Free Things Were the Best
Zhou Wanwan was genuinely unwilling, Cheng Chao assured her:
"Don't worry, I'll be living outside from now on and I won't bring Xing'an back to the old house. I'm planning to live separately from the family."
If my parents don't agree, I'll just marry into Black Wind Stronghold, hehehe!
Zhou Wanwan was speechless; Cheng Chao's thought process was truly peculiar.
She looked at Zheng Xing'an and said, "Xing'an, you should think it over carefully."
Zheng Xing'an shook her head and said, "I can't bear to part with Miss."
Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said:
"What you need to consider is whether you like Cheng Chao and whether he can bring you happiness."
"You don't need to worry about this. Even if you get married in the future, you can come back and work as a manager."
Zheng Xing'an looked at Cheng Chao and said, "I want to think about it some more."
Zhou Wanwan nodded and said:
"Hmm, I'll think about it. I have to go on stage to perform. I'm not very good at horseback riding!"
Never mind, I'm determined to get that jade pendant; free things always seem so appealing.
Especially those that the prefect himself produced, we must seize them.
She just loved to contradict the prefect; who told him to say those things that angered her?
So what if she was a bandit? Wasn't she forced into it by them?
The final challenge was horseback riding, and all the noble ladies looked displeased, with Shangguan Wan'er's face particularly grim.
Because she didn't even own a proper horse, she looked at Thousand-Li Snow with eyes full of reluctance.
But Zhou Wanwan completely ignored her. Her family had four horses in total, which wasn't enough, but with the addition of Thousand-Li Snow, they had exactly five.
One horse for Gu Sinian, one horse for Zhou Qingyan, one horse for Zhou Qingchen, and one horse for Zhou Qinghe.
Zhou Wanwan patted Thousand-Li Snow and said, "We need to give you a name. How about we call you Wan'er?"
Shangguan Wan'er retorted angrily, "Zhou Wanwan, you dare call it Wan'er? Are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?"
Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said:
I did this so that it would remember you forever.
Besides, my name also contains the character for "late," so why would I want to be awkward with you?
Shangguan Wan'er stomped her feet in anger. She picked out a warhorse from the Lu Family's stable and said:
"I'll use this warhorse to compete with you, Zhou Wanwan. Do you see this riding whip?"
This was bestowed by the Emperor himself; do you dare bet with me?
Zhou Wanwan scratched her head slightly, looking serious:
"A royal whip? What if you lose to me? Wouldn't you lose face?"
I advise you not to gamble. How can you be so fond of gambling at such a young age?
That's nothing like me, so down-to-earth.
Shangguan Wan'er's tone became even more aggressive:
"Stop talking nonsense and just tell me if you dare to bet!"
This riding whip is priceless; it seems you can't compare at all!
Indeed, it was bestowed by the emperor, so it was no ordinary gift.
Where can an ordinary person find something of equal value to compare?
Zhou Wanwan coughed once, her expression calm:
"What's there to be afraid of gambling on?"
You have a royal whip, and I happen to have a saddle.
She raised her hand and waved it gently.
Not long after, servants carried up a saddle.
The moment the saddle appeared, the entire arena fell silent.
The entire frame is made of the finest rosewood and wrapped in soft, high-quality leather.
The edges are inlaid with fine gold ornaments, and the patterns are simple and elegant, clearly indicating that it is not an ordinary item.
Not only is it comfortable to sit on, but it is also sturdy and durable. It is clearly a masterpiece made by a famous craftsman and has a very high pedigree. It is in no way inferior to the imperial whip.
Shangguan Wan'er's expression immediately changed. "This saddle is the one that the Emperor bestowed upon General Qin Shan of the Northern Garrison!"
Everyone knows that when General Qin was stationed in the Northern Frontier, he defeated a large army of 200,000 Northern Di soldiers with a smaller force, bringing Taiping to the border for ten years.
Overjoyed, the emperor personally issued an edict ordering the Imperial Household Department to spend several months on the project.
He commissioned the creation of this imperial saddle, inlaid with gold and trimmed with black leather, and personally gifted it to Qin Shan.
This saddle is a symbol of military merit and the highest honor for a military general, worth a hundred times more than gold and silver.
Zhou Wanwan raised an eyebrow and said:
"Hey! You've got a good eye for things. Never mind how I got here."
"This saddle must be worth a lot more than your whip, right?"
The noble ladies felt quite uncomfortable. Lu Xuening looked at Lu Lan and said, "Is this the peasant you were talking about?"
Lu Lan's face stiffened. "She really is a bandit from the mountains. These things must have been stolen by her."
This is the only plausible explanation.
The other noble ladies nodded in agreement, saying, "Otherwise, how could there be so many priceless treasures?"
Lu Xuening nodded and asked, "Can bandits participate in scientific expeditions?"
Lu Lan suddenly laughed, "That's right! A bandit, her identity is a bandit! So what qualifications does she have to participate in the imperial examination?"
Lu Xuening smiled faintly and said, "At only six years old, he's already almost a prodigy. What will he be like when he grows up? What is your prefect thinking?"
Lu Lan shook her head and said:
"I don't know, but my sister is right. What makes her qualified to participate in the scientific expedition?"
After the competition ends, I'm definitely going to ask her that in front of so many people.
Zhou Wanwan sat on Thousand-Li Snow's lap, and Thousand-Li Snow shook her body in protest.
Lingbao suddenly spoke up:
"Looks like this horse is disobedient. I wonder if horse meat tastes good."
"Wanwan, do you like to eat horse meat?"
Zhou Wanwan looked at Thousand-Li Snow and said, "To be honest, I've never eaten horse meat before, but I could try it tonight."
Thousand-Li Snow didn't dare to move. It looked at Lingbao and said, "You can actually talk? A ginseng can actually talk?"
Lingbao chuckled and said:
"Yes, Wanwan is no ordinary person. See those horses? Why are they so healthy?"
Why is the fur so shiny? It's all thanks to me. In our mountain village, ginseng is plentiful, and medicinal herbs are plentiful."
Zhou Wanwan's lips twitched. Ginseng to eat as much as you want? Medicinal herbs all you need? When did this happen?
Lingbao is really good at bluffing!
Thousand-Li Snow almost cried, "Big brother, are the treatment on this mountain really this good?"
Lingbao quickly nodded and said, "Ask them."
The horses nodded repeatedly. "Good, drinking the spiritual spring water and eating the spiritual herbs every day, look how strong and energetic we are!"
"Our village motto is, 'Listen to Wanwan, and life will be fantastic.'"
Suddenly, all the horses reared up and neighed, nearly scaring the other horses to the ground.
The horses hurried over, asking, "Is the treatment on this mountain really that good? Is it true?"
The four horses quickly said, "Look at our powerful limbs and strong muscles, how dare you doubt us?"
The horses fawned, "Could you take us to your mountain stronghold? I'd like to try the sacred water there."
I want to go too...
Lingbao coughed and said:
"Going to the mountain stronghold isn't a big problem, but you need to think carefully about what to do about today's match."
It all depends on your performance. If you don't perform well, we, the knock-offs, won't accept you. Do you understand?
Today's championship belongs to our Wanwan; now it's your turn to perform.