Chapter 191: Chapter 191
In the following days, everything was calm and peaceful. Jun Ning obediently waited for her little husband’s delayed full-month banquet to arrive. But suddenly, an unexpected guest demanded to meet Jun Ning and even wanted to compete with her.
This unexpected guest was none other than another envoy dispatched by Bei Xia.
Previously, the envoys from Bei Xia harbored sinister intentions, attempting to spread a plague within the palace to kill Emperor Yongning and various ministers, aiming to cause East Chu to collapse from within. However, they were stopped outside the palace by the Crown Prince and Jun Ning.
The Crown Prince specially sought out the Imperial Physician to treat them for the plague, even when their symptoms were not apparent.
He even ordered the Imperial Physician and the Imperial Guard to watch over them constantly, prohibiting them from secretly taking any medicines to hide their plague and also forbidding them from moving about randomly.
After several months, the plague afflicting these envoys was effectively cured. However, being confined every day drove them nearly insane.
A month ago, unable to endure any longer, they sent a letter to their King, explaining their current situation and asked him to make a decision.
Upon receiving the letter, King Bei Xia immediately dispatched his two sons.
Firstly, to avenge the grievances of the Bei Xia envoys and reclaim the dignity lost due to prolonged confinement. Secondly, to take over the Bei Xia envoys from the Crown Prince, thus restoring their freedom.
The two princes sent by Bei Xia were full brothers of the same mother. One was sixteen, the other five. The elder was Prince Bei Xia, the younger was Prince Bei Xia.
Upon arrival, the first thing they did was request an audience with Emperor Yongning.
Now that the plague had ended, Emperor Yongning had no reason to refuse to meet them, so he instructed the Ministry of Rites to prepare a state banquet to receive both the envoys from Bei Xia and from the barbarian lands in the far north.
Toward the envoys from these two countries, Emperor Yongning maintained unbiased favoritism, treating them equally.
But the envoys from Bei Xia were not pleased. What status does Bei Xia hold? What status does a mere northern barbarian hold?
What qualifications does the north have to enjoy equal treatment with them, simultaneously receiving an audience with Emperor Yongning, standing on equal ground with them, Bei Xia?
The envoys from Bei Xia were very dissatisfied with Emperor Yongning’s arrangements, and they did not suppress this dissatisfaction but vented it slyly.
Once seated, they turned their attention towards Jun Ning, the Emperor’s most cherished eighteenth princess, speaking in a way where eight of every ten words revolved around Jun Ning.
They were full of mockery, attempting to provoke.
They insinuated that ever since Emperor Yongning had a daughter, he no longer treated his sons as humans, seeing only his daughter and indulging in all her ridiculous behaviors.
The princes present felt their concerns touched upon, many clenched their fists.
If that wasn’t enough, the younger Prince Bei Xia even hinted he wanted to compete with this outrageous princess.
Under the guise of wanting to see what this princess was capable of, but actually just wanting to laugh at her.
After all, he was already a five-year-old.
How could a five-year-old compete with a child not yet three?
What would they compete in?
Compete in who still wears crotchless pants versus who no longer wears them?
Prince Bei Xia, being five, naturally didn’t wear crotchless pants.
Jun Ning, not yet three, certainly did.
If they were to compete in this, Jun Ning would undoubtedly lose.
Jun Ning: You bastard, this princess doesn’t wear crotchless pants.
As a result, the ministers discussed endlessly, hoping to avoid an awkward competition question where two children compete on who doesn’t wear crotchless pants, holding opposing views to Prince Bei Xia’s suggestion.
"Prince Bei Xia, the eighteenth princess is a girl, and she’s not yet three this year, her speech is unclear, there’s nothing for you to compete with."
"Perhaps you should refrain from troubling the eighteenth princess?"
"If you really wish to compete with a child of our Imperial Family, you don’t necessarily have to compete with a princess, you can compete with a Prince. Our court has no shortage of princes your age, several are present, each adept in both literature and martial arts, you can choose any to compete with."
These ministers came up with all sorts of nonsense to prevent Jun Ning and Prince Bei Xia from competing.
Clearly, after understanding Jun Ning over these days, everyone felt in their hearts that Jun Ning was very clever, not stupid, spoke far more fluently than children her age, her thoughts differing from others.
Praising her as a prodigy wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
But even a prodigy is limited by age and body, unable to accomplish things beyond the scope of age and body endurance.
These ministers understood this, thus they were unwilling for the eighteenth princess to compete with Prince Bei Xia.
"No, this Prince wants to compete with the eighteenth princess." Prince Bei Xia persisted.
What the ministers thought, Emperor Yongning naturally considered as well. He shared the same opinion as the ministers, unwilling to let Jun Ning compete with Prince Bei Xia.
Yet, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t convince Prince Bei Xia, who insisted on competing with Jun Ning, ignoring all persuasion.
Seeing the situation, the Crown Prince suggested, "How about letting them compete?"
The Crown Prince knew the little girl best; her cleverness astonished, amazed, and also won his respect. If such a child were of male gender, she would certainly threaten his place as Crown Prince when grown.
But Jun Ning is a princess, she would not compete for the throne with him, so his feelings towards Jun Ning became much purer.
Amazement was just amazement, affection was simply affection, there was no need to disguise it.
Beside the Crown Princess Consort, Jing Shu quietly said to the Crown Princess, "Mother, let one go, the child believes she’d surely win against that..." The words "freakish fruit" almost escaped but Jing Shu held back, knowing her mother would disapprove, and corrected herself saying, "The child believes she could certainly defeat Prince Bei Xia."
From Jing Shu’s words, the Crown Princess caught onto something displeasing, "Jing Shu, how did you just refer to your little aunt?"
Jing Shu lowered her head, fell silent.
The Crown Princess was about to reprimand Jing Shu when the Crown Prince spoke again.
"I support the eighteenth princess in competing with Prince Bei Xia, and I wager that the eighteenth princess will win."
"Regardless of the competition, the eighteenth princess will undoubtedly win."
The Crown Prince’s words were filled with confidence and conviction.
And as Crown Prince, he was undoubtedly extraordinary, with unique and superior qualities.
Since he declared Jun Ning would surely win, there was reason behind his statement.
But the people from Bei Xia weren’t familiar with the Crown Prince and didn’t comprehend where his confidence originated.
They only felt that the Crown Prince was speaking wildly, brazenly and arrogantly.
But in the next moment, Emperor Yongning also said, "I also wager on my beloved daughter, the eighteenth princess to win."
After these words were spoken, the ministers chimed in agreement.
"We also wager the eighteenth princess will win!"
The Crown Prince had already spoken such words, willing to let Jun Ning compete with Prince Bei Xia.
Emperor Yongning no longer had reason to prevent it, nor did the ministers.
Further obstruction would not only damage their own image but also make East Chu appear lacking in generosity.
It was easier to go with the flow, and agree.
Jun Ning: Sitting here in the palace, trouble falls from the sky!
She couldn’t decline the competition even if she wanted. Read full story at 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥
Ultimately, Jun Ning was coaxed up like a duck onto a rack, brought to the banquet.