"This is Miss Lianfang."
Yu Shu turned to look at Xue Rui and raised her eyebrows slightly. When did she change her name? Why didn't she know?
Xue Rui responded to her with a look to calm down. He pointed to the people in the hall and introduced them one by one on her behalf, "This is Prince Xiang's Heir, this is the youngest son of General Feng, this is the second son of Grand Secretary Qi of Hanlin Academy, and this is the only son of Earl of Loyalty and Bravery."
Yu Shu followed Xue Rui to get to know everyone. Even though she herself was a nobody, out of respect for Xue Rui, the group of spoiled brats present here agreed amiably and didn't make things difficult for her. However, Feng Zhaomiao seemed to be very interested in Yu Shu, and he kept on chatting with her. "Miss Lianfang is also a student of the Imperial Historian's Library? Why haven't I seen you before? Did you enter through a special examination? "
Yu Shu saw that Xue Rui did not intend to help her explain, so she answered honestly, "I am not a student of Taishi Library.
The seating arrangement in this banquet was very spacious. Xue Rui led Yu Shu to sit behind a table that was close to them. Even though it was a neighboring table, they weren't on the same banquet. When she looked at the young masters and young mistresses in the hall, their actions and actions were all natural and dignified, and they were well-mannered.
"Since you are not a student of Taishi Library, you must be a disciple of a master. May I ask who your master is?" In Feng Zhaomiao's view, the female guest brought by Xue Rui must have some background.
Yu Shu said, "I do have a Shifu, but he's a very simple person and doesn't have a name."
"Eh?" Feng Zhaomiao was a little surprised. She turned her head and bumped Xue Rui's arm. She asked anxiously in a low voice, "Brother Rui, where did you find this person to make up the number? Why didn't you invite the sisters from Taishi Library? Didn't I send someone to inform them yesterday? The Crown Prince and the others are waiting to catch you today and take advantage of you. "
Xue Rui looked over his shoulder at Yu Shu and said with a smile, "It's hard to say who will be the butcher."
Yu Shu's ears are very sharp. She heard Young Master Feng and Xue Rui's mutterings. She did not feel unhappy about being looked down upon. Having lived to her age, she would not be easily angered by a few words.
"Zhaoqing, what are you two whispering about? Tell us so that we can all hear it."
Liu Jiong patted the table, and Feng Zhaoqing immediately sat up straight. "What else can I say? I haven't seen Brother Rui for many days. Speaking of which, Crown Prince, who else did you invite today? It's already so late and they still haven't come yet. They're making us sit here and wait. They're really putting on airs. "
As soon as he finished speaking, they heard a loud laugh coming through the door. "I'm just a little late, and I already heard Zhaomiao complaining. If I come any later, will I be rejected?"
The room was quiet. Yu Shu turned her head and saw several figures entering the door one after another. The young man at the front looked about twenty years old. He was wearing a smoky purple robe with a gold and jade hook on his head and a green longevity bead around his neck. His chest was bunched up and his eyebrows were raised, making him look like a jade tree.
Just as Yu Shu was curious about this person's identity, her gaze shifted and fell on the graceful woman behind him with a green veil covering her face. She was slightly stunned for a moment before she subconsciously turned her head around and winked at Xue Rui who was sitting at the next table. Why was Ji Xingxuan here?
However, Xue Rui did not receive her question at the moment. He looked at the few people who came to the door. The smile on his face just now disappeared in an instant.
At this time, everyone in the hall had come back to their senses. They all stood up and greeted, "Greetings to the Seventh Prince."
Yu Shu was shocked when she heard this. She quickly stood up and greeted the others. The Seventh Prince? Why did the Crown Prince come?
Liu Hao waved his hand and said casually, "Why are you so reserved? I'm here to play with you today. Are you treating me like an outsider? Sit down."
He then turned his head and looked at Xue Rui. He smiled and said in an exceptionally kind voice, "Cheng Bi, I've finally caught you."
Cheng Bi? He's calling me so affectionately. Yu Shu silently thought. She turned her head and glanced at the expressionless Xue Rui. Is this his name or nickname?
"Yes, big brother. I haven't seen you since you returned to the capital. His Highness has invited you several times. If I didn't know that you were busy with official business, I would have thought that you were hiding from us."
Hearing this voice, Yu Shu noticed that there were other people standing on the right side of the Seventh Prince. The one who spoke was a young man of 16 or 17 years old. He was of medium height, had white skin, slender eyes, and an overly affectionate smile on his face. She didn't know why, but it made Yu Shu a little uncomfortable.
He called Xue Rui big brother? Is he also a young master of the Xue family?
Yu Shu was right. This young man was another young master of the Xue family. His name was Xue Kuangxu. He was the third son of Shangshu Xue. He was also the only son of the third branch. He was only younger than Xue Rui.
These people that arrived abruptly caused the relaxed and cheerful atmosphere from before to imperceptibly become slightly tense, and the person with the most brilliant expression on his face was Feng Zhaomiao who sat by Xue Rui's side. He looked at this and that, and he was at a loss for what to do, causing his face to flush slightly red.
Yu Shu wasn't sure if Ji Xingxuan would recognize her because she was dressed as a woman, so she stood with her back facing Ji Xingxuan. On the contrary, she was facing Xue Rui, so she could clearly see the expression on his face.
But when she saw his unusually silent appearance, she suddenly became suspicious. Why did he look a little strange?
These people who were late suddenly made the scene awkward. Everyone seemed to be waiting for Xue Rui to speak. Yu Shu did not know what entanglement these people had. When she was thinking about how to get through today, she heard Xue Rui say, "Your Highness, I forgot that I have something to deal with in the yamen. I won't stay for long today."
At this moment, even Yu Shu was able to discern that Xue Rui didn't get along with the Seventh Prince and the other Young Master Xue. Could it be that he didn't know that these people would come today?
After Xue Rui finished speaking, he did not stay any longer. He waved his hand to Yu Shu and was about to leave with her. The Crown Prince Liu Jiong was anxious and shouted behind him, "Brother Rui, don't leave in such a hurry!"
When someone shouted from behind, there was naturally someone in front of him to stop him. Xue Rui looked at Liu Hao's arm in front of him and stopped walking. He tilted his head to look at him with a bit of mockery in his eyes.
When he was looked at like this, Liu Hao felt helpless, "Cheng Bi, do you really want to die with me? That day was …"
"There is no need to mention the matter of that day." Xue Rui frowned as he interrupted Chen Xi, and then he turned around to say coldly to Liu Jiong who'd caught up to him. "Heir's arrangements today have truly taken great pains, yet I've never had the magnanimity to help others achieve their goals. I've made you waste your efforts."
When Liu Jiong heard this, he knew that it was bad. Xue Rui had fallen out with him. In his heart, he suddenly regretted agreeing to Liu Hao and meddling in other people's business. What did the grudges between them have to do with him?
When Yu Shu saw Xue Rui putting on a sour face in front of the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince, she secretly broke into a cold sweat for him. She was even more puzzled. This surnamed Xue has always been smooth in handling matters. Why is his temper so bad now? It is as if he has changed into a different person.
Liu Jiong no longer persuaded, but it did not mean that Liu Hao was willing to let them go. He blocked in front of Xue Rui with his hand and did not move. However, the smile on his face was gone. He frowned and showed a bit of arrogance, "Since you have come, how can you just leave like this."
Yu Shu secretly clicked her tongue. Since the soft approach did not work, he wanted to use the hard approach?
Xue Rui turned around and faced Liu Hao, "Your Highness, what do you want?"
Liu Hao's eyes flickered, "Today we are here to gamble. Why don't we make a bet? If you win, you will do one thing for me. If I win, I will do one thing for you. How about it?"
When these words came out, everyone in the hall had a change of expression. They all knew that Liu Hao was not joking. He was seriously proposing a bet with Xue Rui.
"What? You don't dare?" When Liu Hao saw that Xue Rui didn't reply, he goaded him. "You've been away from the capital for two years, yet your courage has shrunk quite a bit. The Xue City Bi from all those years ago has actually become a cowardly turtle that only knows how to hide?"
"What do you want to bet?" Xue Rui interrupted his ridicule. Yu Shu's eyelids twitched. She vaguely felt that something was wrong. But in this kind of situation, it was not good for her to say anything to persuade him.
Liu Hao smiled triumphantly. He did not give him half a chance to regret. He turned his head to Liu Jiong and said, "Do you have any rat poison from the palace? Go find a packet."
Liu Jiong was suspicious, "What do you need rat poison for?"
Liu Hao was not polite to this cousin, "I'm telling you to go, so go. Why are you talking so much?"
Liu Jiong could only send someone to find it. After a while, the rat poison was found. Everyone watched as Liu Hao took a few teacups and poured wine into them. He sprinkled the white rat poison powder into one of the cups and covered the teacup. He threw the empty packet to one side and looked around the room. He pointed at Feng Zhaomiao and said, "Zhaomiao, you come. Switch these cups. The rest of you, turn your backs. No one is allowed to look."
Hearing this, everyone had already guessed what he was going to do. Just as they were about to speak up to stop him, Liu Hao coldly warned, "Today is my, Xue Rui's, private matter. If anyone dares to interrupt or say one more word, don't blame me for being merciless."
Several people swallowed their words. Feng Zhaomiao was forced to step forward and switch the cups that looked exactly the same. Then, Liu Hao called out people one by one and stepped forward. He switched the cups four times. It was already difficult to tell which cup was poisoned and which was not.
After doing this, Liu Hao returned to Xue Rui's side. He pointed at the six cups and said to him, "Do you see that? There are six cups there. Only one cup is poisoned. This is the rat poison in the palace. You should know that although it won't kill you, if you mistakenly take it, you will be poisoned and will injure your body. It is inevitable that there will be side effects. Now, you and I will each choose three cups. Whoever drinks the poisoned cup will lose. Whoever drinks the non-poisoned cup will win. "
Liu Jiong was today's host. Seeing that the two of them were going to fight to the death in his territory, he couldn't help but say, "Aren't you trying to trick me? If something happens here, how am I going to explain it to my superiors?"
Liu Hao said, "How am I trying to trick you? I didn't say that you must drink the poisoned wine. You just have to admit defeat."
The last half of his sentence was said while looking at Xue Rui. It was as if he was hinting that he would be the one to admit defeat in the end.
Yu Shu frowned in her heart when she saw the matter had developed to such an extent, and she felt that Xue Rui was in a predicament. If it was her, she wouldn't even give it a thought before refusing. After all, luck was the most unreliable thing, and who knew whose hands that cup of poisoned wine would fall into?
"Do you choose first, or do I choose first?"
Yu Shu was startled. She turned her head to look at Xue Rui. She couldn't believe that this smart guy would actually agree to this stupid bet!
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
