freenovelworld Chapter 408: Whoever loses pays 32 gold.
Chapter 408: Whoever loses pays 32 gold.
Her voice was clear and firm, instantly drawing everyone's attention. The barbarian man glanced at the princess from head to toe, a wicked smile playing on his lips, and said, "Alright, young master, whoever loses has to hand over three thousand taels of gold. Do you dare?"
Without hesitation, the princess patted her chest and replied, "Alright, I will never go back on my word!"
Seeing the princess's impulsiveness, Fang Xiaoxiao hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed the princess's sleeve, saying anxiously, "Princess, please don't be impulsive! This is too dangerous!"
The princess gently shook off Fang Xiaoxiao's hand and said, "Xiaoxiao, don't stop me. I will definitely let these barbarians know how powerful the men of Dayu are!"
Seeing this, the barbarian man mocked even more brazenly: "What? Scared? You men of Dayu are cowards, you can't even make a bet!"
Fang Xiao stomped her feet in anger and pointed at the barbarian man, saying, "Don't be so arrogant! The princess was just acting on impulse, don't be so smug!"
The barbarian man laughed loudly: "Little girl, if you have the guts, come and do it, don't just talk the talk!"
At this moment, the atmosphere on the scene was extremely tense, and everyone's eyes were focused on the princess, watching how she would handle the situation.
Fang Xiaoxiao and the princess stopped pretending to be innocent and let their hair down, and only then did everyone realize that they were two women.
Seeing the stalemate, Fang Xiaoxiao slowly stood up. Her rise caused the assembled scholars to look on with surprise.
A talented scholar stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief, and muttered, "This... how come even the women are getting up? What should we do? This is going to be terrible."
The other scholar frowned, shook his head repeatedly, and sighed, "Alas, it was already difficult to deal with these barbarians, and now with women getting involved, we're really doomed."
When the barbarian man saw Fang Xiaoxiao stand up, the mockery on his face deepened. He grinned, revealing a set of uneven, yellow teeth, and laughed loudly, "Haha, the men of Dayu are incompetent, actually sending women out to hold up the show. It's utterly laughable!"
Princess Li Wan'er was filled with remorse. She knew she had impulsively accepted the bet, and now she was sure to lose. Her face was pale, her lips trembled slightly, and she thought to herself, "How could I have been so impulsive? What am I going to do now? I'm afraid I'll bring shame to Dayu."
Li Wan'er looked up at Fang Xiaoxiao, her eyes filled with guilt and helplessness.
Fang Xiaoxiao turned her head and gave her an incredibly firm and reassuring look. Her eyes were clear and bright, as if they contained endless strength and wisdom.
Princess Li Wan'er felt a little more at ease when she saw that look in her eyes, but she still couldn't help but worry, and she twisted the handkerchief in her hands tightly.
Fang Xiaoxiao took a few steps forward, her posture upright, her gaze fixed on the barbarian man, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Brother, don't speak too confidently. Now that the bet has been made, it's not certain who will win or lose!"
The barbarian man snorted disdainfully, crossed his arms, and said, "You little brat, how dare you spout nonsense in front of me?"
Fang Xiaoxiao smiled slightly, her smile carrying a hint of composure and confidence, and said, "Brother, why look down on people like that? Let's wait and see."
At this moment, the talented men around them also began to whisper among themselves.
"This woman seems calm and collected; I wonder if she's truly capable or just putting on a brave face."
"Alas, I hope she can find a way to deal with these barbarians, otherwise our Great Yu will lose all face."
"But judging from her momentum, she might actually be able to create a miracle."
Fang Xiaoxiao ignored the crowd's comments and approached Princess Li Wan'er, saying softly, "Princess, don't worry, I won't let you be humiliated."
Princess Li Wan'er bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "Xiao Xiao, it's all my fault for acting impulsively and dragging you into this."
Fang Xiaoxiao gently patted the princess's shoulder and comforted her, "Princess, don't blame yourself. I'm confident I can handle this."
The barbarian man shouted impatiently from the side, "Stop dawdling there and get started!"
Fang Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, composed herself, and then began to recite: "The flames of war rage across the border, warriors wield their weapons without sleep. Their iron will and loyal hearts write their lofty ambitions, how can they allow barbarian invaders to invade their homeland?"
Upon hearing this poem, everyone present was taken aback. The talented scholars nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with admiration.
The barbarian man's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his arrogant demeanor and said, "Hmph, a mere trick. Watch this!"
Then, he recited a provocative poem.
The two sides went back and forth, neither giving an inch, each round of poetry recitation like a fierce battle. Princess Li Wan'er's heart was also in her throat with the tense atmosphere; her hands were clenched tightly together, her palms already sweaty.
Fang Xiaoxiao remained calm throughout. She narrowed her eyes slightly, listening carefully to the barbarian man's verses, her mind racing as she devised a response.
The barbarian man gradually became agitated, large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his eyes were no longer as confident as they had been at the beginning.
Fang Xiaoxiao seized the opportunity and recited another magnificent poem. The words in the poem were like sharp swords, piercing the barbarian man's weakness.
The barbarian man was stunned. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.
A cheer erupted from the audience, and the talented men applauded and cheered.
"Wow, this young lady is truly talented!"
"She truly is a woman who is just as capable as any man, bringing glory to our Chongqing!"
Princess Li Wan'er finally breathed a sigh of relief, a joyful smile spreading across her face. She exclaimed excitedly, "Xiao Xiao, you're amazing!"
Fang Xiaoxiao smiled and looked at the barbarian man, saying, "Brother, are you satisfied with this result?"
The barbarian man's face turned ashen. He glared fiercely at Fang Xiaoxiao, but had nothing to say. He could only lead his men and slink away from the poetry gathering.
The poetry gathering returned to its former harmony and liveliness, and Princess Li Wan'er was filled with gratitude and admiration for Fang Xiaoxiao.
"Xiao Xiao, if it weren't for you today, I really don't know how I would have ended this," the princess said.
Fang Xiao smiled and replied, "Princess, you flatter me. We can't let these barbarians look down on us."
After the poetry gathering, the princess and Fang Xiaoxiao stayed behind, setting out several jugs of fine wine, intending to celebrate properly. The moonlight, like water, shone upon them, casting a soft halo.
The princess raised her wine cup lightly, a smile on her face, and said, "Xiao Xiao, today was truly enjoyable!"
Fang Xiaoxiao responded with a smile, tilted her head back and drank a glass of wine, her eyes revealing excitement and satisfaction.
Just then, the young man in white appeared. He wore a moon-white robe with a blue ribbon tied around his waist, and had a tall and handsome figure. His gaze fell directly on Fang Xiaoxiao, his eyes filled with admiration and appreciation.