Imperial Consort Xue's move tonight was unexpected and many people did not expect it.
There were more than thirty male guests on the scene, so it was not too difficult to find the one with the real gold wick among more than six thousand hibiscus lanterns. If worst comes to worst, they could check each lantern one by one. But these more than six thousand hibiscus lanterns were floating in the Steady Wave Lake with a depth of twenty feet, so it was a different story.
Did they have to jump into the lake to find it?
Yu Shu saw the worried faces outside the waterside pavilion. Only a few people seemed to have a well-thought-out plan. She couldn't help but guess Noble Consort Xue's intentions. Did she make such a big scene just to make things difficult for those people tonight?
Xin Liu pulled her sleeve and whispered in her ear: "Although it's summer, the water is so deep. I'm afraid not many people would dare to jump into the water. What if something happens?"
Just as she finished speaking, a similar questioning voice came from the waterside pavilion:
"Jiejie's move is ingenious. But it's late at night and the water is cold. If you want this group of children to go into the water to find it, isn't it a bit inappropriate?"
Most of the guests who were able to attend tonight's banquet were young masters from the capital. Their family backgrounds were not ordinary. If one or two of them ate water or caught a cold, it would cause some of the old furen's heartache when they returned. Those who really doted on them might even complain to the Empress.
Empress Shu's words first received the approval of the older Duchess of Jing. She then persuaded Imperial Consort Xue to change her mind.
Imperial Consort Xue sat with confidence and smile at them, saying: "No problem.
I've discussed this with His Majesty. His Majesty's meaning is that there is nothing wrong with doing this. There is a Gentleman's Hibiscus Banquet every year. There are two golden and jade hibiscus, two good fates. If it is too easy to obtain, it will inevitably attract some wishful thinking. It is better to make it difficult. Those who are really determined will fight for it no matter how difficult it is. "
At this point, she paused and turned her head to ask Princess Xiang, who was sitting below her:
"Fifth sister, do you agree?"
Princess Xiang, who was sitting below, slightly lowered her head and said: "That should be the case."
"Furthermore, I didn't ask them to jump into the water to search for it. There are a few wooden rafts anchored on the opposite shore, and there are more than ten experts diving in the lake. As long as they are careful, nothing will go wrong."
The last few words were said for the people outside the pavilion to hear.
Those with sharp ears immediately turned around and walked quickly towards the bridge corridor.
Seeing this, Feng Zhaomiao quickly pulled Xue Rui and said, "Brother Rui, let's go quickly. If we're late, those rafts will be empty."
Xue Rui, however, was not in a hurry to leave. He looked back at him and said, "You don't want to fight for the 'Golden Jade Hibiscus', why are you snatching the raft?"
"I don't care about the last prize, but I can't lose." Feng Zhaomiao looked around, and his gaze stopped on Zhu Qingjue, who was not far from him and did not move. He deliberately raised his voice and said,
"Among the men here tonight, who doesn't dare to walk into Dingbo Lake? They just don't have the guts. Winning or losing doesn't matter, but losing face is a big deal."
Zhu Qingjue saw Feng Zhaomiao provoking him. He raised his eyebrows indifferently and turned his face to Xue Rui and said,
"Lord Xue, don't forget our previous agreement."
Xue Rui responded with a smile, closed his fan and waved it at him.
Yu Shu came late. She didn't know what happened between Xue Rui and Zhu Qingjue. Seeing this situation, she asked Xin Liu suspiciously,
"What's going on?"
Xin Liu then told her about the winner and loser that the two of them had a gentleman's discussion before she came.
Therefore, the two of them made a bet. If Second Young Master Zhu managed to win the Golden Jade Hibiscus, Xue Da Biaoge would call himself a vile person in front of everyone tonight. On the contrary, if Xue Da Biaoge won, he would want Second Young Master Zhu to reply to him.
Yu Shu secretly frowned. On one hand, she was surprised that the young chess player she saw in the labyrinthine courtyard of the Celestial Commissioner was the only son of the Great Tidian. On the other hand, she was surprised that Xue Rui would be provoked by Zhu Qingjue to agree to bet with him with just a few words.
Zhu Qingjue was obviously looking for trouble with Xue Rui. She didn't know the reason, but Xue Rui wouldn't look for trouble, unless —
A thought flashed through Yu Shu's mind. She glanced sideways and looked at the heroic and wild Second Young Master Zhu again. She muttered in her heart,
It can't be, could it be that person is him?
"These two people are really too much. They have already made a bet, yet they are still standing there stupidly. Aren't they afraid that someone else will take the lead?" Xin Liu, who was watching the hot draw, was anxious.
Yu Shu looked at the brightly lit Steady Wave Lake for a moment, then turned back to look at Xue Rui's calm and composed expression. She thought, "Cunning."
How can one find a golden wick among six thousand hibiscus lanterns by relying on luck? Let those who ran away first go and check it out. Those who catch up later are the truly shrewd ones.
As a group of male guests rushed onto the bridge, the number of people outside the waterside pavilion suddenly decreased by half. There were only a few male guests still standing outside the waterside pavilion.
In addition to the two temporary rivals, Xue Rui and Zhu Qingjue, there were also Jing Chen and the Eleventh Prince Liu Yi.
Seeing that the male guests had taken action, the remaining female guests also looked eager to have a go.
In the waterside pavilion, Noble Consort Xue teased the other noble ladies for a while before turning to look at the group of charming young girls outside the waterside pavilion.
"Don't just stand there. Do you want this empress to call you out one by one? What are your usual skills? Don't be stingy now. Let's see who can amaze everyone tonight and convince everyone. Only that person can get this golden jade hibiscus in this empress's hand. Otherwise, this empress can only keep it until next year."
As soon as she finished speaking, there was a slight commotion outside the waterside pavilion. The girls looked at each other. They all wanted to come forward and show off their skills, but they were afraid that the first one would be at a disadvantage.
"Sisters, please excuse me. Let me go first."
Yu Shu looked over and saw a tall young girl walking out from Princess Xi Wen's side. At first glance, she seemed to be about the same height as Yu Shu, but the other's figure was a bit more voluptuous.
As soon as this tall young girl came out, the female guests that were originally surrounding her all retreated, automatically making an empty space for her to stand in.
"Her name is Cui Xin," Xin Liu saw that Yu Shu was unfamiliar and told her, "She's the older sister of Cui Yun who went to worship the ancestors with you.
When Yu Shu heard this, she remembered the news that she had received from Situ Qinglan — it was said that Cui Yun had an older sister who was very popular with the nobility. When she was young, she was fostered in the Xiang Prince's fu and had a sisterly relationship with that spoiled Princess Xi Wen.
Cui Xin stood out openly and first asked the nobles in the waterside pavilion for instructions.
"We, the women of aristocratic families, have learned the Mysterious Classics and Yi Li from a young age. We can't compare to the young ladies of the noble families who are good at the four arts, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but we are not completely useless. Our Cui family can be called one of the twelve prefectures of the capital because of the virtue of our ancestors. They passed down a strange sound technique called 'Spirit Speech Technique'. I believe that most of you have heard of it but have not seen it. This humble girl is untalented and has learned this technique from my family's founder for seven years. Now that I have seen the door, I will come today to show my incompetence. "
These words aroused the attention of the crowd. It should be known that the secret techniques of the twelve aristocratic families were not passed down to outsiders. They were not easily shown and rarely seen. Who wouldn't be curious?
The older Duchess of Jing immediately sat up straight and stared at Cui Xin with great interest. She said to the two Palace Masters sitting at the head of the table,
"As the two niangniangs know, before I married, I was also born of an aristocratic family. At that time, I had heard of this strange technique of the Cui family. My late father personally praised it and said that this' Spirit Speech Technique 'should be renamed to' Mind Reading Technique ', which would be more suitable."
"Mind Reading Technique?" Noble Consort Xue's eyebrows raised, seeming puzzled.
Duchess of Jing did not explain further, but urged Cui Xin to quickly show off her skills.
Cui Xin bowed and said, "Niangniangs, please don't take offense. This little girl still needs the help of someone present. May I be so bold as to ask Noble Consort Xue to choose on my behalf to avoid suspicion?"
She wanted to find someone to test the 'Spirit Speech Technique' on.
Noble Consort Xue's expression was one of interest. Her gaze swept over the faces of the crowd of women outside the waterside pavilion. She casually pointed and said,
"It's you."
Everyone followed the direction of her finger and saw that amidst the red and green flowers, there was only one spot that was shrouded in silver light and a slender white dress. It was the most eye-catching and beautiful. No matter how many times they looked at it, they would still be stunned.
Yu Shu was pondering over Cui Xin when she suddenly saw that jade-like finger turn towards her. She was stunned for a moment before she reacted. She looked to her left and right and saw the envious expression on Xin Liu's face. She also saw Miss Ning's expression that said 'good luck'. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
She made a sound of agreement and stood up.
Seeing this scene, Xue Rui's eyelids twitched. He turned his head to look at the waterside pavilion and saw that Noble Consort Xue was still as lazy as before. It didn't seem like she was doing it on purpose.
Yu Shu didn't recognize Cui Xin, but Cui Xin knew who she was. She smiled at her without any hostility.
Yu Shu had long believed that she and Xi Wen were jackals of the same tribe. She wasn't the slightest bit confused by her. She returned a fake smile and opened her mouth to ask,
"How do you need my help?"
"Female Oracle, please wait a moment."
Cui Xin asked for instructions from the waterside pavilion and brought out a table from the nearby greenhouse. She also prepared a brush and ink before indicating for Yu Shu to step forward and stand beside the table.
"Tonight the moon is bright and the flowers are beautiful. There are countless fragrant grasses in the back garden of Dingbo Hall. There are no less than a hundred types. Whether it's weak willow or small tender, female oracle, please choose one for yourself. When my back is turned, you can write on the paper. Don't let others see."
After saying this, Cui Xin turned around. Her eyes were looking forward and she gently closed them.
Yu Shu was suspicious. She touched the paper on the table with one hand. Seeing that there was nothing strange, she bent down and covered it with her sleeve. She followed Cui Xin's suggestion and wrote down what she thought. After she finished writing, she said,
"I've written it."
When Cui Xin heard this, she didn't hurry to turn around. She still had her back to her and asked an unrelated question,
"Female oracle, can you tell me whether you like the clear or the rainy weather?"
Yu Shu looked at her back and thought for a moment before saying, "The rainy day."
As she spoke, she could clearly see that Cui Xin's ears moved slightly. After a moment, she heard Cui Xin say with certainty,
"Female oracle, did you write Immortal Grass on the paper? Please pick up the paper and let everyone present look at it for me. "
Yu Shu frowned. With a slightly strange expression, she moved her hand away from the paper and lifted it up to show it to everyone.
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