Chapter 14: Fight For You!
This was blackmail.
Zhao Linxu’s expression remained unchanged, but he sneered in his heart.
Either he married Zhao Jiangxue to him, allowing Zhao Zhanqi to gain a powerful ally in the court and even restrain him, or he let Li Jianyu become the Princess of the North and South, and then Luoye City and its soldiers would belong to Zhao Zhanqi.
Setting aside whether Zhao Linxu was willing, Luoye City was a strategic military location, a junction point with other countries.
The Luoye army was powerful, and he was here now. Future wars might very well break out in Luoye. To just give Luoye City to Zhao Zhanqi like that—Zhao Linxu wasn’t a fool.
“Your Highness jests.”
Li Jianyu sat back down in his seat with a blank expression.
Damn it all, why did the whole world have to come and talk about marriage with him today? He didn’t mind the commoners; it was all in good faith, and he could humor them and move on. But Zhao Zhanqi…
Li Jianyu did not want to get involved in the mess between Zhao Linxu and Zhao Zhanqi.
“I am not jesting. It is an honor to have such a beauty as the City Lord.”
“You overpraise me.” Li Jianyu looked around, searching for an excuse to leave, but he couldn’t get away at the moment.
Zhao Zhanqi cupped his fists slightly and then sat back down in his original seat.
Xue Ni was waiting by his side.
“How did it go?”
Zhao Zhanqi frowned. “Zhao Jiangxue seems to be very afraid of me. This marriage is likely off.”
“What happened back then was not Your Highness’s fault. How can the Emperor blame you? For the sake of the princess’s reputation, this marriage must be settled,” Xue Ni said with a slight frown.
“Oh? Why, do you wish for me to marry Zhao Jiangxue so much?” Zhao Zhanqi looked at Xue Ni with interest.
Xue Ni was stunned, his earlobes turning slightly red.
“Your Highness, please don’t tease.”
He just felt indignant on Zhao Zhanqi’s behalf. His prince was so good; no one should hold a grudge against him.
Zhao Zhanqi’s mother was an unscrupulous woman. Back then, seeing Zhao Linxu’s rise, she had wanted to marry Zhao Jiangxue to Zhao Zhanqi. Zhao Jiangxue was the daughter of the late emperor’s uncle. After her parents died, she was brought to the palace and looked after by Consort Duan, who was from Zhao Jiangxue’s mother’s family and was also Zhao Linxu’s birth mother.
Zhao Jiangxue naturally did not agree to this marriage, so that woman had drugged her son and Zhao Jiangxue.
Although Zhao Zhanqi had managed to resist the effects of the drug and didn’t go through with the final step, it had left a shadow and trauma on Zhao Jiangxue regardless. From then on, Zhao Jiangxue couldn’t even stand properly whenever she saw Zhao Zhanqi.
After the late emperor learned of this, he had arranged the marriage between Zhao Zhanqi and Zhao Jiangxue with a clear imperial edict. If Zhao Zhanqi didn’t pursue the matter, it would be fine, but now that he refused to let it go, Zhao Linxu couldn’t easily refuse.
“Forget it. If I can get Li Jianyu’s Luoye army and Luoye City, this trip will not have been in vain.” Zhao Zhanqi began to plan to talk to Li Jianyu. The world bustled with people, all coming for profit. As long as he could satisfy Li Jianyu’s demands, he wouldn’t have to worry about the City Lord not cooperating with him.
On the other side, at the head seat, Zhao Jiangxue was toasting Li Jianyu.
“Thank you.” Zhao Jiangxue’s hand holding the wine cup was still a little unsteady.
“It’s no matter.”
Li Jianyu shook his head.
The festival continued. After a while, two warriors stood on the fighting ring to the side.
The war drums began to beat, and the crowd started to shout.
“The fighting ring is open! The fighting ring is open! Bet small, win big! Sirs, won’t you come and try your luck!”
Two warriors stood on the ring, looking imposing, while people below placed bets.
“Go, General Zheng!!”
“General Lu, don’t lose! I placed a big bet on you!”
On the ring were the left and right generals of the Luoye army, Li Jianyu’s right and left hands, Zheng Ke and Lu Ai.
“Oh? Are they both the City Lord’s generals?” Zhao Zhanqi stood up and smiled. “Then let this Prince have a match with the two of you as well.”
With that, Zhao Zhanqi also walked towards the ring.
“If this Prince wins, can the City Lord grant me one request? Just as a sweet reward for the victor, how about it?”
A “thump” went off in Li Jianyu’s heart.
Heh, you ancient people have more tricks up your sleeves than I do.
Zheng Ke and Lu Ai looked at Li Jianyu with concern.
What was going on?
Zhao Linxu asked Li Jianyu in a low voice, “Can they win against Zhao Zhanqi? Two against one.”
“It’s hard to say.” The General of the North and South had been immersed in bloody battles on the battlefield for many years. His Southern Suppression Sword made all enemies on the border tremble in fear. Li Jianyu really didn’t dare to compare his own men.
So, Zhao Linxu stood up and also walked towards the ring.
“It has been a long time since I’ve had a match with Your Highness. Today is a good opportunity. And it’s a good chance for Beauty to give me a sweet reward.”
Li Jianyu was stunned, unable to figure out Zhao Linxu’s intentions. Was he trying to help him, or did he really want to set a condition?
The rules of the fighting ring had always stipulated a maximum of three people in a group, so Zheng Ke and Lu Ai exchanged a glance. Zheng Ke, whose martial arts were not as high as Lu Ai’s, voluntarily stepped down. His mind was agile, suitable for leading troops in battle, offering strategies, and helping the City Lord release pigs on the Emperor. In terms of strength, the calm and steady Lu Ai was superior.
“The City Lord is counting on you.” Zheng Ke patted Lu Ai’s shoulder.
Dong, dong—
“Begin—!”
The addition of Zhao Linxu and Zhao Zhanqi made this fight even more exciting. Almost everyone was watching the movements on the stage with bated breath, and many more people rushed over to join in the fun.
Almost as soon as the war drum sounded, Zhao Linxu’s body shot out like an arrow, his whip sweeping straight for Zhao Zhanqi, catching him off guard.
As Li Jianyu’s general, Lu Ai had naturally been paying close attention to him. He had witnessed the undercurrents during Zhao Zhanqi’s toast to Li Jianyu and had just heard Zhao Zhanqi’s words. Sensing that something was wrong, he now also joined forces with Zhao Linxu to target Zhao Zhanqi.
The three of them were in a chaotic battle, a flurry of swords and shadows, countering each other’s moves.
Li Jianyu watched with extreme shame and embarrassment, feeling the deluded sense that he was a nation-toppling little demon.
Perhaps because he was used to seeing blood, Zhao Zhanqi’s moves were all deadly and vicious, leaving no room for error. For a time, he could not be defeated, holding off the attacks of two men by himself.
Clang!
Lu Ai’s sword was sent flying by Zhao Zhanqi. Before Lu Ai could draw the dagger from his waist, Zhao Zhanqi went forward and kicked him off the ring. Zhao Linxu timely whipped Zhao Zhanqi’s waist hard, reducing the force, so Lu Ai was not injured.
A commotion erupted in the crowd.
The first to be defeated was Lu Ai, which was within Li Jianyu’s expectations.
“City Lord, this subject was incompetent.”
Lu Ai knelt before Li Jianyu, his hands cupped in a fist.
“It’s no matter. It was not easy to hold your own against them for so long.” Li Jianyu’s heart had been pounding in his chest just watching. Zhao Zhanqi’s Asura-like killing intent and Zhao Linxu’s unrestrained desire to win—it didn’t look like a sparring match, but a life-and-death struggle.
Only Zhao Linxu and Zhao Zhanqi remained on the ring.
Clang!
The iron whip slammed hard against the body of the sword, making a crisp sound.
Zhao Zhanqi used his sword to block the whip handle, which Zhao Linxu had imbued with his internal energy. Veins popped out on his temples, and his arm trembled from overexertion.
“Imperial Brother is as strong as ever.”
“Your Highness has also improved a lot.”
Thump—
The whip sent the sword flying, and along with it, the person was also sent flying by Zhao Linxu’s internal energy.
Zhao Zhanqi was knocked out of the ring and fell to the side, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
“I accept your victory.” Zhao Linxu’s lips curled slightly.
Li Jianyu breathed a sigh of relief, but looking at the tall figure on the ring, like a proud wild wolf, his heart couldn’t help but hang in suspense again.
He didn’t know what kind of request Zhao Linxu would make of him.
“Beauty.” Zhao Linxu wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned around. “In consideration of me fighting for you, come and dance for me.”
“…”
Li Jianyu looked at Zhao Linxu with a blank expression.
“How about it?” Zhao Linxu grinned.
“Pfft…” Li Jianyu couldn’t help but laugh too.
This blockhead.
Everyone in the crowd was cheering, asking Li Jianyu to dance. Li Jianyu had danced before, and it was truly a sight that made the mountains and rivers dim
