Everyone looked towards the person applauding, and it was surprisingly the Empress Dowager!
The Emperor also started applauding!
Subsequently, enthusiastic applause sounded throughout the Taihe Garden!
Qin Zheng said, “As expected of my beloved daughter, excelling in both literature and martial arts, a dragon and phoenix among people!”
The civil and military officials were also scrambling to praise Princess Zhao Yang.
Those who had previously tried to stop Qin Zhao wished they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into!
Qin Zhan gnashed his teeth and whispered, “What’s so great, it was just a fluke!”
Qin Su was even more jealous he was about to go mad, not only had he lost face but he had also lost his chance with the beauty!
From now on, he was afraid he would no longer be able to hold his head high before Princess Zhao Yang!
Huo Chengjin got up from the ground and picked up his sword, looking at Qin Zhao’s back, a cryptic look flashing in his eyes.
Under everyone's gaze, Qin Zhao walked towards Qi Yan Su Luo.
Passing by Qin Yu, she heard her say, "Ninth sister, you're really amazing!"
Qin Zhao nodded to her, "Thank you, fifth sister."
Then she went to Qi Yan Su Luo's side, took her hand and said, "You're mine now."
Qi Yan Su Luo looked at Qin Zhao, feeling complicated emotions.
She did not respond to her words.
Qin Zhao tried to pull Qi Yan Su Luo forward, but felt resistance from her!
She simply picked up Qi Yan Su Luo!
Qi Yan Su Luo was startled by Qin Zhao's sudden action. She let out a low cry, and subconsciously put her arms around her neck to avoid falling.
The two women's shocking behavior once again attracted looks from the crowd.
For two women to show such intimacy in public was truly unheard of and unseen before!
But since the Emperor did not say anything, they did not dare to meddle either.
Some people disliked Qin Zhao’s actions, while others liked them. After brief surprise, some noble ladies even became envious of Qi Yan Su Luo, wishing it was them being held by Qin Zhao.
If someone was willing to challenge the Asura King Huo Chengjin for them, and even emerge victorious, who would care whether it was a man or woman?
These thoughts of the noble ladies went unnoticed by Qin Zhao.
She continued holding Qi Yan Su Luo and returned to her seat, ignoring the others.
Huo Chengjin also walked down the arena, with people constantly trying to talk to him along the way.
"General Huo, failing once is no big deal, you are still the most formidable person in Chu in my heart!"
"General Huo, did you lose to Princess Zhao Yang on purpose?"
"General Huo, I believe in your abilities, they must be above Princess Zhao Yang’s, she was just lucky!"
...
Everyone refused to acknowledge the facts, and Huo Chengjin himself thought the same.
Even after losing to Princess Zhao Yang twice, Huo Chengjin still felt that she had just gotten lucky!
He believed her words were just a young lady’s coy modesty, because of certain reasons, she did not dare to admit her feelings for him like before.
Huo Chengjin regained his confidence in his delusions.
Seeing everyone was seated, Qin Zheng ordered Zhou Quande to start the banquet.
Zhou Quande had people bring out the delicacies and fine wines.
A group of palace maids and eunuchs carried all kinds of dishes and walked over.
They neatly placed bowls and plates on the over six hundred tables.
After half a stick of incense, every guest's table was filled with exotic delicacies.
It was getting dark, and the attendants lit the palace lanterns.
The Emperor said a few courteous words and drank a toast with the guests before letting them dine on their own.
Qin Zhao picked up a piece of steamed bass and put it in her mouth, finding the taste quite good.
She picked up another piece and brought it to Qi Yan Su Luo's mouth.
To keep the dancing girls in shape, their madams had not let them eat anything since the night before.
Qi Yan Su Luo’s stomach had long been numb from hunger. Smelling the fish, her body's senses were awakened.
But for some inexplicable reason, she turned her head away.
However, her stomach very disobediently growled!
Qin Zhao laughed and said, "Don't pretend, sooner or later you'll have to eat what I feed you. Give up resisting now, and you can suffer less."
Hearing this, Qi Yan Su Luo was even more unwilling to eat.
Qin Zhao added, "If you don't eat, don't blame me for mouth-feeding you!"
Qi Yan Su Luo turned back incredulously and said, "You... are really unreasonable!
Whether I eat or not, what does it have to do with you!"
Qin Zhao: "I finally won you with great difficulty.
If you starve to death, wouldn't I suffer a great loss?"
"In your eyes, am I just a spoil of war?"
Qin Zhao pursed her lips and replied, "Yes."
After that, Qi Yan Su Luo no longer rejected the food given by Qin Zhao. She ate whatever Qin Zhao fed her.
She also didn't say she was full, so Qin Zhao could only roughly estimate how much she could eat and feed her accordingly.
"Assassins!!!" Just as everyone was feasting merrily, a sudden male voice shouted, "Protect His Majesty!"
As soon as he finished shouting, a group of people in black charged into the palace banquet!
They were wielding large choppers, and would hack at anyone they saw!
Some unlucky guests who were relatively near them had their heads lopped off in an instant!
The lively celebratory atmosphere in the Taihe Garden vanished in a flash. Screams and wails filled the garden!
The smell of blood replaced the aroma of food, occupying their nostrils!
The imperial guards quickly surrounded the Emperor and Empress Dowager, preventing the assassins from getting near them!
Qin Zhao pulled Qi Yan Su Luo back to retreat!
The three princes, Qin Su, Qin Zhan and Qin Song, crowded behind Qin Zhao, seeking protection!
The assassins' target was the Emperor. As long as they stayed far from the Emperor, ordinary people would generally not be attacked.
But when the assassins failed to get to the Emperor after repeated attempts, some of them turned their blades on the princes!
Qin Zhao watched with her own eyes as the eldest prince Qin Song's head was chopped off!
The second prince beside him was so frightened that he fled helter-skelter without looking where he was going!
After the third prince's arm was slashed by an assassin, he escaped by hiding behind the guards, narrowly avoiding calamity!
Seeing this, Qin Su and Qin Zhan were scared lifeless. They kept squeezing next to Qin Zhao, yelling "Imperial sister! Imperial sister save me!"
Perhaps it was because his voice was too loud, the assassins heard it!
They had been vexed at not being able to find the other princes. This shout of "Imperial sister" pointed them in the right direction!
Four assassins charged towards them at once!
Qin Zhao silently cursed, "Fool!"
She leapt in front of everyone, blocking the black clothed men's path!
Seeing it was just a woman, they did not take it seriously, thinking they could easily dispose of Qin Zhao with one slash.
But one of them was careless for a moment, and had his blade snatched away by Qin Zhao!
The other three looked at each other, shouting, "Attack together!"
Qin Zhao swept their legs with one kick, tripping the three men, then dispatched them with a flurry of slashes!
The blood that splashed onto her face made her look like a demon from hell!
Qin Zhao turned and walked towards Qi Yan Su Luo. Qin Su and the others looked at her in terror, trembling as they shrank back but not daring to get too far away from her.
Only Qi Yan Su Luo remained unmoving where she was, seemingly unafraid of her.
Qin Zhao held her hand and said, "Don't be afraid, I'll protect you."
Qi Yan Su Luo said, "I'm not afraid."
Because she had seen much more terrifying scenes in Western Lina.
On the Emperor's side, the assassins came in wave after wave. The guards gradually became exhausted and disadvantaged!
The few guards in front of the Emperor were hacked to death!
Taking advantage of the gap, one assassin leapt up with his blade poised, chopping straight towards the Emperor's forehead!
Seeing the blade edge right before his eyes, the Emperor yelled in terror, "Someone come, save Us!"
