"Let us begin then. Each person has chopsticks in front of them. Those who think of an answer can tap their chopsticks to answer."
As Mu Qingyao finished speaking, a question appeared before her. She pursed her lips and smiled, "Rabbits fight, guess an idiom."
As soon as her voice fell, a tapping sound came from the women's group. Everyone looked over and saw a woman in red and green tap once, then nervously stand up. Her face was flushed crimson, and she stammered, "I, I don't know. I'm too nervous and tapped the wrong one."
Upon hearing this, the entire hall erupted in laughter. Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.
As everyone laughed, the woman's face turned even redder. Mu Qingyao said calmly, "You stand aside first. Does anyone else remember?"
Someone tapped their chopsticks, and they looked over attentively. It was Chu Qianyi, the son of the Left Prime Minister, from the men's group. He stood up unhurriedly, smiling with a devilish charm.
"Shang Zuan Xia Tiao (Jumping up and down)."
Unexpectedly, he answered correctly. Mu Qingyao smiled, their first victory.
"You've answered correctly. Now, Young Master Chu, you can ask a question to the person in your heart?"
As Mu Qingyao's voice fell, all the women's eyes lit up. Their hearts leaped into their throats, and their eyes were filled with golden light as they stared at their beloved Chu.
They wished he would ask them a question. Even Emperor Mu Rong Liu Zun was curious.
Although Chu Qianyi had a notorious reputation, he was not yet married. The flower appreciation banquet today was filled with beauties of all shapes and sizes. What kind of woman did he have in his heart?
Chu Qianyi's eyes scanned the women from the front to the back, then from the back to the front.
The tension in everyone's hearts grew tighter and tighter. Finally, they saw him playfully turn his head to look at Mu Qingyao. "May I ask Her Majesty the Empress, can I punish myself with three cups of wine?"
As soon as this statement was made, countless women at the flower appreciation banquet had their hearts shattered into pieces.
It was a case of unrequited love. The flower appreciation banquet was filled with blooming flowers and lush willows, a scene of boundless spring beauty. Yet, this devilish young man was not interested in any of them.
Mu Qingyao also felt that his gaze was perhaps too broad, or perhaps he was actually gay.
However, looking at Chu Qianyi's expression, it didn't seem like it. But since he was unwilling, she naturally couldn't force him to drink. She spoke with a cold expression.
"Granted."
Chu Qianyi sat down with a beaming smile, drinking his three cups of wine as if no one else was present, completely ignoring the disappointed eyes of the women opposite him.
The first question was disrupted by Chu Qianyi, but there was still a young lady from an official family who had made a mistake due to nervousness.
Mu Qingyao looked over. After Chu Qianyi's commotion, the young lady had finally calmed down.
"Although you tapped the wrong answer, since we are playing a game, the rules are paramount and must not be broken. You have two options: either ask someone for help, or perform a talent yourself."
Mu Qingyao looked down calmly. Everyone was looking at the young lady. She was beautiful, elegant, and her blushing appearance earlier was particularly charming. Many men were looking at her.
She slowly raised her head and glanced at the men opposite her, starting with the Prince of Nan'an. The Prince of Nan'an's expression was as cold as ice, scaring her into quickly looking past him.
Then she looked at the Prince of Beijin. Due to the earlier laughter, he seemed to have difficulty even breathing.
The young lady's gaze moved past him. She dared not even think about the eldest son Chu. Finally, she looked to the very end and saw a scholar-like man, who quite pleased her. She pointed at him and said shyly and tenderly,
"May I ask this gentleman to help this humble one?"
Everyone followed her gaze. The man turned out to be Zhang Hanshan, the son of the Prefect, and a friend of Chu Qianyi.
Zhang Hanshan had a soft spot for this young lady, so he immediately responded with affection and stood up readily, saying respectfully,
"Hanshan is willing to drink three cups of wine on behalf of the young lady."
After he finished, he drank three cups of wine in one go. Thunderous applause erupted at the flower appreciation banquet, cheering for Zhang Hanshan.
Emperor Xian's eyes were dark, and a smile played on his lips.
Yao'er's idea was indeed interesting, bringing a couple together in the blink of an eye.
However, the protagonists of today were the Prince of Nan'an and the Prince of Beijin. It was a pity that these two imperial brothers, despite their noble status,
were feared by many women. One was excessively cold, and the other was too frail and sickly. Neither was the ideal husband in the eyes of women.
But his purpose in holding this flower appreciation banquet today was to arrange marriages for these two.
Mu Qingyao raised her hand, and silence fell. Everyone knew that Her Majesty the Empress was about to announce the second question, and they all listened attentively.
"Long tail, short ears, eats vegetables, not rice, guess an animal."
This time, Li Xiaowan, the daughter of the Minister of War, was faster. She stood up calmly and said without haste, "Reporting to Her Majesty the Empress, it is a rabbit."
Mu Qingyao observed the daughter of the Minister of War. Her demeanor was elegant, and she was clearly a lady from a good family, showing good upbringing. She thus felt a bit of favor and nodded with a smile, "You've answered correctly. Now, Miss Li, who do you want to ask a question? Please begin."
Li Xiaowan's beautiful eyes turned, and she looked at the men opposite her. In fact, the person she most wanted to ask was Chu Qianyi, but Young Master Chu had clearly indicated earlier that he was not interested in women like them.
If she asked him again, she would be seeking embarrassment. Moreover, she had not forgotten her father's instructions.
"Xiaowan, the lives of the Li family depend on your decision. You must not be reckless." What other choice did she have?
"I want to ask the Prince of Beijin, what kind of woman can become the Prince of Beijin's Consort?"
As soon as this was said, everyone looked at Li Xiaowan. No one expected that Li Xiaowan, the daughter of the Minister of War, was interested in the Prince of Beijin.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager rarely showed a trace of a smile. Her face, which had been like a bitter gourd from beginning to end, now shed its previous bitterness and revealed a smile.
She favored this Li Xiaowan, and her father being the Minister of War meant that it was not a disgrace to Liu Mo.
On the high seat, Mu Qingyao looked at Li Xiaowan intently. She saw that her eyes did not hold the admiration of ordinary women. On the contrary, upon closer inspection, there was a hint of sorrow.
It was the helplessness of being forced by reality. She had also experienced this feeling when she was about to enter the palace.
Could it be that Li Xiaowan did not like the Prince of Beijin, but was being pressured by someone to do this? Who could it be?
Mu Qingyao subconsciously shifted her gaze to the Empress Dowager beside her. She saw that the Empress Dowager had shed her previous look of deep resentment and had a rare, peaceful expression on her face. Could it be that Li Xiaowan was doing this at the Empress Dowager's behest? Surely not.
In this short span of time, everyone pondered, including the Emperor. His dark eyes flashed with sharp brilliance, and a sense of understanding filled his chest, with strands of cold air escaping.