How could my childhood sweetheart be the current empress?

Unconsciously, Xu Chengling followed the palace maid to a large area, and in front of him was a huge stage.

"Sir, we have arrived."

The palace maid turned around and said to Xu Chengling.

After bringing him here, the palace maid left the place, as she was not allowed to approach this place due to her status.

Xu Chengling arrived at the drill ground and could hear the sound of musical instruments. Looking forward, he saw dozens of musicians sitting on benches in the audience, playing various instruments such as the pipa, guzheng, and harp.

It was the coldest time of the year and the musicians were wearing thick fur coats. Their faces were frozen red as they performed in the freezing wind. It could be said that they were very dedicated.

There was a charcoal fire burning in the audience seats in front, and a group of ministers were sitting around the charcoal fire, looking towards the martial arts stage.

In the crowd, Xu Chengling vaguely saw a graceful figure in a dragon robe, sitting behind a red curtain, her eyes also looking towards the martial arts arena.

Xu Chengling came to the empress and paid his respects to her.

Seeing him coming, Yan Qiaoling was very surprised and let him sit next to her.

"My dear, what do you think of this sword dance?"

Yan Qiaoling couldn't help but ask him.

"Let me take a look first."

Xu Chengling said calmly. He looked towards the martial arts arena and was immediately stunned.

It was the coldest time of the year, and on the martial arts stage there were a dozen women in light robes, holding swords in their hands, twisting their waists, standing on tiptoes, and dancing gracefully to the music.

Among them, the most eye-catching is the graceful figure that is unique, unrestrained, and makes the heaven and earth bow down.

The woman was stunningly beautiful, with bright eyes and white teeth. There was a look of sadness between her brows where the sword mark was adorned. Her waist-length hair was casually tied with a white ribbon. She danced gracefully in the biting cold wind, her white gauze dress fluttering in the wind.

Her white dress and graceful dancing posture made her look like a fairy, a fairy who was not of this world, so mysterious and pure, who could only be admired from afar and not desecrated.

I can't believe that there is such an extraordinary woman in the world.

And the identity of this person was gradually revealed with the words "Gongsun" engraved on the hilt of her sword.

She has countless titles: the strongest person in Dayan, the most beautiful woman in Dayan, the one with an ageless face, the owner of Yujingfang, or the legendary golden elixir cultivator...

She has no name, only a surname, and everyone calls her Gongsun Da Niang.

Chapter 131 Li Bai Sang, Du Fu Sang, Please Lend Me Strength

In the original novel, Gongsun Da Niang is the owner of Yujingfang. She has protected several emperors and has the ultimate combat power in the book.

The two empresses' personal guards, Xue Yuan and Xia Chan, were trained by her.

The Empress's personal bodyguard must have extremely high martial arts skills, at least he can be on par with Tong Xin who is beside him.

It is conceivable how powerful Gongsun Da Niang's real martial arts power is.

Xia Chan once said that there are people in this world who are invulnerable to swords and guns and whose appearance remains forever. She might be referring to their master, Gongsun Da Niang.

Xu Chengling looked at the stunning woman in white gauze on the martial arts field. She looked to be about 27 or 28 years old, and her snow-white skin was still as delicate as that of a young girl.

But if you are an insider, you will know that Gongsun Da Niang has lived for more than a hundred years.

Her appearance has not changed in more than a hundred years.

But even for a Jindan cultivator, his appearance should have changed after so many years.

Some people say that Gongsun Da Niang has practiced a kind of longevity technique that can keep her youthful appearance forever and make her skin as tender as a newborn baby's. It is very magical, but no one knows whether it is true or not.

But you have to understand that no matter how young she looks, she can be your grandmother.

"Clap clap clap!"

After the sword dance ended, there was thunderous applause from the audience.

"Keng"

The beautiful woman who was leading the crowd placed the sword in her hand flat in front of her body and lightly wiped the sword with her fingers. With the help of her inner strength, the sword made a clear and pleasant sound.

Gongsun Da Niang put away her sword and glanced at the spectator seats with her beautiful eyes.

Being stared at by the master, Xue Yuan and Xia Chan, who were standing beside the empress, couldn't help but feel a chill down their spines.

At this time, Gongsun Da Niang noticed the only man in official robes standing next to the empress. Yujingfang possessed the most comprehensive intelligence in the capital, which naturally included the identity of this man.

The adopted son of the old prime minister, the new prime minister of Dayan, married the empress's sister, a man named Xu Chengling.

At this moment, Xu Chengling couldn't help but look down and his eyes met those of Gongsun Daniang.

She just raised the corners of her mouth in a stunning way, then turned around and slowly walked down the stage.

Seeing Xu Chengling looking at Gongsun Da Niang below with a fascinated look on his face, a slender hand reached out to his left waist and pinched his soft flesh hard.

"hiss!"

Xu Chengling gasped in pain. He turned around and saw that the owner of the slender hand was instantly back to normal.

Xu Chengling couldn't help but fall into deep thought. The only people standing on his left side just now were Xue Yuan and the empress who looked calm and composed.

Both of them were looking away as if nothing had happened, looking as if they knew nothing at all.

The person who pinched his soft flesh just now was either Xue Yuan or the Empress, but who could it be?

Xu Chengling couldn't guess, and he didn't dare to guess. If he guessed wrong, it would be a big problem.

It couldn't be that the empress pinched him.

At this time, Yan Qiaoling stood up from her seat and said to the people below:

"You are all talented people of Dayan. After watching this rare sword dance, I believe you have some ideas that you want to express. Why not write them down on paper and let me see your talents."

Yan Qiaoling waved her slender hand, and several palace maids came over with paper and pens and distributed them to the young talents below.

Those who came to watch the sword dance this time were all young talents from Dayan, most of whom were from the Imperial College. Because the Imperial College has not yet started, they were summoned here today by His Majesty.

This was a rare opportunity to perform in front of His Majesty, so they naturally could not let it go. Each of them racked their brains to write the best words on the rice paper.

Xu Chengling looked at this scene and felt that it was somewhat familiar.

"My goodness, isn't this the ultimate evil review?"

Xu Chengling finally remembered, isn't this exactly the same as the school organizing students to watch a movie and have them write a review after watching it?

My goodness, even if we go back to ancient times, we can’t escape the fate of being asked to write a review after watching a movie.

At this time, a palace maid holding a pen and paper came to Xu Chengling and asked with a smile:

"Master Xiangguo, do you want to try it too?"

The expression of personal thoughts was originally used by the empress to test the talented people. If anyone wrote it, he would be appreciated by the empress. This was an extremely rare opportunity.

Originally Xu Chengling didn't want to write it, but after thinking about it, he felt that the sword dance just now was so exciting, passionate and unforgettable.

It would be a shame if I didn’t write something after reading this.

So Xu Chengling nodded, took the paper and pen from the palace maid, and began to think hard.

"My dear, do you want to try it too?"

Yan Qiaoling, who was standing by, became interested when she saw Xu Chengling take the paper and pen.

In her impression, Xu Lang was quite talented and had written many poems for her, which moved her to tears.

Of course, these are all dark histories from childhood.

"These people below are all young talents of Dayan. Do you have the confidence to defeat them?"

Yan Qiaoling was looking forward to seeing whether her Xu Lang could beat the others and take the first place today.

"Mr. Prime Minister, the winner this time will receive a golden pen personally bestowed by His Majesty. You must do your best."

Xue Yuan walked to Xu Chengling's side and cheered him up.

"I'll try my best."

Xu Chengling couldn't help but burst out laughing. It was okay for him to discuss national affairs, but it would be difficult for him to compete with these young talents who had studied poetry and books for more than ten years.

At this moment, a voice sounded in Xu Chengling's mind.

Li Baisang, Du Fusang, please lend me your strength!

Suddenly, Xu Chengling had an idea in his mind and remembered a poem that specifically described sword dancing.

He thought the poem was very cool at first and even spent several days memorizing it.

At this moment, Xu Chengling felt the power of the poet entering his body.

He picked up the brush and wrote quickly on the rice paper, inspiration pouring out like a spring.

It was unknown how long it had passed, but as the talented scholars below completed their works one after another, the palace maids presented them to the empress for scoring and evaluation.

Whether it is Yan Qiaoling or Yan Jixue, they started reading scriptures since they were young, and learned etiquette, music, chess, calligraphy and painting from the side of the great scholars of the time, and they must be proficient in everything.

These talented men expressed their inner thoughts through poems or lyrics, some with only four lines and some with long essays, each showing their unique talents.

Yan Qiaoling took the rice paper with poems written on it from the palace maid and looked at them one by one.

"Not bad, but the emotions are only revealed on the surface and the expression is too superficial. It can barely be considered qualified."

"Dancing with the shadows, this is a good line, but the following lines are obviously a little flawed. Give it a passing grade."

"The writing on this is too ugly, it's not up to standard."

The young talents below listened to the empress's evaluation. When they heard that they were qualified, they couldn't help but feel relieved, but when they heard that they were unqualified, their faces turned pale.

From the beginning to the end, there were only two people who could be rated high by the empress, and they were both top students in the Imperial College with promising future prospects.

Just when everyone thought that the winner would be decided between these two people, the empress finally saw the last article.

This article was written by Xu Chengling. It is a bit long and took quite some time to write.

At this moment, Yan Qiaoling already had the answer in her mind, and announced to the young talent below:

"I declare that the person who won the first prize today is Xu Chengling."

Chapter 131 Accidentally Winning the First Prize

Upon hearing this result, all the young talents below turned pale and stood there in a daze.

This must be a shady deal!

But they dare not say it. If they dare to question His Majesty's decision, they will lose their heads.

But all these young talents present are talented and in the prime of their youth.

Even if they don't say it, they must be dissatisfied in their hearts.

And why can that man stand next to Her Majesty the Empress? He looks about the same age as them, just his face is a little whiter than theirs, and he is a little more handsome than them.

Could it be that he was the male lover secretly kept by the Empress? That's why she let him win on purpose.

"Your Majesty, we refuse to accept this. Everyone present here is Dayan's most talented people. Could it be that our works are not as good as this Xu Chengling's?"

At this time, a young man stood up from the crowd and, risking his life, expressed his dissatisfaction to His Majesty.

If a scholar doesn't even have a little bit of ambition, then what's the difference between him and a coward.

"Yes, Your Majesty, if you want to convince us, at least let us see what he actually wrote, so that we can be convinced."

Another young man stood up. If it wasn’t for Xu Chengling who showed up unexpectedly, he would most likely be the one who won the first place.

"Your Majesty, we need to know what he wrote in order to win the first prize. This is what we all think. I hope Your Majesty will help us!"

At the request of the young talents, Yan Qiaoling, who was sitting at the top, couldn't help but frown slightly and said in a somewhat cold voice:

"Are you questioning my fairness?"

Seeing that His Majesty was a little angry, the young talents below turned pale and hurriedly bowed and said:

"The villain dare not!"

"Since you have doubts, I will give you answers."

The beautiful woman in the dragon robe said coldly, her majesty was untouchable. She changed the subject and said: