Ren Yaoqi looked toward Han Yunqian.
The composed young man’s pitch-black eyes appeared somewhat unfathomably deep under the reflection of the ice lanterns. Ren Yaoqi liked to observe people’s eyes when looking at them, because a person’s gaze was not easy to disguise and could reveal many things.
She was somewhat curious about why Han Yunqian, a teenager of only ten-odd years, possessed the kind of gaze that only adults would have—one that seemed to carry too much burden within its silence.
Han Yunqian was also looking at Ren Yaoqi, studying her with a direct, assessing gaze.
Suddenly he spoke: “I’ve heard that Fifth Miss Ren is exceptionally skilled at chess.” He only said this one sentence, with no continuation.
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi cast a sideways glance at Ren Yijun, who was standing nearby, wondering if he had told others about her speaking ill of him behind his back.
However, because of the incident with Ren Yaohua and the autumn chrysanthemum painting from her previous life, she held no good feelings toward Han Yunqian. Even if he knew she had spoken badly of him, she felt not the slightest guilt.
At this moment, Ren Yijun sneezed.
Ren Yaoqi frowned and said, “It’s very cold here. Third Brother, why don’t you go to the carriage?”
Ren Yijun let out a light snort, turned his head away as if he hadn’t heard, and said to himself: “Is anyone going to enter the array or not? If not, I’m going in!”
Ren Yaoqi knew his temperament well and didn’t try to persuade him further. She simply turned to instruct the servant behind him to fetch a thicker cloak. When Ren Yijun went out, the carriages were always well-equipped with all necessary items.
“How about it? Can you come out within a quarter-hour?” Ren Yijun looked toward Han Yunqian, speaking with a challenging tone.
Han Yunqian examined the lantern array and thought for a moment before replying somewhat reservedly: “I’ll have to walk through it to know. I heard this year’s lantern array was designed by the Second Prince of Yan Bei, making it somewhat different from previous years.”
“Second Prince Xiao?” Ren Yaoqi was somewhat surprised; she hadn’t heard of this before.
Han Yunqian nodded and replied politely: “I heard it from Zishu earlier. Not many people outside know about it.” Zishu was Yun Wenfang’s courtesy name.
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but examine the lantern array with renewed interest. The Xiao family’s second son, Xiao Jingxi, had always been a legendary existence. Since he came to the capital to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday, his reputation in the capital had grown even greater than in Yan Bei. Those who had seen him all said he was an extremely elegant and supremely intelligent figure.
Ren Yijun suddenly stroked his chin and said to Ren Yaoqi: “Fifth Sister, why don’t you try it? I’d like to go in, but I promised my mother when I left home that I wouldn’t enter the array. But since we’re already here, it would be truly unwilling not to go in and see. If you go in, you can tell me all about what’s inside when you come out.”
“What if she goes in and can’t come out!” Ren Yaohua frowned and objected.
Ren Yijun glanced at her and sneered: “There are only those who walk in and come out the same way, not those who walk in and can’t come out. Don’t worry—if Fifth Sister doesn’t come out after half an hour, I’ll have people knock down this lantern array. How about that?”
Speaking thus, Ren Yijun examined both Ren Yaoqi and Han Yunqian again: “How about this—you both go in once and see who takes less time to walk out of the array.”
Ren Yaoqi had never liked competing, so she originally wouldn’t have paid attention to Ren Yijun’s sudden, whimsical, and boring proposal. However, just as her refusal reached her lips, she suddenly had an inspiration.
“I was originally planning to walk through it once anyway. Third Brother’s proposal isn’t impossible. It’s just that if we’re going to compete, there should be stakes for winning and losing.” Ren Yaoqi looked at Han Yunqian and smiled.
Han Yunqian couldn’t help but be stunned.
Ren Yijun clapped his hands: “Fifth Sister speaks excellently! There indeed should be stakes. What do you think, Young Master Han?”
“Third Brother! How can you join her in this nonsense?” Ren Yaohua whispered to stop him.
Ren Yijun rolled his eyes again: “I’ve always been one for nonsense! If you can’t stand it, get lost!”
“You—”
Ren Yaoqi smiled and said to Ren Yaohua, “Third Sister, it’s just for fun. Don’t worry.”
Ren Yaohua wanted to lose her temper, but with Han Yunqian, an outsider, present, she couldn’t do so and could only glare.
“What would Fifth Miss like to compete for?” Han Yunqian, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke, apparently not opposing Ren Yijun’s words.
Ren Yaoqi hadn’t expected him to agree. In this era, men and women held unequal status, and men were generally ashamed to compete with women. They felt that winning would be an inglorious victory, while losing would cost them both dignity and face. Only someone with Ren Yijun’s peculiar and unrestrained nature would repeatedly compare her with Han Yunqian.
Ren Yaoqi pretended to ponder: “The winner can make one request of the loser. Of course, to avoid requesting that the other party cannot fulfill, this request can be stated now. What does Young Master Han think?”
Han Yunqian thought for only a moment before nodding: “Miss Ren may go first.”
Ren Yaoqi was not polite and immediately smiled: “I remember my father once gave you a painting? If I win, would you give me the painting?”
A flash of surprise crossed Han Yunqian’s pitch-black eyes, which Ren Yaoqi caught. Her heart tightened—could it be that Han Yunqian had already planned to use that painting to cause trouble when he received it from her father? If so, he would refuse her proposal.
“That painting was given to Yunqian by Uncle Ren, and Yunqian treasures it greatly,” Han Yunqian said carefully. “If I were to give the painting to you, I’m afraid it would be disrespectful to Uncle Ren.”
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi sighed: “That painting was originally something I asked my father to paint as a birthday gift for me. I had never been to the capital and very much wanted to know what the annual chrysanthemum festival looked like. But unexpectedly, Father gave the painting to you instead. When I… when I asked father for it later, he was very troubled, saying the painting had already been given to you, and asking for it back would be improper, and you might not agree either.” As she spoke, she looked up at Han Yunqian with a trace of unwillingness.
Han Yunqian couldn’t help but feel somewhat troubled. A gentleman does not take what others love. Ren Yaoqi had already spoken so clearly—if he refused again, it would indeed be ungraceful. Moreover, she was saying she would ask for it after winning the competition, not demanding it back by force.
Therefore, Han Yunqian could only say: “If you win, I’ll go ask Uncle Ren’s opinion. If he doesn’t mind, I’ll give you the painting. Otherwise, you can make any other request.”
Though he said this, it was merely to save Ren Yaoqi’s face. Han Yunqian didn’t believe he would lose to Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi smiled gracefully: “Then it’s settled! What request does Young Master Han have if he wins?”
Han Yunqian shook his head: “None needed.”
Ren Yaoqi laughed: “How can that be? Since it’s a competition, it should be fair!” Otherwise, you might renege later.
Han Yunqian thought for a moment: “I’ve heard Fifth Miss is skilled at chess. If Yunqian wins, I hope Fifth Miss will honor me with a game.”
This rather surprised Ren Yaoqi. After competing once, he wanted to compete a second time. Just how divinely skilled had Ren Yijun proclaimed her chess abilities to be? Ren Yaoqi glared at Ren Yijun, who was watching the excitement.
Ren Yijun blinked and turned to look at the lanterns.
Ren Yaoqi could only nod: “Very well. Young Master Han, please go first!”
Ren Yijun unhurriedly pulled a gold-plated pocket watch from his sleeve and waved it at the two: “I happen to have brought this—I’ll time you both.”
Han Yunqian nodded.
For fairness, Ren Yijun showed Han Yunqian the time on the watch.
He also had Han Yunqian’s attendant stand with him to wait for Han Yunqian to emerge.
Han Yunqian walked into the lantern array with steady and leisurely steps.
Only then did Ren Yijun turn to Ren Yaoqi: “Fifth Sister, how confident are you that you can win?”
Ren Yaoqi honestly shook her head: “I’ll only know after I come out.”
After waiting outside for a quarter-hour, Han Yunqian indeed lived up to expectations and emerged from another entrance.
Seeing Han Yunqian already walking toward them and looking down at his pocket watch, Ren Yijun couldn’t help but worry as he said to Ren Yaoqi: “One quarter and two minutes.”
Han Yunqian nodded to them, hesitated for a moment, then said to Ren Yaoqi: “Second Prince Xiao’s array method is indeed somewhat different from ordinary lantern arrays. Since it’s made of ice, it’s quite cold inside. Fifth Miss should not go in.”
Ren Yaoqi shook her head earnestly: “Breaking one’s word is not the conduct of a gentleman. Though I am not a gentleman, I don’t wish to break faith with others.” As she spoke, Ren Yaoqi directed Xiangqin and a nanny from behind Ren Yaohua to accompany her inside. As a woman, she could not be without attendants, and bringing people in did not violate the rules.
“Fifth Miss, this place is beautiful, but it’s cold!” Xiangqin shivered as soon as they entered.
Ren Yaoqi stopped not far from the entrance to examine several branching paths, smiling as she said: “With ice walls everywhere, how could it not be cold? Don’t worry, we’ll be out soon.”
With that, Ren Yaoqi lifted her feet and walked toward the path she had chosen.
Xiangqin quickly followed: “Fifth Miss, can we beat that Young Master Han? Didn’t Third Young Master say he was very capable?”
Ren Yaoqi nodded without speaking, as she was rapidly calculating the array points in her mind.
Xiao Jingxi’s array method was indeed exquisite—he must be a master of geomancy. However, since this lantern array was set up for the people’s enjoyment, it wasn’t difficult to the point where no one could navigate it. It’s just that ordinary people who didn’t understand the principles would need to spend more time.
Ren Yaoqi had learned various subjects from Master Pei, including geomancy, Nine Palace arrays, and even arithmetic. Though not expert level, navigating such arrays was still well within her capabilities.
To be fair, Han Yunqian completing it in a quarter-hour was truly quite good.
Ren Yaoqi calmly calculated the array points while continuing her steps. When she finally saw the exit, she couldn’t help but smile broadly.
“We’re out.”