TFWYH – Chapter 655 Victory is in Hand

The Emperor’s expression remained indifferent. “What does the Empress mean by this?”

The Empress smiled. “The Third Prince’s Consort has simply been fortunate in the previous rounds and never drew dance as her category. If she were to draw it now, it would be somewhat unfair to her. Rather than that, why don’t I propose a challenge instead? Whoever among them can solve it shall be the victor of this competition. What does Your Majesty think?”

Third Prince’s Consort: …

No one offers kindness without ulterior motives.

Would this old witch really be so considerate?

Still, dancing in her current condition truly would be difficult for her.

Thinking of this, the Third Prince’s Consort, who had initially wanted to object, remained silent instead.

The Emperor also felt the Empress’s words made sense, so he nodded in agreement. “Then we shall do as the Empress suggests.”

“Yes.” A sharp glint flashed through the Empress’s eyes as she instructed the palace maid beside her, “Bring out the Qiankun Eight Trigrams Box that Southern Man gifted as tribute last year.”

The maid nodded and quickly withdrew.

Only then did the Empress look once more toward the three noble ladies standing in the center, her smile gentle and refined.

“Last year, Southern Man presented a Qiankun Eight Trigrams Box as tribute, claiming that inside lay one of Southern Man’s treasured artifacts. However, no one in our great dynasty has been able to open it, and no one knows what is hidden inside. I found it quite interesting, so I requested it from His Majesty to see whether I could open it myself. Yet that object is astonishingly intricate. I exhausted every method and still could not unlock it. Today, whichever one of you can open it shall be declared the victor.”

Tang Wan, the Third Prince’s Consort, and Huangfu Rong’an were all stunned.

Not just them — even the officials below were startled, and whispers immediately spread throughout the hall.

They all knew of that object. Back when the Southern Man envoys had first presented it, not a single person had managed to open it. The Southern Man envoys had even mocked them for it, causing the court to lose immense face.

And now the Empress actually wanted three women to open it?

As if they possibly could!

No one had any confidence in the three ladies.

Or rather, in their hearts, if even men could not accomplish it, then women certainly could not either.

Hearing the surrounding whispers, the Third Prince’s Consort slightly frowned. After respectfully bowing to the Empress, she asked, “Mother Empress, what if none of the three of us can open it?”

The Empress smiled. “Even if none of you can open it, it will still count as your victory. You may each simply choose one of these three treasures. After all, today’s purpose is merely to broaden everyone’s horizons. Winning or losing is not that important.”

“Yes, this daughter-in-law obeys.” Only then did the Third Prince’s Consort quietly relax in relief.

She had heard the Third Prince mention the Qiankun Eight Trigrams Box before. It was notoriously difficult.

Even all the officials had failed to open it, let alone her.

This arrangement suited her just fine. She only wanted the Bright Moon Night Pearl anyway and had no interest in the other treasures.

Not long afterward, the palace maid returned with the Qiankun Eight Trigrams Box.

Tang Wan lifted her eyes to look at it, and the corner of her eye twitched violently.

What the hell… isn’t this basically a Luban lock from her modern era?

Just this?

Alright then.

This round is mine for sure.

The Empress still had no idea that this was the sort of thing Tang Wan had already played with countless times in her previous life.

She waved for the maid to carry the Qiankun Eight Trigrams Box before the three noble ladies and smilingly asked, “Which of you would like to go first?”

Huangfu Rong’an immediately spoke up. “Imperial Grandmother, let me go first. After all, some people may never even have seen such a thing before and probably wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

As she spoke, she cast a disdainful glance toward Tang Wan. The target of her words was obvious without needing to say it outright.

Tang Wan: …

Her fingers were getting itchy. Could she poke this girl’s eyes out?

The Empress smiled and nodded. “Then Rong’an shall go first.”

“Yes!” Huangfu Rong’an picked up the Qiankun Eight Trigrams Box and began fiddling with it.

Back when Southern Man presented the tribute last year, she had been quite close with the envoy’s daughter.

Although she had never personally seen the Qiankun Eight Trigrams Box before, she had heard the envoy’s daughter mention the unlocking steps.

Today, she was determined to claim all three treasures.

Huangfu Rong’an thought smugly to herself, the delight on her face impossible to conceal.