"Hand grenade."
"Hand grenade?" A chorus of voices rose from the hall, interspersed with gasps.
Hand grenade, what a strange name. What was it for? A flicker of confusion and bewilderment crossed Mu Qingyao's eyes. She didn't let them ponder for too long as her clear voice rang out again.
"A hand grenade is a military weapon, commonly seen in warfare. It has great explosive power. Don't let its small size fool you; it can kill as many people as dozens of individuals. Let me give you an example: if its pin is pulled, this entire hall can be turned into ruins in the blink of an eye."
At these words, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence. Many faces turned extremely grim, especially those of the envoys from the six nations. Their minds were filled with a single thought: this woman was terrifying. Was what she said true?
Although they harbored doubts, her demeanor suggested she wasn't lying. If this were true, oh heavens, the members of the envoy delegations felt their scalps prickle. Each one felt a sense of suffocation, with the ominous shadow of death looming over them.
Who was she exactly? Why did she have such peculiar ideas? And could she really make this thing?
This was what everyone cared about most, not just the people in the hall, but even Emperor Xian wore a look of inscrutable mystery. He leaned forward, positioning himself beside Mu Qingyao, and spoke slowly, "Can the Empress actually make such a weapon?"
Mu Qingyao raised her eyes, a cold smile curling her lips. She gazed coolly at Emperor Xian, clearly seeing the sparks dancing in his dark pupils—a light of excitement, a motivation of bloodshed.
"Your Majesty seems to be thinking too much. It's currently a battle of wits between myself and the Crown Princess. Why are we discussing this matter?"
Mu Qingyao's voice was laced with a light mockery. She turned her gaze downwards, deliberately avoiding Emperor Xian's somber and unreadable expression. His handsome features were creased with a frown, his eyes shifting in a myriad of ways as he peered intently at the person beside him.
Could it be that heaven was helping him? He was almost certain now that this woman could not possibly be Mu Hen's daughter, because the things in her mind clearly did not belong here. Regardless of what had gone wrong, since she possessed such knowledge, he could not let her go, otherwise...
A fleeting glint of sharp light flashed in Emperor Xian's bright black eyes, like two unsheathed treasures swords, radiating a cold, eerie brilliance.
However, this was not the time to dwell on such thoughts. Emperor Xian followed Mu Qingyao's gaze downwards. He observed the various postures and expressions of the people in the hall, who were as silent as the dead.
Compared to the important officials of Emperor Xian's kingdom, the envoys from the six nations looked significantly worse off, especially Changsun Zhu. His fair, jade-like cheeks were now cast in a dark, oppressive shadow, as if a storm cloud had descended upon his face. His sword-like brows were raised, a sharp glint flashed across them, his lips pressed tightly together as he stared intently at the woman above.
Now, he could be one hundred percent certain that the woman on the throne was the remarkable phoenix described by the high monk. The monk had said that the phoenix possessed extraordinary abilities, and with her dedicated assistance, one could conquer all other six nations.
If you cannot obtain it, then destroy it. This had always been his principle. He absolutely would not allow Emperor Xian to grow too powerful and obliterate their Qingluo Kingdom, unifying the seven nations.
Chu Qianyi and Liu Qianmu, who sat with the envoy delegations, appeared far more composed. They were, after all, related to Emperor Xian. Although equally astonished, they were considerably better off than the people from the other six nations. In Chu Qianyi's dark and charming eyes, fiery flames danced and blazed, and he gazed fixedly at Mu Qingyao.
Mu Qingyao's cool gaze swept across everyone in the hall, observing each person's expression. She noted their general disbelief, and a cold smile played on her lips.
This hand grenade was merely the most ordinary of weapons, its structure simple, consisting only of the projectile and the fuse. If it weren't for the lack of certain materials in this ancient era, she would truly have liked to craft a few to deal with the individuals intentionally provoking her.
If Qiao Nan were here, she would surely find suitable substitutes. She was a designer at an arms factory; such a small thing as a hand grenade shouldn't be beyond her capabilities. Mu Qingyao's gaze darkened. Why was she thinking of Qiao Nan?
Mu Qingyao pushed aside the bothersome thoughts, her peripheral vision catching the face of King Beijin, Murong Liumo. This man seemed extremely shocked as well. His naturally pale and sickly face appeared even whiter, his lips tinged with grey. How could such a person be the one with such formidable skills that night?
However, if it wasn't King Beijin who attacked her that night, then who was it? That person was even more formidable. She had just met King Beijin during the day, and he appeared at night, framing King Beijin.
This murky situation was becoming increasingly turbulent. However, at this moment, one thing was most important: she needed to cultivate her own power within the palace. Otherwise, being unaware of many matters would be a grave military taboo.
The hall was utterly silent. Crown Princess Ji Feng was indeed the Crown Princess of Danfeng Kingdom. She was a good sport and admitted defeat, despite her reluctance. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, it was not appropriate to renege. She stood up and spoke with composure and resignation,
"This Crown Princess admits defeat."
At these words, everyone in the hall snapped back to attention, looking towards Crown Princess Ji Feng.
Regardless of what kind of person the Empress of Emperor Xian's kingdom was, that was a matter for later. For now, there could be no mistakes. Since Ji Feng had conceded, Mu Qingyao would likely let her off the hook, wouldn't she?
Unfortunately, Mu Qingyao always sought retribution and never held back her anger, hence her indifferent and stern expression.
"Since Crown Princess Ji Feng has admitted defeat, this Empress would like to hear what extraordinary talents the esteemed Danfeng Kingdom possesses?"
As soon as Mu Qingyao finished speaking, Crown Princess Ji Feng's face contorted with extreme displeasure. She had thought that by admitting defeat, the Empress, considering the state's dignity, would not pursue her responsibility. Who would have thought this woman would be so relentless?
Fiery sparks leaped in Ji Feng's pupils. Gritting her teeth, she stared intently at Mu Qingyao on the throne. Just as she was about to erupt, her younger sister, Ji Xue, who sat beside her, tugged her hand, reminding her that the woman on the high seat was not to be trifled with.
Ji Feng regained her composure, took a deep breath, and desperately suppressed the surge of anger within her.
As the Crown Princess of Danfeng Kingdom, Ji Feng had lived a life of luxury and received respect since childhood. When had she ever been treated like this? And now she was being asked to perform a talent in front of so many people; it was no less than an insult.
Empress, since you are being so impolite to this Crown Princess, remember this: this Crown Princess will certainly not let you off.
Ji Feng harbored fierce thoughts internally, but a brilliant smile graced her face. She cast a seductive glance across the hall before slowly speaking.
"Since I have lost, I should perform. Very well, this Crown Princess will dance for everyone."
At Ji Feng's words, the entire hall erupted. The esteemed Crown Princess herself was about to dance in public! Moreover, this Crown Princess had a graceful figure and beautiful curves, clearly making her a suitable candidate for dancing. It was expected that her dancing skills would be astonishing. Applauses of agreement rose, overwhelming and sustained.
Amidst the applause, Crown Princess Ji Feng gracefully rose from her seat and stepped onto the red carpet in the center of the hall. Her fiery gaze was fixed directly on Emperor Xian on the throne.