"Presumptuous!"
Hua Jingshan let out a deep shout, and a terrifying aura gathered in his eyes, surging towards Yang Zheng.
" Yang Zhen, what are you trying to do? This isn't a place for you to cause trouble!"
Hua Jingshan is the head of the Hua Household, and his imposing presence is undeniable. Now that he is angry, the surrounding air freezes, and the atmosphere becomes extremely tense.
Yang Zhen glanced at Hua Jingshan and said slowly, "I don't want to do anything, I just want to ruin this marriage."
"You bastard!"
Before Hua Jingshan could speak, the Third Elder slammed his hand on his seat with a thunderous thud, pointing at Yang Zhen and saying:
" Yang Zhen, I'm concerned about your talent and the fact that Youyue values you highly, so I don't want to make things too difficult for you. Today's events are beyond your control, so leave the Hua Household immediately, or don't blame me for being impolite."
Hua Jingshan glanced at Hua Youyue, who remained silent, and said in a deep voice, " Yang Zhen, don't be reckless. This matter is of great importance. The three elders have also said that it's not something you can control."
Xiao Ji was no longer angry; instead, he watched with great interest as Yang Zhen was reprimanded and scolded by the elders of the Hua Household.
Hua Jingshan and the three elders said, this matter was not something that Yang Zhen, a nobody, could decide.
These people don't even consider why the Grand Preceptor of the Great Jiang Kingdom would make such a grand entrance to propose marriage, and why he's so certain the Hua Household will agree. If the Hua Household refuses, wouldn't that be a disgrace to the Great Jiang Kingdom?
The Hua Household desperately needs these resources; they are crucial to the Hua Household 'Hua Household development over the next three years, and even its survival two years from now. So, despite Hua Youyue's reluctance, she couldn't refuse.
Unless the Hua Household can demonstrate sufficient sincerity!
Yang Zhen is just a lucky kid, yet he dares to oppose this marriage. He's simply courting death. He doesn't even need to lift a finger; the elders of the Hua Household alone are enough to make Yang Zhen lose face and be unable to back down.
However, Xiao Ji was unwilling to gamble. He didn't want to risk whether the Hua Household would make things too difficult for a young man favored by Hua Youyue. He wanted to use his own methods to completely ruin Yang Zhen's reputation and make him ashamed to ever set foot in the Hua Household again.
A playful look flashed across Xiao Ji's face as he stepped forward and said, "Uncle Hua, Third Elder, please calm down. Yang Zhen's reason for refusing this marriage is because he is deeply in love with Youyue, and he is not wrong. Why don't we give him a chance to prove that he has enough sincerity and strength to protect Youyue..."
Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this, and their faces all showed surprise.
"I never expected Young Master Xiao to be so magnanimous; he is truly a role model for me."
Compared to Young Master Xiao, Yang Zhen pales in comparison. In every aspect, he is far inferior to Young Master Xiao. What makes him think he can compete with Young Master Xiao?
A group of people were discussing it animatedly, praising Xiao Ji highly. Compared to him, no one had any confidence in Yang Zhen.
The Grand Preceptor of the Great Jiang Kingdom sat calmly in the main seat, watching Yang Zhen with great interest. After hearing Xiao Ji's words, he nodded repeatedly, a smile appearing on his face, clearly very satisfied with Xiao Ji.
Hua Youyue, the person involved in the incident, seemed to have no presence at this moment, as if the matter had nothing to do with her. With so many elders and distinguished guests present, even though she was the owner of the Long Moon Pavilion, she was just a daughter in the Hua Household's council hall.
Hua Youyue frowned, looking at Yang Zhen with some worry. In this way, Xiao Ji had almost elevated Yang Zhen to a very high position. Not only did he not look down on Yang Zhen, but he also raised Yang Zhen to the same level as him.
But how could Yang Zhen compare to Xiao Ji at this point?
This was undoubtedly a case of praising Yang Zhen to death, yet Yang Zhen acted as if nothing had happened and was even secretly winking at her.
Xiao Ji listened to the approval and compliments around him, feeling triumphant. Yang Zhen clicked his tongue in amazement. This kid is not simple. First, he created an atmosphere to elevate him, and then he used a method that Yang Zhen could not match to completely crush him. This act of showing off is quite something.
Seeing Xiao Ji Xiao Ji like this, Yang Zhen found it very amusing and squinted at him.
Xiao Ji laughed heartily, stood tall and imposing, and walked to the center of the council hall. He patted the several boxes that had been placed there and said, "Don't say I didn't give Brother Yang a chance. Since Brother Yang wants to obstruct my marriage, he must have brought quite a few betrothal gifts. How about we compare whose betrothal gifts are more valuable?"
What?
Everyone in the council hall was shocked and looked at Xiao Ji with strange expressions, only then realizing what a huge trap Xiao Ji had dug for Yang Zhen.
Comparing betrothal gifts?
The betrothal gifts brought by the Grand Preceptor of the Great Jiang Kingdom caused a stir throughout the entire Raging Fire City, and even surprised Princess Changfeng.
With such a generous betrothal gift, what could Yang Zhen possibly offer to compete with Xiao Ji?
Hua Youyue's face paled. Just what she feared had come to pass. If it came down to talent, Yang Zhen might not lose to Xiao Ji by much. Even if it came down to strength, Xiao Ji, suppressing his strength to the Lesser Vehicle Realm Ninth Stage, might not be able to easily defeat Yang Zhen.
But Xiao Ji didn't compare any of these things; he directly compared the betrothal gifts with Yang Zhen's.
What does Yang Zhen have to compare with him?
This is utterly like throwing an egg against a rock; Yang Zhen's egg is hitting Xiao Ji's rock.
Beside Hua Youyue, Elder Yao glared and said angrily, "That Xiao Ji is absolutely wicked, treacherous, cunning, and utterly despicable."
Upon hearing this, Hua Youyue shuddered, a strange expression appearing on her face.
Compared to Yang Zhen, who could be more treacherous, cunning, and despicable? He hurriedly looked at Yang Zhen's face.
Everyone was watching Yang Zhen, waiting for Yang Zhen reaction.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yang Zhen seemed stunned, his eyes unfocused, his face showing an expression of despair, disappointment, helplessness, and loneliness.
It's over!
Hua Youyue and the others felt a jolt in their hearts; Yang Zhen had already lost in terms of momentum.
A slight, mocking smile appeared on Xiao Ji's face; it was so subtle that it would be almost unnoticed if one wasn't paying attention.
Everyone understood that Yang Zhen had already lost!
Unbeknownst to anyone, Yang Zhen was furious, trembling with rage, and pointed at Xiao Ji, shouting, "Don't you have any backbone at all?"
Xiao Ji was stunned, staring at Yang Zhen with a completely bewildered expression.
Everyone was equally bewildered, not knowing what Yang Zhen was going to do.
"Why compare such a trivial matter? Comparing betrothal gifts? How can you justify all the hard work I've put into preparing these past few days?"
Yang Zhen grew angrier and angrier, walking up to Xiao Ji Xiao Ji and pointing at his nose, yelling, "You bastard, Ant Huabei? Aren't you a genius? Let's compare talent, Spirit Root, cultivation speed, and comprehension!"
Xiao Ji's lips twitched.
Everyone's lips twitched.
Are you capable of this?
Yang Zhen was truly angry. All his preparations over the past two days had been for nothing, and his hands were trembling. "Aren't you supposed to be the next Imperial Advisor, knowledgeable in astronomy, geography, and the Tongxuan of the universe? Then let's compete in metaphysics, in astronomy, in stargazing!"
Xiao Ji: "???"
Everyone: "???"
You can't even compare to that.
"All my hard work these past few days has been wasted. I'm not competing with you anymore. I thought you were a master, but you're just a beginner. Comparing dowries? How could you even think of that? Marriage is a lifelong commitment. Can dowries determine happiness? Does that mean poor people don't get married? Huh?"
Yang Zhen poked Xiao Ji's nose with his finger, then sighed, turned and walked towards the door. His figure was incredibly lonely and sad, giving everyone the illusion that a hero had fallen on hard times, as if he was utterly disappointed in Xiao Ji.
this...
Everyone looked at each other, wondering why Yang Zhen was so agitated.
Xiao Ji's face turned pale and then flushed. He stared blankly at Yang Zhen for a long time before his eyes suddenly lit up, and he scolded, "What a brilliant escape!"
Everyone was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then realized that Yang Zhen, knowing he couldn't compete, was simply making a fool of himself to try and escape?
Seeing him walk away like that, it seemed he really didn't intend to compete anymore. Coupled with Xiao Ji's words, everyone immediately realized that this was indeed the case and began to despise Yang Zhen.
"What, are you not going to compete, or... are you simply too afraid to compete?" Xiao Ji looked at Yang Zhen with a mocking expression, as if he knew everything.
Yang Zhen turned around with a strange expression, looking at Xiao Ji as if he were an idiot. As he walked back, he rolled up his sleeves and said, "Come on, let's have a competition. The loser leaves everything behind and has to call the other grandpa, how about that?"
A confident smile appeared on Xiao Ji's face.
Yang Zhen's smile deepened, and he was secretly delighted.
Your brother Yang's trap is unimaginably huge, and it's a series of interconnected pits, with smaller pits within larger ones, and even smaller pits within larger ones. There's water in the pits, and nails in the water—the kind where you disappear the moment you step in.
However, Yang Zhen was right about one thing: he had indeed made preparations these past few days, considering all sorts of scenarios, but he never expected that Xiao Ji would actually challenge him to a contest over betrothal gifts.
Will he lose in the betrothal gift contest?
Yang Zhen agreed, but the heavenly materials and earthly treasures in his several rings wouldn't agree.