The Eldest Princess

Chapter 42

Xiao Tu stood in the audience, staring closely at the two people interacting on the stage, and regretted not stopping Yun Cen.

Originally, they were just passing by and came to watch the competition at Zhixin Hall out of curiosity.

To be honest, Xiao Tu felt it was a bit fake to see three boys with excellent physiques were quickly defeated by the emperor.

Although he was clearly winning, the emperor remained calm and there was no trace of smugness or joy on his face.

He just stood on the stage, lowered his eyes and smiled softly, and ordered Yun Cen to go up.

Xiao Tu was shocked, thinking to himself, could it be that the emperor has been praised for too long and therefore feels that he can challenge Yun Cen?

Before he could come up with an excuse, the stupid boy Yun Cen had already climbed onto the stage.

Come to think of it, how could the Yun family's young master's speed give anyone a chance to react?

As soon as the two fought, Xiao Tu realized that they were serious.

Yun Cen had no intention of holding back, and the emperor was not as weak as he thought.

Xiao Tu was anxious and hurriedly pulled Yun Zhi aside, "You should think of a solution quickly!"

Yun Zhi, who is only a few months older than Yun Cen, is the calmest among the younger generations of the Yun family.

He only glanced at Xiao Tu calmly, then looked back at the stage, calmly speaking without any words of consolation, "Your worry will not help, so just wait and see."

Peace of mind?

Everyone knows that Yun Cen is a straightforward person and he doesn't know how to cheat. What would happen if he offends the emperor?

But seeing that there was no strange expression on Yun Zhi's face, he could only force himself to remain calm and turn his gaze back to the two of them.

As he was inferior to Yun Cen in size, strength, skills and experience, Xuan Ruichen's fierce attacks were all easily resolved.

However, Xuan Ruichen's moves were so flexible and varied that Yun Cen was unable to defeat him quickly.

Although there could be no bloodshed in the contest with the emperor, Xuan Ruichen, who had fought for several rounds, was still able to hold out for an incense stick of time unharmed under Yun Cen's hands. Judging from his age, he was already a leader among his peers.

Yun Cen made a beautiful kick, but Xuan Ruichen dodged it skillfully by taking a step back and turning around, which triggered applause and cheers from the audience.

The atmosphere was much more heated and exciting than before.

Unlike Yun Cen who was fully engaged, Xuan Ruichen paid some attention to his surroundings.

Some were worried that he would get hurt, some were worried that Yun Cen had angered him...

Everyone in the martial arts arena had different calculations and expressions from different standpoints, which was quite interesting.

Regardless of their reactions, it was a consensus among everyone that he would lose to Yun Cen.

Yun Cen had already noticed Xuan Ruichen's distraction. This time he seized the opportunity and immediately attacked, hitting the opponent in the chest with a palm.

Although Xuan Ruichen blocked the attack, he was still knocked back. He was already on the edge of the platform and slid down instantly.

There were gasps and exclamations from all around.

"His Majesty!"

Xuan Ruichen quickly supported himself on the stage with his hands, using the force to stop his body before landing, and with an effort, he returned to the stage.

His dark-patterned tights were stained with a lot of dust. The contrast between exquisiteness and dirtiness was very eye-catching, but it also made his luxurious temperament even more dazzling.

Yun Cen did not show any regret or fear on his face. He smiled brightly, his peach blossom eyes were serious, "Your Majesty should be more attentive."

After hearing this, Xuan Ruichen just found it a little funny.

No matter in civil or military affairs, when his peers in Zhixin Hall competed with him, they were all reserved, either out of flattery and fear, or out of testing and flattery.

Every time he won before he even used his full strength, he felt really frustrated.

Only Yun Cen would be so careless.

However, this was exactly the effect he wanted.

When the imperial sister discovered this problem, she just smiled and said, "Look for an opportunity, find a strong enemy who is known to everyone and will never cheat, and try to compete in public."

He immediately guessed who the emperor sister was talking about, "Yun Cen."

The smile in the eyes of the royal sister became even more intense, and she warned him: "Be careful, the point is not to win or lose, what you need to do is to show yourself, your strength and your broad mind, you must show it."

Now, he has performed almost as well as he could. Xuan Ruichen smiled carefreely, his eyes full of satisfaction and admiration, "Young Master Yun is worthy of being the descendant of the Yun family. His martial arts are indeed outstanding. There is no point in competing further. I admit defeat."

If he persists to the end and loses too ugly, that would not be his goal.

When he stepped down from the stage and went to fix his appearance, Li Quan, who was responsible for teaching him martial arts, immediately came up to him and comforted him with earnest words.

"Your Majesty, Young Master Yun is only a few years older than you. Moreover, he only needs to learn martial arts, while you have learned much more than him, and you also have to work hard on state affairs day and night..."

This simply means that his loss to Yun Cen was understandable.

Xuan Ruichen knew that Li Quan's words were not meant to save his reputation, but were out of concern for him.

Since returning from the imperial mausoleum, the emperor has become more strict with himself, completely beyond what a child of this age can physically endure.

Li Quan was afraid that his defeat to Yun Cen would irritate the emperor and make him even more obsessed, and his excessive pursuit would lead him astray.

"I think Her Royal Highness the Princess would definitely not want Your Majesty to work so hard."

Afraid that he could not persuade the emperor, he could only bring up the eldest princess.

Unlike His Majesty, Her Royal Highness the Princess gave up on the path of martial arts once she realized that she could not become a martial arts master.

What His Highness has always learned are means of self-preservation and shortcuts to killing the enemy.

Xuan Ruichen's eyes flashed with disapproval, "Don't go to the emperor sister and say anything."

Li Quan thought he had not listened, and knelt down anxiously, "Your Majesty, if we encounter a strong enemy, there are soldiers who will protect you and fight for you. Why do you have to be so persistent?"

Non-attachment? It's so simple.

Thinking of the assassination near the imperial mausoleum, Xuan Ruichen smiled bitterly in his heart.

In my memory, the image of Xuan Fusang covered in blood did not fade with time, but instead settled down and became an eternal pain in my heart.

How is it possible to let him not be obsessed?