A Challenge

As though to answer the question she had in her mind, the person said, "Miss Hua, this prince feels that this prince has heard your voice before. Have we met before?"

"Your Highness must be confused. We have never met before," she calmly answered.

Using telepathy though, she asked Tao Xiaosheng, "Which prince is this?"

In a whispering voice, Tao Xiaosheng answered, "Uh… He is the ninth prince."

When the ninth prince heard the short conversation of the pair, he had already furrowed his brows. He was quite famous throughout the Tang Empire. For someone of her status, he was sure that she would have heard of him before and even know what his face looked like.

Even if she had the dark black silk covering her face, he was sure she could still see. After all, which person in their right mind would wear something to block their own human senses? If only he knew that she was blind, then he would realize that she would really not know him at all, but only by name.

"Is that so? This prince was so sure of having heard your voice before," the ninth prince said.

Not caring that this was a public period and not private, she asked the ninth prince, "Your Highness, I have a question."

Feeling like she had given him more recognition, he returned with, "What questions do you have for this prince?"

"How do you know my personal name," she asked.

"A friend told me," the ninth prince answered.

"I see," she replied. "Then, I would like to ask. Since you are calling me by my personal name, would it be possible for me to call you by your personal name?"

Seeing the exchange between the two of them, the other nobles and the royal family stared at them weirdly. Of course, that only went for the male genders. As for the females, they glared at her, thinking that she was a pathetic slut that wanted more fame and fortune by going after the ninth prince.

Who did not know that the ninth prince although only having been found for three years was the spoiled son of the emperor? The ninth prince had everything that one could have wanted. Whether it be fame, fortune, or power, he had them all.

Of course, it was not only the emperor that gave them to the prince. The ninth prince himself was a strong person mastering multiple skills, especially being able to give the emperor a headache. The ninth prince himself was most famous for having exposed multiple corrupted officials, big or small, in not only the court but also in cities, towns, and villages miles away from the capital.

"This one is a prince. Even this prince's name can not be called by this prince's own consort," the ninth answered.

Ignoring the stares and glares, she then said, "Then, I hope that Your Highness will not call me by my personal name."

"This one is a prince. This prince should be able to," he said.

Giving a chuckle, she replied, "Your Highness, I do not want to get in a petty fight. Please do as I say."

"This prince would like to ask, what will you do if I continue to call your first name," he asked with a smirk.

To answer his question, she stood up and went to the middle of the hall, standing tall and asked, "Your Majesty, I seem to remember my subordinates saying that the Tang Empire has been searching for the sea silk. However, your searches have been futile according to the observations of my subordinates. In order to reap more gold, we decided to sell it to the Tang Empire. Am I right?"

"That is indeed correct," Emperor Jie answered.

"If I was to pull out all the sea silk we have supplied, and give it to another empire, I wonder how would the economy of this nation fall," she asked.

Giving a shake of his head, Emperor Jie suggested, "Rather than effect something nationally due to a petty showdown, how about a challenge?"

"Well, I had expected this," she said. "I was actually joking though."

Despite being her friend, Tao Xiaosheng spoke up, "Your Highness, she only allows her friends to call her by first name basis."

"This prince knows. You do not have to remind me," the ninth prince scolded.

"I didn't even finish what I was saying," Tao Xiaosheng complained. "Your Highness, you don't want to hear how I became her friend?"

With a loud and smooth voice, she said, "Tao Xiaosheng!"

With a smirk, the ninth prince answered, "How did you become friends with this lady?"

"It was very hard Your Highness," Tao Xiaosheng started of pitifully. "I had to sacrifice my body."

"Body," the ninth prince repeated, confused.

Heaving a sigh, Tao Xiaosheng continued, "Back then, I had been an orphaned boy with no food and no clothes. When I saw her, dressed in all glory, I chased after her, begging for food. In the end, she told her maid to give me the food that was still left in the basket they were carrying."

"Get to the main point," the ninth prince berated.

In a very threatening voice, she called his name again, "Tao Xiaosheng."

"Your Highness, please protect me if I give you the answer," Tao Xiaosheng begged.

"If it is true, I will," the ninth prince promised.

Smiling, Tao Xiaosheng then continued, "Despite being unskilled, I followed her and continued to beg for help. I continued to do so for so long that she got annoyed and started to hide from me. In the end, with my wittiness, I found her every time!"

"What does this have to do with being her friend," the ninth prince asked.

"Tao Xiaosheng," she said in a calm voice.

Giving a nervous laugh, Tao Xiaosheng answered, "Well, she recognized my persistence, skill, and wittiness, so she said that I was from then on her friend and she would help me as long as I don't betray her."

"I think I understand now," the ninth prince said.

"Is it? I actually don't know," Tao Xiaosheng admitted.

"If you didn't know, then why did you say you knew how to become her friend," the ninth prince asked.

"Well, I just wanted to see how it felt to be threatened by her," Tao Xiaosheng answered truthfully. "She's so calm and forgiving that I can't remember when she last was mad."

"Is that so," the ninth prince muttered while staring at her.

In a calm voice, she threateningly ordered, "Tao Xiaosheng, when we get back, come to my residence."

Interrupting her, the ninth prince said, "Miss Hua, let's challenge each other. If I win, we become friends who must help each other whenever in need. If I lose…"

The ninth prince went in silence thinking about what should be done if he does lose.

"If you lose, you will never call me on a first name basis and we shall never have any dealings together," she continued his sentence for him.

Knowing that this is her original habit or behavior, he agreed with her, "Father, as the emperor, I hope you can officiate this challenge for us."

Since it was his son who requested, Emperor Jie promised, "Of course! Haha! A true friendship that is breeding right in front of Zhen's eyes!"

"What challenge will we do Your Highness," she asked.

"How about you pick something you are skilled at," the ninth prince suggested.

Thinking about it, she chose, "Your Highness, how about a fight? Whoever gets injured first or falls to the floor first loses."

"Okay," the ninth prince agreed.

Facing Emperor Jie, she suggested, "I've heard of the fighting grounds in the royal palace. I hope Your Majesty won't mind us destroying it."

"Huh? Destroying," Emperor Jie muttered confusedly while watching the ninth prince and her walking out of the hall.

The empress who was sitting next to Emperor Jie asked confusedly, "Your Majesty, wasn't this supposed to be your birthday?"

Giving a wry laugh, "It's fine. Ah Wei doesn't have a lot of friends. It'd be nice if he can get more friends."

"How do we trust her though," the empress asked.

"Xiang'er, she is a trustworthy person," Emperor Jie said while staring at Empress Fang.

"How do you know Your Majesty," Empress Fang asked while looking at the people that were leaving to go watch the fight.

"My Empress, do you see the way that Lady Li speaks to me," Emperor Jie asked.

"The way she speaks to you," Empress Fang confusedly asked.

"Lady Li is decisive and honorable. If she is unwilling to say it, she will not lie and will just keep it secret," Emperor Jie told her.

Hearing him, the empress said, "Your Majesty, it is not hard to lie in order to keep a secret."

"No. For her, she will cover up her secret with another topic that is agreeable," he stated.

"I see," the empress said. "Your Majesty, how about following them? This one would like to see who will win."

"This emperor is also interested in this fight. Ah Wei is a great martial artist and has never lost. However, Zhen has also heard that Master Li is a master martial artist," the emperor said, trying to predict who would win based on the rumors he heard.