After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

Time flies, and before we know it, those days filled with laughter and playfulness at school have flown by like a fleeting moment. In the blink of an eye, the warm summer sun has quietly departed, replaced by the blazing autumn sun. Even with ice cubes used to cool the room, the temperature still reached 35 degrees Celsius. Outside, the heat was unbearable. The cobblestones of the imperial city seemed to be scorched by the scorching sun, so hot that you could even fry an egg on them.

Due to the excessive heat, the annual Golden Autumn Banquet, originally scheduled for daytime, had to be rescheduled for the evening. On this day, the Duke of Tang's mansion was festooned with lights and vibrant colors, a scene of unparalleled activity, marking the most vibrant time of the year. The masters and servants donned their finest attire, while maids bustled among the crowds. The banquet was filled with a variety of mouth-watering delicacies. Tang Wenshu stood by, drooling over the table overflowing with delicious food.

Duke Tang Luoqian and his wife sat dignifiedly at the head table, smiling broadly. To their left sat the First, Second, and Third Wings, and to their right were the Sixth Uncle, the Fourth, and Fifth Wings. This year, to add a touch of festive cheer to the banquet, the eldest aunt, Wu Yu, who presided over the household affairs, had specifically consulted the old lady and invited renowned singing girls from the imperial city to perform. These girls, dressed in vibrant costumes, displayed graceful figures and melodious voices, adding a touch of vibrant color to the banquet.

At this moment, a group of gorgeously dressed singing girls began to dance gracefully, their melodious music echoing throughout the banquet hall, captivating the audience. After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the Duke slowly stood up and said with a smile, "Today, my palace is hosting a Golden Autumn Evening Banquet. Everyone, please don't be shy and enjoy the fun. Next, please enjoy the lantern competition carefully prepared by the children."

Hearing this, Tang Wenshu cursed inwardly, "Fuck!" He quickly glanced toward the stage, only to discover that the lanterns they had been working on from the girls' school's craft class a few days earlier were displayed. The lanterns, neatly arranged on the stage, created a stark contrast. The beginner class's lanterns were in the front row, while those for the intermediate class were in the back, the difference between the two clearly visible.

The lanterns in the front row were mostly oddly shaped, with inconsistent colors, looking like a jumble of haphazardly cobbled together pieces. There was a rabbit lantern shaped like a pile of poop, a lotus lantern that looked like a mass of paste, and the only unusual lantern was a pure white, roller-shaped lantern, which also looked a bit odd. By contrast, the lanterns in the back row were exquisitely crafted, each one showcasing the highest level of craftsmanship. For example, lanterns featuring themes like Chang'e Flying to the Moon, Jade Rabbit Chasing the Moon, and Tianpeng Holding the Moon were all meticulously crafted and beautifully executed.

In comparison, the lanterns in the front row looked like a disaster. The girls in the elementary class suddenly screamed in fear: "Ahhh, my lanterns are so ugly! Don't compare them with my sisters'!"

Nanny Wu, who was standing beside the eldest lady, stepped forward and said with a smile, "Now, ladies and gentlemen, please get ready. Our game is about to begin! Each lantern has a riddle on it. Guess the riddle correctly and you can take the lantern. Everyone has three chances to try different lanterns. But please note, only students in the beginner class can guess the riddles for the lanterns, while everyone can participate in guessing the riddles for the lanterns after that."

"What if no one can guess the riddle?" someone asked with a frown.

"That's easy!" Aunt Wu replied with a smile, "The lantern maker copied a passage from the Buddhist scriptures to pray for the family."

"Oh...I see." The first person nodded to show his understanding.

Then, he asked curiously, "What about her lantern? What should we do with it?"

"The lanterns," Madam Wu said, following the instructions of the eldest lady, "you will be allowed to light them later."

Hearing this rule, there were wails from the audience, and Tang Wenshu couldn't help but grit her teeth. She cursed inwardly, "Who came up with this perverted trick?" Thinking of her two brothers, one in the advanced class and the other in the intermediate class, while she had to fight alone, she felt helpless and angry. Forget about winning her own ugly lantern, thinking about winning Tang Tian's lantern and embarrassing her was simply wishful thinking. The first and second branches were prosperous, and her side was clearly at a disadvantage. How abhorrent! At this moment, Tang Wenshu even hoped that her father would have a few more illegitimate sons and daughters, so that at least she would have more help in such occasions.

Next, Tang Zigui, the eldest daughter of the first wife, presided over the ceremony. She first took out a lantern from the first row. This lantern was an ugly little rabbit. The original picture of a rabbit holding a carrot and eating it was painted into a shit stirrer and a pile of shit. When she took the lantern, the audience burst into laughter.

"Isn't this the perfect combination of a shit stirrer and shit?"

"Whose masterpiece is this?"

"It seems to be Tang Tian."

"Oh, it's her troublemaker."

There was a lot of discussion below, and Tang Tian was furious.

"Brother, you must help me win! And that bitch Tang Wenshu, help me win it back too."

Tang Wenshu stood in the crowd and sneered in his heart when he heard Tang Tian say that she wanted to win back her lantern. "Tang Tian, ​​just wait and see who will have the last laugh."

Tang Zigui held the lantern and looked at the pattern on it. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but twitched, but she still said dutifully: "This lantern was made by Tang Tian, ​​the fourth young lady of our Tang family."

There was another burst of laughter from the audience. Tang Tian's face turned red and she glared at Tang Wenshu fiercely.

Tang Zigui cleared his throat and continued, "Next, we'll start guessing lantern riddles. Please pay attention to the questions."

After saying this, she took the riddle tied to the bottom of the lantern and read: "There are mountains on the mountains. Guess the word."

Everyone lowered their heads in thought.

Tang Wenshu was just thinking about how to take down his lantern, but unexpectedly he heard a brain teaser he had heard in modern times.

"I know the answer!" Tang Wenshu raised his hand and shouted.

Tang Zigui looked at Tang Wenshu in surprise, nodded, and motioned her to answer.

Tang Wenshu said loudly, "It's the character '出'. Because there are mountains on top of mountains, isn't it just two mountains stacked together?"

Tang Zigui smiled and said, "Congratulations, Tang Wenshu, you got the answer right. This lantern is yours."

Tang Wenshu took the lantern, looked at Tang Tian proudly, and then walked aside.

Tang Tian stomped her feet in anger and glared at Tang Wenshu fiercely.

Tang Zigui picked up another lantern and said, "Next, please listen to the second question..."