Rong Jian stayed on the stage for a bit longer to apologize to to the Empress . The other was too anxious and just waved him off so he left the stage to let the physicians move around more freely . When he was walking back to his eat, he caught Shen Tianyu looking at him and rolled his eyes

'These people are so ridiculous . ' He was trying to tell her .

She giggled, covering her mouth with her sleeve, which elicited a small smile from him . The contestants sat and waited . In the end, the Master of Ceremonies called an end to the matches for the day, as they couldn't bring more matches up . And the last gamble had failed, ending in another uncomfortable incident . However, the audience were hesitant in leaving the stadium . Though it was from another country, it was still a Crown Prince that had been injured . Leaving so abruptly would seem rude and heartless . Everyone threw spittle at each other's countries but in reality, no one wanted to go to war and many were aware such a rude action might heighten tensions .

The contestants also had to observe these notions, more so since many of them were from prominent families . And since Shen Tianyu had not gotten up to leave yet, Rong Jian wouldn't either . Shen Tianyu was thinking they had stood out enough already and shouldn't attract more attention lest the Emperor lash out at them . Even if she could afford it, she didn't want the trouble . Not to mention, it would be a detriment to sales if she was a.s.sociated with Lavender Palace .

After what seemed like half a day, the physicians finally finished administering first aid and carried Xi Yeng away on a stretcher just in case . The Empress of Xi Qi naturally followed them and the Emperor, after exchanging some formalities, also followed his wife . The Emperor of Jing Qie sat alone, a testament to a man that valued fame more than family .

Only once all three of the royalty from Xi Qi had left did the audience slowly filter out of the stadium . The contestants stayed still for a while longer, mostly aware that their actions represented their families . A few of Xi Qi's contestants left to follow the physicians . Jing Qie's contestants only started leaving after half of the stadium was empty . The Junzhu Wen Ya stood up first and Shen Tianyu followed her lead . Naturally, Rong Jian was the third . Wen Ya left to go back to the Imperial Palace and the latter couple went back to their fancy lodgings . When the two women pa.s.sed each other, Shen Tianyu took the opportunity to remind the other . "You don't have that much time left . "

"I know . I will give you an answer by the end of this Tournament . " The other replied with more determination than she ever had displayed before without turning her head .

Shen Tianyu continued walking with an almost indiscernible smirk on her face . Rong Jian, as always, acted like he saw nothing .

The next day was more matches, the officials in charge trying to act as if nothing happened . Of course, since some contestants were out of commission due to injuries, there would be some repet.i.tive fights in the name of the fallen soldiers . It was a much more tame, child's version of survival of the fittest .

The first match of the day was Shen Tianyu again, up against Ling Lei, the one who had injured Luo Yenmu, the Minister of Personnel's son .

'They actually still let him compete in that kind of a mental state?' Shen Tianyu raised her brow when his name was announced . The last time she saw him, he was still a bit gla.s.sy-eyed from what happened before . She thought he certainly was in no condition to compete . Perhaps the other side thought they were too lacking in compet.i.tors .

She leisurely walked onto the stage with her whip coiled at her hip like before . Her opponent slowly walked forward, his posture suggesting his halberd was much heavier than it seemed . The Master of Ceremonies called the start signal and hurriedly left the stage . Even then, neither of the two made to move .

Shen Tianyu could see Ling Lei was contemplating surrender but didn't want to disappoint his loved ones, especially the one that was watching him with so much worry on her face . She put one hand on her hip and s.h.i.+fted her body weight to one side, her head also tilting as she looked at the other . When she had started to move, the man had tensed, but upon seeing that she had no intention to attack, he relaxed somewhat .

"Hey, is that woman your fiancee? Or just a childhood sweetheart?" she asked in a voice suggesting they were just making casual conversation . The other eyed her warily, becoming tense again . This somehow caused her to throw her head back and laugh . "What are you looking at me like that for? I won't do anything to her . Besides, with how intimate you two were being, one would have to be a fool to think otherwise . " This caused the young man to tense up with for a different reason, griping his halberd closer to his body and blus.h.i.+ng like a young maiden .

"You don't seem to have any intentions of fighting yet you also don't want to surrender so I just thought it would be awkward and tiring for us both to stand here in fighting posture . So why not take this time to make some casual talk? Anyways, you still haven't answered my previous question . " She continued .

" . . . both . . . " The young man answered in a quiet voice, red tinging his neck .

"Oh? How lucky! Not many get to have their childhood sweethearts become their fiancee and still love each other! Truly a pure and admirable boy . " She nodded, as she put her hands behind her head . "Speaking of which, why did you decide to partic.i.p.ate in the Selection Tournament?" She was aware Xi Qi also held an Election Tournament and the people that were sent to the stage here were the top people from that preliminary selection .

" . . . " This time, he didn't answer but just got redder, now holding his halberd in front of his body as if trying to s.h.i.+eld himself and shrinking his head in his shoulders .