If a cross were drawn on his face, it would be a disgrace to the entire Great Zhou!
As if knowing what Feng Linche was thinking, Zhuo Lingxiao had seized the opportunity to stand up. He bowed to Feng Linche and said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty, the men of the Great Zhou are truly talented. The Marquis of Dingyuan hit the bullseye with one hand, the Fifth Prince hit the bullseye with a tricky posture, and the Third Prince was even more amazing by shooting three arrows at once. I really admire them!"
Zhuo Yi chimed in, "In my opinion, the first place today surely belongs to the Third Prince. Lingxiao, now you should know that there's always someone better. You should learn from the Third Prince in the future!"
"Yes, Father. I will obey your order!" Zhuo Lingxiao replied readily.
The father - son duo's words were completely in line with the facts, leaving no room for the people present to refute. However, everyone still looked extremely ugly.
It was beyond doubt that Feng Jingxuan should be the first, but Feng Jingye's last - place finish... was really well - deserved.
Remembering the punishment Zhuo Lingxiao had mentioned just now, everyone's gazes turned to Feng Jingye in unison.
Feng Jingye's face had turned as red as pig liver, and his eyes were full of scarlet bloodshot eyes. He looked at his father, Feng Linche, for help.
Feng Linche frowned tightly. After pondering for a while, he slowly spoke and made a final decision, "What the Prince of Xuanning said is right. The first place today should indeed go to the third son."
Feng Jingxuan quickly stood up happily and bowed to everyone with perfect etiquette, "Thank you all for showing mercy."
Amidst the congratulations, Feng Linyuan said coldly, "Now that the Third Prince has received a promise from His Majesty, it is much more precious than obtaining the most precious treasure of my Marquis's Mansion."
After saying that, he gave Feng Jingye a deep look.
Hearing Feng Linyuan's words, Feng Jingye had a sudden inspiration and thought of something.
Feng Jingxuan's reward was that Feng Linche promised to fulfill one of his wishes. At that time, Zhuo Lingxiao only said it was a wish, but didn't specify that it had to be a wish about himself.
If Feng Jingxuan said that his wish was to prevent the loser from being punished, then he wouldn't have to have a cross drawn on his face today, right?
Thinking of this, he quickly said to Feng Jingxuan with eager eyes, "Today's competition, thanks to you, Third Brother, for bringing honor to our Great Zhou. You are really amazing. Second Brother is proud of you!"
Feng Jingxuan was a bit dazed by Feng Jingye's sudden and enthusiastic flattery.
A weasel paying a New - Year visit to a chicken must have ulterior motives!
Thinking of this, the smile on his face paused. His eyes twitched slightly, but he still replied modestly, "It's mainly because Second Brother is busy with national affairs all day long and has no time to practice these things. Unlike me, Third Brother, who is idle all day and can only have fun shooting arrows in the yard. Second Brother doesn't need to be self - deprecating. We brothers each have our own strengths, and Father must be happy too."
These words made Feng Jingye's face freeze for a moment.
The excuses he had made for himself before shooting arrows were now all returned to him by Feng Jingxuan. Moreover, from Feng Jingxuan's words, it seemed that he was accusing him of taking over the work he had done in the court and forcing him to become a idle prince?
Feng Jingye's pupils shrank. He pondered for a moment, then stiffly pulled at his lips and stepped forward to pat Feng Jingxuan on the shoulder.
"Third Brother, what you said. We brothers are both princes of the Great Zhou, supported by the people of the Great Zhou. We should always think about the Great Zhou. Now that Third Brother can bring glory to the Great Zhou, Second Brother is so happy."
Feng Linche on the upper seat naturally also heard the implication in Feng Jingye's words.
His eyes lit up, and he also said to Feng Jingxuan, "Third son, what your second brother said is right. As princes of the Great Zhou, you should always think about the Great Zhou and don't do things that will disgrace the Great Zhou."
Feng Jingxuan looked expressionless, with a calm look between his eyebrows.
At some point, the servants of the Third Prince's Mansion had brought ink and brushes and were waiting on the side of the field.
Seeing this, Feng Jingye's face almost turned green.
"The Marquis is right. Third Prince, now you have His Majesty's promise to fulfill a wish. Don't miss this opportunity. Hurry up and tell His Majesty what your wish is," Zhuo Lingxiao pretended not to hear the hidden meanings in Feng Jingye's and Feng Linche's words and only encouraged Feng Jingxuan.
Feng Jingxuan replied with a smile, "What the Heir Apparent said is right..."
"Third Brother, you only have one wish. You must think it over carefully before you say it!" Feng Jingye blurted out anxiously.
Feng Jingxuan gave Feng Jingye a deep look, nodded slightly, and then bowed to Feng Linche on the upper seat.
In the main hall of the Third Prince's Mansion, at the banquet.
Bai Zheng, who had watched five rounds of song and dance performances and eaten all the edible things, propped her chin with one hand and unconsciously stuffed melon seeds into her mouth with the other, nibbling on them one by one slowly.
Her gaze fell on the male guests' seats across from her.
An incense stick's time had passed, and they still showed no sign of coming back. It seemed that the competition in the back yard was not over yet.
Fortunately, in the main hall, everyone was behaving themselves, watching the song and dance and eating. With the Queen Chu present, no one dared to move around casually.
Even Bai Sheng was sitting far away and didn't look at her once from beginning to end.
Speaking of which, the presence of the General's Mansion people at this engagement banquet was really embarrassing.
They were originally Feng Jingxuan's former fiancée, Bai Di's family. Now that Bai Di was gone and Feng Jingxuan was engaged to someone new, everything had changed. Everyone thought that the people from the General's Mansion wouldn't attend.
Unexpectedly, Bai Sheng still came.
Bai Zheng raised her eyebrows slightly. She always felt that with Bai Sheng's cold and proud personality, his appearance at this kind of occasion must have another purpose.
Before she could think further, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a young servant running up and whispering something to the personal maid beside Queen Chu.
The maid immediately relayed the words to Queen Chu. No one knew what Queen Chu heard, but her face changed slightly and she immediately got up and left the table.
Seeing this, Bai Zheng sat up straight and frowned slightly.
After thinking about it, the reason why Queen Chu behaved like this was very likely that something had happened in the back - yard competition.
"Madam Marquis of Dingyuan?"
Just as Bai Zheng was thinking, a greeting sounded.
Bai Zheng raised her eyes and saw a lady in her late twenties, dressed in luxurious clothes and with a beautiful appearance, looking at her with a smile.
Bai Zheng came back to her senses and sized up the other person imperceptibly. After confirming that she didn't know this lady, she just nodded slightly in response.
"It's really you, Madam Marquis!" As soon as Bai Zheng nodded, the lady warmly grabbed Bai Zheng's hand. Without introducing herself, she just said with a smiling face, "I've long heard of Madam Marquis's great name. I'm really lucky to meet you today. You are truly a delicate and beautiful woman."
The lady's eyes were extremely shrewd and stared at Bai Zheng boldly.
Bai Zheng was a bit slow to react for a moment and just instinctively shook her head with a smile and said, "Bai Zheng is just an ordinary woman. Madam has over - praised me."