The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

Chen Mengyao and Ouyang Han stood quietly to the side, their gazes fixed on the busy group of people. They saw everyone intently learning various tasks, and after much effort, each person had mastered what they were learning, performing remarkably well. Seeing this, Chen Mengyao couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, while Ouyang Han nodded slightly in agreement.

Immediately afterward, Chen Mengyao took out her phone, snapped a picture of the meticulously prepared program, and quickly sent the photo to the group chat so that the performers could see the performance order and prepare in advance. At this time, the servants also brought out tables and chairs and neatly arranged them in the courtyard. Chen Mengyao didn't stop; instead, she quickly stepped forward and personally placed an exquisite program on each table. After doing this, she opened WeChat and sent messages to the ministers and the Crown Prince, inviting them to her courtyard to discuss the matter of acting as referees that evening.

Once everything was arranged, Chen Mengyao turned to look at Ouyang Han beside her. They smiled at each other, then walked slowly back side by side. Along the way, they talked quietly, seemingly filled with anticipation for the approaching night. A gentle breeze ruffled their clothes, and sunlight shone on them, casting two tall, slender figures that gradually disappeared into the distance…

Before long, they returned to the courtyard and took their seats. However, unexpectedly, just moments later, all the ministers, the esteemed Crown Prince, along with several princes and their consorts, arrived one after another. Seeing this, Chen Mengyao quickly stood up, took out a large number of chairs from her spatial storage, arranged them in an orderly fashion, and invited everyone to take their seats in turn.

After everyone was seated, Chen Mengyao calmly pulled out a stack of carefully prepared papers from her bosom, detailing the various exciting performances to be staged that evening. Smiling, she distributed the program to each person, then softly said, "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's performances will be spectacular. I hope you will all choose your favorite roles and act as judges for this event, fairly and impartially evaluating each performer's skills and keeping detailed records." With that, she magically produced several beautiful notebooks and exquisite calligraphy brushes.

After receiving the program and paper and pens, the ministers immediately gathered together with great enthusiasm, whispering and discussing among themselves. However, in stark contrast to these civil officials, the military generals, usually so formidable on the battlefield, seemed largely uninterested in these artistic pursuits. Nevertheless, several ministers who were usually keen on music and other arts volunteered to participate in the judging process. After a selection process, eight judges were chosen. Among them were not only the esteemed Crown Prince, but also the renowned Prince Wen, and the prominent imperial son-in-law. Furthermore, the highly respected Prime Minister, the Minister of Rites in charge of etiquette, the Grand Tutor responsible for the Crown Prince's studies, high-ranking cabinet scholars, and the impartial Censor-in-Chief were also included.

With a smile, Chen Mengyao gently handed them the notebook and pen, and said softly, "Come, gentlemen, my two royal brothers, and brother-in-law, please write down the names of the participants and the names of their performances carefully here. After everyone has finished performing, please mark 'Average,' 'Medium,' or 'Excellent' after each person's name based on their performance. If anyone receives unanimous praise from multiple judges (at least five), then congratulations, you will win the super generous prize we have prepared!" She paused, and then began to introduce the exciting prizes.

Chen Mengyao turned and brought out an exquisite box from the side. She carefully opened it, revealing a dazzling array of prizes. Pointing to the largest stack of silver notes, she said, "The best performer will receive a full one hundred taels of silver! Not only that, but there's also a dazzling diamond bracelet, a set of top-quality skincare products, fifty jin of premium rice, and a full ten-jin bucket of pure peanut oil!" Hearing this, the surrounding crowd gasped in amazement.

Then, Chen Mengyao pointed to another, slightly smaller pile of items and continued, "Those who were rated as 'medium' are also doing quite well! They'll receive fifty taels of silver, a set of exquisite pearl jewelry, thirty catties of fragrant rice, and five catties of top-quality peanut oil. As for all the other participants, don't worry, everyone will receive a consolation prize—ten taels of silver, a ten-catty bag of rice, and a five-catty jar of rich peanut oil. How about that? Isn't it tempting?"

After listening to Chen Mengyao's detailed explanation, the judges nodded, indicating they fully understood the rules. One of them then picked up a pen, wrote an example in his notebook, and handed it to Chen Mengyao to check its accuracy. Chen Mengyao took the notebook, examined it carefully, and nodded in satisfaction, praising, "Hmm, no problem, very good! Just write it like this." Seeing this, the other judges confidently began to write their own examples based on the template. The atmosphere was incredibly lively, with everyone eagerly anticipating the exciting performance and the thrilling awards ceremony.

Then, she gently picked up all the dazzling prizes and carefully placed them into the boxes. After placing them, she picked up a delicate calligraphy brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote the words "Excellent," "Average," and "Consolation Prize" on the top of each box lid in large, elegant, and neat handwriting.

After completing these tasks, she parted her lips slightly and softly called for her servants to come and obey her orders. Soon, a group of well-trained servants quickly came before her, bowing and standing ready to receive further instructions.

She methodically instructed, "First, go to the front of the stage and prepare a long table. Then, bring eight comfortable chairs and place them around the table. Remember, the table and chairs must be arranged neatly and orderly. Also, move the boxes containing the prizes to the back of this long table and place them properly. Oh, and I have eight beautifully made signs here as well. Take them and place them in the corresponding positions directly in front of each chair."

The servants listened carefully to her detailed instructions and nodded in agreement, indicating that they fully understood the task. Without further ado, they immediately turned and began to work, quickly setting up everything according to their mistress's orders. The whole scene was busy yet orderly, like a meticulously choreographed grand performance about to begin.

The ministers, the crown prince, King Wen, and the grandson-in-law, who were serving as judges, were sitting together, carefully copying down the names of the performers and their acts. After all the information was recorded, they deliberately left blank spaces after each name and act for later scoring.

The meticulously prepared list, after being passed through many hands, was finally presented to Chen Mengyao. She took the list and scanned it line by line, her gaze focused and attentive. After reviewing it, a look of delight appeared on her face, indicating that she was very satisfied with the list and that they could keep it safe for now. Then, Chen Mengyao told everyone that after dinner that evening, they should head to the venue as soon as possible to make the necessary preparations.

After everything was arranged meticulously, Chen Mengyao led everyone with light steps towards the enchanting garden, intending to personally inspect and confirm that all preparations had been completed smoothly and without any omissions. When they finally arrived at the long-awaited garden, the scenery that greeted their eyes instantly amazed them, eliciting exclamations of admiration—the stage, which had previously appeared empty and desolate, was now beautifully decorated, like a fairyland.

Colorful lights, like the brightest stars in the night sky, are scattered around the stage, reflecting each other and radiating a mesmerizing glow, making the entire stage appear dreamlike. Meanwhile, vibrant balloons and delicate floral wreaths surround the stage like a group of joyful sprites, swaying gently in the breeze, adding life and energy to this magical place.

At the same time, the sound system nearby was playing a melodious tune. The tune was melodious and gentle, as if it had a magical power that could instantly transport people's hearts to a wonderful world full of dreams and romance, making people involuntarily intoxicated and unable to extricate themselves for a long time.

Seeing the perfectly arranged scene, Chen Mengyao was filled with joy. This sight reminded her of her past performances at parties in modern society; the familiar atmosphere made her feel warm and comforted. Just then, Chen Mengyao gently waved her arm, retrieving many uniquely designed floor lamps from her personal storage space. These lamps were exquisitely designed, emitting a soft yet bright light. She then instructed her servants to evenly distribute these lamps throughout the garden, ensuring that every corner was brightly illuminated. When the guests arrived to watch the performance, all the lamps would be turned on, transforming the entire garden into a dazzling, joyful sea of ​​lights.