As the music of "Feng Qiu Huang" played, the graceful girls danced to the rhythm, and soon there was applause.

"Okay! It dances so well! It's like a phoenix flying, or like a group of cranes dancing, it's so beautiful!"

"Not only is the dance good, the music is also beautiful. Come on, let's have a drink before we talk."

"Everyone, please, please, my lord, eh? Mr. Zhen Guohou, don't be in a daze, let's drink together!"

"Oh, oh, drink, drink."

Du Ning forced a smile and drank perfunctorily, but did not dare to get drunk.

After the song and dance ended, there was thunderous applause. The girls bowed to everyone and then stood on the other side.

Emperor Hongxuan suddenly said to Du Ning: "Du Aiqing, is this song "The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" beautiful?"

"Of course it sounds beautiful. I have never heard such a beautiful performance." Du Ning responded immediately.

"How do you dance, princesses?" Emperor Hongxuan asked again with a smile.

"Beautiful, so beautiful. It's like a fairy descending to earth. It has never been seen in the world."

Du Ning answered honestly that he had indeed never seen such a fairy-like song and dance performance. The princesses all had stunning looks and good figures. They were definitely carefully selected.

Seeing that Du Ning enjoyed the song and dance, most people showed happy expressions.

Emperor Hongxuan said: "Aiqing is young and promising. She is in the age of dancing elephants. She has also been awarded the title of Marquis of Zhenguo. She should start a family as soon as possible. These princesses are all about the same age as you. If Aiqing likes someone, I am willing to make the decision to give it to you."

Marriage."

"This..."

Du Ning had a look of hesitation on his face. For scholars, being able to get the emperor's marriage gift can definitely be called a glorious ancestor.

But Du Ning is devoted to studying and pursuing Confucianism and Taoism, and has not yet thought about his marriage. Moreover, the barbarian rebellion is not over yet, and there are still many things to deal with in the court. He can't even take care of his own home, so there is no time to talk about it.

Where is the object?

After next spring, Du Ning will go to the Three Realms Mountain to practice. He must seize the time to strengthen his cultivation so that he can make contributions to the human race and win glory for the country.

But now Emperor Hongxuan has offered to grant marriage. This is a good thing. I don’t know how to say it.

King Ji laughed at the side and said: "Brother Du, what's wrong with you? You usually act straightforwardly, why do you suddenly become so mother-in-law? Why don't you go and have a chat with the princesses? This is your luck."
p>

King Yan also said: "I, the royal princess, are both golden and jade, and I am a perfect match for you, my brother. Why are you still standing there? You are not smart enough in this regard?"

The king of knights said: "Our royal princesses are all as beautiful as gods. If you like them all, you can marry more concubines and have more sons in the future. Maybe there will be another famous family in the capital!"

”

"You're right, you're right!"

"Master Du, what are you still hesitating about? Thank you Lord for your kindness!"

"This opportunity must not be missed, the time will never come again!"

The ministers also agreed together.

The princesses looked at Duning nervously. Some looked forward to it, some were still shy, and some lowered their heads and clenched the corners of their clothes.

Du Ning hesitated for a moment, stood up from his seat, bowed his hands to everyone, and said slowly: "Your Majesty, all princes, and all your lords, thank you for your concern and care. Du Ning is grateful in my heart. You must also have received the Holy Spirit."

According to the news from the hospital, I learned that I was selected as an experienced person in the Three Realms Mountains, so I arranged today’s dinner. The purpose is to hope that I can get married as soon as possible so as to give up the experience next year. I want to hope that I can stay in the Yun Kingdom and not go to the Three Realms.

Mountain adventure..."

When they said this, many people's expressions changed, and then they shook their heads and smiled bitterly.

Emperor Hongxuan's eyes darkened, and when Du Ning revealed everyone's thoughts, he also expressed his own attitude.

"I am not only a scholar of the Yun Kingdom, but also a scholar of the human race. The human race needs me, and I must go. So today, I can only live up to your good intentions."

[By the way, the best app for reading and listening to books is currently Yeguo Reading. Install the latest version on yeguoyuedu.]

Du Ning bowed to everyone and apologized.

The kings and ministers looked at each other in disbelief.

They underestimated Du Ning's determination to pursue Confucianism and Taoism, and also underestimated Du Ning's unwavering ambition.

The leading princess immediately scolded: "Du Ning, you are really ignorant of current affairs. You even risked your own life for your ridiculous literary name. You are stupid! Do you really think that the Kong family and the Ke family recommended you to Sanjie Mountain?"

Do you hope that you will perform meritorious service for the human race? No, they want to use the hands of the demon clan and the Rakshasa clan to destroy you, a human genius!"

"Sister, please don't talk nonsense!"

"Forget it! This is Mr. Du's ambition, we can't force it."

"Yes! He is the prince of the country and the pillar of the country, but we are sentimental..."

The other princesses have different expressions.

"Du Ning is ashamed of your princesses' feelings. Du Ning is here to apologize to you. I believe that you will find a better husband than me."

Du Ning bowed to the princesses.

"Since the Marquis of Zhenguo looks down on us, there is no need for us to be embarrassed here."

The eldest princess took the others and was about to leave. She turned around and said fiercely: "Marquis Zhenguo, let me tell you, if you really die in Sanjie Mountain, I will definitely laugh in front of your grave and make you laugh.

They all suffered humiliation."

"Sisters, let's go."

The princesses left angrily, not because Du Ning ignored them, but because Du Ning insisted on going his own way and went to the Three Realms Mountains without cherishing his own life at all. It was really annoying.

King Yan sighed and said to Du Ning: "Brother, the eldest princess has always been a sharp-tongued person. Although she speaks harshly, she actually doesn't want you to take risks in the Three Realms Mountains. You are still just a Jinshi and rashly participate in the Three Realms.

Mountains are really unwise."

Du Ning said helplessly: "I have made an agreement with the friends I met in the Holy Academy. If I am selected as a trained person, we will fight together. If I break my promise and don't go, the literary courage will definitely be shaken or even cracked, so I have to go. Besides,

Well, Sanjie Mountain is not a place where death is inevitable. As long as you act carefully, it is not difficult to protect yourself."

"Having said that, but..."

King Yan's expression became very serious and he continued: "You are a very talented scholar, and you will become a great scholar in the future. When the time comes, you will have more opportunities to make contributions, so why are you in a hurry?"

"I am also a scholar who has been on the battlefield. How can I be afraid of monsters and Rakshasa? Since everyone thinks that I am a talent that can be created, then I should set an example for scholars from all over the world. I will swim against the current and retreat if I don't advance.

, rather than retreating, I am more eager to move forward."

Du Ning's words are very powerful, especially the eight words "Sail against the current, if you don't advance, you will retreat." It is like a heavy hammer, hitting the literary courage of every Confucian and Taoist scholar present.

"Sail against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat. These eight words have a miraculous effect on strengthening your courage!"

"The Eight Characters of Zhen Guohou refines courage, I admire you! I admire you!"

"It's better to sail against the current than to retreat if you don't advance. If a scholar pursues the holy way, if he can't move forward, he can only retreat and be surpassed by other geniuses!"

"Only by constantly moving forward and making progress can we continue to get closer to the holy way."

"This is a small statement of great meaning, and it is the best way to refine your courage!"

I don't know who said it, which shocked many people, and they discovered that these eight words "Sail against the current, or retreat if you don't advance" actually contain an extremely mysterious power.

Everyone closed their eyes to reflect deeply, and when they opened their eyes after a while, they all felt that their literary bottlenecks were loosened, and there was a possibility of breakthrough at any time.

"Small words mean great things! Small words mean great things indeed!"

"I didn't expect that Duke Du could actually speak out his humble words and righteousness as a Jinshi. I admire him!"

"It's a pity that the officials of the Xian Wang Party are not here, otherwise their literary courage will be..."

"Hush...be careful what you say!"

Everyone present was impressed by Du Ning's small words and righteousness, and paid more attention to Du Ning's talent and potential. However, when Du Ning made his small words and righteous thoughts, he had already strengthened his literary courage, and no one could persuade him no matter what.

After thinking about it for a while, everyone could only give up and continue to persuade Du Ning.

Emperor Hongxuan looked directly at Du Ning and asked, "Have you really decided to participate in the experience of the Three Realms Mountains?"

Du Ning said firmly: "I must go."

"Hey..."

Emperor Hongxuan sighed: "Since you have made up your mind, I will no longer force you. Please promise me that you must come back from the Three Realms Mountain alive. The Yun Kingdom cannot live without you, and the human race cannot live without you."

"I will definitely return in triumph, please don't worry, Your Majesty," Du Ning said.

"I believe you are."

Emperor Hongxuan nodded slightly, his eyes burning.

The expressions of the kings and ministers were even more serious, while some also smiled bitterly.

…………

It’s mid-December in the blink of an eye.

Under the leadership of the Northern Expedition Marshal Yu Guang, the Yun State army once again defeated the barbarian army, with successive successes.

During this period, the barbarian army adopted delaying tactics and built a batch of brand-new armored chariots, which could greatly resist the explosive power of the Xuanji cannon.
To be continued...