Chapter 369: The Competition Begins (2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Jingning, come to Father,” Emperor Jing Xuan said to Princess Jingning with a smile.

Princess Hui An was not interested in fighting and killing, but when she heard that Jingning had gone, she also came to join in the fun!

Unfortunately, there was no place for her next to Emperor Jing Xuan.

She stomped her feet and sat down next to Xiao Zhonghua.

At the next table was First Prince Xiao Duye.

Xiao Duye smiled and took a sip of tea. He asked Xiao Zhonghua, “Third

Brother, who do you think will win today?”

Xiao Zhonghua smiled. “What do you think, Big Brother?”

Xiao Duye smiled and said, “I’ve just returned to the capital, so I don’t know much about the Protector Duke. I heard that Third Brother met him in Qingzhou. Third Brother must know his strength better than me.”

Xiao Zhonghua’s smile did not change. “Big Brother, you’re being too serious. I was just recuperating in Qingzhou. I didn’t get to know anyone.”

Xiao Duye shook the cup in his hand. “I heard that it was the daughter of the

Protector Duke who treated Third Brother’s illness. It seems that Third Brother and Miss Su are really fated.”

Xiao Zhonghua said with a pleasant expression, “Big Brother has only returned to the capital for three days. I didn’t expect you to have investigated your younger brother so clearly.”

Xiao Duye’s smile froze. “How can it be called an investigation? It’s just something that has already spread.”

He finished his tea and stopped talking to Xiao Zhonghua.

On the emperor’s left were the princes and princesses, as well as their relatives, and on his right was the minister of the humerus.

Qin Canglan and the Old Marquis were already seated.

There was a table beside the two of them, and the two futons were empty.

The Old Marquis asked in a low voice, “Is Cheng’er still unconscious?”

He had rested in the Duke Mansion last night, and Qin Canglan had come directly from the medical center.

Qin Canglan said without batting an eyelid, “He’s not awake yet. Where’s Fifth

Brother? Isn’t he here yet? The competition is about to begin.” The Old Marquis frowned. “This hour… he should be here…’

Not long after, Qin Jiang brought Qin Yanran and Xu Qing over.

The two of them bowed to Emperor Jing Xuan and sat ten steps away from Qin Canglan.

Emperor Jing Xuan looked at Qin Canglan and asked, “Is Qin Che not here yet?”

He was talking about Qin Che, not Su Cheng.

Qin Canglan stood up, cupped his hands and said, “Please wait a moment, Your

Majesty.”

However, after fifteen minutes, Su Cheng still did not appear.

The Old Marquis stood up and said, “Your Majesty, I have something to report.” “Speak!”

“Cheng’er… suddenly met with an unforeseen event and was unable to rush over to participate in the Grand Competition. Can his son take his place?”

“His son?”

“Yes.”

Emperor Jing Xuan looked down. “Qin Jiang, do you have any objections?”

Qin Jiang stood up and bowed, “Your Majesty, forgive me for being blunt, but Su Cheng’s son has just turned fourteen this year and has never gone to school or learned martial arts. It would be unfair for me to win against him. I heard that the Duke of Zhenbei intends to pass one of his grandsons to Su Cheng.

Why don’t we let Su Cheng’s adopted son take his place?”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.

Did Qin Canglan and the Marquis of Zhenbei have such a plan? To pass on the bloodline of the Duke Mansion to the Qin Family?

Wasn’t this a little…

“Is that true?” Emperor Jing Xuan asked the Old Marquis.

The Old Marquis replied, “Yes, I’ve already given my youngest grandson to

Cheng’er.”

“This is nonsense!” Princess Hui An muttered, “How can you pass on your own son to someone else? Isn’t this cheating? If you can’t win, you got external help. It’s too unfair to Qin Jiang!”

Xiao Zhonghua did not say anything and just drank the tea in his hand.

It was unfair to compare Su Cheng, who had grown up among the commoners, with Qin Jiang. However, after hearing Qin Jiang’s words, it seemed like Su

Cheng’s side had also taken a huge advantage.

The Old Marquis’ face darkened.

Although they had made this plan, it didn’t sound so good when Qin Jiang said it in such a sarcastic manner.

Most importantly, that was not the point.

Qin Jiang dared to accept Fifth Brother so openly. Either Qin Jiang had full confidence in defeating Fifth Brother, or Qin Jiang had full confidence in stalling Fifth Brother.

Fifth Brother was the most disobedient child in the family, but he was also the most talented in martial arts.

Therefore, compared to the first situation, the Senior Marquis felt that the latter was more likely.

What did Qin Jiang do to Fifth Brother?!

Could it be that he had sent more than one wave of assassins? Did he have other backup plans?

Of course, Qin Jiang had other backup plans.

However, his backup plan was broken through by Su MO and the youngest so of the Su family.

Qin Jiang had only received the messenger pigeon before entering the palace

Although they had avoided man-made disasters, they had not avoided natur disasters. There had been heavy rain in Li County for days. The landslide had destroyed the bridge and the official road had been submerged.. Su MO and t] youngest son of the Su family could not come!