Chapter 888 Twin Female Rulers? (Seeking Monthly Tickets or 2)

Lu Jinghong made a couple of sarcastic remarks.

Song Zhian and Yu Mili didn't know how to respond.

Sha Ergou didn't care about any of this. He was already at the very bottom of the class. He looked around and his stomach started rumbling.

His face flushed red, and he stammered out half of what Miss Yu truly felt:

"It's almost lunchtime, what are we waiting for here?"

Song Zhian looked around and said:

"Senior Sister Yuan told us to wait here, and to leave later after we collect our military uniform and sword. Also, Uncle Tang has some things to tell us in person..."

Miss Yu tilted her head and said enviously:

"I guess he was giving you all a heads-up. Most of us young ladies are going to Peach Hall for intensive training and will spend more time with Uncle Tang. On the contrary, it's you Yue girls who were selected by important halls like Autumn Hall and Grass Hall for further study that Uncle Tang gave you special instructions..."

"It seems they will also be given some exclusive items, which my Peach Hall Yue Nu doesn't have. They are no less than those of Liu Qing and Chen Jiaxin, who were directly selected as the Queen's disciples."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong looked around and asked:

"By the way, where are they? Why aren't they here?"

Lu Jinghong, holding his sword, nodded and said:

"The assessment just finished in the secret chamber. The Sixth Lady personally came forward to announce the results, and then they were summoned over. It seems that Liu Qing went to see the First Lady, and Chen Jiaxin was taken away by the Sixth Lady."

Ouyang Rong asked calmly, "Did these two female rulers choose them?"

Song Zhian nodded, then shook her head. When she mentioned the two young women, there was a hint of envy in her voice:

"Miss Liu Qing is undoubtedly the champion of this Yue Maiden assessment. As expected, it was the First Lady who took her as her disciple. However, Chen Jiaxin was not personally taken as a disciple by the Sixth Lady. The Sixth Lady was taking on the task for the Fifth Lady. The Fifth Lady was unable to come due to other matters, so the Sixth Lady took her place."

Ouyang Rong was somewhat surprised: "Taking on behalf of others as a disciple?"

Song Zhian nodded solemnly: "Yes, the two ladies seem to have a very good relationship."

Yu Mili, as if struck by a sudden thought, gleamed with gossip. She glanced around, covered her mouth with her hand, and muttered softly:

"Hey, I heard that the relationship between the Sixth Lady and the Fifth Lady is not simple. They seem to look alike and are twin sisters, with the Fifth Lady being the older sister. Hmm, I don't know how twins distinguish between sisters..."

"But the two ladies seem to have quite different personalities. The sixth lady is more active and interacts more with us ordinary girls, which also makes Qiutang Yue Nu very active in the Sword Marsh... The fifth lady appears less often and is more respected. It is said that she has been cultivating in seclusion for many years and guarding a certain forbidden area..."

Song Zhian remained expressionless, glanced at Yu Mili, and did not interrupt, indicating that she had heard about it earlier.

Ouyang Rong was somewhat surprised, as he had never heard the embroiderer mention it before.

Lu Jinghong nodded slowly:

“This situation is indeed rare, but Jianze is a reclusive sect, so it’s normal for it to have many extraordinary people and events. Besides, I just caught a glimpse of the Sixth Lady’s face from afar… she doesn’t seem like a typical Han Chinese woman…”

Miss Yu asked in surprise, "Young Master Lu, are you saying that the Fifth and Sixth Queens are similar to the First Queen, and are also..."

Lu Jinghong shook his head: "It's definitely not the same alien race...it's just a guess."

He held his sword and raised his head, his expression somewhat enigmatic.

Ouyang Rong noticed that Song Zhian, who was cautious in her words and actions and did not participate in gossip, seemed to glance sideways at the mysterious Young Master Lu.

Sha Ergou listened with a curious expression, his focus somewhat off-target, and asked a question:

"Twins? Wouldn't it be easy to mistake them for each other when we're out together? What if we call them by the wrong name when we see them in the future?"

Song Zhian said softly:

"It's very simple. The Fifth Lady's sideburns slant to the left, while the Sixth Lady, whom you've already met, has sideburns slant to the right. If you pay a little attention, it's easy to tell them apart. However, the Fifth Lady rarely shows herself, as she focuses on cultivation... Just like today, the Sixth Lady is the one who takes on disciples. In most cases, you'll encounter the Sixth Lady."

Yu Mili muttered:

"Sister Chen may be annoying, but her talent is undeniable. To be accepted as a disciple by the Fifth Lady... well, I still think it's a pity about Sister Song. Your Majesty should have a discerning eye and take Sister Song as your disciple as well..."

Song Zhian immediately glared at her:

"Mili, keep your voice down, don't talk nonsense."

Yu Mili shrank her head, stuck out her little tongue, and closed her mouth.

Song Zhian's voice softened slightly, and Ouyang Rong, seeing her earnest expression, said:

"Being admitted to the Autumn Hall is already very fortunate. This time, the Sixth Lady only selected three people to enter, which makes me feel flattered."

Ouyang Rong listened for a while, seemingly insignificant, and then asked:

"Is this Qiutang under the management of the Sixth Lady?"

Song Zhian nodded casually, somewhat absentmindedly: "Mm."

After listening, Sha Ergou looked on with envy and asked directly:

"Miss Song, what is Qiutang for? I see all those young ladies envying you. Is it better than that Caotang? I see that Caotang selected six people, while Qiutang has even fewer. It must be more impressive, right?"

Yu Mili answered first, looking quite proud:

"That's for sure. Qiutang is personally managed by the Sixth Lady, which shows its importance. As for Caotang, I heard that it was originally managed by a Lady of a very high seniority, but she stepped down later. Caotang has become less influential, and its authority has been taken over by Qiutang, which is similar in status..."

"It's definitely a good thing that Sister Song can go there. Didn't you see the envious and jealous looks in the eyes of the other girls? Especially those annoying girls who follow Chen Jiaxin. They seem to want to eat Sister Song up and take her place. But they're dreaming, hmph."

Ouyang Rong turned his head and glanced in a certain direction.

Several women glanced at him frequently, their eyes filled with hostility.

It seems that even in Jianze, a place that emphasizes sworn sisterhood and has a large number of women, there is still a natural tendency for conflict.

Ouyang Rong nodded secretly.

Lu Jinghong couldn't help but interject:

"It seems that Qiutang is in charge of the external affairs of Jianze. However, unlike the fact that the two women's gangs are responsible for the affairs at the foot of the mountain, the sixth woman and Qiutang are responsible for the affairs within the surrounding Yunmengze, including treasure hunting, exploration, and surveillance."

"Generally, the Qiutang Yue women are quite wealthy, because many of the resources in Jianze are obtained by the Qiutang from outside. The Six Women Lords also often venture deep into Yunmengze... Each of the Qiutang Yue women is extraordinary."

He lowered his voice again and whispered:

"Moreover, Miss Yu is right. After my aunt left, Caotang did decline somewhat. Qiutang has many people and is a very powerful branch. Naturally, it took away some of the responsibilities of maintaining the rules of the sect. The Yue women of Qiutang are very prestigious. Miss Song got a good place."

Song Zhian sighed helplessly and said a few words of modesty.

The atmosphere quieted down a bit.

However, none of the four asked about Ouyang Rong's labor service position, tacitly avoiding reopening old wounds.

Sha Ergou, too, looked around blankly, not asking Brother Liu anything. Whether he was genuinely stupid or had realized something, he seemed to have much higher emotional intelligence than he usually did in front of Lu Jinghong.

Actually, someone was also waiting for Xi Qi's reply, but didn't know what kind of job it was, so they didn't say anything.

At this moment, Senior Sister Yuan and Senior Sister Xi returned together and climbed the high platform. Behind them were a group of Yue women, carrying stacks of brand-new, snow-white Wu-style clothing.

The Yue women distributed clothes and swords.

Song Zhian and Yu Xiaoniangzi immediately stepped forward to receive it.

Ouyang Rong glanced at Xi Qi on the high platform and thought for a moment.

"Er Gou, take this."

He handed the food box to Sha Ergou and walked towards the platform, but did not go up immediately. He planned to wait until Xi Qi finished distributing the Wu clothes before asking her about it.

On the other side, Lady Yu had already brought back the Wu-style clothing and items from Taotang Yue Nu.

Song Zhian was still on the high platform. She and the other two concubines should all be from Qiutang, which made them somewhat special.

The girls around him all looked on with envy.

Song Zhian remained calm and composed, lowering her eyes slightly as she gracefully stepped onto the stage to receive her gift.

However, Ouyang Rong, who was watching from below the stage, noticed that a young woman in the crowd had her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on Song Zhian's elegant back, and her thin lips were pressed into a white line.

He looked defiant.

This thin-lipped young woman looks quite familiar; she seems to be one of the trusted young women who followed closely behind Chen Jiaxin that day, and she also comes from the Jiu clan.

Ouyang Rong had some recollection of her; she spoke with a sharp tongue that day, and her thin lips suggested a jealous and unapproachable nature.

Chen Jiaxin is not here now; it seems she has been taken by the Sixth Lady to see the Fifth Lady. The nine young ladies who originally surrounded her are now standing around this thin-lipped lady after receiving the Taotang Wufu, as if they are forming a group with her as the leader.

Two or three young women kept whispering in the ear of the woman with thin lips, pointing and whispering at Song Zhian who was going up on stage to receive her Qiutang Yue Nu identity item. The woman with thin lips was also someone who couldn't hide her emotions and thoughts, and her face became increasingly resentful.

Moreover, the other two young ladies who went on stage with Song Zhian to receive the Qiutang tokens, whether intentionally or unintentionally, stood very close to each other, but their positions were uniquely far away from Song Zhian, as if they did not see her.

Although he didn't have the same unfriendly expression as the thin-lipped young lady, nor did he deliberately isolate her, a certain distance between them was still quite obvious.

Ouyang Rong also felt that these two outstanding young ladies who were selected for Qiutang along with Song Zhian looked somewhat familiar. They seemed to be one of the nine young ladies around Chen Jiaxin. They had also come along when they passed by and provoked her that day.

Ouyang Rong raised his eyelids slightly, recalling Yu Mili's muttered words from earlier.

It seems that Song Zhian's selection has taken her place, in the eyes of that thin-lipped young lady.

He glanced a few more times at Song Zhian's figure as she slowly walked off the stage.

She kept her eyes straight ahead, ignoring all the rumors and gossip, and was not affected in the slightest.

His attitude towards things is admirable.

Ouyang Rong understood the thin-lipped young lady a little better. When faced with such a calm, low-key, and steady opponent, it was hard to control one's blood pressure, let alone someone with a petty temper.

Ouyang Rong waited below the stage and watched for a while. Before the thin-lipped young lady and others noticed his gaze and turned to look at him, he looked away.

Before long, most of the Yue women had received their Wu clothing.

The number of people on the platform dwindled.

Xi Qi seemed to exchange a few words with Senior Sister Yuan, who then turned and left, her destination unknown.

Only Xi Qi, the silver medalist from Yue Opera, remained on the high platform.

Just as Ouyang Rong was about to go on stage, Senior Sister Yuan returned and helped Uncle Tang.

The latter seemed to have come over and had something to say.

On the high platform, Xi Qi, who was preparing to greet her martial uncle, noticed Ouyang Rong's group out of the corner of her eye.

Xi Qi gave him a look that said "wait a moment."

Ouyang Rong paused slightly.

Just then, a commotion suddenly came from directly behind him.

People started arguing loudly.

"What are you doing? Let go!"

"Ha, you know shame now?"

Ouyang Rong heard Yu Xiaoniangzi's voice, as well as the strange young woman's cold laughter.

He immediately turned around.

They discovered that the spot where the five of them had been standing was now surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, creating quite a scene.

The attention of Uncle Tang, Senior Sister Xi, and Senior Sister Yuan on the high platform was also drawn to it.

Ouyang Rong immediately went over and, through the gaps created by the crowd, saw where he had been standing. At that moment, two groups of people were facing off.

One side consisted of the familiar group of four: Song, Yu, Lu, and Sha.

On the other side were the thin-lipped young lady and her group of nine female companions.

"Let go, let go of my hand, I don't understand what you're saying."

Standing at the front, Yu Xiaoniangzi's face was flushed, and she spoke anxiously. The thin-lipped young lady roughly grabbed her wrist, sneering and refusing to let go, as if waiting for everyone around to gather. As more and more people gathered around, she seemed to become happier.

Ouyang Rong looked down and saw a porcelain bowl shattered on the ground between the two of them, with chicken soup splashed everywhere.

The aroma of delicious chicken soup filled the air, whetting everyone's appetite. However, at this moment, no one paid attention to it; all eyes were on the two arguing parties.

However, Ouyang Rong, who was outside the crowd, noticed that the food box in Sha Ergou's arms was already half open.

He entrusted it to Sha Ergou for safekeeping just before he left.

Ouyang Rong noticed that half a Qingyan late peach was still inside the food box, and a pot of chicken soup was also intact, although it had been opened and some of it was missing... some of it had been stolen and drunk.

At this moment, Song Zhian and the other two rushed forward to protect Yu Xiaoniangzi.

Compared to Lu Jinghong, who couldn't let go of his pride and just glared at the thin-lipped girl, Sha Ergou had already quickly and steadily put down the food box. Without saying a word, he rushed forward, disregarding the difference between men and women, and was about to roughly shove the thin-lipped girl's chest with both hands.

However, someone was faster than him.

Song Zhian suddenly grabbed Sha Ergou's shoulder, stopping the impetuous young man. But coming from Sichuan, she was no coward. Calmly leaping over the glaring Sha Ergou, she grabbed the thin-lipped girl's wrist, her voice as cold and hard as her hand:

"Please let go. Have some manners."

The thin-lipped young woman was suddenly enraged and was about to curse, but she held back, staring down at the broken chicken soup and porcelain scattered on the ground, a cold smile on her face, looking completely unperturbed.

And so, the three young women each grabbed the other's wrist, locked in a stalemate, creating a somewhat chaotic scene.

"What happened?"

Suddenly, a hoarse, aged voice came from the high platform.

The atmosphere on the field suddenly became deathly silent.

Immediately, the crowd of young women who had been watching spontaneously made way for them.

Uncle Tang led Yuan and Xi over.

(End of this chapter)