At that time, each person's forged sword would be placed in a sword box and sent to that plaza, where Princess Wen Ya would judge their quality. Everyone would surely have no objections to this.
First, this was Princess Wen Ya choosing her husband. Second, Princess Wen Ya's sword forging techniques were renowned throughout the world.
At that time, the Peerless Sword would also be transported from here to the front and handed to Princess Wen Ya. It would then accompany Princess Wen Ya continuously, becoming part of Princess Wen Ya's dowry.
Because of this, Xiaoyao needed to finish early, submit his blunt sword to Princess Wen Ya, then once again observe the Peerless Sword and hold it in his hands. Since Princess Wen Ya had previously agreed to let Xiaoyao observe it, no one stopped this behavior.
But people were constantly watching Xiaoyao, and not just one person. They watched his every movement. If Xiaoyao made any improper moves, they would immediately apprehend him.
Xiaoyao was almost under everyone's watchful eyes. After looking for a while, he placed the sword back, seemingly making no movements at all. The sword switching seemed impossible to carry out.
Could it be that he had given up and was preparing to find another opportunity later?
Regardless, Xiaoyao subsequently left the Peerless Sword and didn't approach it again. Then he followed the group toward the plaza, while the Peerless Sword seemed to be getting farther and farther away from him. Future contact with the Peerless Sword seemed to become even more difficult.
...
...
In the palace plaza, delegations from various countries were greeting each other. At this time, they conducted some simple diplomatic activities. These people were all talented and wouldn't let such opportunities pass.
Of course, some countries had conflicts between them, so their tones became somewhat heated when together. Of course, though heated, they still maintained certain attitudes.
For example, the Great Tang Empire and the Greedy Wolf Empire. When they were together, there were sparks, not passionate sparks, but sparks of collision...
"Huh? Didn't the Great Tang Empire have a Young Prince participating in the marriage competition? Why isn't he on the final list? Was he eliminated and too embarrassed, or did he simply not have the courage to participate?" People from the Greedy Wolf Empire began asking.
The final list of about twenty people, anyone here could find out with a little inquiry. Since there was no one surnamed Ning on it, naturally there would be no Young Prince from the Great Tang Empire.
Young Prince? That ridiculous name, would the Great Tang Empire's Young Prince really use such a name?
Impossible!
"Who said we came to participate in the marriage competition? We're just here to watch the excitement. Besides, our Young Prince might just be among them. He's quite playful. He might have changed his name and identity," an official from the Great Tang Empire replied with a smile.
Huh? The Great Tang Empire's Young Prince was also here? Which Young Prince? Why had they never seen him?
The conversation between Great Tang and Greedy Wolf made many people present begin to know, or begin to notice, that the Great Tang Empire had actually brought a Young Prince. If this hadn't been mentioned, they really wouldn't have known or would have forgotten.
"Changed his name and identity? This probably isn't being playful, but being afraid of losing, afraid that losing would embarrass your empire." The Greedy Wolf Empire people continued their attacks. Their Li Cheng was almost the champion candidate. Although results hadn't been announced, the intermediate situation had already confirmed some things.
Regarding everyone's progress, the King had sent people to understand, and this matter wasn't really a secret. It quickly spread throughout the palace, then to people outside.
Now most people knew that Li Cheng was almost certainly the final choice. Tian He's status was directly ignored by people.
Because of this, the Greedy Wolf Empire was so arrogant, feeling they had already secured victory.
"Don't get too cocky too early. If you celebrate too soon and then face disappointment, that would be pitiful," the Great Tang Empire official said with a smile.
"Really? I also want to say we're just being cocky, what can you do about it?" The Greedy Wolf Empire people laughed, very smugly and arrogantly.
If Xiaoyao were here, he would definitely understand why Ning Zhiyuan wanted to sabotage the Greedy Wolf Empire, because the Greedy Wolf Empire was too arrogant. This attitude, Ning Zhiyuan had probably seen it several times, so he knew and didn't want this feeling.
"Where do you think this Young Prince is? He said we'd know when we saw him. Which one could it be?" The Great Tang Empire official stopped paying attention to the Greedy Wolf Empire and just discussed internally what Xiaoyao's name might be.
"I think this Young Prince should be him," Someone thought the Young Prince was Xiaoyao. It was obvious at a glance.
"How could it be that simple? A Young Prince called Young Prince, that would be too... something." But others thought it impossible. Xiaoyao was too superficial and surface-level.
"Never mind, we'll know soon."
Soon, Xiaoyao arrived with the others. At this time, the Great Tang Empire people wanted to greet him, but Xiaoyao waved them off. He didn't want to be so conspicuous, and also didn't want the Great Tang Empire's national dignity to suffer, because the blunt sword he forged this time might be inferior to others.
His purpose this time was to sabotage the Greedy Wolf Empire's affairs. Having accomplished that was enough, there was no need to reveal his identity now.
The Great Tang Empire officials seemed to understand Xiaoyao's meaning, so they didn't reveal Xiaoyao's identity and continued their informal diplomatic conversations with other countries.
"Thank you all for your hard work these fifteen days. Please take your seats and have something to eat. My daughter Wen Ya will evaluate the swords you've forged," the King said to Xiaoyao and the others. Their seats were already prepared, today they used individual tables, with their nameplates on the tables.
With such seating, the food was naturally also individually separated and quite evenly distributed. Of course, this was under normal circumstances, everyone seemed to notice that Xiaoyao's table had particularly abundant food. This seemed to be arranged by Princess Wen Ya, who knew Xiaoyao could eat.
Indeed, Xiaoyao could really eat. Usually his appetite was overshadowed by Chi Chi's, but if it were just his appetite alone, he ate several times more than ordinary people, he was quite the eater.
However, Xiaoyao alone definitely couldn't finish the food on this table, he would certainly have to share it with Chi Chi. During this tense moment when no one else was eating, Xiaoyao didn't care about such things. He was indeed a bit hungry, so he directly began eating.
Xiaoyao's behavior attracted some people's attention, these were people from the palace who had heard about Xiaoyao, this possible future prince consort. Seeing him in person today, they naturally wanted to observe.
At this moment, they thought Xiaoyao was impolite, how could he just start eating? Compared to others, Xiaoyao's behavior could be considered carefree, it just depended on how they viewed it.
However, regardless of which type of person they were, none would consider Xiaoyao's eating manner crude or unsightly. They could only use two words to describe Xiaoyao's eating style, natural.
That's right, very natural, as if it should naturally be this way. It wasn't elegantly noble, but it made people feel very comfortable!
Someone once asked Xiaoyao afterward how he achieved this, why there was such a strange feeling. His response was four words - "natural way of Dao!"
Come on, isn't that too mystical? You're being evasive. Regarding Xiaoyao's answer, someone felt Xiaoyao was brushing them off, so they didn't continue dwelling on this question.
Perhaps influenced by Xiaoyao, everyone seemed to naturally begin eating as well. Most people had been waiting and were hungry, so they started eating after taking their seats.
The matter of evaluating these swords would also begin after everyone was seated. The King seemed unwilling to waste this time and didn't separate the activities.
"First, thank you all for your efforts. I will now begin evaluating the swords you've forged! There are twenty-three swords total. A few people didn't manage to finish in time. I can only apologize," Princess Wen Ya came to the center, where there was now a platform. At the very top center was the Peerless Sword, while other swords were placed around it.
"I'll start with the sword closest to me. This is from Prince Zhao Wuji of the Seven Star Kingdom, the short sword he forged, named 'Ya'er'..." When Princess Wen Ya said this, she seemed to frown. She sensed that this "Ya'er" might be because of her name.
After pausing for a moment, Princess Wen Ya said, "Short sword - one inch shorter means one part more dangerous. The most important thing for short swords is sharpness, but Prince Zhao, you only focused on decoration, making it overly beautiful. The time spent on this scabbard might have been longer than the time spent on the short sword itself."
"Your Highness Princess, when I forged this short sword, I never intended it to be sharp. This short sword isn't meant for killing, only such a short sword is worthy of your beauty," Zhao Wuji immediately said. He seemed to know his sword forging skills couldn't compare to others', so he simply used this kind of tactic.
However—
"Swords are not for looking at, but for killing people. You are disqualified," Princess Wen Ya replied indifferently.
Which sword forged by swordsmith was meant for appreciation? Would others want swords meant for appreciation?
Also, Princess Wen Ya wasn't some naive pacifist. Born in this world where the strong were revered, she knew the most important function of swords was killing people. Since she chose sword forging, she clearly understood that the swords she forged might become deadly weapons in others' hands.
The stronger the sword, the more people it would kill, but this killing karma had nothing to do with the sword smith. Sword smiths always forged tools, and what truly transformed them into killing instruments were those warriors and soldiers.
In this world, whether killing was right or wrong, who could say clearly? Some people killed for their own desires, some to protect their loved ones, defending justice and chivalry.
Some swordsmith hoped their swords could be in the hands of those chivalrous and just people, helping to maintain justice and righteousness in the world.
(End of Chapter)