Qiao Jinniang left and changed into a round-neck robe that Lu Chen wore when he was a teenager. It fit her figure very well.
Samo’er also changed into a set of clothes, but still wore the veil.
Queen Zhou hadn’t been so nervous for a long time, but Emperor Huilin on her side said, “What are you nervous about? She could even beat up Chen’er so badly. How is it possible for her to lose to a barbarian princess?”
“That was because Chen’er let her.”
Queen Zhou looked at the two girls in the arena, and Qiao Jinniang obviously didn’t know any martial arts.
As the ceremonial music and drums sounded, Samo’er had her long hair scattered on her shoulder and neatly and gracefully made a set of martial arts movements.
On the other hand, Qiao Jinniang wore her long hair in a high bun and fixed it with a jade tuinga.
Qiao Jinniang suddenly rushed in front of Samo’er, and under everyone’s worried and shocked gazes, she grabbed Samo’er’s long hair and pulled it, pulling it really hard!
Samo’er’s hair was pulled hard and it really hurt. Just when she was about to use a martial arts move against Qiao Jinniang, Qiao Jinniang was pulling her hair even harder.
Samo’er had to save her hair with a hand, and although Qiao Jinniang didn’t know Kung Fu, she had great strength.
Samo’er was no match for Qiao Jinniang in strength, so she suddenly kicked Qiao Jinniang’s legs, but Qiao Jinniang exerted a greater force on her hands, and Samo’er didn’t dare to move again, for fear that her hair would be pulled out.
After quite a while, when Qiao Jinniang didn’t pay attention, Samo’er suddenly pushed her to the ground, pressing her whole body on top of Qiao Jinniang.
However, Qiao Jinniang lifted off Samo’er veil with a hand and put her long nails dyed red on Samo’er face.
“Princess, you turn out to be so beautiful, but if you don’t admit defeat, I’ll swipe my nails across your face hard. If my nails scratch your face, your face will be ruined.”
Samo’er hurriedly withdrew her hand holding her own hair to hold Qiao Jinniang’s hand. “Don’t you dare!”
Qiao Jinniang shook her nails menacingly and said, “Why not?”
Samo’er gritted her teeth, not daring to imagine how many hideous scars would be left on her face if Qiao Jinniang’s long nails slashed across her cheeks.
Samo’er quickly said, “I admit defeat!”
Only then did Qiao Jinniang hold back her hands, get up from the ground and cup her hands. “Thank you for letting me win!”
Qiao Jinniang returned to her seat next to Lu Chen and said to him, “I told you I will not lose. I’ve been good at fighting since I was a kid.
“The most important thing in a fight between women is to pull hair and scratch face. Martial arts moves won’t work. She even had her long hair scattered!”
When Samo’er’s face was revealed, everyone was shocked. No wonder she cherished her appearance so much, if they had such an appearance, they would cherish it too.
Fulu took a deep breath and said, “I actually saw a girl even more beautiful than Xie Yun!”
Samo’er walked slowly to Emperor Huilin and said, “I admit defeat. Since Xiliang has lost the competitions, we are willing to present our national treasure.”
Samo’er walked slowly to the jade box, opened it with a key, and took out the contents inside.
Samo’er stepped forward and presented the contents to Emperor Huilin, saying, “This is a letter written by my father, and he hopes that I can marry the crown prince of Datang to establish a good relationship and maintain peaceful exchanges between the two countries.”
Qiao Jinniang: “…”
So she tried so hard only to win her husband a concubine?
Junior Duke Rong exclaimed, “Wow, Seventh Brother is so lucky!”
Lu Chen said coldly, “Do you want this luck?”
“Sure!”
Junior Duke Rong looked at Samo’er face, blushed.
There were all kinds of beautiful girls in Chang’an, but no one was as beautiful as Samo’er. Her beauty was as brilliant as the sun and the moon and was simply unparalleled.
Queen Zhou said, “Xiliang’s national treasure is well-deserved. Princess, you have such a beautiful face. It’s a pity for you to be my son’s concubine. It’s better for you to choose an excellent young man in the royal family to marry.”
Samo’er looked at Lu Chen, but the latter was only looking at Qiao Jinniang.
She was not so silly as to insist on marrying a man who already had a woman he loves.
Her father asked her to marry into the Tang Dynasty so that they would not come to attack Xiliang.
She designed three questions to gain face for Xiliang. If Datang couldn’t answer the three questions, it would boost Xiliang’s reputation. And if Datang attacked Xiliang because of that, people would laugh at Datang for being unable to afford to lose.
But in the end, she lost, so she had no choice but to marry a man from Datang, and it didn’t matter who she would marry.
Emperor Huilin looked around at the men in the royal family. His gaze fell on Junior Duke Rong but soon moved away.
Junior Duke Rong hurriedly got up and said, “Your Majesty, I’ve fallen in love with Princess Xiliang at first sight. I’m willing to marry Princess Xiliang as my wife.”
Emperor Huilin stroked his beard and said, “Princess Xiliang has come from afar. I can’t let her be wronged, you…”
Junior Duke Rong was very disappointed. He blinked his eyes pitifully. Imperial Uncle, did you forget all those gifts I gave you?
Whenever he got anything delicious or fun, he never forgot to prepare a portion for his imperial uncle.
Perhaps Emperor Huilin finally remembered his nephew’s filial piety to him, and said, “Junior Duke Rong is proficient in both civil and martial arts, and he is a very excellent young man of the royal family. He is a good match for Princess Xiliang.”
Samo’er glanced up and down at Junior Duke Rong. She couldn’t believe the emperor of Datang would tell such a bare-faced lie!
Junior Duke Rong hurriedly stepped forward and kowtowed. “Thank you, Imperial Uncle!”
Princess Xiliang said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Then she snorted at Junior Duke Rong, picked up her veil, and returned to her seat.
The envoys of Beimo all frowned. They had thought that Xiliang wanted to provoke Datang.
They didn’t expect that Xiliang would be so spineless as to surrender their princess to Datang. Now they had to plan ahead.
After the banquet, Qiao Jinniang followed Lu Chen to walk back to the East Palace. She looked at Lu Chen and asked, “Your luck has been given to Junior Duke Rong. Do you regret it?”
Qiao Jinniang used to be confident about her appearance, but after seeing Samo’er, she had to admit that she was not as beautiful as Samo’er.
Lu Chen said, “Isn’t my luck right next to me?”
“Smart answer.” Qiao Jinniang chuckled. “I had thought Xiliang wanted to provoke us, but it turns out they want to surrender their princess.”
Lu Chen said, “The current emperor of Xiliang is incompetent. He became the emperor just because the last emperor was killed on the battlefield.
“Xiliang is being controlled by powerful ministers. And in order to keep his throne, Xiliang’s emperor had to sell his daughter to get peace. As for those three questions, I am afraid it was Samo’er’s idea.”
Qiao Jinniang said, “Fortunately, Datang is strong enough and our princesses don’t have to marry into other countries and can live a care-free life.”
“That’s not true.”
When Qiao Jinniang heard Jinghua’s voice coming from her side, she greeted. “Sister Jinghua.”
Princess Jinghua sneered. “Everyone says that Datang’s princesses live an extravagant and dissipated life, but they don’t know what we have sacrificed.”
Then Princess Jinghua left.
Qiao Jinniang looked at Lu Chen and asked, “I heard that Sister Jinghua and the second master of the Xie Family’s marriage was canceled because she fell off the horse. Is it true?”
Lu Chen said, “Sister Jinghua married the military governor of Longxi a few years ago.”
“But prince consorts are not allowed to be officials.” Qiao Jinniang asked Lu Chen, “The military governor of Longxi holds the military power. How could he marry a princess?”
