Chapter 107: Writing the Answer

Xiao Yi looked at Xue Fanzhi and said with a smile, "This is very interesting. The patron's question is about the first day of the second lunar month in the Wuyin year—what kind of significant day is that?"

The first day of the second lunar month in the Wuyin year?!

Xue Fanzhi’s expression turned peculiar. The ninth day of the second lunar month in that Wuyin year was her birthday. What kind of major event could have happened on the first?

Xue Fanzhi shook her head. "What kind of significant day is that?" Did something major happen on the day she was born?

Xiao Yi actually didn't know what day that was either. He had been four and a half years old then. Although he had memories and possessed a photographic memory—having read plenty of history books since—he still could not figure out what was special about that date.

In his past life, the patron had posed the same question, but no one had answered it, so he still didn't know the answer. He only remembered it was A-Zhi’s birthday. It should have been a bright and sunny day; the dogs and chickens on the street were chirping happily, and there was nothing out of the ordinary.

Seeing Xiao Yi shake his head, Xue Fanzhi was dumbfounded. "You don't know?"

Xiao Yi nodded this time. "Yes, I don't know. From the Jade Emperor to the local Earth God, to the Buddhas of the West, and even down to folk customs, I truly haven't found any connection between the ninth of the second month and any of these people or events. What do you expect me to know?"

Xue Fanzhi was stunned. "If you don't know, why did you agree to the bet? What will you do? Are you planning to lose to the Eighth Prince on purpose? Do you want to be his lackey?" If so, just say it!

Xiao Yi dismissively replied, "Think about it: if I don't know, do you think they would?"

Xue Fanzhi: "..."

Some people were just too overconfident! Perhaps the people on the other side already had the answer. Xue Fanzhi really wanted to punch Xiao Yi to wake him up and stop him from being so narcissistic.

On Xiao Jian’s side, when his subordinates reported that they hadn't even seen the patron—that the man was completely immovable and they couldn't buy the answer—his eyes darkened significantly.

He had challenged Xiao Yi in public specifically to let everyone watch Xiao Yi lose. He chose the patron’s question because it had already generated so much buzz; when the answer was revealed, thousands of eyes would be watching. If he beat Xiao Yi, his fame would only grow further.

However, he hadn't known the answer beforehand. His plan was to buy it from the patron. After all, money could make the devil turn the mill, and with his status as a prince, he didn't believe the patron would dare refuse him.

Yet, he hadn't expected that the man truly wouldn't tell him.

The subordinate guard added, "Not only did he refuse to sell it, he didn't even let us board the ship. He drove us off directly, saying only those who answer the question correctly can come aboard!"

If they couldn't answer the question, they couldn't board. If they couldn't board, they couldn't get the answer—so how were they supposed to solve the riddle? This guy was clearly looking for trouble; he was simply making things difficult for everyone.

Most of the people on the ship were descendants of nobles who were close to Xiao Jian. Among them was Xiao Yi’s cousin, Lin Lin. Of course, since Concubine Feng was the adopted daughter of the Lin family, he could also be considered Xiao Jian’s cousin.

Seeing Xiao Jian’s dark expression, he asked, "Is the Eighth Highness still unable to figure it out? Otherwise, I can go ask the Ninth Highness if he has thought of it!"

Xiao Jian would naturally love to engage in such blatant cheating. He just hated that Lin Lin lacked social awareness. Why ask him? Why not just go and do it? Was he supposed to openly encourage Lin Lin to go?

Xiao Jian smiled but didn't answer the second question directly. He looked at the crowd and said, "This question is a bit tricky. Does anyone know what kind of day that is?"

A girl’s voice suddenly came from the opposite bank: "How shameless! Since this is a competition, and you have so many people studying it together, whose answer is it actually?"

The implication was that Xiao Jian was using hired help.

The crucial point was, who was so bold as to call a prince shameless?

Xiao Jian glared at the opposite side with a dark face. It was that wretched girl following Xiao Yi!

Xiao Yi found it quite novel to hear Xue Fanzhi cursing. In his past life, no matter what injustices she encountered, she would never use foul language. He didn't know what had changed in this life that made her so fierce. Of course, this ferocity was because of him; perhaps when something touched upon his problems, his A-Zhi would turn into a little wild beast protecting her own.

Xiao Yi felt happy inside, but he still had to warn her: "Even though Xiao Jian looks like a decent man on the outside, he is very petty. If you scold him, he will hold a grudge."

So what? Wasn't his entire family going to be slaughtered by Xiao Yi anyway?

Xue Fanzhi was not afraid of Xiao Jian. She hadn't suffered any losses at his hands in her past life, and she certainly wouldn't in this one. Besides, she couldn't hear what the people on the other side were saying anyway.

Unconvinced, she retorted, "I hate people who don't follow the terms of a bet. They have no gambling integrity at all. Don't you know? Gambling integrity reflects one's character; one look and you can tell he’s not a good person!"

Xiao Yi: "..."

What kind of woman was this, talking about gambling? And what was this about gambling integrity reflecting character? If you're already gambling, what kind of character could you have? This girl hadn't even had a drop to drink, yet she was spouting nonsense.

Xiao Yi felt the urge to reach out and rub Xue Fanzhi’s head, so he did just that. He said affectionately, "Since they have no integrity, we can be the same. Why don't you just help me answer it?"

But there were so many of them on the other side, and only two of them. Of course, the boatman didn't count as a person in this situation. Wasn't that incredibly unfair to them?

Xue Fanzhi was about to speak, but her eyes rolled upward, and she caught sight of a large hand that was almost bigger than her own face. Her eyes darkened. "Master, what are you doing? You seem to be petting my head. Given our relationship, isn't this a bit excessive? Are you bullying me because I'm a child without parents?"

Xiao Yi: "..."

"How are you without parents?"

Her parents were as good as non-existent anyway.

Xue Fanzhi said coldly, "Don't ask when you know the answer!" Take your claws off me.

Xiao Yi wasn't angry that Xue Fanzhi swatted his hand away; he just felt it was a pity. A-Zhi’s hair was so smooth, just like it was after they were married. It was a shame she was so young now; how long would he have to wait?

Xiao Yi was already lost in thought when the sound of a gong rang out from the large ship where the patron was. Someone stood on the deck and shouted loudly, "One quarter of an hour left!"

Xue Fanzhi looked at Xiao Yi, puzzled.

Xiao Yi glanced at the deck and turned back. "They stop accepting answers in a quarter of an hour. We must write down an answer. I suspect that the medicinal herb is on that ship, in the hands of that patron."

Xue Fanzhi asked, "Then what will you write?"

Xiao Yi said he didn't know the answer.

Xiao Yi smiled. "Judging by that tone, do you have an answer?"

Xue Fanzhi shook her head. "It's not that I have the answer, it's just that I know what to write!"

They returned to the cabin together. Xue Fanzhi picked up her brush and wrote: "The ninth day of the second lunar month in the Wuyin year is a big day, because this young lady was born, my uncle gained a niece, and my maternal grandparents gained a granddaughter!" She only had so many people close to her; she would just write that.

After she finished, she looked at Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi followed suit, copying her...

How could there be such a person? Really!