With the Peony Festival approaching, a few days ago, the "Win the World" gambling den opened a poetry contest betting game for the festival.

Guess who will be the champion.

There were four who were the most prominent, with Gu Chengyan, the heir of the Marquis of Pingyang, being the most prominent.

The second popular figure is Ling Xun, a student who recently entered Yulong Academy.

There were also several other students and scions of prominent Confucian families.

However, Gu Chengyan is still the most popular.

The Crown Prince invited him to be the opening and closing act for the Peony Festival.

While instructing his servants to shout out bets, the gambling den owner reminded everyone, "Young Master Gu's poetry is indeed unparalleled, but the outcome is uncertain. You might just make a fortune by betting on an unexpected outcome."

They ignored him and unanimously arrested Prince Gu.

When Xie Xiangxiang heard from her maid Xiangxing that a gambling den had opened outside, she immediately withdrew all her savings and bet on Gu Chengyan to win.

He also urged Madam Xu: "Mother, listen to me, you'll definitely make a profit. Prince Gu has already prepared five exceptional poems."

"How do you know he wrote five good poems?" Xu asked suspiciously. "Xiangxiang, you haven't been betrothed or married yet, so you shouldn't associate with him in private."

"I know, I know, how come you're just like Xie Zhaozhao? Listen to me, place your bets quickly. Don't worry, Mother, it's a sure thing!"

Xu took one hundred taels of silver to place a bet. Xie Xiangxiang said discontentedly, "One hundred taels isn't even enough to fill a tooth gap. It's a sure win without any surprises. Don't you want to make a profit?"

Unable to bear her nagging any longer, Madam Xu made a tough decision: two thousand taels, no more than that.

Xie Tingting listened to her sister and bet all her New Year's money and monthly allowance on gambling.

Xie Xiangxiang still felt it wasn't enough, so she asked the maids, servants, relatives, and friends in the courtyard to chip in money to place bets.

They managed to scrape together over 3,600 taels of silver, but the bulk of the money came from the Xu family mother and daughter.

When Xie Zhaozhao heard that Madam Xu and Xie Xiangxiang had led the entire courtyard to bet on Gu Chengyan's victory, and that several old women had even staked their coffin money, she couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Yuanyuan, go and get ten thousand taels of silver and bet on Ling Xun to win."

"Isn't ten thousand taels too much?" Yuanyuan didn't know why her mistress thought so highly of Ling Xun.

Xie Zhaozhao only said two words: "Go and take custody."

The young lady's words were like an imperial edict. Yuanyuan took 10,000 taels and bet on Ling Xun to win.

Her young lady has been managing the thriving shop left by her mother, so she's certainly not short of money.

When the gambling den owner saw Yuanyuan betting on Ling Xun and immediately placing a bet of ten thousand, he shouted loudly, "Miss Xie has won the bet on the talented scholar from Jiangnan, Ling Xun. Do you want to follow suit?"

But nobody followed.

What's the use of getting first place in both the provincial and metropolitan examinations during the Lingxun period? Even if you're the top scholar, you can't write poetry as well as Prince Gu.

Yuanyuan placed her bet at the gambling den and then went to the South City. Not far from Tianhou Alley, she found a little beggar sunbathing on the street.

The child's eyes darted around, and when he saw her coming, he immediately got up, avoided Tin Hau Alley for a distance, and caught up with Yuan Yuan.

"Sister," Xiaoxin said urgently, "that woman bought a lot of rouge and face powder and told her servant that she could make up anyone. She wanted to dress up as a man to attend the Peony Festival in the palace."

"Did you really hear me? Going to the palace is no joke, you must have misheard me, right?"

“You heard me right, my hearing is excellent.” Xiao Xin said shrewdly, “I’ve been hanging around this street for years, the two grocery stores in front are hers, I can hear her talking to people.”

Yuanyuan gave Xiaoxin several dozen copper coins, bought ten steamed buns on the street and gave them to him, told him to be careful, and then left.

She was riding in an ordinary carriage, an ordinary carriage without any markings.

He went back and reported the news to Xie Zhaozhao, who smiled and said, "It's good to enter the palace!"

Yuanyuan bet 10,000 taels of silver on Ling Xun to win, and Xiangxing immediately reported to Xie Xiangxiang: "Miss bet 10,000 taels on someone else to win."

Xie Xiangxiang's eyes turned red with anger. Was Xie Zhaozhao looking down on Prince Gu?

Unable to swallow her anger, she took Xiangxing to Madam Xu's courtyard.

"Mother, my elder sister's marriage to Prince Gu has fallen through. It's not our fault, so why does she hold such a grudge against us?"

When Madam Xu heard that Xie Zhaozhao had given away 10,000 taels of silver in one go, while she had only managed to give away 2,000 taels of silver in her entire life of frugality, she was shocked.

She was even angrier than Xie Xiangxiang.

Then he went to see Madam Xie to offer some criticism.

“Mother, it’s not a big deal that the eldest young lady is siding with outsiders, but I’m worried that after she marries into the Marquis’s mansion, she’ll whisper sweet nothings in Grand Secretary Gu’s ear and deliberately make trouble for the young master. Also, the man she’s betting on lives in our mansion. If word gets out, people will inevitably start to speculate.”

The old lady frowned and first scolded Madam Xu: "What's the big deal? It's her own money, she can bet on whomever she wants, why are you bringing up her innocence? Miss has been well-mannered since childhood, she must have her reasons for doing this."

It's always the same; no matter what happens, the old lady always unconditionally protects the eldest daughter.

Mrs. Xu was furious, but dared not argue back, so she could only return home in a huff.

The old lady asked her head maid, Ying'er, to invite Xie Zhaozhao over.

Xie Zhaozhao arrived at Wutong Garden and said with a smile, "Grandmother, is there something you need from your granddaughter?"

The old lady looked at her clear eyes and said with a smile, "I heard you participated in the poetry competition betting?"

"Yes, I bet on Young Master Ling, who is staying at the manor. He is truly exceptionally talented. I predict that he might even become the top scholar in this imperial examination."

The old lady said in surprise, "I was wondering why you brought a strange man back to the mansion. So you really are a talented man?"

"Yes, although he comes from a poor family, he is humble and eager to learn. His elder brother and father have both tried his knowledge and admire him very much. I think he will definitely be a help to his father and elder brother in the future."

Upon hearing this, the grandmother immediately had no more objections and praised, "You did a great job. It would have been better if someone else had told him about betting 10,000 taels on Young Master Ling to win."

"My granddaughter thought the same way, so she only let Yuanyuan place the bet and didn't mention it to him. But sooner or later, he would hear about it."

She also told the old lady that if she bet correctly, she could win a lot of money. She planned to use the winnings to settle the refugees in the south and north of the city on the estate, thus relieving the court's worries.

The old lady was overjoyed.

This granddaughter has a long-term vision and is considerate in all aspects, making her very popular.

The old lady asked Ying'er to get a 10,000-tael silver note for Xie Zhaozhao, saying, "You always consider the family, your father and brothers. Your grandmother can't let you lose money. This 10,000 taels is a reward for your filial piety."

Xie Zhaozhao expressed her gratitude profusely but refused the reward, saying that the old man was getting on in years and should keep some money for himself.

Feeling guilty, the old lady took it upon herself to give her a manor in the western suburbs to house the displaced people.

Xie Zhaozhao accepted this time.

When Madam Xu heard that the old lady had not only not punished Xie Zhaozhao, but had also rewarded her with an estate, she was so angry that she smashed several teacups in the room.

Yuanyuan whispered to Xie Zhaozhao, who, without even looking up, said, "Her vision is only as big as a teacup."

They boasted of being unparalleled in beauty and possessing the most exquisite fragrance in the world; in the blink of an eye, the peony festival arrived.