Chapter 608: The Odds Are Touching

The entire audience was in constant shock.

Every single one of them, not a soul could react for a long moment.

Xie Tianyao did, however, give them time for the uproar, the chaos, and the mutual discussions.

Because this decision was truly too shocking!

Liu Zheng, at this moment, was also smiling bitterly again and again.

This old Emperor really knows how to play... What is he trying to do? Create some difficulty for himself? Or does he feel these barbarians have performed too excessively? Was the face-slapping level of that QinwangPozhenYue just now not enough? He still wants to make him continue slapping faces?

Liu Zheng almost guessed Xie Tianyao's thoughts.

That's right.

This time, he wants to play big!

He even felt that only this kind of near-crazy, hysterical play could forcefully suppress the high-intensity conflict in his heart!

What has he been struggling with? Struggling with whether to kill Liu Zheng, struggling with whether to remove this greatest threat for his own sons. Yes, he had been struggling; even before Liu Zheng arrived in Jinghua, he was struggling. When the Prefect Liu entered Jinghua, he struggled even more. There was a time when he was certain he would clear away this wolf from Liangzhou. But... the antics of these Eighteen Envoys and the ambiguous attitude of the Nine Regional Commanders made the situation complex. At this time, it was Prefect Liu who stood out again.

Instant kill.

Crushing.

And so, Xie Tianyao began to struggle again.

He was struggling with the current situation: if the Longyan Dynasty lost Liu Zheng, how much longer could it exist? Yes, the situation had become that severe.

What about those few sons of his?

Can't do anything right, can't finish anything they eat?

Therefore.

He decided to gamble once.

A big gamble.

If Prefect Liu could truly be like a Heavenly God descending to earth and continue to instantly kill this bunch of barbarians, then he would marry this Princess of his fief to him.

As for what would happen then, Xie Tianyao could no longer care. As long as Liu Zheng could help him pacify these guys who were each harboring their own ulterior motives, and plant the Longyan banners all over their barbarian lands, that would be enough. That would be enough.

Liu Zheng loses?

Kill him.

It would also count as completely resolving this thorn in his side.

"Hahahaha, so that's it, so that's it! Good, good, good! You nearly scared this Prince to death!"

Xie Fang could not help but laugh loudly again.

Laughing loudly as if no one else were around.

This caused many people to frown. At such a juncture, as the Crown Prince, Xie Fang should first consider the face and dignity of the Longyan Dynasty. Now it seems he is wishing Liu Zheng would lose this battle quickly...

Dong Guifei also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

What she worried about most was Xie Chan marrying Liu Zheng... If that happened, it would be quite unfavorable for the faction she had just been propped up with.

Tie Mu-cheng was eager to try.

However, the first one who couldn't hold back was Mizuno Masashige from the Wa nation! He laughed loudly and asked: "Emperor of the Celestial Empire, truly magnanimous! But this humble one wishes to know, how will this public selection of a son-in-law be conducted? Is there any set of rules for it?"

Once these words were out, many people nodded.

Curious.

Expectant.

This is not a common family's marriage recruitment, but the selection of a husband for the Longyang Princess!

A matter of national concern!

"This matter was a sudden whim of Mine; the specific rules have not yet been decided. Today is the Birthday Ceremony, so let it be for now. Wait until tomorrow's court session to discuss this matter further! I am weary, you may all withdraw!"

Xie Tianyao had been tossing about all day and was truly exhausted.

Although everyone felt this was keeping them in great suspense, they understood.

Finally, it dispersed.

Good heavens!

This whole ordeal lasted until the afternoon; he hadn't even eaten lunch, and Liu Zheng's stomach was growling. The others were the same. According to the procedure, Xie Tianyao would only host a banquet for his officials tomorrow. This segment actually had a lot to see. For example, during the banquet for the officials, people from all directions would present gifts one after another—what? The previous gifts don't count? Of course, those cartloads of gifts entering the warehouse also count as congratulatory gifts. But the gifts to be presented on the day of the banquet would be rare treasures! Each small nation would prepare one most precious gift to bring out, with a sense of competing for beauty.

With the Emperor's order, everyone headed home.

As Xie Chan left, she winked at Liu Zheng in the crowd.

Liu Zheng responded with a bitter smile.

"The Emperor is anxious..."

In the Horse Carriage on the way back, Prince Yong said with a worried face and a sigh.

Liu Zheng wiped his face and smiled bitterly: "The Prince means that the Emperor feels for the first time that he is old..."

Prince Yong gave a sorrowful smile, noncommittal.

Liu Zheng said: "But he can't play this big... Good heavens, both civil and martial arts; looking at this physique of mine, how could I be skilled in both? And with the Emperor's personality, who knows what bizarre rules he might formulate? How am I supposed to handle this?"

These words made Prince Yong burst into laughter: "In the eyes of the world, you, Prefect Liu, are a god!"

Liu Zheng was startled: "Prince Yong, watch your words, Prince Yong, watch your words!"

Public selection of a son-in-law!

This news spread instantly throughout Jinghua.

The whole city was running about telling each other, sharing their shock.

Selecting a son-in-law?

And it makes no distinction between ethnicities or races?

Some wept bitterly, believing the imperial court was afraid, afraid of that bunch of barbarians; where was the dignity of the Celestial Empire? Others were full of anticipation, for this year's Christmas was indeed much livelier. Today a one-hit kill was performed, Prefect Liu, can it continue tomorrow?

Others were...

"The betting is open! The betting is open!"

"Everyone, everyone, have you felt the power of miracles?"

"Hahahaha!"

"Lao Wang, how many times over did you earn?"

"Lao Wang is about to take a concubine, what do you think?"

"Quick, quick, quick, place your bets, place your bets!"

Someone looked at the odds on the betting board and raised a question.

"Lao Wang, this isn't right; under the heavens, who doesn't know that this Prefect Liu is a scholar who couldn't even truss a chicken? Why are these odds so low?"

Others also asked one after another.

What the hell?

One to five?

This won't do! You have to know, for today's Christmas Ceremony, the odds were pushing thirty!

That Lao Wang sneered: "Nonsense, everyone, is that Prefect Liu an ordinary person? Hmm? Don't look at how delicate he looks; before this, who could have imagined he could create ice and snow? Miracles, do you know what a miracle is? This Prefect Liu was born for miracles! Go on, go on, if you think it's low, go buy from someone else's house!"

The crowd grumbled.

Someone else's house? Even more of a rip-off! They are only one to three!

Since when are the odds for this obviously losing game so low?

Versed in both literature and martial arts!

What they want is someone versed in both literature and martial arts!

Everyone knows Prefect Liu is literate. But are you sure he is martial?

Could it be...

Just because he is Prefect Liu?

Can't play this!

This betting pool, it's impossible to play! It doesn't give people any chance to get rich overnight at all!

How to bet?

These gamblers began to struggle with the decision.

"Bet ten thousand gold on Prefect Liu!"

Just at this moment.

An abrupt voice rang out in this tavern.

Everyone fell silent.

The entire place was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.