On the second day after the banquet, the news that the emperor was going to find husbands for the two princesses and Prefectural Princess Zhaohua spread like wildfire. People quickly forgot the shadow of chickenpox. They gathered on the streets in small groups, discussing with great interest what kind of people the emperor would choose to be his sons-in-law.

One piece of news was particularly intriguing. It was said that in order to prepare for the competition seven days later, ...