Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 470 A Battle for Life and Death
He accepted the game!
The Liang envoy curled the corners of his lips: "The rules are very simple."

He clapped his hands, and immediately someone placed a long table in the center of the hall.

There were six fist-sized wooden boxes on the table.

Then, witnessed by everyone, the people of Daliang placed three pieces of white jade and three pieces of black jade into the wooden box.

After doing all this, the Dasheng envoy finally spoke:
"As everyone saw just now, the white jade has the character for 'life' engraved on it, while the black jade has the character for 'death' engraved on it."

"Someone can come later and shuffle the order in which the wooden boxes are placed."

"The two players take turns choosing a wooden box, and can only choose one at a time. If you choose the white jade box, one of Dasheng's prisoners will be safe."

"Conversely, if the black jade is chosen, the prisoner will die."

As Lin Zhiqing had predicted, the game indeed used the prisoners of war from both sides as stakes.

The Liang envoy knew that Da Sheng would not abandon Qin Hu and the others, so he was very confident that Da Sheng would take over the game.

This is true.

Now it seems like the game was completely random and entirely based on luck.

The people of Daliang are all crazy!

Upon hearing about this strange game, everyone started discussing it.

"The people of Daliang are too cruel; those are human lives!"

"Who will play this game? It can't be the Crown Prince himself, can it?"

"What if the Crown Prince chooses Black Jade?"

This question stumped everyone around.

The Liang envoy heard the discussion but completely ignored it, continuing to speak:
"Oh, right, there's one more rule."

“If I choose first in the first round, then in the next round, your Dasheng side will decide who chooses first in the second round.”

This rule... Lin Zhiqing narrowed her eyes.

Without this additional rule, the game would simply be a game of chance.

However, if additional rules are added, this game becomes a life-or-death game.

How to use additional rules is crucial!

Lin Zhiqing's mind was racing.

At the same time, the Liang envoy opened his arms and asked, "Who will challenge the Great Sheng?"

His posture and tone were very relaxed, which gave the people of Dasheng an invisible sense of pressure.

The crown prince frowned and remained silent for a moment.

Everyone knows this game is not for the crown prince to play.

If they are lucky enough to select three pieces of white jade and save Qin Hu and the others, then everyone will be happy.

However, if the prince fails to rescue the prisoners, his abilities will be questioned, which will also affect the reputation of the Great Sheng Dynasty.

But whoever steps forward will be criticized if they fail to save the person.

The Crown Prince looked at the crowd below, and most of them avoided his gaze.

Seeing this, the woman on the right became somewhat anxious.

"This can't possibly fall on our shoulders, can it? What does it have to do with us adults?"

"We didn't cause this trouble, so why should we always have to clean up the mess?"

"Yes, aren't those three men under the command of Marquis Changning? If anyone should go, it should be Marquis Changning!"

"That's right, the trouble caused by the Lin family should naturally be resolved by the Lin family!"

Upon hearing these words, Lu Nanyue couldn't help but turn her head:
"Those who know you will think you are ladies from high-class families, noble ladies; those who don't will think you are shrewish women from the streets."

"They are not only men under the command of Marquis Changning, but also soldiers of the Great Sheng!"

The young lady from the Left Censor-in-Chief's family couldn't help but speak up: "Lu Nanyue, you speak so eloquently, why don't you send your younger brother up to play with the people of Daliang!"

"You!" Lu Nanyue stood up, but was pulled back by Lin Zhiqing.

"Nan Yue," Lin Zhiqing called softly, "Don't lose your composure." Lu Nan Yue patiently sat back down in her seat.

Lin Yangyang glared fiercely at the young lady of the Left Censor-in-Chief's family, and then spoke to Lin Zhiqing:

"Sister Qing, why don't I go and have some fun? I usually have great luck at gambling dens, so I'm sure I'll be fine."

"Even if there are problems, it doesn't matter if I get a few curses from others."

As she spoke, she was about to get up and step forward.

"Cousin, wait a minute." Lin Zhiqing called out to her, "Let's check the situation first."

Lin Yangyang had no choice but to sit back down.

Lin Zhiqing looked at Lu Huai and Lin Shi'an opposite her and gently shook her head.

Lu Huai understood and together with Lin Shi'an advised Lin Qingshan not to act rashly for the time being.

The crown prince, sitting at the head of the table, frowned slightly when he saw the ministers avoiding his gaze.

The Liang envoy saw this and laughed again:

"Everyone says that the soldiers of Dasheng are the bravest, but now they can't even find one person to come up and compete?"

His words were full of sarcasm.

"Grand Tutor, I've heard you're the most upright person. Would you dare to make a bet with me?"

"Lord of Pei, how have you been? How about a game of chess?"

"This must be the Left Censor-in-Chief. Do you dare to make a bet with me?"

The Liang envoy immediately began calling out names.

Seeing this, the women's resentment towards the Lin family grew even stronger.

"The Lin family is a scourge, dragging so many people down with them, and they don't even have a shred of shame!"

"Lin Zhiqing is truly a jinx; anything you do with her only brings trouble!"

"Given the situation, why aren't you volunteering to help out? Are you really planning to let someone else handle this mess?"

"It's a good thing my son didn't like her. If he had married someone like that, wouldn't he have just caused us trouble?"

The last sentence was spoken by Madam Naqu. Bringing up marriage proposals in such a setting shows a disregard for Lin Zhiqing's reputation.

Lin Zhiqing turned his head, his eyes catching the gaze of a hawk as he precisely located Madam Qu.

Madam Qu felt guilty and bit her tongue before she could finish speaking, but she still stubbornly insisted:
"In the current situation, even if Lin Zhiqing were to take action, it wouldn't make much of a difference."

Lin Zhiqing stared at her quietly for a long time, then looked at Lu Huai opposite her.

Although the women's voices were not loud, there were so many people discussing it that their words had more or less reached the men's side.

Lu Huai met Lin Zhiqing's gaze, turned to look at Madam Qu's son sitting not far behind him, and stood up to speak:

"Your Highness, I have a candidate in mind to recommend."

"The son of Hanlin Academician Qu is exceptionally talented. He roams the streets and alleys, and is proficient in cockfighting and gambling. He once dominated the gambling dens, so he must have had good luck."

Upon hearing this, all eyes turned to the son of the Hanlin Academician.

Lu Huai's words were a veiled criticism, revealing the true nature of the son of a Hanlin scholar.

Lin Zhiqing turned around, looked at Madam Qu, and raised her eyebrows slightly.

Madam Qu gritted her teeth, clutching her dress tightly, and almost stood up to confront Lin Zhiqing.

But she was stopped by the Lady of Pei State.

She was furious and said:

“That little hussy is clearly taking revenge on me. My son is not capable of handling such a serious matter.”

At this point, her tone became somewhat urgent:

"Sister-in-law, please speak up for my son!"

On the other side, the Hanlin scholar also hurriedly got up to excuse his son, who was terrified.

Seeing this, the people from Daliang all showed disdain, and the Daliang envoy raised his chin higher and higher.