However, just because Duanmu Yiyi didn't compete with Shangguan Wuji, didn't mean she'd let Murong Qiqi off the hook. She saw Qiqi as an easy target. "Murong Qiqi, if you dare, compete with me in your talents. If you lose, admit that you are a useless individual!"
"A splendid idea!" Li Yunqing was the first to agree, "I wholeheartedly support Miss Duanmu's proposition! But why don't we spice it up with a wager—"
Li Yunqing's words escalated the atmosphere to its peak.
Although Duanmu Yiyi was spoiled, she was recognized as a talented woman in the Capital City, and her capabilities were genuine. Now that Duanmu Yiyi was challenging the so-called useless Murong Qiqi to a competition of talents, the result looked obvious!
"Cousin, I bet on your victory!" Li Yunqing, never at a loss for surprising statements, once again startled everyone by removing a token from his belt and tossing it on the table. "This is the token of my Li family, let it be the prize for the winner."
"Yunqing, you aren't joking, are you!" Bai Mufei picked up the token and examined it for a while, "Could this be the legendary Dragon and Tiger Order? It is said that whoever holds this token can command the head of the Li Family to do anything..."
"Yes, the Dragon and Tiger Order."
Murong Qiqi didn't know what the Dragon and Tiger Order was, but everyone from the other three families and the rest of the Murong Family knew its importance in the Li Family. Were Li Yunqing casually staking it on Murong Qiqi, what was he really aiming for?
"Cousin, I am truly betting everything on you. If you lose, I'll have to kneel in the ancestral hall."
Li Yunqing continued with his calm demeanor. His jade-green robe made him look all the more upright.
He slowly walked to Murong Qiqi and looked down at her. Why hadn't he noticed all these years that this cousin of his had a pair of astonishing eyes? He wondered how dazzling they would be if they truly shone in the moonlight.
"I would love to see you kneeling in the ancestral hall, cousin." Murong Qiqi already understood his character: he enjoyed the drama but wasn't afraid of courting trouble. Now, she was the one pushed into the spotlight while he stood by, enjoying the spectacle. He must be doing it on purpose!
"Ha, ha, ha..."
Hearing Murong Qiqi's words, Li Yunqing burst into hearty laughter with his hair floating gently like a painting.
"You naughty child!"
This time, instead of the coldness she was used to seeing in Li Yunqing's laughing eyes, Murong Qiqi saw a touch of tenderness. Had she seen wrongly?
Before Murong Qiqi could find an answer, Li Yunqing stepped back, leaning casually against the wall. He seemed absolutely sure that Murong Qiqi would win against Duanmu Yiyi.
"I've always trusted Yunqing's judgment—" Bai Mufei took off an ink jade thumb ring and placed it down, "Third Young Lady, if you lose, I will be in the same situation as Brother Li when I return home. Please put in your best effort!"
The thumb ring projected by Bai Mufei stunned everyone. It was known to all that the Bai Family – among the four great families – was the wealthiest in Capital City. All of their businesses were managed by this young master, and this ink jade thumb ring was his emblem.
"Since my brother thinks Third Young Lady will win, I shall place a bet too." Bai Yiyue unfastened a jeweled hairpin from her hair. "This is the Lotus Steps hairpin designed by Young Master Guanghua. Go, Third Young Lady!"
Duanmu Yiyi had never imagined that the Li and Bai families would favor Murong Qiqi. This was totally outrageous!
All the items placed as bets by the three were extremely precious. Just considering the "Lotus Steps" hairpin by Bai Yiyue – this was a work by Guanghua of Tongbaozhai, and sought after by many richly-dressed ladies.
Guanghua only produced a few pieces of jewelry each year, and every one was a gem quickly sold out as soon as it hit the market. Even the empress in the palace boasted of owning a piece of Guanghua's jewelry.
The "Lotus Steps" hairpin was a piece Duanmu Yiyi had coveted for a long time. For a girl, owning a piece of jewelry designed by Guanghua was an ultimate blessing.
"Humph! You are all so confident in her, don't regret it later!"
Duanmu Yiyi clenched her teeth. She couldn't believe that Murong Qiqi was more favored by the Li and Bai families. Because Bai Mufei was close to Li Yunqing, she must have sided with Murong Qiqi just to please him. That must be it!
Duanmu Yiyi's words made Shangguan Wuji frown again. Silently, he placed a black dagger down on the table. "I bet on the Third Young Lady's victory!"
Compared to the previous three bets, Shangguan Wuji's dagger didn't seem that significant. Yet, in Murong Qiqi's heart, she genuinely believed that anything Shangguan Wuji carried would be a treasure. She quickly grabbed the dagger and drew it out.
"Zing—" A bright light flashed, blinding everyone.
"What a nice dagger!" Murong Qiqi whispered softly. Despite appearing nothing extraordinary and looking like any ordinary dagger when thrown on the ground, Murong Qiqi, with her familiarity with various weapons, recognized this to be a legendary treasure capable of cutting iron as though it were mud.
Seeing Murong Qiqi pleased, Shangguan Wuji felt as though he had encountered a kindred spirit. Despite being a weak girl who couldn't even truss a chicken, the focused expression on her face when she took the dagger somehow evoked an unusual sensation in Shangguan Wuji's heart.
"I'm glad the Third Young Lady likes it!"
"Sir Shangguan, if I win, is this dagger really mine?" Murong Qiqi was fond of daggers because they were easy to carry, and moreover, the dagger was a rare treasure. She was so fond of it that she didn't want to let go of it.
"Certainly!"
"Great! For this promise, I will give it my all today!" Murong Qiqi was engrossed with the dagger. Although the odds placed by Li Yunqing and the Bai siblings were quite enticing to others, in her eyes, this dagger was the gift she desired most.
"Third Sister, even bragging requires some capital!"
Murong Qinglian, who also was interested in martial arts, had her eye on the dagger. She felt it to be quite a waste in Murong Qiqi's hands and without hesitation, placed her wager on Duanmu Yiyi's victory. If Duanmu Yiyi won, she could then ask her for the dagger!