As for the figure on the left, it was Nangong Mu. He was wearing an ordinary shirt and had an expression as calm as the still lake water.
“So Nangong Mu is already in the capital?” The courtiers were slightly surprised when they saw Nangong Mu. However, it was not something that was too shocking.
After all, Nangong Mu intended to take part in this Court Examination to begin with.
However…
It was a surprise for Nangong Mu to appear together with Ping Yang and Yan Xiu.
The Crown Prince Lin Tianrong was not exactly in a good mood. It was the first time he was publicly reprimanded by the Majesty Lin Mubai after all.
When he heard that Ping Yang had arrived, he subconsciously lifted his head to take a look. The moment he tried to speak, a cold presence flashed through his eyes.
This was because he saw Yan Xiu as well as Nangong Mu.
However…
He did not see Fang Zhengzhi!
Was he asleep? That’s why he was absent?
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong naturally would not think so. After all, everyone knew that Fang Zhengzhi had stayed in Ping Yang Residence the entire time. Furthermore, judging from his personality, it was impossible for him to miss out on such a big occasion at the Crown Prince Residence.
“Yan Xiu had arrived but Fang Zhengzhi is nowhere to be seen. Don’t tell me…” A thought flashed across Crown Prince Lin Tianrong’s mind. Something that he would not, and could not think of.
Under thirty-five years old and…
Able to fight against three Rebirth State personnel on equal footing.
Furthermore, he was situated in Flame Capital City.
It was difficult to find someone who fit these criteria in Flame Capital City. The Imperial Concubine Hua Fei was one of them. However, there was another person, who had always been left out of the picture.
This person was not of noble descent. However, he had once had great exploits in the battle of the Southern Mountain Range. He was the biggest hero and key architect of the Southern Mountain Range victory in the battle.
Most importantly,
This person had once fought with the Demon clan’s half sage Can Yang.
Fang Zhengzhi.
A person whom everyone had long thought became a cripple.
He would then naturally be ignored. In fact, he would not even appear in their thoughts. Who would have thought that a cripple like Fang Zhengzhi would enter the Crown Prince Residence, fight against three Rebirth State individuals and leave like nothing had happened?
But what if…
What If he was not a cripple?
In an instant, Lin Tianrong felt a shiver down his spine. If this was indeed the truth, then the result would be so disastrous, it would be unacceptable.
In the battle of the Southern Mountain Range, Fang Zhengzhi did not become a cripple!
Furthermore, in just over a year’s time, he had grown strong enough to fight three powerful Rebirth State individuals. For a person who had just attained the Supernatural State to have grown strong enough to fight three Rebirth State individuals in a year was almost impossible.
However, if this person was Fang Zhengzhi….
It would be highly possible.
This was because Fang Zhengzhi had once grown from the Star Conglomerate State to the Heavenly Reflection State, then to the Supernatural State in a few months’ time. He had even fought against the half sage Can Yang.
This was a terrifying potential and a horrifying sinister ability.
All of these pointed towards Fang Zhengzhi.
Apart from this, Fang Zhengzhi still had not reached eighteen years old. If this thing becomes a reality, then it would point to another issue.
The Double Roll Champion that would shock and bring peace to the world!
Lin Tianrong felt his body tremble. This was a heavenly prophecy. Even if he was the Crown Prince, he had to respect this divine message. Even his father, the Majesty had to do so.
Once Fang Zhengzhi was recognized as the Chosen One, the consequences were clear.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong thought about this first and foremost.
The other Courtiers who were beside Your Majesty Lin Mubai had also thought of the same thing. This was because Ping Yang, Yan Xiu and Nangong Mu were all present, with the exception of one person, Fang Zhengzhi!
A person who should have been beside Ping Yang.
“Fang Zhengzhi, is it possible that the person who will arrive at the Crown Prince Residence today is… Fang Zhengzhi?”
“That is not possible, wasn’t he already crippled in the battle of the Southern Mountain Range? Unless he didn’t…”
“If that is the case, I’m afraid…”
The Courtiers looked at one another and seemed to be thinking about the same thing. The moment this thought appeared in their minds, a sentence that Fang Zhengzhi said not long ago flashed across their minds.
“I am going to take part in the examination held in the Heaven Dao Pavilion!”
At that time, all of the courtiers looked at Fang Zhengzhi with a condescending look. How could a cripple even think about entering the examination?
Was it possible?
No one thought that Fang Zhengzhi had a chance of passing the examination.
However, if Fang Zhengzhi was not crippled by the battle, then the odds would be totally different. He not only had a chance to pass it, there was a high chance that he would ace the examination!
Just as the Crown Prince and the courtiers were horrified by their thoughts, Ping Yang, Yan Xiu and the rest had arrived in front of Your Majesty Lin Mubai.
“Your Majesty, what is happening?” Ping Yang stared at Lin Mubai with a curious expression. At the same time, he glanced at Crown Prince Lin Tianrong, who was currently kneeling on the ground.
“Why are you here so late in the night? You drank as well… aren’t you afraid that you will catch a cold?” The moment Lin Mubai saw Ping Yang, his expression became gentle and was filled with love and compassion.
“I wouldn’t!” Ping Yang said proudly.
“Yea… where is Young Master Fang? He didn’t come together with you?” Lin Mubai’s expression did not change, as though he had just asked a casual question.
However, all the courtiers understood.
Your Majesty Lin Mubai would never ask a question simply for casual purposes.
This was because as a Majesty, when nothing peculiar was happening, there was no reason for him to ask about the whereabouts of a Third Rank official. The possibility that he would ask why Ping Yang did not arrive with Fang Zhengzhi was then even lower.
But he did.
This meant that Your Majesty Lin Mubai was having the exact same thoughts as the courtiers.
“You mean that shameless guy? I, the princess was just about to…”
“Your Majesty is looking for me?”
Just as Ping Yang was talking, a voice sounded from afar. Following which, two figures walked towards them.
The first person was clad in a blue long coat and had a faint smile on his face.
Behind him was a terrified young man. He looked timid and his eyes darted around the whole time.
It was Fang Zhengzhi and Wen Dabao.
“Fang Zhengzhi!” The courtiers stared at the figure from afar and exchanged glances. All of them saw shock and terror from each other’s eyes.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong had also squinted his eyes to get a better look.
A bladed resolve shone through his eyes as he kept his gaze on Fang Zhengzhi, hoping to see something different or peculiar on his face.
However, he was disappointed.
Fang Zhengzhi looked extremely fine and even seemed to be slightly tipsy. Clearly, he had some wine before coming.
He then thought about the drunken look on Ping Yang’s face and a hint of doubt appeared in his heart.
Unless…
It’s not him?
Then who could it be?
Lin Tianrong clenched his fist in secret. He would, of course, be happy if the person that appeared was not Fang Zhengzhi, however, if it truly wasn’t him, it also meant that he had made another enemy.
A person who could enter the Crown Prince Residence as he wished but still maintained his identity a secret!
King Duan Lin Xinjue had also seen Fang Zhengzhi and a smile of condescension appeared on his face, “This person is still a cripple!”
Fang Zhengzhi looked as though he had no clue of what the Crown Prince Lin Tianrong, King Duan Lin Xinjue, and the courtiers were thinking. He headed straight towards the King Lin Mubai.
Lin Mubai was then taken aback.
He stared at Fang Zhengzhi, who was standing right in front of him with sparkling eyes. However, he quickly regained his composure and managed a faint smile on his face.
“Young Master Fang did not leave with Ping Yang?”
“Your Majesty, I, your lowly commoner, left together with The Highness. I simply walked a bit slower. Furthermore, Mister Wen felt a little bit uncomfortable in his abdomen area. Hence, we were slightly late.” Fang Zhengzhi said as he pointed to Wen Dabao behind him.
The moment Wen Dabao heard this, his face changed for the worst.
He looked helpless and horrified.
“I see.” Lin Mubai nodded and continued with a hint of disdain in his voice, “I have already restored Young Master Fang’s rank, why are you still referring to yourself as a lowly commoner. Are you saying that you look down upon the Third Rank title that I conferred upon you?”
“Indeed, just a little bit.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded and continued, “However, the most important reason is that there is still no news about the trial regarding the case of the Southern Mountain Range. Hence, I still have no intention of doing anything for the court for the time being.”
“What rudeness! Who dares to look down upon the title the great emperor had conferred? Furthermore, you are not even 18 years old. To have already reached the rank of a Third Rank official at this age is already something that was almost unprecedented in the history of the Great Xia Dynasty. Not only did you not appreciate this, you even question the Majesty regarding the trial of the Southern Mountain Range? You wouldn’t do anything for the Great Xia court? What kind of crime are you committing?”
As Fang Zhengzhi completed his sentence, another courtier’s voice rang through the room. He sounded extremely furious.
“I agree, this is way too brazen!”
“In my opinion, we should kick out this kind of people!”
“If not for the Majesty’s recognition of your ability in the battle of the Southern Mountain Range, why would he restore your official rank? You are already a cripple! Why aren’t you satisfied?”
As the first courtier voiced out his opinion, many others voiced their discontent as well.
Lin Mubai did not expect Fang Zhengzhi to reply in this manner. He moved his lips but did not know what to say.
In the end, he could only sigh.
“Then we shall wait until the day the case of the Southern Mountain Range is resolved.”
“Your lowly commoner thank your Majesty.” Fang Zhengzhi bowed respectfully before he cast his gaze on Crown Prince Lin Tianrong and the fire that was about to be extinguished from the study room, “Oh, there is a fire!”
Everyone was dumbfounded upon hearing Fang Zhengzhi’s words.
They knew that Fang Zhengzhi and the Crown Prince did not get along. However, the only person who dared to say such words in front of the Crown Prince himself was probably Fang Zhengzhi.
Sarcasm!
Pure Sarcasm!
If the courtiers who entered the Crown Prince Residence did so out of concern, then Fang Zhengzhi was merely here just to watch a show.
“Fang Zhengzhi, what did you say?” Lin Tianrong was enraged. He could accept the reprimanding he got from the Majesty, however, he would not accept being criticised by a cripple.
“I am referring to the Crown Prince’s study. Why is it on fire? Are you telling me that I am not saying the truth? Is there anything wrong with what I said?” Fang Zhengzhi said as he sniggered.
“You…” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong wanted to say something to rebut this impudent fellow, however, he had nothing to say.
This was because the Majesty was right in front of him. There were also many courtiers around and even King Duan, Lin Xinjue.
“Alright, you are the Crown Prince. How can you get into an argument with a courtier?” The Majesty Lin Mubai shook his head. The reputation of the royal family had to be maintained, however, one should not be doing so by suppressing the courtiers.
The other courtiers also shook their heads profusely.
They were indeed shocked by Fang Zhengzhi’s actions. However, it had sort of became a normal occurrence for Fang Zhengzhi to do this.
The Crown Prince?
He was an existence that was highly regarded by ordinary people.
However, he seemed to have no respect even for the Emperor.
Wen Dabao could not really wrap his head around what happened.
This had nothing to do with the words Fang Zhengzhi just said. This was due to him witnessing the huge pit behind Crown Prince Lin Tianrong as well as the three guests and the study room that had been completely charred from the fire.
In an instant, he stopped sweating from his back.
This was because only he knew the mastermind behind this ploy!
In fact, even Ping Yang was unable to react to this situation, when she saw Fang Zhengzhi, she was shocked.
At that moment, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.
That was until Fang Zhengzhi slowly walked towards her.
It was only then when she finally realized the pit behind Crown Prince Lin Tianrong, the shattered stones, and the shocking scene.
All these…
They were pointing her towards one conclusion.
“I am going to take part in the examination held in the Heavenly Dao Pavilion!”
“I have a promise to fulfill, I must go!”
Ping Yang’s breathing started becoming heavier and her chest heaved up and down visibly. Her clear blue eyes stared at Fang Zhengzhi as her pink lips muttered inaudibly.
Are you telling me this shameless person…
Was not crippled!
As this thought appeared in her head, another scene flashed through her mind. Specifically, it was a letter, a letter that arrived from Heavenly Dao Pavilion a few months ago.
Ping Yang, I have to study now. I might not be able to write to you in the near future.
“Promise?!”
“Study?”
Ping Yang’s face turned red. All these realizations were way too sudden and violent. She was unable to accept all these.