Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 173 I will have a contest with you!

The Third Prince's words terrified the military officers.

The crowd, who had just been watching the show, all lowered their heads and tried to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.

This is a battle for the throne, and it's being brought up in the open. They are just subjects; how many of them would dare to openly participate in such a matter?

At the same time, everyone greatly admired the Third Prince.

This guy is definitely a madman, and a madman with audacity!

The Crown Prince was also shocked by the Third Prince's words, and in his panic, he could only try to appease him: "Third Brother, what makes you say that?"

"We are brothers, how could I harbor ill intentions towards you?"

The Third Prince, however, was unmoved and sneered, "Alright, Your Highness, what kind of situation is this now?"

"My father is hiding in Hexi Palace and won't come out. The Imperial Noble Consort is overseeing the country. Even my mother is under house arrest. The capital is suffering from severe snow disaster, and the court is in chaos."

"What is this? Can't you see? This is the beginning of chaos!"

"Since things are already in such a mess, I'm not afraid to add fuel to the fire. Since the Imperial Noble Consort has set a seven-day deadline, then we princes also have a chance."

"Since someone in the court has proposed me as the new crown prince, I will accept it. We are both Father's children, what makes me inferior to you?"

The crown prince trembled with rage, countless vicious thoughts swirling in his mind, but he couldn't utter them because all the military officers were present.

The Third Prince is a madman and shameless, but as the Crown Prince, I cannot lack manners.

Now, the Third Prince is throwing a tantrum, openly displaying his despicable thoughts.

If something really happens to the Third Prince, the people of the world will naturally think of him first!

Even if he didn't do it, public opinion can't be silenced.

Jiang Nianxing also glared venomously at the Third Prince from the side, initially thinking he was an incompetent fool who would be easy to manipulate.

With just a little trick, we can cripple him!

I never expected that such an idiot would come up with such a desperate and reckless idea.

With all the conflicts laid bare, it's become difficult for anyone to intervene.

Jiang Nianxing didn't think that the Third Prince could come up with such a method.

His gaze shifted to Zhou Wei, and he felt even more that this lowly maid was in his way.

Every time I run into her, nothing good ever comes of it.

The Third Prince spoke with great confidence and grand pronouncements, leaving the Crown Prince with no choice but to smooth things over.

"Third brother, the crown prince is the foundation of the nation. How can he be treated so lightly as you say?"

"The seven-day agreement between me and the Imperial Noble Consort was just a pretext. Do you really think that the Imperial Noble Consort will depose me after seven days?"

"The celestial signs are a warning. The Imperial Noble Consort resorted to this desperate measure to stabilize the court. I will not blame you for harboring such covetous thoughts."

"I just wanted to remind you that I am now the Crown Prince. It is my magnanimity that I have not punished you for overstepping your bounds. I hope that my third brother will not speak so rudely again."

The third prince burst into laughter, bending over with laughter, tears welling up in his eyes.

It took a long time before he stopped laughing under the Crown Prince's livid face.

"Your Highness, I truly admire you."

The crown prince's face grew even uglier, but he had no choice but to put on a smiling face.

Seeing the tense atmosphere and the increasingly absurd conversation, Qian Tao took the initiative and said, "Your Highness, since the Princess is already here, why not heat up a pot of wine, drink it, and then go hunting in the mountains?"

The Crown Prince smiled and nodded: "When in Rome, do as the host says. I will follow General Qian's arrangements."

Qian Tao accompanied the Crown Prince in front, while the military officers deliberately lagged behind, surrounding the Eldest Princess.

Feng Polu, in particular, was extremely annoyed by the argument between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince.

All attention was focused on the princess's bow and arrow, and now that they finally had a chance, they couldn't wait to get close to her.

"Princess, your bow seems quite heavy?"

The princess smiled and said, "General Feng has a good eye. This bow of mine is almost three stones."

San Shi's heavy bow? Even more powerful than Qian Tao's?

Feng Polu was shocked: "Is the princess a cultivator?"

The eldest princess shook her head: "My meridians have been destroyed, and I will never have the chance to cultivate in this lifetime."

Upon hearing this, Feng Polu found it even more unbelievable. He had thought Qian Tao was already an unparalleled warrior, but he never expected that the Princess would be even better.

Not only can it draw a heavy bow with a draw weight of three stones, but it can also fire five arrows at once, each hitting the target!

Feng Polu had only ever seen such skill in one person.

He couldn't help but scrutinize the eldest princess closely, and the more he looked, the more familiar her figure seemed.

"Could it be..."

As soon as a certain idea arose in his mind, Feng Polu patted his head.

"Feng Polu, Feng Polu, I think you've really gone mad! How could the Blue-Faced War God, such a powerful figure, possibly be involved with the Princess?"

If we calculate by age, the Princess was only fifteen years old when the Blue-Faced War God went to the battlefield.

She's still a sheltered young girl!

He had actually associated a little girl with the God of War of the Great Zhou Dynasty; he was truly obsessed.

The eldest princess noticed Feng Polu's absent-mindedness and asked with a smile, "General Feng seems to have something on his mind? May I tell you about it?"

Feng Polu glanced at the heavy bow in the princess's hand, feeling somewhat sentimental.

For a moment, he forgot the difference in rank and exclaimed, "Your Highness, I have seen someone wield this heavy bow before, but..."

"Oh? Is it the colleague who saved General Qian?" the princess asked.

Feng Polu nodded: "Indeed, this man is truly a fierce general of our time! Not only is he highly skilled in martial arts, but he is also well-versed in military strategy, and he is invincible in leading his troops into battle."

"When the Qing Kingdom invaded, the enemy soldiers were so frightened by his name that they collapsed in disarray."

"The mask of the Blue-Faced War God is like a vengeful ghost on the battlefield, intimidating countless villains."

As Feng Polu spoke, a look of reminiscence flashed in his eyes, and the generals who had worked with the Blue-Faced War God beside him nodded in agreement.

Among the military officers, one suddenly spoke up: "Alas, when the Blue-Faced War God disappeared, I searched all over the capital for his whereabouts."

There was a rumor that this person was of noble birth and of extremely high status.

Feng Polu frowned and said, "Aren't the imperial princes, whose status is so noble, just His Majesty's sons?"

"If the God of War with the Green Face were truly a prince, things would be fine, and this farce wouldn't have happened."

"In the current court, the emperor doesn't act like an emperor, the concubines don't act like concubines, the crown prince doesn't act like a crown prince, and the princes don't act like princes."

Feng Polu's words were very bold. Although the military officers were somewhat shocked, they felt that what he said made sense.

The Zhou royal family is now like an absurd drama on a folk stage.

One after another, actors took to the stage, performing plays that left everyone bewildered.

Zhou Wei then asked with a smile, "General Feng, you've gone too far. Do you think that if the Blue-Faced War God were truly a prince, you military generals would actually push him to the throne? Military generals discussing the crown prince in private is tantamount to rebellion!"

The military officers' expressions changed slightly, and they looked at the princess with a hint of guilt.

Although Feng Polu was also a little nervous, seeing the princess holding a heavy bow and walking forward with firm steps, his heart suddenly calmed down.

He felt as at ease as he had many years ago when he followed the Blue-Faced War God.

"General Zhou, please don't try to scare us. We military officers are all rough men and don't know the intricacies of the court."

“But we also know that in times of chaos, harsh measures are needed, and in times of disorder, strong medicine is required. In the current situation of the Great Zhou court, only a hero like the Blue-Faced War God can keep it in check.”

"It's a pity, though. Not to mention a prince with the courage of the Blue-Faced War God, even the War God himself has vanished without a trace."

The eldest princess, who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

"General Feng, I have heard that back in Juxia Pass, you hunted twelve wild boars, five tigers, and more than two hundred rabbits all by yourself, and you also had a good harvest of other prey. Is this true?"

When recalling his past valor, Feng Polu was full of pride.

"Your Highness is too kind. However, I do have some experience in hunting."

“Princess, do not be fooled by Qian Tao’s bravery and ability to bend a heavy bow. Hunting does not require a heavy bow, but skill. In hunting, Qian Tao is far inferior to me.”

"In the entire Great Zhou army, apart from the Blue-Faced War God, I am the best at hunting."

The eldest princess chuckled softly, holding up her heavy bow, and asked, "Didn't you just say that the Blue-Faced War God also wields a heavy bow? How come he's far superior to you in archery?"

Feng Polu sighed, his words filled with lament.

“Princess, the Blue-Faced War God is no human! Although the heavy bow can be used to shoot tigers and bears, it is not something that ordinary people can use.”

"Qian Tao's heavy bow would exhaust him after he drew it ten times, so it would be unsuitable for hunting."

"But the Blue-Faced War God is incredibly strong. Even if he bends the three-stone heavy bow a hundred times, he shows no signs of fatigue. How can Qian Tao compare to him?"

Upon hearing this, the eldest princess nodded.

"General Feng's words have stirred my competitive spirit. I will use this three-stone bow to have a contest with General Feng and see who can shoot more prey!"