Hu Xiaotian smiled. "There can only be one prince consort. What good would joining forces do?" In truth, even without Heldan saying anything, he could already have drawn that conclusion from tonight's situation.
Heldan said, "You're mistaken, Brother Hu. More than ten thousand men have come to compete for the position of prince consort. Although there's no question that men like you and me will make the final selection, we'll still have over a hundred opponents to face. If we join forces, we can sweep aside the others and rise above the crowd."
Hu Xiaotian said, "Won't we still have to decide a winner between us in the end?"
Heldan said, "But at least our chances will be much better than everyone else's."
Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly. Heldan might look rough-hewn, but his thinking was meticulous, and his mind was every bit as sharp as that of his Twelfth Royal Brother, Huo Ge. These princes of Shajia truly were extraordinary. No wonder they had swept through Western Fan over the past decade or so, subjugating the surrounding tribes and becoming the undisputed overlords of the frontier.
Hu Xiaotian considered the matter. Heldan's proposal would cost him nothing at present. If he went his own way, others were bound to isolate him. No matter how capable one man was, he could not contend with so many alliances. Besides, this so-called alliance was merely a temporary expedient. There was no harm in agreeing for now, so he nodded.
Heldan was delighted to see him agree. Ahead lay the Flowing Flower River, which crossed Fragrant City from east to west. The two rode up onto an arch bridge. Beneath it, little boats glided across the river, carrying visitors admiring Fragrant City's night scenery. Many boats even had small tables set up, with talented