If he ended up drawing Mu Mu as his opponent…

This was a question Jian Yi truly hadn’t considered before.

If it came down to a real fight between himself and Mu Mu, who would win?

In terms of internal energy, he was no match for Mu Mu; in terms of swordsmanship, Mu Mu would certainly be no match for him.

It seemed there was simply no clear way to compare them.

“I’ll go ahead first.” Jian Yi glanced at Jiu’er before walking past her and into the crowd.

Naturally, everyone looked differently at someone who had emerged from the princess’s side.

There was envy in some gazes, and jealousy in others.

But the moment they caught sight of the princess herself, every one of them grew flushed with excitement and anticipation.

The princess was even more beautiful than they had imagined!

Most of those who had come to take part in the selection were here for the prospect of one day becoming the future sovereign.

Wealth, glory, military power and influence — once one became the sovereign, all of it would follow.

The princess’s beauty, however, had come as a complete surprise — an unexpected delight.

Feng Jiu’er’s gaze swept down across the crowd below.

Every pair of eyes fixed on her looked like a starving wolf, as though wanting to devour her whole.

Of course, Jian Yi was different — Jian Yi didn’t even like her that way.

As for Mu Mu, naturally there was no trace of dazzled infatuation either — the way he looked at her was calm.

And beneath that calm, there seemed to be a kind of quiet peace as well.

Jiu’er looked at him for quite a while before finally drawing her gaze away.

After everyone had finished bowing to the emperor and the princess, An’bao stepped forward and called out in his shrill voice, “Prepare the red tokens!”

The red tokens were for drawing lots — a way of determining each participant’s opponent through a random draw.

Unlike the literary exam, the martial test allowed for selection to be decided right there on the spot.

Unless the princess had other intentions, those who lost would be eliminated.

Because of what Jiu’er had just said, Jian Yi still felt a bit uneasy as the drawing of lots began.

He genuinely hoped Mu Mu would be able to get in.

Just as he hoped Zhan Qingcheng would pass the literary exam and be selected.

If he really did end up facing Mu Mu, with only one of them able to stay, he thought he would probably be the one to yield.

Life inside the palace really wasn’t easy.

But with all manner of formidable experts lurking within this palace, if he weren’t by Feng Jiu’er’s side, he worried she might be in danger.

Jian Yi was caught in deep hesitation.

“Young Hero Jian Yi, please draw a red token.”

The young eunuch had come up to him, already prompting him for the second time.

Only then did Jian Yi snap back to attention, casually drawing out a red token.

It was just a number, and there was still no way to know who he would be facing — his anxiety remained unresolved.

Looking up toward the jade throne, he saw Feng Jiu’er watching him with an ambiguous half-smile.

Jian Yi snorted, genuinely wishing he could drag her down and give her a good thrashing.

This girl was clearly just enjoying watching him squirm with worry.

She didn’t seem to think anything of it, while he himself was genuinely worried about being matched against Mu Mu.

Eunuch An’bao announced loudly that whoever held the number one red token should step onto the arena platform.

Jian Yi watched Mu Mu closely, but the latter made no movement at all.

He glanced toward the arena platform and saw a man in pale blue brocade robes step up.

From his bearing alone, it was clear his background was no ordinary one.

Still, anyone who had made it this far into the competition, if not genuinely skilled, was certainly a son of some prominent and powerful family.

What’s more, even if they won and were allowed into the princess’s residence,

the future position of sovereign was never going to fall to commoners like them in any case.

At most, getting in would only earn them the position of consort.

Although Jian Yi wasn’t of royal blood, he certainly wasn’t foolish enough to miss these underlying power dynamics.

Just as he was about to look down to see who would be going up next, to his surprise, Mu Mu — who hadn’t moved an inch a moment ago — was already standing steadily on the arena platform the instant Jian Yi turned his eyes back.

So he was the holder of the number one token!

Jian Yi let out a breath of relief, having absolutely no doubt about Mu Mu’s skill.

The man in pale blue brocade selected a longsword and clasped his hands toward Mu Mu in a salute. “My lord, please choose your weapon.”

Mu Mu glanced sideways, casually raising his hand. With a sudden flick of his five fingers, a longsword flew into his grasp.

The force of his palm stirred the air around him, lifting a few strands of his white hair.

That head of silver hair, strangely enough, made him look even colder and more resolutely fierce.

What a strikingly beautiful man!

There was no doubt about it — Feng Jiu’er nearly lost herself staring at him.

But in the end, it really was only “nearly”!

There was still some difference compared to how she had looked at Zhan Qingcheng before, when her eyes had been completely and utterly lost.

Feng Qiongcang withdrew his gaze and gave a faint smile. “This man is quite remarkably handsome.”

“Mm.” Jiu’er nodded, not holding back her praise in the slightest. “He’s clearly on a completely different level from everyone else around him.”

“…”

Feng Qiongcang was momentarily at a loss for words, and An’bao froze for a moment too.

Oh, Princess, Princess — those words really were a bit too hurtful to the others.

Although the princess hadn’t spoken very loudly, every single person below was a master of martial arts.

How could they possibly fail to hear her words?

Every gaze that turned toward Mu Mu instantly burned with the urge to tear him apart alive.

The thick hostility was so palpable that even Feng Jiu’er, sitting up above, could clearly sense it.

An’bao leaned in close to Feng Jiu’er and lowered his voice.

“Princess, please refrain from saying things like that in the future — otherwise, it could throw the harem into chaos.”

This princess really was something — liking someone was one thing, but did she have to put everyone else down in the process?

If she kept failing to spread her favor evenly like this, who knew what chaos the harem would descend into in the future!

Feng Jiu’er blinked, only belatedly realizing the issue.

She stuck her tongue out at An’bao — she hadn’t meant it on purpose. Who would have guessed that men’s hearts could be just as petty and needle-thin as women’s?

An’bao really had no idea what to do with her.

This little girl didn’t have a scheming bone in her body. Sigh!

He glanced back at the emperor, who, however, said nothing at all.

Only then did An’bao look down at the crowd and call out in his sharp, shrill voice, “Let the match begin!”

With a resounding thud, the gongs and drums sounded.

The man in pale blue brocade tightened his wrist and thrust his blade straight toward Mu Mu’s face.

Didn’t the princess just say she liked his face? If he ruined that face, let’s see if the princess would still favor this pretty boy.

With a whoosh, before the blade itself even arrived, the sword’s energy had already reached Mu Mu’s face.

The fierce gust of the blade’s edge swept across his cheek, as though determined to ruin his face entirely!

Yet the white-haired man neither dodged nor evaded, watching coldly as his opponent’s blade bore down on him.

The sword’s energy left a shallow line of blood across his cheek!

That face had actually been wounded!

Yet the white-haired man still didn’t move at all, leaving even the man in pale blue brocade stunned with astonishment.

Why hadn’t he dodged?!

But by the time he realized what his opponent intended to do, it was already too late to pull back.

With a swift slash, a flash of silver light cut through the air.

“Ugh…”

The man in brocade let out a single cry of pain and, with a thud, collapsed at Mu Mu’s feet.

Victory in a single strike! This white-haired man truly cared not one bit about his own appearance!

The instant his opponent had wounded him and hadn’t yet had time to withdraw his blade’s energy, he had struck — piercing straight into the man’s shoulder blade!

He had won!

Feng Jiu’er rose to her feet, staring at his calm, unruffled face.

The thin trail of blood sliding down his face, though only a shallow line, struck a sharp pain straight into her eyes.

He really, truly didn’t care at all!