Chapter 196: Chapter 196

The crowd’s incredulous eyes settled on Jun Ning.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Jun Ning picked up the Nine Linked Rings, and with a snap, smashed it directly onto the ground.

The interlocking White Jade Nine Linked Rings instantly shattered, and the rings were solved.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Why hadn’t they thought of such a simple and effective way to solve the Nine Linked Rings?

Why had they been so tangled in figuring out how to unlock the interlocked rings, instead of just smashing them to solve it all at once?

This proves that adults’ thoughts aren’t as pure as children’s; they worry more, think more, and naturally end up complicating the problem-solving process.

They lack the most pure, direct, and effective method and end up wasting time.

The Ninth Prince, seeing the shattered white jade pieces of the Nine Linked Rings on the ground, lost interest in solving the Nine Linked Rings in his hand.

He put down the Nine Linked Rings in his hand and stood up, staring blankly at the pieces of white jade.

It was undeniable that the little girl had solved the Nine Linked Rings before him, and in the shortest, most effective time.

He had thought of this method of solving the Nine Linked Rings before, believing it to be the simplest, most direct method. But he didn’t dare to try it easily, for fear of his father’s anger and his brothers calling him cunning, thus disliking him.

So he came up with the current method of solving the Nine Linked Rings, which was complicated, time-consuming, and laborious, but he felt it was really unnecessary, not as effective as just smashing them.

Alas, he didn’t dare.

The thing he didn’t dare to do, this little princess had accomplished.

She was really brave and smart.

"This round... I... concede..."

The Ninth Prince not only conceded but did so wholeheartedly.

However, the Ninth Prince conceding didn’t mean the Eldest Prince from Bei Xia would also concede.

The Eldest Prince of Bei Xia couldn’t accept that what his brother was best at was so easily lost to such a little girl.

"No, this Eighteen Princess is playing dirty, her win can’t be counted," the Eldest Prince of Bei Xia objected.

But Jun Ning said, "What do you mean I’m playing dirty?" She paused, "Clearly, a smash can solve the Nine Linked Rings, I really don’t see why you all use so many steps to solve it?" Updates are released by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹~𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮~𝚗𝚎𝚝

It’s just like rice that can be eaten in one bite, why insist on eating it grain by grain?

Why complicate matters? Why waste time and energy on unnecessary steps?

Life should be simplified; we should use effective time to do more meaningful things.

The Eldest Prince wanted to argue, but was besieged by the officials of Eastern Chu.

"Eldest Prince, even the Ninth Prince has conceded, why won’t you? Is it because you don’t want to acknowledge that our Eighteen Princess was the first to solve the Nine Linked Rings?"

"A man’s word is his bond, you can’t deny it."

"Otherwise, your words here in Eastern Chu will have no credibility."

The officials’ words were really powerful, each one more persuasive than the last.

They managed to discuss a person’s credibility from such a simple matter, truly impressive.

The Eldest Prince felt ashamed by their words, and ultimately had to concede.

"Fine, fine, we lost, Bei Xia admits it." The Eldest Prince of Bei Xia glared angrily at those officials, "You don’t need to relate this matter to the credibility of the words of this prince."

His words counted, and he wouldn’t deny them.

Officials: "Since the Eldest Prince has conceded, we naturally have nothing more to say."

"Hmph." The Eldest Prince of Bei Xia snorted coldly.

This round may have been lost due to bad luck. However, there are still two rounds, and they still have a chance of winning.

That Eighteen Princess, she may have won by luck this time, but she can’t keep winning by chance forever.

In the next round, she will surely lose.

What will the next round compare?

Very simple, give the Ninth Prince from Bei Xia and Eastern Chu’s Eighteen Princess each a room; they are each responsible for filling the room. Whoever spends the least money and effort wins.

This round is limited to one day.

During the competition, neither person is allowed to see anyone or seek help from anyone; they must stay in their assigned room and figure out how to fill it.

They can request items from their guards; the guards will provide them with whatever they need.

By this time tomorrow, a winner will be decided.

This problem can be difficult or simple, depending on how the Ninth Prince and Jun Ning tackle it.

The banquet continued; the Ninth Prince and Jun Ning were led to their respective rooms.

The rooms had beds, tables, and chairs. There weren’t many furnishings, but they had what was necessary.

After settling in, Jun Ning and the Ninth Prince didn’t have to worry about having no place to sleep.

After entering, Jun Ning patted her growling stomach and said, "Anyway, there’s still plenty of time, no rush." She planned to fill her stomach first.

It seemed that the Emperor had deliberately arranged this room for her; it contained her favorite cilantro mung bean cakes and some snacks for her to fill her stomach.

Jun Ning ate the cilantro mung bean cakes. Feeling full, she lay on the bed, boredly counting sheep.

After counting for a while, the sky turned dark, so she simply turned off the lights and went to sleep.

It seemed she had completely forgotten about the contest with the Ninth Prince of Bei Xia.

Among the servants guarding the two rooms, there were those from both Eastern Chu and Bei Xia for fairness. They supervised each other, ensuring no one could cheat; the outcome depended on each person’s skills.

Although they couldn’t assist their masters, they could observe the progress of filling the rooms.

Some were already crouched at the doors of the rooms, watching the proceedings inside.

"Our Ninth Prince is still diligently transporting cotton to fill the room."

"The cotton is cheap and doesn’t require a lot of effort to install. In this round, our Ninth Prince is sure to win."

"Speaking of which, what’s happening with your Eighteen Princess? Haven’t you been watching at the door? Why haven’t you said anything after all this time?"

The person watching at Jun Ning’s door whispered, "We’ve been watching from the door, but it’s pitch dark inside, we can’t see anything!"

The people from the Ninth Prince’s side were puzzled, "How could it be dark? Did the Eighteen Princess fill her room with charcoal? So it’s pitch dark and nothing can be seen? But with her little strength, can she even move charcoal? Besides, is there that much charcoal for her to move?"

"No, no, no, the princess didn’t intend to use charcoal to fill the room because she never asked the guards for any. More precisely, she hasn’t asked for anything at all."

"Hmm? She hasn’t asked for anything? Then what is she using to fill the room?"

"It seems the princess has been eating and sleeping after entering, not doing anything else."