Chapter 199: Chapter 199

"Alright, let’s go see what the two children have accomplished!"

Emperor Yongning said displeasedly, finally putting an end to the surrounding malicious laughter.

Emperor Yongning took the little girl and stepped forward first.

On the way, Emperor Yongning asked the little girl in a low voice, "Baby, should we look at your room first, or Prince Bei Xia’s room first?"

Jun Ning hugged Emperor Yongning’s neck and said, "Let’s look at Prince Bei Xia’s first!" The most astounding always appears last.

But the people around had no idea of Jun Ning’s thoughts. Seeing Emperor Yongning heading towards the room that Prince Bei Xia needed to fill, they merely thought the little girl was too cowardly to have everyone see her results first.

Each person’s face was filled with disdain, and there were low murmurs of mockery.

But with Emperor Yongning present, they dared not be too excessive.

They only dared to gossip secretly, or just know it in their hearts.

When everyone arrived at Prince Bei Xia’s room, Prince Bei Xia was already confidently waiting at the door. After greeting everyone, he invited them to see his hard-earned results.

He used cotton to fill the entire room.

Cotton is light, cheap, and the most cost-effective, least labor-intensive option to fill the room. It’s the best thing he could think of and the most suitable.

There was nothing else as useful as cotton.

"Hmm, not bad," Emperor Yongning said politely.

One could hear his admiration for Prince Bei Xia’s achievement, but it was only admiration without any other emotions. It seemed that Emperor Yongning had other answers on how to fill the room.

However, the envoys from Bei Xia started praising their own like an old woman selling melons, boasting about themselves.

"For Prince Bei Xia to think of using light and cheap cotton to fill the room at such a young age is truly clever. Even I didn’t think of it! I thought of using flowers, plants, animal textiles, and charcoal or grain to fill the room... Those things are labor-intensive and not cheap. Ah, I’m truly ashamed!"

"Prince Bei Xia’s wisdom is unmatched, worthy of being Bei Xia’s child prodigy."

"In this round, our Prince Bei Xia is sure to win."

The Bei Xia envoys went on and on about their own.

That Prince Bei Xia was so happy from the praise that he couldn’t stop smiling, looking as if he might lose his bearings.

On the side of Dong Chu, Emperor Yongning’s face remained calm, showing no visible emotion, but the ministers behind him couldn’t hold it in, with each wearing a worried look, sighing in despair.

The ministers thought of Prince Bei Xia’s hard work all day and night; it wasn’t in vain. The choice of filling the room was ingenious. In contrast, their Princess seemed too lackluster, doing nothing but sleeping or watching the action.

It seemed she was just there to make up numbers in this competition.

She spent the day so easily, but what about the ministers, Emperor Yongning, and the entire Dong Chu kingdom, all concerned for the country?

Did she consider the consequences of losing?

Alas, she was just a child; she surely hadn’t thought it through.

Thinking this, the ministers’ brows furrowed tighter.

The Princess could ignore these matters. But they, the old ministers, had to think — not only think but also make plans for the upcoming war.

As dusk fell, after a round of boasting about their Prince Bei Xia, the Bei Xia group, eager for a laugh, urged everyone to Jun Ning’s room to examine what she had achieved in one day and night.

At the front, Emperor Yongning was about to push the door open when Jun Ning stopped him, "Father, wait a moment."

"Wait?" Emperor Yongning was puzzled.

He thought his daughter was afraid, daunted by the impending result. So, he comforted her, "Baby, never fear humiliation or failure, always hold your head high and face everything bravely. Because behind you stands a strong country and a father who loves you."

His baby had a solid support.

She could always happily be herself, never needing to be troubled by trivial emotions.

"No," Jun Ning responded, "I just want to wait for it to get dark."

"Wait for it to get dark?" Emperor Yongning suddenly realized something, then stroked Jun Ning’s head, smiling with relief, "Alright, let’s wait for nightfall."

With Emperor Yongning waiting, even if others had opinions, they dared not say much and had to wait with him.

This wait lasted two incense sticks’ time.

The crowd, waiting impatiently, was full of grievances towards Jun Ning, eager to vent them quickly.

But at such occasions with so many people present, they had to hold their tongues when necessary. Otherwise, speaking out would only cause their own downfall.

Those who couldn’t endure any longer could only mutter in their hearts.

"What does this Eighteenth Princess mean by dragging it out? Dared to do nothing, yet afraid to face the final result?"

"Does she think that by delaying and not allowing others to see her room, she can dodge the fact of losing? Haha, if that’s the case, then she is too naive, too ridiculous."

"A fool, lacking responsibility, and a disgrace."

"We’ll see when she loses three cities of Dong Chu, will she still remain a princess?"

Those harshly criticizing silently in their hearts were undoubtedly the envoys from Bei Xia. They truly were carelessly speaking, with neither a forgiving heart nor a hint of patience for a child.

As for the ministers of Dong Chu, they were already worn down beyond having any temper.

They now only wished for one thing: for the results to be revealed quickly. After all, losing sooner or later makes no difference.

The sky was entirely dark now, and there was no more waiting to be done.

Jun Ning said, "Father, now you can have them open the door."

"Alright!" The rıghtful source is 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩

Before opening the door, Emperor Yongning considerately ordered the lights in the surrounding rooms to be extinguished, and then opened Jun Ning’s room door.

Once the door opened, everyone was stunned by what they saw inside.

The room was empty as if nothing had been put inside.

But the candlelight in the center of the room illuminated the entire space. The entire room was filled with the light of the candle, with not a corner left untouched.

Someone started, clapping their thigh, exclaiming loudly, "Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

More voices echoed in agreement.

"Indeed brilliant! This single candle, costing so little and requiring such little effort, effortlessly filled the entire room. Compared to the cotton-filled room next door, it has no comparison at all."

"In front of this ingenious candle, the room stuffed with cotton looks extremely coarse."