Chapter 72: A Name That Shakes the World
Chen Xiaobu was now like a little rooster in a fighter jet, his small voice almost cracking from shouting. “What right do you have to deny it? Can’t you afford to lose?”
He had finally gotten the chance to show off onstage once, and under everyone’s eyes, Prince Zhuo still dared to call his work a waste of manpower and money.
Prince Zhuo: “…”
What did he mean, “can’t afford to lose”? The winner had not even been decided yet, yet he spoke as if he had already lost.
In his eyes, matches and oil lamps were really nothing much. Whether they existed or not made no difference. Flint and candles were already good enough.
However, Prince Zhuo gave a disdainful laugh and said to the presiding official, “In any case, I cannot understand these so-called matches and oil lamps. Antimony trisulfide? What kind of nonsense is that? Who knows where he learned such crooked theories…”
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Xiaobu was already stunned. He scratched his forehead. “Your master didn’t teach chemistry? Antimony trisulfide. It’s that antimony trisulfide…”
He had thought everyone learned more or less the same things as he did. He felt he was still young, and what he learned was all basic introductory knowledge, such as chemistry.
Prince Zhuo did not even glance at him. Instead, he said to the presiding official, “Look at what my retainer has submitted first.”
The presiding official nodded. There was nothing else to be done. The things Chen Xiaobu had written were indeed incomprehensible.
What Prince Zhuo’s retainer had submitted was indeed a good item: a rake for tilling the land.
Because the item was simple, it had already been made. The presiding official was having the eunuchs try using it for everyone to see. It did look quite proper. If Great Qian’s farmland used this rake, it would indeed save a lot of effort.
Prince Zhuo wore an arrogant expression. “How is it? It can help the people farm. This should count as a good item for the people’s livelihood, right?”
Chen Bai looked at it a few times, then remained noncommittal. The thing was a good thing, but… it was actually made of iron.
It was very convenient and durable to use that way, but could it be promoted on a large scale?
Above, the king also frowned. He had gone to great lengths to have people search out this item from a small country, and he had clearly handed it to Prince Zhuo. How had he ended up changing it?
A superfluous addition.
Iron was a crucial state resource. How could the common people be allowed to use it freely on such a large scale?
In ancient times, iron tools were not much different from weapons. Just like in the modern world, would they let people casually use firearms?
The king frowned but said nothing. At least for now, even if it was an iron rake, it was still the best among the current designs.
Prince Zhuo was still feeling smug. How could the thing the king gave him be as useful as the iron rake he had improved? Even the efficiency of tilling land had greatly increased.
The officials were also discussing it. Because of the production process problem with Chen Xiaobu’s matches and oil lamps, there were no finished products yet, and they could not understand what Chen Xiaobu had written on the paper. Thus, most people were actually inclined toward Prince Zhuo’s side.
Chen Bai was not worried, because people had already been sent to make them.
The craftsmanship was a little difficult, so it was indeed taking some time.
After so many rounds of competition, they might as well treat this as halftime rest.
However, Prince Zhuo kept provoking them with disdain from time to time. “You are wasting everyone’s time. It would be better to announce the result directly.”
Chen Bai smiled. “That is not how the rules of the competition work.”
They were competing with actual objects, not with slick tongues.
He did not say more.
Chen Xiaobu, however, fiercely stuck his little head out from behind Chen Bai. “What are you so impatient for? No matter how anxious you are, you still can’t win. You only have one rake. I have two things.”
His words were especially infuriating, as if the comparison was simply about who had more items.
Prince Zhuo was so angered that he flicked his sleeve and left. He wanted to see who would be the one to lose face after making everyone waste so much time.
Chen Xiaobu’s two items did indeed take too much time, because no one understood them, so they had to make them while fumbling through the process. Especially the matches. In truth, matches were not that hard to make. Their main material was flint, ground finely and filtered to remove impurities, then mixed with a small amount of cooked charcoal ash to make the match head. The difficult part was the striking surface that created fire through friction.
As they waited, the sun was almost setting.
As expected, the people in this halftime break were starting to grow restless. They had come to watch the competition, not to wait endlessly like this.
Fortunately, as the evening glow turned red, at last, a row of small wooden sticks with red mushroom-like heads, along with a strange clay bottle, appeared before everyone.
The presiding official was also somewhat puzzled. “These are matches and an oil lamp?”
They looked strange, and no one knew exactly how they were used.
Chen Bai walked up, picked up a match and a small strange piece of striking paper.
Then, under everyone’s gaze, he said, “Please watch.”
He struck the match against the paper. With a hiss, a flame rose up just like that.
That tiny flame reflected in everyone’s eyes.
Everyone was stunned by this miraculous scene.
“It’s an open flame. He just swiped it once. How did an open flame appear?”
To be honest, it really was miraculous.
Even Chen Xiaobu’s mouth was wide open. Good heavens, was this the match he had written about just now? It was so fun.
He hurried over. “Let me try, let me try.”
Chen Bai: “…”
Did all children have a special obsession with fire? This thing could very easily cause a fire.
Chen Bai held back for a long time and finally managed not to say that children who played with fire would wet the bed at night.
When Chen Xiaobu took the matches and struck them one by one, the firelight shone across his surprised little face, clear for everyone to see.
Chen Xiaobu felt that he should not be so surprised, but he could not help it.
Of course, at this moment, no one cared about Chen Xiaobu’s expression anymore.
“It looks extremely convenient to use. Even a child can directly strike out an open flame.”
One could imagine how convenient it would be to light fires with such matches. In the past, the sparks struck from flint did not make starting a fire easy at all. If the weather was damp, one might strike flint for an entire day and still fail to start a fire to cook, leaving one both hungry and furious. But this was something everyone often encountered.
Chen Bai said loudly, “This is a match.”
Chen Xiaobu also stamped his feet and followed, “This is a match.”
Hmph. Look. Look how miraculous it was. Just because you could not understand it, you actually said his match was no good.
He struck one match and held it high, looking all silly and ridiculous, but his face was full of smugness.
Chen Bai continued, “Although we still do not know what price would be appropriate for these matches, their main materials are flint powder and a small wooden stick. I believe that with such a cost, every household should be able to afford these matches with the same money they originally used to buy flint.”
“Though matches are small, they can enter thousands upon thousands of households, enter everyone’s daily lives, and bring convenience to all the people of Great Qian.”
Chen Xiaobu raised his head. When one match went out, he hurriedly struck another, as if afraid others could not see it. He even stood on tiptoe and held it high. The smug look on his face had already reached a level that made one want to give him a beating.
With so many people present, everyone’s eyes were actually fixed on the burning match. They had a premonition that before long, flint would be replaced.
Just as Chen Bai had said at the beginning, only when new things replaced old things could Great Qian progress.
At this moment, Chen Bai took the burning match from Chen Xiaobu’s hand and lit the wick in the oil lamp beside him.
The presiding official and eunuchs standing nearby could see it most clearly. After the wick was lit, it did not burn into ash. Instead, like the wick of a candle, it kept the flame burning.
Everyone: “…”
Was that not a bottle of water?
How could it be like wax and keep the wick from going out?
Chen Bai continued, “As for this oil lamp, like candles, it can provide continuous light.”
“And for such a bottle of lamp oil, if used sparingly, say one hour every night, it can be used for a full month without any problem. Its cost is probably only the price of a single candle.”
Candles being expensive was not just empty talk.
As soon as these words came out, the audience erupted completely.
“What? Such a small bottle, lit for one hour a day, can last a month?”
That was a full hour. To be honest, even households in Shangjing could not possibly light a lamp for one hour every night, much less households elsewhere. In other words, in actual use, this oil lamp might last longer than a month.
“And its cost is only the price of one candle?”
Even if labor costs and other expenses were added, it could not become much more expensive.
Chen Bai smiled. “With oil lamps, from now on, every night, it may not be impossible for every household in Shangjing to be brightly lit.”
“In the future, if one stands on high ground and looks at Shangjing at night, it will be a completely new sight: lights scattered like stars, lanterns glowing in the dusk.”
That scene was so beautiful that even imagining it left people somewhat dazed. A Shangjing with lanterns glowing in the dusk, scattered like stars.
“Though oil lamps are cheap, they can illuminate thousands upon thousands of households…”
Through his words, Chen Bai brought everyone a different vision of Shangjing.
The key was that such a Shangjing could truly be realized.
The entire scene fell silent. Even their gazes swayed with the flickering flame of the oil lamp, as if they had fallen into a dream.
However, this dreamlike scene was soon broken. Prince Zhuo spoke in a gloomy voice, “My land-tilling rake is not inferior either. Great Qian is founded on agriculture. Can a rake that helps everyone till the land not compare to your matches and oil lamps?”
Unexpectedly, even with his preparations, he still could not crush the other side. One could imagine his mood.
Chen Bai smiled and even picked up the rake on the ground. “The rake is a good rake.”
Prince Zhuo raised his face.
“But…” Chen Bai continued, “If I am not mistaken, it is made of iron, yes?”
“So what if it is? An iron rake is especially useful for tilling land, and it is durable.”
Chen Bai shook his head, noncommittal. “Noble households may be able to use it, but if it is meant as an item for the people’s livelihood, how many families do you think can afford it? And how much iron does Great Qian have to make such rakes?”
With one light sentence, he pointed out the core of this exam question. What they were designing was an item to improve the people’s livelihood. What did an iron rake for nobles count as?
Chen Bai glanced at Prince Zhuo. “If we are talking about wasting manpower and money, your iron rake is the one that will truly drain Great Qian’s wealth. I wonder if Prince Zhuo is fully aware of how expensive iron is? One rake may require a family to work for a year or two before they can afford it, let alone use it to create value.”
Uh… He only knew that it was useful. Besides, how much could one iron rake be worth?
Chen Xiaobu froze for a moment, then hurriedly stuck his little head out from behind Chen Bai again. “Prince Zhuo, you are the one wasting manpower and money.”
He threw the exact same words back at the other party. Chen Xiaobu was beyond happy.
Chen Bai smiled. It seemed this little fellow would not be left with any psychological shadow from the other party’s accusations. If there really was any problem, it was probably that he was a little too smug, so smug that one wanted to smack him.
The audience also nodded inwardly. Matches and oil lamps were the truly practical things that benefited the people. The rake might be good, but they could not use it.
The result was obvious. This kind of competition witnessed by everyone could indeed be considered fair, because no one could point at a deer and call it a horse, nor reverse black and white.
“The fifth round of the imperial princes’ competition: Chen Xiaobu wins. Prince Zheng receives one point.”
Prince Zhuo’s expression could not have looked worse. In truth, the king’s expression was even worse. He could not help muttering darkly, “A useless thing, more than capable of ruining everything.”
He had found him an item for the people’s livelihood, yet he had altered it into an iron product. Setting aside the price issue that Mountain Lord had mentioned, would he dare allow the common people to use iron tools in such large quantities?
The oil lamp on the field remained lit and was not blown out.
Chen Xiaobu’s matches, however, were taken back by Chen Bai.
Chen Xiaobu was a little reluctant, but now he was a famous person under everyone’s gaze. Even if he wanted to roll on the ground and make a fuss, he felt a little embarrassed. He hurriedly stood up straight and followed Chen Bai down in a stiff, proper manner. If one ignored his face, which was smiling like a little flower, he did look rather presentable. In Gan Xin’s words, he also did not want to smile. He also wanted to be serious on such an occasion. But he simply could not help it.
When Chen Bai returned to the carriage, Qi Zheng leaned over and said casually, “For the match and oil lamp business, we will cooperate.”
Chen Bai: “…”
This Huang Shiren, who never got up early unless there was profit. For such goods used by the people, they looked cheap and seemed to have little profit, but they could not withstand the sheer volume. Qi Zheng had actually seen the business opportunity in it. He was impressive.
Chen Bai said weakly, “Actually, our Court Commandant’s Estate could also do the match and oil lamp business by ourselves.”
The corner of Qi Zheng’s mouth lifted. “With the Court Commandant’s Estate’s little bit of assets, you would not even be able to supply one Shangjing, so how could you expand the business in a short time?”
Chen Bai: “…”
Fine. According to Qi Zheng’s explanation, they really did have to cooperate with him to maximize the benefits.
After thinking it over, doing business was indeed troublesome. It was better for him to sit back and reap the gains.
Besides, if he fattened Qi Zheng up like this, then in the future, on account of all these things, Qi Zheng would have to let him become a lawless favored minister, right? Ideally, favored to the point that as long as he did not rebel, Qi Zheng would indulge him in anything. That would count as worth it.
By now, the sky was already growing late. Under the glow of the oil lamp, even long shadows were cast.
The audience, however, still looked reluctant for it to end.
After a discussion, the presiding official announced, “Today’s competition ends here. It will continue tomorrow.”
Chen Bai frowned. The imperial princes’ competition had already gone through five rounds. Qi Zheng had won four and tied one. The tie had only happened because they were caught off guard and had not expected the other side to cheat.
Even with that, they were still dragging things out and refusing to decide the heir.
Chen Bai did not know what the king was thinking, but it could not possibly continue endlessly. If the king was planning to let Prince Zhuo claw back the score, then he was truly thinking too much.
The corner of Chen Bai’s mouth lifted. As the saying went, soldiers come, generals block; water comes, earth covers. Qi Zheng had finally fought for this fair chance to compete. How could they possibly admit defeat so easily? Not only that, they would seize this chance and never let go, because if they missed it, who knew what the next situation would be?
The moment the presiding official made the announcement, the most excited ones were actually the students in the carriages behind Qi Zheng. Their heads all poked out from behind the carriage curtains. “Why aren’t we continuing? We haven’t even gone onstage yet.”
“That’s right. It was clearly supposed to be our turn to show off.”
Chen Bai’s forehead twitched violently. In truth, it was not just him. The other princes and their retainers’ foreheads were twitching too.
They were so impatient, as if they were rushing up there to win. What did they take them for?
But no matter how dissatisfied these students were, today’s competition was still over.
The spectators sighed with lingering regret. Today’s competition had been far too exciting. But when they thought about it carefully, they realized the only things they remembered were the dazzling performances the students of Cloudward Academy had brought them again and again.
Thinking this, their hearts could not help but jolt. Had Cloudward Academy already become such an extraordinary existence?
That academy, quiet and unassuming, standing outside the city without showing off, towering high into the clouds, had actually cultivated so many outstanding students. From the students’ performances today, one could already see a glimpse of it.
The feeling was sudden and unreal.
But from today onward, no one would be able to neglect or ignore Cloudward Academy anymore, right? They would no longer see it as merely a miracle-like building.
The crowd dispersed, each returning home.
After Chen Bai went back, he washed up and was just about to rest when Chen Xiaobu rushed into his courtyard with an excited face, his little cheeks flushed red.
“Brother, why didn’t you come watch the imperial princes’ competition today? Your younger brother stole the limelight today. Right now, there’s no one in Shangjing who doesn’t know my name, Chen Xiaobu.”
Chen Bai smiled and rubbed the soft hair on Chen Xiaobu’s head. “You’re already a famous person. Why are you still acting like a little monkey?”
“Aiya, there are no outsiders here anyway. Brother, let me tell you, today was so exciting. I even talked back to Prince Zhuo, and he didn’t dare refute me…”
Chen Xiaobu was indeed a little too excited. His little mouth kept going nonstop, and Chen Bai was worried he might get thirsty.
Chen Bai listened as Chen Xiaobu vividly described today’s imperial princes’ competition.
This was really nice. A harmonious family, a life filled with laughter and joy. Once Qi Zheng ascended to the throne, he and the Court Commandant’s Estate should become much steadier, no longer needing to worry about all sorts of things.
If one could live a stable life, who would be willing to spend every day frightened and anxious?
Chen Xiaobu talked for half the day, then touched his belly. He had talked himself hungry. He had to go gnaw on some dried cured meat his mother had bought too much of.
After sending Chen Xiaobu away, Chen Bai thought for a moment, took out his phone, and sent Qi Zheng a voice message. “Have you thought about how to deal with tomorrow?”
Ever since Qi Zheng had removed his mask last time, they had not chatted much through the phone.
Because whenever Qi Zheng used the phone to chat with him, he would treat him as Mountain Lord. But when they met in reality, the feeling immediately broke apart again.
Both of them were acting like people with split personalities.
Chen Bai had not planned to wait for Qi Zheng’s reply, but unexpectedly, not long after, Qi Zheng actually responded. “They suffered a crushing defeat today. I’m afraid they will make thorough preparations for tomorrow’s competition, especially Prince Zhuo. Since he can know the questions in advance, he will certainly be even harder to deal with.”
Prince Zhuo, who had originally been full of confidence, would probably take the competition more seriously now.
Chen Bai could not help freezing for a moment. Qi Zheng had actually replied to him. Tsk, tsk. What an awkward man.
Of course, he did not dare let Qi Zheng know he thought that. He felt that if Qi Zheng found out, he would immediately fly into a rage and say something about him tarnishing some pure friendship. So sour.
Chen Bai straightened his posture. Right now was the time to establish a new revolutionary friendship of “sharing hardship together.” He could not relax. After all, he did not know whether Qi Zheng would settle old scores with him once the competition was over.
He had to properly flirt with Qi Zheng a little.
Because they still had to compete the next day, Chen Bai did not flatter him for too long. Still, he himself was quite satisfied, because Qi Zheng had accepted all his flattery without rejection.
The next morning, Chen Xiaobu came early to find Chen Bai and drag him to watch the imperial princes’ competition.
Chen Bai definitely had no way to go. He had to attend as Mountain Lord.
Chen Xiaobu wore an expression as if his brother had missed out on a thousand taels of gold before finally leaving excitedly.
Chen Bai also made his preparations and went out. When his carriage arrived at the venue, what surprised him was that the students’ carriages were all there as well.
He had thought that after these students went home for the night, they would probably not all be able to come back.
He really could not tell what these students’ families were thinking. Say they supported Qi Zheng? They would probably deny it even if beaten to death. Say they opposed Qi Zheng? Their own children had now become Qi Zheng’s retainers.
The spectators had also arrived early. As for the carriages belonging to Qi Zheng’s retainers, they had already gotten used to them.
The worrying thing was that today, whether Prince Zhuo or the king, both were probably well-prepared. Only he had to face a question that remained uncertain until it was announced on the spot.
Qi Zheng had arrived even earlier. When he passed by Chen Bai’s carriage, Chen Bai obsequiously asked, “Did you sleep well last night?”
It was just such a simple question, yet Qi Zheng’s face darkened.
Was that something Chen Zixiu should ask? They were not that close.
Chen Bai: “…”
Fine. This damned awkward man. If he had the ability, he could stay awkward his whole life.
Sigh. It seemed the revolutionary friendship established last night had not succeeded.
When the sun rose, the king and the officials also arrived.
Because of yesterday’s thrilling competition, with one rare and shocking item after another appearing, the spectators were also eagerly looking forward to today’s competition.
There were even people at the scene discussing yesterday’s Zhuge repeating crossbow, matches, and oil lamps. True enough, to them, which one of those things was not epoch-making and utterly unprecedented?
“Dong, dong, dong.”
The drums sounded.
Only then did everyone suppress their voices and prick up their ears. They were extremely curious about the topic as well.
Chen Bai also focused his attention. Originally, he had thought that today’s competition should be similar to yesterday’s.
But the moment the topic was announced, Chen Bai was stunned too.
“The sixth round of the imperial princes’ competition begins now.”
“As everyone knows, the Yan merchants committed treason and openly attempted to assassinate our Great Qian’s king in the main hall. To demand justice, by the command of Empress Dowager Zhaosheng, our court has already sent a letter of accusation to the Yan royal family, requiring them to offer three cities as compensation. Great Qian’s three armies have also pressed down upon Yan’s border…”
“However, relying on the wealth of their nation and their alliance with Ba and Wei, Yan has ignored Great Qian’s accusation and has not taken the threat of our three armies at the border seriously.”
“Therefore, the question for the sixth round is: how can Yan be made to obediently hand over three cities as compensation?”
The moment the topic was announced, not only Chen Bai froze, but the spectators also erupted into uproar.
Chen Bai knew that the imperial princes’ competition would certainly test the handling of court affairs. After all, this was a fight for the position of crown prince. The ability to handle government affairs was the ultimate measure.
He just had not expected that the first such question would be this enormous problem.
Yan, Ba, and Wei relied on their three-nation alliance and did not even take the pressure of three armies at the border seriously. How could anyone else make them obediently hand over three cities?
This test question was truly a century-level problem. No wonder the spectators were in an uproar.
Chen Bai frowned slightly. For such a difficult problem, he had no solution. Could Prince Zhuo really win?
He could not figure out why the king would set such a question.
At this moment, the presiding official loudly announced, “This question is worth three points.”
Chen Bai was not too surprised. In fact, for a problem of this difficulty, even three points was too little. But… Qi Zheng had painstakingly earned four points, and now a single question was worth three.
In other words, if Prince Zhuo really won this round, plus the one point he had earned from the tie earlier, he could actually tie with Qi Zheng.
If any other prince won this round, they could directly reverse the situation as well.
“Princes, please submit your retainers’ name plaques.” The presiding official ignored how shaken the crowd was and continued.
After the uproar came utter silence. Everyone stared fixedly at the princes’ camps. This competition was no ordinary matter. What kind of retainers would they send into battle?
“Imperial princes’ competition: Prince Zhuo’s first retainer, Lord Lan, Lan Ruoyun.”
Crash.
Chen Bai froze. Lord Lan, Lan Ruoyun? One of Great Qian’s Four Gentlemen, Lord Lan, who was as famous as Meng Huanchao, known as the Dream-Borne Divine Lord and the Orchid in an Empty Valley.
But when had Lan Ruoyun become a retainer of Prince Zhuo’s residence?
Chen Bai looked suspiciously toward Qi Zheng beside the carriage.
Qi Zheng also frowned and shook his head. “Lan Ruoyun hasn’t been in Great Qian for years. I didn’t expect him to give me such a big surprise the moment he returned. But I heard Lan Ruoyun seems to have some connection with the Yan royal family…”
Chen Bai’s brows locked tightly. He had appeared far too suddenly. And he just so happened to have a connection with the Yan royal family…
At this moment, from Prince Zhuo’s camp walked out an elegant young man like an orchid. He wore a goose-yellow robe, adorned with understated orchid patterns.
The moment he stepped out, it was as if an aura of nobility naturally surrounded him, as though it had been born with him.
What a Lan Ruoyun. What a Lord Lan.
The spectators and even the officials were stirred into a great commotion.
Among Great Qian’s famous scholars, the most renowned were Great Qian’s Four Gentlemen. Lan Ruoyun indeed had the qualifications to cause such a sensation.
Even Prince Zhuo, who had always been frivolous and unruly, restrained himself considerably and appeared much more steady. From beginning to end, the corner of his eye rested on Lan Ruoyun, not daring to be even the slightest bit neglectful.
The retainers from the other princes’ residences were originally also famous figures in Shangjing, but now, they could not even stir up a ripple. They were like petals fallen into mud, like dim little stars beside a bright moon.
Chen Bai frowned and sighed. “Looks like they came prepared today.”
The students, who had originally been fighting to go onstage, also fell silent.
“Why is the question so hard? It’s unsolvable, right?”
“Prince Zhuo’s retainer is actually Lord Lan. My father thinks the most highly of him.”
“Hmph, what’s so impressive? When we grow up, every one of us can become a famous scholar who shakes the world like Lord Lan.”
Qi Zheng also frowned and asked, “How is it?”
Chen Bai pondered for a while. “This question is indeed something I did not expect. But even if Lan Ruoyun really has ties with the Yan royal family, he cannot easily make Yan hand over three cities just like that.”
Another country’s imperial prince competing for the crown prince position had nothing to do with Yan, so Yan could not possibly use three cities as a wager.
Therefore, Chen Bai also could not figure out how Lan Ruoyun would help Prince Zhuo win this round.
However…
Chen Bai continued, “If one wants to obtain three cities from Yan, it may not be completely impossible. It’s just somewhat circuitous…”
“Since ancient times, wars without smoke have often been the most shocking.”
Qi Zheng was stunned. He wanted to take three cities from Yan without smoke or fire?
He glanced at Chen Bai, then had someone submit the retainer’s name plaque.
When the eunuch who announced the plaques held the plaque, his eyes lit up.
“Imperial princes’ competition: Prince Zheng’s first retainer, famous scholar of the world… Mountain Lord.”
Mountain Lord’s combat strength in competitions was known to everyone in Shangjing.
Speaking of which, it had been a long time since they last saw Mountain Lord compete against someone.
Chen Bai lifted the carriage curtain and stepped down, still as bewitching as ever.
Across from him, Lan Ruoyun also cupped his hands toward Chen Bai. “I did not expect that after leaving Shangjing for a few years, Shangjing would produce a figure like Mountain Lord. Ruoyun has only just returned, yet your name already sounds like thunder in my ears.”
Chen Bai froze for a moment. What a gentleman like an orchid. He truly lived up to his name. Looking at him, it did not seem as though they were competitors at all.
If Meng Huanchao were called over to stand beside Lan Ruoyun, the two would absolutely be the most beautiful scenery in all of Shangjing.
Lan Ruoyun was indeed handsome and elegant. No wonder he had the title of Dream-Borne Divine Lord. It was said that even a god reflected in a person’s dream would look no more than this. He and the unforgettable Meng Huanchao each had their own charm.
Chen Bai also returned the courtesy in a proper manner. Since the other party had greeted him in such a noble and refined way, he could not lose decorum.
Prince Zhuo beside them, however, looked as cocky as if he owned the world.
The retainers from each residence had already stepped onto the platform.
Almost everyone’s eyes were fixed on Chen Bai and Lan Ruoyun on the stage.
Chen Bai had said earlier that if Meng Huanchao and Lan Ruoyun stood together, they would absolutely be the most beautiful scenery. But in others’ eyes, were he and Lan Ruoyun not the same right now?
One was red to the point of bewitchment, his mask never once removed, his entire being shrouded in a mysterious veil.
It was said that among the popular topics discussed by Shangjing’s common people over tea and after meals, Mountain Lord’s face could definitely rank near the top.
The other wore goose-yellow robes, his temperament as indifferent and noble as an orchid.
Were they not the most beautiful scenery in everyone’s eyes?
Perhaps because the two were standing rather close, Lan Ruoyun looked at Chen Bai rather carefully.
When his gaze passed over Chen Bai’s eyes, he could not help freezing. Mountain Lord’s eyes… were so bewitching. He actually had a pair of strange eyes that could charm all living beings. Truly… truly beautiful. Perhaps out of curiosity, or something else, he could not help wanting to probe them. He had never seen such beautiful eyes before.
If Chen Bai knew what Lan Ruoyun was thinking, he would definitely laugh and say: They’re just colored contacts. What’s there to be curious about? You can wear them too.
Below the stage, Qi Zheng frowned.
What was wrong with this Lan Ruoyun? Why did he keep staring at his Mountain Lord’s eyes? Still looking? Still looking!
