Jiapingguan Chronicle

Chapter 2635 Still Vigorous in Old Age 19.0
Although it's just a game, the rules and regulations still need to be followed for everyone present.

"What do you mean by that?" Xue Ruitian put his hands in his pockets, looked at everyone, and said, "What happens if someone gets hit? How should the win or loss be calculated? We have a time limit, so we need to make these things clear, right?"

“That’s right, so I have an idea. What do you think?” Master Jiang clapped his hands, signaling everyone to look at him, and said, “We have three groups now, each group…” He counted the number of people and continued, “about ten people in each group, and each person will have two chances. How about that?”

"Two chances?" Bai Meng thought for a moment and said, "That means if you hit it once, you get one more chance. If you hit it twice, you have to leave the game, right?"

"Hey, the Commander-in-Chief is right, that's exactly what I mean!" Fourth Master Jiang gave him a thumbs up. "If everyone in a group leaves, that group loses. The last one left on the field is the winner. Any objections to this rule?"

"Yes!" Shen Cha held out her hand. "We have a time limit. What if two or more groups are on the field within the time limit?" She spread her hands. "Will we need to add time?"

“No need for overtime.” Master Jiang shook his head slightly and said, “We can count the players. The player with the fewest players left on the field loses, and the player with the most wins. How about that?”

"Yes, yes, that's a good method." Jin Miaomiao nodded. "Are there any other rules?"

“I’ll mention something.” Shen Cha raised her hand. “The most important thing is that we can’t fight. If we’re having a snowball fight, then we can have a snowball fight. But if we’re pushing and shoving each other like this…” She suddenly shoved Merlin, almost making him fall over, and then quickly reached out to pull him back, saying, “That won’t do. That’s against the rules, and in serious cases, you’ll be punished and can’t play anymore. Is that alright?”

"No problem, we agree!"

"Where are the three of you?" Shen Cha asked, looking at Master Jiang, Qin Zheng, and Uncle Yan. "No problems?"

"No."

"Okay, I have another question."

"Xiao Cha, why do you have so many questions?" Xia Chen said, both amused and exasperated. "What other questions do you have?"

"This is a serious problem. We're all involved now, so who's going to decide whether we were hit or whether we violated the rules?" Shen Cha spread her hands. "There's no one left, right?"

"Yes, that's a problem."

The group exchanged glances. Although it was impossible for Master Jiang, Qin Zheng, and Uncle Yan to participate, their decision to make the ruling on behalf of their respective teams would certainly not be convincing. However, if they were not allowed to participate, there would really be no one else available.

"How about we each send one?"

"No need for all that trouble. Who said there's no one left? We're still here!"

Hearing a familiar voice behind them, everyone turned around and saw Song Yaojia and Jin Jing walking slowly toward them, followed by Ying Ba.

"What brings you all here?" Xia Chen looked at the three of them. "But you've come at just the right time!"

"It's true what they say, timing is everything!" Song Yaojia looked at their setup. "Oh, are they planning a snowball fight? They've even split into groups, looks pretty evenly matched!"

"Are we a little late?" Jin Jing looked at the three groups. "Is there no room for us?"

“You three have come at the perfect time; there will definitely be places for you.” Shen Cha thought for a moment, then pulled Jin Miaomiao with one hand and Mei Lin with the other as she walked out, dragging Song Yaojia, Jin Jing, and Ying Ba into Qin Zheng’s group. She looked at Xue Ruitian and Bai Meng, then at Ying Bao and Ying Jun, and asked, “These three will take our places. Miaomiao, Xiao Linzi, and I will decide. Do you have any objections?”

“No objections, absolutely.” Bai Meng hooked her arm around Xue Ruitian’s shoulder and raised an eyebrow at Shen Haolin. “We were a little hesitant before, but now that Xiaocha, Miaomiao, and Xiaolinzi aren’t participating, we have no worries at all. Let’s go all out!” “Alright!” Shen Haolin calmly accepted the challenge. “Let’s see who has the last laugh.”

While the three groups were provoking each other, Yingba approached Shen Cha and handed her a bamboo tube.

"News about Lord Hei of Yiqing Prefecture."

Upon hearing that it was news from Hei Lu'er, Shen Cha raised an eyebrow, took the bamboo tube, and examined the color of the seal. Since it wasn't urgent news, he put it in his sleeve and patted Ying Ba on the shoulder.

"Okay, it shouldn't be a big deal, don't worry, go have fun!"

Kageya responded and, taking advantage of the moment when no one was looking, slipped back into the group.

"Where did this news come from? Aren't you going to take a look?" Jin Miaomiao, who had been watching from the side, leaned over at this moment. When she saw the small bamboo tube that Shen Cha had shown her, she breathed a sigh of relief and asked in a low voice, "Lord Hei? Sending you a message at this time, it doesn't mean you've found Wanyan Qingmu, does it?"

“Impossible. Wanyan Qingmu should still be in the hands of the Yi Ting and Yi Xiu brothers. He wouldn’t be found so easily. He must have been exposed to everyone, but those brothers have the ability to make sure no one can find him.” Shen Cha sneered. “Although they are supporters of the eldest prince, I don’t think they are very good.”

“Judging from all their actions so far, it certainly is.” Jin Miaomiao nodded. “Are Prince Jing and his men also investigating them?”

"It should be. I sent a letter to my great-uncle, and there should be a reply."

After saying that, she looked at the three groups of people who were still provoking each other, sighed, and reached out her hand to Merlin.

Merlin handed her a drumstick and a small gong, and seeing that she was about to strike it, he pulled Jin Miaomiao back two steps.

Seeing that the two had retreated to a safe distance, Shen Cha knocked three times, and the three groups arguing stopped and looked at Shen Cha.

Shen Cha glanced at them and waved to Mei Lin, who was walking back.

"Light incense, for the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn."

Upon hearing this, the three groups quickly occupied positions advantageous to themselves, forming a very stable triangle.

Shen Cha grabbed a flag and waved it at everyone, signaling the official start of the snowball fight.

The three groups did not enter the field immediately at the beginning. Instead, they confronted each other, wanting to see who would be the first to lose patience and launch the first wave of attack.

"Them..." Jin Miaomiao crossed her arms, completely baffled by their actions. "Time is limited, are they all planning to lose?"

"Don't worry, they're all aware of what's going on. We'll just keep an eye on things." Shen Cha glanced at Xue Ruitian and Bai Meng beside Master Jiang, then at Ying Bao and Ying Jun beside Uncle Yan, and finally at Shen Haolin, Jin Jing, and Song Yaojia who were talking to Qin Zheng. She chuckled, "Although Brother Yaojia has never been on the battlefield,..."

"but?"

“His imperial uncle, Prince Dai, and Prince Ning have never won a game of chess against him.”