
Rong Jian looked at Shi Ning'an lovingly. Looking at her face that resembled his daughter's, he only felt a surge of sorrow. "I didn't pay attention to what Ning'an said to me before. Only today did I understand the truth that serving the emperor is like being beside a tiger. Since ancient times, it's difficult to be both loyal and filial. The Prince of Northern Qi is determined to have you. I never thought that the emperor would just stand by and watch. It seems that he wants me to confront Northern Qi."
The Princess Zhaoming had already dismissed the servants. She said in a low voice, "Father - in - law, the emperor also has his own difficulties."
For the first time, Rong Jian didn't refute. He just stroked Shi Ning'an's face. "Ning'an was so bold and disrespectful in front of the palace today. I was really afraid... afraid that the emperor would not care about the little bit of friendship between the monarch and his subject."
Shi Ning'an looked up. "But the emperor still cares, right?"
Naturally, he cared. Compared with an unthreatening Northern Qi, the emperor's heart still leaned towards the Rong family in the end.
But in this game, Rong Jian was still disheartened. That night, he fell ill.
It also blew a strong wind at night, as if it was still cold after a brief warm spell. Lu'er had already found a thick cloak and presented it in front of Shi Ning'an.
Shi Ning'an didn't go back to the inner courtyard. Instead, she sat with her three elder brothers in the corridor and chatted about what had happened today. Compared with Rong Jian's disappointment, the three young men of the Rong family's younger generation were very calm. When the Rong family was at its peak, they hadn't been born yet, so they didn't understand the brother - like friendship between Rong Jian and the late emperor.
Rong Xuan was the eldest brother, so he inevitably said a few more words. "A Sui, the crown prince regards you as a brother, but you should also remember that he is the heir apparent, not an ordinary person."
Rong Sui nodded and took the initiative to pour tea for them.
Rong Xuan laughed again. "A Sui seems to have grown up. He is much softer than before and actually knows how to be considerate."
Rong Sui pursed his lips. "Big brother suffered today."
Rong Xuan's eyebrows were a bit faint. He shook his head. "What's this suffering of mine? When I think about how I almost caused the Rong family to be doomed when I was drunk before, I feel very uneasy. I just wish I could slap myself awake back then."
Shi Ning'an's eyes curved. "Speaking of which, it was clearly sister - in - law who suffered today. Cousin, sister - in - law is pregnant, but you didn't even tell us. You really gave her a shock."
Rong Xuan was stunned. He turned back and asked, "Your sister - in - law is pregnant?"
Shi Ning'an was surprised. "You don't even know that sister - in - law is pregnant?"
She realized later that it was true. When sister - in - law found out she was pregnant, her eldest cousin hadn't entered the palace hall yet.
Rong Xuan couldn't sit still anymore. He immediately put down the teacup, got up and left after saying goodbye.
Seeing this, Rong Heng laughed. "Look at big brother like this. He's really spineless. If I... "
He was glanced at by Rong Sui and his voice became much smaller. "If I get a wife in the future, probably... No, I'm a famous and mighty general. How can I be restricted by a woman? Humph!"
Shi Ning'an squinted at him. "If fourth cousin thinks like this, as long as you don't get married and have children, you won't be burdened by your family."
Rong Heng stared with wide eyes. "Hey, what are you little girl talking nonsense about? The Rong family are military generals. How can I not get married and have children? What being burdened by the family? Our Rong family's young men..."
He originally wanted to say that the Rong family's young men were heroic and upright. But then he thought that whether it was his uncle, his father or his elder brother, they were all firmly controlled by their respective wives. He just couldn't say this bold statement no matter what.
Rong Heng was unhappy. He got up and waved his hand. "Forget it. I won't talk to you anymore. I'll go find Xia Anhai!"