Chapter 103 - Determined To Win

Han Moze suddenly pulled a wicked smile and spoke with a rather lifeless but clear voice. "Empress, please show me some dignity. Step forward and perform a dance for everyone to broaden their horizons."

Liu Rushuang clenched her fist tightly, then stood up and curtsied.

"Please forgive me, your majesty. Today, I do not feel very well," she said in a calm and composed voice.

"Why was the Empress sitting with Nangong Ba?"

"I'm surprised that the Empress looks so ordinary?!"

...

The sound of never-ending conversations were heard, as Liu Rushuang grinned emotionlessly. I better just go with the flow!

As the Empress of Beiming, she must have attracted a lot of rumors by suddenly attending the banquet as Nangong Ba's maid right now.

After Liu Rushuang got up, the people in the hall were enthralled in even more heated conversations. Nangong Ba's maid is actually Princess Changping of Nanli? How could this be?

Han Moze overheard everyone's conversations, then looked over at Liu Rushuang and simply said, "Empress, you must give me an explanation."

Liu Rushuang tightly clenched her fists and planned to make a statement.

Seated below was Nangong Ba, who didn't move an inch as he was so shocked by hearing the truth. How could this be?

And so, Nangong Ba beat her to it and bolted up, staring at Han Moze directly in the eyes. "Your majesty, I have already set my mind on taking her as my wife. Since you and I both want her, will the Emperor dare fight me for her?" He cried coldly.

Liu Rushuang looked over at Nangong Ba in utter astonishment, as her face instantly looked . What did he take her for? Some kind of prize to be won?

Ouyang Yaoyi tightly gritted her teeth with eyes red with anger. She really wanted to kill that wench, and so after she heard what Nangong Ba said, she immediately spoke with sharp words. "Your majesty, I believe this woman who goes around creating rumors is not worthy of you. Please be cautiour, your majesty, when choosing candidates. I can replace Princess Changping in this political marriage."

Liu Rushuang heard this, then shot Ouyang Yaoyi with a vicious gaze. She really was good at smearing people!

In an instant, she was made to seem like the woman who went around seducing men!

The high-ranking officials of Beiming heard two contradictory pieces of information and they couldn't quite comprehend it. Who does Princess Changping actually want to marry?

The Minister of Rites, a man of about forty years old and wore a navy robe with embroidered black bamboos, believed the malicious Ouyang Yaoyi and stepped forward. Then, they spoke with a sullen voice and no perception of trouble. "Please, your majesty, do reconsider. Don't bring this woman into your harem and sully the nation's reputation."

Han Moze's black eyes turned into a frighteningly cold. "Men, take Ouyang Yaoyi and the Minister away to recieve fifty heavy beatings. Nobody is allowed to discredit my Empress!"

Liu Rushuang's entire body shuddered, as she felt a strange sensation in her heart. However, she then remembered how monstrous Han Moze was and snorted coldly.

"Yes!" Several guards immediately stepped forward to accept their orders and drag Ouyang Yaoyi and the Minister away.

"Your majesty, I speak of the truth! You can't treat me like this. You can't!" Begged Ouyang Yaoyi in tears. She only just recovered from her last punishment and didn't want to endure that pain a second time. Simultaneously, her hatred for Liu Rushuang deepened deep down in her heart. It was all that wench's fault!

"Your majesty, I was wrong. I beg of your majesty's forgiveness!" The minister knew more or less about Han Moze's violent tendencies, so he immediately changed his stance when he noticed that something was wrong.

The chilling look on Han Moze's face showed no signs of change.

After Ouyang Yaoyi and the Minister was dragged away, Han Moze glared at Nangong Ba with incredibly malevolent eyes. "I accept your challenge," he coldly exclaimed.

Nangong Ba pulled a charming smile and replied with determination in his voice. "Thank you for accepting, your majesty."

Liu Rushuang's heart sank and let out a discreet grunt. She wasn't going to leave with him, no matter who won!

Then, she remembered how this royal banquet was held in her honour and how she was now exposed. She figured that it would be inappropriate for her to sit in the lower seating area, and so with a clear voice, she spoke directly to Nangong Ba. "Thank you leader of Wulin for safely escorting me here."

Then, she gracefully walked over to the seat of honour as one of the important characters of the royal banquet – The Empress of Beiming.

Nangong Ba's gaze instantly looked ominous to no end. How could this happen?

His fists clenched fiercely. He had to defeat the Emperor of Beiming and steal her back!

Han Mose watched as Liu Rushuang knew well to come forward and smiled ever so wickedly.

Chapter 104 - Competing In Guqin Skills

Chu Qingchuan was extremely jealous and loathed Liu Rushuang. What right did an average woman have to obtain two outstanding men's love and affections?

She had to wipe the floor with Princess Changping of Nanli's political marriage, here at this very royal banquet!

Whilst Chu Qingchuan thought it over, Chu Yitian wore a fake smile on his face and stood up. "I drink to your majesty of Beiming and wish your empire prosper for a thousand generations to come and never fall!" He exclaimed at Han Moze with a raised wine cup.

With a distant glow in Han Moze's eyes, he flatly replied, "I don't know about a thousand generations, but I'm still sitting in the royal seat, so Beiming will definitely never fall!"

Chu Yitian's face tensed up. This Emperor of Beiming looks like someone who would be difficult to get along with!

He let out a snort. Regardless of how difficult he is to get along with now, let's just wait and see how arrogant he is when one day, his empire is vanquished!

He raised his head and downed the strong wine in one go before sitting back down.

Chu Qingchuan's heart felt even more restless. She loved men like him who were wise and dignified. She grabbed the wine and got on her feet. With a gentle voice, she looked over at Han Moze and said, "Qingchuan has admired the Emperor of Beiming for a long time. Today, I finally get to see with my own eyes, just how handsome beyond compare and impressive your majesty really is. Qingchuan can't help but grow admiration in my heart for you. Please allow for me to express my inner feelings with a toast to your majesty."

Liu Rushuang's lips twitched unenthusiastically. Chu Qingchuan was clearly professing her love to Han Moze!

How was Han Moze going to respond?

Liu Rushuang sat quietly in the seat of honour, waiting for Han Moze's reply, as though she was watching a good show.

Han Moze shot a cold glance at Liu Rushuang who looked like she was there to watch the show, and raised his cup at Chu Qingchuan. "I appreciate the princess' feelings towards myself, but my heart belongs only to the Empress. I'm afraid that I cannot accept the princess' feelings."

When Chu Qingchuang heard those words, then averted her gaze to Liu Rushuang like cold daggers.

Liu Rushuang couldn't help but let out a soft scoff. He didn't want to marry Chu Qingchuan, so why blame it on her?

Han Moze smiled wickedly as he looked over at Liu Rushuang. Didn't you want to watch a good show? Let's see how you feel about being dragged down too.

As exprected, Chu Qingchuan pointed the spearhead right towards Liu Rushuang and gracefully asked, "So I see. I understands now. It looks like our Empress must have areas where she excels in. I would like to compare my Guqing skills to her majesty's skills. I wonder if our Empress would kindly accept?"

Chu Qingchuan's words shocked everyone in the hall.

Everyone knew that Chu Qingchuan's Guqin skills were famous across various nations. It was said that she played so well and sounded so melodic that it could call upon little birds.

As for Liu Rushuang, many people only knew her as the idiot daughter of Nanli's Minister Liu, so they didn't look highly of her at all.

But that's not what Li Xiangling thought. She just experienced Liu Rushuang's Guqing skills yesterday and there was truly no way to describe just how truly melodic it was.

"From how I see it, if they're competing in Guqin skills, then the Fifth Princess of Donghua would definitely win. Without a doubt!"

"I think so too!"

"I think the Empress must definitely be so afraid that she doesn't dare compete!"

"The Empress doesn't know how to play the Guqin right?"

...

Liu Rushuang's inner breath skills were so profound, she could hear all the conversations in the hall. A cold smirk escaped the corner of her lips.

Today, I'll teach you all that there are more talented people in the wider world!

They wanted to embarrass her? Fat chance!

With that, Liu Rushuang smirked and said, "I accept your challenge."

Chu Qingchuan had a look on her face, as though she was determined to win, then raised her wine cup. "Thank you, your majesty for accepting. I toast to the Empress," she exclaimed respectfully.

"As you please!" Liu Rushuang coldly spat out just one word, then downed her wine.