Chapter 294: Who’s first
Chapter 294: Who’s first
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
"It really is Fang Zhengzhi! How is that possible?" The expressions of all the officials changed. They had never doubted the results this much before.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping’s expression was horrible. He could not understand what went wrong.
How can Fang Zhengzhi manage to get past all of the other talents at the first recording tablet?
Emperor Lin Mubai’s expression changed as well. It was slightly conflicted, so much so that it revealed his confusion.
What was going on?
Did he take advantage of Ping Yang?
Emperor Lin Mubai wondered to himself. He knew the relationship between Ping Yang and Fang Zhengzhi.
He would not be surprised if Fang Zhengzhi had used Ping Yang to write his name down on the first recording tablet.
However...
Just as everyone was shocked, the last tablet on the result tablet lit up.
It was just below Fang Zhengzhi’s name.
Ping Yang!
Her name appeared on the fourth tablet.
"It’s Princess Ping Yang!"
"Ping Yang reached the fourth recording tablet?!"
"Has the fourth recording tablet been found?"
"What’s going on?"
All of the spectators and officials were confused. Some of them had also thought that Fang Zhengzhi used Ping Yang to write down his name.
As such, Ping Yang should be at the first recording tablet. However, she wrote her name down on the fourth one within five minutes of Fang Zhengzhi’s name appearing.
Could it be...
All of the spectators thought of one possibility.
Could it be that Fang Zhengzhi used Ping Yang to write his name down, then allowed Ping Yang to write her name down on the fourth tablet in a quick amount of time.
There was only one possibility.
Fang Zhengzhi brought the fourth recording tablet to the position of the first one. In other words, Fang Zhengzhi shifted the tablet.
"Your highness, I have something to report!" Minister Wan Chong stepped out.
"Hmm? What is it?" Emperor Lin Mubai calmed down quickly. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.
When Yu Yiping heard Wan Chong, he squinted. However, he also nodded slightly.
"I have found a problem within the competition. If the problem persists, everyone will question the fairness of the competition. As such, I hope that this can be remedied immediately." Wan Chong saw the nod and continued.
"What problem is that? Please elaborate." Emperor Lin Mubai nodded.
Minister Wan Chong calmed himself down. Even though Emperor Lin Mubai did not say it explicitly, he had implied support.
"According to the rules of the competition, there is no overt rule against shifting the recording tablets. However, the tablets represent each of the four corners. If someone shifts the location of the recording tablets, they would have destroyed the fairness of the competition. Your highness, imagine this. What if everyone starts moving the recording tablets around in the future competitions? How can we still hold them in an orderly manner?" Wan Chong said passionately.
"Your highness, I agree wholeheartedly!"
"Your highness, I agree as well. If we let such audacious behavior continue unchecked, it will not bode well for our future!"
Very quickly, two other officials stood out and concurred with Wan Chong.
Emperor Lin Mubai knew exactly what Wan Chong meant. However, he did not speak immediately, choosing instead to ponder over it momentarily.
After all, the competition had already started. To change the rules halfway was not very reasonable.
Yu Yiping saw the emperor’s expression and immediately knew what he was thinking. He needed a reason to implement this rule now.
He looked at all of the other spectators.
All of the other spectators knew instantly what the Left Prime Minister wanted.
"Your highness, we all beg you to prevent such preposterous acts from being allowed!" Almost all of the spectators fell to their knees.
When Wen Dabao heard all of the voices, he trembled in his place.
"What?" Wen Dabao yelled. Then, he looked at the results tablet, "Hahaha, the name is still there, the name is still there!"
Just as he was about to celebrate, his gaze froze.
He saw another name below Fang Zhengzhi’s. Ping Yang!
"Princess Ping Yang is at the fourth recording tablet? My gosh, Fang Zhengzhi, please hurry up!" Wen Dabao exclaimed.
"There’s no way he’s winning this. I think he may even be disqualified!"
"Exactly, I don’t think he can win this competition."
"How can a commoner possibly go up against all of us?"
Many of the spectators from influential families mocked when they heard Wen Dabao.
"What are you saying? Why will he be disqualified?" Wen Dabao was confused.
"Because he moved the fourth recording tablet! Such an outrageous act cannot be allowed!" One of the talents reiterated.
"What? How is that possible?! The competition has already started. I must go beg the Emperor to change the rules after this competition!"
"Wen Dabao, do you want to die?"
"Are you blind? Can’t you see how many people are kneeling down?"
They all pulled Wen Dabao back.
Wen Dabao turned around and got the shock of his life. What’s going on? Why is everyone kneeling.
Just as he was thinking about it, Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping stepped forward. He straightened his robe and fell to his knees.
"Your highness, there have been times when messengers had travelled over 300 miles a day just to change a single word in a military order. More recently, if not for the quick thinking and reaction of the previous emperor, the battle against the demons could not have been won. Even though the issue at hand today is small, it affects many people present today. Your highness, please make a decision!" Yu Yiping kowtowed and stayed on his knees.
"Your highness, please make a decision!"
Everyone echoed out Yu Yiping’s words in unison.
Emperor Lin Mubai heard their pleas. He looked at all of the kneeling people in front of him.
"Yes, I was wrong. I will listen to everyone here today. There is a new addition to the rule, no competitor can move the recording tablets. However... this is the only time a rule will be added whilst the competition is ongoing!" Emperor Lin Mubai nodded.
All of the spectators echoed their support for this decision.
They all knew the intentions of the Emperor’s words. He could not have this happen again. The words of the Emperor were golden.
If he kept changing rules to suit him, no one will trust him.
Only Wen Dabao fell to the ground after hearing Emperor Lin Mubai’s words.
"My god, can you not play me like this?"
...
Fang Zhengzhi galloped towards the finish line!
Even though he was on the Mud Striped Horse, it was still a horse. Furthermore, his Mud Striped Horse had been moving at a leisurely pace all this while.
The Mud Striped Horse was no match for Ping Yang’s Snow Jade. Snow Jade was likely to defeat it even whilst moving with only three legs.
However, Snow Jade had ran a full two rounds since the start.
On the other hand, the Mud Striped Horse was well rested and refreshed.
Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi had a three minute head start on Ping Yang. No matter how fast Snow Jade was, it was unlikely that Ping Yang had already overtaken him.
As such, when he reached the final leg, he saw clear space ahead of him.
The competition grounds were a circle. However, the start and finish point were about a mile from the circle.
This was an intersection.
After all, the Emperor, many officials, as well as countless spectators were at the finish line. It was impossible to place the finish line on the track.
However, this intersection was filled with people.
"It’s Fang Zhengzhi!"
"He’s back, he’s back with just the Mud Striped Horse!"
All of the spectators were stunned to see Fang Zhengzhi return. Even so, their expressions had traces of mockery.
Fang Zhengzhi ignored the looks on all of the spectators faces. Until the very end, no one could be sure of winning.
As such, he continued to keep his head up as he sped past the spectators. His horse kicked up plumes of dust, instantly caking the spectators in it.
"Eat dust! Eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it..." Fang Zhengzhi continued to murmur to himself as he sped towards the finish line.
Just at this moment, he heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance. Then, a blazing red figure appeared.
"It looks like..."
"Princess Ping Yang!"
"Your highness, hurry up! Fang Zhengzhi is already over there!"
All of the spectators had not learnt their lesson after being fed dust. They began hollering to Ping Yang.
"What?! Fang Zhengzhi is already out ahead?" Ping Yang’s face flushed. She was not willing to lose to Fang Zhengzhi.
Ping Yang loved Snow Jade very much. She had to oversee the bathing of Snow Jade personally.
But now...
She waved her whip.
"Be obedient. I will only whip you once! But, you must chase up to that shameless fella!" Ping Yang lowered her head and whispered to Snow Jade.
Snow Jade blinked its eyes, almost as if it understood. Then, it rubbed its head against Ping Yang adorably.
Then, she was whipped!
"Aroo!"
Snow Jade howled in pain. As one of the most superior breeds, Snow Jade was extremely arrogant. The only time it had been whipped was by Fang Zhengzhi.
It still remembered it to this day.
When it saw Fang Zhengzhi in the morning, it had wanted to run. However, upon seeing that Fang Zhengzhi was riding the Mud Striped Horse, its confidence was boosted.
"Oh please, lousy horse!" Snow Jade had snorted towards the Mud Striped Horse. The Mud Striped Horse nearly fell to its knees.
The aura and demeanor of the superior species was undeniable.
Even so, Snow Jade had allowed Ping Yang to lead it beside Fang Zhengzhi.
But now, it was whipped.
It was being whipped by its beloved owner.
Then, it recalled when Ping Yang leaned down to whisper to it. Was I overtaken by that lousy horse?
Snow Jade could not take such humiliation!
It dug its hooves into the ground. The ground cracked under its feet as a white light enveloped its body.
Its snow white scales and fur also began to glow.
"Roar!"
Snow Jade’s superior bloodline kicked in. This was the Snow Jade at its best, the king of all stallions.
"Woosh!"
In a flash of light, it began to take off. It sped across the ground without leaving a single mark or kicking up any dust.
...
Fang Zhengzhi saw that he was closing in on the finish line. He began to sing louder and louder. "Eat the dust, eat the dust... everyone eat dust!"
Just as he was singing happily, he heard a screech behind him.
It was so ear piercing that Fang Zhengzhi turned behind to take a look.
Then, he saw a stream of white light flying towards him. Ping Yang was sitting aboard this white light
"What??? The f*ck?!"