The First Marquis of Leisure

Bai Xinghe's actions startled everyone present; no one expected him to dare to openly declare his intention to kill Chen Ping and several other scions of prominent families in such a setting.

"Hmph, Bai Xinghe, I don't believe you have the guts!"

Chen Ping was confident that all the important figures of the entire Zhao state were present, as was the delegation from the Yan state.

He didn't believe Bai Xinghe would actually dare to lay a hand on them.

Sure enough, as soon as Bai Xinghe drew his sword, the Imperial Guards immediately surrounded him, waiting for Zhao Tianhe's order to chop him into mincemeat.

Bai Xinghe remained completely calm, knowing that the future of the entire Zhao Dynasty depended on him.

Zhao Tianhe broke his promise and even condescended to go to the death row to plead with him, all of which he endured.

Of course, he wouldn't actually order his own execution at this point, otherwise all his previous efforts would have been in vain.

"Killing you trash is as easy as turning my hand!"

Having said that, Bai Xinghe, carrying his knife, ignored the Imperial Guards and walked step by step toward Chen Ping and the other young men from prominent families.

"Bai Xinghe, how dare you be so insolent!"

Chen Feng jumped out because Chen Ping was his beloved son.

"What are you waiting for? Take him down now!"

However, the Imperial Guards did not obey the orders of Chen Feng, a mere Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and were directly commanded by the Emperor.

"Chen Feng, what are you barking about? I've got my hands on your precious son Chen Ping's head."

"How dare you!" Chen Feng shouted, and seeing that he couldn't command the Imperial Guards, he could only look to Li Taibei for help.

Li Taibei snorted coldly and stepped forward, saying, "Quickly capture Bai Xinghe!"

"No one is allowed to touch Young Master Bai!" Zhang Chunqiu shouted.

"Young Master Bai's fate rests on the shoulders of the nation today; there is no room for error. If even a single hair on his head is lost, his entire family will be executed!"

As expected, the Imperial Guards, who had been itching to act, all stopped after Zhang Chunqiu's intimidation.

"Your Majesty, how can you tolerate Bai Xinghe's insolence? Drawing his sword before you!"

Seeing this, Li Taibei had no choice but to ask Zhao Tianhe for permission.

"Your Majesty, let alone Bai Xinghe wanting to kill Chen Ping and a few others today, even if he wanted to cut off Lord Li's head, we would have no choice but to comply."

"Zhang Chunqiu, what nonsense are you spouting, you old scoundrel!" Li Taibei was furious and quickly rebuked him.

However, Zhao Tianhe remained silent, and the Imperial Guards dared not make any rash moves.

He was calculating and weighing the pros and cons.

Although he secretly wished he could tear Bai Xinghe to pieces, he could only endure it.

Taking advantage of this opening, Bai Xinghe, as if no one else was around, took a step forward and rushed directly towards Chen Ping and several other scions of noble families who were standing in front of the princes and ministers.

"Bai Xinghe, how dare you!"

"presumptuous!"

Chen Feng and Li Taibei shouted anxiously, trying to stop Bai Xinghe.

Chen Ping and the others were terrified; they never expected Bai Xinghe would actually dare to attack them!

In the blink of an eye, Chen Ping, being very cunning, suddenly pushed one of the scions of a prominent family next to him to take the blow.

The scion of the aristocratic family probably didn't expect Chen Ping, whom he had always called brother, to do this.

Before he could react, Bai Xinghe slashed him with his sword, and his head rolled off like a watermelon.

This bloody scene startled everyone present.

"Chen Ping, are you trying to run away?"

Bai Xinghe's expression was cold as he held a blood-dripping knife, his gaze fixed on the terrified Chen Ping.

"Father, save me!"

Chen Ping shouted, and Chen Feng, anxious and disregarding everything else, rushed out to stop Bai Xinghe.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you really going to allow Bai Xinghe to kill someone in this situation?"

"That's enough!" Finally, Zhao Tianhe couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up.

"Bai Xinghe, you've killed one person, that's enough!"

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid that won't work. I said in prison that the first thing I would do after my release was to take the heads of Chen Ping and the others!"

Bai Xinghe did not back down; this was the time when he had the most leverage.

"Bai Xinghe!" Zhao Tianhe's gaze was sharp, his killing intent barely concealed.

At this moment, Zhang Chunqiu, Zhao Sisi, the Eighth Prince, the Third Prince, and others hurriedly came over to act as intermediaries.

"Young Master Bai, please forgo this. His Majesty is the supreme ruler; such an action is indeed inappropriate!"

Bai Xinghe initially didn't want to back down, but when he saw that it was Zhao Sisi who came to persuade him, he softened a bit.

"Your Majesty, I have no intention of offending your dignity. In that case, I may first have a contest, and then kill Chen Ping after defeating the Yan delegation."

"Alright, I agree!" Zhao Tianhe did not hesitate. For an emperor, let alone the head of a subject's son, even a close relative could be abandoned at any time.

"If you can defeat the Yan delegation, I will not stand in your way!"

Seeing Zhao Tianhe say this in public, Chen Feng was the most anxious.

Just now, his son had luckily found a scapegoat, but what if Bai Xinghe really defeated the Yan Kingdom delegation? Wouldn't his son be doomed?

"Lord Chen, what's the panic?" Li Taibei whispered, "Do you really think that good-for-nothing Bai Xinghe has any talent at all?"

Hearing Li Taibei say this, Chen Feng felt relieved.

The simple farce ended quickly, and the Yan delegation, who had been waiting impatiently, watched the whole thing unfold.

For the people of Yan, they would love for the state of Zhao to be in turmoil, the more chaotic the better.

"Your Majesty the Emperor of Zhao, Zhang Chunqiu, has your Zhao Kingdom's farce come to an end?"

Li Chentian asked loudly.

Zhao Tianhe nodded, let out a long sigh, and looked at Bai Xinghe.

Now everything rests on Bai Xinghe's shoulders!

"If it's not over yet, we wouldn't mind letting you show off your skills, since you're bound to lose anyway."

"Old man, you think you can just say we're doomed to lose and that's it?"

At this moment, Bai Xinghe had already dropped the knife and tossed his hair back.

After spending a few days in death row, his appearance and demeanor were not good.

But upon closer inspection, it does possess a certain integrity.

"Ha!" Li Chentian looked at Bai Xinghe with disdain and said sarcastically, "Boy, I've long heard about your background and deeds. But I never expected that Zhang Chunqiu would admit defeat to be someone as ignorant and incompetent as you!"

"It seems the decline of your Zhao state is inevitable; you actually sent a useless piece of trash!"

"Li Chentian, is that right?" Bai Xinghe sneered.

"You're a scholar from Yan, very good. Old man, today I'll show you what it means to be outmatched and have a world beyond your reach!"

"Hehe!" Li Chentian didn't even glance at Bai Xinghe.

"Boy, you are not worthy to compete with me. I can easily pick a groom from my Yan Kingdom and make you feel ashamed of yourself."

Bai Xinghe remained noncommittal, standing with his hands behind his back at the forefront of the Zhao scholars.

He possessed an imposing presence, like a lone warrior holding off ten thousand, and faced the entire luxurious Yan Kingdom delegation alone with great charisma.

For a moment, even many people at the scene did have a misconception.

"Useless trash! You're not even worthy to carry Old Master Li's shoes. Let me teach you how to write poetry!"

An envoy from the Yan Kingdom stepped forward; this man was the least talented among the elite delegation.

Clearly, the Yan state did not take Bai Xinghe seriously at all.

Bai Xinghe wasn't angry, because today's events not only concerned the future of the Zhao Kingdom.

It was also the day when I became famous, made a name for myself, and completely shed the labels of spendthrift, good-for-nothing,纨绔 (wan ku, a spoiled brat), and ignorant.

"You bunch of clowns from Yan State, I wouldn't deign to compete with you. If you want to compete, let your so-called strongest, once-in-a-century genius come out!"

"Hahaha!"

"How ridiculous! Are all the people of Zhao this ridiculous?"

As soon as Bai Xinghe finished speaking, the members of the Yan Kingdom delegation burst into laughter.

Even the people from Zhao were extremely embarrassed. Only Zhang Chunqiu, the Eighth Prince, the Third Prince, Zhao Sisi, and others knew that Bai Xinghe was telling the truth.

Bai Xinghe had anticipated everyone's reaction. He remained calm and composed, with a smile on his face and his hands behind his back.

Then a poem quickly came to mind!