Chapter 1311: Winning Treasure
"Esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening," a plump middle-aged man with a friendly smile stepped onto the stage after the cultural event began. He bowed respectfully to the audience in all directions.
He was impeccable in his manners, showing no signs of negligence.
"My name is Kaizen, and I am the manager here. I would like to thank all of you for gracing us with your presence at the Emperor's Palace."
The manager smiled as he continued, "Tonight, it is once again time for our monthly cultural exchange. Our generous host has specifically selected a precious item from the Treasure Pavilion, which will serve as the highlight for tonight's event. Our purpose is, of course, to promote camaraderie through culture. There is no need for competition, only discussions on literature and the arts."
"Manager Kaizen, what exactly is the treasure prepared by your generous host? Please don't keep us waiting!" a man suddenly exclaimed.
"Yes! We came all this way for this event. Don't let us down," many others chimed in.
"Please be patient, everyone. I will have the treasure brought out for you to see shortly."
The manager slightly bowed and signaled to two people nearby.
The two individuals understood the gesture and soon brought out a rectangular wooden box.
The wooden box was half a meter wide and one and a half meters long, made entirely of golden-threaded nanmu wood.
Just the box itself was quite valuable, not to mention the treasure inside.
"Click!"
Under the gaze of the crowd, the chubby man slowly opened the wooden box, revealing a framed painting inside.
The painting depicted a woman in palace attire, sitting in a pavilion while admiring the snowy landscape outside.
The woman had a slender figure and an otherworldly temperament, although only half of her face was visible.
She was breathtakingly beautiful and possessed an alluring charm, as if she could enchant souls.
With her exquisite beauty and the pristine snowy scene as a backdrop, the two elements complemented each other perfectly, creating a breathtaking masterpiece.
"It's so beautiful!"
As soon as the audience saw the painting, the venue fell silent.
Regardless of gender, everyone was deeply moved by the artwork.
At a glance, it wasn't just about beauty; it also conveyed an indescribable sense of artistic depth and meaning.
The more they looked at it, the more enchanting and heart-stirring the painting became.
"I never thought that there could be such an unparalleled beauty in the world," Carlos was utterly mesmerized, and his eyes seemed to gleam with fascination. He might not be one to lose his senses over beauty, but in the face of such a breathtaking woman, he couldn't help but be captivated.
"Could you imagine marrying a woman like that? I'd willingly give up ten years of my life!" Elmer couldn't help but swallow repeatedly.
The other disciples from the Healwell medical centre were equally enchanted. None of them had expected a painting to hold such a bewitching power.
"Hmph! There's no way there can be such a perfect woman in the world. She must be a creation of the artist!" Roselyn was filled with jealousy. Although she was confident in her own appearance, when compared to the woman in the painting, she couldn't help but feel a pang of inferiority.
"Manager Kaizen, what's the background of this painting? Who is the beauty depicted in it?" A man suddenly asked.
"To be honest, this painting is the work of Master Felix and is titled 'Portrait of a Beauty,'" the manager explained.
"What? This is actually a painting by Master Felix?"
"Master Felix? Is he the literary and artistic genius known for excelling in both poetry and painting?"
"That's right! Master Felix is hailed as a contemporary literary immortal and a master of the arts. Every one of his paintings is a priceless treasure!"
The revelation that the painting was created by Master Felix sent waves of astonishment through the crowd. Felix was renowned for his talents in both poetry and painting, and his works were highly coveted in the art world.
Chapter 1312: A Beautiful Portraint
After learning about the origin of the artwork, the entire venue erupted into excitement.
Most of the people in attendance that night had some interest in the arts and culture to varying degrees. Legendary figures like Master Felix were highly admired, and his dual expertise in both poetry and painting was a rarity. To excel in either of these fields was already impressive, but to excel in both was truly remarkable.
Master Felix's works were highly sought after because he was known for his reclusive nature and his disdain for wealth. He rarely created poems or paintings, so whenever one of his pieces appeared, it was considered a treasure, and many cultured elites took pride in owning one of his authentic works.
Now, witnessing one of his masterpieces in person was a source of great wonder for everyone present.
"I believe you all know how rare Master Felix's authentic works are. If it weren't for our close relationship with him, we might not have been able to acquire this Portrait of a Beauty," the manager Kaizen explained with a smile.
"It truly lives up to being a work by Master Felix. This Portrait of a Beauty is so lifelike, like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens, it's incredible!"
"We're truly fortunate to witness an authentic work by Master Felix in our lifetime!"
"Wait a minute... I heard that Master Felix's art is centered around realism. Could it be that the beauty in this painting is not fictional?"
As they continued to discuss, the crowd suddenly realized an issue.
"Indeed, what this distinguished guest said is correct. The beauty in the painting is not fictional; she is a real person," the chubby man paused for a moment, allowing everyone's curiosity to reach its peak before announcing, "I won't hide it from you all. The woman in the Portrait of a Beauty is not a product of imagination; she is a real person. She is none other than the Dragonmarsh's number one beauty and the top-ranked beauty on the Vermillion Rouge List—Margaret!"
"What? Margaret?!"
With this revelation, the entire venue erupted into a frenzy of astonishment, excitement, and curiosity.
Margaret's name had become famous in recent years, but she remained shrouded in mystery. No one knew what she looked like, and her background was an enigma.
The crowd knew that a few years ago, the name Margaret had emerged out of nowhere, defeating all the stunning beauties on the Vermillion Rouge List and claiming the top spot.
Since then, she had been hailed as the number one beauty in the Dragonmarsh!
However, despite reigning at the top for several years, Margaret had never appeared in public. No one knew what she looked like to this day.
Yet, the more mysterious she remained, the more people were intrigued.
So, upon hearing that the woman in the painting was Margaret, the expressions of all the guests in attendance lit up with surprise.
Even though only half of her face was visible in the painting, it still exuded unparalleled beauty.
As the top-ranked beauty on the Vermillion Rouge List and the number one beauty in the Dragonmarsh, Margaret's reputation was well-deserved.
"Master Felix's artwork, combined with Margaret's timeless beauty, certainly lives up to everyone's expectations tonight," the chubby man said with a beaming smile.
"Hahaha... Excellent! This is indeed a precious masterpiece! I'm determined to obtain this Portrait of a Beauty tonight!"
"Nonsense! The Portrait of a Beauty is mine, and no one can take it from me!"
"Hmph! What's the point of just talking? Whether you can obtain the Portrait of a Beauty or not will depend on your abilities!"
After some spirited exchanges, the atmosphere in the entire Emperor's Palace had reached its peak.
Everyone was eager to showcase their talents.
"Since you are all so enthusiastic, I won't keep you waiting any longer," the chubby man cleared his throat and continued, "Today, our East House has prepared a traditional activity for the Lantern Festival, riddle-solving."
Chapter 1313: Riddle Solving Contest
"Riddle-solving?"
Upon hearing this, everyone was puzzled. They exchanged glances, unsure of what was happening.
In the past, competitions had always been about poetry, literature, and the arts, so why were they suddenly going to solve riddles?
It was worth noting that many dignitaries and officials, in their pursuit of the top spot, had spent large sums of money to invite poetry experts and literary talents, or artists and calligraphers, to assist them.
Now, instead of poetry and art, they were unexpectedly asked to solve riddles.
Didn't that mean all their previous preparations had been in vain?
"Manager Kaizen, couldn't we compete in poetry and literature instead? Suddenly introducing riddles like this feels like a deliberate challenge," someone expressed their dissatisfaction.
"Guests, you've misunderstood. The topics we present are randomly selected, and there's no intention to deliberately challenge you. Please forgive us," Kaizen replied with a slight nod.
"Alright, enough with the chatter. Let's solve the riddles. There's nothing extraordinary about it," someone said.
"That's right. People like us, well-versed in literature, shouldn't be afraid of mere riddles."
"Now, it's finally time to test our literary skills. Whether it's a donkey or a horse, we'll find out!"
Amidst the chatter, the crowd encouraged the competition to begin.
"Junior sister Roselyn, you excel in poetry. Are you confident in solving riddles?"
In the private room, Carlos couldn't help but ask.
"Brother Carlos, rest assured. I'm skilled with words, and if I can handle poetry and literature, solving riddles is a piece of cake," Roselyn replied confidently.
In her eyes, riddle-solving was a trivial matter, something that only common people and novices would engage in. For someone of her refined taste, it was not even a challenge.
"That's good to hear..."
Carlos breathed a sigh of relief, then added, "If junior sister wins this Portrait of a Beauty, would you consider selling it to me? I'm willing to pay a high price!"
"Brother, you're being too polite. If you like it, I can give it to you without any hesitation," Roselyn replied generously.
With her full confidence, Roselyn appeared as if victory was already in her grasp.
"Thank you, junior sister!" Carlos's face lit up, and his heart raced a bit. This Portrait of a Beauty was truly priceless. If used wisely, it could potentially catapult the Grantwood family to new heights.
"Now that everyone is in agreement, let's begin," the manager said. Once the surroundings had calmed down a bit, he signaled for a sealed box to be brought over.
The box had an opening on top just large enough for a hand to reach inside. The manager rolled up his sleeves and inserted his hand through the hole, fumbling inside for a moment before pulling out a card. After glancing at it, he loudly announced, "The riddle for the first round is: 'Bright moon hiding behind tall trees, guess one character.'"
"Bright moon hiding behind tall trees?"
Upon hearing this, the crowd quickly wore thoughtful expressions. Solving riddles was not their forte, and many of them only had a vague understanding of it, often guessing blindly based on luck.
"Junior sister, how should we interpret 'bright moon hiding behind tall trees'?" Carlos asked, curiously.
"Well..."
Roselyn hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. She could only say, "Brother, allow me some time to think it over."
"Alright, take your time. No rush," Carlos replied, not wanting to interrupt Roselyn's train of thought.
"'Bright moon hiding behind tall trees, guess one character.' From the literal meaning, it doesn't seem too difficult to understand. The character should be related to the moon and trees," Roselyn murmured to herself while tapping her fingers lightly on the table.
After a while, it seemed she had figured something out, and her eyes suddenly lit up. "Brother, I know what character it is!"
"Oh? What is it?" Carlos became instantly alert.
Chapter 1314: Incorrect Answer
"It's the character '枂'!" Roselyn confidently declared, "The 'bright moon' represents '月,' and the 'tall tree' represents '木,' combining to form the character '枂'!"
"'枂' character? Are you sure?" Carlos asked cautiously.
"Of course! How can such a simple riddle hide from me? With a little brainpower, I can easily figure it out," Roselyn replied confidently.
"Junior sister is indeed formidable. You solved the riddle so quickly. You truly deserve your reputation as a talented woman!" Carlos praised.
"That's right! With junior sister here, we can not only win the Portrait of a Beauty but also earn a billion!" the disciples of the Healwell Medical Center exclaimed with excitement.
"Humph... It's just a simple riddle, and there's no challenge at all. I can't fully showcase my talents," Roselyn said proudly.
Hearing this, Dustin shook his head and smiled faintly. This woman was overly confident, hastily drawing conclusions without thoroughly analyzing the question. It was truly amusing.
"Hey! Why are you laughing? Do you think I'm wrong?" Roselyn's eyes narrowed, and she looked displeased after catching a glimpse of Dustin's hidden smile.
"Of course, it's wrong," Dustin said casually. "The key point in 'bright moon hiding behind tall trees' is the word '隐' (hiding). The character you randomly pieced together cannot possibly be the correct answer."
"Hmph! Who do you think you are? You dare to lecture me?" Roselyn scolded. "I'm well-versed in poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Why do you have the audacity to instruct me?"
"That's right! Junior sister is a recognized talented woman. She has excelled in literature and the arts since she was a child. You, a villager from the mountains, have no right to show off in front of junior sister," Carlos sneered.
"I'm just reminding you. Believe it or not, it's up to you," Dustin shrugged.
After all, it wasn't him who was making a fool of himself.
"Mr. Rhys, judging from your tone, do you already have an answer?" Carlos asked casually.
"If I'm not mistaken, the answer should be the character '杳' (hidden)," Dustin replied.
"'杳' (hidden) character?"
Carlos stroked his chin, but before he could ask further, Roselyn snorted, "What '杳' character? It's complete nonsense! The riddle clearly refers to the moon and trees, so it can only be the character '枂.' What does '杳'(hidden) have to do with it? You're just pretending to know!"
"I'll say it again, believe it or not, it's up to you," Dustin said, not interested in arguing.
Some people are just stubborn and refuse to admit their mistakes.
"Senior brother, this guy is just seeking attention. Don't pay attention to him. Listen to me, report the answer as '枂' (a character), and you'll definitely secure the first question!" Roselyn was extremely confident.
"Alright! Junior sister's talent is outstanding, and I trust you!" Carlos nodded and immediately raised his hand. "Manager Kaizen, I know the answer to the riddle!"
"Oh?" The Manager raised an eyebrow and smiled. "May I ask, what is the answer, Mr. Carlos?"
"It's '枂' (a character)!" Carlos declared confidently. "The riddle '明月隐高树' refers to the moon and trees; when combined, they form the character '枂,' and there's no other answer!"
Upon hearing this, many people began to whisper, discussing whether this answer was correct.
"Carlos, are you sure it's '枂'? Maybe you should think it over," the manager advised.
"No need to think, it's definitely '枂.' Just announce the result!" Carlos urged.
"Mr. Carlos, I'm sorry, but your answer is incorrect," the manager shook his head.
"What? Incorrect?" Carlos was momentarily stunned, and he instinctively glanced at Roselyn. They had believed it was a sure win, so why was it wrong from the start?
"How is that possible? How could my answer be wrong?" Roselyn widened her eyes, finding it hard to believe. She excelled in poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, so how could she get a simple riddle wrong? There must be foul play at work here, someone was targeting her!
Chapter 1315: Congratulation Hazel
"Hey! What gives you the right to say my answer is wrong? This riddle is so simple; how could I possibly guess it wrong?" Roselyn couldn't help but slam the table in frustration.
She was very defiant, being a talented woman, she had her own pride.
Just a mere riddle couldn't stump her.
"Miss, please don't get so agitated. The answer to the word puzzle has already been fixed, and the characters you provided are indeed incorrect," the manager tried to explain.
"Alright! You say my answer is wrong, then immediately reveal the correct answer now. I want to see if there's a better answer than mine!" Roselyn was very assertive.
"Miss, other customers haven't guessed yet. It's against the rules to reveal the answer now. If no one can guess it later, I will announce the result. I hope you can be patient," Kaizen said calmly.
"Roselyn, oh Roselyn, if you're wrong, can't you admit it? You're a great talented woman; you shouldn't be unable to handle losing, right?"
At this moment, a sarcastic voice came from the side.
The speaker was none other than Hazel, who was holding a wine glass.
"Who said I can't handle losing? My answer is not wrong at all!" Roselyn stared angrily.
"Hehe... you're as arrogant as ever."
Hazel lifted her wine glass and took a sip, smiling faintly. "Do you know why I dislike you? Because you clearly have no talent, yet you still claim to be virtuous and proud, like a peacock. Just like now, clearly wrong, but you refuse to admit it, it's really disgusting."
"You're talking nonsense! What gives you the right to say I'm wrong? Do you think you're better than me?" Roselyn retorted.
"Why? Because I already have the correct answer."
Hazel stood up gracefully, her gaze sweeping toward the chubby man. She said with a smile, "Manager Kaizen, the answer I provided is the character '杳.'"
"Hmph! This is completely off the mark!"
Roselyn crossed her arms and sneered, "The character '杳' you mentioned doesn't match the riddle at all. If that's considered the correct answer, I'll write my name backward!"
"Is that so?"
Hazel smirked, "Manager Kaizen, please announce the result. Is my '杳' character correct?"
"Congratulations, Miss Hazel, your answer is correct," the Manager nodded slightly.
"What?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Roselyn felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She froze in disbelief.
She never expected that the character she had mocked would actually be the correct answer?
How was that possible?!
"Roselyn, how does it feel? Are you surprised? Unexpected?" Hazel teased, her mouth curved in a mocking smile. "Given your temperament, do you want to claim there's a conspiracy? That Emperor's Pavilion intentionally favored me?"
"That's right! I don't accept this!" Roselyn protested. "Why is it the character '杳'? Why not '枂'? You must give me a reasonable explanation today!"
"Very well, then today, I'll make sure you accept your defeat gracefully."
Hazel snapped her fingers, signaling the young man beside her to stand up.
The young man appeared scholarly and bookish, but his words carried weight. "A bright moon hides behind a tall tree; this riddle isn't particularly difficult. The key lies in the character '隐' ('hide'). 'Bright moon' refers to the moon, and if you hide the moon ('月') from it, you're left with '日' ('sun'). 'Tall tree' refers to the top of a tree, so you take '木' ('wood'). Place '木' ('wood') on top of '日' ('sun'), and wouldn't that be '杳' ('dim')? This is the interpretation of the riddle's answer."
With that, the scholarly man took his seat.
"Well done! What an excellent explanation!"
"Sir, your words are truly enlightening. It turns out this is the correct answer."
After hearing the interpretation of the riddle's answer, many people applauded and expressed their admiration. Some things may seem simple, but if you can't find the key to unlock them, it's like being lost in a fog, never seeing the light.
"So it really was '杳'! Did I just miss a great opportunity?" Roselyn lamented.
Chapter 1316: Parting and Reunion
After coming to his senses, Carlos regretted his actions and almost slapped himself.
Damn it, if only I had listened to Dustin earlier.
Now, not only did he fail to gain any attention, but he also embarrassed himself.
"How could it be the character '杳'? How could it be '杳'?" Roselyn muttered to herself, finding it hard to accept.
"Roselyn, the great talent, how about it? Do you have anything to say now?" Hazel provocatively smiled.
"...," Roselyn was left speechless.
Although she was unwilling, the facts were already in front of her, and there was no room for her to argue.
After hearing the previous explanation, she also realized that '杳' was indeed closer to the correct answer than '枂'.
"Congratulations, Miss Hazel, for answering the first question correctly," the Manager congratulated, then added, "Of course, the rest of you need not be discouraged. There are a few more questions to come, and if you can answer them all correctly, there is still a great chance to win."
Upon hearing this, Roselyn, who had appeared somewhat depressed, immediately cheered up.
That's right, there's still a chance. She had only lost one question, and as long as she performed well in the following ones, she could still win.
"Now, please listen to the second question," the chubby man said as he took another card from the box and read aloud, "The second question: '云盖中秋月，雨淋元宵灯,' guess an idiom."
"云盖中秋月？雨淋元宵灯?" Everyone looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion.
What does that mean?
How are we supposed to guess this?
"Sister Roselyn, do you have any idea about these two lines of poetry forming an idiom?" Carlos asked hesitantly after waiting for a while.
"These two lines of poetry mention the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Lantern Festival, and if the answer is an idiom, it should be related to these two festivals," Roselyn began her detailed analysis. "The Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes reunion and happiness, while the Lantern Festival signifies making wishes and praying for blessings. Normally, it should be a joyful idiom."
"However... the mention of '云盖' (clouds covering) before Mid-Autumn and '雨淋' (rain drenching) before Lantern Festival adds some uncertainty. So, I guess the answer should have two possible meanings."
On one hand, it needs to symbolize reunion and happiness, and on the other hand, it should carry a hint of regret, and the idiom that has two meanings at the same time, I can only think of one, and that's '悲欢离合' ('parting and reunion')!"
As she spoke, her spirits soared, as if she had dispelled the fog and seen the clear sky.
"'悲欢离合'? ('Parting and reunion'?)" Carlos looked utterly baffled.
Why did this sound more and more mysterious as he listened?
"That's right! It's '悲欢离合' ('Parting and reunion')!" Roselyn declared firmly. "Only this idiom aligns with the two lines of poetry's meaning. I'm confident this time, I won't be wrong!"
"Junior sister, are you sure?" Carlos was skeptical.
"Senior brother, trust me once more. This time, I'm very confident. I promise not to disappoint you!" Roselyn spoke with conviction.
"Mr. Rhys, what do you think?" Carlos didn't give a direct answer but looked over at Dustin, who was sipping tea nearby.
In the previous question, Dustin had accurately guessed the answer, demonstrating a certain literary talent.
"I have a different opinion from Miss Roselyn," Dustin said lightly. "Riddles, well, they are typically guessed based on their literal meaning. They're not necessarily so lofty in poetic imagery. I think Miss Roselyn might be over-interpreting it."
Chapter 1317: Over Confident
"Hmph! What do you understand? Emperor's Pavilion's riddles can't be figured out with common sense," Roselyn said with a cold face. "Don't think that just because you guessed one question right by luck, you can now criticize me. In terms of real talent, you're not qualified!"
In her view, Dustin's success in answering the first question was just luck, a case of a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, and such luck couldn't last forever.
"Is that so? It seems Miss Roselyn is very confident in her own answer," Dustin said with a half-smile.
"Of course!" Roselyn raised her head proudly. "I am well-read and highly talented. If I can't figure out such a small riddle, how can I face others with any dignity in the future?"
Upon hearing this, Dustin couldn't help but chuckle.
This woman was truly exceptionally self-confident.
"Mr. Rhys, why don't you share your thoughts? Let's discuss it together," Carlos suggested.
"Since Mr. Carlos is willing to listen, I'll offer my humble opinion," Dustin said as he picked up his teacup and took a sip. He then continued, "云盖中秋月, 雨淋元宵灯 (Clouds cover the Mid-Autumn moon, rain drenches the Lantern Festival). This phrase means that if on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon is obscured by clouds, then the following year, around the time of the Lantern Festival, there will undoubtedly be continuous spring rain, which will soak the Lantern Festival lanterns."
"Hmph! I certainly know what this phrase means. Do you need to show off here?" Roselyn snorted.
Mid-Autumn with a cloud-covered moon and rain on Lantern Festival night.
This situation perfectly matched the two meanings she had mentioned.
"Mr. Rhys, so what is your answer?" Carlos asked tentatively.
"Undetermined whereabouts," Dustin replied with four words.
"Undetermined whereabouts?" Carlos was slightly stunned. "What does that mean?"
"'云盖中秋月' (Clouds cover the Mid-Autumn moon) indirectly suggests rain, which corresponds to the later part of the phrase," Dustin explained. "So, the word '下落' (falling) refers to the falling rain. After the rain falls and drenches the Lantern Festival lanterns, they naturally become '不明' (undetermined). Therefore, the answer is '下落不明' ('Undetermined whereabouts')."
"Nonsense!" Before Dustin finished speaking, Roselyn immediately retorted, "What undetermined whereabouts? This is utter nonsense! Someone like you, with shallow analysis, lacking depth, do you think Emperor's Pavilion would be as superficial as you?"
"I'm just interpreting the riddle based on its clues. Believe it or not, it's up to you," Dustin shrugged.
Arguing with such a self-assured woman was pointless because even if you presented a brilliant argument, she could still find reasons to counter it.
"Senior brother Carlos! Don't listen to this guy's nonsense. My answer is the correct one!" Roselyn declared confidently.
"Well..." Carlos looked left and right, appearing somewhat hesitant.
Different people have different opinions, and both interpretations seemed plausible. He was unsure whom to believe.
"Senior brother, do you not trust my judgment?" Roselyn furrowed her brows, showing some displeasure. "You should be well aware of my literary talents. The previous question was just a mistake. I have a hundred percent certainty about this question, and I'm sure I can win!"
"Really?" Carlos raised an eyebrow.
"As true as pearls!" Roselyn said with a serious expression.
"Alright! Since junior sister is so confident, I'll give it another try!" Carlos's spirits rose.
With words like these, he must be very confident. This time, he wouldn't make a mistake again.
"Manager Kaizen, I know the answer to the riddle," Carlos stood up again, attracting the attention of everyone present.
Having lost face earlier, he was determined to make a comeback.
"We're eager to hear your answer," the Manager nodded slightly.
"'云盖中秋月, 雨淋元宵灯' (Clouds cover the Mid-Autumn moon, rain drenches the Lantern Festival) represents two different emotions, the joy of reunion and the sadness of parting. So, my answer is—'悲欢离合' ('Parting and reunion')!" Carlos held his head high.
"'悲欢离合' ('Parting and reunion')?"
Chapter 1318: Wrong Answer Again
Upon hearing this, the people present couldn't help but start whispering to each other.
Some of the wealthy individuals who were pretending to be knowledgeable even slapped their thighs in regret.
"Hey! I was just about to say '悲欢离合' ('Parting and reunion'), but this guy beat me to it. What a mistake!"
"Me too, me too. If I hadn't hesitated just now, when would this guy have had a chance to take the spotlight?"
"'悲欢离合' ('Parting and reunion')... It really is a good theme and a good idiom!"
Seeing Carlos so confident and speaking so convincingly, many people believed him.
"So, Manager Kaizen, did I guess it right?" Carlos smirked, looking quite pleased with himself.
"Well... I'm sorry, but you got it wrong again," the manager said politely.
"What? Wrong again?" Carlos's smile immediately froze on his face. "Manager Kaizen, you're not joking, are you?"
"How can I joke about something like this? Your answer is indeed not the correct one," the manager shook his head.
With this statement, Carlos and even the disciples of the Healwell Clinic all looked at Roselyn strangely, their gazes seemingly accusing.
"How is it possible? I clearly understood the meaning of these two phrases, so why did I still get it wrong?" Roselyn widened her eyes, finding it difficult to accept.
She was highly talented; how could she make consecutive mistakes like this?
"Roselyn, it seems you've been a bit too confident," Hazel chimed in from a distance, her tone carrying a hint of irony. "Roselyn is arrogant and self-conceited, yet she lacks true abilities. Believing what she says is no better than blind guessing."
Carlos's eye twitched, and for a moment, he had no response.
Damn, this was really embarrassing.
Making a mistake the first time could be considered a slip-up.
But now, making consecutive mistakes and being the first to answer each time was quite embarrassing.
"Hazel! Don't be too arrogant! Even though I answered incorrectly, it's still better than not being able to answer at all!" Roselyn shouted.
"Who said I couldn't answer it?"
Hazel smiled slightly and then snapped her fingers. "Tell her what the correct answer is."
"Alright," the scholarly-looking man next to her stood up and said loudly, "The answer to '云盖中秋月, 雨淋元宵灯' (Clouds cover the Mid-Autumn moon, rain drenches the Lantern Festival) is '下落不明' ('Undetermined whereabouts'). '下落' represents the falling rain, and when the rain falls and soaks the Lantern Festival lanterns, they become '不明' (undetermined), which matches the preceding and following phrases. So, the correct answer is '下落不明' ('Undetermined whereabouts')!"
"Nonsense! How could it be 'Undetermined whereabouts'..." Just as Roselyn was about to argue, the manager suddenly spoke up, "Miss Hazel's answer is correct. The answer is indeed '下落不明' ('Undetermined whereabouts')."
With these words, Roselyn's voice came to a sudden stop, and she froze in place.
She found it hard to believe.
If it were just one person saying this, she would have dismissed it.
If two people said the same, she could still argue based on reason.
The problem was that now all three people had given the same answer, and she didn't know how to argue.
"I didn't expect Dustin's answer to be true. I missed a great opportunity!"
"It's a pity. If senior brother had listened to Dustin's advice."
The disciples of the Healwell Clinic shook their heads and sighed.
Seeing Roselyn so full of confidence, they thought she was sure to win, but she ended up getting two questions wrong. It was truly disappointing.
On the other hand, Dustin, who seemed unremarkable, consistently gave the correct answers.
Unfortunately, no one believed him.
With that in mind, the gazes of the crowd towards Dustin became quite different.
This... was the true hidden talent!
Chapter 1319: Healwell Clinic in Danger
"Miss Hazel has already won two rounds in a row. If this continues, our Healwell Medical Center is in danger!" Dr. Elijah's brows furrowed deeply, and his expression was grave.
If he had known it would turn out like this, he wouldn't have agreed to this gambling contest. Once they lost, all the effort they had put into Healwell Clinic for half their lives would be in vain.
"Hazel obviously came prepared, and we've been tricked."
"This woman is truly despicable!"
Several Healwell Clinic disciples grumbled, feeling indignant but helpless at the same time.
Now that the arrow was on the bowstring, they had to release it. They couldn't change the publicly agreed-upon gambling contest; they could only look for opportunities to turn things around.
"Roselyn, you've lost again," Hazel's mocking voice drifted over. "If you lose a few more rounds, Healwell Medical Center will be mine."
"Humph! Don't get too excited, everything has just begun!" Roselyn replied with a stern voice.
She had already inquired and knew that there were a total of ten riddles. If she could answer six correctly, she would secure victory. So she still had a chance to turn the tables.
"Don't be so confident. You couldn't even answer these simple questions. Do you really think you can do better in the future? Don't embarrass yourself; I advise you to admit defeat early," Hazel taunted.
"Who will emerge victorious is still uncertain. Let's wait and see!" Roselyn retorted angrily.
"Alright, I'd like to see how capable you are," Hazel smiled faintly. "Mr. Kaizen, please continue with the next question."
"Okay," the manager nodded and took out another card from the box. He then read aloud, "Please listen carefully to the third question: '一个右来一个西，三间平方东南立' (One comes from the right, one from the west, three rooms form a square in the southeast). Guess the word."
"One comes from the right, one from the west? Three rooms form a square in the southeast?"
As soon as the riddle was presented, everyone began to contemplate it. Typically, when guessing a word, they looked for inconsistencies within the riddle. Once they found the key, it would be relatively easy to solve the riddle. However, it was clear that this word wouldn't be simple to guess.
"I've figured it out!" After pondering for a moment, Roselyn's eyes lit up, and she suddenly said, "Brother Carlos, I know the answer. It's the character '洒' (sǎ)!"
"'洒' (sǎ)"character? What does it mean?" Carlos asked in confusion.
"Carefully examine the question. The three dots next to the '洒' character represent three rooms, and when combined with '西' (xī, west), doesn't it form '洒'?" Roselyn enthusiastically explained.
"But how do you explain the '一个右来一个西' (one comes from the right, one from the west) part?" Carlos was somewhat skeptical.
"That's simple. The '洒' (sǎ)"character has three dots on the left, which represent the three rooms, and '右' (yòu, right) is on the right, which perfectly explains the riddle," Roselyn replied.
"Why do I feel like it's a bit far-fetched?" Carlos furrowed his brow slightly.
After being wrong twice in a row, he had lost trust in Roselyn.
"Senior Brother, trust me one more time. I promise there won't be any problems this time!" Roselyn declared with utmost sincerity.
Carlos's mouth twitched, and he wanted to scold her, but he ultimately held back.
Damn it! She's doing this again?
Every time she spoke with such assurance, but the result was disappointing, and he ended up being pointed and laughed at. If they weren't fellow disciples, he would have lost his temper long ago.
"Mr. Rhys, do you have any insights?" Carlos didn't pay attention to Roselyn and turned his gaze to Dustin.
"Is it important whether I have thoughts or not? You didn't believe me when I spoke earlier anyway, so it's better if I don't say anything," Dustin mumbled while casually eating his food.
Cough cough... "Mr. Rhys, it was my fault before; I failed to recognize your talent. This time, I definitely believe in you," Carlos assured.
Chapter 1320: Correct or Wrong
"Brother Carlos, what do you mean by that?" Upon hearing this, Roselyn immediately became displeased. "Who does he think he is? Can he be compared to me? Are you telling me that you'd rather trust a stranger and not me?!"
"Shut up!" Carlos shouted at her. "I trusted you twice before, and you were wrong both times. How can you expect me to believe you again?"
"I..." Roselyn was rendered speechless, her pretty face turning bright red. This wasn't the Senior Brother she remembered, always acting like a protective older brother. He had never been this harsh with her before. What had come over him today?
"Roselyn, this matter is not child's play. You've made a bet with Hazel, and if you lose, you'll lose the entire Healwell Clinic!" Carlos spoke more gently this time, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. "Furthermore, your expertise lies in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as poetry and literary composition. You haven't delved into riddles like this. It's essential to recognize one's specialization. Why don't we let Mr. Rhys have a try?"
Whether it was Healwell Clinic or anything, he was determined to win. He couldn't allow any room for mistakes.
"Alright, I'll give him a chance to prove himself. But if he answers incorrectly, I'll take over immediately. This might give us a slight chance," Roselyn reluctantly agreed.
"No problem," Carlos sighed in relief and turned to Dustin. "Mr. Rhys, please share your answer. What's the character?"
"One comes from the right, one comes from the west, and three square rooms stand to the southeast. If I'm not mistaken, it should be the character '醢' (hǎi)," Dustin calmly stated.
"'Hai'? Which 'hai' is that?" Carlos looked puzzled.
"It's this '醢' (hǎi) character."
Dustin used his fingers to point out the character, then meticulously wrote it on the table.
"'醢' (hǎi)?"
Seeing the unfamiliar character, everyone couldn't help but exchange puzzled looks. This was the first time they had encountered this character—it was extremely rare.
"In this '醢' (hǎi) character, you have '右' (right) and '西' (west), corresponding to the first sentence. As for the second sentence, '三间平房东南立' (three square rooms stand to the southeast), take a look at this '皿' (dish) character. Doesn't it resemble three rooms separated?" Dustin explained.
"It does! It's incredibly similar!"
Carlos examined it closely and couldn't help but show a delighted expression. "Mr. Rhys, your '醢' (hǎi) character is absolutely brilliant! It feels like an epiphany! It's amazing!"
Dustin's suggestion was met with skeptical glances initially. However, upon seeing the character "醢" (hǎi) and Dustin's explanation, they suddenly had an epiphany. It made sense now. Carlos, in particular, was quite delighted and believed that Dustin's answer was the correct one.
But just as he was about to rejoice, Roselyn poured cold water on his excitement. She warned, "Senior Brother, don't celebrate too early. How do we know this is the correct answer? What if it's wrong?"
"I'll admit it if it's wrong!" Carlos declared, undeterred. He stood up and confidently said, "Manager Kaizen, I have the answer to the third question!"
"Carlos, aren't you being too hasty?" Hazel cautioned. "You've already answered incorrectly twice in a row. If you get the third one wrong, you'll lose all face."
"Someone here just doesn't know when to quit!"
"If you lack the ability, it's fine, but you still insist on hogging the limelight. It's truly embarrassing!"
"Hmph! They're just a bunch of clowns seeking attention."
At this moment, many nobles and dignitaries began to mock Carlos. Making a mistake once or twice was one thing, but Carlos not only kept answering first but also answered incorrectly each time. This was akin to self-inflicted humiliation.
Manager Kaizen advised Carlos, "Mr. Carlos, this riddle is quite challenging. Would you like to reconsider?"
"No need to reconsider. I'm very confident this time," Carlos declared loudly.
"Oh? May I ask, Mr. Carlos, what is the answer?" Manager Kaizen asked.
"It's the character '醢' (hǎi)!"
Without any hesitation, Carlos wrote the character "醢" (hǎi) on a piece of paper and slammed it down in front of Kaizen. He then pointed to it and said, "Manager Kaizen, please take a careful look. Is this character correct?"
Swoosh!
