V2C47

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Translator: Anne

Editor: Miqich

Proofreader: Ani and Sal

“I still don’t understand,” Si Da said, puzzled, “If nobody else figured out this alternative method, the one who solves the riddles the fastest will still get the General’s Order and start painting first, meaning she’ll have the highest chance at winning.”

Qiao Chu shook her head, “Foolish girl, the key lies in the fact that there’s no guarantee the others won’t figure out Prince Rui’s method. If they do, then the person who reaches the pavilion first won’t necessarily win.”

Si Da let out a low cry, “so that’s how it is. That’s precisely why the Crown Prince wasn’t giving his all. His mind was focused on figuring out the method. If he can’t figure out the method later on, he can just go back to assisting that damn girl Qiao Rong with solving the riddles.”

Qiao Chu let out a quiet sound of agreement.

Meiren suddenly asked, “Master, are you also like the Crown Prince? Reserving your true strength so that if you can’t figure out the method for the General’s Order, you can still go catch up?”

Qiao Chu stroked her hair, sighing, “Although the riddles written on these lanterns aren’t difficult, I’ll be the only one solving these riddles without assistance. If I cannot, like Prince Rui, figure out a method for victory, then it’s already determined that I’ll lose.”

Si Da and Meiren recalled all the hardship Qiao Chu had gone through throughout their journey. With their chests feeling pained, they didn’t dare to speak again.

The three of them walked up to the lantern ahead of them. A female official removed a piece of paper and handed it to Qiao Chu.

The riddle read: “In the fragrant grassland there is no blaze of color.” The answer was a type of flower.

The riddle read as follows: “In a fragrant meadow, without the abundance of flourishing colours* (this means without the presence of beautiful flowers).” The answer to the riddle was some kind of flower.

Qiao Chu frowned slightly. Upon seeing this, Si Da said in distress. “Master, this is too difficult, if it’s all grass, it could be any flower!”

Qiao Chu chuckled lightly, “How is this difficult? There’s no colour to be found and there are only weeds everywhere. In other words, doesn’t that mean there are no flowers?”

“There are no flowers, no flowers.”

She said faintly, whilst writing the two characters “plum blossom” on the paper.

The female official smiled while bowing, “Congratulations, miss.”

Si Da was happy but, soon after, began to complain, “Master, this servant almost scared you to death. You were able to guess the answer, so why do you still have a bitter expression?”

Meiren gave her a side glance and Qiao Chu pulled the two of them forward, smiling bitterly, “Have you noticed that, out of three answers to these riddles, none of them are auspicious?”

Si Da and Meiren were surprised. Si Da mumbled, “In the previous ones, the riddle was disadvantageous. Master had to guess the name of a herbal medicine. Master guessed ”Angelica Sinesis.’ The next riddle was about the countryside in Autumn. The answer to this one was, again, herbal medicine. Master wrote down ‘Huai Shudi.'”

Meiren’s body was heavily poisoned and she had been suppressing the poison with all the internal force she had left. However, she had been holding it in for a while, and could not take it any longer. After listening to Qiao Chu, she felt so nauseous; a sweet, fishy taste surged up her throat and her abdomen felt as if they were on fire. She was barely able to suppress the poison again. Gritting her teeth, she asked, “Master, this is just a coincidence, right? The other groups’ riddles are the same, aren’t they?”

Qiao Chu narrowed her eyes and whispered, “It’s hard to tell, perhaps the riddles are different for each group. Huai Shudi, Angelica Sinesis, and Plum Blossom. Who knows what the emperor is thinking?”

The sound of a horn broke through the air, interrupting the conversations. Whether it was the candidates in the competition or the spectators watching it, all were surprised.

The blaring of horns was only used on the battlefield; how could it possibly be heard at the Prince’s royal residence? Soon after, a terrified voice pierced/ reverberated through the garden, “Someone, come quickly, Prince Rui was ambushed and is severely injured!”

Qiao Chu was shocked, Prince Rui returned?

TL: The method I had thought of is really simple. Basically, he would put various brushes in his hand (either that or be ambidextreous) and write at the same time.

Did you think of any?