Xiao Xi Yu's gaze swept across the calligraphy and paintings on the table as she smiled. "I like this game of guessing games the most. It just so happens that it's the perfect scene for the Beggar Festival. If not, why don't we all have fun together?"
These words attracted the other women in the cabin over.
Although they were invited, most of them were here on purpose for the crown prince, Su Qian Xing. Due to what happened at the banquet previously, many girls who wanted to hit on him were unable to get what they wanted. They naturally wanted to use this opportunity to get in touch with him.
Su Qian Xing frowned slightly as he looked at Xiao Qing Ran subconsciously as though he was in a difficult situation.
Xiao Qing didn't really care. She was just thinking that it would be best if someone could distract this man's attention, so they came over and asked for it: "If you guys want to play, feel free to do so."
As long as he didn't drag her inside.
Seeing that she wasn't angry, Su Qian Xing heaved a sigh of relief. He turned around and smiled, "Since everyone is interested, why don't we go together?"
"Sure, sure." His suggestion was immediately approved by everyone.
Those women expressed their intentions one after another, clearly just guessing a riddle to fill the gap, yet there was actually someone hugging a musical instrument to say something lively.
Xiao Qingran secretly rolled her eyes. She looked up at the sky with her uninterested hand resting on the ship's pole.
So this was why she didn't want to come out.
Although it was called Beggar's Day, the scene looked like they had entered a zoo.
There was a group of beautiful peacocks, some monkeys who couldn't get onto the stage to attract attention, some tourists who were enjoying the show, and some smiling tigers who could freely cooperate.
She sighed, and her eyes gathered on the bracelet on her wrist, which shone strangely against the moonlight, like a whirlpool in the sea, not enough to draw one to it but enough to make one yearn for it.
It had only been six years, and she was already familiar with the world.
Whether it was the transmigration from six years ago or her rebirth from half a month ago, something seemed to have guided her in her path.
The people over here were having a good time. They had guessed who knew how many riddles, and some of them were even more adept at playing directly with the river lanterns. Who could guess that the riddles on the river lanterns could make wishes for the river lanterns to be lit?
Naturally, their wish was fulfilled by the Crown Prince whom they had surrounded.
"Is there anything you want?" Su Qianxing was surrounded by a group of women, and as he faced Xiao Qing, he waved the lamp in his hand.
Xiao Qing then turned her gaze away and shook her head, "No."
What she wanted before was within reach, but now there was nothing left for her to desire.
"I don't think Fourth Sister is interested today?" Why do you think our game is boring? " Xiao Xiyu stood to the side and looked for trouble. "Are you saying that little sister isn't satisfied with us disturbing your time alone with the crown prince?"
Xiao Qing suddenly frowned, and expressed her annoyance at her provocative way of doing things: "I already said, if you guys like to play, you guys can play. I don't seem to have said anything from beginning to end, do I? You want to drag me in? "
She poured a glass of fruit wine into her mouth and smacked it against her lips. She was too lazy to put on an act with her, "I messed up your plans during the last banquet. It's normal for you to hate me, but are you sure you want to cause me trouble in public?"
Xiao Qing Ran's gaze swept across everyone present and faintly fell on Su Qian Han who was not far away. Her gaze clearly showed that she had seen through everything. "Do you think that you can gain anything by making me lose face here?"
"Do you want to make the man in your heart look at you in a new light, or do you want to make the crown prince grateful that you clearly see that I'm a useless trash who doesn't know anything?" She laughed and shook the glass in her hand.
Xiao Qingran's few sentences had completely smacked Xiao Xiyu in the face, causing her face to be seen by everyone.
Xiao Xi Yu's face was extremely ugly, but she still forced a smile as she made up the final lie: "Fourth Sister, what is the meaning of this? I was just asking out of goodwill, that's all. Is Fourth Sister being overly concerned? "
"Too much thought? Are you saying that I have a petty mind? " Xiao Qingyi raised her eyebrows and casually glanced at her before shifting her gaze: "Then just treat me as a vile character. Please stop being so kind, I don't care about it at all."
With these words, the atmosphere immediately froze. The originally happy atmosphere was a bit stumped by this interlude, because there were still a lot of people watching the show. No one spoke up for Xiao Xiyu, making the scene a bit awkward.
Su Qian Xing smiled as he tried to smooth things over. "Of course she doesn't mean anything by her words. Don't mind her."
He turned his gaze to Xiao Xi Yu and used a gentle smile to drive away the previous awkwardness. "She was just joking. Second Miss and Qingqing are family, so you don't think that it's a big deal, right?"
At first, Xiao Xi Yu was holding back her anger. Although she wanted to curse, she had to endure it on account of Su Qian Xing. She followed his steps and said, "Of course, of course."
The moment she let go, the others became lively again. However, because of what happened just now, no one dared to casually talk to Xiao Qing Qing anymore.
However, this did not mean that she would be able to remain quiet for long. Su Qianxing seemed to want to play their love drama to the end today. Once he comforted the lady, they immediately got back to the topic.
"As you can see, this is a painting mystery that I've found. This is a poem that describes the rain and mist of the capital, but this poem only goes' Upper Que '. Do you want to make up for it?"
Su Qianxing wanted to pull Xiao Qing out. Actually, the reason he called these people out this time was to redeem her name.
This was because Xiao Qing Qing was born into a concubine and did not receive any good guidance. Furthermore, she herself kept a low profile and almost everyone thought that she was an innocent person.
Only Su Qian Xing knew that she was shrewd. Before, he didn't really make a ruckus, but now, he did something like this all of a sudden.
Xiao Qing slightly knitted her brows. She could roughly guess what he was doing. However, because of that, her hand unconsciously curled up and her tone became a little cold. "Didn't I say it already? I don't want to …"
"It's just a guess so it's boring. This King has nothing better to do, so why don't I find a bet for all of you?" Su Qianhan suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to him. "Whoever can match up against her, I can fulfill one of her request in the place of the crown prince."
"Everyone present can participate." He paused for a moment, and when he said this, he intentionally or unintentionally looked at Xiao Qing Ran, and emphasized the following words: "Any request."
Xiao Qing was startled, and the scene of the two meeting in the alley suddenly popped up in her mind.
She secretly sighed as she knew that he was talking to her later on. Although she didn't know why this usually cold and proud man suddenly joined the group, she believed that he was only interested in watching her.
Or — was he trying to use this to test how much skill he had?
Su Qianxing narrowed his eyes. A strange glint flashed in his eyes, but it was not on his face. Instead, he spoke in a gentle and amiable manner, "Since second royal brother has said so, it is naturally better. "Come on, we were promised by second royal brother together. That would be great news."
Xiao Qingran did not directly answer his question. Instead, she spoke with an indescribable tone that carried her last 'chance', "Are you sure?"
Su Qian Xing, you really want me to participate? Do you really want to use me to this extent?
She wasn't an idiot, she already knew what this person meant when he mentioned the game to her.
He had lost face at the banquet, and it was only to take advantage of the fact that these people were trying to get back at him, but he had already made it clear that he didn't want to participate in it.
She stared at him. The wine cup in her hand seemed to still be warm from Su Qianxing's palm, but she didn't know why she felt her heart turn cold.
Something flashed across Su Qianxing's eyes and that strange feeling rose again, "Qingqing, are you alright?"
She let out a long sigh of relief as she squeezed out that oppressive feeling from her chest. After which, she pursed her lips and her expression returned to normal, as if those complicated feelings from a moment ago did not exist: "Alright, since all of you are so interested, it's only right that I play with everyone."
But... Since you asked me to come with you, it's too late to regret anything that happened.
Su Qianhan knitted his eyebrows and his eyes darkened.
In that instant, he felt as if this woman had hidden some heavy emotion beneath her surface.
Su Qian Xing looked at her smile and pondered for a moment.
"What's wrong? Aren't we going to play games? What are you waiting for? " Xiao Qing then jumped down from the boat and placed the wine pot on the round table where the calligraphy and paintings were placed. She turned her shoulders and raised her eyebrows with a smile, not looking at all reluctant: "Let me see what is at the top."
Su Qianxing's probing gaze was locked onto her, but he couldn't see anything.
Shaking his head, he thought to himself that he had been overthinking it these past few days. Su Qian Han must have stolen his secret scripture, causing him to be suspicious.
"Here's Upper Que, I've written it down long ago." As Su Qian Xing spoke, he reached for the bottom two pieces of paper.
One of them was marked with the upper part, while the other was a calligraphy and painting.
Just as he had said, it was a picture of the capital's Misty Rain Peak. The entire scene was beautiful beyond compare, making one feel as if they were looking at a painting.
A group of noble young ladies gathered together. At this time, they were all trying to show off their literary talents.
"There's a poem in this painting, but it's high-grade in the poem. Even small stones are included in the painting, and the water fish and cloud birds are even more lifelike. It seems the painter is very accomplished in this art."
"What skylark?" Xiao Xi Yu laughed. Although her tone did not carry contempt, there was a trace of contempt in her voice: "If you don't understand, then don't speak carelessly. Didn't you hear that this is a Misty Rain Diagram? The white ink in the sky is not clouds, but mist after rain. From what I see, the painter is not only shallow, but also meticulously observant. "
Everyone commented one after another. On the other, Xiao Qing seemed to be a bit absent-minded.
Su Qian Xing's lips curled upwards as he listened to their discussion. He naturally noticed Xiao Qing Ran's impatience and tried to find some words to say, "What about Qing Ran? What do you think of that? But at the same time, I have to give some pointers. "