A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

Chen Wanxing looked at the ribbon in her hand. She was really curious about the riddle in the third row of poems. After thinking about it, she stopped hesitating.

She walked straight to the intersection of the second and third rows, where another middle-aged man, dressed in a Jufulou uniform, was keeping an eye on the order of the passageway.

"Manager," Chen Wanxing said in a clear voice, handing over the ribbon, "is the answer to this riddle 'writing brush'?"

The middle-aged manager looked at the ribbon Chen Wanxing handed over, then glanced at her. Seeing her composed demeanor and accurate answer to the riddle, he smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Young lady, you are indeed clever. The answer to the riddle is a writing brush."

After he finished speaking, he also took out a small stamp and stamped it on the ribbon. "Miss, please take this. With this, you can go to the third row."

"Thank you for your help, Manager." Chen Wanxing reached out and took it, nodding.

"Please make your way, young lady." The steward stepped aside to clear the path to the inner circle, his attitude respectful.

Holding the ribbon, Chen Wanxing passed through a more exquisite lantern archway and entered the area of ​​the third row of riddles.

The space here is slightly more open, with fewer people and a more tranquil and focused atmosphere. At a glance, there are only a dozen or so exquisite lamps that can be described as works of art, hanging in a staggered pattern, their shimmering light illuminating a small open space in the center as if it were daytime.

Under each lamp, apricot-yellow silk ribbons drape gently, and a small pear wood table is thoughtfully provided with paper, pen, and freshly ground ink for riddle solvers to record their thoughts, creating a scene reminiscent of a refined gathering of literati.

Chen Wanxing walked slowly, pausing for a moment under each lantern to carefully savor the riddles on the ribbons. He could vaguely guess the meaning of some, but still couldn't figure out the others after much thought.

Since her original intention was not to compete for the private room on the third floor, she merely smiled to those who could guess the answer and did not go forward to remove the ribbon or register the answer, purely enjoying the fun of solving the riddle itself.

She continued walking forward. At the end of the third row, closest to the entrance of Jufulou, stood a dazzling lantern, resembling a magnificent palace.

Her gaze was almost immediately drawn to the lamp as it rotated, the light and shadow shifting, and the characters on the ribbon beneath it were exceptionally vigorous and elegant, their strength penetrating the silk.

"The east wind refuses to enter the east gate, so I ride my horse to seek out the village of last year. People come like autumn geese, bringing news, but events vanish like spring dreams, leaving no trace."

This riddle requires guessing a four-character proverb or a specific situation. Chen Wanxing stood under the lamp and silently recited the poem in his mind.

……

The four lines, when connected, evoke a subtle sense of bewilderment and understanding regarding the irretrievable past and the difficulty of leaving any trace.

This is no longer a simple riddle, but more like a short poem with profound meaning, requiring the guesser to capture its core meaning and refine it into a well-known proverb or a typical life situation.

If you guess the answer correctly, you can not only go up to the private room on the third floor, but also have the "Moon-Viewing Pavilion" with the best view and the most exquisite furnishings on the third floor to yourself.

Even the owner of Jufulou will waive the cost of the entire table today as a reward for discerning guests. It's quite difficult, but the more lavish rewards make it even more attractive, no wonder it draws the most attention.

There were about a dozen people gathered in front of the lamp, forming a semi-circle.

The most conspicuous among them were two or three people huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.

Two of the men were dressed in brand-new brocade cotton robes, but they appeared to be guards of the mansion.

The woman they were protecting in the middle was wearing a light yellow jacquard satin jacket, paired with a pale pink pleated skirt, and an apricot-colored cloak with silver fox fur trim.

She had almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, with fair skin. Under the dazzling lights, she was like a forsythia suddenly blooming in the dead of winter, beautiful and bright, with a radiant spirit in every glance.

She tilted her head slightly to look at the riddle, furrowed her delicate brows, pondered for a moment, and realized that she really had no idea. So she whispered a few complaints to the man beside her, her voice sweet and delicate.

Chen Wanxing also pondered carefully, trying to capture the elusive yet tangible answer from the contrast between "having a letter" and "leaving no trace." Just then, she suddenly sensed that there seemed to be another figure standing quietly not far away beside her.

The man didn't approach; he merely glanced at her before looking back at the brightly lit lamp. His slender, upright figure, amidst the dazzling lights and the quiet atmosphere of whispered conversations, resembled a serene silhouette.

Chen Wanxing noticed the gaze and, out of courtesy, turned her head and nodded slightly in the direction of the slender figure as a greeting.

She thought the other person would simply nod politely in response, but to her surprise, after a slight hesitation, the person slowly walked towards her.

The person who arrived was Wang Yanning.

In fact, he noticed her the moment Chen Wanxing entered the riddle area.

He watched her walk through the first and second rows, quickly taking down the riddles. But in the third row, she walked past most of the lanterns without ever reaching out to take down any of the ribbons representing correct answers.

But she was different from the other riddle solvers who were either excited, anxious, or deliberately trying to appear calm. She walked with composure and looked calmly, pausing under the bright lights to observe and ponder. Sometimes a knowing smile would flit across her lips, and sometimes she would furrow her brows slightly, immersing herself in her own world of deduction.

Wang Yanning initially thought she was stumped by the more difficult riddles in the poems, since it was already quite an achievement to get this far, but judging from her expression, it didn't seem like that.

She stopped in front of the most difficult "Qionglou Lantern," gazing up at the swirling light and shadow and the verses, her profile serene and her eyes focused, as if the whispers and subtle competitive atmosphere around her had nothing to do with her.

Wang Yanning's long-suppressed curiosity and some inexplicable pull finally prompted him to go over.

He stopped a few steps away from her, not getting too close, maintaining a just-right distance.

Wang Yanning gave a slight bow, her clear and melodious voice standing out amidst the glittering lanterns and whispers: "Greetings, young lady. I noticed you don't have the ribbons of the lanterns before you, and you've been gazing intently at this one for quite some time. Do you have some insights into this riddle?"

Chen Wanxing looked up at him with some surprise. As she got closer, she saw that the man was taller than she had seen from afar. He had a dignified face and a scholarly air about him.

But his eyes were clear and calm, without the awkwardness or evasiveness that a typical scholar would have when meeting a strange woman. His composed demeanor made it impossible to notice the worn brown robe he was wearing.

Chen Wanxing quickly suppressed his surprise and returned the greeting with a slight curtsy: "You are too kind, sir. I can't really offer any insights, but I just think the riddle is exceptionally well-designed, poetic and melancholic, with a lingering charm that is truly captivating. I was so engrossed in it that I'm afraid you've made me look foolish."