Chapter 407: Chapter 227: Yue’Er Is the Emperor’s Daughter, Can She Be a Concubine?
Dust billowed across the Training Ground, completely obscuring the crowd’s view of the fight.
The crowd watched as Lu Yuan was sent flying from the grounds, where he collapsed and didn’t get back up.
"That young man won five straight matches. Looks like he’s finally met his match!"
"Did the youngest second-generation disciple from the Celestial Dynasty Palace win? The Grand Celestial Master’s reputation is well-deserved!"
"What just happened? I couldn’t see a thing!"
...
Inside the Golden Tent, Emperor Gu Yuanzhang shot to his feet, watching everything unfold outside.
Seeing the Emperor rise, Crown Prince Gu Biao, the Grand Elder of the Celestial Dynasty Palace, and the Grand Elder of Le Shen Temple all quickly stood up as well.
The Grand Elder of Le Shen Temple had met Lu Yuan previously and knew that he held a Daoist Elder Order, which signified a lofty status within Taoism.
Seeing Lu Yuan sent flying from the grounds, the Grand Elder of Le Shen Temple grew very worried. He patted the Grand Elder of the Celestial Dynasty Palace beside him and whispered, "Your people are too aggressive. You’ve picked a fight with the wrong man!"
The Grand Elder of the Celestial Dynasty Palace looked baffled, not understanding what he meant. With the Celestial Dynasty Palace’s standing, they weren’t afraid of causing trouble.
Dust still swirled on the Training Ground. Aside from a select few, no one could clearly see the positions of Lu Yuan and the Daoist from the Celestial Dynasty Palace.
The two Grand Elders had solemnly promised Crown Prince Gu Biao they would ensure everyone’s safety, but they had been completely unable to react in time. It was a real slap in the face for them both.
The Grand Elder of Le Shen Temple couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to Lu Yuan, the holder of a Daoist Elder Order. Lu Yuan had received his Daoist Elder Order from the master of Guyang Temple.
Qilu Province had been fortunate enough to receive a single Daoist Elder Order, which they treated like a precious treasure. The fact that it was entrusted to Lu Yuan proved he possessed considerable skill.
If something were to happen to Lu Yuan here in the Imperial Capital, it would be a loss for all of Taoism. And he would have a hard time facing his old friend, the master of Guyang Temple, the next time they met.
"Your Majesty, let’s go take a look," the Grand Elder of Le Shen Temple said, bowing with his hands clasped.
Emperor Gu Yuanzhang, seeing that it was Lu Yuan who had been defeated, sat back down. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Elder Qiao," he said.
"Father, I wish to check on Lord Lu’s injuries as well," Crown Prince Gu Biao chimed in.
"Go on," Emperor Gu Yuanzhang said with a wave of his hand. As a father, he could read his own son like an open book.
Crown Prince Gu Biao had only just met Lu Yuan. His concern stemmed from a desire to get a good look at the man his sister was always talking about. This way, he’d have something to report back to her, wouldn’t he?
Only the Emperor and the Grand Elder of the Celestial Dynasty Palace were left in the tent.
Emperor Gu Yuanzhang initiated the conversation. "Elder Kong, your junior martial brother’s skills are quite something."
Even Emperor Gu Yuanzhang hadn’t expected Elder Li of the Celestial Dynasty Palace to not only win the match but also injure Lu Yuan.
This youngest second-generation disciple from the Celestial Dynasty Palace had clashed with Lu Yuan before on the Northern battlefields. Seeing Lu Yuan basking in the spotlight, the arrogant Daoist had grown resentful and impulsively jumped onto the stage to knock him down a peg.
But whatever his reasons, how could a Daoist possibly enter the ring for a Royal Family’s martial contest to select a husband?
Could this Daoist have possibly not received the inside scoop that today’s contest was to select a husband for the Princess?
The only reason Lu Yuan was the first Defender was because Emperor Gu Yuanzhang had put him up to it. Lu Yuan himself was just hoping that defending the ring might trigger a system reward related to the Emperor; otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered winning five straight matches.
Winning five matches in a row hadn’t been difficult for Lu Yuan. His opponents’ Secret Techniques were simply too weak; they were on a completely different level from him.
The competition was publicly advertised as a way to select capable and talented individuals, with the top five finishers promised a generous reward.
But secrets never stay secret for long. Many in the Royal Family and nobility had already heard the rumors: the competition was actually to find a husband for the Princess.
Currently, the only princess of marriageable age was the Thirteenth Princess, Gu Ziye.
Thus, most of the contestants who came were hoping to climb the social ladder. Becoming the Prince Consort would be an unparalleled honor.
Facing the Emperor’s inquiry, the Grand Elder of the Celestial Dynasty Palace wiped the sweat from his brow. "My junior brother is ignorant and rash. It is our failing that he disrupted the competition."
Emperor Gu Yuanzhang didn’t intend to dwell on the matter, but he still made his point.
The Grand Elder of the Celestial Dynasty Palace quickly added, "Your Majesty, I’ll have my junior brother come down at once."
"What do you take this for? A place you can enter and leave as you please?" Emperor Gu Yuanzhang’s voice was laced with displeasure.
"Your Majesty, we would never dare," the Grand Elder of the Celestial Dynasty Palace said, bowing low. He was inwardly fuming. ’What terrible luck did I run into today? Everything is going wrong, one setback after another.’
As they spoke, the dust on the Training Ground began to settle, gradually revealing the person left standing. It was Elder Li of the Celestial Dynasty Palace, but he was in a sorry state. His clothes were blasted to shreds, and none of his former dashing appearance remained.
Seeing Elder Li’s condition, most of the crowd outside the grounds were overjoyed. They figured that if they challenged him now, he would surely be unable to defend the ring.
After hitting the ground, Lu Yuan pretended to pass out. The elderly Grand Elder of Le Shen Temple squatted beside him, pinching the pressure point beneath his nose and calling out softly, "Lor... Lord Lu..."
Crown Prince Gu Biao stood to one side. "Elder Qiao," he asked, "are Lord Lu’s injuries serious?"
Several other Daoists from Le Shen Temple also rushed over from the sidelines and gathered around Lu Yuan.
While lying on the ground faking unconsciousness, Lu Yuan had been communicating with his mother-in-law the entire time.
Before his mother-in-law could even tell him who the marital contest was for, he had already blasted himself out of the ring.
If not for his mother-in-law’s telepathic message, he’d still be completely in the dark, not having given the matter a second thought.
’I can’t figure out why the Emperor would let me be the Defender for Yue’Er’s marriage contest,’ Lu Yuan thought. ’I’m a married man, with two concubines no less! I never would have guessed His Majesty admired me this much.’
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