The two returned to the other world. The moment Xiao Xun lay on the bed, he spread his limbs in a cross shape and let out a comfortable cry.
"Ah! So refreshing, the taste of freedom, it's so good."
Mu Jiahe did not respond, but instead issued an urgent decree to the elders and ministers of the House of Representatives, demanding that they select the future Imperial Consort's trials as soon as dawn broke.
Xiao Xun had been nervous for two to three days, and now he could finally sleep in peace.
Soon, soft snores began to ring out.
Although the sound was not loud, it displeased Mu Jiahe. The First Empress of Saint Roman, with her fair and tender little feet, directly 'banished' Xiao Xun to the floor. "Such an important matter tomorrow, and you can still sleep? You really don't take this seriously!"
"My dear, Your Majesty. Didn't you say it was an open-book exam? I'm already the designated candidate, so why the rush? Besides, I've been so tired these past few days. If I don't rest well, how can I cope with the trials tomorrow?"
After saying that, he limped back to the bed.
"Why is your leg still limping? Did someone beat you?"
Xiao Xun waved his hand, "Alas! Let's not talk about it, let's not talk about it!"
In reality, his leg was perfectly fine. He simply wanted to evoke the other party's sympathy to achieve his goal of sleeping soundly.
Unexpectedly, Mu Jiahe's sympathy overflowed. She reached out a hand, "Let me heal you. What if it affects your performance tomorrow?"
Xiao Xun immediately curled up like a kitten, "No need, no need, a good sleep will be enough."
Mu Jiahe narrowed her eyes and asked in a teasing tone, "Are you sure it's not needed?"
Xiao Xun nodded frantically, "Really not needed."
"Then alright! You sleep! I won't disturb you."
As dawn broke, Mu Jiahe changed her clothes and got up. Xiao Xun heard the movement and rubbed his sleepy eyes, "So early!"
"Isn't it always this early? You sleep in a bit longer. I'll have someone call you later. I'm going to the morning court now. It won't start until after the morning court, so you should prepare yourself more."
Xiao Xun's head was fuzzy, and he turned over and fell back asleep.
He didn't know how long he slept until a young beauty in a maid's outfit gently shook his arm, waking him up.
"Lord Swain, it's time to get up."
Xiao Xun, half-asleep, looked at the beauty in front of him and thought he was dreaming, "Let me sleep a little longer!"
Until the tactile sensation of the beauty grabbing his arm and the unique fragrance from her body, which made his nose uncontrollably inhale, reminded him that the beauty before him was not a dream, but someone genuinely there to wake him up.
Xiao Xun quickly got up, "Where is Your Majesty?"
"Her Majesty went to the morning court. She instructed me to wake Lord Swain at this time and to help you change clothes and prepare for the first trial today."
As she spoke, she moved aside, revealing a handsome and neat dark blue top and pure white trousers on a hanger. A golden belt was adorned with a rapier, and paired with classic bulky leather boots, it was a complete outfit of a medieval European swordsman.
Seeing that she had no intention of leaving, Xiao Xun waved her away, "Alright, you can go out now! I can change myself."
The maid lowered her head, "Lord Swain, His Majesty has ordered me to serve you."
"It's fine, just consider it helping me, okay? I won't tell His Majesty."
The maid dared not move. With no other option and knowing Mu Jiahe's power, Xiao Xun let the maid help him put on the outfit. He looked at himself in the full-length mirror, feeling rather pleased.
Following the directions, he arrived at the trial venue, the central plaza of Saint Roman City.
It was a scene of great fanfare, with gongs and drums, firecrackers, red flags fluttering, and a sea of people.
Not only were the participants there, but everyone also wanted to see what kind of bizarre trial content the ministers of the House of Representatives would devise to find a partner for their Empress.
The participants came from different countries, even different races, all wanting to become the other half of the Empress of Saint Roman, allowing their lineage to become the rulers of this leading economic power in the future.
The host of the first trial was the Grand Elder of the House of Representatives, while the Empress, the High Priest, and the Prime Minister were not present at the scene.
The first round was a preliminary selection, aimed at eliminating many who were merely going through the motions or were utterly incapable.
Xiao Xun looked at the eager crowd, unsure of the question set by the ministers. Mu Jiahe had only told him it was an open-book exam, without revealing the questions for him to prepare.
Some people had received the news days in advance and had been waiting, but for some reason, it had not yet begun.
When Xiao Xun arrived, he was already ranked over a hundredth, and there were still countless people behind him.
The Grand Elder spoke a few words nonchalantly and then announced the official start of the trial.
Over a dozen soldiers pushed a large water vat to the center of the plaza, and then the Saint Roman's unique exotic beast, the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast, was brought onto the plaza.
The elder picked up the microphone and addressed the candidates: "Today's trial is very simple. First, make the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast nod. Second, make the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast shake its head. Third, make the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast voluntarily jump into the large water vat behind me. Whoever succeeds will advance to the next round."
The crowd erupted in an uproar, as everyone knew that the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast detested water, and making it voluntarily jump into a water vat smaller than itself was virtually impossible.
Xiao Xun almost burst out laughing, thinking: I didn't expect Empress Sai Lepei Si to enjoy such jokes in that world, actually treating jokes as reality.
Almost everyone in front of Xiao Xun was saying to the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast before them, "Nod."
The Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast paid them no mind, let alone following any commands.
Below, people were discussing, "It seems our Empress is looking for a genius beast tamer. Besides beast tamers and those of beast races, how could anyone else make the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast obey?"
Time passed unnoticed until noon, when each contestant was given a piece of bread and a bottle of water.
And the line had not even completed a third of the participants. Some were so terrified by the fierce beast that they fainted before they could even issue a command.
Some simply gave up. Even so, participants continued to arrive in an endless stream, all eager to challenge the fierce beast before them.
People were murmuring, and many said that if the first round was already this difficult, then the subsequent two rounds would be impossible for ordinary people to pass. Hearing these words, many participants quietly slipped away into the crowd, changing from participants to spectators.
Xiao Xun was the most highly anticipated person in this trial. People wanted to see how the Empress's 'personal jester' would pass the challenge.
Finally, after much anticipation, Xiao Xun arrived before the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast.
The Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast before him looked like a large water buffalo, its massive body the size of a small car, with a pair of curved horns on its head.
Xiao Xun couldn't help but laugh. The people next to him stopped their attempts and turned to look at him.
The scene instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, waiting for him to issue a command to the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast, to see what method this 'suspected' designated candidate would use.
Many mainstream newspapers and famous magazines, both domestic and international, had prepared their material. If Xiao Xun directly issued a command and the Crimson Flame Golden-Eyed Beast complied, it would undoubtedly mean that Xiao Xun was the designated choice, having communicated with the beast long in advance.
At that time, the credibility of the First Empress of Saint Roman would be greatly diminished. Due to hidden agendas and unfairness, many 'troublemakers' would refuse to obey, thus affecting the stability of the country.