All the young masters of the great families, after their initial shock, fixed Mo Hua with sword-like stares, anger showing on their faces to varying degrees.
Some sneered, some were speechless, some wore mocking expressions, while others darkened their faces and silently cursed this Young Master Mo for not knowing his place.
Because he couldn't produce a precious gift as a reward, he had taken another path and sent only a single spirit stone, hoping to show off his uniqueness and catch the Flower Queen Lady Yu's attention through such an unconventional act?
It was simply arrogant and childish.
What did he take this Flower Queen Banquet for?
What did he take this moon-surrounded Flower Queen for—a woman who had never seen the world?
And what did he take all these young masters of noble families for—mere dirt and dogs?
Did he actually think that the stunning Flower Queen of the Jade Fragrance Pavilion would be moved by a single spirit stone?
This person surnamed Mo—by doing this to court attention, wasn't he no better than a clown?
The young masters laughed in bitter contempt.
Still, in such a setting, no one said it out loud; they only fixed Mo Hua with hostile looks.
The young masters of the Four Great Families felt they had lost face and looked at him coldly.
The Earth Sect's Great Young Master wore a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, but said nothing.
The atmosphere grew tense. Miao Niangzi saw this and couldn't help sighing, thinking:
“This Young Master Mo is truly not an ordinary person. The things he does are beyond imagination.”
At a Flower Queen Banquet where everyone was either rich or noble, in front of the assembled young masters, after personally witnessing the Holy Maiden's dance, he had given a single spirit stone...
How could any human do such a thing?
However, Miao Niangzi did not dare say anything.
He was someone whom even Hall Master and Madam Rui held in awe; what right did she have to criticize?
Miao Niangzi could only order someone to reverently present a mandarin-duck jade plate and collect the spirit stone.
That spirit stone wasn't even worth the plate that held it.
But because it was Mo Hua's gift, it carried a different significance and could not be mishandled in the slightest.
Miao Niangzi felt helpless.
After collecting everyone's “gifts,” Miao Niangzi bowed and said with a smile on her red lips:
“If everyone will wait a moment, I shall present the young masters' sentiments to Lady Yu. She will decide the destiny.”
“During this time, to spare you a long wait, other beauties of the Jade Fragrance Pavilion will come to dance for you all.”
“If there is any inadequacy in our hospitality, I hope you will be generous.”
With that, Miao Niangzi gently clapped her hands, and the pretty maids carrying the gifts filed out one by one.
Before long, pink curtains descended from above, a hundred flowers fluttered down, and clear music began to play.
One after another, beautiful dancers with slender waists took the stage to perform for the young masters present.
These dancers, by any measure, had flower-like faces and willowy figures, their dancing graceful and their expressions exquisite. Outside, such women would be rarely seen.
But the young masters in the hall were all rich and noble, and they had already been astonished by the Beauty Queen Yu Nujiao's countenance, song, and dance, as if she were a celestial being.
Now the dancers before them, no matter how lovely and skilled, inevitably seemed lacking by comparison and failed to stir much interest.
Thus, though the Flower Queen Banquet was filled with nonstop song and dance and beautiful tableaux, the atmosphere had become somewhat chilly and dull.
In this dull atmosphere, the hearts of the young heirs were inexplicably tense.
They were waiting for the result—waiting for Lady Yu to “turn over the name plaque.”
Waiting to learn where Lady Yu's heart would settle.
Who would become the first guest invited into the Flower Queen of Houtu City's chamber?
Who had the privilege to stand out among the young masters and become the first man to “pluck the zither and discuss the Dao” with such a stunning Flower Queen?
Waiting was agonizing.
Thus, as time passed, the songs continued and the dances went on.
The young masters drank and chatted, their expressions normal, but inside they began to burn with anxiety.
Even the Earth Sect's Great Young Master and the legitimate heirs of the Four Great Families were no exceptions.
They knew more inside information; they knew that this Flower Queen was the Holy Maiden of the Union Sect, with an extremely special identity and special body.
In every sense, they were determined to possess this seductress Yu Nujiao.
The only one who didn't care was Mo Hua. He sat quietly sipping tea, acting as if he were not in a brothel but a teahouse on the main street.
Even Bai Xiaosheng was more anxious than Mo Hua.
At the same time, he was even more puzzled.
“What exactly... are you thinking?” Bai Xiaosheng asked in a low voice.
“Thinking what about what?” Mo Hua said.
Bai Xiaosheng sighed. “What do you mean by sending a single spirit stone?”
Mo Hua asked, “Can't I send one spirit stone?”
“That's not it...” Bai Xiaosheng stressed. “How could you send just 'one' spirit stone?”
“Then... should I send two?” Mo Hua asked.
Bai Xiaosheng's face darkened, and he inwardly cursed Mo Hua for having such a sharp tongue.
“So arrogant, so proud, and so sharp-tongued—how on earth did he become Little Grandaunt's junior martial brother?”
Little Grandaunt could actually put up with him...
Bai Xiaosheng sighed. “At least take out something decent.”
Mo Hua said, “What decent things do I have?”
Bai Xiaosheng was speechless. “You didn't bring anything decent on you, and you still dared to come to the Flower Queen Banquet?”
Mo Hua said helplessly, “Didn't I tell you? It's not that I wanted to come. They inexplicably sent an invitation and insisted on inviting me.”
“It's not a good banquet to begin with. Giving a single spirit stone is already showing a lot of face.”
If not for that, he wouldn't have given even one spirit stone.
What else could Bai Xiaosheng say? He could only silently pour wine into his mouth.
After drinking for a while, Bai Xiaosheng suddenly sensed something off and asked suspiciously, “Do you... know Yu Nujiao?”
Mo Hua shook his head. “Yu Nujiao? I don't know her.”
The one he knew was the Union Sect's Holy Maiden Yu Lian'er, not this Yu Nujiao who had changed her skin.
Bai Xiaosheng frowned, and the more he thought, the more he felt something was wrong.
If you didn't know her, why would someone rush to send you an invitation? Because you're handsome? Because you're pretty?
There must be a problem here.
But the occasion wasn't right, so Bai Xiaosheng didn't press further. Feeling a bit drained, he sighed and said:
“My dear Brother Mo, no matter what, keep a low profile and don't cause more trouble.”
“If your pockets are truly empty, you could just not give anything. The Flower Queen doesn't need our single spirit stone anyway...”
There's no need to use that one spirit stone to offend people.
Those who know would understand that you're short on cash and have no treasures to gift a beauty.
Those who don't know would think you're deliberately slapping these young masters in the face.
Bai Xiaosheng added, “These young masters of Kun Prefecture are local powers. It's best not to offend them. If you stir up trouble, it'll be a real hassle. Restrain yourself; there's no need to wade into this muddy water.”
Mo Hua gave a soft “mm.”
It was only because he was now “a Taotie fallen into the flatlands,” without any foundation in Kun Prefecture, powerless and ineffectual, that he couldn't do anything.
He had neither the Hollow Void Old Ancestor to back him nor straw dogs to ward off disaster.
If not for that, given his temper, he would have brought people to tear down the Jade Fragrance Pavilion and kill the demons hidden here one by one.
That thought only flashed through his mind, and then Mo Hua calmly continued sipping his tea with a gentle expression.
Bai Xiaosheng frowned. For some reason, he felt that when Mo Hua had a gentle expression, he seemed even more dangerous.
But then he thought, his Little Grandaunt's junior martial brother—how could he hope to control him?
“Oh well, the Flower Queen Banquet is almost over anyway. He probably can't stir up any more trouble.”
Bai Xiaosheng thought silently, then picked up the wine pot and poured the liquor into his mouth.
After that, nothing unexpected happened for a time.
The Flower Queen Banquet continued as usual. Amid the extravagant revelry of song and dance, everyone's thoughts churned and they secretly burned with impatience.
It was only when the dances ended, the dancers retired, and Miao Niangzi once again stood at the front of the stage, that the sounds in the hall finally fell silent, and everyone's hearts trembled inexplicably.
This meant Lady Yu had made her choice.
They both hoped Lady Yu would choose them and form a good match, and feared she would choose another man, making the beauty permanently unattainable.
There was anticipation, tension, and fear.
Though it was a pleasure house for romantic liaisons, it suddenly felt as severe as a noble family examination.
Even the Earth Sect's Great Young Master and the legitimate heirs of the Four Great Families were no exception.
A stunning seductress like this, a renowned Flower Queen, and the Holy Maiden of the Union Sect—as men, how could they not desire to possess her?
Even if they couldn't have her, they didn't want other men to have her either.
Miao Niangzi's expression was also solemn, even a bit strange and bewildered.
But at this point, she had no choice but to do as ordered. Forcing a smile onto her face, she slowly said:
“For tonight, Lady Yu has made her choice...”
As she spoke, Miao Niangzi brought out a more exquisite mandarin-duck jade plate crafted of pure gold with jadeite inlay, on which rested a large sky-green jasper peony.
Clearly, this jade peony was Lady Yu's token of affection.
Whoever received the peony would receive Lady Yu's heart.
The young masters' hearts tightened at the sight.
Then, holding the peony, Miao Niangzi left the high platform and walked toward the seating area where the young masters were, heading directly to the Earth Sect's Great Young Master's seat.
Seeing this, the crowd's hearts ached, but then they relaxed, thinking, “Of course.”
Among the young masters of Kun Prefecture, when it came to cultivation strength and imposing bearing, the Great Young Master was naturally unrivaled.
In terms of family background, the Great Young Master stood alone at the top.
And when it came to gifts, that Heavenly Crystal was the most precious.
A Heavenly Crystal gifted to a beauty, and a beauty loves a heavenly favorite.
All things considered, the Earth Sect's Great Young Master was indeed the most worthy of Lady Yu's admiration and the most qualified to monopolize the Flower Queen.
A peerless man of destiny matched with a peerless beauty was a match made in heaven.
Everyone took this for granted, yet they couldn't help feeling a hint of envy that the beauty would fall to someone else and her heart would never be theirs.
But since the object of their envy was the Earth Sect's Great Young Master, they didn't dare show it and could only suppress their feelings.
The Earth Sect's Great Young Master was also overjoyed.
In the karma invisible to ordinary people, the rotten poppy flowers entangled around him began to writhe violently, radiating intense desire.
But after all, he was the Great Young Master, high in status, and could not openly show emotions. He watched Miao Niangzi approach with the jade peony, about to reach him.
The Great Young Master curled the corner of his mouth and calmly picked up his wine cup to take a sip.
But before he could finish that sip, Miao Niangzi had walked up to him... and then...
She passed right by him.
The Great Young Master froze, then gradually realized what had happened.
Yu Nujiao had not chosen him.
Veins bulged on the Great Young Master's forehead, bloodshot appeared in his eyes, and the wine cup in his hand was crushed to powder. His violent aura was barely suppressed, and the air around him seemed distorted.
But for the sake of decorum, he did not fly into a rage.
The crowd saw this and felt fear, but then they instantly understood.
It's not the Great Young Master!
The person Yu Nujiao chose wasn't the Great Young Master... It actually wasn't the Great Young Master!
Everyone was first shocked, then instantly overcome with wild joy.
If the Great Young Master, who had the strongest cultivation, highest status, and most heroic bearing, wasn't favored by Lady Yu Nujiao...
Then in other words, Lady Yu Nujiao truly chose people purely based on “destiny.”
Anyone could be possible; everyone had the chance to be chosen by Lady Yu.
Joy and lust rose in their hearts like bamboo shoots after rain, stirring restlessly.
Then, almost simultaneously, a thought popped into everyone's mind:
If not the Great Young Master, then who could it be?
Could it be...
Their expressions flickered, and they continued to watch Miao Niangzi. They saw her pass the Great Young Master's seat and arrive before the four top legitimate heirs of the Four Great Families of Kun Prefecture.
“Is it one of the four legitimate heirs: Lu, Wu, Jin, Zhu?”
The overwhelming majority of the people felt their hearts sink again.
Even if she didn't choose the Great Young Master, choosing one of the Four Great Families' legitimate heirs would be entirely reasonable.
The four legitimate heirs were all outstanding and elegant, handsome with distinct charms, and their family backgrounds were extremely illustrious.
Their gifts were equally impressive: Young Master Zhu's red silkworm cloud-gauze fan, Young Master Jin's moonlight glass mirror, Young Master Lu's ice-jade cicada-silk robe, and Young Master Wu's heavenly-essence jade-bloom rouge—all were gorgeous and exquisite, clearly prepared with great thought.
In terms of sheer monetary value, these gifts were naturally not as precious as the Great Young Master's Heavenly Crystal.
But these glittering treasures were clearly more appealing to a woman, and they carried the four heirs' affections for Lady Yu.
It wasn't surprising that Lady Yu might be moved by them.
Everyone secretly nodded.
Watching Miao Niangzi draw closer, the peony symbolizing Yu Nujiao's heart and body became clearer and clearer.
The Second Young Master of the Zhu family, and the legitimate heirs of the Lu, Wu, and Jin families all felt desire kindled in their hearts, filled with longing and anticipation.
Yet Miao Niangzi still walked past their seats without the slightest pause.
Clearly, the fated person Yu Nujiao chose was not them either.
The legitimate heirs of the Four Great Families momentarily turned pale. After the tremendous disappointment, they gnashed their teeth in anger.
Thinking that the beauty they yearned for did not favor them but instead another man...
The agony of jealousy gnawed at their hearts.
All four legitimate heirs wore icy stares.
When they saw Miao Niangzi pass by the legitimate heirs of the Four Great Families as well...
The other young masters from various families were all taken aback, hardly able to believe it.
Then an even greater tide of ecstasy instantly flooded their hearts.
She didn't choose the Great Young Master, nor did she choose the legitimate heirs of the Four Great Families.
She didn't care for those precious gifts either.
That showed that this Flower Queen of the Jade Fragrance Pavilion, Lady Yu Nujiao, might truly be a peerless beauty who cared not for wealth, power, riches, or any external thing, with a heart pure as ice, seeking only emotional compatibility and fate.
Such a beauty was truly rare in this world.
All the young masters' passions stirred wildly, and for a moment they wished they could tear out their hearts and show them to Lady Yu.
And then came an even more thrilling and blood-pumping thought:
Who exactly had Lady Yu chosen?
Not the Great Young Master, not the legitimate heirs—then truly... anyone was possible.
Anyone was possible.
Could it be... me?
The atmosphere in the hall stirred suddenly. Many young masters were instantly submerged in ecstasy, their bodies even beginning to tremble slightly with excitement.
Many even thought to themselves:
“If Lady Yu chose me, fell in love with me... what should I do?”
“How should I repay this love? Should I truly cut out my heart and give it to such a beauty, whose love is as pure as ice and snow...”
...
And in the midst of this intense passion and distorted longing.
In this desire so tense it was maddening, Miao Niangzi walked past one seat after another.
One young master after another went from anticipation, to tension, to heartbreak, to dejection, to jealousy and agony, and even to contorted expressions.
This scene continued on and on.
Until finally, Miao Niangzi walked to a seat near the end, to Mo Hua, who was calmly sipping tea.
She presented the large, crystal-clear, icy, translucent jade peony before Mo Hua.
Miao Niangzi's gaze was somewhat complicated. She performed a graceful bow and said respectfully:
“Young Master Mo, Lady Yu invites you... to her private quarters for a talk.”
Miao Niangzi's sweet voice echoed through the hall.
It was like a basin of cold water dashed onto everyone's faces.
The entire hall became dead silent, the atmosphere frozen to the extreme.