Chapter 194: Chapter 194

Solving the Nine Linked Rings is one of Prince Bei Xia’s greatest skills.

Looking across the land, there are few who can match him.

Even if one or two people can match him, they certainly wouldn’t be in the Eastern Chu Kingdom.

A set of Nine Linked Rings was brought out by the envoy from Bei Xia. After the envoys showed it to the surrounding people, they handed the Nine Linked Rings to both Prince Bei Xia and Jun Ning.

Jun Ning looked at the White Jade Nine Linked Rings in her hand, thinking, "The first round of competition is to solve this thing? Ha! Isn’t this too childish? Or are they underestimating me?"

The ministers had no idea what Jun Ning was thinking.

As soon as they saw the intricately interlocking Nine Linked Rings, both those with enough experience to remain calm and those without were instantly agitated, rising from their seats.

"It’s over, it’s over. The princess has lived in the Cold Palace since she was a child. She’s likely never even seen a Nine Linked Ring, much less competed in solving one. Besides, that’s the Fifth Prince, hailed as a prodigy for his ability to solve the Nine Linked Rings. The princess has no chance against him."

"What to do now? Are we just going to watch the princess lose?"

"Why not let the princess forfeit this round? After all, barely anyone in the world can solve those complex Nine Linked Rings. Even if the princess forfeited, no one would blame her. Adults can’t solve it; naturally, they wouldn’t expect a child to either."

"That’s right, just let the princess forfeit. It’s better than holding that thing for half a day without solving it and becoming a laughingstock."

But who would have the courage to suggest the forfeit was another problem.

It wouldn’t do for some minister to suddenly stand up and shout, "Your Highness, for this round, just listen to my advice and forfeit. Otherwise, it’s going to be quite awkward if you can’t solve it and stand there."

Saying it so directly, the princess may either cause a scene with the one advising her to forfeit, disregarding face, or be scared to tears on the spot, unable to be comforted.

Thus, it wasn’t fitting for any minister to stand up and say it directly.

If a prince could step in to persuade, that would be ideal.

The debating ministers glanced around at the princes, finally fixing their gaze on the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince shared a deep bond with the princess. Previously, to save the little princess, he’d almost risked his life, showing his deep affection for her. Besides being closest to her brother Jun Yu, she was closest to the Crown Prince.

After much deliberation, the ministers agreed that having the Crown Prince persuade her was the most suitable option.

Among the ministers, the Imperial Censor was the closest to the Crown Prince, making it most fitting for him to speak.

The ministers pushed the Imperial Censor forward.

The Imperial Censor couldn’t refuse, so he had to proceed.

While everyone’s attention was on the center stage with the princess and Prince Bei Xia, he quietly approached the Crown Prince and said, "Your Highness, this round is really difficult, why not let the princess voluntarily forfeit?"

The Crown Prince understood that the Imperial Censor wanted him to persuade Jun Ning to forfeit this round. Without much thought, he agreed, "Alright, you go sit back down; I’ll find an opportunity to speak to the princess later."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Imperial Censor went back.

The Crown Prince fell into long memories.

Upon hearing that Prince Bei Xia could solve the Nine Linked Rings at the age of two, surpassing many adults, being hailed as a prodigy, he, being young and arrogant at the time, was very unconvinced, thinking, why is solving the Nine Linked Rings so difficult?

If that little brat could solve it, he could solve it too.

So he had someone bring the Nine Linked Rings for him to solve.

And he worked on it for one, two, three years... until now...

Prince Bei Xia took increasingly less time to solve the Nine Linked Rings, while years passed for him, and he still couldn’t grasp the key, unable to solve the damned Nine Linked Rings.

Later, he slowly felt that solving this thing indeed required great talent, and he wasn’t the one with it, so why make it hard on himself?

He figured it out, and no longer troubled himself. Coupled with being the Crown Prince, busy with work, he truly had no time to research the Nine Linked Rings, so he simply gave up.

Yet, how difficult these Nine Linked Rings were to solve, he always remembered clearly.

Really, unless one is a genius. Otherwise, there’s no way to solve it.

Although Yi Yi is very smart, in matters requiring talent, she might not outshine others. So there’s truly no need for Yi Yi to endure this setback.

The Crown Prince let out a deep sigh, stood up, and walked to Jun Ning’s side, using the pretext of removing her cloak to talk to her, "Yi Yi, even if you lose today’s competition, it doesn’t matter. With Father Emperor and your Crown Prince brother here, no one will trouble you over this. So, don’t make it hard on yourself, and don’t be afraid."

Even if today, after his sister loses, they lose three cities in Eastern Chu, it doesn’t matter.

However they lose them, that’s how he’ll take them back.

While he, as Crown Prince, couldn’t solve those Nine Linked Rings, he accepted this defeat. But when it comes to strategy and leading troops, he’s unbeatable, and the princes of Bei Xia are no match for him.

Moreover, over the years, Bei Xia repeatedly made things difficult for Eastern Chu, showing no sense of respect. It’s also time to show them a bit of power. Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁

"Crown Prince brother doesn’t need to worry about Yi Yi." Jun Ning said with a cheerful smile, "Yi Yi might not necessarily lose."

The Crown Prince thought Jun Ning said this to comfort him so he wouldn’t worry. He gave a bitter smile, "Sister, brother is an adult, he doesn’t need comfort from a child."

She didn’t comfort the Crown Prince brother!

Why is it that whenever she says something straightforward, no one believes her?

Does she really look like a liar?

Jun Ning was speechless.

"Brother, listen to me..."

Before Jun Ning could say what she wanted, the Crown Prince had already helped her remove the cloak. With so many eyes on him, he couldn’t stay long. He quickly interrupted Jun Ning’s words.

"Yi Yi, solving the Nine Linked Rings takes a long time. It might take too much of your strength, being young. Plus, you don’t stand a chance to win, so why not just give up?"

"Rest assured, even if you give up, people will understand you, and no one will speak ill of you."

"Why should I give up?" Jun Ning couldn’t understand what the Crown Prince meant. She furrowed her delicate brows and muttered, "Besides, why do I have no chance to win? There’s nothing difficult about solving the Nine Linked Rings! If I give up like that, I’ll be letting that Prince Bei Xia win this round for nothing. I don’t want to do that."

"Yi Yi, don’t be willful, be good."