At this moment, under pressure, Shad wanted to refuse, but Dorothy pulled him back. So he closed his mouth, thought carefully, and asked the safest question:
"Your Highness, how is your math?"
"Very good, I have a very good math teacher."
The princess said confidently.
"The following question is addition and subtraction within 30. You have half a minute to give the answer."
Xia De said, Princess Margaret's voice rose slightly:
"Within thirty? If that's not a complicated continuous calculation, ten seconds or even five seconds would be fine."
"Your Highness is indeed very good at mathematics."
Sir Prisha also helped out.
"Okay, please listen carefully, everyone can calculate together."
Shade coughed, and everyone looked at him. Shade then said:
"There is a Three Cats Inn in Anthem Square in the northern part of Tobysk. Three days ago, three gentlemen stayed there. They paid 10 pence each, a total of 30 pence."
“Is it so cheap?”
Princess Margaret asked curiously.
"It's just a metaphor. Maybe it's just the hotel, not including meals and laundry."
Leicia reminded.
"The shop owner, Mrs. Sammi, was in a good mood that day and decided to reduce the price for the three gentlemen, so she asked the little boy to return the five pence to the three men."
Xia De continued, holding up five fingers:
"The boy couldn't divide the five pence equally among three people, so he decided to reward himself with two pence for running the errand."
When Xia De heard someone laugh, he smiled too:
“So he gave the remaining three pence back to the three gentlemen.”
Princess Margaret nodded:
"It is indeed addition and subtraction within thirty, so what is the problem?"
"Before I ask you any questions, Your Highness Leicia, please tell me how much money each of the three gentlemen spent?"
"It's easy, 9p."
Leicia said, and Shade nodded again and asked Princess Margaret:
"After collecting the 3pence, the three gentlemen spent a total of 27pence, plus the 2pence kept by the little boy, a total of 29pence. Where did the remaining 1pence go?"
When Princess Margaret heard this question, she initially found it funny, but after thinking about it for just a dozen seconds, she realized that there seemed to be something wrong.
"Twenty-seven plus two equals twenty-nine."
She pondered this simple calculation over and over in her mind, and then reviewed simple application scenarios, trying to find something wrong.
When Xia De saw that the other party had not given an answer for dozens of seconds, he knew that the other party must have fallen into his thinking trap. He breathed a sigh of relief and stroked Xiaomia on his legs.
What would you do if she really answered it
The voice in his ear suddenly asked, and Xia De's mouth trembled:
"Even if it means exposing the identity of the Gray Eagle, I can't let anyone take Mia away."
The thirty seconds were quickly up, and not only Princess Margaret, but no one around could answer Shad's question.
Xia De then looked at Ms. Mona Asberg, the game host, who shook her head slightly at him, and after a dozen seconds, she announced softly:
"It seems that Hamilton Knight's 'riddle' was difficult enough that Reed's Hamilton won the riddle game."
But only a few people applauded. They were not unhappy that Shad won over Princess Margaret, but they were all thinking about the answer to this question:
"Shad, this is such a simple question, but I just can't figure out where the missing penny went."
Dorothy was the first to ask a question. She repeated what Shard had asked, and then asked:
"It's so simple, but the more I think about it, the more irritated I feel. Could it be that you have used hypnosis to change all of our perceptions of mathematics?"
People laughed along, and Shade shook his head:
"Dorothy, your Hamilton Detective Stories does not give me the ability of 'hypnotism'."
"So where did the missing penny go?"
Leicia also asked, obviously not understanding it either.
"How about this."
Xia De did not give a direct answer:
"Your Highness, I have no intention of obtaining your jewelry, and wisdom should not be used as a trick to take away the ornaments from a noble lady. So how about this, I will not announce the answer, but if you can tell me the answer before the end of this banquet, then it will be a draw."
He smiled and picked up Mia:
"Of course, in the event of a tie, you can't take my cat away. But if you're interested in it, you can invite me to the next party, and I'll bring it along."
Mia was a little dissatisfied with Shade picking her up casually, but when she noticed Shade's hand reaching for the fruit plate on the table, she immediately closed her mouth obediently.
"Okay, I'll come up with the answer to the question before the party is over."
Princess Margaret said softly, her expression still calm:
"But I also admit that I lost to you. I am not someone who cannot afford to lose."
After saying this, he sighed softly:
"This question seems so simple, but the more I think about it, the more terrifying it becomes. Where did the penny go?"
Not only her, but the people around her were unable to come up with an answer for the time being, so after the riddle game was over, no one was the first to speak up to bring up the next topic.
Xia De leaned back gently on the sofa, he was also thinking:
"It's easy to show my strength and wisdom tonight, but how should I show my charm? Should I really ask the bride to dance? Will I be shot 13 times in the back and die at home tomorrow? Charm..."
The flesh and blood of desire enhanced the appearance of this body, and the gratitude of thousands of souls between life and death made his soul more charming. At this moment, after showing unparalleled wisdom and asking a riddle that no one could answer, Shad, who was meditating under the gaslight, made the girls around him look at him quietly.
"Being charming... oh, it's so difficult. If it were that easy to be charming, I wouldn't be alone in my hometown."
He complained in his heart, and then he heard "her" laughter. "She" was in a good mood tonight, which Xia De could tell from her gentle smile:
At least you showed me your charm.
"What's the use? You, aren't you me?"
The activities in the sofa lounge area did not last too long. After the riddle game, Shad wanted to have another chat with Mr. Prisha, the "Moon of Guidance", but the two parties only exchanged business cards, and the gentleman got up and left as if he had seen an acquaintance.
Shortly after he left, Princess Margaret also went to the lounge on the third floor with her maid, using the excuse that she wanted to take a rest. Dorothy's writer friends also made an appointment to go to the garden behind the manor to watch the moon together.
There were suddenly fewer people around the sofa. After saying goodbye to Princess Margaret, Resia opened her feather fan to cover the lower half of her face. She tilted her body slightly and whispered in Dorothy's ear:
"I have a handwritten copy of Summer Nights in my hand. Miss Louisa, are you interested in going upstairs with your male companion to read it with me... Read it together."
She tried to keep her tone calm and spoke to Dorothy, but her eyes were always on Shad, and Shad understood the meaning of her eyes.
"Of course, Your Highness."
Dorothy blushed a little, but continued softly:
"You go first, you go first, we will catch up later."
He looked around carefully, then gently patted Lecia's arm.
Lecia nodded slightly and said goodbye to Shade in a very ladylike manner. Then she lifted her skirt, stood up, and walked towards the stairs with her personal maid.
After Resia, who was wearing the crown, walked away, Dorothy said cautiously to Shade:
"Just now, His Highness invited us to watch 'Summer Night Collection' together."
Xia De controlled his expression and maintained a normal tone:
"You go upstairs first, I'll follow you later."
He could probably understand why Leicia chose this place as the venue, not only because it was convenient for the three of them to meet, but also because it was indeed very interesting.
"Okay, hurry up, we don't have much time tonight."
Dorothy spoke softly, and her tone made Shad doubt that she was Leicia, but little Mia clearly didn't call her that.
The writer also stood up and left. Xia De waited until her figure disappeared at the far staircase of the banquet hall before he stood up. He greeted the others on the sofa, and then, amid her laughter, he prepared to walk towards the stairs.
There is no need to rush for "Wisdom", "Power" and "Charm", after all, there is still a long time tonight. But on the day of the Red Butterfly, watching "Summer Night Collection" with Leicia and Dorothy... ... There is not much time left tonight.