Chapter 1401 - 1316: Freedom and Joy

Leaving the city, Zhao Hanzhang said to Zhao Erlang and Beigong Tuanyuan, "Weren’t you two going to compete? Go ahead now."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Erlang immediately turned back to grab a spear and tossed one to Beigong Tuanyuan, "Let’s go!"

Beigong Tuanyuan bowed on her horse to Zhao Hanzhang before urging her horse to catch up with Zhao Erlang.

Seeing the two of them horsing around and rushing to the front, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but smile and glanced back at Zhao Cai.

Zhao Cai immediately led a team of trusted aides to catch up.

The two raced to the Luoshui River, where there was an open area with a simple eatery by the roadside, offering free hot water and selling some buns and noodles. It was just a few sticks with grass thatched on top to barely shelter from rain.

Behind the eatery lay a large vacant lot. Familiar with the area, Zhao Erlang grasped his spear and galloped to the riverbank first, reining his horse to face the approaching Beigong Tuanyuan.

"Let’s fight here!"

Beigong Tuanyuan scanned the area, finding it spacious, with Luoshui on one side and vast wasteland stretching along it. She agreed immediately, "Alright!"

She raised her spear slightly, with a piercing gaze, "My spear skills are taught by my father. I’ve heard him say, you couldn’t withstand ten moves from him."

Zhao Erlang replied, "That was in the past. Now I’m stronger, and my skills have improved."

"Then let me test you on behalf of my father."

Zhao Erlang, full of excitement, did not retreat but rather moved forward by kicking his horse’s belly when Beigong Tuanyuan charged at him. Instantly, they clashed, brushing past each other, and deftly maneuvered their horses to turn around...

The people sitting at the eatery stood up, rushing down to watch the spectacle, "Great spear skills, this must be battlefield prowess. Such skills should be used to serve the country, not for fighting here."

"This isn’t a fight, it’s a spar."

"Someone’s coming..."

Zhao Cai and his entourage arrived, forming a line to separate the civilians, preventing them from getting hurt but allowing them to watch from the side.

Zhao Erlang and Beigong Tuanyuan were locked in an intense struggle. Zhao Hanzhang and her group also arrived, stopping at a more spacious spot to watch.

The Empress Dowager and Mrs. Beigong stood together on tiptoe to see, letting out numerous involuntary cries as the spear nearly struck the children several times, barely missing them.

Xie Xiangrong, along with Father Xie and Mrs. Xie, were a few steps behind yet had a clear view. Seeing the energetic and lively Beigong Tuanyuan riding like a shooting star, a flicker of admiration shone in her eyes.

Another glance at Zhao Erlang, whose eyes were shining brightly, made Xie Xiangrong realize that this marriage proposal was doomed.

She withdrew her gaze, turning her head toward the emperor, a peculiar light in her eyes.

Zhao Hanzhang, always keenly observant, turned to look at Xie Xiangrong almost the moment her gaze fell for the third second.

The two locked eyes, and Zhao Hanzhang smiled warmly and inclusively at her.

Xie Xiangrong’s heart was a mix of bitterness and sweetness, which clashed violently. The emotional turmoil made her heart ache, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She immediately made up her mind.

Zhao Hanzhang only took a glance at Xie Xiangrong before returning her attention to the two by the river.

This time, neither Beigong Tuanyuan nor Zhao Erlang wanted to give in easily; they needed a definitive winner.

Zhao Erlang, having more battlefield experience than Beigong Tuanyuan, moved faster in his next charge, swiftly thrusting his spear toward her right shoulder, catching her clothing brutally, pulling back his spear and then stabbing diagonally again. Beigong Tuanyuan couldn’t block the first move, and the second move aiming for a mutual destruction came a step too late, with the spear stopping just before her neck.

Beigong Tuanyuan raised her chin, looking at the spear poised before her neck. "You win."

Zhao Erlang then withdrew his spear, smugly replying, "How about it, I’m no worse than you, right? That last move was taught to me by General Beigong."

Watching from the sidelines, Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but clutch Mrs. Beigong’s hand when Zhao Erlang struck Beigong Tuanyuan. But now, spotting blood on Beigong’s clothing, she gasped, rushing down with Qing Gu and Mrs. Beigong’s support.

She ran to Zhao Erlang’s horse, furiously demanding, "You rascal, get down!"

Zhao Erlang dismounted, bewildered, "Mother, what happened?"

Mrs. Wang pinched his ear, turning him halfway around in anger, "Did you actually strike her? Don’t you understand weapons are blind, and you stop at the point of contact? Look at how you wounded Miss Beigong."

Zhao Erlang protested his innocence, "I did stop at the contact. Originally, the first spear was supposed to stab her right neck, and the second spear was supposed to stab her neck directly. I veered off both."

Beigong Tuanyuan also explained on his behalf, "To Empress Dowager, Prince Qin already held back. Had it been on the battlefield, I would have long lost."