Wei Xiao Hua bought another one and took out the riddle inside. Beside her, Wei Zilin was trying hard to peer into the riddle. But when she read the content, she was at a loss once more.
"They look like twin brothers, both are sturdy and tall. They work together and never leave the other. But they can only go near solid food and not soup. Who are they?"
Solid food, not soup? What kind of human were that retard?
While Wei Zilin was utterly confused, Wei Xiao Hua was rereading the lines a few times. After a moment, her lips curled up to form a smile. "It's chopsticks, right?"
The woman beamed. "You're correct. Miss is really intelligent!"
"It's nothing." Wei Xiao Hua laughed it off. Some passerby was looking at Wei Xiao Hua with admiration. It was rare to see a young woman who was so intelligent like this.
Wei Xiao Hua was about to buy another one when she saw a figure not far from them. Her smile grew wider. "I'll be going first to check on other stalls."
"Ah, I'll follow you." Wei Zilin was still thinking hard about the riddles, but she snapped back to reality when she heard what Wei Xiao Hua said. Her mother asked her to follow Wei Xiao Hua wherever she went, so she would stick to her First Sister like a glue.
"There's no need. I'm going first."
"But…"
With that, Wei Xiao Hua shook Wei Zilin off. Her movements were simply too fast and the guards quickly caught up to her. Wei Zilin's expression turned ashen. "Ugh, she's running away. Let's chase her!"
"I'm not interested," Wei Liuying replied softly as she watched them heading off. She could guess that Wei Xiao Hua must have seen Ji Shu blending with the crowd. After all, the princes sometimes mixed in the crowd when it was Lantern Festival.
Xiao Qing looked at the guards with a frown. "Miss, they all left."
"It's fine."
"But…" it's dangerous.
Wei Liuying merely smiled. She could guess that it must be her mother's arrangement to not have any guard watching over her. That way, she would stick with Wei Xiao Hua or the others. Unfortunately, Wei Liuying didn't have any interest whatsoever to go along with those two.
"Let's go and find some food."
"Ah? Yes, Miss."
The food in the Lantern Festival were small glutinous rice balls filled with fruits and nuts, called yuanxiao or tangyuan. It was usually eaten with family to signify the wholeness and unity within them.
"Miss, what do you want to eat?" Xiao Qing asked. They were given a dozen bronze coins to celebrate the Lantern Festival outside their monthly allowance.
"I'll have one bowl of small glutinous rice balls," Wei Liuying replied.
"Just one?"
"Yes."
Xiao Qing pouted as she felt that it was too little. However, Wei Liuying didn't seem to be interested for more, so she had no other choice but to purchase a bowl of the small glutinous rice balls.
Wei Liuying stood a bit on the side because the chairs were full as she slowly ate. Because she was wearing a veil, she could only eat by inserting the food from the bottom of the veil to her mouth. It was hard, but she was not a voracious eater, so it was fine.
"I didn't expect to see a fine lady eating while standing."
Turning her head, Wei Liuying saw Yang Xian stood with an amused expression. He was wearing ordinary brown servant clothes, which was exceedingly similar with the previous one he wore. If not for Wei Liuying knowing his real identity, she might suspect him wearing the same clothes as before.
"Am I not allowed to eat?" Wei Liuying asked.
Yang Xian shrugged. "I never said that. Of course, you're free to eat. In fact, I want to join you."
Wei Liuying furrowed her brows, but she had no reason to kick him away. This was not her place but a public place. She couldn't do anything but watch as Yang Xian ordered a bowl of small glutinous rice balls and ate while standing up.
"You're complaining when you see me eat while standing, but you don't take any chair?" Wei Liuying asked.
"How can I sit down when a fine lady is standing?" Yang Xian retorted back.
"There's no such rules."
"It's the rules of a gentleman."
Are you sure you're a gentleman? It was the question that Wei Liuying wanted to ask, but she forced herself not to be rude. She disliked this annoying strategist, but she didn't want to be impolite to him.