Xiao Yun couldn't help but chuckle when he heard Wang Qingyao's suggestion. His wife was truly devious.
However, judging by the Second Princess's expression, she didn't seem to mind much. Could she really restore a Rubik's Cube blindfolded?
Xiao Yun couldn't help but break out in a sweat for Wang Qingyao.
The envoy from the Xia Kingdom produced another Rubik's Cube. Both cubes were presented to the Emperor, who randomly scrambled them. He then ordered two black blindfolds to be brought.
Two maids were about to tie the blindfolds on Wang Qingyao and the Second Princess. The Second Princess suddenly reached out and gripped the blindfold, looking at Wang Qingyao and asking, "Princess Ding'an, if we tie, how will it be counted?"
Wang Qingyao shamelessly replied, "Of course, it counts as my win. I'm only playing with a Rubik's Cube for the first time today."
The Second Princess coldly curled her lips. As expected, Princess Ding'an had this in mind.
"Fine," the Second Princess sneered, "if it's a tie, then Princess, you win."
The Second Princess had originally intended to spare Wang Qingyao some face, not wanting her to lose too badly. But now, she couldn't afford to be polite.
She lightly brushed the black blindfold, creating a small slit.
The blindfold was originally two layers. By creating a slit, the Second Princess reduced it to one layer. While not perfectly clear, one could vaguely make out shapes, which was more than enough to deal with a novice like Wang Qingyao.
Once both their eyes were covered with blindfolds, the Emperor had the Rubik's Cubes handed to them, and with a command, the competition began.
Wang Qingyao fiddled with the cube for a few moments, and the feel returned.
She dared not underestimate the Second Princess. What if she knew how to solve it blindfolded?
So, as soon as she felt the familiar grip, she used her clairvoyant eyes to restore it in a flash.
Gasps and exclamations rippled through the crowd, along with hushed whispers.
The Second Princess was immensely pleased with herself.
She stared at the Rubik's Cube in her hands, her movements unhurried. To maintain an appearance of authenticity, she even deliberately made a few wrong turns.
These people must be marveling at how skilled she was, even blindfolded!
The Second Princess was nearing the end of her performance, with only two more moves to go. It was then that she inadvertently glanced at Wang Qingyao beside her, only to see her holding a restored Rubik's Cube, the blindfold already removed from her eyes, smiling at her.
The Second Princess was struck by lightning, her mind went blank, and her fingers felt as if they had turned to stone, completely immobile.
"Yinyue, Yinyue," the Eldest Princess, Jinyang, whispered to remind the Second Princess.
Princess Yinyue snapped back to reality and, with great difficulty, completed the final two moves.
She tore off the blindfold and, filled with humiliation and disbelief, stared at Wang Qingyao.
Wang Qingyao smiled at her, "Second Princess, you are too slow."
The palace attendant responsible for timing loudly announced, "Princess Ding'an... um..."
He had intended to state Wang Qingyao's time for restoring the Rubik's Cube, but Wang Qingyao had been too fast. In ancient times, there was no concept of seconds or minutes.
He stammered for a moment, then thought of a comparison: "Very fast, like the time it takes me to walk from here to there."
He gestured, and Wang Qingyao observed the distance he indicated, which was roughly about a minute's walk.
"Princess Yinyue took approximately five times longer than Princess Ding'an. Therefore, Princess Ding'an wins this competition!"
"This is impossible!" Princess Yinyue, enraged, pointed at Wang Qingyao and exclaimed, "You cheated! You definitely cheated!"
Heh, Wang Qingyao hadn't cheated. She had an unfair advantage!
As Princess Yinyue spoke, she looked towards the Xia Kingdom's envoy. Princess Jinyang subtly shook her head, and none of the other Xia envoys voiced any agreement. At that moment, she knew Wang Qingyao was truly faster and more skilled than her.
This was more unbearable to her than Xiao Yun calling her ugly!
It was important to note that Princess Yinyue was no ordinary princess in the Xia Kingdom. She was also the only princess in Xia who could participate in state affairs, possessing exceptional intelligence and unparalleled strategy!
"Second Princess, a bet is a bet! You cannot go back on your word!"
Princess Yinyue angrily declared, "Let's have another round!"
Wei Qing then stepped forward and said, "Princess Yinyue, the Rubik's Cube is an item from your Xia Kingdom. It was already unfair for Princess Ding'an to compete with you in this. You lost, so you lost. How can you refuse to admit it and demand another round?"
Others from the Great Sheng also chimed in.
"Exactly, exactly."
"Can't afford to lose, can you? And you're a princess!"
"Speaking of which, Princess Ding'an is truly remarkable."
"Yes, she's incredibly skilled!"
"We originally thought Princess Yinyue was so formidable!"
Princess Yinyue's face turned crimson.
When had she ever suffered such humiliation?
Princess Jinyang, at this moment, displayed the demeanor of an Eldest Princess.
She nodded towards Wang Qingyao and then addressed the Emperor, "My sister has lost this round. According to our previous wager, my sister will no longer seek a husband in Great Sheng."
Princess Yinyue glared angrily at Princess Jinyang, who stood straight, not looking at her.
Wang Qingyao's victory over Princess Yinyue delighted the Emperor, who laughed heartily, "Since the Second Princess will no longer seek a husband in Great Sheng, I shall not detain the Eldest Princess either. You sisters are deeply affectionate and surely cannot bear to be separated."
Princess Jinyang smiled gently, "A woman leaving home to marry is bound to be separated from her family; this is unavoidable. Jinyang has long admired Your Majesty and implores you to grant my wish."
Well, well!