Chapter 121: Volume 1, Chapter 121: I'll Just Compete With Your First Place When the Time Comes

Ye Lanjue's words made Qi Xue feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, and the blood in her whole body almost stiffened.

Even Yun Qiyue herself looked at Ye Lanjue in a slight daze.

Although, because she was too lazy today, she had let Ye Lanjue stand up for her more than once.

But in fact, every time, she hadn't expected Ye Lanjue to really respond, but Ye Lanjue cooperated every time, simply being responsive to every request.

What kind of person Ye Lanjue was, even if they hadn't been together for long, she knew very well; he was definitely not the kind who would be responsive to every request.

But, it just so happened that today he was responsive to her every request.

Why? Because she was his fiancée? Just having this thought, Yun Qiyue denied it herself.

If it were for such a reason, there wouldn't have been those rumors before.

Ye Lanjue was definitely not the kind of person who would be bound by relationships.

Then, why was it?

For a moment, Yun Qiyue couldn't figure it out, but she inexplicably had a strange feeling in her heart.

These thoughts actually only existed in Yun Qiyue's mind for a moment, but there was no expression on her face.

And at this time, Qi Xue spoke.

"How could I, Yun Sanyuan, how could I possibly play with Yun Sanyuan?" Even though she was roaring wildly in her heart, full of dissatisfaction, Qi Xue had to force a smile with a pale face, "Since Yun Sanyuan wants to be my benchmark, then it's naturally fine for me to spend this ten thousand taels of silver."

Looking at Qi Xue's expression, the crowd was full of sympathy in their eyes.

This Miss Qi was so complimentary to Yun Qiyue, yet she still had to be cheated out of ten thousand taels of silver by Yun Qiyue.

That was ten thousand taels! A number that made one's heart ache just thinking about it.

Of course, there were also some who could see Qi Xue's true purpose in being complimentary to Yun Qiyue.

But so what? Yun Qiyue wasn't a likable person to begin with.

Upon hearing this, Yun Qiyue nodded, but looked at Qi Xue with a concerned tone, "Is ten thousand taels too much? You can actually not be so reluctant—"

Although the tone was concerned, there wasn't half a trace of concern on her face, simply arrogant to the extreme.

The crowd just felt that this Yun Qiyue was too abominable.

Simply getting the benefit and still acting innocent... the key was, with her arrogant appearance, did she have anything to do with being innocent?

And Qi Xue, at this time, was suppressing the urge to vomit blood, saying, "Not much, not reluctant."

After speaking, fearing that Yun Qiyue would say something else to cheat her, she ran toward her seat in quite a panic.

Yun Qiyue looked at Qi Xue's appearance, her eyes slightly cool.

Trying to scheme against her and watch her make a fool of herself? Did they ask for her opinion?

However, in an instant, Yun Qiyue revealed a face full of smiles, and looked at Ye Lanjue with a bit of teasing, "Imperial Uncle, your peach blossoms seem to be quite afraid of you?"

Although Qi Xue had hidden it well, she couldn't see through her feelings for Ye Lanjue.

It was just that complex feeling of both love and fear, wanting to possess but not daring to get close.

Upon hearing this, Ye Lanjue glanced coldly at Yun Qiyue: "It has nothing to do with me."

Not every woman could have anything to do with him.

Upon hearing this, Yun Qiyue didn't say anything more, her gaze looking forward; at this time, the noble girls' competition officially began, and Yun Qiyue, without knowing it herself, had the corners of her lips curl into an arc.

The Hundred Flowers Banquet competition wasn't that the noble girls would perform on stage in order and then choose a few outstanding ones, but that they had to go through layers of elimination.

Those who had the qualification for elimination, besides the four elders who were good at zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, dance, and music, were only the Emperor, Empress, and Ye Lanjue, seven people in total.

But, generally, in the previous competitions, the Emperor, Empress, and Ye Lanjue didn't participate in the elimination, only the four elders participated in the judging.

Of course, in public, even if there was favoritism, it was impossible to be too obvious, especially since there were foreign envoys present this time, so this competition was relatively fair.

And the order in which the noble girls went on stage wasn't determined; no matter what talent they performed, as long as three elders raised their signs, they would directly advance; if only two elders raised their signs, then they would be on hold.

The contestants on hold could choose five to enter the next round through drawing lots; there was still a chance, but this time the opportunity was linked to luck.

However, if only one elder raised a sign, they would inevitably be eliminated.

In the first round, a total of fifty-five noble girls went on stage, and only twelve directly advanced, among which Yun Yaxiang was actually included, which surprised Yun Qiyue a bit.

And there were as many as fifteen on hold; these fifteen were a bit dejected, but fortunately, they could get an opportunity through drawing lots.

Just that, before drawing lots, everyone's gaze fell on Yun Qiyue.

Everyone looked at Yun Qiyue, and Yun Qiyue looked at everyone with a smile, neither moving nor intending to speak.

Then, finally, someone couldn't help it and asked: "Yun Sanyuan, aren't you going to participate in this competition?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Qiyue nodded, "Yes."

"Then why don't you go up and compete?" After all, everyone else had finished competing, and only Yun Qiyue was left.

Upon hearing this, Yun Qiyue didn't answer but asked instead, "Who is the capital's first talented woman?"

The crowd: "..." Who the first talented woman is, what does it have to do with her going up to compete?

Although the crowd was puzzled, someone still answered: "Naturally, it's Qi Xue."

Some people, although they considered themselves no worse than Qi Xue, because Qi Xue had shone brilliantly at a poetry gathering earlier, she had always been crowned with the title of first talented woman, which was considered publicly recognized.

Upon hearing this, Yun Qiyue nodded in realization, "Then do you think that I, as the benchmark for the first talented woman, need to go up and compete according to your routine?"

The crowd: "..."

For a moment, they didn't know how to answer.

They just felt that this Yun Qiyue was too shameless, right?

Someone said a benchmark, and she really thought she was a benchmark?

They had never seen such a thick-skinned person.

Even Qi Xue herself was quite angry at being called 'benchmark' by Yun Qiyue one after another, but she couldn't and didn't dare to flare up at this time.

And Tang Simin, one of the advanced personnel, seeing that Yun Qiyue didn't go on stage at all, couldn't help but choke, "Then what do you want? Don't tell me you're afraid to go on stage and compete?"

Hearing this, Yun Qiyue looked at Tang Simin with an expression as if looking at a fool: "Do you think I should go up?"

Tang Simin: "Since you agreed to compete, you naturally should go up."

Yun Qiyue: "No need for such trouble."

The crowd: "..." Where is the trouble?

Yun Qiyue: "You all said that Qi Xue is the capital's first talented woman; since I am Qi Xue's benchmark, then naturally I am stronger than Qi Xue. If I, who am stronger than the first talented woman, go up at this time, wouldn't I make you all feel ashamed and have nowhere to hide? So—"

Yun Qiyue scanned the crowd, curled her lips: "You all compete first; I'll just compete with your first place when the time comes."

She didn't want to perform three times like a monkey; it was both troublesome and tiring.

To prove herself, one crushing blow would suffice.