At the lantern mountain, more and more talented scholars gathered, racking their brains over the riddle.

“Spring rain continuous, wife sleeps alone. Waking at the hour of the dog, moon just emerges. Husband once departed, still not returned. Butterfly now breaks cocoon, though branches wither.”

This was a poem of a resentful wife concealing a character riddle. Until now, no one had been able to provide an answer.

“Who do you think will win that glazed lantern?” Zhu Jiayu, holding her lotus lantern with excitement still on her face, asked, “Hui’er, why don’t you try again?”

Chen Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I don’t have a single clue. I wouldn’t dare make a fool of myself.”

Lin Hao wasn’t skilled at riddle-solving and was wholeheartedly absorbed in experiencing the pleasures of the Lantern Festival. As she casually looked around, she glimpsed a familiar figure.

It was Prince Jing’s heir, Qi Shuo.

Qi Shuo had also noticed her. Across the crowd, he smiled slightly and strode forward.

Behind him, Qi Huan’s face showed shock. “Big Brother, you’re going to solve riddles?”

Qi Shuo made an affirmative sound.

Qi Huan was even more shocked.

Though Big Brother usually enjoyed reading, he had never noticed him solving riddles. This poem riddle was quite difficult—he had just seen Scholar Yang, the top scholar, in the crowd doing nothing.

Because no one had solved it, the situation had been at a standstill for a while. Seeing Qi Shuo appear, the minor official was delighted. “Young sir, do you have an answer?”

Whether right or wrong, it was better than an awkward silence.

Qi Shuo raised his eyebrows slightly. “I haven’t heard the riddle yet. How would I know the answer?”

“The riddle was already read.” Because so many had challenged it, the minor official had memorized it and began reciting, “Spring rain continuous, wife sleeps alone—”

Qi Shuo politely interrupted the official’s recitation. “Apologies, I’m not challenging this riddle. I’d like to try the butterfly lantern at the northeast corner of the seventh tier.”

The minor official was stunned.

He wasn’t challenging the most difficult one?

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and hurriedly instructed the bailiff to retrieve the lantern riddle.

The spectators were somewhat speechless.

Everyone was deep in thought, and this young man wasn’t even challenging the poem riddle on the ninth tier—how could he have the nerve to step forward?

Qi Huan patted his forehead. While admiring Big Brother’s composure, he actually found it normal.

The seventh tier—for Big Brother, there should be hope.

However—Qi Huan looked left, looked right, then suddenly felt touched.

Little Sister was atop Xuande Tower. Only he and Big Brother were together. Big Brother was going to give him a lantern!

True brothers really were different!

In the crowd, quite a few people recognized Qi Shuo’s identity, including Chen Yi and her companions.

“Ah Hao, that’s Prince Jing’s heir, isn’t it?”

“Mm.” Lin Hao’s gaze fell on the man at the center of the crowd, somewhat amused.

Just now when she made eye contact with Prince Jing’s heir, he had suddenly moved. Her first reaction was that he was coming to find her, but it turned out he was solving riddles.

Cough, cough—she had overthought it.

“Returning from stepping on flowers, butterflies circle the knees.” The minor official received the riddle and read it aloud. “Name one medicinal ingredient.”

A medicinal ingredient?

People instinctively pondered, but Qi Shuo had already answered without hesitation. “It’s cyperus root.”

The minor official glanced at the answer and couldn’t help giving a thumbs up. “Correct! Young sir guessed so quickly!”

Qi Shuo accepted the butterfly lantern and smiled modestly. “I happen to understand a bit about medicine. It was my good fortune.”

This lantern riddle was neither particularly difficult nor particularly easy. For someone who knew nothing about medicine, they could think until their head split and still not come up with it. But for someone who understood medicinal principles, guessing it wasn’t difficult.

This was a rather obscure riddle.

In the crowd, someone who recognized Qi Huan’s identity laughed. “It’s not surprising that Prince Jing’s heir could guess it.”

That Prince Jing’s heir was weak and sickly was something everyone in this circle knew.

What interested people was—who would Prince Jing’s heir give this butterfly lantern to?

Under the curious gazes of the crowd, Qi Shuo walked back carrying the delicate butterfly lantern.

Qi Huan watched his approaching brother, instinctively straightening his back and forcibly suppressing his pride.

Having watched for so long, all those who had guessed riddles correctly had given the lanterns they won to young ladies. Only his big brother was giving one to a brother!

Qi Shuo walked back and stood beside Qi Huan.

After watching for a while without seeing him make any move, everyone withdrew their gazes in disappointment.

They had thought they might see Prince Jing’s heir’s beloved, but it turned out the lantern was one Prince Jing’s heir had won for himself.

“Big Brother—”

“Mm?”

“This lantern of yours—”

“Oh, it’s to give to a friend.”

Qi Huan clutched his chest, feeling extremely wronged. “Big Brother, I thought it was for me!”

Qi Shuo’s expression turned strange. “Second Brother, you’re already eighteen.”

What was his younger brother thinking?

At this moment, a small, thin man walked over. “Has anyone solved the riddle for the glazed palace lantern?”

The minor official saw the man’s attire and was startled.

It was actually someone from the palace!

He immediately put on a full smile, responding respectfully and deferentially, “Not yet.”

The eunuch nodded and returned to report.

“Still no one has solved it?” Upon hearing this, Emperor Tai’an shook his head.

Last year’s riddle had gone unsolved. If this year’s riddle also couldn’t be solved, it would be rather dull.

“What about those students from the Imperial Academy and the newly appointed scholars—haven’t they participated?” Emperor Tai’an found it hard to believe.

Were the young people of the Great Zhou really like this?

“In response to Your Majesty, quite a few talented scholars have participated, but none have guessed correctly.”

Emperor Tai’an pondered briefly, then said, “Liu Chuan, convey my decree: whoever wins the glazed lantern tonight shall be rewarded with a bushel of pearls.”

“Yes.” Liu Chuan accepted the order and descended the tower.

A sweet voice rang out. “Father Emperor, may I go take a look?”

Qi Qiong looked at Princess Yian in surprise.

Princess Yian walked before Emperor Tai’an, completely rid of her earlier boredom. “Your daughter finds it so interesting and really wants to see it with her own eyes. I beg Father Emperor’s permission.”

Emperor Tai’an instinctively frowned. “There are too many people on the streets. It’s too chaotic.”

Princess Yian raised one hand. “Your daughter promises not to wander about. I’ll return right after watching the riddle solving.”

Princess Yian’s eagerness made Emperor Tai’an hesitate.

He couldn’t claim to have deep affection for this adopted daughter, but she was a child the Empress Dowager favored. Love me, love my dog—naturally he felt some fondness for her.

“Father Emperor, please—” Princess Yian began acting coquettishly.

Qi Qiong watched in stunned amazement.

Even a real princess wouldn’t dare act so coquettishly before the ruler of a nation, would she?

The Empress Dowager as a backer was truly formidable.

Princess Yian was indeed extremely confident. She was the Empress Dowager’s grand-niece and had been in the palace keeping the Empress Dowager company for nine years now, while the only imperial daughter was currently only eight years old. The Empress Dowager doted on her far more than on the young princess, and Father Emperor also showed her affectionate favor.

Living under someone else’s roof? For Princess Yian, accustomed to the favor of the Great Zhou’s most noble woman, such a thing didn’t exist.

Princess Yian’s entreaties made Emperor Tai’an relent. “Then let Qiong’er accompany you. Take several more guards, and absolutely don’t wander off.”

“Thank you, Father Emperor.” Princess Yian gave Emperor Tai’an a sweet smile, then looked toward Qi Qiong. “Ninghua, let’s go.”

Ninghua was Qi Qiong’s county princess title.

For Qi Qiong, compared to standing around in a daze atop Xuande Tower, going to watch the riddle solving was naturally something she wished for.

Seeing the two descend the tower happily, the Crown Prince couldn’t help saying, “Father Emperor, your son would also like to go have a look.”

Emperor Tai’an’s face darkened. He said irritably, “You stay here obediently!”

The Crown Prince’s lips moved but he didn’t dare mention it again, feeling rather stifled in his heart.

This Crown Prince position of his truly came with no freedom at all!

Liu Chuan arrived there one step ahead of Qi Qiong and the others, announcing in a loud voice, “Imperial decree: whoever solves the riddle shall be granted a bushel of pearls—”