The news spread like wildfire outside, and the old emperor's people had already entered the Qingtang Institute.

  The majesty of the most powerful ruler in a feudal dynasty was something Xia Chuyi had only seen in operas and dramas. In recent days, she had also thought about what to do when she met this legendary emperor who was said to be wise, brave, and skilled in both literature and martial arts on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival. But this old emperor suddenly arrived at the Jinwang Mansion without warning, catching her off guard, and she realized that when it came down to it, she had no idea what to do.

  Rise to the challenge, and have no choice but to rise!

  The eunuchs and guards inside and outside the Qingtang Institute, each of whom was a clever person, received the news and were afraid of being left behind, like dumplings falling into the pot, one by one kneeling on the ground, sincerely shouting "Long live my lord".

  On the seventh day of summer, I followed the crowd to welcome the emperor, and this time I also knelt very neatly.

  Shouting "Long Live", and then hearing the sound of "Long Live" in my ear, my ears were numb, and my heart was also throbbing with numbness.

  Son of Heaven, Son of Heaven, indeed your reputation is not in vain.

  She knelt on the ground, not raising her head, and didn't hear the old emperor shouting "Ping Shen". She only felt a rustling of clothes beside her ear, footsteps sounded, when she raised her head again, but saw that the old emperor had already taken Cui Yingda straight through the crowd of people kowtowing, directly into the inner room of Qingtang Hall.

  It's clear that the Emperor already knows about Zhao Ziyue's affair.

  He got really angry!

  After a moment of silence, Xia Qiuzi followed Zhao Zhen's gaze and walked in an orderly manner behind him, entering Zhao Ziyue's room together.

  Previously, in order to let Zhao Ziyue sleep well, the lights in the room were not very bright. But now that the Emperor has arrived, the maids have relit several candles on the candle holders. For a moment, the light inside is very bright, making the old emperor's face even more gloomy, and behind the bed curtains, Zhao Ziyue, who was quietly lying with her hair scattered, looked even paler.

  "Daughter..."

  This was Xia Zhong Qi's first sentence after hearing Hong Tai Emperor.

  The voice was soft, gentle and heart-wrenching. He didn't call out Zhao Ziyue's name, just the two words "daughter" that ordinary fathers often use, yet it brought him down from his pedestal, with no difference in emotion from an ordinary father seeing his own daughter on the brink of life and death.

  It once again proved that Zhao Ziyue indeed had a deep imperial favor.

  After all, for the Emperor of Heaven, what he lacks least is children, dozens of them. If they were all so beloved, how could anyone keep up with that? Now, sneaking out in casual clothes at midnight, there's only one reason... truly deeply loving Zhao Ziyue.

  Hong Taiyi grasped Zhao Ziyue's hand, speaking softly for a while to encourage and comfort her. He then let out a long sigh, his shoulders slightly trembling as he slowly turned around.

  As he turned his head, his face suddenly fell, and his icy gaze swept across the room, making it quiet enough to hear a pin drop. And his calm and peaceful voice was like the sharpest knife, directly stabbing at Xia Chuqi.

  "Chu Qi!"

  No one needed to introduce them; he recognized her at once.

  Also, in this house, she is the only "man".

  Xia Chuqi walked forward and knelt down, "Your subject Xia Chuqi pays respects to Your Majesty."

  Hong Tai Di sat on the edge of Zhao Zi Yue's bed, staring at him motionlessly. After a moment, he seemed to be thinking about something, and his originally calm voice suddenly became somewhat agitated, as if he could no longer hide the pain in his heart for the girl.

  "I have given my daughter to you in marriage, but I have wronged you?"

  "Your Highness, you have the beauty of a nation, and are warm, gentle, and lovely. I am not inferior." Lowering his head, Xia Chuyi enunciated these words very clearly, with an expression of respect, but his tone was neither arrogant nor humble.

  "Well then, I'll ask you, since you don't dare, why did you harm my daughter?"

  "I never thought of harming the princess..."

  At the beginning of summer, the seventh day, Xu Xu made a sound, but before his voice fell, the old emperor suddenly became angry.

  "How dare you quibble?! You didn't harm anyone, so why is my daughter lying here, refusing to wake up?"

  Isn't this being unreasonable? Xia Qi's heart was grumbling, but she had to admit that the old emperor, as the Son of Heaven, indeed had the power to be unreasonable. Silently lifting her head, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to follow the old emperor's lead, not daring to utter a single word of "unwillingness".

  "I was granted the honor of marrying a princess, which is an ancestral glory. I sought it but could not obtain it. It's just that worldly affairs are hard to predict. Today, such a thing happened, and I am both frightened and indeed wronged..."

  Hong Taiji's face sank, and he asked slowly.

  "So you're willing to be a prince consort?"

  The scalp feels a bit numb, Xia Zhicheng hangs down his eyelids, and bites one word at a time.

  "My heart is willing."

  "Alright, since you're willing...” Emperor Hong Tai's cold eyes gazed at her, his old eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions - hatred, resentment, and majesty. Those emotions blended together, adding a few degrees of chilliness to the air. He paused for a moment, not waiting for Xia Chuqi to savor the taste of his words, before suddenly turning his face away and letting out a low growl.

  "Choi Young-dal!"

  "The slave is here——" The old eunuch who was attending him came over with his body bent.

  Hong Tai Emperor's expression calmed down as if he had already made up his mind or arranged her fate, and he looked at Xia Chuqi with a calm demeanor. Under his half-closed thick eyelids, his eyes shot out cold killing intent without any emotional color.

  "Present!"

  "Yes, Your Majesty." Cui Ying was a very understanding and thoughtful servant who had been following Emperor Hong Tai for a long time. He didn't need to be told much, and with just a wave of his hand, a small eunuch in a round-necked changshan came over with a golden tray.

  At the bottom of the tray, a layer of soft red silk was padded, on which a white jade-like crystal wine jug was placed. Next to the wine jug was an all-jade wine cup, and the wine cup had already been filled with wine. The exquisite gold-plated tray and the wine cup were as beautiful as white jade on red, looking very good.

  "This wine is a reward from me."

  What?! Hong Tai's words came out, and Xia Chuyi's head was like it had been struck by a deafening thunder. Suddenly, he felt his blood and energy stagnating, as if he had just been sentenced to death on the spot, and he could hardly breathe.

  An extra "reward" character added to a cup of "wine", coming from the emperor's mouth, naturally means something different. Having seen too many scenes of poisoned wine and white silk before July 7th, this matter doesn't seem too unusual either. But what is unusual is that the first time he sees the old emperor, he wants to give her a death sentence? Doesn't he care about the lives of his eldest son and youngest daughter?

  She glanced at him with a sidelong glance, and she didn't dare to determine what the emperor really thought in his heart.

  Her heart was racing with a chaotic rhythm, she was pondering the sacred intention and thinking about how to respond, when someone patted her shoulder reassuringly. She looked up to see Zhao Zun's eyes, deep and bottomless yet making her feel extremely at ease.

  She gave him a strange smile.

  They were all about to be given poisoned wine, and she didn't know why she wanted to laugh.

  Maybe he can stand up for himself in front of his dad, it's a kind of gratitude.

  Zhao Zun stopped her with his eyes, but didn't speak to her. He just knelt down properly beside her.

  "Your Majesty, Ziyue lives in the residence of your son. If Your Majesty must investigate this matter, your son should be the first to take responsibility and drink this cup of wine."

  Hong Taiyi looked at him with a calm expression that had already settled down, and no one could guess what his mood was.

  "Lao Shijiu, are you threatening me?"

  "I dare not!" Zhao Zun glanced at Xia Chuqi and continued, "I just don't want the situation to escalate and tarnish Ziyue's reputation. Besides, Ziyue likes her husband, if she wakes up and finds out that Father Emperor killed her husband, how will she react?"

  "Do you like him?" Hong Tai Emperor hummed heavily, "Don't think that I don't know what this girl is thinking? If it weren't for you, her brother, she wouldn't have gone to such extremes. Now that things have come to this point, Old Nineteen, do you still want to protect this person?"

  He glanced at Xia Qiuzi with a look of annoyance in his eyes.

  Zhao Zhuo didn't raise his head, but instead took out what was in his arms and presented it.

  "This is written by Ziyue, for Father Emperor's review."

  Chui Yingda glanced at the old emperor, bowed and walked over, presenting to the old emperor the letter that Zhao Zun held in his hand, which was Zhao Ziyue's "last words".

  A thin piece of paper, a few short lines of words, was indeed Zhao Ziyue's own handwriting. The old emperor had only read two lines, and his eyes were already red, his hands trembling uncontrollably, and on his face full of wrinkles, there was even more added to the cold color.

  "Good."

  It seemed that he had calmed down a bit, and then he looked at Xia Chuqi again, continuing, "Consider yourself lucky. Since Ziyue and Lao Shijiu have pleaded for you, I will give you another chance today."

  His cold voice startled her, and Xia Chuqi felt a weakness in her knees, lowering her head.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty, please give us a clear instruction!"

  "I'll make a bet with you." Emperor Hong Tai said slowly.

  Play a game?

  She thought she had misheard and suddenly lifted her head up.

  The look in Emperor Tai's eyes told her that, indeed, this old emperor might just be a gambler at heart, and it was entirely possible for him to casually suggest betting with her at such a solemn moment.

  She was shocked, but the old emperor remained calm and continued, "One game will decide the bet. If you win against me, I not only will spare your life, but also let you continue to be my son-in-law. But if you lose, this cup of wine must be drunk, no matter who begs for mercy."

  It wasn't until the seventh day of summer that I finally understood.

  The old emperor's "bet on a game" refers to playing chess, that is, Go.

  Although she is a multi-talented person, skilled in playing games like "bang bang", racing cars, fighting landlords, playing mahjong, and even online games like "Jian Wang 3" and "World of Warcraft", she surprisingly doesn't know how to play chess, let alone Go.

  The old emperor would know she can't play chess, but he wouldn't know she's no match for him? Nonsense!

  Isn't it essentially asking for her life in disguise?

  She bowed deeply, sighing inwardly, her tone still calm.

  "I report back to Your Majesty, I am not good at playing chess."

  Hong Tai Di indeed did not have any unexpected reaction, withdrew his gaze and no longer looked at her.

  "Choi Young-dal!"

  Cui Yingda shouted again, and the slave immediately responded with a respectful "yes", took over the tray from Taixiao's hand, came forward, and prepared to personally "serve" her drink.

  "Son-in-law, come on?"

  Her palms were clenched tightly, Xia Qi's heart was racing from the initial calm confidence to now when the wine was almost at her lips, she couldn't help but become a little flustered.

  She has an unavenged grudge, a man she cannot have, is she going to die at the hands of a cup of poisoned wine?

  She bit her lip, her mind racing to think of a way to phrase it so that she could threaten him with the Crown Prince and Zhao Ziyue's illness without offending the old emperor, when she heard Zhao Jun mutter under his breath.

  Slow!

  She was suddenly startled, afraid that he would turn against the emperor on the spot for her sake and make things worse, so she quickly glanced over to give him a "calm down" look. However, Zhao Zun did not look at her, but instead gazed deeply at Emperor Hong Tai.

  "Your Majesty, it's common knowledge that the princess can't play chess."

  "Don't blame me then." Emperor Hong Tai still refused to budge, "Old Nineteen, don't plead for him."

  Zhao Zun pursed his lips, "I can teach her."

  "Teach her?" Emperor Hong Tai snorted, "How long would that take? You have the leisure to teach, but I don't have the patience to wait."

  "Just half an hour!"

  Zhao Zun's calm voice didn't shock Hong Tai Di, but it scared Xia Chuqi so much that three of her souls and six of her spirits flew away. Heaven, in half an hour, she estimated that it would be hard for her to even learn how to play chess, let alone win against the old emperor in front of her.

  Such an absurd request, she thought that even the old emperor would not agree to it.

  However, the old emperor simply looked at his son quietly for a while, and that face, which had been weathered and wrinkled by the wind and rain, slowly relaxed, and he calmly waved his hand to let Cui Yingda retreat with the tray before asking Zhao Zun with a complex expression.

  "Lao Shi Jiu, have you thought it through?"

  "The child has thought it through." Zhao's throat moved slightly as he looked up at him.

  "Very well! I shall grant you this one time."

  ……

  ……

  Half an hour is very short.

  In just half an hour, her fate will be decided?

  Xia Chuyi didn't understand why Zhao Zhu was so confident, and her mind was in a mess, like being stuffed with cotton balls, unable to speak. She silently followed Zhao Zhu to the side hall of Qingtangyuan. There, Zheng Erbao had already set up the chessboard, prepared tea, and stood quietly waiting.

  She took a glance at the black and white pieces in the red wooden chess box and let out a sigh.

  "I may be clever and wise, but when it comes to playing chess, I'm a complete novice, utterly clueless. Don't waste your time on me."

  Zhao Zun glanced at her, didn't say a word, just waved his hand to dismiss the others in the side hall, pulled her hand and pressed her into the chair on one side of the chessboard, pinched his shoulder, and said lightly.

  "It's okay."

  Are you okay?

  At the beginning of summer, Qiye rolled her eyes and said, "It's not your life, so it doesn't matter?" After saying that, she felt that this cold joke was not very cold and not suitable for use at this time. Looking at him, she pouted and played with the chess pieces, smiling but not really smiling.

  "Alright, don't bother teaching me anymore. Even if I learn it in half an hour, I won't be able to beat your dad's skills. Why don't we make the most of this last half hour and have a good chat? Let's say everything we want to say so that when I go down to the Yellow Springs Road, I won't have any regrets."

  Zhao You didn't say a word, he just tightened his grip on her shoulder.

  "How could Grandfather let you take risks?"

  "You may not want to, but your father is the Emperor, who can stop him from killing?"

  Zhao Zhu's gaze fell on her mouth, and he suddenly let out a sigh.

  "Ah Qi, look at what I'm saying?"

  Huh? Xia Chuiqi blinked his eyes, but saw that he had only moved his lips slightly, without making a sound.

  Her eyes lit up, "Lip language?"

  Zhao Zhu's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his mouth moved again, "What is lip language?"

  She coughed slightly, and Xia Qi suddenly reacted, realizing that lip language was a study of the later generations, so Zhao Zhuo wouldn't be able to understand it. After a brief moment of silence, she explained, "The meaning of lip language is to interpret the content of what someone says by looking at their mouth and movements when they speak."

  Zhao Zhu's eyes swept lightly over her face.

  Then he let go of his hand and sat opposite her.

  "That's lip language."

  Summer began on the seventh day of the first month and was shocked for a moment.

  Nineteen Grandfather actually has such advanced consciousness?

  It's worth noting that lip language is not as easy to grasp as it sounds. Apart from observing the speaker's lips, eyes, facial expressions and movements, which requires a lot of practice, beginners also need to have a certain level of understanding of the person speaking. In other words, there needs to be a certain degree of tacit understanding between them.

  If it were someone else, they would also be unable to handle it.

  But Xia Zhiqi was different, lip language, gestures, for a special forces background like hers, although not as professional as a first-line special warfare member, but indeed had some foundation. Moreover, at this time, she didn't need to analyze so much, just needed to practice and ponder the professional skills of Go with him repeatedly.

  Time flies——

  In the next half an hour, she and Zhao Zun didn't have time to talk about love or give her any last words. Apart from teaching her the basic moves and techniques of Go, they were training their tacit understanding together. Eyebrows, eyes, lips, fingers, he made a slight movement, and she had to know immediately what step he wanted her to take next and how to take it.

  To be strict, what the two of them are doing can't be called lip language, it's more like gamblers colluding on how to cheat, whether she plays chess well or not doesn't matter, as long as Zhao Zun is a chess king.

  "Alas!"

  After a perfect match, Zhao Zun's face relaxed, while Xia Chuyi collapsed onto the chair in exhaustion.

  "Zhao Nineteen, you're too handsome."

  "Huh?" Zhao Zun was clearly perplexed.

  "Always looking at your face, I'm too easy to get infatuated, can't focus."

  “……”

  Seeing him with a dark face and not making a sound, Xia Chuyi clicked her tongue.

  "Really?"

  Zhao Zun murmured a faint "hmm" and remained expressionless, merely stretching out his hand to adjust the red wooden chess box in front of him.

  "Let's go, time is almost up."

  She's a total eyesore!

  As the sand in the hourglass fell, she suddenly put down the chess piece in her hand and sighed, "You say your father's mind is really too hard to guess. How could he not consider the life and death of the crown prince? As soon as he came, he wanted to send me to my death? Poor me, I was a good person, hadn't even married the princess yet, but now I'm going to be his soul under the knife."

  Zhao Zhu's expression was calm, "Don't worry, disasters will be remembered for a thousand years!"

  "Hey, I'm telling you, I'm about to die, and you don't even know how to say a few nice words to me?" Xia Chuqi muttered, glaring at him with one eye, pushing the chair away and walking in front of him. She stood still for a moment, looked at him, then suddenly squatted down, leaned in close, and hugged his waist, her voice also becoming softer.

  "I know you have your own chess skills and confidence, but your dad's level of playing chess must be very good, right? I'm a newcomer on the road, and it's inevitable to be flustered and confused. Even with you guiding me by my side, I still can't predict what the outcome will be like."

  Zhao Zun furrowed his brow and placed his palm on her head.

  "Don't let your mind wander, calmness is most important."

  She softly said "uh-huh", and Xia Chuqi tightened her arm, also putting her head on his leg, saying in a light tone, "Ge, what if I still lose and have to drink that cup of poisonous wine? Then... cough, I have something to tell you ahead of time."

  "What?" He moved his hand slightly and stroked her face.

  "If I were dead, you wouldn't be so stubborn. You should marry a wife and take concubines as you see fit. As a man, and a prince at that, it's a waste of good resources not to utilize them... even I think it's a shame."

  Looking at Zhao's mouth twitching, she couldn't help but sigh again.

  She changed her pose and rested her chin on his thigh, looking up at him.

  "Besides, your headache is the hardest to cure. On the desk in my study, I have placed the crystal inkstone you gave me, and under it are several prescriptions that I have written out after careful research over these past few days. Since they haven't been tested, I don't dare let you take them casually. If something happens to me, you must first find someone to test the medicine, see which prescription is effective, and only then use it. You know? The prescriptions I've written have minimal side effects; even if I'm no longer around, as long as you keep taking them, they may not be able to cure the root of the problem, but at least they can preserve your health, prevent you from dying young, and ensure that you'll live a long life."

  Zhao Yu lowered his head and looked at her without making a sound.

  He flashed a smile, and Xia Chuqi said again, "Only, when you're old and ugly with a head full of white hair, this wind disease might relapse. At that time, if you're in too much pain, come find me on the Yellow Spring Road. I'll still be there waiting for you, and can at least help treat it for you!"

  She let out a soft sigh, and Zhao Zhuo rubbed her face, "Then you can't be too harsh? I came down to find you, but I didn't bring any silver."

  Xia Chuqi forced a smile, "That's not necessary, but..."

  He remained silent for a moment, seeing her pause, and raised an eyebrow, "But what?"

  She slightly curved her lips and got up to sit on his legs, burying her face in the nape of his neck.

  "But don't bring your woman along. You know, I'm not a kind master. I also can't stand seeing other women by your side. If you come alone, I'll treat you for free. But if you bring another woman, not only will I not treat you, but I'll also send you to the 18th level of hell with one needle, or make you be a man who can't do men's business for all eternity..."

  Zhao Zhu looked at her wet eyes and didn't say a word, he just hugged her tightly.

  "Zhao Zhuo..." She called out his name. To her, his name was a symbol of equality.

  "Huh?" he asked.

  "Zhao Zhuo..." she shouted again.

  "Father is here, speak quickly, time is running out."

  Time was running out, and she changed to biting her lower lip and remaining silent.

  "You're also good at making excuses." He sighed, pulled her waist up a bit, and drew her entirely into his arms, giving her back a gentle pat.

  "Zhao Zhuo……" Xia Chuqi's hug was even tighter on the seventh day of summer, until they were so close that not a single breath could escape between them. She then let out a snicker and said, "Actually, I don't have anything to say, it's just that you smell really good, and I want to take another sniff."

  What a wonderful smell! Zhao Jin's face turned black with anger.

  Men generally don't like it when people say they smell good, but Xia Zhongqi genuinely felt that way about him. In fact, it wasn't a strong scent at all, just like a gentle breeze; as soon as you got close to him and fell into his arms, you could feel the warmth, the heat, and the faint, ethereal fragrance that was uniquely Zhao Shijiu's.

  She used to refuse to admit it, but now she has to go to the "gambling den" with her life on the line...

  She just realized that she had always been reluctant to let go.

  ……

  ……

  "Your Majesty is waiting for you at the Inviting Moon Pavilion!" A small eunuch from the palace was waiting by the door.

  Zhao Zun nodded slightly, "Okay."

  Two people, followed by five or six attendants, walked towards the Inviting Moon Building.

  The courtyard of the Jin Wang Fu was really big, from Qingtangyuan wrapped out, and then went through two courtyards, through several corridors, walked for half a cup of tea time, just arrived at the invitation moon pavilion in the middle of the back garden.

  What is called Inviting the Moon refers to this pavilion being situated on higher ground, with a series of bluestone steps leading up to it. The area around the pavilion is open and spacious, surrounded by wooden railings. As night falls, the lanterns are lit, and under their soft glow, the Inviting the Moon Pavilion appears majestic and serene.

  A group of eunuchs and guards all stayed under the Inviting Moon Pavilion.

  Inside the pavilion, the lights were shining brightly, but it was eerily quiet without a single sound.

  The emperor sat alone on the edge of the marble chess table, with only one attendant, Cui Yingda, standing beside him, holding a tray containing poison, motionless and calm.

  On the seventh day of summer, with a heavy heart, he was the first to kneel down and pay his respects.

  "Your servant Chu Qi has arrived and requests an audience with Your Majesty."

  Hong Tai Di put down the teacup in his hand, raised an eyebrow, and didn't call her to get up. Instead, he slowly glanced at Zhao Zhu behind her and spoke softly.

  "Old Nineteen, it's been a long time since I last played chess with you. How are your chess skills now?"

  Zhao Zhen knelt on one knee, moved forward and saluted with his hands, "In response to the Emperor's words, I have learned but not mastered it, I dare not compare my chess skills with the Emperor's divine and mysterious techniques."

  "You're cautious," Emperor Hong Tai said with a faint smile. "Since you don't dare to compete with me, why did you let your disciple compete with me instead? Hmm?"

  The tone of this question was very strong, and Xia Chuyi's hair stood on end as he listened.

  Zhaoyou remained calm and said, "I am staking everything on this one move."

  "Oh?" Emperor Hong Tai raised his voice, looked at him for a moment, and asked in a sentence that made Xia Chuqi's hair stand on end, "So, there is someone in this world who is worth risking my old life of nineteen years?"

  "Long live the Emperor."

  Zhao's eyes were calm and peaceful, but Hong Tai Emperor's gaze was deep and his expression was indifferent.

  "Success and failure all depend on this game of chess. It's up to fate now!"

  Is playing chess still the will of heaven?

  There is a sense of "sorrow and grief" on the seventh day of summer.

  She thought about how she felt about Hei Bai Zi now, but had to face off against someone, and the first person she faced was the current emperor, a person who could kill her with just one breath. She couldn't help but admit that her mental strength wasn't as good as she thought. At this time, her heart was like a wound-up spring, beating rapidly and erratically, to the point where it created an illusion - on the surface, the father and son were discussing chess, but in reality, it was not just about "discussing chess" that simple.

  Kneeling quietly, listening to her, the palm of her hand was already sweating profusely. In her heart, she thought: Playing chess is just playing chess, wanting life or death is just wanting life or death, why did that old emperor have to make it like those martial arts novels, where before fighting and killing, they had to engage in a debate first?

  "Get up——"

  Just as her knees were about to go numb, the old emperor's "small talk" finally ended, and his gaze fell on her again. Silently letting out a breath, she bowed deeply and sat up straight in front of him.

  "Your Majesty, I have made a fool of myself."

  Hong Tai Emperor did not respond, but instead took the white porcelain first. That handsome face with a clear and elegant complexion, combined with his every move, seemed to still retain some of Zhao Zun's divine aura. As he examined him up close, Xia Chu Qi dispelled her speculation that Zhao Zun was not the emperor's biological son, and felt even more that the heart of an emperor was unfathomable.

  They're all his sons, why be so cruel to Zhao Zhu?

  She steadied herself and focused her attention on the chessboard.

  The old emperor held the white piece and made the first move of 36, forming an optimal invasion angle against her.

  At the beginning of summer, she played black chess with Zhao Zun, observing his expression, responding to 9-3, taking two points as the right move, advancing and retreating in a measured manner, holding the momentum. To be honest, she didn't have much of a chess style or route, but after accompanying Zhao Zun for some days, she gained some insights. So even though it was her first time on the battlefield, her posture and movements were still grasped, her moves clear and decisive, her demeanor relaxed and self-satisfied.

  It wasn't long before Emperor Hong Tai suddenly lifted his head and glanced at her.

  "A good teacher produces excellent students."

  "Your Majesty is overpraising me, it's all because of Your Majesty's humility."

  It was said to be a concession, but in fact, Emperor Hongtai did not concede at all. His white pieces were pressing step by step, killing moves one after another, while Xia Chuqi's black pieces were yielding all the way and soon seemed to have no way out.

  Although I didn't quite understand at first, I could still feel the turmoil and uncertainty of the chess situation, with every move being difficult to make.

  The old emperor is indeed formidable?

  She thought, her palms were all cold sweat...

  He played a few more moves, and Bai Zi was like a possessed man, forcing him to become even more ruthless.

  Her back was drenched with sweat, her heart hung in suspense, but then fell back again.

  This kind of game, even if lost, would soon be "rewarded" with poisonous wine, which was also worth it. The other party was the emperor, after all, not everyone could play a game with the emperor. Comforting herself, her mood slowly calmed down, focusing on the chessboard, and not looking directly at Zhao Zun, only glancing at him with her eyes.

  Zhuo sat on the other side of the chessboard, not paying too much attention to the game. His expression was not particularly rich, and his lip language was not like ordinary people's speech, with his mouth opening and closing. It was basically in a semi-silent state all the time. Just one frown, one expression, and one subtle gesture could make her understand intuitively.

  To be honest, she likes this kind of tacit understanding.

  Also enjoy the tacit understanding with him.

  But why does he always retreat? Always retreat?

  It is said that a game of chess is like politics, like a battlefield, like a fight between two people. Once you lose the initiative, you will retreat step by step and be defeated step by step.

  She understands all these principles, how could he not understand?

  She didn't understand, so she just went along with it.

  The silence lasted for a long time, but Emperor Hong Tai suddenly spoke up.

  "Lao Shi Jiu, this apprentice of yours, has a lot of your style."

  Is this what they call his style?

  At the beginning of summer, Qiuzi didn't understand, but heard Zhaozi respond slowly and elegantly.

  "My father's chess skills are unparalleled, while I'm just a mediocre player, not worth mentioning."

  Emperor Hongtai's eyes sank, his face expressionless as he sighed, "I've heard that the three major camps of the Imperial Army have been frequently mobilized over the past two days. Someone secretly reported to me that you delayed handing over the Tiger Tally to the Ministry of War until today, which must be a plot. Let me investigate and punish according to the law. And that Old Three is also unbearable, always privately colluding with various high-ranking officials and provincial governors in the capital, accepting bribes and selling official positions, completely lacking in dignity..."

  He paused, glanced at Zhao Ji, and said with a hint of reprimand, "You are all my sons, I know how you behave. The third one is reckless and has always been used to being unruly, but the nineteenth, you are the son I have the highest hopes for, military campaigns require careful planning, this is not your style?"

  Zhao Zun's eyes narrowed slightly.

  "The son will soon go to the Northern Peace Prefecture, so before leaving, I want to help the Emperor appoint virtuous officials and remove those who are not good at understanding the imperial mind and have ulterior motives. I hope the Emperor will clearly discern this."

  "In that case, I can rest assured."

  Hong Taiji didn't say much more, focusing on the chessboard, just like those few questions earlier, just casual conversation between father and son.

  The chessboard is full of killing intent!

  Before long, Hei Zi of Xia Qiqi was forced into a dead end by Bai Zi of Hong Taiji.

  However, just as the situation was about to be completely controlled by White, gunpowder rose again on the chessboard. The originally tight White pieces fell into the trap laid out by Black long ago.

  At the beginning of summer, her heart was racing under Zhao Zhu's command, and her passion was ignited. For a while, she fell into a child again without hesitation, feeling that the mountains and rivers on the chessboard were shaking, and the original black pieces, like being beaten by strong winds and heavy rains, had transformed into the most ferocious warriors, shouting and killing, counterattacking with momentum like a rainbow.

  Everyone says that whoever takes action first will be in an advantageous position.

  This game is a classic example of turning defeat into victory, known as "Yellow Sparrow's Game".

  "I've lost!"

  He gently pointed to the dragon robe with golden threads on his body, and sighed decisively.

  Xia Zhong Qi hastily got up, clasped his hands together in greeting, "Your Majesty, I yield."

  Hong Tai Emperor did not speak, the shadow under the lamp light had a hint of sharpness that was hard to distinguish, just like the killing aura of a sword, breaking through the air, making Xia Chuqi feel chilled to the bone. But he never looked at her, only staring at Zhao Zun, as if after a long time, he finally spoke in a light tone.

  "What's this place called? Dragon Pool and Tiger Cave?"

  It was as if a thunderclap had fallen on his head, and Xia Qi suddenly felt dry-mouthed. But Zhao Zun slowly got up from his seat, clasped his hands together, and bowed his head.

  "No, this round is called 'filial piety'."

  Hong Taiyi smiled slowly, "Old Nineteen, you have a heart."

  "The Emperor's merits are unmatched, I, as a son and subject, should be filial in one way."

  At the beginning of summer, on the seventh day, she heard something inexplicable. Holding her breath and remaining silent, she subconsciously looked at the chessboard again.

  She was shocked and almost couldn't breathe as she took a closer look.

  Perhaps she was too focused on the outcome of the game, so she didn't notice that in the turbulent game, Zhao Zun not only instructed her to retreat step by step, luring the old emperor deep into the killing, but also used her hand to arrange a word "filial piety" with black pieces on the chessboard.

  Now the chess game is over, leaving only a black "filial piety" character arranged by her own hands.

  Taking a deep breath, such high-end chess skills really made her sigh in admiration.

  Suddenly, she seemed to understand again.

  She came to play chess today, but only with one hand, Zhao Zhen's hand. The person who actually played chess with the old emperor was still Zhao Zhen himself. And did Emperor Hong Tai not know?

  All he needs is Zhao Zhen's attitude, an attitude towards the situation?

  And her nineteenth grandfather, however, was a chess piece of exquisite workmanship that told his father that he could endure, retreat, and not be defeated. Look, as long as he was willing, he could also become the master of the situation. And he didn't do it, just for the sake of that one word "filial piety"?

  She guessed, without knowing the real reason.

  The old emperor's complexion was obviously much more gentle than before.

  After all, he is his own son.

  Not sworn enemies, why would they fight to the death?

  She was churning inside, but Hong Tai Emperor looked over with a light and airy gaze.

  "Son-in-law, you've found a good master."

  Having said that, he slowly got up, took the wine cup on the tray held by Cui Yingda, which had been filled with liquor for a long time, raised the sleeve of his dragon robe, and with a flick of his wrist, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

  "The tribute wine from Jinzhong was originally meant as a reward for the imperial son-in-law."

  It was already early on the seventh day of summer, and he had been stunned into the present, not daring to believe his own eyes.

  So the wine didn't have poison in it after all?

  She moved her lips slightly, unsure of what to say, but the old emperor turned his head again.

  "Mid-Autumn Festival, I'm waiting for the son-in-law. You go back first, I still have something to say to Old Nineteen."

  The two fathers and sons wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk in the middle of the night, so she naturally couldn't stay any longer. She respectfully said "yes" and suppressed her nervous thoughts, stealing a glance at Zhao Zun, slowly backing out of the Inviting Moon Pavilion.

  The heart of the Son of Heaven is indeed hard to fathom.

  But Zhao's calmness is even harder to understand.

  It's just like this result, he didn't have any unexpectedness at all.

  He had long known that the wine cup was not poisonous, but he still entered the old emperor's "trap", first winning a game from the old emperor and then letting the old emperor get his way, thus plotting against him. However, in reality, he used the old emperor's hand to turn back a "dead" situation.

  Who is inside and who is outside when playing chess?

  As she took a last glance at the departing Yuè Rù, her gaze fell upon the Go board and the faint "filial piety" character on it. Suddenly, she felt that this game of Go was perhaps far more complicated than she had imagined.

  Digression

  Thank you for waiting, muah muah~

  Besides, I have some good news to share with you.

  It is said that when registering a new account and recharging (all done within the client) on 123 Romance Client, you will receive an equal amount of Lingbao as a gift. The meaning of "equal", everyone understands, 10,000 123 Romance coins are equivalent to 10,000 Lingbao, which can save some money, twinkling eyes...

  In addition, the 100 yuan treasure that was mentioned last time can be exchanged for a review ticket. Okay, it refers to after using one review ticket in normal circumstances. Moreover, getting one requires voting first and then subscribing, otherwise it will only be one.

  (Note: The above is what readers heard, I am a person who has always been unable to sign in.)