Chapter 185 Yin's Birthday Banquet (Part 1)

With the help of some modern magic tricks, Zhang Xiao successfully captured Mingyu's heart after recovering from her illness and returning to work, becoming her most valued head maid, whom she took everywhere.

Of course, Mingyu would definitely share such a wonderful surprise with her best friend, so she took Zhang Xiao to find Ruoxi to play.

"Ruoxi, Ruoxi, look! Bixiao is amazing!"

"What's so great about it?"

Ruoxi, who was pulled out by Mingyu in a daze, saw the woman standing in front of her and for some reason, a moment of fear flashed through her heart.

"Princess, Miss Ruoxi."

Environment teaches people how to be human. In less than half a month since Zhang Xiao transmigrated to the Qing Dynasty, he has already learned to suppress his true emotions.

Although the moment we met, memories flooded back like a surging tide, almost overwhelming us in an instant.

The terrifying image that flashed through my mind—the little girl losing her balance and falling down the stairs—now perfectly matched with Ruoxi's vibrant face before me.

Zhang Xiao suddenly realized that it was Ruoxi who almost fell, but from what perspective did she see this scene? She came into this world inexplicably, as if she came here to take over this body. Did Ruoxi's fall have anything to do with her arrival?

A chill ran down Zhang Xiao's spine, and a sense of dread gripped her heart. Guilt tightened around her like vines. When she looked at Ruoxi, her eyes unconsciously softened with pity and kindness.

Faced with Mingyu's request to perform, Zhang Xiao agreed without hesitation.

"Princess, please look."

Zhang Xiao pulled a thin rope from his sleeve, quickly tied several intricate knots, his fingers moving nimbly as he muttered incantations. In the blink of an eye, the ordinary rope magically transformed into a "flower," trembling precariously suspended from his fingertips.

"Wow--"

Ruoxi couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. There were no such exquisite magic tricks in the Northwest, and she had never seen them in the capital, so she was naturally pleasantly surprised.

"See? I told you it was amazing—" Mingyu smiled smugly from the side.

"Amazing, Sister Bixiao is really amazing."

Ruoxi looked up at Zhang Xiao with sparkling eyes. Now, when she looked at her again, the inexplicable fear was gone, and she only felt that the other person was very kind.

"There's something even more amazing, Bixiao, hurry up and give Ruoxi another one."

"yes."

Zhang Xiao nodded in agreement and took out the prepared props to perform.

Watching Zhang Xiao's endless magic tricks, even though they had seen them before, felt even better with her girlfriends. Mingyu couldn't help but clap and laugh, while Ruoxi's eyes lit up with curiosity.

Suddenly, Ruoxi seemed to have thought of something. She clapped her hands lightly, turned to look at Mingyu, and said with bright eyes, "Mingyu, weren't you worried about what birthday gift to prepare for the Tenth Prince a few days ago? I think Bixiao's magic tricks are really interesting. Why don't you have her perform magic tricks for the Tenth Prince? Wouldn't that be a unique and wonderful gift?"

Upon hearing this, Mingyu's eyes widened instantly, like lanterns that had been lit, and her smile grew even brighter: "Oh my, how come I didn't think of that! This idea is absolutely brilliant!"

She grabbed Zhang Xiao's arm and said excitedly, "Bi Xiao, you'd better prepare carefully and pick out all your best magic tricks. When the Tenth Prince's birthday banquet comes, amaze everyone, and I'll definitely reward you handsomely."

Zhang Xiao hurriedly bowed and replied, "Princess, rest assured, this servant will do her best to master this magic trick, and I guarantee that it will impress the Tenth Prince and all the guests."

Mingyu happily let go of Ruoxi's hand and then pulled her aside to discuss other matters at the banquet. Zhang Xiao, who was listening from the side, felt her heart pounding and her thoughts drifting away.

As a servant, she had gathered some information, but she also noticed something unusual.

For example, at this time, the Eighth Prince seemed to have a good relationship with the Crown Prince, and the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Princes did not seem to form an "Eighth Prince Party," but instead all had a good relationship with the Crown Prince.

Zhang Xiao didn't know if it was because he hadn't studied history well enough, or if the princes were indeed on good terms with the crown prince at this time, or if there had been some other changes.

Knowing the course of history is the foundation that allows her to navigate this era, and such changes clearly make her uneasy.

The Tenth Prince's birthday banquet was clearly her only chance to get in touch with the upper-ranking princes.

Mingyu said that all the princes would be coming. So, is it because she doesn't know enough about history, or has history changed? We'll just have to wait and see the birthday banquet.

...

As dusk settled, the warm yellow light illuminated the residence of the Eighth Prince, Yinzhi, making it dazzling. Today was the birthday of the Tenth Prince, Yinzhi, and all the princes, along with their families and servants, came to the banquet, making the residence exceptionally lively.

Yinxiang and Yinti stepped into the mansion together. After looking around, Yinti approached Yinsi and asked curiously, "Eighth Brother, today is Tenth Brother's birthday. Why are you holding a banquet at your mansion?"

Before Yinzhi could speak, Yinzhi chuckled and teased, waving his fan, "Thirteenth and Fourteenth, you two missed quite a few good shows while you were out."

Yinxiang and the other man looked up at the same time, curiously looking at Yinzhi.

Yinzhi laughed and said, "My tenth brother, he was playing the victim in front of my second brother a few days ago, hoping that my second brother would throw him a birthday banquet—"

Yinzhen walked over and echoed his younger brother's words, pouting as he said, "Second brother is soft-hearted and almost agreed. How could we be happy about that? If we let the tenth prince have his way, he'll take advantage of us and start thinking about all sorts of good things. Second brother just organized a birthday banquet for the fourth prince, didn't he?"

Speaking of this, Yinzhen couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Although he knew it was something that happened when the fourth prince was a child, and the circumstances were special, the treatment he received still made him jealous. No wonder he couldn't stand the fourth prince's cold face.

"What happened next?" Yinxiang asked curiously.

Yinzhi smiled gently: "Indeed, we elder brothers have not shown enough care for our tenth brother on a regular basis. However, there is no need to trouble our second brother with the birthday banquet. We can handle it ourselves."

Yinzhi made the words "draw lots" with his mouth, and Yinxiang and Yinti suddenly realized what was going on.

Yinxiang looked at Yinsi: "So, Eighth Brother won the lottery?"

Yinzhi smiled helplessly.

Yinzhen grinned, showing his teeth: "Would Tenth Brother agree?"

Yinzhen raised an eyebrow: "With the eldest brother present, the tenth prince has no choice but to agree."

Yinxiang and Yinti looked on knowingly. Indeed, faced with their elder brother's forceful suppression, the tenth brother couldn't cause any trouble.

"Come on, let's go inside and sit down," Yinzhi gestured to the group, while also showing his relationship with Yinreng. "Second brother has some political affairs to attend to, so he will be a little late."

"It's already a great honor for the Tenth Prince that Second Brother came," Yinzhen couldn't help but complain. The Tenth Prince had been using all his wits to outdo his brothers and curry favor with Second Brother; he hadn't even thought of this idea before.

When it's his birthday, he'll also ask his second brother to handle it. His brain works better than the tenth brother's, so he'll definitely not be discovered by others beforehand!

Coincidentally, all the princes present now share the same thought: next time, next time, their birthday banquet must be hosted by their second brother!

The tenth brother can't, but they can! They're smart!