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"Who said that after scoring, someone wouldn’t need to raise a placard?"

The voice of He Lenuo took several twists and turns, causing everyone present to feel a tickle in their throats.

At this moment, Su Tianrui detested him the most, slumping listlessly on a stool, grieving over his silver. Hearing his words, Su Tianrui glared at him fiercely.

"No need to raise the placard? Didn’t you already say that Drunken Immortal Tower’s dish was tasty? So doesn’t that mean it’s a draw? Hmph, to think that I liked you so much, walking arm in arm with you. However much I liked you before, now I detest you by the same amount!"

He Lenuo bared his teeth and subtly took two steps back. Although he hadn’t yet found the right woman, he certainly had no interest in men.

Ahem.

After clearing his throat with a cough, He Lenuo stopped beating around the bush and quickly raised the placard in his hand.

Just when everyone thought the placard would certainly represent "Drunken Immortal Tower," they were shocked to find that the side he raised was actually "Dong Tian"!

Yan Xiangkai hurriedly spoke up to remind him: "Your Highness, might you have made a mistake?"

He Lenuo raised his head to take a serious look at the placard, nodding his head with absolute certainty: "No mistake, it’s Dong Tian!"

Dong Tian?

It really was Dong Tian!

Everyone was shocked, their eyes widening. How could this be? Hadn’t he just repeatedly said he would give Drunken Immortal Tower full marks? Now when it came to raising the placard, why had he sided with Dong Tian?

"Why?!"

Zhao Hongsheng felt like a monkey being toyed with in He Lenuo’s hands, both furious and annoyed: "Crown Prince Helian, which side are you truly supporting? Please give us a clear statement!"

Hearing Zhao Hongsheng speak to him in such a tone again, He Lenuo raised his eyebrows amusedly and gave a deserved yet very aggravating reason: "Because, this Crown Prince is pleased to do so. What? Is this explanation to His Highness the Second Prince’s satisfaction?"

Satisfied? Hell would be satisfied first!

Watching him with a face full of "I’m pleased and happy, what can you do to me," Zhao Hongsheng had a mouthful of pent-up anger stuck in his chest, feeling that he had never been so embarrassed in his life.

It was all because of this He Lenuo that he had lost all his face and dignity of over twenty years!

And the worst part was, he could do nothing about it!

"Good, very good, I am very satisfied with this explanation!"

Zhao Hongsheng squeezed out a smile while practically spitting blood, gave He Lenuo a cupped fist salute, and walked away unsteadily. If one looked closely, they could see his shoulders trembling slightly out of anger.

"Your Highness!"

Tang Ruyan bit her lip and quickly followed Zhao Hongsheng.

Yao Hanai, who had been sitting on the stool observing coldly all this time, finally lifted her eyes to glance at He Lenuo, her bright pupils filled with a bit of regret and envy.

"What, Miss Yao, aren’t you leaving?"

A voice tinged with a different kind of meaning rang in Yao Hanai’s ears. Yao Hanai’s beautiful eyebrows tightened, and turning her head, she indeed saw Eldest Young Master Wu, Wu Jiangtao, watching her intently.

Feeling a surge of extreme disgust, Yao Hanai bit her red lips, said nothing, stood up, and followed in the direction where Zhao Hongsheng and Tang Ruyan had disappeared.

Even though she was extremely unwilling, she now had no choice but to acknowledge Zhao Hongsheng, this scum!

Watching Yao Hanai’s retreating figure, Wu Jiangtao licked his lips greedily, saliva almost dripping down.

"Big Brother! She is the Prince’s woman, you’d better behave yourself!"

Wu Zhengqing knew his brother Wu Jiangtao’s character all too well and coldly warned him in a lowered voice. Wu Zhengqing really didn’t want to clean up after this brother of his again.

With a hehe laugh, Wu Jiangtao quickly retracted his gaze: "Second Brother, just relax, I know my limits, I know them!"

Wu Zhengqing harrumphed in displeasure and also got up to leave. However, before going, he swept a glance unintentionally at the out-of-season vegetables laid out by Dong Tian.

If he could get his hands on such good stuff, how much silver would that be!

After everyone had left, Wu Jiangtao disinterestedly rolled his eyes and surreptitiously spat a fleck of saliva at the retreating figure of his younger brother.

"As if you’re the one to behave! Hmph! If I can’t touch the Prince’s woman, then I’ll move on to others!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a pair of eyes craftily glanced around and he asked the person following him, "How’s it going?"

The young servant smirked slyly, leaned in and said with a bow, "Rest assured, Eldest Young Master, the person has been sent to the other garden for you. Just waiting for you to go over and enjoy yourself!"

"Hehe, well done, well done! I’ll reward you handsomely later!"

While speaking, Wu Jiangtao’s body already began to move uncontrollably, his heart had long flown to the other courtyard, and he couldn’t wait to leave with his young servant, both of them chuckling along the way.

The crucial vote from He Lienuo took the competition’s results through a monumental twist; what everyone had initially deemed a tie between the two parties turned into a victory for Dong Tian. Many people were still immersed in the shocking twist and couldn’t come back to their senses.

Lin Yuan leaned into Xia Zheng’s embrace, blinked vigorously with a dry voice, "Xia Zheng, am I dreaming? I think I saw He Lienuo raise the Dong Tian sign. Has he gone mad, or have I?"

To be honest, Xia Zheng hadn’t expected He Lienuo to be such a backstabber, who had openly declared his preference for the Drunken Immortal Tower’s dishes, only to cast his vote for Dong Tian!

There definitely couldn’t be anyone else in the world who was more treacherous and malicious than him!

Nodding, Xia Zheng reassured Lin Yuan very confidently, "Mhm, that He Lienuo, something’s wrong with his brain, you can’t treat him like a normal person."

Lin Yuan also nodded emphatically, He Lienuo must indeed have a problem with his brain; what normal person would do such a thing?

However, upon further thought, she could vaguely understand his reasoning.

Zhao Hongsheng treated him so poorly, it would truly be mad if he supported the Drunken Immortal Tower!

A sudden insight dawned on Lin Yuan, and she finally understood the teasing tone in He Lienuo’s speech earlier.

Could it be that he had been doing it on purpose from the start?

The very person being secretly criticized by Lin Yuan touched his chin in triumph. Weighing three thousand taels of silver against the precious face of the Crown Prince of Xiliang, He Lienuo was clear on which was more important!

"Ahhh, fantastic! This little fox is quite sensible after all! Ahaha, Ah Sheng, you’re simply a genius, guessing that Dong Tian would win this competition! Haha, a two to one payout, brilliant, I need to calculate how much I’ll win!"

The excited girl plopped herself down on the ground and began counting on her fingers, so engrossed that she almost lost track, her vision filled with fluttering heaps of silver coins, causing her face to glow with excitement.

Watching her act like a money-grubber, He Liansheng couldn’t help but shake his head smilingly.

Some were joyful while others despaired. Almost everyone in the Capital city had bet on a tie between Dong Tian and the Drunken Immortal Tower. Now that all their silver had gone to waste, they were all downcast and disheartened.

Perhaps the most tormented was Yan Xiangkai from the Drunken Immortal Tower; he had victory well within his grasp and lost it merely because of Zhao Hongsheng’s comment. If it weren’t for Zhao Hongsheng’s quick escape, he would have taken the undutiful nephew to task.

Although the Drunken Immortal Tower, which he had spent decades in, didn’t win the competition, Zhuang Kangping still greatly admired Lin Yuan’s culinary skills and performance.

Waving his hand, Zhuang Kangping shakily stood up from his stool. Despite his advanced age, his voice was still thunderously loud.

"Ladies and gentlemen, everyone has witnessed today’s competition results.

However, regardless of the outcome, I believe we all have gained new insights into both Dong Tian and the Drunken Immortal Tower.

At least for myself, having studied culinary arts for decades, I’ve gained a deeper understanding. "

Zhuang Kangping might not hold the most noble status, but given his experience, he held sway over the audience. At his words, everyone calmed their spirits and looked over.

Zhuang Kangping turned to Lin Yuan, nodding with a smile, his wrinkles deepening, "Princess Pingxi is so young, yet has such profound perception and understanding of culinary arts, truly extraordinary!

Although the seasonal vegetable-stuffed chicken wings lost some flavor due to time, overall, all three dishes were very special. "

As if reminiscing the earlier dishes, Zhuang Kangping squinted and continued, "However, what truly remains unforgettable to me is your first dish, the red wine braised beef. That red wine, it truly whetted my appetite, you’ll have to take responsibility for satiating it!"

Haha, haha.

Seeing Zhuang Kangping, a man of advanced years, cheekily demanding red wine from Lin Yuan, all those present couldn’t help but be amused.

Lin Yuan herself couldn’t resist curling her lips. At first, she thought this old man was quite serious, but now, he seemed just like Lao Fan!

Lao Fan chuckled and rose to his feet, whispering to Zhuang Kangping, "I say, Zhuang, you mustn’t forget to make me Lotus Wine, I’ve been thinking about it for many years now!"

"Ha, sure! I’ve heard you’re quite close with Princess Pingxi. Just let her keep me supplied with red wine, and the Lotus Wine, it’s a piece of cake!"

Lao Fan’s eyes lit up, his white beard quivered with excitement, and he waved his hand emphatically, "Good! It’s just red wine, white wine, dark wine, yellow wine, drink whatever you want!"

Watching the two old men quickly reach an agreement, Lin Yuan found it both amusing and frustrating.

"Ahh! Big sister, you’re amazing! You won!"

Xiao Linshuang, sitting in the audience section, shouted and ran over, followed by Princess Anle, Lady Liu, and several others, all joyful and excited.

Seeing Lin Yuan win the competition, Lady Liu’s eyes brimmed with tears of excitement, laughing and wiping her tears all the while, making Lin Yuan’s nose tingle, struggling to contain her own emotions.