Inside the shaded pavilion in front of the academy, Qin Zhaoyue rubbed her eyes, now fully awake.
A thin layer of sweat appeared on Xiaoqi and Xiaoba's foreheads, and their small chests rose and fell slightly.
But compared to the intensity of daily martial arts training, this level of support is nothing.
Qin Zhaoyue took out a handkerchief and casually but gently wiped the sweat from her two younger brothers' brows.
"You've worked hard, guys. Your sixth sister won't let you get away with this for nothing; she'll buy you something delicious later."
"Okay!" The two little ones' eyes lit up, and they answered crisply and loudly.
Qin Zhaoyue touched her stomach; she was indeed hungry.
Those two bites I ate in the palace while I was half-asleep have long since been digested and gone somewhere.
Xiao Jiu, standing to the side, crossed her arms, her cheeks puffed out like two small steamed buns, and glared angrily at her sixth sister.
Qin Zhaoyue gave her a disgruntled look. "Alright, forget about trying your luck. I'll buy you one anyway, okay? Be good..."
As she spoke, she reached out to rub her head, but Xiao Jiu dodged it, pouting even more: "Sixth sister, you're really something!"
"Oh?" Qin Zhaoyue raised an eyebrow, deliberately drawing out her words, "Then I won't buy it for you?"
"You dare!"
Xiao Jiu immediately bared her little teeth and protested in a low voice, but considering the occasion, she kept her voice very low.
Even though nothing could be seen on the streets and alleys, the enthusiasm of the onlookers did not diminish in the slightest.
The initial betting activity was already very popular, with many people placing bets, mostly small bets of ten or twenty coins, but every little bit counted.
Those who passed were divided into two classes: Class 1 and Class 2. Class 1 had three people, and Class 2 had thirty people. Everyone was betting on which class they would be in.
Is Helian Chaolu, whose poetic talent is astonishing, truly worthy of the reputation of Xiao Yunshuo, the Second Princess of Shuofeng, who is said to be inferior to her?
Can the talented women of Zhongchen Road rival them?
Everyone was in high spirits, but no one made a loud noise.
The Imperial Guards, clad in armor and gripping their sword hilts, and the yamen runners of the Capital Prefecture, armed with fire and water clubs, worked together to maintain order.
Merchants naturally wouldn't miss such a business opportunity, and the Jingzhao Prefecture specially designated two quiet corners in the streets and alleys as temporary stalls for them to sell food.
The yamen runners kept a close watch on the scene, strictly forbidding hawking and allowing only silent transactions.
Qin Zhaoyue immediately instructed Yingnuo to go and buy some food.
Just then, a figure stepped into the shaded pavilion.
Two pairs of eyes unexpectedly met in mid-air.
The visitor was Yan Zhibai, a member of the Shuofeng delegation, who had come with the Second Princess Xiao Yunshuo.
From the moment he arrived at the outskirts of the academy, his gaze swept across the crowd until it locked onto that figure.
First came the lazy, standing nap, then the intimate playfulness with the three young princes.
He had heard some rumors about the sixth princess, and her reputation seemed to be poor.
However, seeing is believing.
If she were truly so despicable, why did the Fourth Princess and the Fifth Prince protect her so much at the banquet? And why did the three young princes revolve around her?
Yan Zhibai hesitated for a long time, after all, it would be inappropriate to rush forward and start a conversation in front of everyone.
However... In the past two days, he has come to realize that without the guidance of the imperial heir, even leaving the royal villa would be a pipe dream.
Just as he was trapped in the north, unable to set foot in the south and make great strides, let alone in the south.
The Second Prince's admonition from that night still rings in my ears. If I wish to fulfill my long-cherished wish, perhaps the only way is to stay on the path of Da Gan.
Despite countless concerns and considerations, nothing could overcome the longing in my heart.
Qin Zhaoyue, refreshed after a good night's sleep, was idly playing with the three little ones to pass the time when her eyes caught sight of the approaching figure.
She wore a moon-white fine cotton long gown, with a light blue gauze half-sleeve over it.
In the cool early autumn, his simple and refreshing attire accentuated his tall and slender figure and gentle, jade-like temperament.
The refined elegance imbued with poetry and literature was not diminished by the simple attire; on the contrary, it was as warm and understated as unpolished jade, adding to the air of refined elegance.
The languid look in Qin Zhaoyue's eyes vanished instantly, as if infused with some strange brilliance.
She rose gently, her movements graceful, her fingertips seemingly unintentionally brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
In an instant, the mischievousness that had been teasing the child vanished without a trace. Her eyebrows curved, and a perfectly gentle smile played on her lips. Her voice became exceptionally soft: "Mr. Yan."
"Sixth Prince." Yan Zhibai quickly bowed, his ears slightly flushed.
“I’ve already told you there’s no need to be so formal,” Qin Zhaoyue’s smile deepened, her eyes sparkling. “Just call me Zhaoyue.”
Yan Zhibai was slightly taken aback. When he met those eyes that seemed to hold stars, his heart skipped a beat, and his voice involuntarily lowered.
"Then... Zhaoyue, you can call me Zhibai."
"good."
Their eyes locked, and a subtle, unspoken understanding filled the air.
One was gentle and polite, yet harbored an almost imperceptible flutter of excitement; the other, with a charming smile, concealed a deliberate flirtation.
The polite greetings exchanged back and forth, the words and phrases ordinary, yet the glances and tones added a touch of ambiguity.
Xiao Jiu couldn't help but shiver, and a layer of fine goosebumps rose on her arms.
When did her sixth sister start speaking so... softly?
It was so gentle it was almost affected, so gentle it made her teeth ache!
Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba instantly perked up, staring wide-eyed as they looked Yan Zhibai up and down.
Is this the man that Sixth Sister said she wanted to "seduce fiercely"?
Tsk tsk, he is indeed handsome, but he looks thin and doesn't seem strong.
"Zhibai, sit down and let's chat. We still have a whole day to wait." Qin Zhaoyue pointed to the empty seat next to her.
"Alright... I'll accept that without being impolite."
Yan Zhibai sat down as instructed, but as soon as his bottom touched the stool, he suddenly stood up, an embarrassed look on his face.
"Yan Zhibai has been impolite; I have not yet paid my respects to the three princes!"
The three children rolled their eyes in unison, and no one responded. Xiao Jiu even let out a clear, cold snort from her nose.
Yan Zhibai froze on the spot, his face burning.
He was so focused on the Sixth Princess that he did something so rude and foolish.
Just as he was about to bow and apologize, a soft, fair hand gently pressed on his wrist.
"It's nothing."
Qin Zhaoyue's voice carried a calming power, but the warmth from her palm made Yan Zhibai's heart tremble again.
“My younger siblings are easygoing and don’t care about these formalities, please sit down.”
As she spoke, she applied slight pressure with her hand, firmly pressing Yan Zhibai back into his seat.
Xiao Jiu stood to the side, her lips practically curling into a smirk.
Yes, when it comes to being rude, who can compare to you?
As Qin Zhaoyue helped the people sit down, she glanced at the three younger ones.
The threat in his eyes was crystal clear, blatantly conveying the message, "Try causing trouble if you dare."
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