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Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Scholarly and Martial Arts Champions, Parading on Horseback!
The next morning, Miss Zhan Lan came to the blacksmith shop where Huang Gun was working.
Huang Gun was hammering away at the ironware amidst the sparks, so engrossed that he didn’t even notice Miss Zhan Lan standing in front of him.
Miss Zhan Lan listened patiently to Huang Gun’s rambling, "You’re so tough, almost numbing my young master’s hand, and I haven’t had breakfast yet today. I really want some meat buns, one, two, three..."
With each count, he struck a blow, which looked particularly comical.
The corners of Miss Zhan Lan’s lips curled up involuntarily; this was Deputy General Huang Gun from her past life, who could strike up a conversation with a big dog he passed on the street.
Miss Zhan Lan cleared her throat softly, and Huang Gun lifted his eyes to see her standing there, a picture of elegance in brocade cotton-padded clothes and draped in a white fur cloak. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
"Miss, are you here to buy iron, ah no, some kind of ironware?" Huang Gun became incoherent at the sight of a beautiful woman.
This woman before him was simply too, too, too beautiful, which made him stutter.
Miss Zhan Lan raised an eyebrow, "Follow me."
A look of disbelief surfaced in Huang Gun’s eyes, and he bashfully said, "Miss, are you going to keep me as your charge? I truly have great physical strength!"
Miss Zhan Lan twitched her lips, feeling the urge to kick him, but thought better of it considering Huang Gun’s loyalty; he had hung himself from the city wall for her sake.
It wasn’t until Xiao Chen appeared behind Miss Zhan Lan that Huang Gun scratched his head, looking at Xiao Chen, "Eh, have we met before?"
Xiao Chen: "..." This guy was face-blind, and practically couldn’t remember someone’s face unless he saw them multiple times.
"We made a bet, she’s my Miss!" Xiao Chen spoke calmly.
Putting down the hammer in his hand, Huang Gun turned to look at Miss Zhan Lan, "Ah, you’re that beautiful and generous lady! Thanks to the silver you gave me last time, otherwise I really would have starved to death on the streets."
Miss Zhan Lan smiled faintly, "Let’s go, the authorities are searching the whole city for you!"
Huang Gun was astonished, "What do they want with me?"
Xiao Chen said, "Have you seen the royal edict? You are now the third place in the Martial Arts Examination. Today, we go to meet His Majesty."
Huang Gun let out a wry smile, "Miss, you’re not joking with me, are you?"
Miss Zhan Lan gave Xiao Chen a meaningful look, and he immediately took hold of Huang Gun’s sleeve and headed towards the city gate.
Only after seeing the royal edict did Huang Gun freeze in shock.
His name was indeed on it.
The onlookers were also whispering to each other.
"The Martial Arts Champion is Miss Zhan Lan of the Zhan Family!"
"The results are finally announced. Whether it’s martial arts or military strategy, Miss Zhan Lan is top-notch, truly deserving of her title."
"The second place is Xiao Chen, his achievements are also very impressive!"
"Have you heard? Ouyang Qingming lost his second-place ranking because he tortured a woman and turned her into a ’beauty pot’, so His Majesty issued a new decree."
"Serves him right. Such a scumbag, how is he fit to become the second place, to serve the country in the future!"
"So, this year’s ’third place gentleman’ is really lucky, what’s his name again, Huang Gun?"
Huang Gun stepped in front of the royal edict, and after repeatedly confirming his name, he muttered to himself, "It’s like being prodded in the backside with a rolling pin, I can’t believe my eyes!"
He turned his head to look over the crowd, towards Miss Zhan Lan not far away. Why does this miss’s temperament remind him of Miss Zhan Lan he saw at the Martial Arts Arena that day!
Huang Gun pushed through the crowd to the side of Miss Zhan Lan and Xiao Chen, exclaiming, "You are Zhan Lan."
Miss Zhan Lan nodded, "Let’s go, we’ll get you changed into something more suitable."
Huang Gun followed them, untying the apron from his waist, "I still haven’t been paid for yesterday’s work by the boss!"
Miss Zhan Lan glanced at him, "Fine, the apron on you can settle the account."
Huang Gun looked reluctantly towards the blacksmith shop as Xiao Chen pulled his sleeve and entered a ready-made clothing store.
Soon, Huang Gun emerged in a new set of blue clothes, to which Miss Zhan Lan nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, clothes make the man.
Now, he looked just like the Huang Gun of his previous life.
Huang Gun admired himself in the bronze mirror and boasted, "This outfit is like a goat breaking wind among sheep—sheepish yet dashing—it suits me!"
He turned his head and asked, "Why are you two being so nice to me?"
Xiao Chen was about to say something but unexpectedly, Huang Gun, clutching protectively at his chest, said, "Is one of you two lusting over my body?"
Xiao Chen clenched his teeth, "In about twenty-plus days, the three of us are to be posted at Heifeng Pass."
"Oh!" Huang Gun dropped his hand from his chest.
Miss Zhan Lan instructed, "At the Golden Throne Hall, remember to keep your mouth shut and don’t spout nonsense. Otherwise, we’ll both take turns thrashing you!"
"Oh!" Huang Gun obediently followed behind the two, having heard from Xiao Chen that had Miss Zhan Lan not found the evidence of Ouyang Qingming’s murder, it wouldn’t have been his turn to be the third place.
No wonder Miss Zhan Lan dared to make a bet with him. Now he had lost and had to do things for her.
Miss Zhan Lan knew very well that although Huang Gun often made a fool of himself, he wasn’t stupid. He knew when to stop at a good point and was grateful, ready to reciprocate kindness.
...
Inside the Golden Throne Hall, Emperor Xuanwu gave earnest advice, which were none other than some sanctimonious words.
Miss Zhan Lan also met Wang Qingchen, who was conferred as the Scholarly Champion, alongside her.
The six departed from the imperial palace with drums leading the way and firecrackers blasting in the air, accompanied by the Imperial Army.
Dressed in red robes and official hats, they rode on tall horses today, parading through the long streets of the Imperial City, Miss Zhan Lan and Wang Qingchen riding side by side.
Despite the chilly weather, many citizens gathered to watch, eager for a glimpse of the grace of the Scholarly and Martial Arts Champions.
In their hearts, they also wondered if any newcomers had what it took to salvage this decaying dynasty!
Amid the clamor of gongs and drums, Wang Qingchen heard a citizen beside him say, "The two leading figures are truly a match of a talented man and a talented woman. If the Scholarly and Martial Arts Champions come together, it would certainly be a lovely tale to tell!"
Wang Qingchen’s cheeks flushed suddenly. He still remembered the first time he saw Miss Zhan Lan at the Book Forest Conference.
Her talent captivated him. No one else could echo the ideas of his soul, no one could articulate what was in his heart, only Miss Zhan Lan could.
So, from the moment he returned home from the Book Forest Conference, amidst yellowing scrolls and under lamplight, he forwent sleep and food. Whether strategy or poetry and ancient texts, he relished them, voraciously soaking up knowledge.
All these efforts, just to be able to stand side by side with her, and make a mark at court.
Standing on the second floor of a tea house along the street, two men exuding nobility watched Miss Zhan Lan and Wang Qingchen ride their horses side by side, their expressions sour.
Bai Chen, leaning out of a window with a hand propping his cheek said, "Miss Zhan and Wang Qingchen do seem quite the pair, what with all the gongs and drums—someone might think they were getting married!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than he felt a pain in his buttocks and, losing his balance, was kicked down from the second floor.
Using his qinggong, Bai Chen flipped and stood upright, looking up wordlessly towards Mu Yan with an icy face on the second floor.
Rubbing his backside, Bai Chen muttered under his breath as he climbed upstairs, "You clearly like her but won’t admit it. I’ve stepped aside for you, but you won’t make your feelings clear, wasting your brother’s good intentions."
Wang Qingchen, riding on horseback, glanced out the corner of his eye towards the focused Miss Zhan Lan. Today, they finally had the chance to ride side by side.
He mustered up the courage and looked at Miss Zhan Lan, greeting her with a cultured smile, "Miss Zhan, long time no see."
