Chapter Thirty-Four: Betting on How

  As soon as this was said, several people who were drinking in the champion building couldn't help but change their expressions. Everyone's line of sight at this moment simultaneously swept towards Yuandai. Sitting upright on the soft cushion, Yuandai's expression was calm and peaceful, completely ignoring the gazes cast by Lingyuqing and others, only lowering her head to gently sip the remaining half of the champion red wine in her hand.

  On the bonfire by the stream, the whole deer had been roasted to a golden brown color and was emitting a fragrant aroma. Several maidservants came forward, took down the roasted wild deer, and instead placed a yellow sheep that had already been washed and strung up on one side of the fire, slowly roasting it.

  A maid walked to the side, took out a silver knife with a cold light. Under the moonlight, the silver knife flashed a few times, and the roasted wild deer was evenly divided into four pieces. The maid's hands didn't stop for a moment, under the moonlight, the blade flashed on and off, in an instant, the roasted deer was sliced into thin pieces of uniform size and thickness. Another maid was on the other side, quickly putting the sliced deer meat onto silver plates, and then placing the plates one by one onto the low tables in front of everyone.

  Baili Yu actually felt that the atmosphere was a bit off, but he couldn't figure out the reason and didn't want to speak randomly. It wasn't until this moment that he timely cleared his throat and said to Baili Zhao: "The people in your household, Er Ge, are getting better and better at making roasted meat!"

  Baili Zhongyun smiled and said, "Everyone please help yourselves, don't be polite! If this meat gets cold, the flavor won't be as good!" As soon as he finished speaking, everyone couldn't help but respond with a sound, then lowered their heads and started eating voraciously.

  Yuan Dai Bian then picked up her chopsticks and tasted one or two pieces. She found that the flavor was indeed exceptionally good.

  Xiao Cheng sat beside Yuan Dai, seeing that she had only used one or two slices, and then stopped eating, couldn't help but lean forward slightly with a hint of surprise, and asked in a low voice: "Is the venison not to your taste, sister? Why did you stop after just using so little? I think this roasted venison has a unique flavor!"

  Yan Dai smiled and replied in a low voice, "To be honest with you, sister. My body is weaker than ordinary people, so although I have a big appetite, I don't dare to eat too much! But just trying some is fine!" She said, then laughed softly again, "Sister, save some for yourself! I see that there are still yellow sheep and roe deer waiting to be roasted on the other side. If those game meats are roasted well, their flavor won't be worse than this venison!"

  Xiao Chengxian heard the sound and immediately smiled and nodded. After using another piece of venison, he also put down his chopsticks.

  A dish of roasted meat was sent up, and everyone ate with gusto. However, due to Baili Zhao's presence, no one dared to speak loudly or laugh out loud. They could only exchange glances, and their conversation was filled with restraint.

  It seemed that he had noticed the awkwardness of the crowd. After having some barbecue and drinking a few more cups of wine, Baili Zhao opened his mouth and said, "Everyone, please feel free! Let me take a step first!" He said, but then looked at Baili Yi again: "Seventh brother, take good care of the guests for me!"

  Everyone suddenly heard this sentence, but they all let out a sigh of relief. Baili Yi hastily responded with a sound. Baili Zhao then slightly raised his hand, and several maidservants quickly came forward to support him as he sat in the wheelchair, and placed that bear skin blanket on his knees.

  Baili Zhao's wheelchair had just left the empty space, Ling Yuexian was already smiling and said to Xiao Chengxuan and Jiu: "Sister Xiao, Sister Jiu. Today's barbecue is really delicious! And these cherries are also extremely delicious!" It was clear that she had been holding back for a long time.

  Yan Dai heard this and couldn't help but laugh. She responded, "Although it's delicious, you should eat less of it. Think carefully about how you'll be suffering later!"

  Ling Yu Xuan smiled with a tongue-out expression, but didn't take Far Dai's words to heart. Instead, she lowered her head excitedly and took another bite of the rabbit meat. Far Dai couldn't help but laugh at the sight, but also didn't say anything more to her.

  Just then, a maid who had previously pushed Baili Zhuo away suddenly returned quickly. She walked all the way to Yu Ru's side and bowed her head to whisper to Yu Ru: "Ninth Miss, our Wang Ye has summoned you!"

  Her voice was not loud, but it wasn't too small either. At least everyone in the room could hear her clearly.

  Ling Yuancheng furrowed his brow and looked over, his eyes full of disapproval. But Far Dai didn't mind, giving him a slight smile to reassure him. After that, Far Dai slowly stood up and said to the crowd in a gentle voice: "Everyone, please excuse me!" As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and glanced at the maid standing beside him: "Please lead the way for me, miss!"

  The maid beckoned to her: "Ninth Miss, please follow me!"

  Yuandai didn't even look back at the crowd, and instead followed her with slow steps. The two had just left the empty space and entered the thicket when it suddenly became pitch black in front of them. If not for the maid still holding a lantern that cast a faint light, they might have lost their way. Yuandai raised an eyebrow in surprise and said, "It seems your king doesn't like places that are too bright!"

  There is no lantern in the woods, which does not conform to the rules of banquets for wealthy families. Therefore, there can only be one explanation, that is, the host did it on purpose.

  The maid obviously did not expect Yuandai to say such a thing, and after being stunned for a moment, she couldn't help but turn her head to glance at Yuandai. After a long while, she softly replied: "His Highness has always liked quietness!" And people who like quietness usually don't like places that are brightly lit everywhere.

  She nodded slightly and said, "So that's how it is!" After these four words, she didn't say anything more.

  The forest was silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of the wind and the soft glow of the lanterns that were usually bright but now seemed dim and weak in the darkness. However, perhaps due to the darkness of the forest, Farong could clearly see a small light in the distance. It was obvious that the light came from Baili Zhao.

  As Yu Dai walked further ahead, the tiny light grew brighter and brighter. Gradually, she could clearly see Ba Li Zhao sitting in his wheelchair with the faint light. The maid stopped about ten steps away from Ba Li Zhao, bowed to him and said softly: "Your Highness, Ninth Miss has arrived!"

  Faintly responding with a single word, Baili Zhao didn't turn his head to look at Yuandai either, merely raising his hand to point at the seat across from him: "Come sit!"

  Yuan Dai heard the sound and didn't say a word, but got up and walked over. She had just taken a step when Bailing Zhao instructed the maid: "It's cold here, bring two braziers!" The maid responded with a yes and quickly retreated.

  Yan Dai had just sat down opposite Baili Zhao when someone from the Rui Wang Fu brought over a brazier. With a slight smile, Baili Zhao said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness!" Baili Zhao was accustomed to living in Pingjing and wasn't afraid of the cold; he had ordered the brazier lit for Yan Dai's benefit.

  The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and Bai Lixiao said with a gentle tone: "You're too polite, miss!"

  This place was obviously already prepared by Baili Zhou. On the marble table, there were several plates of fruit, which looked similar to the ones on the low table earlier, and even a jug of wine and two ceramic cups were set out. However, it was clear that neither of them had any interest in drinking.

  Because of the brazier beside her, Yu Dai didn't feel cold at all. Calmly lifting her hand, she picked up a cherry and put it in her mouth.

  With a thoughtful look at her, Baili Zhao suddenly said lightly: "If you like to eat this, there are still several baskets in my house that haven't been moved. I'll have someone send them to you tomorrow!"

  Yan Dai replied without hesitation: "In that case, thank you very much, Your Highness!"

  Deep in thought, he glanced at Yuan Dai and said, "I recall that last time by the Shui Lin, you didn't have few words to say!"

  Yan Dai heard this and raised an eyebrow, but a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes: "I thought that since the prince's messenger invited me over, it should be that the prince had something to say to me. Why did the prince bring up this instead?" The implication was that since Shui Lin asked him to come, he spoke so much; now that you've invited me over, you should be the one speaking more.

  Obviously unaccustomed to being spoken to in such a manner, he slightly furrowed his brow and said, "I thought Miss should have something to ask me!"

  Yan Dai calmly said: "Your Highness is wrong! I don't have anything to ask Your Highness!"

  His brow furrowed again, and Baili Zhong finally opened his mouth to ask: "Even if this matter concerns Yuan Zhen?"

  He originally thought that Yuandai would at least show some concern when hearing the name Wenzhen, but unexpectedly, Yuandai shook her head calmly: "Wenzhen is no longer a three-year-old child, and her safety really doesn't need me to worry about it!"

  Ding Ding gazed intently at the distant Dai, for a good long while, before Bai Li Zhao suddenly burst out laughing: "It seems that you have quite a bit of confidence in her!"

  After nodding, she gently shook her head and Yan Dai responded: "The reason I feel at ease is actually because of two reasons!" She said, looking up at Baili Zhao: "Firstly, I believe that the king will not harm Yuan Zhen without cause..."

  Baili Xiao was taken aback, not expecting her to say such a thing. After a moment's pause, he subconsciously lowered his head to glance at his own hands, and then actually cracked a faint smile: "To be honest with you, miss, these hands of mine can't really be considered clean!"

  He was completely indifferent to her words, but Yu Zhen paused for a long time before continuing on her own: "Secondly, I believe that even if the prince had intended to harm Yuanzhen, he may not have succeeded!"

  Suddenly hearing this, Ba Li couldn't help but burst out laughing: "You're really confident in Yuan, I'll give you that! But do you know, I'm actually extremely confident in Yue Yao too!"

  Smiling slightly, Yu Dai suddenly said: "If Your Highness is interested, we can make a bet, how about it?"

  Baili Zhuo heard this and burst out laughing: "Well, making a bet is no big deal! But I wonder what Miss plans to use as the stakes?"

  Yan Dai didn't think much and said straightforwardly, "How about we each set a condition? If I lose, Your Highness can ask me to do anything for you. Conversely, if you lose, I'll have the same right. What's your take on this?"

  "Is that all?" Ba Li Xiao hesitated for a moment, but suddenly spoke to correct himself: "Alright! However, this matter is limited to just the two of us, Miss. Do you think it's acceptable?" Limited to just the two of them means not involving outsiders, in other words, it's an internal affair of the manor.

  Yuan Dai didn't mind, and with a smile, she nodded slightly: "Okay!" As she said this, she had already raised her jade palm with a hint of a smile, making a slight gesture towards Bailing Zhao. Bailing Zhao understood, and also raised his hand.

  One big and one small palm slap the air lightly, making a crisp sound. (Thank you for your support, it's my greatest motivation.)