"I want to remind you that you should not touch him, otherwise you will not be able to bear the consequences. It's too late now, don't delay, don't forget the urgent matter now!"
If these words came from someone else, everyone wouldn't think much of it. But these words indeed came from Prince Li Cheng of the Greedy Wolf Empire. Everyone had to listen to these words, the weight of these words became much heavier.
"Prince Li Cheng, who is he?" Young Master Dong asked at this time. Besides wanting to know Xiaoyao's identity, he also wanted to talk with Li Cheng, this was someone he had always wanted to connect with.
As a Baiyue Kingdom family, no matter how powerful they were in Baiyue Kingdom, they were nothing compared to the Greedy Wolf Empire. He naturally wanted to get on Li Cheng's ship.
At the same time, he felt it strange that Li Cheng actually stopped him at this time and said he couldn't afford to provoke this small commoner before him. This puzzled him somewhat, could this small commoner have some relationship with Li Cheng?
Yes, it must be so. Otherwise, why would Li Cheng speak up to stop him at this time.
"I don't know who he is, you'll have to investigate that," Li Cheng's answer stunned people again. They didn't understand what Li Cheng meant. Just now he said the other party was someone he couldn't provoke, but now he said he didn't know who the other party was. This was very contradictory, extremely contradictory.
"Let's go, don't waste time. There are other competitions ahead waiting for us. If you have energy to fight, better save it for the upcoming competitions," Li Cheng said again, urging the group to move quickly and not delay further.
Soon, the group resumed its previous pace, walking inside. Xiaoyao also quietly followed the group, leaving Young Master Dong with nowhere to vent. Knowing what the most important matter currently was, he temporarily swallowed his anger and followed.
...
Young Master Dong's mind was now full of thoughts about who Xiaoyao really was. If he truly was someone he couldn't provoke, then he had a certain status. But why would he queue up there? At the same time, his clothes were very ordinary, today's attire could be called very disrespectful, especially since these clothes seemed to be yesterday's.
If he were someone with status, how could he wear yesterday's clothes to participate in such an important competition? This behavior was worse than a commoner's.
Young Master Dong really couldn't see anything special about Xiaoyao. At this time, he felt perhaps Li Cheng just wanted to start quickly, so he said that. Yes, that must be it.
If that's the case, then I'll definitely hit back with this punch, and it'll be ten times, no, a hundred times over! Hmph!
Young Master Dong glared fiercely at Xiaoyao again, but Xiaoyao paid him no attention, didn't even look, because at this time Xiaoyao was following the people ahead. Unless he had eyes in the back of his head, he couldn't see Young Master Dong.
Soon, the group arrived in the royal palace, in a great hall. This should be the main hall, given Baiyue Kingdom's royal palace scale, there was probably only one such great hall.
Compared to the Great Tang Empire's imperial palace, Baiyue Kingdom's royal palace was like a dwarf beside a giant, the difference was too great.
Upon reaching the great hall, a dignified middle-aged man sat on the throne above. He should be Baiyue Kingdom's king, the next competition should be handled by him.
At this time, Princess Wen Ya was also present, but she didn't appear in front, she was behind the scenes, observing these people. One of them might become her future husband.
When she saw Li Cheng and others, she felt quite satisfied. At least among the choices, there were targets she could accept. Even if people she disliked appeared, it didn't matter because she could eliminate them.
Wait, him - how is he here too?
When Princess Wen Ya saw one person, her expression changed somewhat. She seemed very surprised by this person's appearance, not expecting to see him in this situation.
"Hmph, didn't even change clothes. Do you only have this one outfit? Or are you simply not taking my marriage competition seriously? Then why did you come?" Princess Wen Ya muttered after observing.
At this time, the people outside didn't know of Princess Wen Ya's presence, much less her current thoughts. They were all bowing to the king, this was basic courtesy. Whether or not you were here to marry someone's daughter, this was necessary.
"Thank you all for participating in my daughter's marriage competition. Seeing all you talented young men today, I'm deeply honored. However, although I like you all very much, my daughter is only one person. Alas, what a pity, if only I could have given birth to more daughters," the Baiyue Kingdom king said with a smile.
"Hehe..." Xiaoyao chuckled, finding the king somewhat humorous. However, at this time, it seemed no one dared laugh aloud. Even when the king told jokes, everyone stood very seriously, including Li Cheng.
Because of this, Xiaoyao's laughter seemed particularly loud, everyone heard his light chuckle.
"This damn kid actually dares to laugh aloud. Really a country bumpkin who doesn't understand rules," Young Master Dong thought disdainfully.
"A spoiled Young Prince is still a spoiled Young Prince, still so carefree at this time," Li Cheng, though not particularly liking Xiaoyao, somewhat liked his current behavior because he felt he also wanted to laugh, just knew he couldn't.
"This person really is rude." someone thought.
Others all had thoughts about Xiaoyao's behavior. Most felt Xiaoyao was discourteous, didn't understand rules, would make the king very unhappy, and would definitely leave a bad impression.
However, they didn't know that when someone tells a joke and everyone has no reaction, that feeling is very awkward. If someone laughs, then he would particularly like that person, at least temporarily have a good impression.
The king's current situation was exactly this. He smiled when looking at Xiaoyao, then continued, "So I have no choice but to select one person from among you talented young men. This selection requires competition. However, these topics are all set by my daughter, whether previous ones or upcoming ones. You should solve them. If you can't solve them, then I can only say sorry! After all, if a husband can't solve problems set by his wife, what qualification does he have to be that husband?"
"Yes, please continue with the questions, Your Majesty," Li Cheng cupped his hands toward the king. Naturally, he spoke for everyone because he felt he could represent these people, he was the most important person.
Generally at such times, one could more or less see status. Li Cheng speaking like this definitely meant he had extremely high status, while others not speaking was equivalent to acknowledging his status was higher than theirs.
Of course, the king already knew Li Cheng's identity and some important people from various countries, except for Xiaoyao. Because after arriving in Yue City, this Great Tang Young Prince had acted independently without attending the king's reception.
Li Cheng's behavior also earned him points from Princess Wen Ya behind the scenes. At least, Li Cheng's presence was incomparable to others.
"Next, everyone will complete a test paper with some questions, also set by my daughter Wen Ya. They're all about sword-forging. I believe you all know my daughter's interest is sword-forging. She hopes her husband will at least know sword-forging too, so they can have common topics," the king announced the second competition.
Although called a competition, it seemed all literary contests, not really hurtful, which the Baiyue Kingdom probably considered. Perhaps they just wanted things more harmonious, or perhaps they didn't want the future prince consort to make too many enemies.
If it were that kind of duel-style competition, there would more or less be resentment. The person who finally won and became prince consort would naturally have to overcome all obstacles, gaining more resentment. Eventually, they would definitely make some enemies they originally didn't have.
If that were the case, this Princess Wen Ya was very considerate of her future husband.
"I already knew your daughter set the questions. Just now outside was also about sword-forging, now it's this again, really a bit boring. Next should be looking at everyone's sword-forging skills, right?" Xiaoyao muttered quietly on the side.
"..." Princess Wen Ya heard Xiaoyao's words and was somewhat speechless, because although Xiaoyao muttered quietly, the sound wasn't small, many people still heard it. Perhaps he did it deliberately.
How do you know I'm going to test this afterward? But this seems unrelated to you anyway, someone like you will be eliminated in this round!!
It seemed Princess Wen Ya had other impressions of Xiaoyao, as if this wasn't their first meeting...
"Ahem, then please everyone take your seats. The test papers are already on the desks," the king seemed to cough a bit, speaking to ask everyone to sit for the exam.
In this great hall at this time, over a hundred desks were arranged very neatly. On them were already prepared writing materials, test papers, and some small tools, all necessary for taking the test.
Xiaoyao took his seat with some headache. He felt the headache because in this situation, it seemed very difficult for him to cause trouble. Everything was done through exams, how could he cause trouble? If he disrupted the exam, he'd definitely be the first kicked out.
No choice, first get a good score, first mix with them, see if there's opportunity in the third round. No rush, he could also finish off Li Cheng in the final round.
Xiaoyao decided to pass this round first. He looked at these questions, none too difficult. They were just some sword-forging knowledge, drawing sword blueprints, and how to forge a sword under limited conditions, etc.
There seemed to be one slightly difficult question. Fine, he'd leave that question blank and handle all the others.
Xiaoyao picked up his brush and started writing answers swiftly. Except for one question left blank, everything else was completed. He wrote his name and finished.
(End of Chapter)