Everyone was still thinking about what had just happened but didn't dare to speak rashly. Even Mrs. Yao didn't expect that her daughter had become so familiar with the Empress Dowager.
One could even say she was bold.
With such thoughts in mind, they turned their eyes back to the center of the venue.
There stood a scarecrow about the same size as the Yao sisters behind each of them. Each sister held several sharp daggers in their hands.
The eldest Miss Yao idly twirled the dagger in her hand. Even more spine - chilling was the second Miss Yao, who was actually smiling.
The two sisters looked like beautiful but fierce demons. Those who had previously considered marriage proposals lost their nerve and were extremely scared.
Miss Jiang was so delicate that she stood stiffly in the middle, shivering.
Many noble young men felt sorry for her but didn't dare to step forward.
The air was dead silent, and everyone held their breath.
In an instant, the daggers in the hands of the two Yao sisters flew out straight towards each other. They passed by Jiang Qiong and were nailed into the scarecrows behind them.
The scarecrow behind Yao Yao was even pierced through. One dagger flew to a young man's feet and was stuck into the ground, astonishing everyone.
If it had accidentally hit someone, they would surely have lost their lives.
Jiang Qiong couldn't see. She only heard the terrifying whistling sound of the daggers cutting through the air and the trembling sound of metal. She had no idea if it was over.
She didn't dare to move at all, fearing that a single misstep would get her hurt by the knives.
Shi Muwang was also shocked. Were they playing such a dangerous game? The daggers had flown past Jiang Qiong's body.
Moreover, Yao Kun was so handsome! She smiled sweetly and boldly, hitting all of Shi Muwang's aesthetic points.
Shi Muwang quietly lifted her large sleeve to hide behind it and secretly fangirled. But accidentally, she had a strange eye - contact with Huo Qizhou across the pond. She quickly sat up straight and stopped smiling like an indulgent aunt.
The National Teacher naturally noticed her uneasiness and just tilted his head slightly.
Ji Heng had some memorials to learn to read, so he left first. Huo Qizhou couldn't just leave suddenly when someone came to talk to him, so he had to stay.
"Good heavens, Yao Yao, what are you doing!" A young man angrily questioned for his goddess in his heart.
Hearing this voice, Jiang Qiong felt as if she was suddenly saved. Her body went limp, and she fell to the ground. Her delicate hands trembled as she untied the black cloth covering her face, and two streams of clear tears flowed down.
Liu Tong quickly stepped forward to check on her and comforted her for a while.
"What am I doing? Miss Jiang herself asked the Empress Dowager for this grace, saying she wanted to see a little trick of my sister and me. How could I refuse?" Yao Yao took off her blindfold, a hint of confusion showing between her beautiful eyebrows.
Liu Tong was about to open his mouth to seek an explanation for Jiang Qiong, but these words got stuck in his throat. He stammered for a long time but couldn't say a word.
"Couldn't you choose another performance? You had to do this one?"
"Where would that leave the Empress Dowager? How dare I use something ordinary to deceive the Empress Dowager? Besides, as the daughter of a military general, this is what I'm best at. If it were something else, it might be even more dangerous." Yao Yao smiled and bowed to Shi Muwang.
Jiang Qiong knew that she was in the wrong no matter how she put it. After all, it was her who had made this request. She didn't want the matter to escalate and have a bad influence, so she said,
"It's all my fault. I'm timid but curious and just wanted to see Sister Yao's unique skill. It's not Sister Yao's fault. She only asked the Empress Dowager for permission to satisfy me."
She sobbed softly and tried her best to hold back, looking extremely delicate, which attracted the pity of many young men.
Yao Yao was speechless. Well, this girl had found a chance to play the victim. She gave Liu Tong, who was squatting down like a protective dog, a sidelong glance.
"I'm really worried. Why didn't you step forward and take her place just now? You're only acting tough now. Your intentions are really something, tsk tsk." Yao Yao said and shook her head.
Liu Tong blushed with anger at her words. One of his fingers trembled as he pointed at her. Another young man stepped forward to pull him back and give him an excuse to save face.
It was obvious that after today, there would surely be another joke in the noble circle, saying that Liu Tong had tried to be a hero but had instead embarrassed himself.
Liu Tong slunk away into the crowd and hid.
Jiang Qiong was suddenly left standing there, looking rather out of place. She didn't know whether she should stand up or not. She wiped her tears, staggered to her feet, gave a delicate and apologetic smile to everyone, and then turned to bow to Shi Muwang.
"It's my fault, disturbing everyone's fun. Please punish me, Empress Dowager."
She had decided to go all out. Since she was going to play the victim, she would do it thoroughly. Moreover, she thought that although the Empress Dowager seemed overbearing on weekdays, she was not an unreasonable person.
Everyone was a bit surprised to hear her say this. Who didn't know the temper of the Empress Dowager? Asking for punishment from her? That was surely asking for trouble!
Shi Muwang was just having fun with Yao Kun. After the little girl had thrown the daggers, she ran to Shi Muwang's side with the green blindfold that Yao Yao had specially prepared for her. She walked so smoothly as if her eyes weren't covered at all.
Shi Muwang liked this strange little girl even more, so she waved for her to sit beside her.
Yao Kun seemed to like the green silk blindfold very much. When Shi Muwang asked her if she wanted to take it off, she shook her head like a rattle, which made people laugh.
Ji Ling, who was sitting next to Shi Muwang, was very unhappy. Why was this big sister still acting coquettishly with the Empress Dowager? She pouted and looked discontentedly at Ji Huang, who was only focused on eating.
Keep eating. The Empress Dowager will be snatched away!
Suddenly being called out, Shi Muwang was quite annoyed. This little girl was not as cute as her Yao Kun at all. She probably had hundreds of scheming thoughts and even wanted to take advantage of her.
Sure enough, before she could say anything, someone jumped out to plead for mercy.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, you mustn't. This was not Miss Jiang's intention. She didn't expect that the game Miss Yao mentioned would be like this. It's only natural for her to be scared."
The young man, dressed like a scholar, looked serious as if he was going through a life - and - death crisis. Everyone was quietly looking at Shi Muwang.
Shi Muwang was instantly furious. What had she done? Why was this person targeting her?
Want to act? Want to be a hero? Why drag her into being the bad guy?
Shi Muwang sneered, "I didn't say I was going to punish you. Why are you coming to ask for a beating yourself? Does Miss Jiang have some strange preference?"
Jiang Qiong turned pale.
"You yourself said you wanted to see Miss Yao's unique skill. Miss Yao was afraid of hurting you, so she chose something she was good at and fun for everyone to watch. I approved it and satisfied your request. Now you're coming to ask for punishment. What do you mean by this? Are you indirectly blaming me?" Shi Muwang's voice suddenly rose.
The scholar even dropped the folding fan in his hand.
Carrying a fan in winter is either crazy or crazy. He can't even act right. What a brainless person.