Feng Moran did not attend the banquet today, perhaps fearing recognition. The once unattainable Grand Tutor had now become a male attendant in the Empress of Blue Moon's harem.
Xiao Man's gaze swept over Ye Fei, who was accompanying the Empress. Ye Fei sat obediently beside the Empress, pouring wine and serving dishes.
"Since it is your selection ceremony, your husband must naturally be chosen from these individuals," the Empress said calmly, glancing at Xiao Man. "If you choose him, he must enter the competition and win. Otherwise, it would be unfair to others."
"What is fairness?" Xiao Man put down her teacup. "Some are immensely wealthy, others destitute. Some hold positions of power, others are as insignificant as blades of grass. Empress, where is this fairness?"
"This is my command." The Empress knew that haggling with Xiao Man would only lead to her own entanglement.
Xiao Man smiled slightly. "Since it is Your Majesty's command, I cannot refuse. Aro."
"I am here."
"You go up and guard the arena. You are not to come down unless I tell you to."
"Alright." Dugu Luo immediately leaped onto the stage.
Xiao Man glanced at the unarmed Dugu Luo, a smile playing on her lips. "Among you, whoever can defeat my sister will be able to enter my Imperial Daughter's manor. However, you are not allowed to use weapons, nor any hidden projectiles to harm others. Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy."
At first, everyone thought Xiao Man would pose some difficult challenge. To their surprise, Xiao Man called a young girl to guard the arena. Indeed, who would not be attracted to beauty? Even Imperial Daughters had to maintain appearances and avoid gossip.
"In that case, I shall be the first to try." The son of Lord He immediately stepped onto the stage. "Miss, rest assured, I will not hurt you. Take this!" From Su Dan Novel Network
Lord He originally thought his son would surely defeat the unremarkable young girl and secure his entry into the Imperial Daughter's manor. However, with a single slap, she sent his son flying off the stage, unconscious and his life uncertain.
"My son!" Lord He cried out in despair, rushing forward to check on him. Seeing his son's swollen face and unconscious state, he wanted to reprimand her but feared Xiao Man, swallowing the words he was about to utter. "Quickly, send the young master back to the manor and summon a physician."
Servants carried Young Master He away quickly. Those who had been eager to try, seeing Dugu Luo send Young Master He off the stage with one slap, were instantly alarmed.
A moment later, a young man stepped onto the stage and bowed. "I am Yao Chong, son of Prime Minister Yao. May I ask for the young lady's esteemed name?"
"Aro," Dugu Luo replied unguently.
"My martial arts are not good, so I will not embarrass myself before you. I would like to compete with you in other matters, is that acceptable?"
"Compete in what?"
"Let us compete in painting and playing the zither. If you lose, you will step down from the arena, how about that?"
"No!" Dugu Luo refused without hesitation. "I cannot leave the arena."
"If you dare not compete, you can also concede," Yao Chong coaxed. "Just say the words 'I concede'."
"No!" Dugu Luo stated resolutely. "Aman said, if you can win, fight to the death; if you can't win, run. There is no such thing as conceding."
Yao Chong's smile remained unchanged. "You won't compete with me, nor will you concede, so this cannot proceed. If the competition cannot proceed, the Imperial Daughter will be angry."
Dugu Luo shook her head. "Aman will not be angry with me. No matter what you say, I will not leave the arena, nor will I concede!"
"Miss, you are cheating."
Dugu Luo clenched her fists. "You are blabbering, saying things I don't understand. Anyway, I am not leaving the arena. Will you step down yourself, or shall I beat you down?"
"I am not here to compete in martial arts with you, I wish to compete in other things..." Before Yao Chong could finish speaking, Dugu Luo lunged forward. Yao Chong retreated, and as he neared the edge of the arena, he suddenly floated along the edge, intending to trick Dugu Luo into falling off the stage due to momentum. However, Dugu Luo stopped at the edge.
Yao Chong immediately reached out, attempting to push Dugu Luo off the stage. To his surprise, Dugu Luo reacted with lightning speed, grabbing his arm and tossing him off the stage like a rag doll.
Yao Chong landed on the ground without injury and without anger. He clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, young lady, for holding back."
Dugu Luo snorted and returned to the center of the arena, sitting down with a defiant posture, showing no intention of leaving. Those below looked at each other, unsure whether to go up.
"Is no one else going up?" Xiao Man asked languidly. "If no one goes up, then everyone will be disqualified."
"Your girl possesses innate divine strength. Few can match her. You are making it difficult for them," the Empress said gently. "Quickly call your girl down."
Xiao Man smiled. "Since Your Majesty feels it is unfair, how about this: you all go up together. If you are still standing on the stage within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, you will be considered qualified."
Upon hearing this, joy flashed in the eyes of the crowd. If everyone went up together and they only had to stay on the stage for the duration of an incense stick, then their chances of winning were high!
The contestants swarmed onto the stage. There were nearly twenty people. Dugu Luo climbed up from the ground and looked at Xiao Man.
"For the duration of one incense stick, besides you, no one else is allowed on the stage," Xiao Man said softly to Dugu Luo. "Can you do it?"
"I can!" Dugu Luo exclaimed with delight. With that, she charged into the crowd. Wherever she went, people were knocked to the ground. Dugu Luo, like a bull in a china shop, rampaged across the stage. Those who attempted to confront her directly were all knocked off the stage.
As for those who hid at the edges, attempting to stall for time, they were swept off the stage by those who were knocked flying. Halfway through the burning incense, only Dugu Luo remained on the stage. All other contestants had fallen.
The Empress knitted her brows and then her gaze fell upon Wen Mohan. "Young Master Wen has not yet entered the competition."
Wen Mohan smiled and rose. "Since everyone else has gone up, I naturally must go up as well."
The crowd looked at the refined and seemingly frail Wen Mohan, thinking that he would surely be knocked off by the girl with divine strength as soon as he stepped onto the stage.
"Miss Aro," Wen Mohan bowed.
Dugu Luo quickly returned the bow and then looked at Xiao Man. Seeing Xiao Man smile at her, she scratched her head. "I will be careful."
Wen Mohan smiled and nodded, then charged forward. The moment he touched Dugu Luo, she let out a scream and retreated, falling directly off the stage!
A moment later, she climbed up from the ground. "Young Master's martial arts are peerless. I am no match for you. I concede!"
Wen Mohan looked at Dugu Luo, who was acting remarkably well, and almost broke character with laughter. The crowd below gave them a thumbs-up, calling them shameless, truly shameless!