Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Don’t you think you’re still young?” Chen Xi responded to Zhen Mi while clapping his hands to draw everyone’s attention.

”The five who entered the second round, come over for the draw.” Chen Xi took out ten small balls from another side and tossed them into another Mandarin Duck Turning Heart Pot.

”Just these five, you can come and draw.” Chen Xi beckoned Wang Yi, Gan Lu, Chen Shuang, Sunx Min, and Mi Zhen over. ”I’ll say it once, you might draw duplicate prizes, and then you’ll have to coordinate among yourselves.”

”Who’s drawing first?” Seeing that the whole audience was staring at Wang Yi and the others, Chen Xi shook the draw box and asked. At this point, he could see the blush on Mi Zhen’s face, clearly showing the significant difference between those who are engaged and those who aren’t.

The five exchanged looks, a bit hesitant, and Chen Xi chuckled internally, ”Fine, Wang Yi, you first, since you were the first to enter.”

Wang Yi, resigned, reached in and grabbed one at random. Upon opening it, she saw only three characters: ”handmade soap.” She looked at Chen Xi, completely baffled—what was this?

”It’s a kind of technique, just like white porcelain, it’s a money-maker.” Chen Xi said with a smile, ”You have quite the touch, don’t you?”

To be honest, Chen Xi didn’t want to create a more pristine porcelain, partly because white porcelain was relatively easier to craft and partly to prepare for future product upgrades.

As soon as he said that, the whole room gasped; although white porcelain wasn’t mass-produced, everyone who had come to Chen Xi’s had seen it to some extent and knew how much in demand it was.

”You’re giving me something like this?” Wang Yi was shocked.

”I said it was yours once you drew it.” Chen Xi said indifferently; handmade soap was actually pretty simple. Incidentally, soap already existed in this era.

”Isn’t this a bit too valuable?” Wang Yi said, a bit at a loss.

”I guess it is a bit, but you shouldn’t block others from drawing.” Chen Xi moved Wang Yi aside, ”If you think it’s valuable, spend your earnings on things worth spending on.”

”Marquis Chen.” Gan Lu quietly saluted Chen Xi before drawing, and unfortunately, she drew the same prize as Wang Yi—a rare occurrence.

”Marquis Chen.” Chen Shuang bowed respectfully, polite yet missing a bit of familial warmth, bowing more deferentially than others.

”I am, after all, your elder brother.” Chen Xi patted Chen Shuang and said, ”Go ahead and draw.”

Chen Shuang didn’t relax at all due to Chen Xi’s words; he remained as before, reaching in to take a small ball and stepping aside, opening it to see ”perfume.”

”I’ll send you the recipe later.” Chen Xi didn’t offer much explanation, as this item has been irresistibly popular throughout history.

Sunx Min stepped forward to bow; it was the first time Chen Xi saw Sunx Qian’s daughter, about twelve or thirteen years old, different from the slightly older Zhen Mi, whose thoughts were always on Chen Xi. Through Sunx Min’s eyes, one could only see purity.

”Come, you draw.” Chen Xi said with a smile, ”Perhaps it’ll be candy-making or fungus cultivation, something like that.”

Sunx Min finally grabbed a fungus cultivation, which was actually Qu Qi’s technique, but after planting a few times, Qu Qi lost interest. Chen Xi took the complete cultivation process and included it as a prize because Qu Qi had little interest in growing mushrooms or fungus.

”Mi Zhen, it’s your turn. None of what they drew was the grand prize.” Chen Xi shook the draw box, and with a gesture, all six remaining balls were the same, ”I realize you’re quite lucky; you got a bargain by being the last in the first round.”

Mi Zhen blushed slightly, but she didn’t feel much reverence for Chen Xi. She pouted and randomly reached in to draw a ball, while Wang Yi and Zhen Mi leaned in closely to peek.

”The 5th day of the 2nd month of the Gui Hai year, during the Chen hour? What’s this?” Mi Zhen looked at Chen Xi confusedly, reading out the Four Pillars of Destiny aloud.

Zhen Mi and Wang Yi exchanged a glance, both knowing what it was. Zhen Mi understood because of Chen Xi’s prior words, while Wang Yi recalled the time her sister exchanged Four Pillars of Destiny with Fa Zheng.

Lul Xun was at a loss; he couldn’t mishear his own birthdate, yet amidst the chaos, a hint of expectation emerged.

”This is the ultimate prize; I’m giving it to you now as the ultimate reward.” Chen Xi gestured for Lul Xun to come over, Lul Xun’s face flushed, but he stepped over.

Chen Xi took Lul Xun’s hand and reached it out to Mi Zhen. Mi Zhen was bewildered, but in this era, there weren’t concepts of gender propriety, and seeing Lul Xun’s hand offered by Chen Xi, although not understanding the meaning, she accepted it.

Instantly, Lul Xun blushed even more, unaware of his own feelings, while Mi Zhen looked puzzled at Chen Xi, Wang Yi, and Zhen Mi, not knowing what they were up to.

Those who suddenly realized began congratulating Mi Zhen. Numerous families had sought after Mi Zhen from the Mi Family but were turned away. Yet, Lul Xun went home unscathed, now seen as a good match.

”Congratulations on what?” Mi Zhen looked around at everyone, bewildered.

”The grand prize is Boyan.” Zhen Mi looked at Mi Zhen, dumbfounded. ”Don’t you know what you drew earlier? That’s Boyan’s Four Pillars of Destiny, meaning the ultimate prize is drawing a husband who can handle any problems!”

”Good thing I didn’t win.” Wang Yi muttered, pulling a corner of her mouth. She didn’t want to get married at all. Jiang Ying had even asked her if she wanted to marry Fa Zheng, but Wang Yi declined. She didn’t want to rely on anyone and didn’t wish to become a man’s accessory.

”How’s this for a prize?” Chen Xi watched Mi Zhen with a grin.

Mi Zhen’s face turned from a blush to a deep red, until all visible skin turned bright red. She gripped Lul Xun’s hand so tightly, it seemed she would throw him away.

Lul Xun was equally awkward, yet he said nothing because he felt Mi Zhen was suitable for him. Moreover, his family, his teacher, even Mi Zhen’s brother all thought so too, so it seemed fitting.

Mi Zhen, flustered and shy, composed herself upon seeing Lul Xun’s calm demeanor, her face still red but her thoughts now clear. She understood Chen Xi wouldn’t act without her brother’s consent; thus, it was practically a foregone conclusion.

Mi Zhen didn’t dislike Lul Xun. She saw his wisdom, but now it seemed like she needed to give a definite answer.

Brushing aside the strands of hair that fell in the chaos, she leaned slightly towards Lul Xun. Clearly, Lul Xun panicked, wishing to retreat, but before he could, Mi Zhen grabbed his shoulder, lifting him and darting out of Chen Xi’s family compound.

”I’m taking this prize with me!” As everyone stood there, stunned, Mi Zhen’s bell-like laughter echoed from outside Chen Xi’s home. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote with recommendations or monthly tickets on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)