Bai Zheng frowned slightly and asked, "What does Your Highness the Prince mean by this?"
Zhuo Lingxiao raised his eyebrows and smiled. "To be honest, as the most precious sword in the world, I've been fond of the Phoenix Song Sword ever since I first saw it. I even thought about keeping it for myself.
However, this sword seems to have a spirit of its own. Neither my father nor I could draw it out. Even when I invited some extremely strong warriors and spent countless efforts, it remained unmovable.
I guess the sword has chosen its master and will only be wielded by someone from the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion.
Now that Miss Bai has been betrothed to the Marquis of Dingyuan, she will soon be a part of the marquis's family. If she can gain the recognition of this precious sword, it would be as if she has gained the approval of the late marquis in the afterlife.
For a marriage contract, it's only a beautiful thing when it has the blessing of the parents.
So, I've brought this sword here especially for Miss Bai to have a try."
As his words faded, King Wen and Duke Zhou exchanged a look.
Zhuo Lingxiao's implication was quite clear. Since this sword was the heirloom of the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion, it represented Feng Linyuan's elders.
Gaining its recognition meant gaining the approval of Feng Linyuan's elders.
If Bai Zheng couldn't wield this sword that only the people from the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion could handle, it would mean that she didn't belong to the marquis's family.
Even though Zhuo Lingxiao had invited extremely strong warriors and still couldn't draw out the sword, Bai Zheng had to do it.
Bai Zheng subconsciously glanced at Feng Linyuan and saw that his handsome eyebrows were also slightly furrowed.
Bai Yinan knew something was wrong at this sight. After some consideration, he said, "My daughter has been raised in the inner chambers since childhood. She only knows how to embroider and is not proficient in swordsmanship. Your Highness is really making things difficult for her."
King Wen also said, "Lord Bai is right. Moreover, Miss Bai hasn't married into the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion yet. She's still the daughter of the Bai Mansion. If Your Highness wants to test the sword, the Marquis of Dingyuan is right here. Why not let him have a try?"
Hearing this, Zhuo Lingxiao waved his hand with a smile and said, "Since the betrothal gifts have been sent, Miss Bai is already a part of the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion.
Moreover, I've heard that the current marquis's grandmother once used this sword to kill twenty - eight enemy soldiers and saved the life of the late marquis. Since then, it has been passed down as a good story.
This shows that the sword truly has a spirit. As long as the person is a suitable partner for the Marquis of Dingyuan, they can wield it.
I've been doing this out of concern for the marquis's lifelong happiness. As the saying goes, true gold fears no fire. Since Miss Bai is the one the marquis has taken a fancy to, I trust the marquis's taste. She must be an extraordinary and talented woman."
"Even if she is an extraordinary woman, she's still a delicate young lady raised in the inner chambers," Duke Zhou snorted.
"Your Highness, you're forcing a woman who has never practiced martial arts to wield a sword that even a strong warrior can't draw out. Is this how people from the Western Liang like to make things difficult for others?"
"From what the lords are saying, it seems that Miss Bai doesn't want to accept this sword?" Zhuo Lingxiao crossed his arms and said calmly.
Bai Yinan was stunned. Then he heard Zhuo Lingxiao say in a light tone, "Before I came here, my father repeatedly told me to deliver this sword to the wife of the Marquis of Dingyuan.
If Miss Bai can't draw out the sword and gain the recognition of the Phoenix Song Sword, she can't be considered the wife of the Marquis of Dingyuan. Naturally, I won't be able to give this sword to her.
I'll have to take the Phoenix Song Sword back the same way I came and go and confess my failure to my father."
Bai Yinan's face instantly turned green.
Bai Zheng glanced at Feng Linyuan as if unintentionally. She saw that although Feng Linyuan's expression had returned to calm, there was a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Doubt?
A strange feeling welled up in Bai Zheng's heart. Feng Linyuan was doubting something. What was it?
It surely wasn't about Zhuo Lingxiao making things difficult for her. It was obvious that Zhuo Lingxiao didn't come here with good intentions. He clearly came to cause trouble. How could Bai Zheng possibly draw out a sword that no one else could?
But the Phoenix Song Sword was a national treasure of the Great Zhou. If Bai Zheng couldn't draw it out, Zhuo Lingxiao would take it back to the Western Liang.
This meant that Bai Zheng would have to bear the great crime of losing the precious sword for no reason.
The Great Zhou would lose both face and prestige. I'm afraid the entire Bai Mansion would also suffer.
King Wen and Duke Zhou looked at each other and couldn't make a decision for a moment.
Bai Yinan also frowned, looking very troubled. He was thinking about which result would be worse: Bai Zheng refusing to draw the sword or failing to draw it out.
"I remember that although the Phoenix Song Sword has always been on the battlefield with my father, it's also a simple and gentle sword. If it's really as selective as Your Highness said, has its temper grown after all these years apart?" Feng Linyuan smiled slightly, breaking the silence.
Hearing this, Bai Zheng suddenly had an epiphany.
This clearly meant that the Phoenix Song Sword wasn't as difficult to draw out as Zhuo Lingxiao had said.
At least, regarding the so - called matter of the sword choosing its master, Feng Linyuan, the legitimate heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion, didn't believe it.
Sure enough, Zhuo Lingxiao said unhappily, "The marquis actually says that the Phoenix Song Sword is simple and gentle. If this sword is gentle, I'm afraid I'll never see a fierce and murderous sword in my life."
Feng Linyuan lifted his lips in a smile, not taking it seriously.
Zhuo Lingxiao was irritated by his attitude. "What does the marquis mean by this?"
"I'm afraid Your Highness has done something to the Phoenix Song Sword on purpose to make things difficult for Zheng'er," Feng Linyuan said softly.
"Something? If the marquis doesn't believe me, come and take a look at the sword yourself. I, Zhuo Lingxiao, would never stoop so low as to make things difficult for a woman!" Zhuo Lingxiao roared angrily.
Feng Linyuan stood up accordingly. "In that case, I'll take a look. If I've really wronged Your Highness, I'll surely apologize."
"Come and take a look then."
Bai Zheng raised her eyebrows slightly and made way.
Feng Linyuan walked forward and came to the wooden box.
His fingers gently brushed across the blade of the Phoenix Song Sword. A smile appeared on his calm face.
"It's been a long time," he sighed softly.
The moment his words faded, he picked up the sword. His gaze was gentle, full of nostalgia. "My father once said that after the victory in Yancheng, he would pass the Phoenix Song Sword on to me. Now, his words still ring in my ears, but we're separated by life and death."
The doors and windows in the hall were wide open. The sunlight outside shone through the doorframe and reflected on the sword, making it sparkle.
Feng Linyuan gently turned the hand that held the sword.
A glint of light flashed in Bai Zheng's eyes, and she curved her lips into a smile.
Seeing Feng Linyuan playing with the sword and getting lost in memories, Zhuo Lingxiao interrupted impatiently, "How about it, Marquis?"
Feng Linyuan came back to his senses, lowered his head and smiled, then put the sword back into the box. "I've seen it. Your Highness really hasn't done anything to this sword."
"Hahaha..." Zhuo Lingxiao laughed heartily. He walked to a chair beside and sat down, tapping his fingers on the table. "I've heard that according to the etiquette of the Great Zhou, people usually offer tea when apologizing. So, Marquis, please offer me a cup of Biluochun."
"This... Marquis?" Bai Yinan's face changed greatly.
But Bai Zheng spoke first. She curtsied and said, "Speaking of Biluochun, I got some new tea in my room a few days ago. Qingzhi?"
But there was no response.
Bai Yinan wasn't sure what Bai Zheng was up to, so he kept silent.
Then Bai Zheng looked around and said apologetically, "My maid must have been called to the backyard. I'll go and get the tea myself. Please wait a moment, Marquis."