It was not that Pei Ji had a sudden whim; he simply recalled a childhood memory.
Not long after they became betrothed, he was about to venture out into the jianghu. When he went to bid her farewell, Chu Yunge begged him to take her with him, saying she also wanted to leave the palace.
Chu Yunge had been fair and soft back then, making him always want to pinch her cheeks. Seeing the disgust and deep fear of the palace on her face, he felt a pang of compassion and wanted to plead with the Empress Dowager and the Chu Emperor for permission, but he was unsurprisingly refused.
Later, he still wanted to sneak Xiao Chu Yunge out, but unfortunately, he was caught before he could get her out of the palace.
That was the first time he was beaten with the board because of Chu Yunge, and he was mistakenly thought to be fleeing the marriage for a second time.
Thinking of the past, he suddenly felt a bit panicked, afraid that she still wanted to leave Heavenly Prosperity City like she did as a child, following Xie Wangze away. In a moment of impulse, the words slipped out: “Unless… you beat me.”
After he said it, he regretted it a little, but the Chu Emperor gave him an approving look. Since it started with this ridiculous bet, it should end with one too.
Before Xie Wangze or Chu Yunge could react, he immediately spoke up: “Pei Ji, do you want to bet against Young Master Xie for the sake of your imperial sister?”
With those words, he reignited the atmosphere once more.
Chu Yunge, who had not spoken a word throughout, chuckled inwardly. How clichéd. She, a mere bystander… had ended up as the prize in their bet.
The Chu Emperor was truly cunning. To prevent his rival from returning to the Chen State and threatening the Chu State, he kept using her as an excuse to obstruct him time and again.
The Chu Emperor and Xie Wangze exchanged glances from afar, their eyes so complex they could fill an emotional pie chart.
So, she was just a piece in their little game?
Chu Yunge rolled her eyes inwardly. It was none of her business, so she stayed out of it.
When Xie Wangze saw the Chu Emperor appear, he knew his return to his country could no longer be achieved through this simple bet.
He had no intention of entertaining Pei Ji’s ridiculous proposal.
He had long known the Chu Emperor did not want to let him go.
But giving up like this left him unwilling.
Opportunity knocks but once; if he missed this chance, who knew when the next one would come.
As long as he beat Pei Ji, the Chu Emperor would have no reason to stop him. He glanced at Chu Yunge, who seemed unconcerned, and gritted his teeth. Worst case… he would really take Chu Yunge back to the Chen State with him.
Chu Yunge surely did not want to go back with him. Life in the Chen State would not be as comfortable as in the Princess Mansion, nor would there be so many male favorites.
But they were the ones who had completed the wedding rites as husband and wife.
Even if Pei Ji had been betrothed to her, he was just a male favorite at best.
Xie Wangze looked at Pei Ji, his expression mild, but his gaze deep and somber.
“I wonder what the Little Marquis wants to bet on? My martial arts are no match for the Little Marquis; I fear I cannot win.”
As soon as Xie Wangze agreed, the onlookers could not help but start whispering among themselves, feeling that what they had witnessed that day could be talked about for three days and nights.
Before, everyone said the Princess and the Prince Consort were a mismatched couple, that the Princess had forced the Little Marquis and the others into it. How had it turned into a battle over the Princess today?
It seemed the Little Marquis and the Princess, after so many years of betrothal, still had feelings for each other.
Young Master Xie was also devoted to the Princess, so the battle to claim her had officially begun right before their eyes.
Everyone could not help but look at Chu Yunge, wondering whom she favored more, whether she would be moved.
In the end… Chu Yunge had somehow already sat back down in her original seat.
Her posture was languid, making people sigh: What a languid beauty.
Setting everything else aside, the Lord of Yongning Palace truly had the looks for it; no wonder they were fighting over her.
But why was she so unmoved, acting as if it had nothing to do with her, like they were not fighting for her sake?
The crowd fell silent, full of confusion. Du Ruo was also puzzled: “Your Highness, why are you so calm? Whom do you want to win?”
“What does it have to do with This Princess? They made the bet without even asking This Princess’s opinion. Their win or loss has nothing to do with This Princess.”
Not to mention that this was a contest between nations; she was just a raft being used. Even if it were truly a bet over her, did that mean she had to be moved?
She was a person. Using her as a betting prize, no matter the reason, filled her with utter disgust.
Chu Yunge’s voice was flat. Du Ruo did not fully understand what she meant, but for some reason, she did not dare to speak.
In the past, when the Princess was tyrannical, Du Ruo feared her too, but a little flattery would suffice; she could handle it. Now, the Princess seemed approachable, had not thrown a tantrum in days, and was easy to serve, yet Du Ruo inexplicably began to fear her.
Pei Ji had sharp ears, and though Chu Yunge’s voice was not loud, he heard it.
He froze on the spot.
He had made the bet partly at the Chu Emperor’s prompting and partly because he did not want her to leave. But hearing Chu Yunge’s words, he realized no one had asked her opinion.
She was the key figure, yet no one had asked her. This was fundamentally wrong.
He knew he had made a mistake again, but at this point, there was no turning back.
“My studies and chess skills are also no match for Young Master Xie, so let us avoid our strengths.” Pei Ji pondered for a moment: “Since we are by the water, I recall Young Master Xie knows how to swim. How about we compete at holding our breath underwater, to see who lasts longer?”
This way, it would be relatively fair.
Xie Wangze actually disliked water; he had learned to swim out of necessity.
In his harsh childhood, he had often been bullied. The torment of being held underwater and then pulled up had soon befallen him.
He had learned to swim in such circumstances, just to survive.
Thus, he loathed water and avoided it when possible.
If not for the fact that Pei Ji had long left Heavenly Prosperity City back then and would not stoop to such things, and knowing the Chu Emperor had saved him from that situation, turning his fortunes around, Xie Wangze might have suspected it was deliberate.
Pei Ji was unaware, but the Chu Emperor knew the circumstances. He had been the one to save Xie Wangze back then. Hearing this, the Chu Emperor hesitated, about to suggest Pei Ji change the challenge, when Xie Wangze agreed.
“Fine.”
He loathed water, even repelled by it, but he had to overcome it.
He could not back down; he had to return to his country.
The crowd moved to the riverbank to watch the match.
Chu Yunge was too lazy to move, but the Chu Emperor did not overlook her. With a face full of gentle warmth, he invited her to come down with him, saying if she was tired, she could ride in his palanquin.
Chu Yunge looked at the Chu Emperor, still covered by his canopy even without the sun out and with sunset approaching. Looking at his perfectly gentle smile, she finally stood up and went down with him.
The match began quickly. Pei Ji directly stripped off his robe, leaving only his trousers.
Xie Wangze removed his outer robe, leaving only his inner garment.
“Safety first; do not risk your lives in bravado.” The Chu Emperor cautioned.
The two nodded. Pei Ji looked at Xie Wangze: “Your Highness, rest assured; the Young Master Xie and I know our limits.”
Xie Wangze nodded.
With the starting shout, both sank underwater at the same time, beginning the competition.
Chu Yunge yawned. Was this the so-called political struggle of legend? It felt like something out of a TV drama or a real-life corporate battle.
Political intrigue in dramas involved step-by-step schemes, but in reality, it was just a breath-holding contest, no different from kids fighting.
Time passed minute by minute. The crowd buzzed with discussion and endless praise.
But as time dragged on, everyone began to worry amid the praise.
“Why haven’t they come up? Did they pass out?”
“This breath-holding is too long…”
“They must like the Princess so much; they’re risking their lives for her.”
The Chu Emperor grew worried too and had someone call out, meaning for them not to risk their lives.
Moments later, Pei Ji surfaced first.
He gasped for air and looked to the side in disbelief; Xie Wangze still had not come up.
Was he trying so hard for his country, or for the Princess?
Panting heavily, he slapped the water nearby: “It’s done; I lost. Young Master Xie, come up.” Do not hold your breath to death.
Pei Ji’s face was unsightly, not just from holding his breath, but because he had not outlasted Xie Wangze.
By rights, he should not have lost; as a martial artist, his breath control was superior and longer-lasting—that was his advantage.
He did not want to lose; he needed the Princess to detoxify him, or he could not survive without her.
Yet he still lost in the end.
Why had Xie Wangze never been this desperate before? He had wanted to return home for a while now, and even news of the Chen Emperor’s worsening health had circulated for a year or so. Why this time?
It could not be that his life did not matter before, but did now.
Did he want to take the Princess away that badly?