The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

He reached out and pinched her soft earlobe, chuckling softly, "What method will Yuan Yuan use this time to get her brother to go easy on her?"

She used these kinds of tricks to cheat quite often in the past.

Shen Tinghe straightened her back defiantly, raising her chin slightly: "Hmph, don't look down on me! I'll definitely beat you this time."

Xie Yanzhao smiled indulgently, twirling a strand of hair behind her ear with his fingers, and said slowly.

"Great! This is a good opportunity for your brother to see if Yuan Yuan's chess skills have improved."

He suddenly leaned down, lifted her chin, and gently kissed her, his warm breath brushing against her lips, his voice low and ambiguous.

"If you don't play well... I'll punish you."

Shen Tinghe's ears burned; she naturally understood the deeper meaning in his words. But she still forced herself to remain calm and confidently pushed him away slightly.

"Come on then."

The chessboard was quickly set up between the two players.

Shen Tinghe played black and went first, followed by Xie Yanzhao playing white.

However, after the third piece fell, Xie Yanzhao frowned slightly.

She placed her pieces haphazardly, three black pieces in a line, without any strategy, completely different from the chess style he had taught her.

He reached out and pinched her cheek: "Yuan Yuan, what kind of move is this? Your brother never taught you to set up a layout like this."

Shen Tinghe pursed her lips and did not answer, but a smile was hidden in her eyes.

She placed two more pieces, and the five black pieces were now firmly connected in a line.

She immediately clapped her hands, her eyes shining brightly: "I won!"

Xie Yanzhao was taken aback: "What?"

"A five-in-a-row combination guarantees victory."

Shen Tinghe smiled like a triumphant little fox, tapping the chessboard with her fingertips.

"We were playing Connect Four, so naturally I won."

"Gomoku?"

Xie Yanzhao repeated it, his gaze falling on her smug little face.

"Yes, the rule is that the first player to form a five-in-a-row wins. This... is a game I invented."

She blinked, exclaimed "Oh!", and feigned innocence.

"Didn't I explain this before the game started?"

Xie Yanzhao looked at her feigning ignorance and couldn't help but sigh softly, but his eyes shone with a indulgent tenderness, as if he were looking at his own naughty child.

Shen Tinghe felt a little guilty under his gaze, so she simply wrapped her arms around his neck and spoke softly and coquettishly.

"My brother promised me, and I can't go back on my word."

Xie Yanzhao stroked her long hair, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"I always keep my word, unlike some little rascal who only knows how to play tricks."

Shen Tinghe nuzzled against his neck in a playful manner.

He continued, "However, since it's a game of chess, it should be best two out of three to be fair. Didn't Yuan Yuan always ask for that when she played against me before?"

Shen Tinghe looked up and gazed into his deep, smiling eyes, feeling a little uneasy.

Xie Yanzhao learns everything extremely quickly, and she was genuinely afraid that once he figured out the rules, she would find it difficult to win.

But then I thought, no matter how smart he is, this is his first time meeting someone like this.

She had studied quite a few formations.

For example, the almost unsolvable "double three" formation, which is popularly known as the "underwear formation".

Thinking of this, she regained her confidence and raised the corners of her lips.

"Alright, three rounds it is. Don't say I'm bullying a newbie if you lose."

Xie Yanzhao chuckled lazily, but his gaze, like fine spider silk, lingered tightly around her.

Her delicate and lively appearance was so adorable that it softened his heart and made him want to hold her even tighter.

"Alright, then please give me your guidance, Your Highness."

As expected, the next two games went exactly as predicted...

Xie Yanzhao won.

Shen Tinghe stared at the chessboard in disbelief, muttering to herself, "This isn't right..."

Xie Yanzhao chuckled softly, his lips lingering between the nape and the crook of her neck, sniffing and kissing, with a triumphant lightness.

"What's wrong with it? Brother followed Yuan Yuan's rules exactly."

Shen Tinghe bit her lower lip, her brows furrowing slightly.

She clearly remembered the steps of those formations, could it be that she misremembered them?

Seeing her biting her lip in contemplation, Xie Yanzhao's eyes darkened. He raised his hand, lifted her chin, turned her face, and kissed her deeply.

After playing along with her antics for so long, he was already itching to get back to his desires.

The kiss was incredibly deep, as if it wanted to swallow her whole.

Entangled in his embrace, Shen Tinghe gasped for breath, softly pushing him away, "Mmm... Brother..."

His kisses gradually moved downwards, lingering on her slender white neck, his voice low and husky with a hint of amusement.

"Is Jiaojiao going to cheat again?"

Shen Tinghe's face flushed red, her eyes glistening with tears, yet she still managed to mumble, "N-no, I didn't..."

After playing around for a while, she finally collapsed into his arms, panting heavily.

Just then, Jing Cang's voice came from outside the curtain:

"Young master, it's getting dark, and dark clouds are gathering in the distance; a heavy rain is likely on the way. There's a temple ahead; would you like to stay the night there?"

Xie Yanzhao lowered his eyes to look at the person in his arms.

Shen Tinghe, who had been dazed just moments before, lit up instantly upon hearing "stay at the temple." She grabbed his sleeve and nodded hastily, looking eager to try it out.

He couldn't help but chuckle, and raised his voice, "Alright."

Yuan Yuan is always so enthusiastic about anything new and interesting.

The carriage traveled for a short while before stopping in front of an ancient temple.

The temple gate is simple, hidden among the lush trees, giving it a sense of otherworldly tranquility.

Jing Cang stepped forward and knocked on the door. After a short while, a young monk carefully opened the door a crack.

When his gaze fell upon the crowd outside the door, the young monk was clearly startled.

Jing Cang stood tall and straight, with a cold and austere demeanor. The guards behind him all had sharp eyes, and although they stood silently, they exuded a hidden sense of oppression.

Looking further back, the carriage was wide and heavy, with exquisitely made curtains. It appeared simple, but in fact, it exuded understated luxury, something that ordinary people could not afford.

Jing Cang clasped his hands in a fist salute, trying to soften his tone as much as possible.

"Young monk, it is getting late and a heavy rain is coming. May I ask if you may stay at your temple for the night? We will certainly offer you incense money."

The young monk composed himself, then put his palms together in return.

"Amitabha... There are still a few rooms in the temple, but they are in a remote location. If you don't mind, you can rest there."

"It's alright, a bit remote is fine too."

A deep male voice came from inside the carriage, calm yet dignified.

Xie Yanzhao didn't want anyone to disturb their peace.

Jing Cang nodded: "Thank you for leading the way, young master."

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, and Xie Yanzhao got out of the carriage first. He then turned around and reached out to help Shen Tinghe down.

The young monk looked up and was momentarily stunned.

The man was dressed in a dark-patterned black robe, with clear and handsome features, and a noble and calm demeanor.

The woman beside him wore a light blue dress, her eyes were like autumn water, and her gaze was lively and radiant.

The two stood side by side, like the bright moon reflecting a pearl, their brilliance shining through, further confirming his earlier conjecture.

This group of people were no ordinary guests.

The group followed the young monk through the front courtyard of the ancient temple and headed towards the monks' quarters in the back.

I met many people on the way, and most of them were different from ordinary pilgrims.

There were men and women dressed in tight-fitting clothes, carrying swords on their backs, walking with a brisk pace and sharp eyes.

There were also groups of three or five people, engaging in lively discussions, their speech a mix of local accents and slang.

Their gazes were scrutinizing and probing, lingering for a moment longer when they swept over Xie Yanzhao and Shen Tinghe, who were subtly protected by guards.