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The next morning, Cui Du arrived at the martial arts training ground early.

Unexpectedly, there were two people who arrived earlier than him. One was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, looking elegant and noble, and the other was dressed in a black martial arts uniform, looking handsome and imposing.

Cui Du subconsciously looked down at himself.

On weekdays, he was busy in the farm and never wore silk or brocade. He was used to wearing gray cloth that was resistant to dirt, wear, comfort and breathability. After returning to the palace, he continued to wear cloth, at most changing into a clean and brand new one. He never thought there was anything wrong, until this moment, when he met the two young men with different looks and temperaments but equally outstanding, he realized that he was dressed too simply and casually.

Zheng Chen glanced at the silly Cui Du and snorted, "How can such a person be worthy of standing next to cousin Shao Hua?"

Wang Jin whispered, "Mr. Cui just doesn't like extravagant clothes, and his appearance is also outstanding. Moreover, he can grow corn and sweet potatoes, improve the cultivation of grain seeds, and grow many fruits and vegetables in winter. How can someone with such talents not be qualified?"

Zheng Chen was choked for a moment, but instead of getting angry he laughed: "You think very highly of him."

Wang Jin sighed softly, "I don't want to boost the enemy's morale and destroy my own prestige. But that's the fact. There is no one else with such ability, not to mention in Nanyang County, even in the entire Daliang. It's not too much for the princess to respect and honor him."

"You and I both have much better backgrounds than him. We have been the prince's companion since we were young, and now we are the emperor's servant and the imperial envoy. But this respectability and glory is because we have a good father. Anyone standing in our position can achieve this. If our backgrounds are the same as Cui Du, can we do everything Cui Du does?"

Zheng Chen didn't know whether he was touched in a sore spot or he thought of something, and a cold look flashed in his eyes.

In just a few words, Cui Du came over.

Cui Du took the initiative to bow and greet the two servants.

Wang Jin smiled and bowed in return.

Zheng Chen was unwilling to lose his composure and gestured with a bow.

The princess, who had been brandishing her spear in the martial arts training ground, suddenly stopped and looked over from a distance: "Who among you is willing to fight with me?"

Cui Du laughed: "Princess, please stop joking. I have never practiced martial arts, and you know that."

The princess knew, of course, that this was not meant for Cui Du… and certainly not for Wang Jin. It was well known that the fourth son of the Wang family was born weak and mediocre at riding and shooting.

Jiang Shaohua smiled faintly and looked at Zheng Chen: "Mr. Zheng, please."

Zheng Chenjun's face turned a little dark.

Three years ago, he came to Nanyang County and "learned" Jiang Shaohua's skills, and knew clearly that he was no match for Jiang Shaohua. Jiang Shaohua was of course aware of this, and insisted on inviting him to fight in public, clearly intending to humiliate him.

He just said a few harsh words to Cui Du, but she couldn't wait to support Cui Du and vent her anger?

"Why hasn't Mr. Zheng come over yet?" Jiang Shaohua knew how to anger people, and raised the corner of his mouth slightly with sarcasm: "Are you afraid that I will hurt you too badly?"

Zheng Chen snorted, stepped forward quickly, and picked up a long sword from the weapon rack.

Jiang Shaohua swung his spear, creating several silver flowers. Zheng Chen showed no sign of weakness, swinging his long sword with a sharp flash.

It was the first time that Wang Jin saw Jiang Shaohua in action. He stared intently, fearing that Zheng Chen would accidentally hurt Jiang Shaohua. Cui Du knew how powerful the princess was, so he was not worried at all. He smiled and said to Wang Jin, "Don't worry, Mr. Wang. The princess has supernatural powers and excellent spear skills. Mr. Zheng is definitely not a match for the princess!"

Wang Jin was stunned when he heard this, and turned to look at Cui Du: "Zheng Sheren is a master among his peers, and he has no rivals in the palace."

Cui Du said proudly, "That's because he didn't meet our princess. It's good enough that Mr. Zheng can hold out for fifty moves today!"

Cui Du's tone was too firm, and it didn't sound like a joke at all.

Wang Jin turned back half-believingly, only to find that it was Zheng Chen who was struggling to hold on amid the flashes of swords and guns in the martial arts training ground.

Wang Jin and Zheng Chen studied and practiced martial arts together in the palace, and he knew Zheng Chen's strength very well. Seeing Zheng Chen being suppressed and unable to fight back, he couldn't help but gasp: "The princess is so powerful!"

"Yes, our princess is so powerful." Cui Du looked so proud that he raised his head and said, "In Nanyang County, everyone loves and respects the princess and is convinced by her."

She has a noble birth and status, a huge family business, unparalleled beauty and skills, a large number of loyal and capable ministers, and countless people who respect and love her.

For someone like Jiang Shaohua, why would she have to endure the humiliation of marrying to the capital and having to please other people as a daughter-in-law?

If he could support his family, wouldn't it be nice to marry a man who was not from a high family but had talent? If he were a princess, he would also choose Cui Du.

Wang Jin looked at Cui Du silently, feeling mixed emotions.

Cui Du was a man who was sometimes careless and sometimes incredibly sharp. He seemed to sense Wang Jin's complicated feelings and suddenly said, "You and Zheng Sheren are both good people. However, neither of them is suitable for the princess. For the princess, the one who is suitable is the best."

Wang Jin frowned slightly and whispered, "The world is unpredictable. Some people who seem suitable now may soon be recruited by the court to serve as officials. In the future, they will live in the capital and see a wider world, and will not return to Nanyang County."

Cui Du and Wang Jin looked at each other and said, "Everyone has their own aspirations. I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Wang Sheren, but I've never been interested in being an official. I don't like officialdom, I hate dealing with people, and I can't handle the intrigue."

"My favorite life is the one I have now. Every day I am on the farm, cultivating and improving grain varieties and studying how to farm."

"Even if the imperial court wants to recruit me to be an official, I will not go to the capital."

Wang Jin was silent for a moment and said, "If the emperor really issued an imperial decree, I'm afraid this matter will not be up to you."

Cui Du responded as a matter of course: "The princess will take care of these things for me, so I don't have to worry about it."

Wang Jin: “…”

Wang Jin couldn't help but twitch his lips: "How can you be so ashamed to say that when you are a man of seven feet tall and let the princess take the lead in everything?"

"Why should I be embarrassed?" Cui Du said confidently, "I am from the Nanyang Palace and a subject of the princess. If there is any problem, the princess will protect me. Isn't it natural?"

This is indeed the case between the emperor and his subjects. But...how can it be the case between men and women? Men have been superior to women for thousands of years, and women have always regarded their husbands as their heaven. How can it be reasonable for women to suppress men?
Is Cui Du really willing to be a son-in-law and be overshadowed by the princess's glory?

Wang Jin frowned again, and before he could open his mouth, he heard a sharp clang from the martial arts training ground. Then, a long sword fell with a clang, and a figure stumbled back, with the sharp tip of a spear pressed against his chest like lightning. (End of this chapter)