"I bet on Miss Duanmu to win!" Murong Xinlian also placed her bets on Duanmu Yiyi, and Murong Jun didn't even need to say it. He always looked down on Murong Qiqi, and even more so, Duanmu Yiyi was an outstandingly beautiful woman who was sure to please everyone.
Finally, the last one, Duanmu Hongchen, looked at his own sister and Murong Qiqi, then apologized with a smile to Murong Qiqi, placing a jade pendant in front of Duanmu Yiyi. "I'm sorry, Third Young Lady."
"It's all right." Siblings should help each other; Murong Qiqi didn't feel like she had a deep relationship with Duanmu Hongchen, worthy of him abandoning his sister to bet on her winning.
As it turned out, there were as many people betting on both sides, however, the stakes on Murong Qiqi's side were obviously more valuable, which made Duanmu Yiyi very unbalanced in her heart. Their four families had a good relationship, but the three of them seemed to have taken the wrong medicine today. They all placed their bets on Murong Qiqi, making Duanmu Yiyi furious.
"Murong Qiqi, what are you betting on yourself? This is our bet, and you have to place a bet! But looking at your poor appearance, you probably can't come up with anything valuable."
Gnashing her teeth, Duanmu Yiyi took off the egg-sized Donghai Pearl she was wearing. "If you win, this pearl is yours. If you lose-"
Duanmu Yiyi glanced at the cold lake and laughed viciously, pointing her slender jade-like fingers at the glittering lake water. "I want you to jump into the lake!"
Duanmu Yiyi was relentless, and Murong Qiqi finally got annoyed. She had been tolerant for a long time, but since this woman continued to push her, there was no need for her to hold back anymore.
"Fine!" Murong Qiqi took out a pillbox, opened it, and placed it in front of everyone. In the box lay a jade-white pill, exuding an elegant fragrance. "This is the Xuefu Pill. If I lose, it's yours. If I win, you have to jump into the lake too!"
"Xuefu Pill?" Everyone originally thought Murong Qiqi had no treasure, but they didn't expect her to have Young Master Lian's "Xuefu Pill," which immediately changed the way everyone looked at her.
The Xuefu Pill, a beauty-nourishing miracle, came from the hands of the Strange Doctor Young Master Lian. It was said that taking it would give eternal youth and keep one's face ageless. But why would Murong Qiqi have it?
"Just because you say it's a Xuefu Pill doesn't mean it is. Who knows if you're going to deceive us with something worthless..."
Before Duanmu Yiyi could finish, Bai Mufei had already picked up the box. After carefully examining it for a while, Bai Mufei announced the result. "It really is the Xuefu Pill! Third Young Lady, what a generous bet!"
Bai Mufei's "poisonous eye" was universally acknowledged as powerful. Even he confirmed it was the "Xuefu Pill." Therefore, no one else raised any objections.
How could Murong Qiqi have the Xuefu Pill? Was it because she knew the Strange Doctor Young Master Lian? At this time, Murong Xinlian's heart felt as if she had knocked over a jar of mixed flavors, strange and unexpected. She wanted to watch a show, see Duanmu Yiyi humiliate Murong Qiqi, but for some reason, Murong Xinlian was now a little worried.
Murong Qiqi brought Murong Xinlian too many surprises. Was she really the same pitiful Murong Qiqi they saw in the afternoon?
Duanmu Yiyi stared at the "Xuefu Pill" with bright eyes. If she could win against Murong Qiqi and get this treasure, she would definitely present it to her aunt Duanmu Qing. No woman didn't adore beauty, especially the master of the harem. Wasn't it because of her enchanting face that Murong Xue Lian won the Emperor's favor and became the Imperial Concubine?
When she presented the Xuefu Pill, her aunt would definitely be overjoyed and reward her. At that time, she could bring up Longze Jingtian to her aunt. The position of Princess Jing was hers, Duanmu Yiyi's! She would never lose to a waste like Murong Qiqi!
"Murong Qiqi, since you can't practice martial arts, I won't compete with you in that, so as not to make a victory unfair. Today, I'll compete with you in qin technique! And we'll sing while playing!"
Although what Duanmu Yiyi said sounded grand, who didn't know that what she was best at was qin technique? Even when it came to playing the qin, even the Capital City's number one beauty, Murong Xinlian, had to admit defeat before her. Moreover, Duanmu Yiyi had a voice like an oriole that was truly moving. This competition was obviously her bullying Murong Qiqi.
"Duanmu Yiyi, this kind of competition is too unfair." Shangguan Wuji couldn't help but defend Murong Qiqi once again. He couldn't stand Duanmu Yiyi's arrogant attitude. Murong Qiqi hadn't done anything wrong, so why did Duanmu Yiyi insist on making things difficult for her?
"Shangguan Wuji, this is a bet between her and me. It's none of your business! Murong Qiqi, if you know what's good for you, just admit defeat, jump into the lake yourself, and perhaps there might be a hero to save the beauty—" Duanmu Yiyi glanced at Murong Qiqi, her eyes full of undisguised mockery.
"Miss Duanmu, I think you must have a problem with your ears. When did I ever say that I'd lose?"
Murong Qiqi's originally soft face turned cold. Shangguan Wuji had defended her several times, and she already considered him a friend. Now that Duanmu Yiyi ridiculed Shangguan Wuji as well, Murong Qiqi couldn't help but get angry.
"Instead of sarcastically picking on me, you'd better think about how to win against me. If Miss Duanmu loses to me, a waste, today, I'm afraid your face will be lost all the way to your grandmother's house—" Murong Qiqi snorted lightly, her eyes full of elegance and charm, completely overshadowing Duanmu Yiyi's own brilliance.
"You!" Duanmu Yiyi was choked by Murong Qiqi's retort and couldn't speak. "Murong Qiqi, don't be stubborn! Someone, bring my Guqin!"
Duanmu Yiyi's instrument was a famous Guqin called "Bi Lang Qin." It seemed that the young lady was well prepared. However, Murong Qiqi didn't care and just asked someone to find a Liuqin for her, testing the sound.
Seeing the Liuqin in Murong Qiqi's arms, Duanmu Yiyi sneered. Liuqin was mostly used by folk artists, and noble young ladies usually learned the elegant Guzheng and Guqin. Where would anyone play that kind of thing? Just because of this, Duanmu Yiyi felt like she had already won.
However, even so, Duanmu Yiyi was still very cautious. She knew she couldn't lose today. In order to know oneself and one's opponent, she retreated to one side to let Murong Qiqi perform first.
"Are you sure?" Murong Qiqi was disdainful of Duanmu Yiyi's little scheme. Holding the Liuqin, she sat down on a giant rock beside the pavilion. Her jade-like fingers plucked the strings, and the tune "Laughing at the Mortal World" poured out from her fingertips.
"How laughable the mortal world can be, infatuation is the most boring, emptiness is all right, this life is endless but my heart is already untroubled, only wishing to exchange for half a life of leisure, smiling at people when awake, forgetting everything in dreams, lamenting the sky darkens too early, the next life is hard to predict, love and hatred are erased in one stroke, singing with wine, I only wish to be happy until I grow old—"