Chapter 204: That Dead Woman Dug a Pit for Her

The second competition was a horse-taming challenge proposed by Tuoba Yaoguang.

Just as Quan Wuji was basking in his triumph, feeling as if he were floating on clouds amidst the praises of the various nations' envoys because Tianqi had won the first round.

Tuoba Yaoguang suddenly knelt before him, her voice crisp but carrying a hint of provocation:

"Your Majesty, the Princess of Qingping's horsemanship is truly remarkable. I presume Tianqi's horse-taming skills are no less inferior to the warriors of my Northern Kingdom. I propose that the Princess of Qingping and I compete in a second round of horse-taming, where we each tame a wild horse of the other's choosing. I wonder if Your Majesty might grant us this opportunity?"

Tuoba Yaoguang had her back to Jun Zijin, and her voice was so soft that Jun Zijin could not hear what she was saying.

However, He Linger, who was facing her, clearly caught the movement of Tuoba Yaoguang's lips.

That dead woman was deliberately putting Tianqi on a pedestal, clearly digging a pit for Jun Zijin. She felt anxious for Jun Zijin but, unable to speak, could only fret in silence.

Quan Aoyu sat slumped in his chair, listening to every word and action of Tuoba Yaoguang.

This dead woman wanted to scheme against Jun Zijin; he would not let her have an easy time.

Although Jun Zijin was skilled in more than just medicine, he couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for his Dandan having to tame a horse.

Quan Tianchen raised an eyebrow, his immortal-like face darkening slightly.

Of all those present, none were happier than Quan Tianyi and Jun Yiyi; it was as if Jun Zijin were doomed, and the way they looked at her was as if they were looking at a dead person.

Quan Wuji frowned slightly; he had to admit that Tianqi's warhorses were inferior in lineage to the Northern Kingdom's iron cavalry, and their horse-taming techniques were naturally not as good as the Northern Kingdom's.

Let alone a delicate woman like Jun Zijin, even the imperial horse trainers would not necessarily succeed in taming the Northern Kingdom's top-tier wild horses.

Even the blood-sweating horse that Jun Zijin rode was rare in all of Tianqi, but in the Northern Kingdom, obtaining such a fierce horse was much easier.

But if he did not agree, he would be admitting in front of the envoys of all nations that Tianqi was inferior to the Northern Kingdom. Where would the national prestige be?

Quan Wuji could not refuse, but he still called Jun Zijin over to ask for her opinion.

"Girl Jin, Princess Tuoba requests that you both tame each other's fierce horses. Do you have any objections?"

At a time like this, she could not afford to have objections. Jun Zijin finally understood what this woman was planning; it was likely that this dead woman had been thinking of how to scheme against her back in the Northern Kingdom.

Since that was the case, she did not need to be polite.

Jun Zijin turned to look at Tuoba Yaoguang and said indifferently:

"Since it is a competition, let us add a wager. Princess Tuoba, what do you think?"

Since she had to risk her life, she would feel sorry for herself if she didn't make the Northern Kingdom bleed; even if she couldn't gain any benefits for herself, she had to get something for Quan Aoyu.

Perhaps if the Emperor was pleased, the benefits would fall to her anyway.

"A wager? Jun Zijin, aren't you being too arrogant? Aren't you afraid of dying under iron hooves?"

Tuoba Yaoguang let out a cold snort; the horse this time was no ordinary wild horse.

To deal with Jun Zijin, she had specifically hunted down the fiercest kind of horse: the Cangshan Ink Cloud.

Furthermore, in the process of capturing it, she had deliberately abused the horse, making it extremely hateful toward humans; even the warriors of her Northern Kingdom dared not approach it.

Did she, Jun Zijin, think she could do it? What a joke!

Most of the people present watched the two with the attitude of watching a good show.

Only the Northern Kingdom's envoy, Wang Bao, felt relieved. Just a moment ago, Tuoba Yaoguang had fallen face-first into the mud, and he had been too ashamed to even lift his head.

This time, he could finally hold his head high. Others might not know the pit Tuoba Yaoguang had dug, but he certainly did.

Jun Zijin spat internally; nonsense, how could she not be afraid? Horse-taming was not as simple as riding a horse for a few laps.

Her horsemanship and archery were excellent, but she knew absolutely nothing about taming horses.

In her past life, although she liked to hang out at the stables, the club's horses were already tamed; there were no wild horses for her to tame.

Since she couldn't refuse, she would take a gamble. She raised an eyebrow and said unhurriedly:

"Whether I can do it or not, we shall know once we try. What, is Princess Tuoba afraid to agree?"

Provoked by these words, Tuoba Yaoguang immediately asked:

"What does this Princess have to fear! Speak, what wager do you want?"

Jun Zijin smiled slightly:

"Best of three. If Princess Tuoba loses, in addition to the existing annual tribute to our Tianqi, you will add 20 million taels of gold annually, plus 1,000 fine horses, including at least 3 of the Northern Kingdom's unique purebred Cangshan Ink Clouds or blood-sweating horses. How about that?"

In that era, good warhorses were the foundation of a nation. Jun Zijin's demand for both money and horses left Tuoba Yaoguang shocked:

"You have a huge appetite!"

Jun Zijin just looked at her calmly. The surrounding crowd couldn't help but gasp at such a bet.

Quan Wuji's eyes lit up. If this girl could really secure such benefits for Tianqi, the strength of Tianqi's cavalry would surely increase greatly.

Moreover, being able to obtain 3 purebred horses every year—using these horses to breed offspring, as long as the warhorses possessed their bloodline, they would be stronger than ordinary horses. His heart was already leaning toward it.

Seeing Jun Zijin so calmly propose such demands, Wang Bao, who had originally set his heart at ease, felt his heart rise back into his throat.

But before he could speak, he heard Quan Wuji say:

"I find this wager quite interesting. Princess Tuoba, what do you think?"

Seeing that the Tianqi Emperor had spoken, Tuoba Yaoguang was trapped and had no choice but to grit her teeth and agree:

"Fine, this Princess agrees. But what if you lose?"

Jun Zijin replied calmly:

"If I lose, I will be at your disposal, without a single word of complaint."

The crowd was in an uproar. Could the Princess of Qingping really have that ability?

Quan Aoyu sat up straight. This girl was far too bold. He didn't know what kind of surprise she would bring this time, but in any case, regardless of whether she won or lost, he would not let anything happen to her.

Once the wager was settled, the two went to change their clothes and prepare.

Jun Zijin prepared anesthetic needles and placed them in her space; after thinking for a moment, she also prepared two shots of sedatives.

Don't blame her for cheating; she wouldn't gamble with her own life.

As soon as she stepped out of the changing room, she saw Quan Aoyu standing at the door waiting for her.

"This time, that woman clearly dug a pit for you. Are you confident?"

Jun Zijin shook her head and said honestly:

"I don't know how to tame horses."

Quan Aoyu frowned and explained patiently:

"Horse-taming is a contest between man and horse. A fierce horse does not like people to approach it, and it likes it even less when someone is on its back.

Don't be foolish enough to go and stroke the wild horse's fur or talk to it. That trick won't work on a wild horse; it won't even let you get close, and the moment you do, it will kick you away.

The only thing you can do is seize the opportunity to get on its back and find a way not to be thrown off. Once it is exhausted and can no longer struggle, it will obediently submit to you."

There wasn't much time, and Quan Aoyu didn't have time to say too much. Finally, he instructed repeatedly:

"Dandan, just do your best. Even if you lose, it doesn't matter. I won't let that dead woman do anything to you."

Jun Zijin nodded and blinked playfully:

"Don't worry, I won't gamble with my own life."