"Can you solve it?"
Li Fu couldn't help but laugh at Qin Ying's confidence, mocking him, "Ninth Prince, do you know that this Eight-Sided Locket was a gift from a hermit master? It has countless combinations and transformations."
Wu Qingqiu also stepped forward, frowning as she said, "The method to unlock this Eight-Sided Locket is incredibly complex; even the famous Qingyi from the Great Wei could only solve two sides!"
"Qingyi? You mean Li Dengkai?" Qin Ying scoffed at their serious expressions. He casually grabbed the Eight-Sided Locket from Wu Qingqiu's hand and began to play with it, a smile growing on his face.
This object had eight sides, each a different color, all jumbled up. To solve it, the colors on each side had to be aligned correctly.
Qin Ying grinned; this was just a Rubik's Cube!
He came from the strongest special forces in Blue Star, and solving a Rubik's Cube was child's play for him. In the military, even a twelve-sided cube was just a warm-up exercise for cognitive flexibility training.
Upon hearing this, Li Fu became sarcastic again, "The Ninth Prince is truly arrogant and blind; do you know who that Qingyi is? He stands out among scholars worldwide. To ridicule him is far too premature for you!"
"If you can really restore the Eight-Sided Locket, I'll marry you!" Wu Qingqiu said without hesitation.
"Even if you think I'm a wastrel, a good-for-nothing, a scoundrel?"
"Even if you were the most disgusting person in the world, I would still marry you!"
"That's what you said, so don't go back on your word!"
"Are you done? Just give me a straightforward answer! If you can't solve it, let me go!"
"Alright!" Qin Ying replied, eager for this challenge.
"This child's play can be solved in less than an incense stick's time; three seconds is more than enough."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Eight-Sided Locket in Qin Ying's hand blurred as he manipulated it so quickly that the movements were barely visible.
"Done!"
He stopped, revealing the now perfectly aligned colors of the previously jumbled Eight-Sided Locket in his palm.
The courtyard fell silent, the sound of the wind rustling through fallen leaves felt deafening.
Li Fu stared, wide-eyed, his mouth agape, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed. "The eight sides... they're restored?"
Wu Qingqiu looked bewildered, her beautiful eyes trembling in disbelief. Before she could process it, Qin Ying had already finished, the eight sides entirely restored.
"Can you... do it again?"
Wu Qingqiu swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly.
"Sure," Qin Ying replied, quickly scrambling the colors of the Eight-Sided Locket again. "This time I'll slow down so you can see."
As he began to turn the pieces slowly, both Li Fu and Wu Qingqiu watched in awe. The locket, once a chaotic jumble, gradually began to realign under Qin Ying's careful manipulation. The onlooking maidens were equally astonished, their faces reflecting shock and disbelief.
Ten seconds later, the Eight-Sided Locket was perfectly restored once again.
Everyone's expressions shared a striking similarity—utter disbelief!
The legend of the Eight-Sided Locket was known far and wide. Countless scholars had tried to solve it, and without exception, all had failed. Even Li Fu's much-lauded Qingyi of the Great Wei took a whole day and night just to align two sides.
Yet, Qin Ying had done it in three seconds!
Looking at the stunned crowd, Qin Ying chuckled coldly, "Such child's play has stumped all the scholars in the world. It's clear they're just after fame and recognition. If given the chance, I'll make sure to shake up the literary circles of the world."
This wasn't mere bragging; to him, solving the locket was trivial. In the twenty-first century, it would be considered a simple toy that many could master.
"Is this Eight-Sided Locket, said to baffle all the scholars, really this easy to solve? How is that possible!" Li Fu's face turned pale.
Wu Qingqiu trembled in disbelief, gazing at Qin Ying.
Just then, Liu Yunxian, who had rushed over, happened to witness the entire scene. Her beautiful face became dazed as she looked at Qin Ying's back, unexpectedly captivated by him. For the first time, she realized that the Ninth Prince, often mocked by others, possessed a compelling charm.
In the astonished gazes of everyone, Qin Ying smiled slightly, feeling a sense of satisfaction that he had never experienced before. His training since childhood allowed him to tackle these ancient intellectual challenges with ease. The look of shock on Wu Qingqiu's face ignited a newfound pride within him.
"Your Highness, can you really solve the Eight-Faceted Lock?" Wu Qingqiu's voice trembled slightly, disbelief evident in her tone.
"Of course, it's just a simple game," Qin Ying replied confidently, placing the lock gently back into her hand, his gaze unwavering.
"But… but this legendary lock was given by a master from the outside world; how could it possibly be so simple?" She was half-convinced, still grappling with her astonishment.
"Perhaps that master had never encountered a true expert," Qin Ying said casually, a hint of arrogance flickering in his expression.
Li Fu, standing aside, felt a whirlwind of confusion. He had always believed he could surpass this so-called "waste" of a prince in literary talent, yet now he felt utterly inferior. Deep down, he wondered, "How on earth did he do that?"
"Your Highness, how about letting me give it a try?" Li Fu finally couldn't hold back, trying to salvage some dignity. He steeled himself, determined to prove his capabilities.
"You? Better not," Qin Ying raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips, dismissing him without a second thought.
Wu Qingqiu glared at Li Fu, but her admiration for Qin Ying grew. Although his earlier behavior had annoyed her, his performance today forced her to reconsider this "waste" of a prince.
"Qin Ying, can you truly solve this lock?" Wu Qingqiu's tone held a hint of anticipation. She silently vowed to keep her earlier promise if he succeeded again.
"I bet that no one will ever question my abilities again," Qin Ying's voice was deep and resolute, his eyes glimmering with determination. He understood that this was not just about proving himself; it was also about winning Wu Qingqiu's heart.
In this tense atmosphere, the surrounding maidens and Li Fu held their breath, waiting for an answer that felt imminent.
"Then, let's begin," Wu Qingqiu finally broke the silence.
Qin Ying looked at her, resolute, as he began to turn the Eight-Faceted Lock. Each twist seemed to pull at the heartstrings of the onlookers, time appearing to freeze in that moment.