My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

Fuyu Long felt that Ashina Simo was very skilled in weaponry.

If they were to engage in a weapons contest, they could be injured at best, and killed at worst.

After much deliberation, Fuyu Long decided to test his martial arts skills against Ashina Simo.

However, Fuyu Long miscalculated again, not realizing that Ashina Simo was a nomadic people, and wrestling was one of their strengths.

The Turks and the Huns had some similarities. Boys learned to ride horses, shoot arrows, and wrestle from a young age. These three skills were their most basic skills.

Ashina Simo's physique was somewhat similar to Ashina Jieshelu's, but he was much more robust.

Ashina Simo took off his long outer garment, tightened his belt, stretched out his arms and legs without any looseness, and then said to Fuyu Long, "Make your move."

Recently, after diligent study and practice, Fu Yulong has gained some confidence in his martial arts skills.

He created a martial art called Crane Fist. When he performed this art, his body moved like a white crane, spinning around on the ring, sometimes standing on one leg, sometimes waving his arms.

To be honest, at first, Ashina Simo was captivated by his boxing style.

Ashina Simo discovered that Fuyu Long was unpredictable, employing some strange boxing techniques that he had never seen before.

Ashina Simo responded cautiously, and after about ten rounds, he gradually realized that although this style of boxing looked flashy on the surface, it could not actually inflict a powerful blow on his opponent.

It's like the story goes that a tiger encountered a tall donkey.

The tiger initially thought the donkey was very majestic and fierce, and dared not approach it easily. Later, it discovered that the donkey could only kick its legs.

After careful observation and probing, Ashina Simo chuckled to himself, thinking, "Fuyu Long, Fuyu Long, so you're just a stupid donkey after all."

At this moment, Buyeo Ryong used a move called "Great Roc Spreads Its Wings".

He spread his arms wide, like the wings of a crane, as if preparing to take flight, and leaped in front of Ashina Simo.

Fuyu Long then withdrew his arms and immediately used a move called "Double Peaks Piercing Ears" to strike Ashina Simo's head.

If Ashina Simo were hit by him, his head would probably be crushed.

Ashina Simo saw it clearly and exclaimed, "Well done!"

Ashina Simo first raised his left arm to block his right fist, then quickly clenched his right fist and punched out with lightning speed, striking Fuyu Long's left shoulder.

A true master is one who is still as a virgin and swift as a rabbit, who either doesn't make a move at all, or whose moves are so devastating that the opponent can't withstand them.

Fu Yulong originally thought that his move would catch him off guard and succeed, but he did not expect to be countered by his opponent.

He cried out in pain and stumbled backward several steps, falling flat on his back and nearly creating a crater in the ring.

"It hurts so much!" Fu Yulong clutched his left shoulder, wincing in pain.

The crowd below burst into laughter, thinking to themselves, "Who is this Prince Fuyu Long? He dares to embarrass himself with such a low level of ability?"

In fact, they were wrong. It wasn't that Buyeo Long was too incompetent, but rather that their opponent, Ashina Simo, was too powerful.

Ashina Simo was a seasoned warrior with extensive combat experience. He was a famous general of the Turks and was known as the "First Warrior of the Turks." Countless famous generals had been defeated by him, let alone Fuyu Long.

To say that Buyeo Ryong was a spoiled brat would be quite accurate.

As the crown prince of Baekje, he was used to a life of luxury, indulging in debauchery and women all day long, which had already ruined his health.

He was also too arrogant when facing a strong enemy.

The Crane Fist style he practiced was still lacking in skill. Just as Ashina Simo had observed, it was all show and no substance, good for intimidating people but not very effective on the battlefield.

At this moment, someone leaped onto the arena, helped Fuyu Long up from the ground, and asked, "Your Highness, how do you feel?"

Buyeo Long looked up and saw that the person supporting him was Yeon Gaesomun.

Fuyu Long blushed: "General, Ashina Simo is amazing."

Yeon Gaesomun nodded: "You're right, he is indeed very powerful, his boxing skills are far superior to yours."

However, you seem to have underestimated your opponent. They were showing you mercy; otherwise, the bone in your left shoulder would be shattered.

"General, I—." Fu Yulong wanted to say something more.

Yeon Gaesomun waved his hand: "You don't need to explain. Go and rest."

Fuyu Long arrived in high spirits but left disappointed.

He had hoped to use this opportunity to make a name for himself, but he didn't expect that even after studying martial arts for a while, he was still no match for the other person. It seems that he still needs to practice more.

"General, you'd better be careful."

"I know!" Yeon Gaesomun said.

Despite the pain, Fu Yulong stepped off the stage.

Yeon Gaesomun approached Ashina Simo, hands on his hips: "Do you recognize me?"

Ashina Simo then carefully examined Yeon Gaesomun and found that he was tall and strong, looked very imposing, had a very handsome beard, and was dressed in luxurious clothes inlaid with gold. He looked to be in his thirties.

Yeon Gaesomun was marked by the five swords he carried at his waist, exuding arrogance, domineering attitude, and an air of superiority.

Ashina Simo looked surprised and asked, "Could you be Yeon Gaesomun?"

"Exactly, now that you know my name, are you still not going to admit defeat?" Yeon Gaesomun raised his head high.

Ashina Simo laughed heartily: "We Turks do not have the habit of easily bowing our heads and admitting defeat."

"Oh, really?"

Yeon Gaesomun paced back and forth on the arena, his expression relaxed, and slowly said, "I'm not trying to scare you, but Emperor Yang of Sui led an army of a million men to conquer Goguryeo three times, and I defeated him each time."

Are you implying you're even more powerful than Emperor Yang of Sui?

These words caused an uproar both on and off the stage.

People whispered and murmured among themselves:

"Oh, so he's Yeon Gaesomun!"

"That kid killed a lot of us."

"He's really arrogant, he actually came to Chang'an to demonstrate."

"Yeah, that kid's ruthless."

"I heard that he carries five knives, and he never misses a shot. He has never met an opponent. Back then, many famous generals of the Sui Dynasty died at his hands."

"Let's go up on stage together and kill him!"

"Yeah, everyone attack together and kill that bastard!"

"..."

The people of Chang'an deeply hated Yeon Gaesomun. They surged like a tide to the area below the arena, ready to rush up and beat him up.

When Lao Cheng and the other examiners saw that this wouldn't do, things would get chaotic if that were the case, as Yeon Gaesomun might still have troops outside the city.

Old Cheng saw the people flocking to the stage, but he couldn't get them to join him.

He rushed over to Li Chengan: "Your Highness, the situation is about to spiral out of control, what should we do?"

Li Chengan stood up and looked down. Sure enough!

Luo Cheng and Cheng Yaojin also had a very close relationship.

After discussing the matter, Li Chengan, Cheng Yaojin, Luo Cheng, and others decided that now was not the time to attack Yeon Gaesomun, since he had come alone.

It's understandable that ordinary people deeply resent Yeon Gaesomun, but the situation is different today. After all, this is an examination hall, not a battlefield. It would be unreasonable to treat him like that.

The feud between Goguryeo and the Tang Dynasty can be discussed later.

So Li Chengan summoned Su Gui and ordered her to lead the Imperial Guards to maintain order.

Su Gui agreed, turned and left, leading her soldiers onto the arena.

Some of the civilians were unarmed, while others were armed with sticks. They charged forward aggressively.

Even though Yeon Gaesomun was a master of martial arts, he couldn't handle so many civilians.

Besides, he couldn't fight back under these circumstances.

If he dares to do that, he will face strong condemnation and bloody retaliation.

Su Gui directed his soldiers to help the civilians off the stage with great difficulty.

After a while, the military training ground returned to calm.

Old Cheng, with his hands supporting his belly, came to the center of the arena and said loudly, "Fellow villagers, please don't get excited."

Today, Yeon Gaesomun is here to participate in the martial arts examination; we can treat him as an ordinary examinee.

After discussion among us examiners, we finally decided to give him a chance to perform.

As for the long-standing grievances between Goguryeo and our Tang Dynasty, let's discuss that later. Please be quiet and calm!

The crowd below shouted, "Kill Yeon Gaesomun! Don't let that brat get away!"

"He's an executioner, a murderous demon."

"Yes, he's utterly wicked, please don't let him go!"

"..."

Old Cheng raised his hands: "We understand how you feel. Please don't act impulsively, listen to me."

Our Great Tang Dynasty is a land of propriety and etiquette. There is a saying: "When two countries are at war, envoys shall not be killed."

Even if Yeon Gaesomun is a scoundrel, now that he's here, we can't take advantage of his misfortune, can we?

After Lao Cheng's repeated persuasion, the people's emotions gradually stabilized, and the scene finally returned to calm.

Upon witnessing what had just happened, Yeon Gaesomun's expression changed.

To say that he wasn't afraid at all would be a lie.

He hadn't expected the people of the Tang Dynasty to be so fanatical; it was all thanks to Li Chengqian!

Without Li Chengan, the situation on the scene would probably have spiraled out of control, and it would have been hard to say whether I could have left here alive.

Old Cheng said to Yeon Gaesomun, "Now that you've taken the stage, then fight properly."

I, Lao Cheng, will reiterate once again: no brutality allowed, no aiming for the opponent's vital areas.

Otherwise, no matter how capable you are, I, Old Cheng, can still take your life.

Cheng Yaojin was a highly experienced and respected figure. While his skills might not have been top-tier, his reputation was immense.

Not only was Old Cheng a household name in the Tang Dynasty, but he was also a well-known figure in the Western Regions and the Eastern countries.

Some people may not know Li Shimin, but they know Cheng Yaojin, because Cheng Yaojin himself is a legend.

Seeing that the situation had stabilized, Lao Cheng said to Yeon Gaesomun and Ashina Simo, "You two can continue your duel."

Suddenly, Yeon Gaesomun realized how strong the cohesion of the Tang people was.

As the saying goes, the eyes of the masses are discerning; people show respect and admiration for heroes.

People are filled with anger and resentment towards those evil people who harm the country and the nation.

They had no weapons, and some were even physically weak, but they were fearless and dared to fight to the death. This is a national spirit that is not afraid of powerful enemies.

Ashina Simo looked at Yeon Gaesomun and asked, "Now that you've taken the stage, what do you wish to compete in?"

Yeon Gaesomun steadied himself: "I just saw you and Buyeo Yong sparring."

"Then let's not fight with fists anymore, let's compete with weapons instead."

At this moment, Ashina Simo realized that Yeon Gaesomun's weapon was a large axe.

The giant axe was over ten feet long, its head shaped like a phoenix's head, gleaming and dazzling. The handle was thicker than a rolling pin, and it looked to weigh at least three hundred pounds.

This phoenix-head axe is three times larger than the Bagua Xuanhua axe that Lao Cheng used, which weighs only 64 jin.

It's clear that the force in Yeon Gaesomun's arm was far more than a thousand pounds.

It seems that Yeon Gaesomun put a lot of effort into this axe.

Ashina Simo nodded and said, "That's excellent, that's exactly what I was thinking too."

Ashina Simo wielded a long spear.

Yeon Gaesomun made a suggestion: "I heard that the rules for martial arts competitions here are to cover the blades of weapons and remove the spearheads. I think that's too boring."

You don't need to remove the spearhead, and I don't need to bandage the axe blade.

Let's fight like this, real swords and spears. If we kill or wound the other side, that's their bad luck. Do you dare to accept the challenge?

Ashina Simo immediately understood: Yeon Gaesomun's statement was a blatant challenge.

Do you think I can be intimidated by him?

Ashina Simo laughed heartily: "Yeon Gaesomun, what you said is exactly what I wanted to hear, it's very pleasing!"

Therefore, the two of them submitted their application to the examiners, including Lao Cheng, Li Xiaogong, and Li Jing.

The examiners' opinions were not unified; some agreed, while others disagreed.

Old Cheng then asked Li Xiaogong, "What should we do about this?"

Li Xiaogong was a member of the imperial family and ranked first among the military generals of the Tang Dynasty. He was a very courageous man who had won countless battles and enjoyed great prestige in the army.

He pondered for a moment: "It is clear that Yeon Gaesomun's visit this time is not well-intentioned."

We all know that Yeon Gaesomun was a peerless warrior who had won many battles and looked down on everyone.

However, we must deflate his arrogance and let him know that our generals are not to be trifled with.

Does that mean we shouldn't fight just because he made a demand?

Therefore, I agree that both sides may fight with real weapons.

To be on the safe side, Lao Cheng said, "Shouldn't we consult the Emperor about this? It would be difficult to handle if someone were to die."

"It's getting late, and the Emperor isn't here. If we need to consult him, how much time will it take to travel back and forth?"

Old Cheng said, "Well then, I'll go and discuss it with Crown Prince Li Chengqian."

"That works too."

Old Cheng, swaying his obese body, came up to the stands again and saw Li Chenggan.

Old Cheng was already overweight, and running back and forth left him breathless and covered in sweat.

Li Chengan then asked, "Duke Lu, what happened?"

Cheng Yaojin sighed and then recounted Yeon Gaesomun's idea of ​​having a real fight with swords and spears.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan frowned.

Because he had dealt with Yeon Gaesomun more than once, he knew him very well. That guy was not only ruthless, but also very cunning.

Li Chenggan thought to himself that since Yeon Gaesomun dared to make such a request, it meant he was confident of victory.

Luo Cheng was also very worried and said, "If Yeon Gaesomun and Ashina Simo use real weapons and do not remove the spearheads or bandage the axe blades, it is very likely to cause casualties."

Li Chengan nodded slightly: "Duke Lu, we've already had several matches today, let's stop here for now."

"Let me return and report to my father before making a decision."

Cheng Yaojin listened, thought about it, and felt that this was a good idea.

Just then, the chief eunuch Wang De arrived.

He first paid his respects to the various imperial concubines, and then came to Li Chengan, Luo Cheng, and Lao Cheng. After exchanging greetings, Wang De said, "Your Highness, Duke of Lu, Duke of Yue, by imperial decree, His Majesty has arranged a banquet at Jiucheng Palace to entertain all the imperial concubines, princes, princesses, civil and military officials, and all the examinees. Please proceed to Jiucheng Palace for the banquet."

Old Cheng asked, "Is there any wine?"

"Today is a joyous day, so it should be fine."

Old Cheng laughed heartily: "There's wine to drink, that's great! Lately, I've been busy with the martial arts exam and have been abstaining from alcohol for a while. Today, I can finally drink to my heart's content."

Everyone laughed when they heard that.

At this moment, Li Chengan looked towards the west stands and discovered that Xu Hui had left sometime earlier.

He wondered what Xu Hui had gone to do.

……

It was evening.

At Su Dan's residence.

Su Wan found a fine whetstone and was sharpening a dagger.

The blade of the dagger rubbed against the whetstone, making a scraping sound.

She had polished the dagger until it gleamed and it looked extremely sharp.

Su Wan put in a lot of effort to sharpen this dagger, her face flushed and covered in sweat.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead and continued sharpening the knife.

However, at this moment,

With a loud bang, the door was kicked open.

Su Wan was startled.

She stood up and looked closely. The person who had barged in was none other than Xue'er.

Su Wan quickly put the dagger away, tucking it into her waistband, and asked, "Xue'er, why are you in such a panic? What happened?"

"My lord, I was ordered by you to go to the Lizheng Hall to invite Empress Zhangsun to the banquet at Jiucheng Palace tonight. Do you know what I discovered?"

Su Wan was shocked when she heard this, because her biggest worry was that something had happened to Empress Zhangsun. Empress Zhangsun had just recovered and was still a little weak, and she was also pregnant.

If anything were to happen to Empress Zhangsun, it would mean the loss of two lives. Therefore, Su Wan would often visit Empress Zhangsun at the Lizheng Hall, bringing her nutritious food that would help with pregnancy.

He tried every means to make Empress Zhangsun happy, and then accompanied her for a walk.

This is beneficial for the fetus's growth, especially since Li Chengqian is not in Chang'an during this period.

Su Wan had to worry about a lot more than she could ever imagine. She realized that being a qualified Crown Princess was not an easy task.

However, to her surprise, Li Chengan and Qu Zhili became involved in a relationship in Luoyang, and the two even had a child together.

For Su Wan, this was like a bolt from the blue.

Sometimes, she really wanted to end it all.

As a woman, what is the meaning of living if you lose the man you love most and lose your love?

But reason told her she couldn't die, she couldn't do that.

She had to live on, because she had to take revenge on Li Chenggan and personally tear two holes in this philandering man.

Su Wan stepped forward and grabbed Xue'er's collar: "What did you find out? Tell me quickly."

Xue'er was still a little shaken: "The sky was getting dark, and I vaguely thought I saw an old witch moving around the Lizheng Hall."

That old hag was acting suspiciously, peeking around like that—could it be anything good?

"What did you say? You saw the old hag?"

"Yes, Master." Xue'er nodded again.

Upon hearing this, Su Wan felt a surge of nervousness: "Then tell me quickly, what was that old witch's attire like?"

"She was shaped like a yaksha, dressed in blue, holding a single-pronged pestle in her right hand and prayer beads in her left. Her voice was hoarse, and she often let out a strange, chuckling laugh that sent chills down one's spine."

Upon hearing this, Su Wan raised her hand to interrupt her: "Don't say any more, I already know who she is."

"Oh, who is she?"

"She is the Blue Brahma."

"Ah, is she that ugly and wicked old woman?"

Su Wan's eyes were filled with resentment: "If it wasn't her, then who could it be?"

do you remember?

Some time ago, the demon Lan Po Rakshasa went to Luoyang to poison the crown prince, but was captured by Xue Rengui.

At that time, Qin Ying suggested executing the Blue Bharadvaja.

However, the Crown Prince couldn't bring himself to do it because of her advanced age.

Therefore, the Crown Prince wrote to me to discuss this matter.

I also think that she's over seventy years old, and her life hasn't been easy.

She suffered great emotional setbacks in her youth and was a pitiful person.

So, the Crown Prince spared her.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving in Chang'an, she attempted to poison Fuyu Fengzhang, nearly killing him.

If it weren't for Lu Zhaolin, Fuyu Fengzhang would probably have died long ago.

I never imagined that this old hag would now try to poison Empress Zhangsun.

Xue'er, upon hearing this, also became anxious: "Master, what should we do?"

At this moment, the Crown Prince, Su Gui, Qin Ying, and others were all at the military drill ground.

I will go to the Hall of State Affairs immediately; you go and inform the Crown Prince.

"You don't know any martial arts, what good will it do you go alone?"

"Wouldn't it be very dangerous if you encountered the Blue Rakshasa?" Xue'er was very worried.

"We can't worry about that now."

Su Wan packed her things, took what she needed, and went out, heading straight for the Lizheng Hall.

Su Wan hadn't expected that she could run so fast.

However, when Su Wan arrived at the Lizheng Hall, she did not see Empress Zhangsun.

She asked Cai Xiang, "Where has Empress Zhangsun gone?"

Seeing Su Wan's flustered expression, Cai Xiang felt a little strange: "Didn't you say that a grand banquet would be held at Jiucheng Palace tonight, and that the Emperor and Empress would be attending?"

What's wrong? What happened?

"Who did the Empress go with? When did she leave?"

"She went alone and just left," Cai Xiang replied.

Su Wan turned and ran towards Jiucheng Palace, leaving behind the words: "I'll talk to you later. Go to the arena and find Xu Hui. There's no time to explain now."

"understood."

The Lizheng Hall is some distance from the Jiucheng Palace, and you have to pass through a long corridor in between.

Su Wan jogged over.

As she ran, she pondered in her mind how that old witch would deal with Empress Zhangsun.

That old hag was no ordinary woman; her poisoning techniques were highly skilled, she was experienced, and she was cunning and treacherous. Countless people had fallen victim to her schemes.