Chapter 111: The Answer Revealed

Xiao Jian did not know the relationship between Xue Jiaoyue and Xue Fanzhi. Seeing Xue Jiaoyue’s look of surprise, he felt as if he had grasped something and asked, "Who are you talking about? That person beside the Ninth Prince!?"

Xue Jiaoyue did not know if she should speak, but she could no longer lie. She had not expected to attract Xiao Jian's attention!

"That is my eighth sister, my family's Eighth Young Lady!"

"She is the Xue Eighth Young Lady!?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Jiaoyue realized that Xiao Jian knew of Xue Fanzhi, even if he did not recognize her. She nodded and said, "It is her; we are twins! My eighth sister only just arrived from our hometown a short while ago. It is quite unfortunate—she was even robbed by paupers when she arrived and nearly didn't make it back!"

Recalling Minglan’s warning, she added with lingering resentment, "Fortunately, she ran into Princess Minglan, who saved my sister!"

As she finished speaking, the people around her displayed various expressions. This was to be expected, as everyone had heard rumors about this incident, and the rumors clearly pointed to the Seventh Young Lady, Xue!

Xiao Jian knew that Xue Jiaoyue was trying to clear her own name, but such a stain was not so easily washed away. He smiled and asked, "So you are twins. I wonder how she and the Ninth Prince came to know each other?"

Wang Weiwei thought Xue Jiaoyue was rather foolish. Even if one did not get along with one's sister, one should not air it in front of outsiders. Her own family had sisters she didn't get along with, but to the outside world, one still had to protect the family's reputation.

Xue Jiaoyue, however, cared for nothing but stepping on Xue Fanzhi. She saw no issue with her words and paid no attention to the expressions of others. She only cared that Xiao Jian not misunderstand her. Hearing that he did not seem to, she shook her head and smiled: "That, I do not know!"

Xiao Jian thought to himself that the Ninth Prince’s conduct was truly baffling. What exactly was so special about this Xue Eighth Young Lady?

Just then, he heard Xue Jiaoyue ask, "Your Highness, you did write down my birthday, didn't you!?"

Xiao Jian was taken aback, then smiled: "Naturally. A gentleman keeps his word; how could I deceive you?"

Xue Jiaoyue hurriedly explained, "That is not what I meant. I am just curious: why were they allowed to go up? They must have answered correctly, but what did the Eighth Young Lady write?"

Xiao Jian shook his head; he wanted to know as well.

Feng Ling, annoyed by Xue Jiaoyue monopolizing Xiao Jian's attention, said coldly, "Isn't that simple? The answer will be announced in a moment!"

Xue Jiaoyue glanced at her, then turned back to Xiao Jian with a smile: "I am so looking forward to the answer. I truly want to know what date this benefactor will declare, and how he intends to convince everyone!"

Xiao Jian thought the same. If the answer could not convince him, he would tear this boat apart.

No sooner had Xue Jiaoyue spoken than people on scattered pleasure boats began shouting at the large ship: "On what grounds were they the ones who answered correctly? What did they even write?"

"Exactly! Is it not a sham? Why haven't they announced the correct answer yet!"

"Announce the answer! We are all waiting..."

Gradually, the clamor died down as the music and dance on the deck of the large ship ceased. A man dressed as a wealthy steward emerged. Everyone recognized him as the one who had set the riddle and the one who had invited Qi Zhao and Xue Fanzhi aboard.

His appearance signaled that the answer was about to be revealed. The crowd stopped urging him and fixed their eyes upon him.

The man cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, please be patient. I am about to announce the answer!"

Are you blind? We had already stopped clamoring!

Someone shouted, "Just announce it already, enough with the nonsense!"

Many others echoed this sentiment. The vicinity grew chaotic once more.

The man restored order again before saying, "The answer is: my birthday!"

"What, your birthday? What kind of ridiculous day is your birthday?" Someone who heard the answer felt swindled and cursed directly.

Many others followed suit: "Have you no shame? How is a servant's birthday a significant day?"

"Exactly! Whose boots are you trying to lick?"

"How could the most important day be a servant's birthday?"

Only Xiao Jian, hearing this, felt something was strange. Was it truly a birthday? He scrutinized Xue Jiaoyue.

Because the man had not fully explained, Xue Jiaoyue was also anxious to know what was going on. She watched the large ship intently and did not notice Xiao Jian’s gaze.

The man on the boat, both ashamed and angry, shouted, "Who said it was *my* birthday? What was the question?"

The crowd thought for a moment and shouted back: "What is the important day on the ninth day of the second lunar month in the year of Wuyin!"

The man said impatiently, "That’s it! The answer is *my* birthday. If you put them together, don't you know what day it is?"

*What important day is the ninth day of the second lunar month in the year of Wuyin? The answer is "my birthday."* Anyone who wrote "my birthday" was correct.

It meant that for the benefactor, this date was likely the birthday of a loved one, making it highly significant. And for any individual, wasn't the day one was born a particularly significant and special day?

*So that’s it,* some sighed.

For Xue Jiaoyue, it was a realization of "as expected." She exclaimed: "I see! That is why Xue the Eighth could answer correctly. She is my twin, so we were born on the same day. She must have written the day of her birth. This Xue the Eighth, she really has no shame. What kind of important day is her birthday..."

As she said this, she wanted to bite her own tongue off. If Xue Fanzhi’s birthday was not an important day, what did that make hers?

Yet, at home, Xue Fanzhi’s birthday had never been considered an important day.

This benefactor was simply insane to pose such a question. Fortunately, she had answered it too.

Thinking of this, Xue Jiaoyue suddenly felt something was wrong. She looked back at Xiao Jian, belatedly realizing: "Your Highness, this is not right. Didn't we have the same answer? Why did they only call for Xue Fanzhi and not us?"

Xiao Jian: "..."

It really was the day of her birth. If only he had listened to her, but who knew the benefactor would be so whimsical? How could such a common day be considered an important day?

He did not speak, and the people beside him felt a deep sense of regret; if only they had listened to her and written that down.

Wang Yiyi and Feng Ling wore expressions of resentment. It really was the day the Seventh Young Lady Xue was born. The benefactor clearly valued this day. They wondered who the person the benefactor cared about was, that it happened to coincide with Xue Jiaoyue’s.

Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Xue Jiaoyue did not look at them, so she did not know what they were thinking. Not having received an answer from Xiao Jian, she asked again: "Is this benefactor toying with us? Everyone had the same answer, so why did he let Xue Fanzhi on the boat and not us?"

Xiao Jian could not tell her that he hadn't actually written it down, could he? That would make him a man of broken promises, and how could he hold his head up in front of women after that?

He said, "Perhaps it is because the Ninth Prince is of high birth. My mother was an adopted daughter, and the world values such things. I expect this benefactor recognizes us!"

He sighed and added, "He must recognize us; otherwise, who would dare to promote themselves so brazenly here!" The benefactor must be of extraordinary status and could naturally discover his and Xiao Yi’s identities.