Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 513 Lifting the Cauldron
Yelü Yi, caught up in a moment of hot-bloodedness, angrily retorted, "Fine, if you can't do it, then what should be done?"

Murong Fu said, "If I cannot do it, then I will follow the Liao envoy's orders."

Yelü Yi laughed angrily, "Fine, I won't ask for anything else. If you can't do that, then you should also kneel and kowtow three times and nine times towards the palace tent of His Majesty the Emperor of my Great Liao Kingdom in the north, how about that?"

"Alright, it's a deal. Kid, remember to say a few nice things later, don't just kowtow like a dry blabber."

Murong Fu joked, completely disregarding Yelü Yi's words.

Upon seeing this, the Chu princess couldn't help but get angry: "How could this fellow be so reckless? This cauldron is so heavy, what if it falls down and he... Humph, what a frivolous lecher."

Empress Dowager Gao was greatly alarmed upon hearing this: "Minister Murong, you must not take such a risk. You are an invaluable pillar of our Great Song Dynasty. How can you emulate Meng Ben and E Lai, resorting to petty squabbles and physical fights?"

Murong Fu laughed and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. It's just a trial anyway, nothing serious. I specially prepared a birthday gift for Your Majesty, which can be used for this matter. Let's take this opportunity to present it to Your Majesty."

As he spoke, Murong Fu took out a small, exquisite box from his sleeve.

Murong Fu said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to present this item to you personally. I believe Your Majesty the Empress Dowager will be very pleased with it."

This piqued not only the Empress Dowager's curiosity, but also the curiosity of all the officials in the court.

Empress Dowager Gao said, "It is kind of you, sir, to have such a kind intention. In that case, please present it to me."

Murong Fu took the box and presented it to Empress Dowager Gao. He opened the box, and inside was a delicate and exquisite object.

Upon hearing Murong Fu's bet with the Liao envoy, the Chu princess felt inexplicably irritated. Normally quite composed and rarely prone to emotional outbursts, she couldn't help but want to stop him at the mere mention of Murong Fu's intention to risk his life. Just then, Murong Fu approached, and the Chu princess, sitting beside Empress Dowager Gao, gritted her teeth and whispered to him, "It's one thing for you to boast, but why take it so seriously? Three thousand catties of weight—if that were to fall on you, wouldn't it crush you to death? Wouldn't it be better to live a few more days?"

Murong Fu did not answer directly, but instead transmitted his voice mysteriously, his tone still playful: "Is Your Highness worried about my safety? I am so touched."

The Chu princess spat lightly, "Who's worried about you? I'm just afraid that you'll splatter blood on the spot and frighten my grandmother."

Murong Fu said, "Don't worry, it won't scare you. It's a small matter."

The Chu princess glared at Murong Fu with resentment and said quietly, "If something happens to you because you're so stubborn and impulsive, what will happen to your sister Abi?"

Murong Fu was slightly taken aback, and transmitted his voice, "Don't worry, it's all settled. With me here, there won't be any accidents."

Both of their voices were extremely soft, and Empress Dowager Gao could only hear the Chu princess muttering to herself, but she didn't know what she was saying.

Empress Dowager Gao subconsciously tilted her head back and saw a silver frame in the box connecting two round crystal objects.

Empress Dowager Gao did not recognize the item and could only say, "I am grateful for your kind intentions, Lord Murong."

Murong Fu smiled and said, "Your Highness probably doesn't know how to use this, so please allow me to put it on you."

As he spoke, Murong Fu opened the frame and put it on Empress Dowager Gao.

Empress Dowager Gao suddenly felt the world before her eyes become clear. Murong Fu's handsome face, her granddaughter's conflicted expression, and the various expressions of the civil and military officials all fell into her eyes with unparalleled clarity.

Seeing the Empress Dowager's astonished look, Murong Fu secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "It seems that this gift was the right one."

What Murong Fu gifted her was a common item for the elderly in later generations—reading glasses. Empress Dowager Gao, having toiled for many years, aged much faster than the average person. In later times, women would retire at fifty-five, but this old empress dowager was delaying her retirement for her grandson, her body already worn down. While ordinary people develop presbyopia around fifty, judging from Empress Dowager Gao's condition, she likely wouldn't be able to see clearly up close for many years.

Empress Dowager Gao smiled: "Good, good, good. I am very pleased with the gift sent by Minister Murong."

Murong Fu smiled and said, "If the Empress Dowager likes it, then my efforts have not been in vain."

Having said that, he flicked his sleeves, went straight down the steps, and came to Yelü Yi: "Lord Liao Envoy, it's not too late to back out now, but if you back out later, you won't have the chance."

Yelü Yi sneered, "Is this lord perhaps cowardly and deliberately delaying? It's alright, lord, you're young and impetuous, it's understandable that you might make some boastful remarks. I believe that even if you lose, the Empress Dowager won't blame you."

Murong Fu cursed the idiot in his heart, walked leisurely to the cauldron, tapped the body of the cauldron lightly with his fingers, pushed it gently with his palm, and shook his head.

Seeing Murong Fu's expression, Yelü Yi mocked, "This cauldron may not weigh three thousand catties, but it must weigh at least two thousand seven or eight hundred catties. My lord, you should not take this joke to heart. I suppose even the cauldron lifted by Xiang Yu, the Hegemon of Western Chu, was not this heavy."

Murong Fu chuckled and said, "What I mean is, this little thing is too light. There's not much point in lifting it. How about we make it a bit more difficult?"

Yelü Yi's eyes widened. He felt that this person's tone was incredibly arrogant. He figured that this person knew he was not up to the task and was deliberately saying that he would increase the difficulty to save face.

He was eager to see Murong Fu make a fool of himself, so he said, "Alright, sir, tell me, what's your plan to make things even more difficult?"

Murong Fu said, “I think this is better. These eight Khitan warriors carried this little thing in just now, and they seem to have some strength. So they can’t be said to be weak. How about this, I will use one hand to compete with these eight Khitan warriors who are strong enough to kill a chicken, and use the other hand to lift this little cauldron.”

"What did you say!"

"Damn it, how dare you look down on us!"

Murong Fu's extremely arrogant words enraged the Khitan warriors.

Yelü Yi was even more confused as to whether this man was simply arrogant beyond measure or truly skilled and daring. He laughed in anger, "Fine, since this lord looks down on my Khitan warriors so much, then you should all join hands with this lord and have a contest!"

"Yes!"

Eight Khitan warriors roared, with one of them leading the way and the other seven standing in two rows, three in front and four behind. They placed their hands on the shoulders of the person in front, transferring the force through the shoulders. They were using a method similar to a combined attack, transferring the power of everyone to one person.

The leader felt the immense power emanating from his companion, and his whole body was filled with strength. His large face turned red from the surge of power, and the feeling of his meridians swelling made him want to find someone to beat up and vent his pent-up anger.

He roared, clasped his hands together, and pushed them forward forcefully. Murong Fu smiled slightly, thinking to himself, "Good thing they came."

Murong Fu held onto one of the tripod legs with his right palm, while his left palm met the other man's palms.

The man felt a powerful force coming from him, and his companions also felt immense pressure.

But Murong Fu, without even panting, effortlessly lifted the giant cauldron high in the air, much to the astonishment of the crowd. With one hand, he resisted the force of eight Khitan warriors, while with the other, he grasped a leg of the cauldron.

Murong Fu's relaxed and carefree demeanor made it seem as if he were holding not a three-thousand-pound cauldron, but a wine cup that could be squeezed in his hand. And the eight Khitan warriors in front of him, who were a head taller than ordinary people, were not warriors at all, but eight pieces of tofu.

Murong Fu laughed heartily: "You guys are using a little more force than my foot-washing maid massages my feet. But it's still not enough. Are the so-called warriors of the Great Liao really so weak and pathetic?"

These words were like adding fuel to the fire; the Khitan warriors roared in unison and increased their strength.