Chapter Ninety-Two Question Lottery Box

As expected, Ruan Tianxin was amused by her sudden request for a reward and burst into laughter through her tears.

Seeing this, Song Yiqiu gently patted the back of Bai Mei's outstretched hand.

Bai Mei cried out in pain, pulling her hand back, and said aggrievedly:

"Miss, what are you doing!"

Qingzhu covered her lips and chuckled softly:

"Sister Bai Mei, I knew this wasn't something you'd say. So this is what you were waiting for, you money-grubber, trying to swindle Miss Ruan's money."

Bai Mei rubbed the back of her hand and chuckled:

"Oh, Qingzhu, don't you know me? I was just joking to lighten the mood. I'm not the kind of person who's greedy for money. Of course, if you give me gold coins, then just pretend I didn't say that, hehehe."

Her expression immediately turned serious, and she looked at Song Yiqiu with a solemn expression.

"By the way, Miss, you made such a big splash just now and embarrassed some people. I'm afraid some of them are going to get restless. First, they spilled tea, then they broke the bowstring. One thing after another, I reckon there will definitely be even more insidious tricks to come. Miss, you must be careful."

Qingzhu also became worried in the blink of an eye:

"Sister Bai Mei is right. Next up... is the famous taming of wild horses. They're all newly arrived, extremely difficult-to-tame wild horses, their wildness still intact. In previous years, the female guests avoided this segment like the plague, afraid of being chosen, since even the slightest mistake..."

Bai Mei interjected, her tone grave:

"Yes, I've heard that too! These horses are easily startled; even the slightest unusual sound or movement can cause them to run wildly—it's very dangerous!"

"I really don't know why this was designated as a women's program this year. Even we find it challenging, let alone those pampered young ladies."

Qingzhu added:

"And I heard that this year the selection will be decided by lottery. I... I'm a little scared. Given their vicious nature, I'm afraid they might tamper with the lottery."

As they were talking, Song Sangyu walked over with Ruan and the others, whose complexions were still not very good.

Princess Xingrong wore a fake smile, her words a combination of congratulations and mockery:

"Hey, isn't this our invincible number one sister? Congratulations! But you were just lucky to hit the target, there's no need to be so smug. Why make such a big commotion, as if you're afraid no one will see it?"

Ruan Jiawen also quietly echoed, trying to regain the upper hand:

"Well...maybe, maybe it's just a coincidence? Don't get too excited."

He Jianren dared not look at Song Yiqiu, and only muttered with his head down:

"What's the use of being good at mounted archery... we don't know how it will turn out later..."

Before they finished speaking, the servant who had been in charge of drawing lots came over with the lot-drawing container.

He was composed and had an extraordinary demeanor.

Suppressing the feeling of familiarity in her heart, Song Yiqiu politely nodded to him:

"Thank you, sir."

The servant bowed slightly, his attitude neither servile nor arrogant, and gave her an appreciative look.

"You flatter me, Miss. This is my duty."

When he looked up, his gaze lingered on Song Yiqiu's face for a moment, a fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of reminiscence flashing across his eyes.

"Young Miss... your demeanor is extraordinary, which reminds me of an old friend."

Song Yiqiu's heart stirred, and she asked accordingly:

"Oh? May I ask which old friend you are? Judging from your demeanor, you are not like an ordinary servant."

The attendant smiled slightly and said frankly:

“Young Miss has a good eye. My surname is Yan. I used to be the head eunuch in the palace of Consort Hui. Many years ago, I had the honor of seeing Marquis Yongjia a few times in the palace and also served him briefly.”

"Madam's beauty is captivating. It's a pity that after she left the palace, I never had the chance to see her again."

The Marquis of Yongjia he mentioned was none other than Song Yiqiu's grandmother.

My grandmother even spent some time in the palace? Song Yiqiu had many doubts in her heart, but she didn't show them on her face.

Manager Yan said no more and presented the divination tube:

"Young Miss, please draw a lot. The ladies before you have already finished."

Looking at the familiar lottery box, Song Yiqiu's heart suddenly clenched.

Memories surged in like a tidal wave.

Seven years ago, my grandmother was suddenly killed by bandits. In order to appease the Song family and the army, the emperor decided to select one of the younger generation of the Song family to go to the frontier for training as a sign of imperial favor, and designated him as the successor to the title.

Her four older brothers were all afraid of the hardships and toil of the frontier, and none of them were willing to go.

On the eve of their departure for the frontier, their father, Song Qingming, summoned his five children to the ancestral hall before their memorial tablets. He then took out identical divination sticks and said in a deep voice:

"There is only one red lot in each box. The person who draws the red lot represents the Song family and goes to the frontier to serve the country."

She was deliberately placed in the first draw.

She remembered that she was only eleven years old at the time, and the most important things she did every day were embroidering in her boudoir, playing the zither and reading poetry. She was filled with fear and apprehension about the cruelty of Longnan.

With trembling hands, she prayed as she drew the fortune stick that would decide her fate...

The color is a striking red.

Her brothers, after seeing her draw red, were even exempted from the lottery process.

Only on her deathbed did Song Sangyu smile and tell her the truth:

“Silly sister, do you really think it’s just bad luck? All the sticks in that divination box are red. Father and brothers have already decided to sacrifice you.”

That moment of despair seemed to reappear and engulf her once again.

"Young Miss? What's wrong? Why are you shaking?"

Bai Mei's worried voice pulled her out of her painful memories.

Song Yiqiu snapped back to her senses, took a deep breath, stared intently at the divination box in front of her, and slowly reached her hand in.

Her fingertips touched the cold fortune slips, and she picked one out and unfolded it.

On the note was the same word "Yes" written in red ink.

"How is this possible?!"

Bai Mei instantly exploded, pointing in Song Sangyu's direction.

"So many people! Why was it my young lady who was chosen? Someone must have tampered with it! It was the second young lady! It must have been her!"

Qingzhu quickly pulled back the impulsive Baimei and whispered:

"Sister Bai Mei! Calm down! We have no evidence right now, so we can't make things up!"

Upon seeing this, Song Sangyu and her group immediately revealed undisguised smugness on their faces.

Song Sangye covered her mouth and chuckled, her tone sarcastic:

"Oh my, it seems that your good luck has come again, sister! I heard that you were the one who was selected to go to the frontier seven years ago, and now you are the one who was selected to tame this wild horse seven years later. We ordinary noble ladies don't have this kind of fortune."

"This is truly...destiny!"

Ruan Jiawen replied sarcastically:

"That's right! I heard that these wild horses from the Western Regions are untamed. A few days ago, they even trampled two experienced grooms to death while they were being trained! Tsk tsk, they're very dangerous!"

He Jianren, looking confident of victory, was already starting to feel smug.

"Song Yiqiu, I advise you to admit defeat now while you still can. Don't risk your life on this racetrack just to be brave. If you get trampled into mincemeat by horses, that would be... a truly horrific sight!"