RWNEFE -Chapter 209 Does This Mean You’re Inferior to a Palace Woman!

Two figures moved at the same time, striking simultaneously.

Zhou Ruyuan leapt into the air; his long sword streaked like a rainbow, aiming straight at Shen Lanxi’s face.

Shen Lanxi lightly flicked her wrist. What seemed like a casual strike split a path in the ground several meters long after her blade cut through!

Cold, lethal energy surged from the strike, brimming with killing intent.

Emperor Renxiao, seated farthest away, saw everything most clearly.

He saw his son suddenly retreat when just two meters from Shen Lanxi, then roll four or five meters to the left, stepping back several paces.

Due to the distance, he couldn’t see the trench in the ground—but he could sense that strike was different from the rest.

Zhou Ruyuan felt a pang in his chest after Shen Lanxi’s blade descended.

With just one strike, he already knew her depth of skill.

Yet he refused to believe it!

Every day, he rose before dawn to train, through cold winters and scorching summers. When he woke, Shen Lanxi was still asleep.

When he sparred and had someone feed him moves, Shen Lanxi was picking fabrics, choosing attire, or strolling in the palace with the Empress Dowager, enjoying flowers and feasts.

How could she possibly have time to practice martial arts?

Zhou Ruyuan unleashed his full strength, twice as fast as before, no longer holding back, and aimed at Shen Lanxi’s vital points with deadly precision.

In battlefield combat, every move is fatal. Head, chest, back—wherever it can kill, the blade strikes.

Shen Lanxi blocked with equal speed and countered immediately.

He aimed at her head, she aimed at his.

He struck her chest, shoulders, or back, and she returned the blows in sequence!

In the blink of an eye, they had moved from the center of the equestrian field to the edge, then back to the center.

In just moments, they had exchanged eighty or ninety strikes.

While everyone was shocked that Shen Lanxi could hold her own against Zhou Ruyuan, Shen Yuanjing and his companions sensed something amiss.

Was their eldest sister just playing around with Zhou Ruyuan?

Seeing Yuanjing glance over, Shen Yuanxu quickly shook his head.

Yuanjing retracted his gaze, feeling immense satisfaction—what military god of Da Zhou? He thought, his eldest sister eclipsed them all with a mere finger!

Zhou Ruyuan grew more alarmed with each strike. Only he truly understood their duel.

Though it seemed evenly matched, Shen Lanxi was dominating him!

Her strength was far beyond what he had imagined.

Blushing with embarrassment, he remembered his earlier boast and struck with even more force.

He could not overcome her with technique alone and had to rely on brute strength.

Shen Lanxi was a woman—he assumed her strength would wane. If the fight continued, she would tire, and he could reverse the outcome.

The thought made his face burn with shame.

Earlier, he had boasted in front of his father. Losing now would be far more than a blow to his pride.

Thinking of his father’s strict gaze, Zhou Ruyuan summoned all his strength. On the field, sword and blade clashed in sparks, echoing with the sounds of metal striking metal.

Shen Lanxi countered effortlessly, letting out a cold, mocking laugh: “Zhou Ruyuan, with this level of skill, do you deserve to be even half my teacher?”

Zhou Ruyuan, embarrassed and furious, had no face to respond.

“You once said I only knew the tricks of a palace woman, that I could never compare to your Bai Qingling. Yet now you’ve lost to someone who only knows palace tricks. Does that mean… you’re inferior to a palace woman?”

At the center of the field, swords clashed. Her words were meant for his ears alone.

Zhou Ruyuan had exerted full strength, yet she handled it with ease. His cheeks flushed, and alarm rose in his heart.

How powerful was she?

Soon, the beast-hide wrappings on his sword began to tear, and hers were barely holding.

Only the quick-minded realized why, despite the thick leather, the sound of clashing weapons persisted.

The leather had long since deteriorated unbeknownst to them.

Both their weapon wrappings flew off.

Wang Bao’s eyes flicked, and he quickly cautioned: “Your Majesty, one is heading northwest for negotiations, the other to quell Dongchuan. There must be no bloodshed!”

Emperor Renxiao, worried how to stop them, immediately commanded: “Stop!”

He gazed at Shen Lanxi. He had intended to test her limits, but she could match his third son blow for blow.

Withholding the marriage was the right decision.

A general of her caliber trapped in the inner palace was a loss to the court.

Hearing the order, the two stopped.

Shen Lanxi sheathed her blade and strolled back easily.

Court officials and family members began whispering:

“Zhen’nan Wang held back against Shen Lanxi—he must have lingering feelings!”

“If the Shen family hadn’t been in trouble, she’d already be the confirmed princess consort!”

“From what Her Majesty the Empress said, it seems she wanted to pair them together.”

“His Majesty seems inclined as well~”

The Shen family silently calculated.

Zhou Ruyuan stood, forcing his hands to remain steady.

Most assumed he had held back out of past affection for Shen Lanxi, letting her go first.

Only Zhou Ruyuan knew that if he moved now, his sword would fall to the ground.

He could not afford to lose face!

Once his hands steadied, he returned.

The two stood together before everyone—a talented man and a capable woman. Emperor Renxiao grew increasingly pleased.

“Rewards!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for the rewards!”

Chaoyun Hall

“Your Highness, our prince and Shen Lanxi drew. After receiving their rewards, the banquet ended. No mention was made of the marriage,” the reporting eunuch explained in full.

Concubine Shu furrowed her brow in thought, then smiled:

“Good. Shen Lanxi’s presence among all those men would harm her reputation. My son must not have a consort with a tainted name.”

“Your Highness, previously, the Third Prince sent word about a young imperial grandson…” a maid reminded her.

Concubine Shu scowled, thinking of Bai Qingling: “That wretched girl took advantage! My son is brave and mighty, yet criticized. It’s all her fault! Why is she still alive?”

“Your Highness, reports say Bai Qingling has already survived two assassination attempts. Should we stop?”

Concubine Shu sneered: “This girl is a menace. She won’t stop me from raising my son’s child properly. Even if I do nothing, someone else would act.”

“Yes!”

“That wretched girl is of low birth, but the child carries my son’s blood. She must not corrupt him!”

“Your Highness intends to raise the child personally?”

Concubine Shu had no such plan at first, but reconsidered upon hearing the maid.

“Find out where His Majesty went after the banquet. Report back immediately!”

“Yes.”

Shen Lanxi received a famed sword as a reward. She intended to leave after the banquet, but a palace maid stopped her.

“General Shen, Princess Wanhe requests your audience.”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze fixed on the maid, voice low and icy: “I grew up in the palace and have never known a Princess Wanhe. Who sent you?”