in2ebook Chapter 192 The storm is rising
Chapter 192 The storm is rising
The eldest prince's angry voice echoed throughout the mansion, and broken porcelain pieces scattered across the floor. The servants lowered their heads in fear, fearing that the slightest mistake would incur even greater wrath from their master. Just then, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door.
A guard came hurriedly and stopped at the door, saying breathlessly, "Sir, there is a eunuch outside who claims to be from the palace and wants to see you."
"Let him in." The eldest prince responded coldly.
A moment later, the young eunuch from the palace walked into the room and respectfully reported, "His Majesty has ordered that the eldest prince come to the imperial study immediately to see me."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was stunned. Especially Da Huangzi himself, whose face, which had just been furious, showed a look of astonishment. "Could it be..."
Although he was filled with doubts, he did not dare to delay and immediately stood up and followed the eunuch to the palace. Walking in the empty and solemn corridor, his mind was full of thoughts.
"My father the Emperor suddenly asked me to enter the palace. Could it be that he wanted to change his mind?" Thinking of this, a glimmer of hope was rekindled in my heart.
Meanwhile, news of the victory at the martial arts arena spread throughout the palace, and the thrilling battle between the hero and Chen Hu became a hot topic of conversation.
Several officials gathered together and discussed quietly -
"It's incredible! This guy can actually fight General Chen to a draw and even have the upper hand!"
"Isn't it? You can tell by the shocked looks on everyone's faces. To be honest, even I can't help but wonder if I'm seeing things."
"Oh my, you two are out! The key point is the emperor's attitude towards this matter. Obviously, he has high hopes for this young man."
At this moment, a young scholar passing by couldn't help but interrupt: "Hey, what are you guys talking about? You're so engrossed in it. To be honest, I just happened to be watching the whole thing live."
Hearing this, everyone showed an interested expression and urged, "Hey, little brother, tell us, let us hear what good things are inside that we don't know about!"
The young man recounted the story with great excitement, "That scene was incredibly thrilling! The two of them fought back and forth for several rounds before the winner was finally decided. Even more importantly, the Emperor beamed with immense satisfaction at the final outcome..."
As these rumors gradually spread, the atmosphere in the court became more tense.
When the eldest prince stood before his father again, he didn't see the expected turnaround. Instead, the emperor, seated high above, gazed coldly at him and said, "I know you're dissatisfied in your heart, and have even secretly done things you shouldn't have done."
The man's face suddenly turned extremely pale, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead. "Father, you have misunderstood me..."
The emperor raised his hand, interrupting his defense. "No need to quibble. I summoned you here today not to pursue this matter; on the contrary," he paused before continuing, "to give you one last chance to prove yourself."
This sudden remark startled everyone present. The Second Prince frowned, seemingly having not expected such a turn of events.
The eldest prince was also stunned for a moment. He looked at the emperor uncertainly and asked, "What do you mean...?"
The latter nodded slowly and said, "Indeed, there is still a chance to save the situation. It all depends on whether you are willing to seize it firmly."
This sudden change immediately cast a layer of mystery over the seemingly clear situation. As for what would happen next, it became the most concerned and uneasy question in everyone's mind.
"Then the question arises," the emperor gazed deeply at his son, "what will you choose?" Chapter 261: Opportunity and Choice
The eldest prince felt a mixture of emotions. He had never imagined that his father would give him such an opportunity at this moment. At this moment, his thoughts were like a tangled mess, difficult to sort out.
Just as everyone held their breath, awaiting his response, a deep, hesitant voice rang out, "Father, may I ask... what exactly is this opportunity?"
"I want to test your courage and determination." Huangdi's tone was firm and cold. "This test is not easy. It may even make you lose everything."
Hearing this, everyone present took a deep breath and started to discuss:
"From the sound of it, I'm afraid it won't be an easy task."
"Yes, what does the emperor mean by this? Asking the eldest prince to prove himself? Is he going to send troops to war again?"
"Who knows, but it sounds like they're going to ask him to do something special."
"No matter what, if I can really make Da Huangzi regain his favor, it would be a great thing."
Listening to the discussions around him, the eldest prince pursed his lips. Although he was afraid, he was more excited. He knew that no matter how difficult it was, this was also a good opportunity for him to turn things around. "Father, please tell me, what should I do specifically?"
The emperor nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with the other party's attitude of facing the challenge head-on. "Okay, then I'll tell you."
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A few days later, in the morning, the streets of the capital were already bustling with people. Vendors shouted their wares, customers browsed through various goods, and children chased and played among the crowds, the air filled with laughter.
On this ordinary day, shocking news spread throughout the city at incredible speed: the emperor has decided to hold an unprecedented martial arts conference, inviting martial arts masters from all over the world to gather and compete! More importantly, the winner will receive a significant reward from the emperor himself!
This statement immediately attracted the attention of countless people. Whether it was ordinary people on the streets or high-ranking officials, they all expressed great interest and curiosity.
"Have you heard? The emperor is holding a martial arts tournament!" A small vendor who was taking a break in the teahouse boasted to a few regular customers nearby, "They say that if you win, you'll have a chance to be selected as a personal guard in the palace."
After hearing this, a middle-aged woman sitting next to him said in surprise: "Oh my god, is this true? This is too exaggerated."
However, a young man sitting in the opposite corner chuckled and retorted, "Huh, what's so strange about that? Everyone knows that our young monarch is going to implement new policies."
As they chatted animatedly, the sound of horse hooves suddenly rang out from outside the door—a high official from the imperial court was passing through. Everyone immediately rose to greet him and inquired for more information about the tournament.
The official, clearly accustomed to such situations, simply smiled faintly and said, "Don't worry, everyone. The details haven't been announced yet. However, I can tell you that this competition isn't just about honor and personal status; it's also a test of national military strength. I hope to see more outstanding talents emerge and strive for our shared future!"