Fire Captain

The second day was the first day of Princess Nihuang's martial arts competition to find a husband.

When Bai Ziyang yawned and came out early in the morning, he saw Chu Qiao, Mei Changsu and Xiao Jingrui sitting in the courtyard. Chu Qiao threw a hairband to Fei Liu who was standing beside them and said, "Fei Liu, this looks good. Try this on!"

Fei Liu obediently took off his hairband and put on the one Chu Qiao handed to him. Mei Changsu and Xiao Jingrui beside him looked very excited, and it seemed that they had been dressing up Fei Liu for quite some time.

Bai Ziyang said, "Isn't Princess Nihuang's martial arts test starting today? I heard you guys made an appointment with Yu Jin yesterday, why haven't you set off yet?"

Xiao Jingrui said: "Let Yujin wait for a while, well, Feiliu or the one picked by Miss Achu looks good!"

Bai Ziyang looked up at the sky and said, "Just wait, Yu Jin will come to settle the score with you soon..."

Before he finished speaking, he heard hurried footsteps, and then he saw Yan Yujin running over with an angry look on his face and said, "Well, you guys, I've been waiting for you outside the palace until my feet are sore, and you're here dressing up?"

Bai Ziyang and the others looked at each other and laughed together. Bai Ziyang laughed and said, "Haha... I told you..."

Xiao Jingrui stood up and said, "Today is the first day of the martial arts test. The emperor will show up in person at the Yingfeng Tower. What's the point of you going there early and just bowing and paying homage? Come, come..." Xiao Jingrui pressed Yan Yujin, who looked indignant, onto the stool.

Mei Changsu also said: "Besides, there won't be much excitement on this first day of the competition. We can just go after noon."

"Humph..." Yan Yujin relaxed and said, "That's right."

When Mei Changsu and the other two stood up to leave, Yan Yujin saw that Bai Ziyang had not moved and couldn't help asking, "Hey, Ziyang, aren't you going to watch the fun?"

Chu Qiao brought Bai Ziyang's "breakfast" over, and Bai Ziyang took it and said, "I'll go, but not with you guys. You guys together will be too eye-catching. I'll go with Ah Chu to watch the fun later."

"You, you..." Yan Yujin made a face at him. Mei Changsu and Xiao Jingrui smiled when they heard it.

Bai Ziyang finished his breakfast and said to Chu Qiao, "Shall we go and see what's going on?"

Chu Qiao smiled and said, "Okay!"

The two of them walked leisurely to the fighting arena, mixed in the crowd to watch, and happened to see a man on the stage using a meteor hammer. Before his opponent could make a move, he first wrapped his neck around it, almost strangling himself to death. Bai Ziyang and Chu Qiao immediately burst into laughter. Bai Ziyang patted the railing and said, "How dare you show off on the arena with this level?... It's a pity that this is Sister Nihuang's fighting arena, and there are too many people paying attention to it. Otherwise, if we really want to go up and play, we will just make a big fuss and ruin it..."

Chu Qiao said, "With your martial arts skills, what's the fun of fighting them? ... Hey, who are those two people?"

Bai Ziyang followed Chu Qiao's gaze and saw that opposite them were the seats of Mei Changsu, Xiao Jingrui and the other two. Two people came and seemed to be talking. After a while, another person came and they followed the newcomer.

Bai Ziyang said, "One of them is Crown Prince Xiao Jingxuan, and the other is Prince Yu Xiao Jinghuan... Oh, by the way, there seems to be a Prince Yu in the Western Wei Dynasty, right? This Prince Yu is not as cute as the Prince Yu over there, but his methods are much more powerful. ... Judging from the direction they are going, they should have entered the palace."

Bai Ziyang and Chu Qiao watched the martial arts competition as if it were a big show, and applauded along with everyone else. After watching the competition for an entire afternoon, Bai Ziyang stretched his back and said lazily after returning to Xie's house, "Oh, I'm so tired! Qiao Qiao, are you going tomorrow? Or should we go somewhere else to play?"

Chu Qiao walked under the veranda with her arms folded and said, "It's boring to watch for the whole afternoon. It's all just fancy moves. It would be interesting if I had the chance to see Commander Meng in action."

Bai Ziyang said, "Don't be ridiculous. Would Commander Meng do that so easily?"

Chu Qiao glared at Bai Ziyang and said, "Don't think about playing all the time. Young Master Xiao invited you here to treat Mr. Su."

Bai Ziyang defended himself: "I know his body... why would I need to see it..."

Back in the room, Bai Ziyang asked Mei Changsu, "Are you going to watch the princess's martial arts competition tomorrow?"

Mei Changsu flipped through the book in his hand and said, "I won't go tomorrow. Just showing up today will suffice."

Bai Ziyang said: "I won't go either, it's boring. We just need to wait and watch the finals... Who are you waiting for if you don't take a rest?"

Mei Changsu said: "Who else? Brother Meng."

Chu Qiao immediately asked with interest, "Commander Meng?"

Bai Ziyang turned around and looked at Chu Qiao curiously and asked, "I remember you were not a warmonger?"

Chu Qiao was stunned for a moment after hearing what Bai Ziyang said. After thinking for a while, she said, "I seem to remember that I have something to take care of. Although I don't remember what it is, it must be dangerous. It's good to have such a good opportunity to improve my skills now..."

Bai Ziyang took Chu Qiao's hand and said, "Don't worry, being with our Great Master Mei will not only help you improve your skills, but also broaden your horizons, improve your thinking and strategies. Think about the past..." Bai Ziyang was about to start his long speech when Fei Liu suddenly stood up and walked to the door.

Everyone looked towards the door, and a moment later Meng Zhi appeared at the door. Meng Zhi was also slightly surprised to see Fei Liu and said, "No one in the mansion noticed me, but you noticed me first."

Mei Changsu said: "Fei Liu, let Brother Meng come in. He is my guest."

After Meng Zhi entered the house, he looked at Mei Changsu and asked with concern: "It's not winter yet, but you're already using the brazier to keep warm. I guess your injuries haven't healed yet. Why are you in such a hurry to come to the capital?"

Mei Changsu smiled and said, "Brother Meng, we were in a hurry when we met last time, so this time I'll introduce you to Bai Ziyang. He has been the one who has been taking care of my health."

Bai Ziyang clasped his fists and said, "General Meng, just call me Ziyang."

Meng Zhi also said straightforwardly: "Just call me Brother Meng, there's no point in calling me the commander-in-chief."

Bai Ziyang said: "Then we will not be polite, Brother Meng. We would like to learn a few tricks from you if we have the chance."

Meng Zhi smiled and said, "No problem!"

Chu Qiao pulled Bai Ziyang and said with a smile: "Then Brother Meng, you can chat with Mr. Su, we won't disturb you."

For several days afterwards, Bai Ziyang and Chu Qiao stayed in the mansion to accompany Mei Changsu. One day, Xiao Jingrui and Yan Yujin, who had just finished watching the martial arts competition, suddenly ran back. Yan Yujin shouted, "Oh no, oh no, something happened!"

Bai Ziyang leaned over the table and asked, "What's going on? Didn't you go to watch the martial arts competition?"

Yan Yujin said, "It's a martial arts competition. Today, there was a man named Baili Qi from Beiyan who knocked out Qin Shangzhi, the most skilled of the princes, with one move. In my opinion, even if Jing Rui and I join forces, we may not be able to defeat Baili Qi. Brother Su, Ziyang, what do you think we should do?"

Bai Ziyang scratched his head and thought: Bailiqi? Why does this name sound so familiar?

Yan Yujin walked up to Mei Changsu and asked, "Brother Su, don't you have any solution?"

Mei Changsu said, "If you want me to think of a solution, I have to wait until I meet Baili Qi at the palace banquet hosted by the emperor tomorrow before I can slowly plan it."

Yan Yujin said: "That's right, Brother Su hasn't met that Bailiqi yet."

Xiao Jingrui said at the side: "The emperor said at the palace banquet tomorrow that he wanted to meet the ten candidates who entered the literary examination, but in fact it was also a delaying tactic. He will definitely find a reason for us to fight each other again at the banquet. If I can do my best to hurt Baili Qi a little, then the princess may be able to relax a little."

Mei Changsu nodded with relief.

Yan Yujin slapped his thigh and said, "Hey! Jingrui, your name was given by His Majesty according to the order of the princes. Although everyone in the capital knows this, the envoys from Northern Yan are foreigners and may not know the inside story. If they think they are facing a prince, they will definitely be cautious. Maybe you can find a flaw and make Bailiqi get hurt!"

After hearing what Yan Yujin said, Xiao Jingrui felt that it was very possible and looked excited.

Only Mei Changsu smiled and shook his head and said, "It may not be as you wish. The list of ten people is not confidential. If those Yan people knew Jing Rui's name, wouldn't they send someone to check it out? ... I have heard a little about Jing Rui's life experience, but I don't know the details."

Just as Xiao Jingrui was about to speak, Yan Yujin on the side spoke first: "Hey, I know! I know! I know it best."

Xiao Jingrui said helplessly: "You are a whole year younger than me, what can you know?"

Yan Yujin said: "Of course I know..." and then he began his speech...

After Xiao Jingrui and Yan Yujin left, Chu Qiao, who had been listening silently, suddenly said, "Whether it's to the princess or to his friends, Jingrui is truly sincere, kind, generous, and generous... So good!"

Bai Ziyang also said: "Yes, among all the people I know, no one is more sincere, generous and willing to give to others than Jing Rui. Moreover, Jing Rui's sincere giving is selfless and comes from the heart, as if it is innate."

Only Mei Changsu had a heavy expression on his face. He picked up the teacup silently.

Chu Qiao put her hands on Bai Ziyang's shoulders and said, "He is truly a modest gentleman, gentle as jade!"

Bai Ziyang put his backhand on the back of Chu Qiao's hand and patted it gently. They all knew what was waiting for Jing Rui ahead...

Bai Ziyang and Chu Qiao did not go to the palace banquet on the second day. Chu Qiao did not go because she did not like the etiquette of the palace banquet, and Bai Ziyang simply did not want to kowtow. Unexpectedly, when he came back, Mei Changsu was followed by three children. Bai Ziyang said, "Is this a gift from the emperor?"

Mei Changsu was speechless: "...I brought this back from the slave camp!"

Bai Ziyang reacted and said, "Oh...oh! Oh oh oh!"

Mei Changsu said: "Oh what? I still need them to defeat Bailiqi!"

Bai Ziyang said, "Well, you, you didn't catch me at first sight, and you went to the palace banquet to act pretentiously again. You must be putting on your mysterious and profound attitude... It's a pity that I should have gone to the palace banquet with you to watch the fun earlier!"

Mei Changsu said: "It's not over yet... By the way, I remember you also understand the Lingxu Sword Formation... right?" Before he finished speaking, he looked up and there was no Bai Ziyang in front of him.