Huan'er's eyes focused, she crouched down to pick it up, but heard a cold reprimand beside her, "Don't pick it up."
Huan'er froze and asked her, "Why can't I pick it up?"
Xue Zi Ning was about to speak when His Highness Prince Jing on the stage pointed at Huan'er and spoke first, "It's you, spar a few rounds with me."
Huan'er's mouth gaped in surprise, pointing at herself, "Me... me... spar a few rounds with His Highness?"
His Highness Prince Jing nodded, "It's you."
"But... I..." Her medical skills were fine, her strength was fine, but she didn't know martial arts!
"His Highness wants you to come over." Just as Huan'er was at a loss, Prince Jing's guards had already walked over to her.
Huan'er looked at the person in front of her, everyone stepped back a few paces. Sparring with His Highness Prince Jing could be fatal if done poorly!
"Your Highness, may I spar a few rounds with you?" Xue Zi Ning stepped forward and stood in front of Huan'er.
His Highness Prince Jing looked at her and said coldly, "Very well, since you are not afraid, then it is you."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Xue Zi Ning bowed.
"Brother Ning, you..."
"Huan'er, don't worry, I'll be fine." After comforting Huan'er, Xue Zi Ning walked onto the stage.
Huan'er lowered her head with some guilt. Her skills were really not good, and most importantly, she was afraid of exposing her identity. However, her master had told her to protect Sister Ning well.
Now that Sister Ning was going to compete with His Highness Prince Jing for her, she felt very ashamed.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Xue Zi Ning bowed before His Highness Prince Jing.
His Highness Prince Jing nodded and asked, "What is your name?"
"I am Ning An." Xue Zi Ning replied.
"Do you know that disobeying my order will result in punishment," His Highness Prince Jing said coldly.
She bowed and said, "I know, but Your Highness also said earlier that you are here to select some skilled individuals. If I can satisfy Your Highness, can you forgive my transgression!"
Upon hearing this, His Highness Prince Jing sized up the slender Xue Zi Ning and sneered, "Good, if you can withstand ten of my moves, I will take you as my guard."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"I haven't finished speaking. If you cannot, then I will punish you."
"I obey." Xue Zi Ning replied.
His Highness Prince Jing stood in the center of the arena and said, "Come!"
Xue Zi Ning's gaze turned cold as she moved towards His Highness Prince Jing.
His Highness Prince Jing dodged, but felt a surge of surprise. He hadn't expected such a slender physique to possess such immense explosive power.
He probably wouldn't need ten moves.
After a few exchanges, His Highness Prince Jing felt an unprecedented sense of being suppressed.
He subconsciously raised his head and saw that on that very ordinary face, those eyes were exceptionally bright.
This gaze suddenly made him feel inexplicably familiar. In this moment of distraction, a palm strike came hurtling towards his face.
He was greatly alarmed and wanted to dodge, but it was too late.
Just as the palm was about to reach the crown of his head, it suddenly stopped.
"Your Highness, I have offended you." The voice followed.
His Highness Prince Jing breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He had thought he would die at this person's hands.
That kind of fear welled up from his heart.
He looked up at the man in front of him. For a moment, he had felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
But he knew he couldn't have met this person before; it must be his illusion.
Ever since the real assassination attempt last night, he felt he had become somewhat jumpy.
Before coming here, he had already sent people to investigate the backgrounds of the new recruits. There was nothing suspicious, so he could safely choose from among them.
He looked at the man bowing obsequiously before him, narrowed his eyes, and said, "It's nothing, I admire you."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" the man said joyfully, his young face alight with unconcealable delight.
He stepped forward, patted her shoulder, and said, "You will follow me from now on!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
His Highness Prince Jing nodded, then took a step forward. At this moment, they were only a fist's distance apart.
Xue Zi Ning slightly stiffened, her hand in her sleeve already clenched. She heard His Highness Prince Jing say, "Have we met before?"
"I have not met Your Highness. Today is the first time I see Your Highness," Xue Zi Ning replied.
She felt His Highness Prince Jing's gaze linger on her for a moment before leaving.
She let out a slight sigh of relief. It seemed she had passed this test.
After getting off the stage, Huan'er grabbed her hand and said apologetically, "Brother Ning, it's all my fault. Otherwise..."
"How could it be your fault? Perhaps I can get a high official position by His Highness Prince Jing's side?"
Upon hearing this, Huan'er's face fell even more. Seeing this, Xue Zi Ning couldn't help but ask, "Huan'er, what's wrong?"
Huan'er bit her lower lip, looking as if she had something to say but hesitated.
Xue Zi Ning narrowed her eyes and asked Huan'er sternly, "Huan'er."
Huan'er bit her lower lip and said softly, "I just heard others say that His Highness Prince Jing has no concubines or bed warmers. It is said that he is fond of men."
"Fond of men..." Xue Zi Ning almost bit her tongue. She widened her eyes and looked at Huan'er, asking, "Are... are you sure?"
Huan'er shook her head, "I just heard that."
"Rumors are not to be believed," Xue Zi Ning said. When she was Princess Changning, she had never heard that Prince Jing, Xue Chang Jing, was fond of men!
"But... but he still has no concubines? It is said that his mansion is filled with men," Huan'er said cautiously.
Xue Zi Ning narrowed her eyes and looked at Huan'er, saying, "Rumors are unreliable. Besides, I'm only going to be his guard, not anything else."
Huan'er nodded and said in a low voice, "Then when you have free time, don't get too close to His Highness Prince Jing, after all, you are..."
Huan'er didn't finish her sentence, but Xue Zi Ning knew what she meant. After all, she was a woman, not a man, and if discovered, it would mean certain death.
However, if she were discovered, it was hard to say whether it would be death or not.
After all, she was His Highness Prince Jing's nominal imperial sister.
But, it seemed that nothing was certain now. Her father, the Emperor, was probably poisoned by Prince Jing.
If she didn't handle this matter properly, she couldn't return to the imperial palace, as she would likely be imprisoned.
She just didn't know what Xue Chang An would think after knowing about this.
Would he rebel against Prince Jing?
She knew that Xue Chang An would never be subordinate to anyone.
His Highness Prince Jing selected two more guards and then left the Imperial Guard training camp. Afterward, someone from His Highness Prince Jing's side informed the selected individuals to report to the Prince's mansion for duty the next day.