"Let you decide! Absolutely no resistance!"
These eight words immediately caused an uproar.
After all, the implication of this statement was too suggestive.
Especially since the princess was exceptionally beautiful and had a remarkable figure; if she really fell into Qin Ying's hands, just thinking about it was "hair-raising!"
The Wei delegation reacted even more violently, with a group of old officials quickly trying to persuade her.
"Princess, you are of noble birth. You cannot be used as a wager! It's absolutely unacceptable!"
"This matter is too significant; we must consult with the Wei King. The princess cannot decide this on her own."
"Please, Princess, think carefully!"
This matter could have serious consequences!
Winning would be ideal, but what if they lost?
Even if the odds of losing were only one in ten thousand, it was still too risky.
This was the princess of Wei, the precious daughter of the Wei King.
If even a fraction of her dignity were lost in the Han court, these officials would face severe repercussions, even death and extermination of their families.
"Princess of Wei, are you really going to gamble?" The Han Emperor's voice was heavy with authority.
Wei Zhiyan lightly parted her lips and said, "Of course it's true!"
At this point, she even deliberately shot a provocative glance at Qin Ying beside her.
She was an extremely proud woman, but today she had been repeatedly suppressed by this useless prince.
She had to turn the tables somehow.
"It seems you are quite confident that you will win," the Han Emperor, Qin Mu, spoke with authority. "In poetry and prose, the Han is indeed weak, but in painting, we may not necessarily lose! There are countless skilled painters in the Han!"
Hearing this, Wei Zhiyan's lips curled into a strange smile. "What if it's a comparison against Ling Daoxuan?"
"What!"
Upon hearing the name spoken by Wei Zhiyan, the Han side became chaotic as if struck by thunder.
"You mean the 'Saint of Painting,' Ling Daoxuan?" The Han Emperor's expression turned astonished.
"Who else in the world besides him would dare to be called the Saint of Painting?" Wei Zhiyan wore a confident smile.
"Nonsense!" A Han civil official stepped forward, loudly proclaiming, "Ling Daoxuan, the Saint of Painting, has long since retired. He paints only for his own pleasure and not for anyone else; not even Wei can summon him!"
His words drew agreement from many.
The Saint of Painting, Ling Daoxuan, had an elusive and eccentric character.
If he did not wish to paint, even if you threatened him, he would refuse.
But if he wanted to paint, he would use his tongue to dip in ink if his hands were cut off.
With such an unusual temperament, countless nobles and royals had sought his paintings over the years, only to be left empty-handed.
"Ignorance!" Wei Zhiyan shot a cold glance at the civil official and disdainfully said, "Ling Daoxuan once owed the Wei King a favor. If he is called upon, he will certainly come."
"Your Majesty, we must not gamble; we absolutely cannot!"
After Wei Zhiyan spoke, the old minister Chen Songtai quickly chimed in.
"Father, I believe we should not gamble!"
"The old minister agrees; we should not gamble!"
Then, the eighth prince Qin Zhou and the dean of Huan Zhang Academy, Song Hedian, also stood up to oppose.
Soon, all the ministers expressed their opposition.
"Ling Daoxuan's painting skills are unparalleled; it is futile to compare with him. We are certain to lose!"
"I have seen Ling Daoxuan paint, and it was breathtaking! No one in the Han can surpass him in painting skill."
"Ling Daoxuan is too formidable…"
They all opposed the gamble.
Standing aside, Qin Ying recalled from his memory that Ling Daoxuan was known as the Saint of Painting and became famous forty years ago.
He once painted a massive depiction of divine beings over three hundred miles in Jiangling, stunning the world.
If Wei Zhiyan could truly invite him, the Han would indeed have no chance, and the outcome of the second literary contest would be a foregone conclusion.
But unfortunately, he was destined to encounter Qin Ying, this variable.
The Han Emperor sat on the dragon throne, his expression dark, devoid of confidence.
"Ying'er, what do you think of the Saint of Painting, Ling Daoxuan?" The Han Emperor, Qin Mu, turned his gaze to Qin Ying.
Before today, he hadn't even bothered to pay attention to this younger son. However, after Qin Ying's victory over the Wei courtier, the emperor had a change of heart. Among all the attendees, he was the only one who remained silent and composed, which piqued the emperor's interest in his opinion.
Upon hearing this, Qin Ying smiled broadly: "Ling Daoxuan is not as good as me! If he dares to come, I will ensure he returns in utter defeat!"
Boom!
This declaration struck like a massive stone hitting the ocean, causing waves of shock.
Prince Qin Ying had openly declared that the Saint of Painting, Ling Daoxuan, was inferior to him!
Such arrogance made even the civil and military officials of the Han tremble with fear.
Who in the world would dare to dismiss Ling Daoxuan in such a manner?
"Arrogant! Truly, it's outrageously arrogant!"
"He probably doesn't know how formidable Ling Daoxuan is! When the Saint of Painting gained fame, he wasn't even born yet! What does he understand!"
"Just because he won one match, he's become so arrogant; it's simply hopeless!"
The Wei delegation began to voice their discontent, their faces flushed with anger.
"Ninth brother, you must not gamble!"
The eighth prince, Qin Zhou, glared at Qin Ying with a somber expression. "Do you know that Ling Daoxuan's painting skills have reached a transcendental level? You could outshine Li Denggao in literary talent, but in painting, you can never surpass Ling Daoxuan! You're digging your own grave! If you lose, it's not just you; it's the entire Han Dynasty! If we lose, the Han will face destruction!"
In the next moment, Qin Ying let out a cold laugh. "Brother, can't you see reality? Do you think that if I refuse to gamble, Wei will withdraw?"
Qin Zhou's rebuttal only fueled his anger, and he shot a furious glare at Qin Ying.
The Han Emperor, Qin Mu, remained silent, his gaze fixed on Qin Ying.
Qin Ying noticed his father's intense look and remembered that this emperor had always favored a hardline approach toward Wei.
However, as the ruler, he had to consider many factors, including the opinions of his ministers.
The general sentiment among the court was one of seeking peace.
They didn't dare to confront Wei head-on.
Qin Ying understood his father's mindset; he needed to hear a different, more resolute voice.
With this thought, Qin Ying's eyes blazed like flames, releasing an imposing aura as he shouted:
"Since the time of our founding Emperor, the Han has established itself through military might. Even if our national strength is inferior, death is the worst that can happen! What is there to fear? You all tremble at just a name and dare not face them, losing the very spirit of a Han man!"
"No matter who Wei sends, I, Qin Ying, will fight! Even if I die, I will die for my country, and it will be a noble death!"
As Qin Ying's words echoed in the hall, a stir arose among the officials of the Han. They gazed at his upright figure, feeling as if they were facing a towering purple and gold pillar, suddenly overwhelmed with shame.
They hadn't expected that the ninth prince, often seen as flashy but lacking substance, could possess such noble spirit, while they had lost even the dignity of being Han people.
The enemy, with their wicked ambitions, pressed forward relentlessly.
Yet they dared not fight back but instead compromised and yielded.
The eighth prince, Qin Zhou, was deeply moved, wiping his eyes as if he didn't recognize the brother he had grown up with.
Today's Qin Ying had utterly astonished him.
"Indeed, he is my son!"
Hearing Qin Ying's words, which resonated with his own thoughts, the Han Emperor Qin Mu stood up, his voice booming with authority: "No matter if he's the Saint of Painting or a celestial painter, let him come! My Han men are not afraid! Let the world see the blood and bones of the Han!"
"Good! Seven days from now, Wei will surely witness the pride and bravery of the Han!" Wei Zhiyan replied loudly, a look of disdain and mockery on her face.
"Wait."
At that moment, Qin Ying blocked Wei Zhiyan's path as she turned to leave.
Wei Zhiyan glanced at him, "What further insights does the Ninth Prince have?"
With a smile, Qin Ying replied, "What you said about letting me decide—does that include doing as I please? You should know, my greatest hobby in life is beautiful women!"