The Demon Prince

Gou Liren all stood up!

Park Tae-hen slammed his teacup back onto the table with a bang. Chiba Jo-il's expression changed, and Kim Wol-hee's eyelids twitched.

Park Jung-yeol clutched his wrist, his face filled with shock:

"How can you be alright?"

Li Shunhua did not answer. Below the stage, Xiao Xingyue winked at the Seventh Princess, Li Miaoqing, who was sitting there.

Today she wore a light blue dress, looking as cool and refreshing as freshly made chilled plum juice.

She caught a glimpse of Xiao Xingyue's smug expression, her ears turned red, and she glared at him fiercely.

Last night, Xiao Xingyue sent someone to fetch the antidote pills, and they were indeed used.

Li Shunhua turned the tip of her spear and pressed it against Park Jung-yeol's throat.

She stood ramrod straight, her black and red battle robe billowing in the wind, her voice echoing across the training ground:

"Li Shunhua, the military officer of the Great Xia Dynasty, wins!"

Cheers erupted from the Great Xia side, military officers slammed their fists on the table, and civil officials also stood up.

Qin Zhenyue finally couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter:

"Alright, who says women can't command troops?"

Come, step forward and let this old man see you.

Qin Liangyue sat behind the curtain, her eyes reddening. She raised her hand to cover her lips, trying not to lose her composure in public.

Park Tae-hen's face turned ashen. Just as he was about to speak, someone in the crowd suddenly started shoving.

Gou Liren was still shouting, saying that Li Shunhua had used strange drugs and that the victory of Daxia was unfair.

The Xia side had been holding back their anger for a long time, and one of the military officers rushed up and threw a punch!

Gou Liren fought back, and in the next moment, more officials and imperial guards from the Great Xia Dynasty rushed over, and the scene instantly descended into chaos.

Gou Liren was pinned to the ground and beaten. Some people had their noses bleeding profusely, while others covered their heads and shouted for it to stop.

Park Tae-hyun said angrily:

"Your Majesty, is this the etiquette of the Great Xia Dynasty?"

Xiao Xingyue stepped forward, completely calm:

"Envoy Park has misunderstood. This is a way for Da Xia to celebrate its victory."

Just like your earlier expressions of support, it's all a custom.

Park Tae-hyun's lips trembled: "You!"

Xiao Xingyue looked at Gou Lixi:

"Please respect our Great Xia customs."

The emperor couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, and did not immediately stop it. Only after Gou Liren had been beaten nearly enough did he speak calmly:

"That's enough. Our two countries are on good terms; we mustn't be impolite."

The Imperial Guards then pulled the people apart. The members of Gou Li's delegation were disheveled, bruised and battered, and had lost all the imposing manner they had displayed when they entered the capital.

According to the best-of-three format, Shen Yan won the literary contest, and Li Shunhua won the martial contest. Gou Li has already lost, losing both the bet and face.

The emperor looked at the Ministry of Rites:

"Record the bet."

The ten-year border trade tax, six thousand warhorses, five-year medicinal herb tribute, and priority rights in the northern border trade, all pledged by Gou Li, shall be fulfilled as agreed.

The Ministry of Rites official immediately picked up his pen.

Park Tae-hen's face was deathly pale, and some people in the Gou Li banquet were already groaning softly.

The emperor rose:

"Today, both the civil and military officials of Great Xia have won; those who have made contributions should be rewarded."

After the main hall was tidied up, everyone returned inside.

Shen Yan was called out first.

The emperor looked at him, his tone unusually gentle:

"Shen Yan was rewarded for his meritorious service in the literary contest, and was bestowed with the Four Treasures of the Study, a box of jade ink, and promoted to Hanlin Compiler, concurrently holding the position of a refined official."

Shen Yan knelt down to express his gratitude, and Xiao Xingyue gave him a thumbs up from the side.

Shen Yan's eyes welled up with tears. On this day, he was no longer just a poor scholar who had passed the imperial examination, no longer just someone who had been rescued. He was a civil official who had won the first round for the Great Xia Dynasty.

Next, Li Shunhua stepped forward to pay her respects.

The emperor looked at his daughter with a complex expression:

"Li Shunhua has made meritorious contributions in the armed struggle."

He was granted a set of golden armor and permitted to enter the military council stationed in the northern border region of the capital.

Li Shunhua looked up:

"Father, I have another request."

Qin Liangyue's heart tightened.

The emperor said, "Speak."

Li Shunhua spoke passionately:

"Your subject wishes to fight on the battlefield in the future!"

The hall fell silent, and Cao Bi and the others' expressions changed.

The emperor remained silent for a moment:

"allow!"

With just one word, Li Shunhua's eyes finally reddened.

She bowed and kowtowed: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty."

Finally, it was Xiao Xingyue's turn. The emperor looked at him with a subtle expression.

"Xiao Xingyue has made meritorious contributions in coordinating civil and military affairs."

He was bestowed with one thousand taels of silver, ten bolts of brocade, and two fine horses.

Many people in the hall were stunned. It wasn't that there was no reward, but it was rather meager.

Compared to the profits from this gamble, it's not even worth the scraps.

Xiao Xingyue smiled:

"Father, it's not enough."

The emperor's eyes darkened; he knew then that this boy was insatiably greedy.

"What else do you want?"

Xiao Xingyue cupped his hands in greeting:

Many people have made contributions in this battle.

Despite his injuries, Shen Yan went into battle, and the Eighth Princess fought a bloody battle against General Gou Li.

General Qin was stationed there to stabilize the morale of the troops...

It was only because Consort Shu held a poetry gathering that Shen Yan was given an important position by the court.

The Seventh Princess concocted medicine to protect our military officers from poison.

Although some princesses did not appear in public, they must have been busy with this matter.

"And my Prince's mansion's Zhao Yuanbao, Chen Manfu, Feng Lie, and others all contributed to this effort..."

He had an upright and righteous look on his face.

"Your subject wishes to share his rewards with everyone."

This little bit of stuff might not be enough to go around...

Whispers began to circulate in the main hall.

"The young master has become sensible."

"Yes, they actually remembered their share of the profits."

"His Majesty only gave this much."

"Compared to the Crown Prince, His Majesty seems a bit... well... off."

"Shh, keep your voice down."

The emperor's face was a little dark.

He looked at Xiao Xingyue, like a father-in-law looking at his son-in-law, and the more he looked, the angrier he became.

Xiao Xingyue looked at him, her expression as innocent as could be.

Consort Shu sat on the side seat, a smile appearing in her eyes.

This kid is clever. When His Majesty intentionally suppressed his reward, he cleverly used the reward to do favors for everyone.

Using borrowed flowers to present to Buddha, winning people's hearts, and achieving great results with minimal effort.

The emperor remained silent for a moment:

"He will be granted another 10,000 taels of silver, 50 warhorses, and 100 sets of armor."

The salaries of the guards of the Prince's Palace in Zhenwang were supplemented by three months' worth of provisions from the Imperial Treasury.

Xiao Xingyue immediately expressed his gratitude:

"Father is wise."

Gou Li Inn.

As soon as Jin Yueji returned to her room, she smashed a teacup, scattering shards of porcelain all over the floor.

Her beautiful face was contorted with rage: "Useless!"

Park Tae-han knelt on the ground:

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

It must be Lu Chengzhang who fed us false information. Shen Yan is not one of our people, and Li Shunhua is not a reckless man...

Xiao Xingyue was not greedy for quick success or reckless.

Jin Yueji sneered:

"So the lamplighter set a trap for me, Gou Li?"

Park Tae-hyun dared not answer. Just then, someone outside delivered an urgent message.

Jin Yueji opened the letter, but after reading only a few lines, the paper crumpled in her hand.

"Shiba! Lamplighter! Shiba!"

The candlelight flickered, and the murderous aura in the room was so heavy that no one dared to look up.

Just then, a leisurely voice came from outside the door:

"The king is so angry."

How about we cooperate?