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“Why doesn’t that talented brother from before solve this one as well? If you can solve this, I’ll admit you’re impressive.”

The students from the Imperial College ignored everyone. If they could solve it, they would have already shown up at Yunfei Academy; there was no need to wait until now.

Tang Jinghong also felt somewhat helpless; the question was too difficult, beyond his ability to solve.

The Emperor and the Empress smiled helplessly; their teacher had never covered this, so they couldn’t figure it out.

Chu Xuyuan and Chu Xuyao looked unanimously at Chu Qingzhi for help, “Sister Five…”

Chu Qingzhi whispered, “Twenty-three.” As well as the multiples of twenty-three, but introducing multiples to these ancient folks was another layer of new knowledge that didn’t need to be extended upon here.

The two immediately started counting on their fingers, and it really added up.

After exchanging a glance, Chu Xuyuan stood up, somewhat excitedly, and declared, “Twenty-three.”

All eyes in the hall converged on them as everyone began to calculate.

The dean stroked his beard, smiling broadly, “Correct answer, it is indeed twenty-three. Serve the dish.”

A servant announced loudly, “Serving Yang Fang Fish.”

This dish, where fish is steamed within a large cut of lamb, combining the flavors of lamb and fish with seasoning, is delicious beyond measure, and everyone wanted a taste.

Chu Qingzhi’s table, aside from answering their own question, had managed to snag four dishes from others, making them the top “harvesters” of the banquet. Many eyes looked their way, filled with envy.

Next, the banquet moved onto the second segment, guessing the gift packs.

The servant brought out three large gift packs and lined them up on the table. The packs contained food, daily necessities, books, and even some empty ones. Each person had a chance to guess once; whatever you guessed, you got.

This was everyone’s favorite part of the banquet, requiring no brainpower, and depending on your luck, you could walk away with something nice.

The servant placed three large gift packs on a half-person-tall table next to the dean, “Who wants to guess first?”

The crowd encouraged…

“Let the dean guess first!”

“Dean, bring us some good luck!”

The dean chuckled, “Alright, I’ll go first.” He pointed at the gift pack on the far left.

Upon opening, the servant announced, “Congratulations to the dean, you’ve got a bag of peanut candy.”

The dean placed the peanut candy on the table, “Now it’s your turn to test your luck.”

“By the way, I can tell you some good news. Among these gift packs, there are three excellent items: notes from the previous top imperial exam scorer, a rare book by Master Lu Xia, and a large gold ingot. Good luck to you all.”

Master Lu Xia was the first literary giant in the literary world. His books were considered classics by everyone, sought after by many scholars and already impossible to buy.

Obtaining one of his books could be considered the luckiest thing for a scholar, almost equivalent to scoring top three in the imperial exams.

Upon hearing the dean’s words, excitement flashed across everyone’s faces, even the usually composed students from the Imperial College couldn’t sit still, staring intently at the gift packs.

After replenishing a gift pack, the servant said, “Please continue to guess.”

Fang Mingyi rushed to stand up, “The one in the middle.”

Upon opening, the servant revealed, “Congratulations, you got ten pairs of chopsticks.”

Laughter erupted, “Haha, chopsticks.”

The servant handed the chopsticks to Fang Mingyi, “Congratulations, Young Master Fang.”

Fang Mingyi sighed in disappointment, “What’s there to congratulate, just my bad luck.”

The servant chuckled and trotted back.

In the race for the three excellent items, Xu Guannan also took his chance, “The one on the right.”

Upon opening, the servant exclaimed, “Ah! Congratulations to Brother Guannan, you’ve got Master Lu Xia’s rare book.”

The hall erupted…

“So easily obtained, I’m so envious. Why couldn’t it be me!”

Fang Mingyi incredulously looked at Xu Guannan, “How is your luck so good? I should’ve traded with you.”

Xu Guannan was also surprised, “I can copy it for you, fair enough?”

Fang Mingyi brightened up, “Fair enough, good brother.”

Song Qingyuan quickly said, “Brother Guannan, you can’t forget us.”

Xu Guannan generously declared, “I won’t. Anyone who wants it can copy a book later.”

“Thank you, Brother Guannan.”

After a while, Chu Xuyuan got his chance, “Open the one on the far left.”

Upon opening, the servant announced, “Congratulations, a piece of Duan inkstone.”

Duan inkstone was quite valuable. Chu Xuyuan happily accepted the inkstone, “Thank you.”

The young prince, interested, waved his hand, “I want to, I want to…”

This was Chu Qingzhi’s cute little charge, exuding nobility, so he needed to be accommodated. The dean said, “Let’s give this chance to the little one.”

Chu Qingzhi to the young prince, “You pick a gift pack, any one.”

The young prince pointed, “I want the middle one.”

Upon opening, the servant took out a ten-tael silver ingot, “Congratulations to the young master.”

The servant handed the silver ingot to the young prince.

The young prince, already familiar with money, held the silver ingot, looked at Chu Qingzhi and the Empress, wondering who to give it to since there was only one.

“Wait a minute.” Suddenly, the young prince called the servant back.

The servant turned, “Young master, what is it?”

The young prince handed the ingot to the servant, “Can you exchange this for two smaller ones? I want to give them away.”

Ah?

The servant didn’t know what to do and looked at the dean for guidance.

The dean nodded in approval.

So the servant exchanged the original ingot for two five-tael ingots and returned them to the young prince, “Is this okay now, young master?”

The young prince held one in each hand, furrowing his little brow, muttering, “It got smaller?”

This comment sent the room into laughter; the child was too adorable.

The young prince handed one silver ingot to Chu Qingzhi and the other to the Empress, not favoring one over the other, “Sister Chu, Mom, although it got smaller, there are more now. It’s for you.”

Both smiled and thanked him, “Thank you, Qi’er.”

The young prince waved his hand, “No thanks needed.”

The Empress, touched by holding the small silver ingot, “Qi’er is quite thoughtful.”

The Emperor gently held the Empress’s other hand, speaking with a hint of pride, “Of course, Qi’er is my son, after all.”

The Empress gave the Emperor a sidelong glance, her expression saying, “Give him a little sunshine, and he blossoms brightly,” before adding, “When we return, I’ll have this silver turned into jewelry to wear all the time.”

The Emperor gestured towards the small ingot in the Empress’s hand, “It would be its honor.”

The Empress, “…”

Tang Jinghong, seizing his opportunity, “Let’s open the one on the left.”

Upon opening, the package revealed a beautifully crafted sachet. The sachet was green with several blossoming begonias embroidered on it, featuring fifteen evenly spaced pleats, with cords made from thread running through the top. The ends of the cords were tasseled with a gradient effect, truly a sight to behold.

Tang Jinghong took the sachet and presented it to Chu Qingzhi, “This is for you.”

Chu Qingzhi genuinely liked the sachet, offering a smile, “Is this a case of ‘present Buddha with borrowed flowers’?”