chapter 23

“If she’s a man, then I cannot wish for anything better.” Zhan Lue caressed Xian Sheng’s face and said, “A-Jin’s martial skills are exceptional. I can only exchange a few blows with her. If she were to fight Jiang Qin, she will definitely win.”

Xian Sheng’s eyes sparkled. “She’s really that amazing?”

Upon seeing Xian Sheng’s joy, Zhan Lue also became happy. He kissed Xian Sheng’s cheeks and said, “Jiang Qin is good at archery, but his martial arts is average.”

Xian Sheng’s heart said that If Zhan Jin is really a woman, she might defeat Zhan Lue one day and become the next Female Empress. This will fulfil what his master mentioned about a “life of prosperity”.

His rationality, on the other hand, said that he must confirm something with Zhan Jin first. Xian Sheng’s imagination ran wild—he was almost like a woman imagining the future of her 'sweetheart”. He said, “If there are losers amongst men, then naturally, there will be heroes amongst women. Why don’t you give her a chance?”

“She’s a princess. She’ll have to marry one day. If she’s scarred, I’m afraid that her husband will look down on her.”

Entertaining himself, Xian Sheng thought: If she’s a real princess, she might marry me in the future. As a loser of an Emperor, I’ll definitely not dislike the Empress even if her body is scarred.

“You should seek her opinion—perhaps her ambition does not lie in a woman’s bedroom. Otherwise, you might bury her potential.”

Zhan Lue looked contemplative, while Xian Sheng looked at him obediently. Suddenly, Zhan Lue furrowed his brows. “Since when are you so close to her?”

“I seem to have a special affinity with her.”

Xian Sheng’s heart was still undecided. He might not be too hopeful about Zhan Yin being that woman with the Yang Energy—rather, he was just afraid that Zhan Yin was like himself. He hoped that she would have an opportunity to chase her ambitions, instead of being locked up within the confines of the palace walls, wasting her life away.

Zhan Lue could not help but ask, “Are you trying to persuade me? If she were a man, I’d be jealous.”

Xian Sheng pursed his lips and concealed the hope that was arising in his heart. With a soft gaze, he asked, “Will you agree to it?”

Zhan Lue’s throat tightened. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he asked, “That will depend on your performance tonight.”

“…” Xian Sheng turned his head around and ignored him.

Empress Xin’s cooking was quite exceptional. In the past, Xian Sheng was prohibited from eating meat in the palace. Now that he came to the Northern country, he discovered that they had meat in every meal. The meat was cooked in various ways—frying, grilling, steaming—and not only did they look and taste good, but the portions were also huge too.

“I heard that in Southern Liang’s meals, the food only takes up a small portion of the plate, while the plating would be extremely intricate. Is it true?”

Since Empress Xin asked, Xian Sheng replied, “That was enough to eat.”

Empress Xin laughed. “You really have the stomach of a bird.”

As Xian Sheng picked up his chopsticks, Zhan Lue placed a piece of roasted fish into his bowl. The fish’s skin had been fried to a golden crisp, with sauce dangling off it—it looked extremely appetising.

He swallowed his saliva secretly and told Zhan Lue softly, “I don’t eat fish.”

Zhan Lue was shocked and replied softly too, “You don’t like it?”

Xian Sheng said, “There’s bones in it.”

“How delicate,” mocked Zhan Lue. Chuckling, he picked it up and placed it into his own bowl. Xian Sheng ignored his teasing and ate in small bites. The Northern Jin Royal Family was still distinct from the commoners—they usually ate elegantly. However, perhaps due to the fact that everyone there was family, they were much more casual here compared to that day in the Xile Pavilion.

Xian Sheng only ate the food in front of him, rarely extending his hand out to reach the further dishes. In the midst of eating, Empress Xin looked at him and lifted her chin towards Zhan Lue, who then swapped the dishes in front of him occasionally. Xian Sheng only realized after a few times, and he felt a warm sensation in his heart.