Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 106: Black and White Chess Game
The rain lasted for two days.

After Grain Full, the weather gradually warms up.

May 26th is an auspicious day. Li Huan had someone check the imperial calendar long ago. It was a good day to travel and meet friends.

Before daybreak, Tan Qiu Courtyard was already busy.

Xue Sui didn't have anything important to bring with her when she went to stay at the villa. Apart from Jinshu, Xiaozhao and Ruyi, she only brought four old women and maids who did odd jobs. Xue Yuechen assigned her three cars, which was just enough.

She looked very good when she woke up today, and when she was putting on makeup, Xiao Zhao was kind enough to put some dark grey powder on her.

A sickly beauty suddenly appeared in the bronze mirror. The corners of her eyes were deliberately drawn droopy, and even her lips were pressed pale with jasmine paste. She looked several years older and had a sickly look on her face.

Xiao Zhao was holding the Luozidai, and when he saw her frown, he paused.

"The girl doesn't like it?"

Xue Sui coughed lightly and stroked his temples with his fingertips: "I like it."

Jinshu couldn't bear to look at it and just smiled.

Ruyi's hurried footsteps were heard outside. As soon as the curtain opened, she started talking like firecrackers.

"The fourth young lady is so arrogant. Not only did she follow him to the villa, she even brought her sister-in-law with her. She came here before dawn and said something like 'it's lonely for the princess to walk alone'. It seems to me that she wants to use the princess's influence to enhance her own prestige..."

Xue Sui chuckled when he heard that. "Let her do her thing and we'll do ours. Why are you so angry?"

Ruyi was clearly unhappy and snorted.

"I just don't like her."

Then he curled his lips and added, "I heard that the fourth girl sent blood swallows to the palace three times in order to curry favor with the princess. Yesterday, she even sent the only remaining jade ruyi from her dowry. The princess couldn't bear it and didn't accept her gift. She even cried."

In order to curry favor with the eldest sister, he took out all his secrets?
Xue Yueying is willing to do so?
Xue Sui curled his lips and walked out of Tan Qiuyuan as usual.

As soon as I passed through the garden, I heard the jingling of jewelry from the end of the corridor.

Xue Yueying was seen holding Xue Yuechen's hand, wearing a sky-blue ice silk skirt embroidered with patterns of hundreds of children and grandchildren, with a ruby-encrusted flower hairpin in her hair. She walked slowly with lotus steps, her belly was slightly protruding, and with her jade-like face, at first glance, she looked like a lady in the palace.

Xue Yueying saw her and spoke first.

"Sixth sister."

She had a happy look on her face and her voice was sickeningly sweet.

"I couldn't find you, but I met you here?"

Xue Sui adjusted her dress gently, as if she didn't see her, and calmly saluted Xue Yuechen.

"I've met the princess."

Xue Yuechen's eyes flickered across her face and he smiled intimately.

"Sixth sister, please get up quickly. We are the only sisters here, so there is no need to be so polite..."

Xue Yueying agreed awkwardly: "That's right! Sixth sister is now the Lady of Peace granted by the emperor, she is so precious! You are so polite, when I see my sister in the future, do I have to pay my respects in a proper manner?"

Xue Sui raised the corners of his lips subtly, but said nothing.

Jin Shu bowed and said, "Madam, according to the rules, this is exactly what should be done."

The prince's concubines have been canonized, which means that their rank is higher than that of ordinary people's wives, so they have to perform the ceremony of paying homage.

Xue Yueying's face turned pale instantly.

"How can you talk like that, you servant..."

"Jinshu was joking with the young lady."

Before Xue Yueying could get angry, Xue Sui took over the conversation with a smile.

"Young Madam is pregnant, so let's skip the ceremony."

Xue Yuechen's eyes swept over Xue Sui's sickly face. Seeing her slender waist like a willow and her shoulders and back straight as she retorted to Xue Si, he couldn't help but think of the time when she knelt in the ancestral hall to receive family punishment. Her face was frozen white and her back was so straight...

She held a fan in her hand and smiled gracefully and beautifully.

"We are all sisters, so don't be so distant. Let's go, we can talk about personal matters together."

Xue Yueying pursed her lips and glanced at Xue Liu, then took her arm affectionately and looked at Xue Liu, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

"Father always said that the daughters of the Xue family prosper together and suffer together. You and I, sisters, should support each other and bring honor to the family..."

“Honor and disgrace, gains and losses are all created by oneself. The princess is noble because she has accumulated virtue and done good deeds. Some people are unlucky in everything because they have indulged in depravity and committed many unjust acts…” Xue Sui suddenly spoke.

Her voice was clear, like the sound of a jade chime, and her eyes vaguely swept across Xue Yueying's lower abdomen.

"Sister Four said yes or no?"

Xue Yueying nearly twisted the handkerchief into pieces.

Xue Yuechen smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Don't mind Fourth Sister, Sixth Sister is just outspoken."

Xue Yueying was so angry that her stomach hurt, but since the princess had spoken, she had to put on a smile.

"Sixth sister is a noble now, so naturally everything she says is right."

In the garden, the cicadas' chirping suddenly became shrill.

Xue Yuechen smiled slightly and patted the back of her hand.

"Look at this weather, it's so hot that it makes people feel anxious. Let's set off quickly to avoid the heat on the road."

After saying this, he looked at Xue Sui with a smile, his eyes and voice very gentle.

"I have specially asked someone to prepare a basin of ice in your carriage, as well as some sweet soups to clear away heat and relieve summer heat. Look back and see if you need anything else. Just tell me..."

Xue Sui bowed and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, big sister."

Xue Yueying felt jealous again.

Obviously, the eldest sister doesn't like Xue Liu, but she treats her so well? -
There was a busy scene at the gate of the palace.

Several carriages were lined up neatly, and servants were moving back and forth in groups of three or five, carrying heavy boxes and packages. The sweat on their foreheads rolled down their cheeks, soaking their clothes, but they didn't bother to wipe it off.

Xue Sui took a silent look and walked towards his carriage.

Suddenly someone called her.

"Miss Xue Liu, Miss Xue Liu..."

She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Gu Ruoyi from Marquis Jingyuan's Mansion.

The last time they met was at Puji Temple, and Gu Ruoyi still called her by her old name.

Xue Sui smiled: "Miss Gu San is here too."

Gu Ruoyi noticed that many people were looking at her. She felt a little embarrassed, so she walked closer, stroking her hair, with her head slightly lowered.

"My sister-in-law said that Mr. Zhao will also go to the poetry gathering at Prince Duan's Villa. I want to go and see if he is as talented as people say, or if the matchmaker is exaggerating..."

The more she spoke, the softer her voice became, and her head almost drooped to her chest.

In this world, people are quite civilized and girls can go out and make friends.

It would not be considered impolite for Gu Ruoyi to go with her sister-in-law.

It’s just strange that when the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion was in its heyday, Xue Yueying didn’t like this sister-in-law very much, and Gu Ruoyi didn’t have a good face towards Xue Si either.

After the incident at Marquis Jingyuan's Mansion, the two of them became closer?
Xue Sui was doubtful, but when he saw Gu Ruoyi's blushing cheeks, he smiled gently.

"Miss Gu San, please get in the car quickly. If you don't leave now, the sun will rise soon."

The two men talked, bowed to each other, and then got on their own carriages.

There was a carriage parked in front of the palace gate. The wheels were tall and heavy, and the surface was painted with a thick layer of black paint. In the morning light, it looked deep and solemn.

The corner of the curtain slowly rolled up, and through the mist of morning light, Li Huan's sight fell on Xue Sui's slender back.

Only after she lowered the curtain did Li Huan retract his gaze, touch the ice cracks on the teacup with his fingertips, and take a sip.

A faint fragrance wafts from the gilded incense burner.

A chessboard was laid out steadily in front of him in the spacious carriage.

"Your Highness." Outside the car window, the scout coughed softly.

Li Huan was holding the white piece in the air and said in a deep voice, "Speak."

The scout lowered his voice and said, "The prince's carriage has passed Donghua Gate."

With a "pop", the white piece fell into the chess box.

Li Huan looked at the tassels swaying gently on the gauze curtain, and a dark light flashed in the depths of his eyes, as deep as ink.

"Let's set off."

Someone outside responded immediately.

Li Huan sat there for a long time without moving, his eyes fixed on the chessboard.

"This game of chess has been going on for too long."

His thoughts drifted back to when he was seventeen.

The people of Xingluo came to Shangjing to pay tribute and presented the emperor with a set of chess pieces, which they said were made of ivory and jade. The black and white pieces were clearly distinguished. They felt warm to the touch in winter and cool in summer, making them very precious.

In the Golden Palace, he finally defeated the top chess player brought by the Xingluo envoy.

Unexpectedly, the ten-year-old Li Zhao asked to play a game of hand with him in public.

At that time, Li Zhao was just a child.

He was playing chess with the prince, but no one in the audience took it seriously.

The result was that he lost.

It's humiliating to lose to a ten-year-old.

The envoys were all praising the prince, saying that he was extremely intelligent and was a son of heaven sent by Daliang. The emperor smiled and stroked his beard, his eyes full of satisfaction.

In comparison, his victory over the most powerful chess player seemed insignificant. Under the brilliance of the prodigy Li Zhao, he became a mediocre foil.

Afterwards, the prince generously gave him the chess pieces bestowed by the emperor.

Since then, the chess set has remained with him. Over the years, he has kept it safe and never dared to slack off.
-
Prince Duan’s villa was built at Qiyunping at the foot of Mount Pujue.

On this mountain, the famous Puji Temple is very popular, and many kings and nobles in the surrounding area have built summer gardens here.

The one belonging to Prince Duan is the largest and widest in the vicinity, with pavilions and towers arranged in an orderly manner, and elegant and magnificent carved beams and painted buildings. In the garden, exotic flowers and plants bloom, and winding paths lead to secluded places, which is full of grandeur.

Xue Sui's carriage stopped steadily outside the east gate of the villa.

As soon as the car stopped, a servant came running over to carry the luggage.

At this time, the sun had already risen and the sunlight was scorching hot.

Ruyi kept fanning Xue Sui with a fan, muttering to herself.

"It's a hot day, and it doesn't feel that cool in the villa. What are you doing here?"

Jinshu saw people walking around from time to time, and frowned, "Follow the girl, talk less, and work more."

Ruyi said "oh", stuck out her tongue, and followed to fan Xue Sui.

After entering the garden gate, the heat from the carriage was gone and I felt cool all of a sudden.

The air in the mountains is fresh and pleasant, mixed with the fragrance of grass and trees, as if it were a different world.

But in a blink of an eye, Ruyi changed his mind.

"Thanks to the girl, it's really cool here. It's worth coming here."

Xiao Zhao and Jin Shu laughed and scolded her.

Xue Sui couldn't help laughing either.

"We are happy just to be real——"

Xue Sui was assigned to the "Liushang Yangui" on the east side of the villa.

The name is beautiful and the yard is spacious and bright, but it is too luxurious for just a few of them to live there.

Ruyi and Xiaozhao looked around and were very satisfied.

The luggage had just been delivered and they had not had time to put it in order or catch their breath when a maid came to report.

"Madam Ping'an, the princess said that she has set up a family banquet on the 'lotus boat' to welcome all the distinguished guests..."

Xue Sui replied, "I understand."
-
One can tell at first glance that Li Huan is a person who "lacks water in the five elements". The houses and pavilions here, like the residence of Prince Duan, are mostly built on the waterside.

The plaque with the four words "On the Lotus Picking Boat" was written by Li Huan himself. The strokes are vigorous and powerful, revealing a momentum and ambition to dominate the world, which is very different from the elegant artistic conception of the name of the pavilion.

Xue Sui curled his lips slightly.

She led the maid into the ladies' seats and saw Xue Yueying bending over with her big belly to pour water for Xue Yuechen.

That gesture should be as respectful as possible.

I had never seen her be so humble before in the Xue Mansion.

I am really willing to humble myself.

It seems that Mrs. Hou’s dream has been shattered. She wants to find a bigger tree to enjoy the shade?
There were several girls surrounding Xue Yuechen, chattering non-stop.

Two of them are the eighth and ninth girls of the Xue Mansion.

Perhaps seeing the confusion in her eyes, Xue Yuechen smiled and said, "Eighth sister and Ninth sister, I invited you here. I thought that the two sisters were also suffering from the heat at home. It just so happens that the prince has arranged a summer banquet and invited many scholars. It is also a rare opportunity. Why don't you come together so that we sisters can get together..."

Xue Yueman glanced at Xue Sui and said, "It's still the elder sister who cares about her younger sisters and is concerned about them being afraid of the heat."

Xue Sui said nothing, bowed to Xue Yuechen, and took a seat at the bottom.

She was wearing an elegant dress of misty white, and when she glanced at everyone, she was filled with gazes that were about to shatter into pieces in the room.

She paused slightly, looked at Xue Yuechen, her voice soft and clear.

"I made this dress out of the cloud and mist silk that the princess gave me last time. Princess, do you think it's suitable?"

Xue Yuechen smiled and nodded: "Sister, you look young, and this color suits you, but your complexion... is not good? Is your health still not getting better?"

Xue Sui touched his cheek, "Princess, please show your love. Maybe it's because of the bumpy road. I just need to rest for a few days."

Xue Yuechen smiled and said, "What do you mean by outlandish? This is how sisters should be."

Several girls nearby all said that Mrs. Ping'an's dress was beautiful.

The two girls from the Xue Mansion felt very uncomfortable when they heard this.

The elder sister would never give them such good material as a reward.

The old ladies also said it was too luxurious and not suitable for their status.

It turns out that only Xue Liu is worthy of her?

Xue Yueying stared at the emerald green jade bracelet on Xue Sui's wrist and the gorgeous dress she was wearing, her nails almost digging into her palms.

It’s such a pity that these good things fall into the hands of a wild girl like Xue Liu!

She stood up and poured a drink herself.

"Sixth sister, come and try it too. This is the rose water that my elder sister taught us to make. I'm afraid you've never tasted it before, right?"

Xue Sui just smiled and said nothing.

Xue Yueying added: "We sisters grew up together and have a deep bond, but you were raised away from us and have become estranged from us..."

She pushed the white jade cup in front of Xue Sui and raised her eyebrows slightly.

In her words, she not only talked about the lack of sisterhood, but also mocked Xue Sui, saying that even if she rose to prominence, she was just a "country girl" who grew up in a rural alley.

Killing people with a soft knife is what Xue Yueying is best at.

Xue Sui smiled faintly, picked up the white jade cup, and wanted to drink but didn't.

"Will drinking the drink that Fourth Sister held in her hand make someone pregnant for no reason?"

Xue Yueying's face suddenly changed color.

Everyone knew about her scandals, but no one ever exposed them to her face.

Only Xue Liu ruthlessly exposed the shortcomings of others without regard for the dignity of the Xue family.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Everyone, look at me, and I'll look at you.

Inexplicably awkward.

"The prince has arrived——"

A loud and clear announcement was heard.

Everyone looked at each other, breathed a sigh of relief, and straightened their clothes to go out to welcome the emperor.

Li Zhao is late!

It was clear that they set off only after the prince's carriage had passed Donghua Gate.

But everyone in Prince Duan's mansion and the invited guests had arrived, but the prince had delayed until this time.

Li Huan had no choice but to walk out in a hurry with a group of royal attendants, including Prince of Wei Li Yan, Prince of Chun Li Qian, and a group of famous scholars and writers in Shangjing City, who waited in a large crowd at the door.

The prince's carriage took a long time to arrive and slowly stopped.

Dark clouds are gathering.

The weather in the mountains is like a baby's face, changing at any time. It was scorching hot just now, but in a flash it seemed as if a rainstorm was about to fall. The four-character plaque "Pu Jue Tian Pan" on the gate was covered by dark clouds, and became dim, as if it had become a little lower.

"We sincerely welcome His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Welcome Your Royal Highness!"

Everyone saluted in unison.

Li Zhao sat upright, raised his hand with an upright posture.

"No gift!"

"When you're out, there's no need to be polite!"

Beside the chariot, Mei Ruhui let out a low sigh.

"Your Highness, why bother..."

Li Zhao whispered: "Sir, have you ever heard of a moth flying into a flame?"

Mei Ruhui was stunned for a moment, feeling puzzled.

Why would a prince imitate a moth?
Then Li Zhao was heard humming softly.

"If someone wants to be a moth that flies into the fire, I will add a handful of firewood."

Mei Ruhui raised his head and watched Li Zhao lift up the corner of his robe with a smile on his face and walk down from the sedan chair in a graceful manner.

As the crowd bowed and greeted him respectfully, the corners of his robe rustled in the mountain breeze, and his handsome face was like the bright moon in the sky, cool and dazzling.

He sighed to himself.

Look at the plain figure in the crowd.

Xue Sui lowered her head slightly, not looking at Li Zhao, nor showing any sharpness, just like an ordinary girl in the harem.

But even if she didn't look up, she could guess Li Zhao's expression at the moment. He didn't seem like a good person.

She even recalled the day when Li Zhao came to Tanqiuyuan and heard her mention the people involved in the Ministry of Revenue corruption case, and the heavy strokes he made on the wooden kitten...

he came.

The chess game has already begun. Can the player still distinguish between black and white?

A long chapter, two in one...

See you tomorrow.

Li Zhao: I can tell right from wrong. It's dark now. Time to rest. Stay safe!
Xue Sui: Get lost!