Chapter 610: Love and Peace

Finally.

Coming to Liu Zheng's bedroom, the number of people wanting to help really was increasing more and more.

From Prince Yong, from Prince Shu, from the bigwigs of the imperial court, from certain concubines in the inner palace, from the various major Chambers of Commerce in Jinghua, and even from quite a few commoners...

More and more.

Liu Zheng could feel the fervor of these people.

They did not want him to lose...

Or rather, they did not want the Longyang Princess of Longyan to be taken away by that bunch of barbarians! They were unwilling for the dignity of Longyan to be trampled upon just like that! They preferred that Prefect Liu become the Imperial Son-in-law of Longyang Princess, rather than anyone else!

"Use mine! Prefect Liu, the Jinlü Imperial Physician of my master is a rare treasure!"

"Use ours, is the Yue Nü Jian of my family lacking? It will absolutely crush those barbarians!"

"Mine, mine!"

The scene even became chaotic, and they almost started fighting each other.

Liu Zheng hurried out, cupping his hands with a bitter smile: "Everyone, everyone, stop arguing. Trust Liu Zheng; Liu Zheng has long since made arrangements for this matter and will certainly not let everyone down! Today, I cannot accept any of these treasures. They must be returned the way they came today. I ask that everyone trust Liu Zheng!"

"Prefect Liu..."

"This..."

"Prefect Liu, rest assured, my master will not do anything..."

"Prefect Liu!"

These people were all anxious, but no matter what they said, Liu Zheng refused.

Finally, under the pained gazes of Prince Yong and Liu Dahao, these cartloads of treasures were hauled back by these people once again.

Seeing these people leave, Liu Zhen finally shook his head with a bitter smile.

They really were a group of lovable people...

This Xie Tianyao really was fond of putting people through the wringer...

"Hahahaha, is the Capital not exceptionally lively today?"

Xie Tianyao laughed very heartily at this moment.

Grand Eunuch Zhou smiled from the side: "Emperor, it is indeed very lively... This is truly going to test the discernment of these few young people."

Xie Tianyao gave a cold laugh: "Discernment? What is discernment? Guessing what I want, what I like? Hahahaha, what I want, who can give it? The entire empire is mine; why would I need them to give it to me?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou trembled all over, lowering his head without a word.

After his cold laugh, Xie Tianyao wore a look of desolate, self-deprecating laughter.

"I just want..."

"Things to be a bit livelier."

"It is probably the last year, so let it be a bit livelier."

"Hmm..."

He looked at the fireworks outside and listened to the sound of firecrackers, smiling faintly: "Chan'er has come home; make it a bit livelier for her. You say, Prefect Liu will not let me down, right? A prosperous age, is my prosperous age not comparable to that of the Great Tang?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou said in a low voice: "Emperor, this old servant is worried..."

Xie Tianyao laughed loudly: "He will lose?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou nodded with a bitter smile.

Xie Tianyao slowly shook his head: "He will not."

He turned his head and stared fixedly at Grand Eunuch Zhou's wrinkled old face: "Because he is the one who sets the rules."

"He always has been!"

The people here had just left.

Liu Zheng had just lain down.

Another round of knocking on the door!

At this, he was almost angry.

Who would have thought that the person entering this time was actually Deng Wenhui.

"My Lord, My Lord..."

"What is it again?"

Liu Zheng put on his clothes.

Deng Wenhui said: "Lord Chen requests your presence..."

Chen Qian?

Upon hearing this name, Liu Zheng knew that another big event had occurred. Without wasting words, he followed Deng Wenhui out the door, where a Horse Carriage was parked, and the carriage sped toward the Hanlin Academy.

"Speak, what is going on again?"

Liu Zheng said with annoyance.

This was completely not letting him sleep!

Deng Wenhui looked miserable: "My Lord, the matter is like this. You see, the first segment, the Offering Ceremony, is in three days. But, this second segment..."

Liu Zheng smiled: "It is just a competition of literary and martial arts; is there anything difficult to arrange about that?"

Deng Wenhui said: "If things were only that simple... In past years, I have truly seen many scenes of the Six Arts competition. But this time is different..."

He looked at Liu Zheng, hesitating to speak.

Different?

How is it different?

Liu Zheng suddenly realized, and with a 'ha', said: "Why, is this what Master Chen means..."

Deng Wenhui shushed him, lowered his voice, and said: "Master Liu, this is inevitable! How can our vast Longyan lose to those barbarians in this regard? But Master Liu, your physique..."

He did not continue, which earned him an eye-roll from Liu Zheng.

"So Master Chen, you want to grant me some convenience?"

Liu Zheng laughed out loud.

Fighting on home turf really does have its advantages!

But then again, as for being well-versed in both literature and martial arts, he truly had some confidence in the literary aspect. But this martial part... he would definitely be scratching his head in frustration. Although he had been working out, it really was just working out... He had also been worrying about this matter; since old Chen was willing to consider things for him, this would be easy to handle!

Soon.

The Horse Carriage arrived at the Hanlin Academy again.

Sure enough.

Liu Zheng walked in, and Chen Qian and a group of others, even including Gu Jin, were waiting for him here.

"What are you gentlemen doing..."

It's getting late, Liu Zheng greeted them.

"Hmph, isn't it all because of you!"

Gu Jin rolled her eyes at him.

Liu Zheng did not speak.

Seeing that Liu Zheng had arrived, Chen Qian chuckled, gestured for him to sit down, and then said: "Prefect Liu, you probably already know about the matter. The reason the imperial court has not yet finalized this second round is because we have been considering the dignity of our Longyan Dynasty..."

"Pfft..."

Liu Zheng almost spat it out.

Gu Jin was even holding back laughter!

What does that mean?

Is everyone so certain that I will absolutely embarrass the Longyan Dynasty?

Humiliation!

The way you all look at me is, to me, a form of humiliation!

But...

Who told us to be inferior to others?

Looking at that burly appearance of Tiemu Cheng, if he really were to have a wrestling match with him, wouldn't he be completely finished?

Liu Zheng asked timidly: "I understand Master Chen's meaning, but this matter should have a set of rules, right? What is the Emperor's intention..."

If one wants to cheat, one must still cheat within the rules set by the old Emperor!

Liu Zheng was still very sensible.

Chen Qian chuckled and said: "The Emperor's requirements are very simple. First, grand and lively, because it involves the marriage of Longyang Princess... Second, fair and just, so as not to lose the demeanor of a great nation like Longyan. Third..."

He looked at Liu Zheng again: "The Emperor's birthday seeks peace, so military exercises are not appropriate."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at Liu Zheng.

Military exercises are not appropriate!

This has directly blocked one of Liu Zheng's paths!

Liu Zheng was also stunned.

He had been thinking that if he really had to compete in both literature and martial arts, he would come out and organize a military exercise to play around with that Mongol Army and the Wa pirates.

Good grief.

You are directly forbidding me from having a military exercise?

Are you sure this is meant to open a back door for me?

You have completely sealed me off!

Individual competition, I'm not good at it.

Team competition, not allowed to play!

Do we surrender and lose half?

Chen Qian also had a bitter smile on his face.

The other Scholars of the Hanlin Academy were also sighing.

No wonder they could never formulate a plan. Entrusting this matter to them was truly difficult for them. On one hand, they didn't want Longyan to lose; on the other hand, they wanted to please Xie Tianyao; and finally, it had to be fair and just...

But no matter how they calculated the second round, it was a rhythm of certain defeat!

No!

Suddenly.

Liu Zheng's eyes lit up, and he stood up with a 'whoosh'.

"What did Master Chen just say?"

Chen Qian was startled by him, paused, and said: "No military exercises!"

"No, the sentence before that!"

"The Emperor's birthday seeks peace?"

Liu Zheng laughed heartily: "Love and peace, right?"

"Huh?"

The whole group was dumbfounded.

"One world, one dream, right!"

"Mutual understanding, lasting friendship, unity, and fair competition, right!"

The entire scene was dumbfounded.

"Faster, higher, stronger, right!"

Liu Zheng became excited.