Translator: Sparrow Translations  Editor: Sparrow Translations

This was a serious question .  

Just as Fang Zhengzhi was thinking about it, the other candidates became increasingly excited .  

They knew what the King of the Southern Region meant .  

He was looking for a suitor! 

The question was, would he pick someone based on intellect or combat skill? 

All of the candidates looked at Princess Shan Yu, their eyes glittering . She was a beauty . . .  

Crown Prince Lin Tianrong also knew what the King of the Southern Region was getting at . He smiled, almost as if he knew this was coming .  

"Are you trying to use this event to find someone for your daughter?"

"Indeed . " The King of the Southern Region nodded as he looked away from Fang Zhengzhi and back at Lin Tianrong .  

"That's great! That's great indeed! How would you like to go about choosing?"

"No, no I will not be the one choosing . I want my daughter to choose for herself . " The King of the Southern Region looked at Princess Shan Yu .  

"Have the Princess choose for herself?" Lin Tianrong was taken aback .  

Generally, royal weddings were decided by the Emperors . This made Lin Tianrong think that this would be the case here as well .

However, it would seem that . . .  

This was not the case .

"We have our own customs, would you mind indulging us?" The King smiled .  

"I would love to . " Lin Tianrong replied .  

"Have someone light a bonfire!" The King smiled when he saw Lin Tianrong nod .  

"Yes, your highness!" A few of the servants replied before taking their leave .  

Then, a few heavily armored soldiers entered and placed a pile of wood in the middle of the room .  

There was a live Blue Horned Lamb on it .  

All of the candidates were shocked . In their minds, they were expecting a stage .  

A pile of wood and a lamb . . .  

Were they planning to roast it? 

Just as they were thinking about it, Princess Shan Yu stood up and looked at the candidates, then at Fang Zhengzhi .  

She walked over to the bonfire .  

Then . . .

Two daggers appeared in her hands .

And then . . .

The candidates were all stunned by what they saw .  

Princess Shan Yu began slaughtering the lamb . . . her movements were so smooth it was as though she had been doing this her whole life .  

The lamb was prepared within moments .  

Princess Shan Yu placed the lamb on the bonfire and sheathed her daggers .  

Every movement was smooth, clean, and animalistic .  

However, all of the candidates were still confused . They had no idea what was coming .  

"We have a tradition here in the Southern Region . All returning warriors can enjoy a sumptuous meal . They can choose which fire to go to, and the ladies can choose whether to let the males eat from her bonfire!" The King chuckled as he explained .  

All of the candidates looked at each other when they heard this .  

They understood almost instantly .  

How simple was that? 

This was a great representation of Southern Region culture . There were little formalities and they emphasized freedom .  

The warriors showed their admiration and liking of a girl by eating at their bonfire . The ladies could choose which males they allowed to eat from their bonfire .  

This was all about freedom of choice .  

It was simple .

No one would be forced to do something against their will . At the same time, they were spreading the culture of their food .  

In order to impress the warriors, the Southern Region ladies learnt to cook from a young age . That was how they supported the family .

When he heard this . . .

Fang Zhengzhi couldn't help but exclaim in his heart, "Great tradition!"

The lamb was placed on the fire and a few servants stood around it . At that moment, Princess Shan Yu moved .

The red cloud patterns appeared on her body .  

They extended down her arms and her eyes also began to turn red, almost as if there were two b.a.l.l.s of fire dancing in them .  

All of the candidates whooped and cheered .  

"All the best, your highness!"

"How beautiful! I have never seen anything so red and bright in my 20 years of life!" 

"Indeed, she looks like a rising sun, her eyes are so beautiful . . . " 

All of the candidates couldn't hold back their praises as they tried to find words to express their feelings .  

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the candidates scornfully .  

Pretty?

A sun?

Is that even a fitting description? 

The first time he had seen Princess Shan Yu like that, he had almost mistaken her for a ghost .

That being said, he had to admit that she did give off an attractive animalistic aura .

The only question was . . .  

What are the cloud patterns? 

What are the cloud patterns? 

No one bothered to find out what Fang Zhengzhi's question was . No one planned on answering it either . They were all engrossed with what Princess Shan Yu was doing .  

Princess Shan Yu was dancing .

Her slender long legs flew across the floor as she twirled, sparks dancing on her hands . As she twirled, the sparks landed on the lamb, giving off sizzling sounds .  

After a few rounds of twirling, Princess Shan Yu took out a few tubes . Each tube contained a certain spice .  

Grinding and spreading . . .  

Princess Shan Yu twirled around the flame as she seasoned the meat with her spices . The fragrance wafted into the noses of everyone around .  

"You can roast meats this way?" Fang Zhengzhi was slightly shocked . He had heard that you could roast meats using all kinds of herbs and spices .

However, it was a very difficult method .

Because . . .  

The ratios had to be perfect . If you used too many herbs and spices, the natural flavor of the meat would be masked .

If you used too little, then the blend would be suboptimal and both flavor and texture may be compromised .  

One could only perfect the ratios through many rounds of trial and error .  

Of course, as the Princess of the Southern Region . . .  

Fang Zhengzhi knew that Princess Shan Yu's standards would not be low . In fact, when he smelt the fragrance . . .  

He knew that her standard was better than he had expected! 

There wasn't any overpowering herb smell! 

In fact, it was fresh and inviting .  

How did she do it? 

Could it be . . .  

That she used the meat's fragrance to mask that of the herbs? 

"Fantastic!" Fang Zhengzhi had always loved to eat . To him, eating was one of the greatest enjoyments in life .

Gulp . . .

Fang Zhengzhi swallowed a mouthful of saliva .  

This was heard by Princess Shan Yu . Her eyes brightened when she heard it as a red glow brightened her face .

All of the other candidates were mesmerized when they smelt the aroma of the meat .  

Then, Princess Shan Yu stopped .

A golden lamb sat atop the bonfire . There was no charring . The entire lamb was a decadent golden color .

All of the candidates gulped down a mouthful of saliva .  

Even Lin Tianrong was tempted . . .  

"The Princess's abilities . . . even I . . . " Crown Prince Lin Tianrong wanted to say that he wanted to taste some, but he stopped himself .  

"Hahaha, I have to say that my daughter is probably the best around when it comes to roasting lamb!" The King chuckled .  

He knew what the Crown Prince was saying .  

As the Crown Prince of an empire, he could not request for a tasting . The King had to offer it .  

As the Crown Prince of an empire, he could not request for a tasting . The King had to offer it .  

However . . .  

The King had no intention of letting the Crown Prince have a try . This was the Southern Region culture! Only someone sincere, whom the lady liked, had the right to taste it .

Anything else . . .

Would be an insult to their culture!

Seeing that the King of the Southern Region didn't say anything else, Lin Tianrong cleared his throat . This told the candidates that they could begin .  

All of the candidates leapt at the opportunity .

"Your Highness, could I please try a bite?" A youth in green stood up first . He had a gentlemanly demeanor .

"Have you been promised to someone?" The Princess glanced at the candidate .  

"Erm . . . yes I do, but if I could be with your highness . . . " The youth was stammered .

"Scram!" Princess Shan Yu ordered .

"Erm . . . " The youth wasn't expecting this . . .  

The King of the Southern Region had said that they could try the food if they were attracted to the Princess . . .  

Yet, things were not playing out that way .

He didn't want to return to his position . . .  

However, a few heavily armored soldiers had already lowered their spears at his throat .  

"Hahaha . . . she can be quite wilful . . . " The King of the Southern Region chuckled .

When the other candidates heard the words of the King, they seemed to understand . . .

This was the tradition of the Southern Region . . .  

However, Shan Yu was a Princess .

She wouldn't let any random person try her food .  

Her willfulness . . .  

Was reason enough .  

The youth in green decided to return to his spot, slightly depressed . However, he did not dare to say anything .  

At that moment, another candidate stepped forward .

He was dressed in black .  

He held a paper and pen .  

"Your Highness, I have a short poem that I wrote for you . Perhaps you could take a look at it?" The candidate prepared to present his work .  

"Scram!" Princess Shan Yu's voice rang out .  

"Erm, your highness, I have not been promised . . . " 

"You are too ugly!" 

" . . . " The candidate withdrew, visibly embarra.s.sed, tears in his eyes . His appearance was no fault of his . . . why couldn't she just look at his work? 

After two candidates had failed . . .  

The candidates realized that Princess Shan Yu was extremely willful . If she didn't like you, she would send you packing .  

However, the candidates weren't about to give up .  

The candidates realized that Princess Shan Yu was extremely willful . If she didn't like you, she would send you packing .  

However, the candidates weren't about to give up .  

So . . .  

They tried their luck!

"Scram!" 

"Scram!:

　　" . . . " 

"Your Highness, I want to challenge you to a duel!"

After Princess Shan Yu had rejected a few candidates, a brave soul stood up and challenged her to a duel .  

In the end . . .

He was defeated handily .

Fang Zhengzhi's lips twitched as he saw the pool of blood . He sighed to himself, "Not every lady succ.u.mbs to the hard way!" 

"Scram!"

"Scram!"

　　" . . . "

And then, many of the candidates were sent packing . Some of them even lay on the ground, bawling their eyes out .  

They could neither win her over nor defeat her!

What were they supposed to do? 

Some were too short . . . others were too tall . . .  

She sent another guy packing simply because his eyes were too small . . .  

Somethings were out of their control!

The candidates' hearts were all shattered by Princess Shan Yu . . .  

The tales were all lies . . .  

Weren't they supposed to be able to try as long as they were sincere?

Where was the trust? 

"Princess, my princess!"

All of the candidates screamed in their hearts .

However, it was to no avail .  

Because . . .

Princess Shan Yu had no intention of letting up .  

The lamb continued to sizzle on the pile of wood, the fragrance causing everyone in the room to salivate . . .  

However, that was all they could do .

Almost every candidate had been sent back .

Except for one man . . .

That man was Fang Zhengzhi!