Empress Cao kept an eye on Zhao Xie, afraid he would get up and leave with someone.

  After all, it was Xier's first time facing the imperial court, and his stubborn personality had never been defeated before, nor had he ever been scolded like this in person.

  At this age, it is precisely the era of ignorance of heaven and earth...

  It's okay, Xier has been smiling from start to finish, maintaining a calm demeanor, as if the guard camp had nothing to do with him.

  Empress Cao knew that, apart from these on-site facilities, the entire guard's attire was all made in the palace. She had heard Xi'er explain the purpose of these things in detail and also knew that Xi'er had put a lot of heart into it.

  Everyone hopes to be recognized, let alone a twelve or thirteen year old child.

  Today, Xier reported his achievements to his father and Minister Gong as usual, but unexpectedly was criticized in this way.

  Now it has come to this with Chen Jiao and Lü Gongzhu directly confronting each other... Alas, how will the imperial court deal with this?

  In fact, Zhao Xi didn't think much of it, but he hadn't expected that the struggle in the imperial court would be so intense and direct, completely unlike the harmonious and elegant atmosphere of later generations, without any subtlety or tact.

  Good, very good, especially Lv Gongzhu, quite good.

  No investigation, no right to speak; practice is the sole criterion of truth.

  Aren't you just joking? Alright then, let's play along!

  "If you can forgive my uncle, I, Chen Zhen, will personally escort him!"

  Isn't there some grudge between these two people? Zhao Xi was a bit suspicious.

  Lü Gong's approach can be understood by Zhao Xie. But this person...can't think it through, is it just for the sake of existence? After all, he is also a fifth-rank official, the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Temple, and yet he acts like this?

  "The Commander of the Imperial Guard, Lu Gong, respectfully requests that Your Majesty and the officials permit me and Chen Jizhi to demonstrate a one-li obstacle course for everyone."

  These... are all cultured people, doing such boorish things in broad daylight, where is the dignity?

  Neither Zhao Zhen nor the officials thought this was appropriate. Of course, they didn't know that normally Lü Gong would also bring his instructors over to take a few laps, even if it couldn't be completed within the allotted time, just to get familiar with it.

  So he dared to say that Chen Jin... He still had a grasp of shaking off his opponent by a large margin.

  The problem is with officials and gentry... there's no way to agree that a fifth-rank official of the imperial court would lose face in this place.

  "Father, I have something to say!"

  Zhao Xi felt that it was almost enough. Although he didn't think it was embarrassing for a fifth-rank scholar to run 500 meters and lose, he still understood the values of this era.

  "Speak!"

  Zhao Zhen was also very formal... He wanted to use this tone to tell Xue Er that it's enough, don't go overboard.

  "One li obstacle course requires certain skills and techniques, as well as norms. The child suggests, with Zhongzheng and Li Xian, to demonstrate first for the gentlemen..."

  He didn't say whether he wanted the two subsequent high-ranking officials to follow suit, or let them take a look and then retreat in frustration, or go along with Mr. Lü's words, since it was a demonstration, there was no need for the court officials to demonstrate.

  Still can't bear to do something that would truly humiliate a high-ranking court official.

  Not to mention Chen Jian, even Lü Gongzhu is familiar with it and has played with it. After all, as a person in his 30s, even if he used to be good at it, he would still be rusty and unable to fully demonstrate the difficulty of these subjects or show their beauty.

  It's not just the officials in the imperial court, but also nearly ten thousand soldiers watching...

  Wang Zhongzheng and Li Xian indeed have this kind of talent, otherwise they would not be selected by the Imperial City Guard as close officials.

  In Zhao Xi's opinion, these two people are indeed born to be marshals... even if they are not complete, they will not cover his light.

  Rush, through five-step hurdle, jump deep ditch, fly low board, climb high bench, cross high and low platform, ascend cloud ladder, climb single-plank bridge, high plate wall, drill iron wire mesh.

  Next is the low hurdle net, high plate wall, bridge pier, cloud ladder, high and low platform, short plate wall, deep ditch, three-step hurdle, all the way to the final sprint, reaching the next obstacle zone.

  Perfect! It's really perfect, just these two silly guys' moves are even more impressive than when I was at my peak.

  Zhao Ximou counted silently, the time would absolutely not exceed two and a half minutes...... This is not purely a 400-meter hurdles, it's a mile.

  As Wang Zhongzheng and Li Xian finished, the distant onlookers burst into an astonished cry... while those in front remained silent.

  Maybe some people think it's just a joke, but no one thinks this joke is simple. Even if it's a joke, it's a joke with considerable difficulty.

  "How coarse! Not ashamed of it!"

  Uh... why bother? It's better to stay silent at this moment, and no one will think you're mute.

  Zhao Xi narrowed her eyes...

  "Shut up!"

  "Huh? Taking another look, it's actually Pang Jie who's drunk. Sigh... It's clear that this is not letting oneself get involved."

  "Your Highness, is selecting soldiers also like this?"

  I'm going! You're my teacher, why are you asking me? Shouldn't I be the one who knows this? Can't we just pretend to understand and muddle through?

  "Reporting to Your Excellency, the time it took to select the troops is about twice that of the Imperial Guard. It was I who instructed and drafted the plan, not something known to Your Highness."

  Lü Gongzhu is a good man and also an intelligent good man.

  What scholars have planned has nothing to do with me, who should be protected.

  Zhao Xi didn't mind at this time, and even if the guards took away his writing rights, he wouldn't have any objections. Originally, he thought so too, and Lv Gongzhu was on the same page as him.

  "Return!"

  Fumihiro's voice brought him back to his senses. This interlude was now over.

  Got it. Zhao Xi was very disappointed, and Lv Gongzhuo was also very disappointed. However, they both knew that the imperial court could not make a decision at this time, nor would it be made for a long time to come.

  The Imperial Guards were on trial, perhaps the imperial court was waiting for results, or perhaps they did not think highly of this subject's use in battle, and even just treated the Imperial Guards as the Crown Prince's own affair.

  For the officials in the imperial court, today's event is as good as over. Even if they return to their seats on the rostrum, there won't be much enthusiasm left.

  Everyone who could see it has seen it, and they've all seen it. There's still a lot of things going on in the imperial court...

  It's time to go back. Zhao Zhen wanted to see the difference between selecting soldiers and these two imperial guards, but had to follow the court officials back... He was an emperor, after all, and had to abide by the rules.

  Zhao Xi didn't need to use it, originally it was decided that he would choose the soldiers himself, which means he had the final interpretation and decision-making power on the issue of choosing soldiers.

  So he stayed.

  "Your Highness, let's proceed step by step, this matter cannot be rushed."

  Lü Gongzhu accompanied Zhao Xi, the two of them standing alone on the empty podium, he seemed to be able to feel the prince's impatience.

  "Thank you!"

  I don't know what to say, whether it's Lv Gongzhu as a scholar, the sense of belonging to the Imperial Guard, or Lv Gongzhu just took over the conversation, maybe it's Lv Gongzhu's words of advice to himself.

  Zhao Xi thought he should say thank you too.

  This... left Lü Gong stunned. What kind of expression is this? He understood the emotions that the Crown Prince was expressing at this moment, but he didn't understand why he had to add the word "thank" and yet it was so apt.