Chapter 775

First Volume, Chapter 775: Enemy of All Di

The Yi Guan shopkeeper never connected the name "Qin Feng" with the Tianlu Marquis of Liang Kingdom, since his superiors had given no indication that Qin Feng would come to Yucheng.

But as for Qin Feng himself, not just the shopkeeper—even a five- or six-year-old child—would surely be familiar with him.

After the State Peace Talks ended, Qin Feng had become the public enemy of all Northern Di.

At first, the shopkeeper had been skeptical, wondering who had the audacity to offend Princess Jing Ci; now that he knew the man's identity, he was both stunned and secretly delighted—if he could make Qin Feng lose face, it would be akin to becoming a national hero.

Thinking this, the shopkeeper immediately kowtowed, speaking slowly and deliberately: "Your Highness, rest assured, this Commoner will see this matter through."

Seeing the shopkeeper so cooperative, Jing Ci finally nodded in satisfaction and waved him off to make arrangements.

She plopped down on a bench in the alleyway; though a princess of golden lineage, she paid no mind to the folk's coarse tea and simple fare, lifting a cup of tea dregs and drinking it down.

The young masters standing nearby frowned deeply and urged her repeatedly to stop.

"Your Highness, your noble body cannot drink such inferior tea! Let me go home and fetch the finest Maojian to soothe your throat."

"I have a rare stash of Jin Jun Mei—if Princess Jing Ci does not disdain it…"

Li Yuhang, the First Young Master of Yucheng, waved his hand, signaling the others to cease their flattery.

"What fine tea has Your Highness not tasted? No need to trouble yourselves. Besides, Your Highness shares in the joys of the people—we ought to admire you, not burden you."

At these words, everyone nodded in agreement.

Jing Ci held great fondness for Li Yuhang and smiled lightly: "Young Master Li, if Qin Feng enters the city, can you devise a way to make him lose face?"

Li Yuhang had accompanied Jing Ci on her outings for several days and never expected to encounter Qin Feng, this scourge, today.

He had originally harbored some reservations, but as the day progressed, his mood had undergone a complete transformation—he now saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If he could make Qin Feng lose face and win the princess's favor, his future entry into the imperial court would be assured.

With better fortune, becoming the Prince Consort of Great Di would launch him to the heavens!

Thinking this, Li Yuhang's heart swelled with excitement, yet his face remained solemn as he bowed formally: "Your Highness, Yucheng, favored by scholars of Heaven, is known as the foremost elegant city of Great Di. Since Qin Feng insists on entering, he must be drawn here by the pursuit of 'elegance.'"

"Rumors say Qin Feng possesses extraordinary talent, his poem 'Beyond the Frontier' having shaken Heaven and stirred scholars across the land to recite it endlessly."

"But in my view, it is merely empty show. If Qin Feng truly possessed such talent, why have we never heard of any other masterpieces beyond 'Beyond the Frontier'?"

"Heh—he probably bought someone else's calligraphy to embellish his own reputation."

"If we can defeat him precisely where he boasts his greatest strength, we will utterly destroy his reputation—and perhaps even ruin his lifelong glory."

Jing Ci wanted nothing more than to crush Qin Feng underfoot and reclaim a shred of dignity for Great Di.

Hearing Li Yuhang's words, she immediately grew interested, her eyes alight with anticipation.

"Young Master Li, you are the First Young Master of Yucheng, known in scholarly circles as the Yucheng White Crane—do you have the confidence to do this?"

Li Yuhang was deeply calculating and did not immediately accept the task outright; instead, he chose a clever path.

"Your Highness, if I were to challenge Qin Feng and won, what would it prove? I am the First Young Master of Yucheng—he would then become the second. How could I allow such glory to be bestowed upon that man?"

Jing Ci's eyes brightened: "Young Master Li, do you have a better plan?"

Li Yuhang's lips curled slightly in triumph: "Qin Feng boasts himself as a once-in-a-generation genius? Then let us set before him the Five Passes Six Generals—not even an unfair challenge."

"Yucheng's literary circles are full of hidden dragons and tigers. I will personally select several scholars. If Qin Feng cannot even pass the first few trials, he has no right to face me. Then, it won't merely be about losing face—it will be total ruin. But if he somehow survives and reaches me, I have full confidence I will send him away humiliated!"

Jing Ci fully believed Li Yuhang's boasts—he was, after all, the First Young Master of Yucheng.

If even Li Yuhang could not match Qin Feng in literature, then suppressing him in that field would be nothing short of fantasy.

As for other domains—military, martial arts, commerce—Jing Ci never considered them; this was no game.

While suppressing Qin Feng, one must also preserve oneself; if the cost of defeating him was self-destruction, it would be a poor bargain.

Jing Ci immediately signaled Li Yuhang to proceed with arrangements.

The entire alley of the Yi Guan was now empty except for the princess and her maid. Jing Ci turned to Qi Ya and smiled lightly: "Today, I will make Qin Feng understand that beyond the sky lies higher sky, beyond the person lies greater person!"

Qi Ya had followed Jing Ci since childhood, reading her thoughts like a worm in her belly—she knew full well what this encounter with Qin Feng meant.

If Qin Feng could be humiliated before reaching Wang Du, his confidence before the King of Northern Di and the court would be weakened.

This would benefit Great Di in every way and bring no harm.

Realizing this, Qi Ya quickly offered advice: "Your Highness, Qin Feng is always unpredictable. One must fear the unlikely as much as the likely—if Li Yuhang and the others lose to him, won't that only embolden his arrogance?"

"Let us prepare a backup plan, to ensure absolute certainty—even if overcautious, it can do no harm."

Hearing this, Jing Ci beamed, growing fonder of Qi Ya with every passing moment.

She nodded immediately: "Well said! Since you've spoken thus, you must already have a plan—tell me."

Qi Ya grinned mischievously: "Qin Feng has a weakness—and it's no secret."

"In military strategy, commerce, literature, and ingenious devices, his mastery is profound and admirable—but his martial arts? Barely existent. He is, in fact, a complete outsider."

"If Li Yuhang and the others fail, Your Highness can challenge Qin Feng directly. With Your Highness's martial skill, defeating Qin Feng would be effortless."

"Even if Qin Feng secretly trained in martial arts, he would never dare lay hands on a princess. Whether he likes it or not, he must lose to you. Then we can make a grand spectacle of it and broadcast it to all neighboring states."

Jing Ci pondered this—Ye Xiao had indeed investigated Qin Feng's weaknesses; his martial arts were the worst of all his flaws. If she truly fought him, she was confident she could subdue him within three rounds.

But she was a princess of the highest rank—how could she recklessly challenge a foreign minister?

Yet upon reflection, if this humiliation would break Qin Feng, the sacrifice was worth it.

Jing Ci made her decision at once: "Do as you say!"