“Si Ning?” The Prince of Weiyang exclaimed in astonishment. “What reason is there to involve her?”

“Is it simply because the heir of the Zhang family now serves as her personal guard and listens only to her?”

“But the Loyal Marquis(Duke) is still Zhang Shizi’s father. Does his son not heed his words?”

The Loyal Marquis hesitated before replying, “His circumstances are… unique. At present, only the princess can fully harness his abilities.”

The Duke of Zhenguo added gravely, “Not necessarily. Zhang Shizi’s state appears… unstable.”

The Prince of Wei Yangwang immediately nodded. “Exactly. If he’s simply untrained, unable to control his strength in combat, relying on brute force, that makes some sense. But to credit everything to Si Ning…”

“That’s far too absurd.”

Many court officials shared the Prince of Wei Yangwang’s sentiments.

Xiao Jin’s expression darkened, though he held his tongue.

But at his side, Lu Tingyu spoke up. “It seems many here remain unaware.”

“Zhang Shizi defeating Hao Zhou’s fiercest general, Nu Lie, was no coincidence.” Lu Tingyu raised his gaze and glanced at Wen Xun. “It was the princess’s guidance.”

His tone grew solemn. “Seven days.”

“The princess needed only seven days to turn an untrained brute into someone capable of nearly killing Nu Lie.”

The gathered officials, most of them scholars, only had a vague impression of Nu Lie’s title as Hao Zhou’s mightiest general.

But Lu Tingyu, who had fought on the border, knew well how many Da Hui soldiers had fallen to Nu Lie.

His strength was infamous.

The borderlands were well aware of Nu Lie’s prowess, yet Zhang Yulin’s effortless victory on the training grounds had led the court to underestimate him.

They had forgotten that Nu Lie was Hao Zhou’s number-one general, someone even Crown Prince Yu Shun had to personally intervene to save him.

The notion that Zhang Yulin’s victory was a mere stroke of luck? Impossible.

“This is…” The Prince of Wei Yangwang found it even more preposterous.

He had been present at the training grounds that day, and while the outcome had surprised him, he had chalked it up to a fluke.

He had grown up alongside Si Ning and knew her character better than anyone.

To suggest Si Ning could train Zhang Yulin to this degree?

Ridiculous.

“General Lu’s words aren’t entirely without merit,” Xiao Jin finally said, breaking his silence.

His gaze deepened as he looked steadily at Lu Tingyu. “But as far as I recall, the princess has never had any exposure to martial training. By what means could she possibly guide Zhang Shizi?”

His doubts mirrored the unspoken thoughts of many in the room.

But just as the tension peaked, the usually aloof Yan Ling suddenly interjected.

“The Princess Si Ning is not the same as the second Miss Wen Yurou. How can the prince be certain of what she can or cannot do?”

Silence.

Xiao Jin turned sharply, meeting Yan Ling’s distant, cold gaze.

The room froze entirely.

Gao Quan’s eyelids twitched furiously.

He couldn’t help but glance at Yan Ling.

Usually indifferent to everything, what had possessed him today?

Though his tone was casual, the implications in his words nearly brought Gao Quan to his knees.

Was he suggesting that the Prince of Yong’an didn’t understand his fiancée?

Worse, that he was closer to her younger sister instead?

Gao Quan cautiously studied the emperor’s expression.

The emperor’s gaze was deep and unreadable, but he remained silent.

Lu Tingyu, seizing the moment, said, “Regardless of whether Zhang Shizi listens only to the princess or whether she truly trained him in martial arts, tomorrow’s battle hinges on her.”

“If Zhang Shizi performs as he did today, defeat is inevitable.”

The hall fell into silence again.

The emperor finally broke it, his voice heavy. “Gao Quan.”

“Your Majesty,” Gao Quan answered promptly.

“Deliver my decree. The seven days of confinement have passed. No one is to hinder the princess’s departure from the temple.”

“Personally see to it.”

Gao Quan accepted the command and hurried off.

Yet he returned not long after, pale as a sheet.

“Your Majesty,” he stammered, “this servant has failed. I was unable to bring the princess.”

The emperor’s face darkened. “What tantrum is she throwing now?”

“Your Majesty,” Gao Quan stuttered, “the princess… the princess said…”

He faltered under the emperor’s glare before finally blurting out, “She said these are days of fasting, and she is… quite busy.”

The emperor: “…?”

The emperor’s anger boiled over into laughter. “I wasn’t aware she had become so devout.”

Gao Quan bowed his head even lower.

Even her father, Wen Xun, had failed to bring her out earlier. How could a servant like him succeed?

The Prince of Wei Yangwang smirked, casting a sidelong glance at Xiao Jin. “It seems the princess is nursing a grievance. And rightly so. She’s been confined to the temple for seven days, yet the Fourth Prince hasn’t spared her a thought. Who wouldn’t feel resentful?”

“Fourth Brother, you’d better go and apologize quickly. If tomorrow’s battle is delayed because of this, the blame will rest squarely on your shoulders, won’t it?”

Xiao Jin shot him a frosty glare before turning to the emperor. “Father, your son will leave for the temple at once.”

The emperor nodded lightly.

It seemed the matter would soon be resolved.

But hours passed, and Xiao Jin had yet to return.

When Gao Quan stumbled back into the palace gates, drenched in sweat, night had already fallen.

The emperor, who had been discussing the marriage alliance, noticed Gao Quan’s arrival and suddenly remembered Xiao Jin’s prolonged absence.

The emperor set down his brush, his tone icy. “What now? She still refuses to come?”

Gao Quan wiped his brow and spoke hesitantly. “Your Majesty… the princess did not meet with the Prince of Yong’an. The prince waited in the temple for an hour. When someone was sent to inquire further, they were told… the princess had gone to sleep.”

She hadn’t even met him!

Now, even Wen Xun’s expression changed alongside the emperor’s.

What exactly was Wen Yuesheng’s plan?

To be summoned three times and still refuse to comply—she was truly testing their limits.

She made Xiao Jin wait outside for an entire hour.

That was Xiao Jin.

Normally, if he said even a word to her, she would be delighted for a long time.

What was she thinking?

The emperor was momentarily furious, but then he found it absurd.

He lifted his head and his gaze landed on Yan Ling.

He spoke, “Yan Ling, you go.”

Gao Quan almost choked on his own saliva.

What was the emperor thinking?

“I am not familiar with Princess Sining,” Yan Ling said, his expression emotionless.

The emperor snorted coldly, “Do I have to personally invite her?”

Prince Wei Yangwang quickly added, “This is also Fourth Brother’s fault. If Fourth Brother hadn’t offended Sining, she wouldn’t keep making excuses. Your Majesty, in my opinion, let Fourth Brother wait there. If it doesn’t work, let Lord Wen go with him. Sining surely can’t leave her father and fiancé waiting outside all night.”

Wen Xun: …

Don’t say it, Lord Wen could very well do something like this.

Prince Wei Yangwang was pleased when they all stayed silent.

Sining was really hard to please these days?

After some thought, Lu Tingyu spoke: “There is one person who might be able to invite Princess Sining.”

Prince Wei Yang was truly curious now: “Who?”

“My younger sister.”

Prince Wei Yangwang: ?

If it weren’t for the presence of his father, he would have burst out laughing.

His father, fiancé, and the emperor all seemed to be less influential than Lu Hongying.

He held back his laughter, only to find that the news came back very quickly.

Gao Quan entered the palace and opened his mouth: “The princess has agreed.”

Prince Wei Yangwang: …

Sinning was really interesting.

He barely managed to contain his laughter, almost injuring himself.

When he left, he heard the servants of the Lu family report: “The day is late, and the night roads are dangerous, so the princess has left the young miss at the national temple.”

Lu Tingyu nodded, but Prince Wei Yang remarked beside him, “Sinning really understands people more and more these days.”

“You think so, Lord Wen?”

Wen Xun stared at the retreating back of Prince Wei Yangwang, laughing loudly, and his face darkened.

He couldn’t show what he was really thinking at the moment.

The next day.

As the sun rose in the east, a faint golden light bathed the entire hunting ground.

On the high platform of the royal hunting grounds, it was already full of people.

Today was the last day of the martial combat, and Crown Prince Hao Zhou was personally going into the arena.

Everyone was tense.

The combatants had entered the hunting grounds and were preparing.

The atmosphere on the high platform was particularly lively, but someone looked around and noticed that Lu Tingyu was not there.

“The martial combat is about to begin. Why isn’t General Lu here yet?”

“It looks like something’s off with the numbers. Besides General Lu, there seem to be two others missing.”

“Two? Is General Wu not participating today?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

Not only the people on the high platform but also those in the hunting grounds, including Wei Hengzhi and others, kept looking back.

Just when everyone was getting impatient, the gates of the hunting grounds suddenly opened.

Xiao Jin raised his eyes and looked over.

In the morning light, Wen Yuesheng, dressed in a dark-colored gown, walked in.

The gown was large and had golden lotus flowers embroidered all over it.

Beneath, there was white gauze, with a dark belt tied at the waist.

She walked gracefully, her sleeve trailing a faint fragrance of sandalwood.

After a long time, her demeanor remained unchanged.

She held a white jade Buddha bead, and whispered a few words to Lu Tingyu.

Zhang Yulin stood behind them, his physique like that of a giant.

The high platform erupted in chatter.

“Princess Sining?”

“Why did the princess come? Wasn’t she under house arrest?”

“Yesterday, His Majesty ordered the house arrest to end.”

“Then today…”

“Looks like she’s here to direct Young Master Zhang.”

Upon hearing this, many were both surprised and worried.

The rules of the final battle were different from before.

Both the Great Wei and Hao Zhou had each sent fifteen soldiers into the arena.

The hunting grounds were divided in half, with each side forming their camp.

The side that loses the most soldiers within four hours would lose the battle.

If one side manages to defeat all the soldiers of the other side, they win outright.

Besides that, each side also had a general.

The general was pre-designated, and if the general was captured or forced out of the field, victory could still be claimed.

Under such circumstances, it was worrying that Wen Yuesheng, who couldn’t fight, took a spot.

Even though it was clear that it was for Zhang Yulin, it was still concerning.

This meant that even before the battle began, the Great Wei side had already lost a general.

When Crown Prince Hao Zhou entered, the anxiety only increased.

This was because this handsome and charismatic prince, today, was wearing black armor and riding a tall horse at the front of the arena.

His weapon was a Qinglong Halberd, which was a single-edged weapon, much heavier than a spear.

Usually, it was wielded by men with large builds.

His halberd was completely black, and the blade glinted with a cold light, clearly different from ordinary ones.

It was at this moment that many people realized that Crown Prince Hao Zhou knew martial arts, and judging by his appearance, he seemed to be as strong as any soldier by his side.

When Wen Yuesheng entered, everyone else dismounted.

Xiao Jin’s gaze darkened as he made eye contact with her, but she didn’t look sideways and simply stood in the front line.

The wind blew her hair, and the cool sandalwood scent lingered in the air.

Time was running out, and Wei Hengzhi asked, “How will the general be decided? Will it be General Lu, or should we take a gamble and choose the princess?”

This had been their earlier strategy discussion.

Choosing General Lu was the safest option, as he was the most skilled in martial arts.

As for Wen Yuesheng… well, it was more of a gamble.

Normally, someone who couldn’t fight wouldn’t be chosen as the general, but sometimes going against expectations could turn the tide.

If she was the general, it might be safer than having Lu Tingyu as the general.

Lu Tingyu paused for a moment and quietly asked, “What does the princess think?”

Wen Yuesheng’s gaze was calm, and her tone was indifferent: “If I were him, the first target after the battle starts would be to take me out.”

There was a brief silence around them.

“Take down Zhang Yulin, and we will definitely win this battle.”