Crazy or What? The Gloomy Prince Kisses Me to Tears Every Night!-Chapter 210 - 200: Could It Be That Bai Susu Is Also Reborn?
Feng Qingyang glanced at Bai Susu and nodded, "Permission granted." Bai Susu immediately stood up and walked over to Zhao Sheng.
Then, without looking sideways, she bypassed him and approached the box made of red sandalwood.
This so-called Digital Mechanism Lock is actually, in modern terms, a standard nine-grid Sudoku game.
While Zhao Sheng and the others were solving the puzzle, their thinking was likely limited to the idea that the sum of numbers in rows and columns should be the same, so no matter what they did, there would always be a column with a different sum.
However, according to the hints in the original text, this Sudoku game is actually a variant Sudoku, specifically a diagonal Sudoku.
A diagonal Sudoku means that the numbers in each small nine-grid can’t be repeated, and each row, column, and major diagonal line must also have unique numbers.
Once this rule is understood, the Digital Mechanism Lock naturally becomes much easier to solve.
After pondering over the numbers for a moment, Bai Susu extended her fair fingers and began to slowly adjust them.
She often played Sudoku games in high school, and now that she knew the rules of this Sudoku game, it was naturally not difficult to solve.
Zhao Sheng glanced at Bai Susu’s actions and slightly furrowed his brows.
Whether looking horizontally or vertically, the sum of the numbers was different. Did this woman really know how to solve this puzzle?
Could she be trying to use this moment to show off and attract attention?
Just as Zhao Sheng was thinking this, Bai Susu quickly moved the last number tile into the correct position.
Then, everyone heard a faint clicking sound from inside the red sandalwood box.
Zhao Sheng’s expression instantly froze.
The other people had their eyes brighten at this moment, "Is it solved?"
Bai Susu withdrew her fingers and calmly said to Feng Qingyang, "Your Majesty, thankfully, I did not fail, this puzzle seems to be solved."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng’s pupils shrank hard, and he couldn’t believe it as he stepped forward to inspect the red sandalwood box.
And this time, the box that had previously refused to open for him had already sprung open a crack.
In the complex external structure, a thin map of unknown material folded into a scroll lay inside.
At this sight, Zhao Sheng wished he could immediately stretch out his hand, take out the map, and open it to have a look.
But since it was something he had given away, how could he take it back in front of everyone?
So he had to suppress his unwillingness and said to Feng Qingyang, "Da Qin truly is full of hidden talents. To think a woman solved this difficult problem, I am truly in awe."
Feng Qingyang then laughed heartily and said, "Crown Prince Zhao is unaware; she is not just any woman, but the betrothed of my Da Qin Crown Prince!"
After speaking, he immediately instructed Xia Ziyang, "Go see what that map is about."
To avoid Zhao Country regretting and playing tricks, it was best to acquire this map as soon as possible.
Xia Ziyang immediately responded and quickly went to retrieve the white scroll paper from the box.
Zhao Sheng had no choice but to reluctantly tear his gaze away and then looked at Bai Susu with an unclear expression.
He never expected to lose to a woman!
...
After Xia Ziyang took the map, he promptly unfolded it in front of Feng Qingyang.
He then nodded at him and said, "Your Majesty, it is indeed a map."
Upon hearing this, Feng Qingyang was immediately overjoyed, and he said to Bai Susu, "You did very well; it’s no wonder you’re the daughter carefully nurtured by Prime Minister Bai! Someone, pass my order, reward Bai Susu with ten thousand taels of gold, a piece of land, and the title of County Lord."
Bai Susu immediately and respectfully bowed, "This humble daughter thanks Your Majesty for the reward."
Feng Qingyang then also addressed Prime Minister Bai, "Bai Xiang, your teaching is indeed meritorious!"
Prime Minister Bai promptly stood out and said, "Your Majesty, you’re too kind. Susu is just a girl; how much talent could she possibly have? The puzzle she solved could surely be done by many talents in Da Qin, but because of timing and circumstance, they couldn’t immediately relieve the Emperor’s worries. It is merely a fluke that Susu managed it."
Feng Qingyang nodded with immense satisfaction and said, "Bai Xiang speaks quite rightly."
Meanwhile, Bai Susu silently twitched her lips.
My dear grandfather.
Even to please Feng Qingyang and embarrass Zhao Country, is there a need to use me as a stepping stone?
What do you mean by ’if I can solve it, then others surely can as well’?
Why don’t you let them try and see!
But Bai Susu also knew that it was absolutely not the time to refute, she could only agree.
So she showed a gentle expression and nodded, "Grandfather speaks quite rightly."
Over on the side, Zhao Sheng heard this and almost couldn’t maintain his composure.
But he quickly squashed his inner frustration and anger and forcibly smiled, "Even a mere woman has such talent, no wonder Da Qin is always so prosperous and flourishing. I am truly in admiration."
Feng Qingyang laughed heartily and then said, "I must also thank Crown Prince Zhao for presenting this treasure map, rest assured, I am not someone of small mind. Since this treasure map was a gift from Zhao Country, there is no way you will end up with nothing. This treasure map... in time, will be jointly developed by Da Qin and Zhao Country, how about it?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng was briefly stunned and then immediately said, "My Zhao Country couldn’t ask for more, many thanks, Your Majesty!"
He hadn’t expected Feng Qingyang to be so generous, willing to develop the treasure together with Zhao Country.
Although he didn’t understand why Feng Qingyang, the old fox, wanted to do this, for Zhao Country, it was certainly beneficial.
Thinking of this, Zhao Sheng’s mood improved significantly.
...
Meanwhile, below the platform, Bai Wanwan was startled, spilling some tea from her cup after Bai Susu solved the Sudoku.
Her eyes looked at Bai Susu with shock, her heart filled with disbelief.
Bai Susu!
How does she know the answer to this question?
This shouldn’t be.
In a previous life, Bai Susu, known as the first talented woman of Da Qin, had a considerable study in arithmetic and, of course, attempted solving the puzzle.
But at that time, Bai Susu couldn’t solve this problem at all.
Yet this time, Bai Susu solved the problem that had stumped so many!
How is that possible?
Could it be that Bai Susu, like her, is also someone reborn, hence knowing the answer to the problem?
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to solve a problem she originally couldn’t.
At this thought, Bai Wanwan felt a shiver run through her body as her hair stood on end.
In her mind, she couldn’t help but recall the various events since her rebirth.
The more she thought, the more wrong it seemed.
For instance, during the Empress Dowager’s birthday, Bai Susu didn’t stumble upon Feng Changge and Consort Li’s affair.
And the time at the inn, Bai Susu managed to avoid Feng Wuchen’s schemes and came out unscathed!
Before, she assumed it was merely Bai Susu’s luck being too good, which led to this.
But now it seems... it’s highly possible she knew of those plans in advance, merely countering them!
Tightly gripping the teacup, Bai Wanwan felt a creeping sense of fear.
All along, she believed she was the one with foresight who could manipulate everyone in the palm of her hand.
But now, it seems, she was utterly wrong!
