Chapter 52 It got lost inside the peach pit

It was Lin Ruoxue again, dressed in a white gauze dress with wide sleeves, surrounded by people.

Lin Ruoxue had already tried many times but had not been able to thread the string through the peach pit. She thought the person who set the question was playing a prank on everyone.

However, she secretly cast a divination, and the result showed that there was a solution, but it was extremely difficult.

Lin Ruoxue looked at Xie Mingyi with amusement. She didn't believe that Xie Mingyi could be so clever as to do something that she herself couldn't.

The sun was high in the sky, and the temperature inside the boat rose slowly and imperceptibly. A breeze from outside blew in through the light gauze curtains, carrying cool moisture that soothed the heat on everyone's bodies.

"It's Miss Xie, the most talented woman in the family. She should be able to do it, right?"

"That's not necessarily true. Even a high-ranking female official from the Imperial Observatory couldn't do anything about it, so what ability could Xie Er possibly have?"

Seeing the crowd pointing and whispering about her, Xie Mingyi sighed inwardly and stepped out. It seemed she couldn't watch the show in peace anymore.

She came to the table, took out the peach pit, and examined it carefully.

The peach pit was carved by the craftsman into a delicate, round die, with intricate and elaborate openwork patterns on the surface.

What's even more amazing is that it's carved with intricate, winding passageways, like a maze.

Whoever can thread a cotton rope through the peach pit wins this round.

"This is too difficult. Even with the naked eye, you can't tell where the other end will come out. How can you pass through it by feel alone?" a woman murmured.

Xie Mingyi frowned and hesitated to make a move.

Lin Ruoxue's lips curled up. "Miss Xie, what's wrong? Are you stumped by such a small peach pit?"

Xie Mingyi ignored her, placed the peach pit on the table, pulled Xie Mianmian aside, and whispered to the child, "Mianmian, could you find me an ant?"

The child nodded, buried himself in his second sister's arms, clasped his hands together, and whispered, "Little ant, come quickly~ Please cooperate with my second sister."

Having finished, Xie Mianmian raised her head and winked at her second sister, indicating that the matter was done.

Xie Mingyi returned to her desk, bent down to examine it carefully, and sure enough, she found a tiny ant next to the peach pit.

She picked up a thin cotton rope and carefully tied it to the ant.

A woman nearby exclaimed in surprise, "What is Xie Er doing? Does she really want the ants to pass through? How can ants obey her!"

Xie Mingyi put the ants into one of the small hollow holes, and then sprinkled some crumbs of sweet pastry on the table at the other end of the peach pit.

Then, mimicking a child's tone, he said to the little ants inside, "Could you please find the exit and come out from the other end?"

"Okay, no problem." A very faint voice came from inside, but unfortunately, no one except Xie Mianmian could hear it.

The child nodded to Xie Mingyi, indicating that the little ant had agreed to her request.

Lin Ruoxue looked at the scene with a grim expression. It was utterly absurd. Even the divination said that the question was extremely difficult, but could it be solved by a mere ant?

Several breaths passed, and the ants still hadn't emerged. Someone looked on expectantly and said, "As expected of Miss Xie, she's truly wise."

Some people scoffed, "Ants can navigate mazes? That's a joke."

The little ant inside the peach pit was truly lost.

"Oh dear, why are all these paths exactly the same, with no exit?"

The little ant sounded a bit flustered. It was already directionally challenged and had gotten lost on the boat. Now, it was being summoned by the child to navigate a maze. It was completely in the dark and just wandered around aimlessly.

Xie Mianmian leaned closer to the peach pit and whispered, "Little ant, head towards the sweet smell."

Hearing this, the little ant stopped, its two tiny antennae carefully discerning the scents in the air. It knew it couldn't walk, but finding food was its forte.

Sensing the sweet scent, the little ant strode confidently toward the light.

"So much time has passed, the ant is probably trapped and died inside."

"Well, it's hard to say. We mustn't ruin this rare peach pit. I've heard it's quite valuable. Xie Er is really just fooling around," a young master said indignantly.

But the next second, an ant, carrying a long cotton rope, actually managed to get out!

They were still enjoying the pastries on the table.

Miss Xie successfully solved the problem that had puzzled them for so long!

The young master who had just been speaking ill of her shut up and quietly retreated into the crowd.

But someone next to her slapped her hard on the shoulder, exclaiming, "She actually came out! Miss Xie truly lives up to her title as the most talented woman in the capital!"

The young master could only awkwardly agree.

The crowd erupted in commotion, showering each other with compliments.

At this moment, a bald young man stood up and said to Xie Mingyi, "Second Benefactor Xie is truly intelligent and ingenious. I admire him."

Kongming is a disciple of Fohua Temple. By chance, he brought a peach pit to the Flower Banquet. This puzzle, which had troubled him for more than a year, was solved in such a clever way.

A flower is a world. Don't underestimate the things around you, even a tiny ant. Is this the lesson your master taught you to enter the world?

Kongming lowered his head in deep thought.

Xie Mingyi gave a slight curtsy to everyone, "I dare not claim to be clever; it was just a little trick, not worth mentioning."

If it weren't for the child being there, she couldn't guarantee that the ants would be able to get through the peach pit.

After all, even Xie Mianmian herself didn't know that she would attract a lost, directionally challenged little ant.

Xie Mingyi looked at Lin Ruoxue with a helpless expression. "Is that enough? Stop bothering me."

Upon noticing Xie Mingyi's gaze, Lin Ruoxue was furious. She thought Xie Mingyi was provoking her, so she glared back. This wasn't over yet!

Lin Ruoxue winked at a woman, who understood and called out to Xie Mingyi, "Please wait, I have a chess puzzle here, please solve it, Miss Xie."

Seeing that someone was asking for her help, Xie Mingyi went up to another long table, looked at the unfinished game on the chessboard, and frowned deeply.

It is indeed a rare endgame, set up in an extremely ingenious way. A single move can affect the whole situation. There are no pawns on the board, and if you want to trap the opponent's general, you don't have enough pieces left.

Seeing Xie Mingyi shake her head in distress, Lin Ruoxue smiled triumphantly.

"Isn't Miss Xie known for being proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? Can't she solve this puzzle?"

Xie Mingyi smiled slightly, "No, it just takes some time."

"Oh? I happen to have a clue. How about we have a contest?"

However, Xie Mingyi did not want to cause any unnecessary trouble and had too much contact with Lin Ruoxue.

"Is Miss Xie so afraid of me?" Lin Ruoxue said, feigning surprise. "Or is it that the famous number one talented woman in the capital is afraid of losing?"

Xie Mingyi snorted coldly, "I'll play along to the end."

Lin Ruoxue is too arrogant. She dares to step on me. If I don't accept the challenge, does she think I'm just a name without substance?

Xie Mingyi rubbed her wrist with her bare hand, ready to make a big move.

The onlookers erupted in uproar.

On one side is the most talented woman in the capital, and on the other is a diviner who brings divine pronouncements to the world. Who will win? Everyone is very interested.