After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Qin Yuanyao nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite, with a hint of doubt.

The atmosphere at Mu Dong Pavilion was lively, but at this moment, many servants came forward and whispered to each table that lunch had been prepared for the distinguished guests in the central courtyard.

But the people on the second floor were so engrossed in their game that they couldn't eat. Wu Qisheng had broken the undefeated record of the Northern Dynasty chess fanatic, and everyone was in high spirits.

The elderly people who had come down from the street rushed back up to watch the excitement after Wu Siwei's victory. Among them was Old Man He, an old man with white hair and beard.

The people on the second floor continued playing chess, and most of the people on the first floor also became unwilling to eat.

Ning Nan didn't stand on ceremony. He threw the orange peel on the table, poured some tea to wipe his hands, and then went to the central courtyard for dinner with Qin Yuanyao.

Although dinner is the main meal, lunch at the Zhenguo Marquis's residence also starts with eighteen dishes per table. Since there were only the two of them at their table, they were able to enjoy some peace and quiet.

The dishes were extremely plentiful, mainly because they were rare and included some exquisite dishes that Ning Nan had never personally prepared, such as braised shark fin, pickled goose feet, chicken marrow and bamboo shoots, and sea cucumber. I ate until I was completely full.

The female commander was equally unceremonious, eating far more than Ning Nan, which left Ning Nan speechless.

After lunch, just as I put down my chopsticks and was about to get up, a maid brought me a golden basin and a hot towel.

After washing my face and feeling refreshed, I returned to Mu Dong Pavilion. The atmosphere on the first floor seemed even more lively, with many more people around. It must be because many more guests from the Marquis's residence had arrived.

Their seats were in the corner, and they were still empty.

After sitting down, I asked the general at the next table, and he said that Wu Qisheng had won five games in a row and completely defeated the chess fanatic!

"Aren't you leaving yet?" Qin Yuanyao looked at Ning Nan and said, "You have a grudge against Wu Yanchou. Believe me, after he defeats the chess fanatic, he'll come down and invite you to play a game with him."

"Go ahead and go," Ning Nan said nonchalantly, having eaten his fill.

"Heh," Qin Yuanyao sneered, "you're not afraid of losing face." ...losing the Prince of Xin's reputation.

Ning Nan accepted the tea offered by the servant and said with a smile, "In chess, losing is not shameful, but taking back a move is."

As the game progressed to the sixth game between the two players, after Wu Yanchou won five consecutive games, the time it took for either player to place their pieces became increasingly longer.

Ning Nan stared at the large chessboard. At a certain moment, the black rook moved from the sixth rank to the third rank. After crossing the river, he let out a soft breath and frowned, saying, "Well, that guy surnamed Wu was a step too slow. He's going to lose."

Qin Yuanyao glanced at the large chessboard. At this moment, the red side had one more cannon than the black side. She sneered, "Wu Yanchou won the last game even with one less cannon. This time, with one more cannon, how can he lose?"

Ning Nan noncommittally looked away, picked up another orange, and started peeling it.

After peeling the orange and stuffing the segments into his mouth, about ten rounds later, before he had finished eating the orange, the red side was checkmated by the black side with a rook and a pawn.

The people on the first floor, who had been cheering with excitement, now looked at each other in bewilderment and fell silent. After a moment, someone gritted their teeth and said, "Ha, this chess fanatic just got lucky..."

"Yes, why not let Master Wu give you a game..." Many people immediately echoed.

Qin Yuanyao frowned, staring suspiciously at the young scholar eating an orange in front of her.

"You can play chess?" she asked, frowning.

"Yes, I know a little."

Qin Yuanyao's brows furrowed even more deeply... She couldn't quite grasp what the other person meant by "a little bit," but no matter what... it was unlikely that he was stronger than Wu Yanchou and this Northern Dynasty chess fanatic...

The two upstairs played a few more games, and these games continued to take as long as ever, but in the end, the Northern Dynasty chess fanatic always won.

This made both the civil and military officials on the first floor feel uncomfortable.

When Wu Siwei lost before, people could still criticize him, but when Wu Siwei won several games in a row and suppressed this northern barbarian so much that he couldn't lift his head, everyone praised Wu Siwei to the skies.

At this point, he lost again... so people couldn't really criticize him, otherwise it would seem like he was arrogant at first but obsequious later.

Everyone was groaning, feeling increasingly suffocated by the frustration in their hearts.

After three more games, the time to determine the winner suddenly accelerated, and the chess fanatic still won every game.

Wu Qisheng stepped aside again, allowing someone else to take his place.

But this time was different from before. In the following games, whether it was the games played by other players or the games played by Wu Qisheng again, the chess fanatic won.

A bearded general went up to the game in a huff, then came down again, cursing and swearing, saying that the northern barbarian was getting more and more energetic and refused to give up his place so that he could play a game with Wu the Chess Master.

Everyone immediately looked at this seemingly rough but actually shrewd general with new respect... Making this chess fanatic step down was indeed one way to get out of the predicament.

Fortunately, a moment later, although the chess fanatic refused to give in, someone came to the rescue.

The royal family has arrived at the Marquis's residence.

It is said that Prince Xin has arrived.

Outside the Mu Dong Pavilion, a steward came to announce that His Majesty had sent Wang Daban to convey an imperial decree, and that Prince Xin had also come in person to congratulate the Marquis and his wife.

A large number of people came down from the second floor, and the first floor was also in an uproar, with everyone standing up in unison.

Ning Nan was already in a corner, and then she was squeezed by the crowd.

He could only stand up, take a step back, and press himself against the wall, but he still couldn't see the illustrious Marquis of Zhenguo. Instead, he saw a large crowd of people walking out, saying they were going to the front yard to welcome the angel and Prince Xin who were delivering the imperial decree.

Qin Yuanyao's eyes flashed, and she asked the scholar, "Are you going to the front yard?"

Ning Nan pursed his lips and sat down again: "Go to hell, why bother with this?"

Qin Yuanyao immediately breathed a sigh of relief and sat down as well.

There are only the two of them on the first floor now, along with two stewards in front who are in charge of handling the large chess pieces, and a few servants. No one is playing chess on the second floor anymore; everyone has gone to welcome Prince Xin... Perhaps some people just don't want to play against this person and are simply trying to avoid trouble.

"Well, that's it, no more chess to watch." Ning Nan smiled helplessly.

But the boring time didn't last long. The fourth young master, Shangguan Zhao, dressed in brocade robes, hurriedly walked in. Ning Nan greeted him immediately.

The other person stopped and greeted him breathlessly, saying that he had been ordered by his father to play a few games with the chess fanatic so as not to neglect his guest. He asked if Brother Ning would like to come along.

Ning Nan smiled and shook his head, saying it would be more comfortable down there, and then pointed ahead, saying the large chessboard looked better.

Shangguan Zhao smiled politely and said, "Brother Ning, please go ahead," before walking up the stairs.

Before long, the assembly line of servants announcing the chess positions started up again, and Shangguan Zhao and the chess fanatic began a new game.

Ning Nan originally watched this game with the mindset of watching a chess fanatic crush a novice, but things turned out far beyond his expectations. Shangguan Zhao's chess skills were unexpectedly extremely strong.

Although he is still a step below the chess fanatic, compared to Wu Yanchou, it seems... this Fourth Young Master Shangguan is actually a bit stronger.

"Hey!" Ning Nan chuckled, asked a servant to refill his tea, and then calmly began watching the game of chess...

Time passed by, second by second.

By late afternoon, no one had returned from Mu Dongge.

On this large chessboard, after an afternoon of fierce fighting, although the Fourth Young Master Shangguan had not won a single game, he had lasted much longer than the others. In the current game, the two had actually reached an endgame.

It was Black's turn to make a move, but for a full quarter of an hour, Black's piece did not move an inch. At that moment, the sound of footsteps rang out.

Shangguan Zhao came down to apologize, saying that the time had come and he needed to go to the manor to preside over the grand banquet tonight... He looked at Ning Nan, wondering if anyone would come to Mu Dong Pavilion today. He had just managed to win a game by sheer luck, and the chess fanatic would be coming down soon. He needed to go back to his courtyard to think things over, and he might be thinking about it all night.

He said that Brother Ning could later go to the Snow Viewing Pavilion in the backyard to enjoy the scenery and pass the time.

Ning Nan nodded, smiled, and said okay, she would leave after finishing this orange.

After a moment, another monk dressed in black with a bald head came down from the second floor with a sorrowful expression. He didn't even look at Ning Nan and Qin Yuanyao before walking straight out.

"This guy must be the chess fanatic." Qin Yuanyao raised an eyebrow at the man's back.

The two stewards at the large chessboard also went out, apologizing before leaving, saying that the Marquis had instructed them to follow the chess fanatic at all times, while the two servants waited outside the door.

"Let's go," Qin Yuanyao said calmly.

At this point, only the two of them remained in Mu Dongge.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he didn't hear a reply.

Qin Yuanyao frowned and looked back. The white-robed scholar had already stood at the large chessboard. He touched one of the black pieces with his right hand, then moved it slightly... seemingly pushing the piece to a different position.

Qin Yuanyao said helplessly, "Don't touch their pieces."

"They're not playing again," Ning Nan retorted, pursing her lips.

The female commander was urging him on, and he reluctantly took one last look at the chessboard, sighed, and said, "Alright, alright, forget it."

"Let's go," he nodded, "let's go out and wander around."

...

...

At this hour, the sun was setting in the west, and the light was not as intense, but it was still golden and warm, dyeing the entire mansion the color of a ripe orange.

After dealing with nobles and civil and military officials for half a day, Zhu Cuiwei, wearing a pearl and jade nine-phoenix crown, a red robe with dragon patterns, a phoenix-patterned shawl, gold pendants, and a jade beaded veil covering her face, arrived at Huanyue Pavilion accompanied by Madam Jia and a group of noble ladies.

"Your Highness," Madam Jia said with a smile, "I have long heard that Your Highness is knowledgeable and skilled in poetry and literature. I have recently received a gift from the Northern Dynasty, and I would really like Your Highness to take a good look at it. I am sure Your Highness will like it." Her smile was genuine and gentle, and her voice was incredibly soft.