Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

The East Palace was shrouded in silence late at night. Thick white snow accumulated on the glazed tiles at the eaves, shining coldly in the moonlight.

Inside the hall, the candlelight flickered, casting Chu Ning's slender figure on the carved screen.

He stood by the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the old plum tree in the courtyard that was bent by the snow. His expression was calm, without any sign of anxiety.

"Why hasn't Jia Yu come back yet?" He whispered to himself, tapping lightly on the window frame with his fingertips.

The tea on the table had already gone cold. The eunuch standing beside carefully replaced it with a new cup of tea, but did not dare to make a sound to disturb him.

Suddenly, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the hall, and then Jia Yu hurried in, shrouded in cold air.

His face was filled with unconcealed excitement, and before he could even brush the snow off his shoulders, he bowed and saluted:

"Your Highness, there's news!"

Chu Ning turned around, a gleam in his eyes: "How?"

Jia Yu lowered his voice and said, "The envoys from the Three Kingdoms really couldn't hold back today. They not only went to the Imperial Observatory, but also visited several officials from the Ministry of Revenue, and even went to the Hanlin Academy to browse ancient books."

"But—" He raised his lips with a hint of sarcasm: "Judging from Sima Hui's expression when he left, I'm afraid he gained nothing."

"Hahahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Ning couldn't help but burst into laughter, and his laughter was particularly clear and bright in the quiet East Palace.

"I didn't expect that Princess Xiuning and Tian'er's questions would stump them! With just these abilities, they dare to stir up trouble in the land of Great Chu? That's simply wishful thinking!"

He walked over to the desk and tapped it lightly with his fingers. "Jia Yu, from now on, before the coronation ceremony, you will escort them to the post station every day with the Jinyiwei. Make sure those three great scholars are so busy that they have no time to collude with our officials."

A hint of coldness flashed in his eyes: "I want to see what other waves they can make."

Jia Yu bowed and said solemnly, "Your humble servant obeys your command!"

The three great scholars were unlucky to meet Wu Xiuning and Chu Tian.

Jia Yu smiled secretly in his heart and left with a look of watching a show.

The next day, the snow finally stopped.

The entire imperial city was covered in silver, with crystal icicles hanging from the eaves, reflecting colorful light in the morning light.

Just after the hour of Chen, a team of Jinyiwei escorted a purple carriage slowly towards the post station.

The horse's hooves made a "crunching" sound as they stepped on the snow, and the copper bells under the eaves of the car jingled with the bumps.

The carriage stopped in front of the posthouse. When the curtain was lifted, the first person to jump out was a little girl about six years old.

She was wearing a crimson brocade jacket with a circle of snow-white fox fur at the collar, which made her little face look even more delicate.

A pair of bright almond-shaped eyes, with a hint of cunning in her glance, this is Princess Wu Xiuning of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

She turned around and reached out to help a smaller boy down from the car.

The boy was about three years old, wrapped in a dark blue mink fur coat. His round face was slightly reddened by the cold wind, but he had a serious expression of a little adult.

He is the crown prince of Chu State - Chu Tian.

"Brother Chu Tian, do you think those three old antiques have found the answer?" Wu Xiuning tilted his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Chu Tian shook his head, his childish voice filled with conviction: "How is this possible? Those questions were posed by my father himself. I searched the entire royal library but couldn't find the answers. They've only had one day, how could they possibly have solved them?"

He paused, then added, "Although Lord Jia said they consulted the director of the Imperial Observatory, the moon's waxing and waning has been difficult to understand since ancient times, and even the director of the Imperial Observatory may not know it."

Wu Xiuning chuckled and took his hand: "Let's go and meet them!"

The two walked towards the inn hand in hand, and Jia Yu behind them had a meaningful smile on his face.

He straightened the collar of his official uniform and thought: Today, I am afraid I will have to witness with my own eyes the scene of three great scholars being humiliated.

When the guards of the post station saw that it was these two little ancestors, how could they dare to stop them?

He quickly bowed and made way.

The snow in the yard had been cleared to create a path, with tall snow piles on both sides, shining brightly in the sunlight.

Hearing the noise, three great scholars hurried out.

The leader, Pei Yanzhi, was about fifty years old, with a gaunt face and a blue-gray robe that made him look particularly elegant.

Sima Hui held a feather fan in his hand, and despite the freezing cold, he still maintained the demeanor of a gentleman.

Cui Gaoxuan is tall and strong, with a pair of bright eyes under his thick eyebrows.

"Meet Princess Xiuning, meet Prince Chutian."

The three of them saluted in unison, their postures respectful, but a hint of helplessness flashed in their eyes.

Obviously, they already knew about the arrival of these two people.

Wu Xiuning waved his hand, acting like a grown-up: "No need to be so polite, three great scholars. I came here today to ask for the answers to those questions from yesterday."

She blinked. "After a day, have you three made any progress?"

The three of them exchanged glances.

Sima Hui stopped waving his feather fan and sighed, "How ashamed! I have exhausted all my knowledge and still cannot explain why the moon waxes and wanes."

Pei Yanzhi smiled bitterly and shook his head: "The question about the chicken and rabbit in the same cage seems simple, but it actually contains a hidden mystery. I... can't answer it."

Cui Gaoxuan's face was filled with bitterness: "Thunder in winter, no snow in summer, this is such an abnormal weather phenomenon, I really don't know the reason."

"Brother Chu Tian, look!"

Wu Xiuning pouted and shook Chu Tian's hand proudly: "I said they couldn't answer it, right?"

Chu Tian nodded seriously: "Maybe our questions are too difficult, otherwise... give the three great scholars a few more days?"

Pei Yanzhi's face changed drastically when he heard this.

These three questions may seem simple, but they actually contain hidden secrets. Even if they are given another three years, they may not be able to solve them, let alone just a few days?

He was about to open his mouth to refuse, but Wu Xiuning had already made the decision: "Well, if we don't give you time, others will say we are bullying you."

She smiled slyly: "Today we will just play here, and the three great scholars can go and find the answers in peace!"

Without waiting for the three to respond, she pulled Chu Tian towards the snow pile in the yard: "Brother Chu Tian, let's build a snowman!"

The three great scholars stood there, looking at each other.

The cold wind blew, and a thin layer of frost formed on Pei Yanzhi's beard, making him look particularly old.

Jia Yu stood in the corridor, watching this scene, the smile in his eyes deepened.

He looked up at the sky and saw a clear sky. A few sparrows were jumping on the dead branches, shaking off a cluster of snowflakes.

In the distance, Wu Xiuning's silver bell-like laughter echoed on the snow.

She was directing Chu Tian to roll a snowball. The two small figures against the backdrop of the white snow looked like a vivid New Year picture.

However, the three great scholars were like eggplants hit by frost, walking towards the study with their heads hung low, their backs looking particularly lonely.

The imperial city, which had just cleared up after the snow, seemed particularly peaceful at this moment.

But everyone knows that this battle of wits has just begun.