Having said that, she retreated back into the crowd, no longer speaking.
Lin Shi'an and Jiang Liuyun both followed.
"Zhiqing, do you know that there are two stages to winning the championship? Only by winning the first stage can you proceed to the second?" Jiang Liuyun was a little anxious.
Lin Zhiqing nodded: "Of course I know."
And she knew more than just that.
According to Aunt Mu, the first stage of the Spring Banquet had ten challenges, and one could choose one of them.
The challenges included conventional competitions in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as more unique activities like martial arts, cuju (ancient football), and touhu (pitch-pot).
Only those who won first place in one of these ten events could enter the second stage. The challenges in the second stage varied each year and would only be revealed at the very end.
It must be said, the Grand Banquet was quite ingenious. Lin Zhiqing felt as if she was back in her previous life's team-building events.
She had no hope for her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, so she could only focus on the later challenges.
However, these challenges were chosen by drawing lots, so it was hard to say what she would get. But Lin Zhiqing had already planned a strategy.
"Lin Zhiqing, the young ladies here today are all among the best in Shengjing. How can you compare with them?" Lin Shi'an's tone was somewhat heavy:
"It's bad enough that you're participating, but you even made such an agreement with the old lady. If you lose, where will the Lin family's dignity be placed?"
When he mentioned the Lin family, his emotions always fluctuated.
"Cousin, your words are quite unreasonable. Does it mean that if I quietly stay in a corner, they won't trouble us?" Lin Zhiqing retorted.
This question immediately silenced Lin Shi'an.
Seeing him speechless, Lin Zhiqing then spoke: "Cousin, you just need to guard your own stage."
In this first stage, the two partners competed separately. They only needed one person to get first place to enter the second round.
Mentioning this, Lin Shi'an sighed slightly in relief: "Since things have come to this, I will definitely get first place."
In his understanding, entering the second round was already not losing face.
Lin Zhiqing did not speak.
Jiang Liuyun sighed: "Qing'er, don't worry. I will definitely help you."
By this time, everyone had no mind for idle chatter.
The old lady, seeing the oppressive atmosphere, simply had a wooden cylinder for drawing lots brought over.
Princess Pingning, who was nearby, rolled her eyes: "Old lady, may I see what challenges there are this year?"
The old lady understood her meaning with just a glance. However, she especially disliked Lin Zhiqing, so she decided to turn a blind eye.
Princess Pingning casually drew a few wooden slips and looked at them, then gave a look to her maid.
Afterwards, she picked one from them and pressed down hard.
The maid saw all of this and immediately left Princess Pingning's side.
A moment later, the old lady tacitly announced the start of the drawing.
Over thirty people stepped forward one by one, drawing wooden slips from the cylinder. Their expressions were completely swayed by the slips.
Drawing a desirable slip was naturally the best. If they drew an unsuitable one, they could only sigh inwardly at their bad luck.
When it was Lin Zhiqing and Lin Shi'an's turn, Princess Pingning deliberately pushed the cylinder forward: "Miss Lin, you haven't participated in the Spring Banquet in previous years. You should draw this lot carefully."
Her face wore a gentle smile, but her body leaned slightly backward. This was a clear defensive posture.
As Lin Zhiqing reached into the cylinder, she didn't forget to pay attention to Princess Pingning.
Princess Pingning stared intently at her hand. When she saw Lin Zhiqing pick up one of the wooden slips, her brows relaxed.
Lin Zhiqing raised an eyebrow, handed the slip to the maid, and the next moment heard the maid's voice: "Miss Lin has drawn—the Wolf-Sheep Game."
Upon hearing the words "Wolf-Sheep Game," Lin Shi'an subconsciously frowned.
Jiang Liuyun, who was following behind them, also clenched his fists: "How could she draw this?"
Lin Zhiqing frowned. Aunt Mu hadn't told her about this "Wolf-Sheep Game."
Looking at the expressions of those around them, some older individuals showed surprise, while younger ones were filled with confusion.
She quickly guessed that this "Wolf-Sheep Game" was probably a game that had been played before but had not appeared for a long time.
The next moment, Princess Pingning's words confirmed her thoughts: "Tsk, Miss Lin's luck is truly bad. How could she draw this one? This Wolf-Sheep Game is too difficult."
The old lady beside her sneered and closed her eyes: "Too difficult? In previous years, it wasn't as if no one had played it. Why is it different when it comes to you, Lin Zhiqing?"
Seeing the atmosphere becoming tense again, Jiang Liuyun stepped forward, blocking Lin Zhiqing:
"This Wolf-Sheep Game is a game of wits, divided into three rounds. The wolf must kill one sheep every night, while the sheep must find the wolf hidden among the flock."
"The wolf gets one point if it's not recognized, and the sheep also gets one point if it finds the wolf."
"This game is a bit difficult for the young ladies, old lady. How about leaving it to us men to compete?" Jiang Liuyun took the wooden slip from Lin Zhiqing.
The old lady frowned, her wrinkled face drawn long.
She disliked Lin Zhiqing, and even more disliked Jiang Liuyun's protective demeanor towards Lin Zhiqing before they were even married. She was about to scold the two.
But Lin Zhiqing spoke before her: "No need to change. This game is quite interesting."
Saying this, she took the wooden slip back from Jiang Liuyun's hand, then followed the maid's guidance towards the game area.
She left no chance for others to react.
A scornful smile appeared on Princess Pingning's face: "Miss Lin hasn't been out much in recent years. She's really overconfident."
Jiang Liuyun didn't respond. He casually drew a slip and walked out anxiously.
Lu Huai lagged a step behind. He looked at the slip cylinder, then glanced at Princess Pingning, and only then walked out.
Princess Pingning felt a shiver run down her spine from his gaze. After everyone had drawn their slips, she casually drew one herself.
She was very confident in herself; music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were all effortless for her.
This time, she drew "Music." Seeing this slip, her smile became a bit more genuine.
Princess Pingning had studied music since childhood, mentored by the Master of Konghou from the Imperial Music Department. This time, she was aiming to win first place, and even more, to trample Lin Zhiqing underfoot.
At the same time, Lin Zhiqing, who had been led to a pavilion, sneezed.
Inside the pavilion, a maid was introducing the rules of the Wolf-Sheep Game.
Everyone else who had been assigned here looked distressed, but they sat upright, not daring to miss any information from the maid.
He was afraid of being eliminated in the first round and bringing shame to the Lin family.
In contrast, Lin Zhiqing was much more relaxed. She occasionally admired the scenery, only pondering the strategies of the Wolf-Sheep Game in her mind.
Jiang Liuyun had drawn the martial arts competition. Passing by Lin Zhiqing's pavilion, he greeted her with a touch of worry.
Lu Huai waited outside the pavilion.
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