Chapter 56: First Volume, Chapter 56: Grand Spectacle

First Volume, Chapter 56: Grand Spectacle

"Ning Hu, what contest do you wish to challenge Qin Feng to?" asked the Liang Emperor casually.

Ning Hu did not hesitate a moment, blurting out: "Lifting the tripod!"

Although Qin Feng had banned Zhengdou, he had not banned martial combat—there were many forms of martial contest, and sparring with fists and feet was merely one of them. For military officers, strength comparison was also an extremely important category. Ning Hu had trained in martial arts since childhood and spent every day beside the Yong'an Marquis, absorbing his ways; his physical strength was naturally unmatched—he could lift a thousand-jin tripod without effort.

Yet those around him held no hope for this contest.

Li Rui and the others had clashed wits with Qin Feng for so long, they knew his ways too well: whenever faced with a disadvantageous situation, he would always find a way to turn it around—he would never accept Ning Hu's challenge.

The Liang Emperor thought this contest was outright bullying: Qin Feng, a scholar skilled in cunning, could easily be described as "too weak to lift a chicken," let alone lift a tripod—he probably couldn't even muster the strength to carry home a young maiden if given one.

"Qin Feng, if you feel it's unfair, you need not force yourself."

The Liang Emperor's words already gave Qin Feng room to retreat—he certainly did not want to see his golden goose truly broken by Ning Hu.

Just as everyone believed Qin Feng would never accept, the outcome defied all expectations.

Qin Feng wore a look of utter indifference, his expression saying, "Is that all?": "Lifting a tripod? I've lifted my family's tripods before—easy and pleasant."

Hearing this, Cheng Fa burst into laughter, looking at Qin Feng as if he were an idiot: "You don't confuse tripods with stoves, do you? Who in their right mind casts a tripod for idle use? With your skinny arms and legs, you'd be lucky not to be crushed into meat paste right here."

Xie Yun'er curled her lip, thinking to herself: "This fellow is truly a madman!"

The Liang Emperor, seeing Qin Feng accept so readily, frowned slightly—but then relaxed. Qin Feng might be mad, but he was not foolish; if he agreed, he must already have a strategy. How could a scholar possibly lift a tripod? The Liang Emperor grew intensely curious about Qin Feng's approach.

The Liang Emperor immediately waved his hand: "Li Zhan."

Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Gonggong hurried forward, bowing deeply: "Your Majesty's command?"

The Liang Emperor spoke bluntly: "This contest between Qin Feng and Ning Hu shall serve as a tribute to Ji Wang's birthday. Issue my decree: all shall proceed to the Ji Wangye Fu Xiaochang to watch."

What had begun as a mere conflict among court youths now exploded into a sensation across the entire Ji Wang Fu. Servants scrambled, hauling tables, chairs, and benches to the Xiaochang; guests attending the birthday banquet buzzed with chatter.

In an instant, the entire Ji Wang Fu descended into chaos.

The Ministry of Revenue's Section Chief joined the crowd heading toward the Xiaochang, sneering with malicious intent: "No wonder the Qin family's heir—he truly has guts, daring to challenge the Little Marquis to a tripod-lifting contest! How many youths in Jingdu are skilled in martial arts? Yet few dare stand up to the Little Marquis. Truly, a tiger father produces no dog son!"

The Ministry of Revenue's Section Chief's words were clearly meant to poison Qin Tianhu's ear.

At this moment, Qin Tianhu's face was dark as storm clouds—he had repeatedly warned Qin Feng to remain humble, to avoid reckless behavior, yet the brat had treated every word as wind.

Qin Tianhu had already decided: even if Qin Feng had won Ji Wang's favor with White Sugar, his rebellious nature meant he would still face a whipping soaked in cold water.

Several other officials nearby chuckled quietly.

"I always heard Qin Shaoye was skilled in poetry, but never imagined his martial prowess was so remarkable—he deserves the reputation of being both literary and martial."

"Haha, very true—daring to challenge the Little Marquis proves Qin Shaoye's strength."

"What's surprising? Qin Daoren once led troops against the Northern Di—he was fearless and mighty. As the saying goes: dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and a rat's son knows how to dig holes. Qin Shaoye naturally won't fall far short."

"Hahaha…"

A chorus of sarcastic jibes converged on Qin Tianhu from all sides; his face turned black, yet he could do nothing.

Compared to these "officials" who habitually insinuated, the young guests attending the birthday banquet were far more direct.

Their evaluation of the contest was bluntly honest.

"Fool! Watch Qin Feng get crushed into meat paste!"

"I disagree! To be crushed into meat paste, Qin Feng must first lift the tripod—can that 'chicken-bone' even budge the Ji Wang Fu's tripod? Don't make me laugh till my teeth fall out."

"I used to think Qin Feng was faking madness—I believe it now. He's truly insane. The Ji Wang Fu's tripod is a royal ceremonial artifact; even the smallest weighs a thousand jin or more. Unless you've trained for years, you can't even push it, let alone lift it."

The Ji Wangye Fu Xiaochang was not large—barely able to hold a few hundred people. One side held weapon racks, the other training equipment. In the southwest corner stood several tripods, the largest being the three-legged blue-and-white ceremonial tripod, estimated at least a thousand jin.

As the servants hurriedly arranged the furniture, the Liang Emperor sat in the highest chair at the Bei Zun Wei, feigning to oversee the whole scene, but his attention was almost entirely fixed on Qin Feng—not so much curious how Qin Feng would lift the tripod, as eager to see how he would handle this confrontation.

After all, Qin Feng acted wildly. Though clever, without sufficient political acumen in Jingdu, he would surely be eliminated. If Qin Feng lacked the ability to endure, the Liang Emperor had no reason to waste more energy on him.

Meanwhile, under Ji Wang's lead, guests gradually entered the Xiaochang, bowed to the Liang Emperor, and took their seats. Half the court's Third Rank officials and above were present; the rest held noble titles or were prominent merchants of Jingzhong.

The small Xiaochang nearly gathered every top-tier figure in Jingdu.

Xie Yun'er was the only woman present. Watching Qin Feng, hands behind his back like an old official, circle the three-legged tripod, she felt both furious and wronged.

Rumors had long circulated in Jingdu that Xie Yun'er and Qin Feng shared an unusual relationship—otherwise, how could Qin Feng so easily enter the Xie Family's Inner Courtyard and describe so precisely the "features" on her person?

Now, with Qin Feng and Ning Hu's spectacle, the entire Jingdu would soon know they were fighting over Xie Yun'er—she would never wash away the stain, even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

Qin Tianhu's face was grim beyond words; he couldn't help wondering what sin he had committed in his past life to sire such a demon child as Qin Feng.