"The third-place offering of this treasure presentation — the Yellow Dragon Observing Sea Diagram." Consort Dan's voice, once it rang out, stunned everyone present.
The Yellow Dragon Observing Sea Diagram?
Everyone froze. The Yellow Dragon Observing Sea Diagram ranked third? Was there a mistake? Had Consort Dan read the order wrong?
Even the First Prince Ye Dai, with all his composure and his great effort to display a graceful attitude toward winning and losing, couldn't help but stiffen the moment he heard those words. His face went pale in an instant.
"Impossible!" Lü Wuji couldn't help but cry out. "The Yellow Dragon Observing Sea Diagram — how can it possibly be only third? Miss Consort Dan, did you perhaps read the order incorrectly?"
Lü Wuji shared the same thought as everyone else: Consort Dan must have gotten the order wrong. No matter how you looked at it, the Yellow Dragon Observing Sea Diagram clearly outshone all the other treasures.
Only third? That meant two treasures had been ranked ahead of him!
This result wasn't just unacceptable to Lü Wuji — even Ye Dai's first instinct was that it had to be a mistake.
Everyone else wore expressions of sheer disbelief. Though they had participated in the competition, deep down they had long since accepted their fate, convinced that the Yellow Dragon Observing Sea Diagram would claim first place, and that they could only vie for second and third.
So upon hearing that the Yellow Dragon Observing Sea Diagram ranked third, these people were shocked, but also secretly delighted, and a spark of ambition and hope ignited within them.
"The Yellow Dragon Observing Sea Diagram placed third? Then do I have a chance at first place? Perhaps the old master hasn't seen the treasure I sent before and will find it particularly impressive?"
Quite a few harbored this thought.
"Sister Consort Dan, are you certain there's no mistake? I can't make sense of it — everyone here has seen these treasures. Is there really something better than the Yellow Dragon Observing Sea Diagram?" Ye Zheng stepped forward to voice his grievance on behalf of Ye Dai.
Consort Dan replied coolly, "Ye Zheng, are you questioning the old master's judgment?"
Ye Zheng's head throbbed, and he quickly waved his hands. "That's not what I meant at all. I was just wondering if perhaps you mixed up the order when writing the rankings."
Consort Dan shot him a glance, her expression slightly aloof.
That loaded look made Ye Zheng shrink back and wisely keep his mouth shut.
Ye Dai tasted bitterness on his tongue. He had watched Consort Dan's reaction closely. This was clearly no mistake — he really had placed third.
Moreover, Consort Dan's attitude made it plain that she didn't even intend to give him an explanation!
Ye Dai's frustration nearly drove him mad. He couldn't understand why!
Still, he knew that if he made a scene now, his impression in Grand Tutor Ye's mind would be severely diminished.
With a bitter smile, he stepped back and gave a slight bow. "Ye Dai thanks the old master for his appreciation."
Consort Dan gave a faint nod. Seeing that Ye Dai hadn't lost his composure entirely, she felt a touch of sympathy. She wanted to offer an explanation, but how could she?
Tell him it was a forgery? That would sting even more than silence. A First Prince presenting a counterfeit to the old master — wouldn't that be the ultimate humiliation?
So the best choice was to say nothing.
Ye Dai caught what seemed like a flicker of pity in Consort Dan's eyes and felt marginally better. At least Sister Consort Dan still valued their old bond.
Consort Dan composed herself, and her voice, light and clear as jade pearls, rang out once more: "Second place — the Saber-tooth Flying Fox cub."
Ye Rong heard this and felt a surge of joy, followed by a moment of confusion. He was delighted that he had beaten the First Prince Ye Dai.
But confused that he hadn't ranked first?
Still, at this point, whether he was first or not didn't really matter. Beating the First Prince Ye Dai was success enough for him this time.
Thinking back to the humiliation from the First Prince's side earlier, Ye Rong seethed with anger. He smiled faintly, utterly ignoring Ye Dai's hostile glare, and bowed toward Consort Dan. "To have earned the old master's appreciation fills Ye Rong with deep honor. My thanks to you as well, Sister Consort Dan."
Lü Wuji refused to accept it. "A Saber-tooth Flying Fox — nothing more than a plaything — ranked higher than the Yellow Dragon Observing Sea Diagram? This ranking... sigh, I simply don't understand it."
Though he muttered under his breath, everyone present heard every word.
Consort Dan's gaze turned icy as it fixed on Lü Wuji. "Who do you think you are? When the old master has made his decision, did anyone ask for your input? One more word, and you'll be thrown out immediately!"
Consort Dan had been at Grand Tutor Ye's side since childhood. Though she held no official power, no one in the entire Tiangui Kingdom dared to look down on this woman.
Everyone knew that she represented Grand Tutor Ye himself.
In the Tiangui Kingdom, Lü Wuji was indeed among the top nobility, but to act recklessly at a gathering like this — he was far from having that right.
Even the First Prince Ye Dai, stepping back a step, was far from qualified!
"Wuji, restrain yourself." Though the First Prince Ye Dai appreciated Lü Wuji's bold and outspoken style, in a setting like this, the necessary words of propriety still had to be said.
Lü Wuji retreated with an embarrassed expression, his face dark with resentment.
He was deeply dissatisfied, feeling that the First Prince had been treated unjustly.
Yet Consort Dan, in her anger, radiated an even more compelling charm, leaving every young man present restless and on edge, their hearts wriggling like monkeys scratching at them.
"Very well. Now, I announce the grand finale treasure of this presentation — the Nine Hua Jade Dew Wine."