Chapter 2
"Come here, take them all down!"
A big man with a dark face and beard rushed to the front. With a command, Cui Youyi and others were surrounded by a group of strong men.
If the system had not prompted that the key figure was the county magistrate, Cui Youyi would have suspected that she had encountered bandits - these bearded men with fierce looks not only did not look like people from the imperial court, but more like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind in TV dramas!
A scholar holding a book mixed in with a group of strong men. Cui Youyi couldn't help but look at the man following behind them, who was dressed as a scholar, wearing a dark blue robe and a square flat scarf on his head.
"County Magistrate, help me!"
Cui Youyi wanted to rush directly behind the county magistrate, but she couldn't break free from the Zhou family's restraints, so she had to yell at the top of her lungs.
Why does this important character, marked by the system, look like a nerd? And he's holding a book at this time...
He couldn't be a wimp, could he? If important figures had to hide, how could she, the daughter of an exiled criminal, survive?
The Zhou family's housekeeper also recognized that the leader was Wang Jun, the Ningguta County Magistrate, and felt a little uneasy. "Sir Wang, may I ask what you are doing?"
The housekeeper gave him a look, and a servant rashly spoke up, "That's right, Master Wang. Last year, our Zhou family hosted an ice sculpture competition, and we helped out. It's even recorded in the registration book! Our identities can withstand investigation, and we're not those evil people who commit crimes!"
Wang Jun looked the housekeeper up and down, as if considering something. Cui Youyi's heart sank. Could this county magistrate be a villain?
She can't rely on others, so she should save herself!
Cui Youyi pretended to be weak, squeezed out a few tears, and kept shouting, "County Magistrate, help me!" "County Magistrate, please help me!"
But in her heart, she was urgently calling her human-computer system, asking it to exchange her survival items.
"System, exchange for survival items."
[Host Cui Youyi, unlock the novice gift pack once and obtain the survival item - a piece of ice that does not melt for three days]
[Newbie gift pack exchange successful, please check it carefully]
…
Cui Youyi: ...
What a good thing...
She cried even more sadly.
Seeing this, Wang Jun felt a little headache for a moment.
Not long ago he received a letter from a good friend.
The letter said that his sweetheart, who was weak and unable to take care of herself, was now on the way to exile in Ningguta for some reasons, and hoped that he would take good care of her in the future.
But Wang Jun saw her swinging a knife and hacking people when he was lying in ambush in the morning, and now he saw her doing a series of singing, dancing and fighting, and it didn't look like she was sick at all.
Maybe his friend has eye disease?
The tense atmosphere between the two groups suddenly dissipated. Wang Jun put down the book in his hand, raised his hands to the sky, and said coldly: "I have received a secret report that bandits have kidnapped prisoners with the intention of rebellion. If you have any grievances, you can provide evidence in court, and I will defend you clearly."
"Master Wang, this is unjust. How could we, your servants, have the guts to do this?"
"Please, gentlemen, inform our master and clear our name!"
The Zhou family's servants cried out for justice, but at the same time, they were trying to use their power to pressure the magistrate, hoping that the county magistrate would release them for the Zhou family's sake. After all, if this matter became a big deal, they would inevitably be punished by the young master.
Wang Jun remained unyielding, and Cui Youyi breathed a sigh of relief. It was obvious that she and the Cui family would not die today.
In this case, she has to start her revenge.
Seeing the Zhou family's housekeeper talking to Wang Jun like a lapdog, Cui Youyi concentrated on preparing the mood for singing, reciting, acting and fighting. Just when she had it almost ready, the system came again.
[System Task 2: Please capture the County Magistrate within three days to obtain a ticket to the Ice Sculpture Competition. This reward is a beginner's gift pack of ice sculpting tools—an ice chisel, an ice pick, and a carving knife.]
"System, what is the process for this ice sculpture competition? What needs to be done?"
Cui Youyi has participated in modern ice sculpture exhibitions, and her works have been included in them. Could this ice sculpture conference also be an ice sculpture exhibition? But how were ice sculptures preserved in ancient times?
The Ice Sculpture Competition, also known as the Ice Fighting Competition, is an annual competition hosted by the Ningguta government and organized by the Ningguta noble families. Ice sculptors can only register to participate after receiving a recommendation.
The competition is an elimination-based competition, with half of the participants advancing. Before each round, the guest of honor will draw a topic, and participants will select ice to carve based on the topic. The guest of honor and the audience will vote by throwing the ice. Those without a vote will be eliminated.
"System, this isn't fair. This family is both hosting and participating in the competition. The chances of them buying tickets are very high!"
【The competition adopts a blind audition system.】
"Blind selection isn't entirely reasonable. Although each of these ice sculptures has its own style, if they have a master, wouldn't an expert be able to tell the style of the ice sculptor at a glance?"
【Your system is loading, please refresh later. 】
Cui Youyi: ...Okay, okay...
Cui Youyi had a love-hate relationship with this system. Seeing that she couldn't ask any other questions, she could only act as a ruthless task completion machine. After all, she still needed the ice carving tool gift pack, so -
"Sir, please make the decision for me!"
"This group of people have been slandering me since daybreak, saying that I stole their ice sculptures. They beat me and my family severely. Look at the injuries on my body."
Cui Youyi's exposed smooth arms were covered with large purple patches, which looked very scary. Wang Jun suddenly saw it and quickly turned his gaze to the Zhou family's housekeeper.
"Sir, she is making a false accusation." The housekeeper stepped forward quickly and tried to defend himself, but was grabbed tightly by the people brought by Wang Jun.
"Sir, our Cui family is the family of exiled criminals. Everyone has been avoiding us along the way, wanting to retreat as far as possible. But these people from the Zhou family just rushed towards us. We are still in shackles. Not to mention stealing, our movements are restricted."
Cui Youyi continued to wipe away the tears that she was holding back and began to complain one after another.
Wang Jun: There's no need to cry so reluctantly...
On one side is the weak and helpless young lady and the Cui family who were beaten so badly that they couldn't get up; on the other side is the Zhou family who are fat and notorious. The balance in everyone's hearts can easily tilt.
"They also took my ice sculptures."
Hearing this, Wang Jun became interested. How could a young lady raised in seclusion in the capital know the ice sculptures that were popular in Ningguta?
"Take it out."
The Zhou family's housekeeper was still able to resist, but was directly searched, and the koi ice sculpture carved by Cui Youyi also fell into Wang Jun's hands.
Wang Jun didn't show it on his face, but he was very impressed in his heart.
This koi carp is carved with natural, plump scales, layered like a natural creation. With the sheen of ice, it's not jewels, but it's more like them.
Wang Jun admired it but also felt sorry. If there were more carving tools and the ice sculpture was bigger, the koi would surely be more exquisite.
[Detected that the target person's recognition of the host's ice sculptures +25%, and favorability towards the host +10%. The host gains three days of survival. Please continue to work hard!]
What the hell? My ice sculptures only received 25% approval?
Cui Youyi raised her head and stared at Wang Jun, feeling extremely humiliated.
She admitted that this koi wasn't as perfect as her previous creations, but why was it only 25% approved? Wasn't it a far superior product to what the Zhou family servants had produced? Could it be that the magistrate was an expert? Did he look down on her craft? If so, could they have a chance to learn from each other?
Cui Youyi has always wanted to make further progress in ice carving, but her grandfather has said more than once that although her works are exquisite, they are too artificial. If she cannot find her own way in carving, she will probably stop making progress.
"Miss Cui Wu has good cooking skills." Wang Jun said with an ambiguous tone.
Cui Youyi was stunned: "Your Excellency, you are too kind." Is this person mocking me?
"I just wonder who Miss Cui Wu's teacher is? I've studied ice carving for many years, but I've never seen such a skill."
Existing ice sculpture techniques emphasize leaving blank spaces and freehand brushwork. Most works are based on landscape paintings, and few people carve single animals.
Only then did Cui Youyi realize why her work only had a 25% approval rating. It turned out that it was inconsistent with the aesthetic standards of the general environment.
"I just practiced in my spare time, using things at home. I don't have a teacher."
Dear ancestors of the Cui family, please forgive me. I have a teacher, and I haven't committed any treason. It's just that my original self didn't learn the art of ice carving from a master. I'm sure your ancestors wouldn't want to see your beloved granddaughter burned like an evil spirit! I promise that I will pass down our family's ice carving skills throughout this dynasty!
"Oh? Miss Cui Wu is quite accomplished in ice sculpture."
Wang Jun's curiosity was piqued. The court was full of twists and turns. Could it be that someone in Ningguta was colluding with the Crown Prince's faction? Or perhaps with some other faction within the court? He would have to investigate thoroughly upon his return.
Thinking of this, Wang Jun lost the mood to continue the interrogation. The group stayed in the dilapidated temple for one night and rushed into the city the next day.
*
The next day, inside the Ningguta government office.
"Mighty~"
Familiar lines sounded, and Cui Youyi supported her frail sister-in-law into the hall. On the other side, a group of people from the Zhou family were kneeling, and at the head of them stood a young man wearing a long silk gown and jacket.
The first time she saw him, Cui Youyi felt uncomfortable instinctively, and as soon as he opened his mouth, she wanted to punch him.
Faced with all kinds of doubts, this young man, Zhou Yunkai, the young master of the Zhou family, spoke with sincerity as soon as he opened his mouth.
"It must be Miss Cui who seduced our housekeeper and servants. Otherwise, the road is so wide, and our housekeeper and servants would not dare to provoke the exiles."
"I guess Miss Cui is afraid of the bitter cold in Ningguta and wants to befriend our Zhou family. If she becomes a slave in our Zhou family in the future, she can have a better future."
Cui Youyi: I really want to sew this thing’s mouth shut.
Wang Jun & Master: ...
The others silently spit in their hearts. Everyone in Ningguta knew that Zhou Yunkai of the Zhou family was the troubled ghost of Ningguta. He often sent the housekeeper and servants out to select people to enter the mansion. To put it nicely, he was buying maids, but looking at his kidney deficiency, everyone in Ningguta knew what he was bought for.
If the county magistrate had not been in office and had not designed to disrupt his good deeds and set rules, the women in Ningguta would probably not dare to go out.
Cui Youyi really didn't want to waste time listening to this person's confusing right and wrong and talking nonsense.
"I beg you to investigate this matter and give justice to my daughter and my family."
As soon as Cui Youyi opened her mouth, Zhou Yunkai, who was obsessed with women, became interested. Her voice was crisp and melodious, which made him feel like a cat scratching his heart. No wonder the housekeeper wanted to bring the exiled people back to the Zhou Mansion.
She is the Cui family's well-bred daughter, and her skin and flesh are not...
Zhou Yunkai's heart was racing, and he wanted to take Cui Youyi home immediately, and he didn't hide his feelings in his eyes.
Cui Youyi shuddered inexplicably, feeling as if she was being stared at by something dark.
"Miss Cui, right? You ruined my work for the ice sculpture competition, and I want justice."
Zhou Yunkai couldn't wait to talk to Cui Youyi, but he didn't notice that Wang Jun, who was sitting on the throne, had a face that gradually became gloomy.
Cui Youyi: "Oh, it's obviously your housekeeper who is blackmailing others and smashed the ice sculpture himself."
"Who saw it? Do you have any evidence?" Zhou Yunkai asked slowly, his eyes sweeping over the people in the hall.
Each side insisted on its own opinion, and the officers escorting the Cui family were summoned for questioning.
Thinking that these spineless people would definitely perjure themselves to the Zhou family, Cui Youyi took the opportunity to speak before they could speak, "Sir, since both sides insist on their own opinions, and this is about ice sculptures, why not have a competition according to the rules of the Ningguta Ice Fight?"
"If I win, the Zhou family will clear our name and stop harassing the Cui family. If I lose, I will compensate the Zhou family three times their losses."
"Master Zhou, do you dare to accept the challenge?"
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