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2728 Betting
“Do you intend to challenge His Majesty to a test?” Qiao Mu’s gaze bore icy intensity as it fixed upon Zhongli Zhiwei. “Or is it you?”
Her attention then shifted to Madam Guo’an.
Both of them refrained from responding hastily.
...
/What did she mean by proposing a challenge to His Majesty? What capacity did they possess to substitute for His Majesty’s actions?/
Qiao Mu stood up, an inexplicable stillness descending upon the main hall, muffling all surrounding voices.
The Emperor straightened in his throne. Upon witnessing the young crown prince consort rise and stride toward the heart of the audience hall, a barely noticeable tension raveled within him.
/This sensation was peculiar—a foreboding of imminent tragedy./
“Imperial Father!” The fervent cry of the crown prince consort stirred an air of hushed contemplation, concealing concealed smirks.
Coughing lightly, the Emperor felt compelled to clarify, “Understand this: we never disclosed the particulars of the proposed test.”
In all likelihood, his subordinates had let slip and the tidings had drifted to Madam Guo’an’s ears.
However, with the palace housing multitudes, such occurrences were hardly unforeseeable.
The Kang Prince feigned a cough while pretending to sip from his teacup, an attempt to suppress the glimmer of amusement within his eyes.
Remarkably, His Majesty appeared somewhat disconcerted when faced with the young crown prince consort and consort. Rumor had it that His Majesty had previously summoned them, aiming to formulate three arduous exam questions.
Yet, in an unforeseen turn, the young crown prince consort adeptly addressed both queries, rendering them effortlessly solvable. Consequently, the Emperor had proffered this third challenge.
Unbeknownst to him, the young crown prince consort wielded the identities of a talisman practitioner and a pill alchemist.
They didn’t necessitate reliance on their family lineage; their individual prowess sufficed to instantaneously overpower the noble ladies from the imperial capital’s patrician clan.
Observing the scene unfold, the Kang Prince opted to assume a spectator’s role.
Qiao Mu lifted her gaze toward the Emperor. “Considering Madam Guo’an’s inclination to interfere in Imperial Father’s matters and to put me to the test, shouldn’t there be a corresponding cost?”
The Emperor blinked reflexively, endeavoring to grasp the crown prince consort’s intent.
“She assesses me on my ability to discern and neutralize fragrances. In that case, I should evaluate her too, allowing her a whiff of my fragrance,” the young crown prince consort proclaimed with solemnity. “This, my dear sirs and ladies, is known as reciprocating courtesy!”
/Did this concept of reciprocity extend to such measures?/ Confusion clouded everyone’s expressions.
“Do you possess knowledge in concocting perfumes as well?” The young crown prince consort shook her head earnestly.
The Emperor’s exasperation welled up involuntarily: /Then why in the world did you let her smell it in the first place!/
“The ability to formulate perfumes isn’t pertinent. Regardless, I merely wish for her to sample my fragrance.”
A discreet cough slipped from the Emperor’s lips as he turned his attention to Madam Guo’an. “Guo’an, do you consent to the young crown prince consort’s proposition?”
“Indeed.” Although Madam Guo’an might project an air of arrogance, inwardly, she struggled to contain her laughter, bordering on the brink of hysteria.
/Was the Crown Prince Consort utterly clueless, to dare challenge her in a perfume comparison?/
Ahahahaha!
/Very well, let her experience the full extent of her power./
With a deft motion, Guo’an retrieved a diminutive cauldron with a purple-gold hue from within his inner realm.
Frowning, Qiao Mu directed her gaze toward the cauldron held within her grasp.
It came to light that this woman was the individual responsible for providing His Majesty with the cauldron required to remedy his wind ailment.
Addressing the symptoms without addressing the underlying cause proved futile!
“Hold on!” Crown Prince Mo interjected abruptly. “I’m placing a wager of 50 million spirit currency on my wife’s triumph.”
Instantly, the room erupted in an air of absurdity!
/Your Royal Highness, your display is truly farcical. Your usual detachment!/
The height of absurdity lay in the usually reserved Kang Prince emphatically striking the table and rising to his feet to join in. “I’ll stake 30 million on the Crown Prince Consort’s victory without hesitation!”
The imperial censors collectively opted to withhold further criticism.
Within the main hall, the Crown Prince initiated the betting, promptly followed by the Kang Prince.
Promptly, the Vassal King of Jianping issued a challenge to the Crown Prince for a duel in the arena, gambling on Madam Guo’an’s victory and putting ten million spirit currency on the line…
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