bookrebus Chapter 33: Praise
Chapter 33: Praise
Time passed by, and soon it was time for the poetry competition.
The Prime Minister's residence was bustling with activity as students flocked there.
"What do you think of the princess's appearance?"
"I think this princess must be extremely ugly."
Xu Jinxin was dressing up in the room, wearing an elegant and luxurious dress. She waved her hand and stood up to ask the maid in front of her a question.
"How do I look today?"
"Miss is as beautiful as a flower, and looks good in anything. Today, however, she appears dignified and elegant."
After everything was tidied up, a servant rushed up to me.
"Miss, the master wants to see you."
Upon hearing that the Prime Minister wanted to see her, she turned to the students and smiled gently.
“My father always wants to see me when he has something to discuss, so please excuse me for a moment.”
Upon arriving before Prime Minister Xu, he spoke softly and gently.
"The poetry competition is being held today. Can you handle it all by yourself? Do you need your father's help?"
"Father, this is all a daughter's matter, so there's no need for your help. There are so many students outside, so I'll go out and meet them first."
Xu Xiang patted Xu Jinxin on the shoulder: "Then I believe you can definitely handle everything."
Seeing Xu Jinxin turn around, he called out to her again.
"When Her Highness the Princess arrives, you must restrain your thoughts. Do not be rash, otherwise, if Her Highness becomes angry..."
Xu Xiang was giving Xu Jinxin advice from the side. Xu Jinxin was not a three-year-old child, so she naturally knew what she should do.
Upon arriving in the garden, the students were surprised to find themselves in such high spirits.
They were all reciting poems together, and they were very well-matched.
"Gentlemen, how about we compose a poem based on Miss Xu's beauty? What do you all think?"
A round of applause broke out, clearly indicating that it was a very good suggestion.
Even Xu Jinxin was curious about what they would do...
"This woman is a rare beauty, found only once in a lifetime."
As soon as she said that, everyone around her started applauding.
They've all arrived here half an hour early, so why haven't they seen Gan Luo yet?
"Miss Xu, why hasn't the princess arrived yet?"
"Could it be that you're too embarrassed to come because you're too ugly?"
Gan Luo then arrived at the Prime Minister's residence, without instructing the steward before him to make any announcements.
She went to the backyard alone and overheard these words.
"How could I have imagined that just because I was a little late, people would gossip about me behind my back?"
The students, who had been laughing and joking, suddenly felt a chill run down their spines when they heard this unexpected remark.
"Why do I feel like the princess has arrived for a moment..."
"It's not just you, I have it too."
None of them dared to turn their heads; they stood there blankly in place.
Gan Luo was dressed in a red robe today, with a few hairpins in his hair, and his hairstyle was extremely simple.
I had expected Gan Luo to be dressed very elegantly, but he was surprisingly dressed so simply.
The most striking features of Gan Luo were his face and his clothes.
Green Bamboo and Jade Bamboo, upon hearing these people, didn't even glance at Gan Luoli, and directly rebuked him.
"This is Her Highness the Princess. What is your purpose in turning your backs to Her Highness today?"
Upon hearing this, the students hurriedly turned around and knelt down on the ground in front of Gan Luo.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness."
"It doesn't matter."
Gan Luo simply said it twice and didn't intend to pay any attention to these scholars.
Shangguan Mufeng looked Gan Luo up and down. Gan Luo was indeed stunningly beautiful, but compared to Xu Jinxin and the other woman, Xu Jinxin was already inferior.
Upon seeing Gan Luo, the people around him began to discuss the matter amongst themselves.
"Wasn't this princess said to be incredibly ugly? How come she's now so stunningly beautiful?"
"I think this Young Master Zhao is too ungrateful. He doesn't want such a beautiful princess. If it were me, I would be willing to be his slave."
Gan Luo could hear their chattering discussion clearly.
Gan Luo looked into their hearts and found it quite interesting.
"Cousin, you've finally arrived!"
Upon seeing Gan Luo's arrival, Xu Jinxin immediately went to Gan Luo's side.
"Judging from your tone, it seems you really hope I can come."
"Yes, I really hoped my cousin could come and participate in the poetry competition. The fact that she was willing to come in person already made me..."
"I don't need to say anything unnecessary. I've been exhausted from the journey, do you intend to make me stand here the whole time?"
Gan Luo was very displeased and looked at Xu Jinxin.
It's hard to believe that Xu Jinxin doesn't even understand basic hospitality, yet she's holding a poetry competition these days.
"Cousin, it was my fault. I hope you won't hold it against me. Please come and sit down."
Gan Luo's position this time is naturally in this high hall.
Xu Jinxin was positioned next to Gan Luo, because she understood that Gan Luo was a princess.
This princess's status was second only to the emperor's.
Moreover, the princess wields immense power and is not someone that ordinary people can afford to offend.
It is also highly likely that the fate of the entire country was in Gan Luo's hands.
Shangguan Mufeng was the first to stand up: "I have met Your Highness. I have heard that Your Highness is skilled in both literature and martial arts, is that true?"
The tone naturally carried a hint of questioning.
The students around were all dumbfounded when they heard this.
Shangguan Mufeng is really bold, actually asking Gan Luo so openly.
Upon hearing this, Gan Luo narrowed his eyes and sized up Shangguan Mufeng: "I am indeed skilled in both literature and martial arts. Do you perhaps wish to spar with me now?"
Gan Luo drew the sword from Lin Fengmian's waist and leaped forward without hesitation.
At that moment, Shangguan Mufeng felt a sharp sword intent, and he could sense just how powerful Gan Luo was.
"Your Highness, I am not worthy to fight you. If I were to fight you, I would probably be defeated in just one round."
The students around them all looked at each other.
Shangguan Mufeng really knows how to boost others' morale while diminishing his own.
Although the person in front of me is a princess, a princess is still a woman.
No matter how strong this woman is, how can her physical strength compare to that of a man?
Xu Jinxin suddenly remembered that this was supposed to be a poetry competition, but now it's almost turned into a contest.
"Ah."
Gan Luo gave a brief explanation, then threw the sword behind him without turning his head.
Lin Fengmian reacted quickly, grabbing the sword and inserting it into the hilt.
The two worked together so well that everyone around them was stunned.