The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

Seeing that he remained silent, Shen Qingruo's last hope was extinguished.

The atmosphere at the banquet was somewhat subtle due to the emperor's silence.

Seeing this, Shen Jingyan sneered inwardly, but pretended to be warm on the surface. She pointed to a young man in a blue robe at the table and said to Wulan Yun in a coquettish voice, "Mother, I think Young Master Lin is quite good."

"Young Master Lin is the son of a great Confucian scholar of our time. He is learned and especially skilled in chess, and is quite famous in the capital."

Lin Xiuyuan, the young master Lin who was called out, immediately stood up, bowed, and showed great respect.

Wu Lanyun looked at Shen Qingruo, her tone gentle yet leaving no room for refusal: "Qingruo, what do you think of Young Master Lin? The Lin family is a scholarly family, and Young Master Lin is of gentle character; he is a perfect match for you."

Shen Qingruo knew that she could no longer sit idly by and wait for her death.

She slowly stood up, curtsied to the person at the head of the table, and spoke in a soft voice:

"Your Majesty, since Young Master Lin is skilled in chess, I, Qingruo, have also dabbled in this art. May I ask Young Master Lin to play a game?"

She raised her eyes, her gaze clear as she looked at Lin Xiuyuan, and continued, "If Young Master Lin wins, Qingruo will leave it to Your Majesty and His Majesty to decide."

"If you win by sheer luck, it means that our chess styles are incompatible, and we are unlikely to become a good match. I suggest that you, Young Master Lin, seek another suitable partner."

These words shocked everyone present.

Who doesn't know that Princess Qingruo came from an awkward background, raised in the deep palace? When did she learn chess? And how dare she play against Lin Xiuyuan, who is known for his talent?

This is simply self-humiliation.

Wu Lanyun was also stunned. She had no idea that Shen Qingruo could play chess, and she found her actions absurd.

Just as Wu Lanyun was about to speak up to stop this farce, Shen Wangxi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, his voice low and emotionless: "Approved."

One word interrupted all the words the Empress was about to utter.

Wu Lanyun looked at her husband in surprise, but seeing his calm expression, she had no choice but to suppress her doubts.

The palace servants quickly set up a chessboard and table.

Shen Qingruo and Lin Xiuyuan sat facing each other.

Lin Xiuyuan initially smiled and remained calm, clearly not taking this princess from the inner palace seriously.

However, his smile froze as Shen Qingruo placed half of her chess piece.

Shen Qingruo didn't care about Lin Xiuyuan's strategy at all. She simply relied on her memory to recreate the incomplete game that Shen Wangxi had taught her a few days ago, a game that no one could solve yet.

She placed her pieces extremely quickly, almost without thinking.

Lin Xiuyuan was able to manage at first, but gradually he found himself in a strange predicament.

Shen Wangxi's gaze fell on the chessboard, his eyes growing deeper and more complex.

He had explained this chess game to her just a few days ago; it came from a lost ancient manual, and she remembered it so clearly that she reproduced it perfectly.

She was using what he had taught her to resist the fate his wife had imposed on her.

The word "imposed" swirled in Shen Wangxi's mind.

Yes, he clearly saw that she was unwilling, but he only wanted to save face for the Empress and make her suffer.

Lin Xiuyuan's face grew paler and paler as he racked his brains, but he could not find a solution.

Finally, to everyone's astonishment, he conceded defeat, stood up, bowed deeply to Shen Qingruo, and said in a hoarse voice, "Princess, your chess skills are superb. I, Xiuyuan, am humbled and admit defeat."

The room erupted in uproar.

Those scions of noble families who had previously looked down on Shen Qingruo now looked at her with astonishment.

Shen Jingyan and Wu Lanyun also knew chess, and they were both stunned by the exquisite endgame.

Shen Qingruo won. She slowly stood up, without looking at anyone, and simply said, "Qingruo is not feeling well, so I will take my leave first."

Without even waiting for the Empress's permission, she turned around, her slender figure leaving Linhua Terrace step by step amidst the varied gazes of the crowd, her back view frail and thin.

Wulan Yun watched her leave like that, feeling somewhat frustrated that her goal hadn't been achieved. However, with so many people around, she couldn't very well force her to continue choosing a husband for her, so she had no choice but to let her go.

Shen Wangxi's expression remained outwardly calm, but his mind had already drifted away with the departing emerald figure.

Then, the spring banquet came to a close.

Wu Lanyun smiled and suggested that Shen Jingyan and Xiao Yu be betrothed. Shen Wangxi agreed indifferently, and even seemed a little absent-minded when issuing the decree.

Is she sad? Is she blaming him?

Wu Tian stood behind the emperor with his hands at his sides, and secretly glanced at His Majesty's profile.

Her Majesty the Empress's actions are likely to disrupt the already fragile balance of power.