“Oh, since Eighth Brother is in the mood, I will definitely keep you company!” Feng Yuxuan glanced at Ling Fengyan and smiled with gentle eyes.
“King Xuan, this is not fair. This lady’s face is hidden so well, King Chu cannot see clearly. So how can he deduce whether she is beautiful or not? How about this, why don’t we ask the lady to reveal her face so King Chu can see clearly. How about that?” Ling Fengyan’s gaze landed on Mo Xuetong’s face which was covered and could not be seen clearly. He smiled and spoke gently as his eyes swept across Feng Yuran subconsciously.
For an inexplicable reason, she felt that Mo Xuetong, who was standing beside the handsome and flawless Feng Yuran was very eye-catching. She was beautiful and a single glance at her made her blush and her heart race. She told herself that she was just a rich girl and was the type of person she looked down upon the most before she could calm her racing heart.
She did not think that the woman was more beautiful than her. As such, she wanted to make Mo Xuetong reveal herself so she could shame her.
“Second Miss Ling, your beauty is comparable to our national flower and other girls cannot compare to you. Furthermore, the two royal highnesses are not really comparing beauties. Second Miss Ling really do not have to be so insistent on whether I reveal my face or not. No matter which King wins, our beauty is determined by their opinions.” Mo Xuetong blinked her lively eyes. Her sweet voice had a seductive hint to it that was usually not present as she spoke gently. She knew how to act as well!
Ling Fengyan was not a simple person for she could still remain so calm after Feng Yuran doubted her reputation as the most beautiful woman in the capital. Mo Xuetong felt that she was the same sort of person as Mo Xuemin and was secretly wary. Of course, she would not think that Feng Yuran was so bored to make things difficult for her. The more she interacted with Feng Yuran, the more she realized that he was not the flighty playboy he made himself out to be!
He definitely had his reasons for doing this!
She was in a rather good mood today. And of course, Ling Fengyan gave her the same kinds of feelings that Mo Xuemin gave her. They were both so fake. As such, she would live freely just once and go wild with Feng Yuran!
Ling Fengyan had tried to trick her into revealing herself. She would not let her get what she wanted!
“Not bad, you have just spoken what was on my mind. You are indeed the person I like! Elder brother, look at the two items on the stage. How about we use those as prizes? I wonder which one Second Miss Ling likes?” A charming smile appeared on Feng Yuran’s lips as he pointed at the beads and the swords on the stage. His eyes, which were like dark jade, had a hint of teasing laughter in them and he appeared noble despite his lazy tone.
Despite his lazy appearance, he was still seductive.
The string of beads and the pair of miniature jade swords. Ling Fengyan’s eyes could not help but be drawn to the beads. The color, the size of the beads; even if she had never seen them before, she knew that they were extremely precious. While the jade colored miniature swords were also very attractive, they were not as attractive to women as the beads were.
Everyone knew what she had chosen when they saw how her gaze landed on the beads.
“Elder brother, Second Miss Ling has already chosen. Why don’t we go and look at the riddles?” Feng Yuran laughed and walked up to the stage. Feng Yuxuan, who was behind him, hesitated a little before he brought Ling Fengyan with him.
The riddles on the stage were very weird. There were two paintings. The first was of the blue sky and white clouds. There was a grassland under the clouds. The painting was filled with a crowd of white sheep. The second painting was still of the same sky and grass but the sheep were squeezed on the left side of the painting while a large pack of wolves appeared on the right side! The requirements written below the two paintings were simple. The answer to each riddle was a fruit!
There were many gathered before the stage and many approached to try to answer the riddle. However, they all failed and no one could solve the riddle.
There were many who were watching the show below the stage and there were quite a few who were trying to solve the riddle with their brows furrowed. However, no one else went up on the stage and the stage appeared to be rather empty.
Mo Xuetong stared at the jade-colored miniature swords that were placed under the second painting. It was the second prize. When she approached it, she could see them more clearly. They looked like hairpins and decorations were hanging from it. They were tassels on women hairpins. They shook slightly under the light, glittering beautifully.
She seemed to recall there being such a pair of hairpin swords. While she could not remember clearly, she knew that they were important for sure.
Mo Xuetong’s eyes tightened and her breathing turned quick. She pulled on Feng Yuran’s sleeves subconsciously and said, “Your Highness…” She called out softly and then bit her lips, forcing down the anxiety she felt. She could hear her heart beating loudly and the blood in her body flowing faster.
“What’s the matter?” Feng Yuran could hear the anxiousness in her voice. He lowered his head and relaxed the hand that was wrapped around her waist tightly, holding on to her hand instead. He spoke to her softly, turning his back against the stage and faced her. The light sone from behind him and she could not see his expression clearly. However, she felt that it would not be hard to make a request of him at that moment.
Perhaps he was in a good mood today because of the beautiful moon. That works out well!
“I, I want those swords.” Mo Xuetong bit her lips and pleaded softly.
“Alright!” Feng Yuran’s brows twitched slightly but he did not ask her anything else. He pulled her hand and then approached the tall stage. He patted her hand and then issued Feng Yuxuan, who was behind him, a challenging smile. Then, he went onto the stage. Feng Yuxuan looked at the riddle and then went up as well.
He, he had agreed just like that!
Mo Xuetong stretched her neck upwards from behind and then forced down the words of dissatisfaction that were at her mouth. She looked at Feng Yuran incredulously!
She was prepared to convince him with plenty of reason earlier, but he had already gone up before she could even speak. She had so many things to say but could not. This person had not only not tried to find trouble with her today and had helped her without asking her for a reason?
This, this was such a rare incident!
It was easy for them to solve the riddle especially after Feng Yuran revealed the answer to the second riddle. Feng Yuxuan did not have to put in much effort to solve the first.
The answers to the second riddle were either bayberry or starfruit! (Homophones for Sheep gone and sheep flee)
The solution for the first riddle was naturally strawberries! (Grass gone)
“Good, this is right!” A middle-aged man in his 40s clapped and laughed as he praised them. “Men, give the prizes to these two gentlemen.” The riddles were actually a pair and it was not difficult to guess the second after one guessed the first. However, the two men were evidently interested in different prizes. The middle-aged man was an understanding person and told his servants to give out the prizes separately with a smile.
Two servants brought out two jade trays from behind. The two expensive presents were placed on each tray.
“Excuse me, do the swords still have a pair of scabbards that have not been presented?” Mo Xuetong walked onto the stage and asked the middle-aged man.
“Scabbards? These swords have always been like this in the hands of their previous owner. When did they have scabbards?” The middle-aged man frowned and asked in confusion.
“What would one want these swords if they do not have scabbards? Please inform the owner that we do not want these swords without scabbards.” Mo Xuetong smiled lightly. She lifted her hands and then touched the sword handle with her tender pale hands before moving away. She pulled Feng Yuran away and turned around without hesitation, about to leave the stage.
A tall figure was seated in a large round backed armchair behind the bead curtains at the back of the stage. His bright eyes landed on Mo Xuetong’s covered face and he tapped his fingers on the table lightly. A servant immediately appeared and said respectfully, “Master, your orders please!”
In front, Mo Xuetong’s foot had just landed on the first step of the stairs by the stage.
“Miss, please wait!” A clever servant appeared, running out from behind holding a jade box in his hands. “Miss, you have guessed the riddle correctly, how can you not want the prize. These swords match the items in the box perfectly. They are gifts for you, Miss.”
“They match the prize?” A hint of a smile appeared in Mo Xuetong’s lively eyes.
“They naturally match.” The servant assured her again. Another servant holding the miniature swords ran over as well, presenting her with them.
Mo Xuetong did not reject the swords this time. She placed the swords in the jade box and accepted them. Then, she curtsied to the person behind the curtains with satisfaction.
The young man behind the curtains ordered, “Go and find out whose daughter she is.”
“Master, this woman behaved so intimately with another man. She is obviously a courtesan… should we check at the brothels?” A man asked doubtfully. Etiquette has always been important in Qin, so which noble lady would behave like this, standing so close to another man? This was too much!
Did she still want her reputation!
“No need, check up on the noble ladies.” The cold voice ordered! He did not know that woman but he knew the newly named King Xuan, Feng Yuran. Which courtesan would dare to behave so wildly in front of the devilish King Xuan? Furthermore, her face was so well covered. It was obvious that she was afraid someone would recognize her. Those courtesans would definitely want to show off who they were if they had the affections of Feng Yuran.
“Check the whole incident clearly. We won’t be here for long!”
“Yes!” The other person answered.
The young man looked at Mo Xuetong and Feng Yuran who were leaving from the gaps between the bead curtain. His eyes darkened and a cold smile appeared on his lips. King Xuan and King Yan of the Great Qin and two women were together. One of the women was stunning and had to be the most beautiful woman of the Great Qin. As for the other woman, she was very intelligent, and that made him even more curious…
It seems that this trip to the Great Qin was rewarding!
Under the stage, Mo Xuetong’s head was lowered as she allowed Feng Yuran to hold her hand. She frowned subconsciously. If she had not guessed wrongly, the swords were women hairpins that when worn with the scabbard, would look like ordinary hairpins. In her past life, she had heard of a famous pair of hairpins. Were they them?
In her past life, she had heard of a pair of extremely precious hairpins. It was said that they used to belong to Queen Jin. If one pressed the right button, the hairpins would immediately turn into a pair of sharp swords. They could kill without being discovered. After that, a mysterious person had paid an exorbitant amount of money for the hairpins. In the end, a normal noble lady had gotten the pair of hairpins and the mysterious person had paid the noble lady 20,000 pieces of gold for them.
Mo Xuetong did not value the 20,000 pieces of gold. It was said that there was another secret to the scabbards and she wanted them for that. When she died back then, the mysterious person had already solved the secret and it was known to all. However, right now, no one knew of the secrets within.
“Miss, could there be something special about the swords and its scabbards?” Feng Yuxuan hurried and walked on Mo Xuetong’s left side. He looked at the swords and jade box in her hand and his eyes shone as he questioned her gently. Ling Fengyan was also very curious as she hurried up to catch up with them. Her gaze landed on the objects in Mo Xuetong’s hands.
“Of course, there is, of course there is! This is something that I have gifted to a beauty. So how can it not be special? If there are no scabbards for the sword, how can the beauty and I be harmonious in the future? The boss is an understanding person and knew to find the scabbards. I will find someone to reward such an intelligent boss.” Feng Yuran replied with a teasing smile. He had this ability to answer a serious question with a silly answer.
However, it had helped rescue Mo Xuetong from her quandary. She hid her face in the coat and they could not see her. If she said anything else though, Feng Yuxuan and Ling Fengyan might be able to sense and recognize her should they meet again. That would be troublesome. Feng Yuran had answered the question for her and that had helped her out. She curtsied deeply to Feng Yuxuan but did not say anything.
Indeed, the elegant Feng Yuxuan was speechless after Feng Yuran’s teasing words. Ling Fengyan reacted quickly and she said with a laugh, “King Xuan, you truly love this beauty and want to be with this lady in all situations. This lady is indeed fortunate to have received King Xuan’s affections. I wonder how long this lady has been together with King Xuan?”
“This is embarrassing. It is my good fortune to receive King Xuan’s affections. How dare I say anything about us being together. King Xuan just patronizes me from time to time.” Mo Xuetong pretended not to hear the underlying meaning behind Ling Fengyan’s words. She smiled seductively and leaned against Feng Yuran, looking as if she was seducing him.
How could she be a noble lady then! Ling Fengyan glanced at the two and realized that there was nothing odd with them. Other than the coat that covered Mo Xuetong’s face, King Xuan, who was like any other rich playboy, seemed as if he was smitten with a courtesan.
After ascertaining her identity, Ling Fengyan walked beside Feng Yuxuan and did not say anything else. There was a hint of disdain in her eyes. The woman was just a plaything at a brothel and could not be compared to her after all. She heard that her portrait had been sent back by King Xuan. Now, it seemed that King Xuan was indeed not ambitious at all. He was hanging out with women from the brothel and could not be compared to the Third Prince. The Empress was thinking too much.
