The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 147 Riddles
Fanlou covers nearly four acres, is three stories high with five interconnected floors, and offers a full range of dining, drinking, and entertainment options. It is warm yet not crowded, making it a perfect place for the powerful and wealthy to have fun.

Inside the hall, the variety show was in full swing. One actor balanced a long pole on his shoulder, allowing another actor of small stature to climb to the top and perform various difficult moves, drawing cheers from the audience.

Xiao Yi thought that it would be perfect to send these two to guard the army, as they could get a good view from any vantage point.

Guo Xin pulled him up to the third floor of the South Building. There, he saw beautiful lanterns stretching along the corridor, with riddles hanging under them. Li Chongjin was accompanying Madam Ma to look at the lanterns, looking around listlessly.

"Look, shall we try guessing riddles later?"

"it is good."

Xiao Yi stopped at the right moment and said, "I need to talk to the shopkeeper about something first."

Guo Xin then let go of her hand and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Book a private room for a friend."

"It'll be hard to book a room tonight. Should we ask my brother-in-law to help?"

"Probably not."

Xiao Yi walked to the railing and waved, intending to find a servant to invite the manager of the place. Unexpectedly, the manager arrived behind him in no time.

"I have met you, Xiao Lang."

You actually remember me?

"The owner has always wanted to thank Xiao Lang for helping him come up with a new shop name that is catchy and has greatly improved business, but unfortunately he hasn't been able to find an opportunity."

Xiao Yi knew that Yan Jinqing had been looking for an opportunity to be reinstated.

But he himself had no chance to make a contribution at the moment and did not want to cause trouble, so he did not take the bait and said, "I have two friends who want to book a private room, but they are full?"

"Now that you've arrived, there's always a place for you. The Guiyue Pavilion is on the third floor of the East Building. I'll lead the way."

Going downstairs again, Xiao Yi saw Li Zhaoning and An Yuanzhen still outside watching the Aoshan Lantern, their cheeks red from the cold. He then asked the shopkeeper to bring two hand warmers.

"Come in quickly."

Are there any seats left?

"There's a private room left."

An Yuanzhen asked, "Didn't a young woman we know just now say she'd make a reservation for us? Should we wait for her?"

Li Zhaoning said, "Ignore him."

A fat man dressed in brocade outside the door immediately complained, "You dog of a shopkeeper, isn't this nonsense? I've been waiting for two hours!"

The shopkeeper quickly gestured for his servant to go and appease Xiao Yi, then led him around the main hall and up to the east tower.

"Make way, distinguished guest, please ascend the stairs."

Xiao Yi felt his clothes being tugged. He turned around and saw that An Yuanzhen had grabbed the left corner of his robe.

Then, Li Zhaoning grabbed the right corner of his clothes.

There was no other way but to drag the two of them into the private room, thankfully they weren't heavy.

Next to the private room were two connecting rooms, which were used for the guards and maids to rest.

Pushing open the carved wooden door, a faint scent of pine fills the air. A bronze charcoal stove stands in the corner, radiating warmth that is very comforting. Passing the screen, the small pavilion is open on both sides. To the west is a wooden railing, offering a view of the performances in the main hall, while to the east is a window, overlooking the lights of the Imperial Street. Pastries and snacks are laid out on a square table, and a copper basin sits on a small table next to it, steaming hot water, with a hand towel hanging nearby.

"Great, Xiao Yi, I like it here, it's well arranged."

An Yuanzhen walked around as soon as she entered, sat down on a low couch, and asked her palace maid to massage her feet, while asking, "Are there any rooms for lodging here?"

The innkeeper quickly replied, "Yes, we have side rooms in the south building of our inn. If you would like to stay in a better place, we also have an inn with a courtyard on the west side."

"Xiao Yi, if I donate some more money, can I move out? I don't want to live in Taiping Palace anymore."

"This is not my responsibility."

Xiao Yi thought to himself that she was always so loose-lipped, and now Yan Jinqing must know about his relationship with the Empress.

"You all sit here for a while, I'll keep the military leader company first."

Li Zhaoning said, "I'll take you there. I want to see the riddles in the corridor."

"it is good."

As the two left the private room, An Yuanzhen called out "Hey!" from behind, wanting to follow, but was stopped by a palace maid who held her foot.

A long corridor connects the East Building and the South Building, with lanterns illuminating the area like a galaxy.

Li Zhaoning looked up, her embroidered mouth slightly open, and softly recited the riddles.

"Two rows of distant trees reflected in the mountains, a light boat on the calm water... It's the character '慧' (wisdom). These are all too simple, they can't stump you."

"Don't worry, there's not a single one here that I can guess."

Li Zhaoning covered her mouth and laughed, scolding, "Judging from your attitude, I thought you were going to say that nothing can stump you."

"After all, he's just a warrior."

"Then I'll give you an easy one."

As Li Zhaoning walked and looked around, when she reached the vicinity of the South Building, she saw a riddle swaying. She stood on tiptoe and raised her hand to try to hold it steady, but her sleeve fell down, revealing a fair arm.

"ah."

She quickly withdrew her hand, pulled down her sleeve, and lowered her head in embarrassment.

Xiao Yi then solved the riddle, handed it to her, and said with a smile, "Looks like you were stumped by it?"

Li Zhaoning glanced at it, calmed down, and said, "This is simple, you guess."

"Ten years of longing... I can't guess."

"These are objects you often see."

"What I often see?"

"As a reminder, the answer to the riddle lies in the poem, 'Bells and drums, delicacies and jade are not worth treasuring; I only wish to be drunk forever and never wake up.'"

"Is it... a drum?"

"so smart."

With this compliment, Li Zhaoning suddenly raised her hand and gently patted his head.

Xiao Yi was taken aback.

Li Zhaoning keenly sensed something and asked, "You don't like it when other people touch your head?"

"Well, I don't like it."

"Because you are a wild horse, a spirited horse, and hate being tamed?"

Li Zhaoning wanted to reach out again.

Xiao Yi grabbed her hand and made it clear with his eyes that he didn't like being touched on the head.

Li Zhaoning hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Then, if I still consider myself your master, will you be angry?"

"meeting."

They stared at each other for a moment. She seemed to want to challenge him, but in the end, she lowered her head and said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Tch, can't you take a joke?"

She used her charm, and the little misunderstanding from before vanished without a trace.

Li Zhaoning suddenly pointed to another riddle and said, "Look, this riddle is very fitting for the occasion."

Xiao Yi glanced at it and saw that it read "Show off your skills before the master," and couldn't help but smile slightly, saying, "How fitting."

"Can you guess?"

I can't guess.

"sort."

"Huh? What's that character?"

"Give me your hand." Li Zhaoning suddenly pulled his hand and gently drew a word on his palm with her index finger.

It felt a little itchy, and her faint fragrance filled the air around my nose. When my gaze fell upon her, her eyelashes fluttered a few times, obscuring her eyes, which seemed to hold the water of autumn.

Just then, Li Zhaoning finished writing the last stroke, seemingly unable to hide her shyness, and turned around, leaving only a beautiful back view.

"I forgot about my stepmother. See you later."

Xiao Yi stood there, stunned.

After a moment, he turned around, and a person walked out from around the corner.

It is An Yuanzhen.

What are you doing here?

"I went around it, of course. Humph, you're so mean."

"How am I bad?"

“I saw it all with my own eyes just now. You clearly know that Youniang admires you, but you just won’t speak up first.”

As she spoke, An Yuanzhen approached, extended a finger, and tried to press his forehead, but after pointing twice, she didn't dare to actually poke it.

Finally, she snorted again and said, "I see through your evil intentions. You dislike her because her family has fallen on hard times, and you don't want to marry her. You want to wait for her to propose to be your concubine. How wicked you are."

Xiao Yi didn't really dislike Li Zhaoning's family background; it's just that after experiencing more, he wasn't so easily captivated and didn't feel that he couldn't live without anyone.

Whoever gets fascinated first will make more concessions; he doesn't intend to be the one being manipulated.

"Not at all, it's just that I'm afraid the sentiments I can offer won't be enough to satisfy Miss Li."

"I understand, she wants your whole heart, but you still want to share it with someone else."

An Yuanzhen chuckled and whispered in his ear, "So, the Empress Dowager doesn't want your true feelings, just your body, and you gave it to her?"

Xiao Yi touched his nose.

Unexpectedly, An Yuanzhen, who seemed dull-witted, was actually very perceptive.

"What? Not saying anything? I guessed it. Ha, you dog of a man."

Xiao Yi thought she was a bit arrogant. He stared at her for a while until she turned her head away and dared not look him in the eye again.

"What? You have nothing to say to me, but do you want to eat me?"

"If Youniang doesn't find you when she goes back, she'll come looking for you soon."

"We haven't done anything, so can't I stay with you?"

"Haven't you heard the rumors circulating in the capital?"

"I'm really wronged." An Yuanzhen pouted and muttered, "Anyway, you and I are innocent, whether others believe it or not is up to them."

"It's always good to be careful, like being in a melon patch or under suspicious circumstances."

"No way, I'm going to tell Youniang that you took liberties with me, so she'll give up on you and won't be bullied by you again."

Xiao Yi wasn't afraid of this threat; he just found An Yuanzhen quite amusing.

Just then, Li Chongjin's loud shouting came from the south building.

"He must have gone to hide from drinking. Let's send the manager to call him."

Xiao Yi then said, "Go."

“I really told her to go.”

"Goodbye."

He casually waved his hand, turned around, and returned to the private room in the south building, just in time to see Guo Xin walking out of the carved door.

She had probably drunk a glass of wine; her pretty face was slightly flushed, giving her a different kind of beauty.

Xiao Yi was overwhelmed with requests.

"Why did you take so long?"

"I chatted with a friend for a while. What about you? Why did you come out?"

"Who told you to leave me to watch them together like that? If I had known, I would have gone with you to pick up our friend. Come on, let's go guess some riddles."

Xiao Yi had just finished solving the riddles and was planning to suggest other activities.

Li Chongjin followed him out, laughing heartily, "Great riddles! Everyone come and see who can guess the most!"

Zhang Yongde and Guo Siniang both smiled slightly and waved their hands.

Ma looked helpless and waved her hand.

Xiao Yi noticed all of this, but Li Chongjin said, "Madam, why are you beckoning? Come here."

"Guess! Let's see how many Jinlang can guess."

Suddenly, a clear voice came from the west side of the corridor, saying, "May I also guess the riddles?"

Turning around, I saw Wang Chengxun approaching.

Xiao Yi thought he looked more handsome than usual. Upon closer inspection, he realized that he had applied powder and had a large red flower in his hair. He wondered where the flower had come from in this cold weather.

The atmosphere changed immediately upon Wang Chengxun's arrival.

Li Chongjin, as if he were determined to win, covered the slip of paper with his hand before Wang Chengxun could even look up at the riddle, and shouted loudly, "Wait, we have to look at it together. I'll count to three."

While counting, he let Guo Xin and Madam Ma look first, then he looked at it himself, and then let Xiao Yi look at it. After he finished counting, he didn't let Wang Chengxun look at it.

Wang Chengxun smiled sarcastically, calmly raised his hand, and said, "Everyone, guess first. If you guess wrong, I will guess next."

Seeing the two acting like they were performing a variety show, Xiao Yi was at a loss for words and entered a dazed state. He wondered how much it cost to book a private room at Fanlou.

Now, only Zhang Wan can be considered his woman. If he uses her money to pay for outsiders, the only person he would feel guilty towards is Zhang Wan.

Suddenly, I was stepped on by a small, sharp boot.

"What are you thinking about?" Guo Xin tugged at his shoulder and whispered, "Do you know the answer to this riddle?"

"sort."

"Hmm? Write it on my hand."

Xiao Yi looked down and saw that she had her palms outstretched and placed behind her back.

He hesitated for a moment, feeling that the little girl seemed much more proactive tonight than before... Guo Xin kicked him again.

Quietly extend your finger and write down the answer to the riddle.

"I guessed it! It's the character '捃'. I'm ahead of you now. Let's guess the next one."

Amidst exclamations of praise, Xiao Yi quietly wrote the character "鼓" (drum) on Guo Xin's palm.

He knows all of these riddles.

In the end, Guo Xin was the winner.

This drew high praise from Wang Chengxun and Li Chongjin.

"Fifth Sister is truly intelligent and kind-hearted; I am completely humbled by her."

"Do you need to tell me? Fifth Sister has always been clever and quick-witted."

As if with a deeper meaning, Ma smiled and said, "Fifth Sister, it's as if you have divine assistance. Congratulations on winning the first prize."

Guo Xin was still not satisfied and turned to Xiao Yi, saying, "Give me a compliment too."

"It turns out that Wu Niang is not only skilled in Cuju (ancient Chinese football), Shuanglu (backgammon), Chuiwan (ancient Chinese football), and Touhu (pitch-pot), but also a master at solving riddles. She can be called a 'five-time wonder'."

"Pooh."

Although Guo Xin was annoyed, her eyes crinkled with joy, and she secretly said, "I'm really good at those four skills."

(End of this chapter)