#15: Entering the Game

The secret report about the change in the Land of the Five Colors that Xiao Qi had received earlier was unknown to outsiders. When the news finally reached them, it was a month later, and the news had become that Prime Minister Xiang had raised an army and rebelled.

The cause of it all was that in the beginning, the new emperor of the Land of the Five Colors had greatly trusted Prime Minister Xiang, and everything was in order. But not long ago, when the new emperor went with the Imperial Advisor to the divine altar to worship, an anomaly appeared on the altar. The royal soil inside the altar turned dim, and the blue clay next to it appeared in five colors instead. This was a serious matter. Rumors immediately spread among the people. The rumors were all similar and secretly pointed to Prime Minister Xiang. This was not surprising. Of the twelve states in the Land of the Five Colors, only Prime Minister Xiang’s fiefdom was the blue state. It matched the character “blue.” Furthermore, Prime Minister Xiang had military power and was originally the most trusted by the late emperor. Now, under pressure, he had to submit to the new emperor. Who knew if he was unwilling?

As the saying goes, “gossip can melt gold, and accumulated slander can destroy bones.” The rumors grew stronger. Coupled with the fact that the new emperor had personally witnessed the anomaly on the divine altar, he finally started to become suspicious of his brother. He listened to the words of his trusted aides and lured Prime Minister Xiang into the palace to capture him and put him under house arrest. Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Xiang was a man of great ability and managed to escape from the palace. He fled the capital overnight. In a fit of rage, the new emperor ignored the old officials’ pleas and ordered his men to pursue and capture him. After Prime Minister Xiang safely returned to his fiefdom, he indeed took the opportunity to raise an army and rebel. He publicly accused the emperor of being “inhumane and unable to tolerate his own flesh and blood,” claiming that he had been “forced to do so.”

The summer heat had subsided, and the weather was gradually turning cooler. As twilight fell, a few evening stars were reflected in the pond. Yan Chu was half-lying on a couch by the pond, slowly fanning herself, feeling a little restless.

For some reason, the moment she heard the news, she inexplicably thought of the scene she had seen in the Land of Eternity that day—the cold rain on the cliff, the two figures in the pavilion. Envoy Lan had said that the Imperial Advisor was visiting...

As the most famous and powerful Daoist sect in the Five Spirit Realms, the Land of Eternity never interfered in the political affairs of the outside world, so it was respected by all the countries. Even if a disciple had taken the imperial seal without permission, they had already been dealt with. Everything seemed to be fine. But the Imperial Advisor had just visited him not long ago, and soon after, an anomaly appeared on the divine altar. Was it too much of a coincidence? If not for the incident at the divine altar, the Land Emperor would not have been so eager to make a move. If not for the Land Emperor making a move, even if Prime Minister Xiang had ambitions, he would have had no choice but to be a loyal official under pressure. The change at the divine altar, in a way, seemed to have fulfilled Prime Minister Xiang’s ambition.

Yan Chu shook off those strange thoughts from her mind. He had abandoned the world back then, so there was no reason for him to get involved in these matters again. Besides, the affairs of the Land of the Five Colors had nothing to do with her, so why bother thinking about them?

Hong Ye came over again to persuade her. “It’s getting cold. You should go back to your room, Miss.”

Yan Chu looked up at her.

Hong Ye didn’t feel embarrassed. She naturally smiled and chatted with her but refused to leave.

“This maid is being noisy. Should your disciple kill her for you?” Xiao Yan’s voice came from above.

“Lord Yuanjun!” Hong Ye was shocked.

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Yan was standing in front of her. He looked down at her. “That’s a nice way to call me. Say it again.”

Hong Ye took two steps back and forced a smile. “Lord Yuanjun, you and the Miss should talk. I’ll go back to my room first...”

“Trying to run away?” Xiao Yan reached out and grabbed her hair, dragging her back. “Are you going to tell my brother?”

“Hong Ye... no... wouldn’t dare.” Her voice trembled, half in fear and half in pain.

Xiao Yan immediately let go of her. “Then run.”

Hong Ye didn’t dare to run. She trembled and bowed to him, then slowly left.

After she had gone far, Xiao Yan raised his hand to tidy his long eyelashes that covered his eyes and sat down next to Yan Chu. “That annoying maid. I chased her away for you, Master.”

Yan Chu put away her fan and asked, “How is your flower doing?”

Xiao Yan sighed. “Why ask the obvious, Master?”

It was rare to see him show his true emotions. Yan Chu felt quite pleased. “Since you know that the crippled flower can’t bear fruit, why did you agree to this transaction?”

“You’re right. I’m starting to regret it,” Xiao Yan lay down with his head on her lap. “What is Xiling Fengqi trying to do?”

Yan Chu was also curious about this question. The two of them were silent for a rare moment. Suddenly, a maid reported that an envoy from the Land of Eternity had arrived. Yan Chu’s face lit up with joy, and she quickly ordered the maid to invite him in.

A white-robed envoy walked into Maple Garden. He first bowed to Yan Chu, then looked at Xiao Yan, who was sprawled on her, and quickly looked away. He handed her a letter with both hands. “The Lord of the Game said that this is what you requested, Miss.”

Yan Chu inwardly thought that this was not good. It was too late to push Xiao Yan away. She could only nod and say, “Thank you for your trouble,” then took the letter and had the maid see the envoy out.

“You’re scared.” Xiao Yan tilted his head.

Yan Chu retorted, “Aren’t you scared of him?”

Xiao Yan said, “Master, he just happened to be able to use the thing I wanted to threaten me. It doesn’t mean I’m scared of him.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Of course there is.”

Yan Chu laughed when she heard that and stopped talking nonsense with him. She lowered her head and opened the letter, taking out a small note to confirm.

“What is it?”

“A blueprint.”

Xiao Yan lost interest again. “Master, you should ask him for something more useful.”

“This blueprint is very useful,” Yan Chu put the note away again and lay down. “A year from now, you won’t be under his control anymore.”

When Xiao Yan heard this, he looked at her for a moment and then laughed. “My agreement with him was for one year anyway. You silly Master, did he trick you?”

Yan Chu was stunned.

The plan to send an envoy to the Ice Kingdom was complete. Xiao Qi had drafted a list and submitted it to Emperor Yan for his review. The envoy team was expected to set off next month. Yan Chu had her own plans and was not in a hurry. She suggested going to see Lu Shan.

Xiao Qi wanted to appease her because of Qiuying’s death. She had to seize this opportunity to quickly make the old general understand her identity and situation. But how could she hide all this from Xiao Qi?

A carriage was waiting outside the main gate. Yan Chu walked down the stone steps and instructed a servant to bring out a pot of begonias with flower buds.

Xiao Qi saw this and asked, “What is that for?”

Yan Chu smiled and explained, “Xiao Yan got a pot of begonias for me yesterday. I plan to give it to the old general. He loves flowers.”

Xiao Qi then ordered his attendant to put the begonias in the back of the carriage.

The party set off, and the carriage quickly left the capital. They were escorted by dozens of high-ranking guards. This time, the two of them were riding together. Yan Chu leaned against the carriage wall, absentmindedly watching the scenery outside the window. Xiao Qi, on the other hand, had been watching her with a troubled expression.

He suddenly spoke. “I’ve been busy lately, so I haven’t been to Maple Garden to see you.”

Yan Chu nodded. “You should be busy. I don’t lack anything here.”

Xiao Qi said, “I heard that you’ve been getting a little close to Xiao Yan lately?”

Yan Chu avoided his gaze. “He is very good to me.”

There was already a hint of patience in Xiao Qi’s eyes. Although he didn’t lose his temper, his tone was no longer calm. “He is my brother. Don’t forget who you are.”

Yan Chu looked at him with some surprise.

He had betrayed her and chosen another woman, yet now he cared about her being close to another man?

Yan Chu felt a sudden sense of mockery. She said indifferently, “Are you really planning to restore the title of Princess Consort and make Qin Chuan Liuyu your mistress? How could she agree? Isn’t that why you’ve been avoiding her all this time?”

Xiao Qi said, “I’m avoiding her because you haven’t made a decision yet.”

Yan Chu said, “This is good enough now. Neither of us has to be difficult.”

“You!”

Seeing him reach out, Yan Chu swung her sleeve without thinking, and the violent movement carried a surge of vital energy. Xiao Qi hadn’t actually intended to do anything to her and was taken aback by her strong reaction. He was completely stunned.

The atmosphere was a bit tense. Yan Chu couldn’t explain herself.

The husband-and-wife relationship was a marriage in name only. From the moment she lay on Lord Xiling’s bed, it had become a complete mockery. He was having an affair with Qin Chuan Liuyu, and she was using her body to please another man. She had once disdained Qin Chuan Liuyu, but what she was doing now was no more honorable than Qin Chuan Liuyu. She still resented and hated him.

Xiao Qi said nothing, and the pain in his eyes gradually grew.

He was the one who had hurt her first. Why did it seem like he was the one who was wronged now? Compared to her hatred, what was his guilt? Yan Chu suddenly wanted to ask him if he had ever loved her. The planned marriage, his gentle indulgence—had he ever had a single sincere moment with her? Or was it truly just a complete manipulation?

However, Yan Chu eventually came to her senses and forced herself to swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

At a time like this, love or no love no longer mattered.

Time passed in silence. The carriage rattled along, and before they knew it, they had arrived at their destination. The sound of the guards came from outside. Yan Chu breathed a sigh of relief. She opened the carriage door and got out first. Xiao Qi followed her out, and they walked up the mountain together, just like last time.

The mountain breeze was cool. They could see Lu Shan from a distance. This time, he was sitting under the eaves, mending a hoe, clearly aware that they were coming.

Yan Chu went up to him and bowed. “Hello, old general. I’ve come to see you again today.”

“You always have the right words to say,” Lu Shan glared at her and threw the hoe aside.

Yan Chu knew that he was actually pleased. She smiled. “I brought you something good out of pure filial piety.”

“Oh?” Lu Shan became interested. “What is it? Hurry and bring it up.”

Xiao Qi gestured, and an attendant not far away immediately brought over a clay pot. Yan Chu was stunned.

It was not the pot of begonias that she had prepared earlier, but a pot of extremely rare fiery banana plants. They looked like banana plants, but their leaves were a fiery red. It was a famous plant in the Yan Kingdom.

Xiao Qi walked to her side without changing his expression, as if to explain to her, “That pot of begonias is nothing special. I’ll find a better variety another day. I think this fiery banana plant is very rare, and the old general will definitely like it.”

Yan Chu said “Oh,” without much concern, and turned her face to talk to the old general.

Neither of them seemed to care about the change of flowers. Lu Shan was very interested. In the end, he personally saw them off the mountain. Yan Chu promised to visit again another day, which made him even happier. After returning from Lu Shan’s place, Xiao Qi continued to be busy with official business. Yan Chu’s life remained calm. However, she didn’t see any sign of Xiao Yan for a whole month. She guessed that he had gone back to Mount Xanbai to take care of the crippled flower. During this time, Yan Chu went to the Land of Eternity to cultivate the flower once and did not see Lord Xiling.

The weather was overcast, and the autumn wind was desolate. The water rippled gently. It was a rare festival in the autumn season. By the river, many women came out to play. They were in groups of two or three, all dressed beautifully.

Not far ahead, a woman wearing a purple skirt, with a jade ring on her waist and an exquisite hairpin in her hair, walked gracefully. Her demeanor was dignified. She was accompanied by four or five well-dressed maids, so her background was clearly extraordinary.

Behind them, Yan Chu and Xiao Qi were walking side by side, without any guards.

“It feels so refreshing to be out of the residence,” Yan Chu said, looking at the scenery on the river.

It was rare to see her happy. Xiao Qi couldn’t help but tidy a few strands of her hair that had been blown by the wind. “You can come out whenever you want from now on. Just bring more people to protect you.”

Protection or surveillance? Yan Chu chuckled softly.

Xiao Qi saw her expression and said, “There are a lot of rumors about you now. Many people want to see something happen to you to create a conflict between the Yue army and me. It’s really dangerous for you to go out alone.”

“I understand.” Yan Chu answered perfunctorily.

Xiao Qi hesitated to speak and withdrew his hand. “There’s a place over there that sells osmanthus cakes. You’ve always liked them.”

Yan Chu bent down to massage her legs. “I’m tired from walking. You go and buy some for me.”

She hadn’t flirted with him like this in a long time. The returned her had always maintained a distance from him. The scene in front of him overlapped with the past. Xiao Qi smiled and walked toward the cake seller.

Yan Chu slowly straightened up, turning her face to look into the distance. Mount Jingshan was vaguely visible.

“She was such a good child. I really can’t figure out how she became like this! There’s no way she could have colluded with the enemy. Her family all died in the war, at the hands of the Mu Feng Kingdom!”

So, besides her, the old general also understood, Jiang Qiuying.

Changing the flower at the last minute was an act of caution. Xiao Qi, do you think that was enough to guard against me?

Meanwhile, the beautiful woman in front was also standing in the shade of a tree by the water, admiring the scenery. For some reason, something hit her leg, and she lost her balance. She fell into the river with a “splash!”

It seemed like an accident. The maids were screaming for help. However, there were mostly women in the vicinity. Most women in the Yan Kingdom were not trained in martial arts. The few weak scholars who were there were of no use. The woman struggled in the water. Her clothes were heavy. Not only could she not get up, but she was also drifting farther and farther from the shore.

Just as everyone was panicking, a slender figure suddenly jumped into the river, grabbed the woman’s hand, and pulled her toward the shore. But the woman had already swallowed a lot of water. Seeing someone coming to save her, she forgot everything and used her hands and feet to desperately cling to Yan Chu, like she was grabbing a life-saving straw. Both of them were stuck in the water.

Xiao Qi hadn’t walked far. He suddenly heard the shouts and, not seeing Yan Chu’s silhouette when he turned around, knew that something had happened. He quickly flew over. With a light tap on the water, he brought the two of them back to the shore in a flash.

Seeing Yan Chu’s pale face, Xiao Qi immediately threw the other woman to her maids, took off his outer robe, and draped it over Yan Chu. “Are you alright?”

Yan Chu panted lightly and shook her head, gesturing for him to save the other person first.

The woman had passed out from swallowing water. Xiao Qi couldn’t just leave her, so he personally went to revive her. The woman was from a prominent family after all. Although she was in a sorry state, she still maintained her composure. She stood up weakly with the help of her maid, bowed, and thanked him. She then asked for his residence. Xiao Qi was evasive.

Yan Chu laughed from the side. “The Prince has saved someone. Are you afraid of others knowing?”

Who in the court didn’t know the powerful official? The woman was stunned.

Xiao Qi didn’t want to cause any trouble and left with Yan Chu in a hurry.

All the trivial matters aside, another half a month passed in the blink of an eye. The envoy team was finally about to set off for the Ice Kingdom. Xiao Qi looked very calm. It seemed that he had also anticipated that the King of the South was unlikely to make a move. Since they were still within the Yan Kingdom, the route had been decided. If nothing went wrong, even if the Mu Feng Kingdom found out and took action, the escort team would be sufficient to handle it.

It was late autumn. The flowers and trees in the courtyard were withering, and countless leaves were falling. The maids and servants were all wearing padded clothes and rushing around. The old women were sweeping the ground filled with fallen leaves with worried expressions. Witnessing such a sight, one couldn’t help but feel a sense of desolation.

In a warm pavilion, Liuyu was sitting opposite a man, talking by the window.

“Brother came specifically to thank my husband.”

“Thank you for what? We’re a family. You don’t have to be so formal with him, Brother.”

“I never thought your husband would be so good to you,” Qin Chuan Liulin sighed. “When you insisted on following him back then, I was worried that he wouldn’t give you a proper title and you would be wronged.”

Liuyu smiled. She ordered a maid to bring a silver-inlaid wooden tray with two padded robes with dark patterns. “It’s getting cold. I made two sets of clothes for you, Brother. Take them with you on the road.”

Qin Chuan Liulin laughed. “I’ll be fine, Brother. You should be making clothes for your husband.”

Liuyu’s face turned red, and she pouted. “The envoy team is about to set off. I’ll see you out, Brother.”

The two of them walked out of the warm pavilion toward the garden gate. The maids followed behind them with the clothes. Looking at the two figures, one tall and one short, from behind, it was truly a scene of deep sibling affection, made even more heartwarming in the cold autumn wind.

Yan Chu stood alone in the shadows of the bamboo forest, her expression unclear. Her fingers gripping the bamboo stalk became tighter and tighter.

Deep sibling affection...

She also had a brother, the famous young general with a jade-like face in the court. He was a hundred times more outstanding than Qin Chuan Liulin. In her heart, he was an invincible existence, the brother who protected and loved her the most. Whatever she wanted, he could get for her. On the day she was married, he personally put the hairpin in her hair and the most magnificent fire flower crown on her head. When the auspicious time came, he was still reluctant to let her go.

It was her who sent him to fight on the battlefield for the Yunze family. It was her who, for a man who betrayed her, got him killed.

The last time she saw him in her memory, she personally put the silver battle robe on him. Xiao Qi hugged her in front of everyone for the first time.

Only now did she finally understand the meaning of Xiao Qi’s actions.

His subordinates fought to bring back his cold, broken body. She held him and passed out, and in the process, she lost the Yue family and herself. With one foot in the grave, she fought to come back to life, and the reason she was given was “the spy changed the letter.” A spy—what a good excuse!

“Brother’s death anniversary is coming soon,” a voice suddenly said beside her.

A true emperor—just his gaze on you can make you feel as if a thousand pounds are pressing down on you. Yan Chu was startled from her memories and couldn’t help but take two steps back, stunned.

“Lord Xiling?”

The withered yellow bamboo leaves fell. His light blue robe fluttered in the autumn wind, becoming the most beautiful and pure splash of color in the desolate autumn scenery.

Coincidentally, Yan Chu was also wearing a light blue dress today. At first glance, they looked almost identical, but her sleeves and hem had a few thin ripples.

He looked at her and nodded. “Hmm, this dress is nice.”

Yan Chu was embarrassed. Now she could always hear ambiguity in his words. After having that kind of relationship, facing him again made her nervous and self-conscious, even a little ashamed. She didn’t want to recall the naked transaction, and she certainly didn’t expect him to come looking for her.

“Is there anything on the blueprint you don’t understand?”

From the moment she asked for the blueprint, Yan Chu was worried that he would become suspicious. She could only remain calm and respectfully bowed. “I understand everything. Thank you, Lord Xiling.”

Lord Xiling said, “Don’t plot against the Evil Flame Lord.”

Hearing the warning, Yan Chu was relieved instead. “I understand.” She had been worried ever since the envoy had seen her being intimate with Xiao Yan. A man like him would never like a woman he had claimed to be intimate with another man.

Lord Xiling nodded, withdrew his gaze, and said, “Let’s go.”

Yan Chu hesitated for a moment and tentatively asked, “I heard from the Lord that your transaction with him is only for one year?”

“Yes, for one year.”

His transaction with Xiao Yan was for one year, which meant that in a year, Xiao Yan would naturally be free from his restrictions. But she had willingly offered herself up to him for a “transaction,” and now she thought of how he had deliberately not told her and had taken her body. Yan Chu felt that she couldn’t express her bitterness.

What surprised her even more was that he not only admitted to this undignified act but also showed no shame at all.

The back garden was a place for women to enter and exit. Yan Chu cautiously led the way, trying to take a small path to Maple Garden to avoid people. However, she soon realized that her worry was unnecessary. Occasionally, a servant or maid would come by, but before they could see the two of them clearly, they would all fall down. He walked slowly with his hands behind his back, as if he were in a no-man’s-land.

Was she publicly walking with her “lover” in her “husband’s” back garden? Yan Chu felt a sense of revenge and wanted to laugh.

They entered the garden gate, and the entire maple forest came into view. Because the climate in the Yan Kingdom was warmer, most of the leaves were still green. Lord Xiling stopped for a moment, and his gaze was unusually gentle.

“These are ordinary varieties. They can’t compare to the red leaves of Fengling,” Yan Chu explained politely.

She continued to lead him on a tour and finally walked into a pavilion to rest.

The small wooden pavilion was quite old, but fortunately, the wood was of excellent quality and had not been damaged by wind and rain. Ever since she moved into Maple Garden, the maids had been cleaning it diligently, and the tables and chairs were all very clean.

Coincidentally, the tabletop in the pavilion was cleverly inlaid with a wooden chessboard. It was meant to be a decoration and was quite exquisite.

Yan Chu’s heart stirred, and she proposed, “I’ve heard that you are skilled at chess, Lord Xiling. I also happen to know a little bit about it. I’m taking the liberty of asking you to play a game with me. What do you say, Lord Xiling?”

Lord Xiling turned to look at her and repeated, “You know a little bit about it?”

Before Yan Chu could speak, he lightly flicked his wide sleeve, and two black and white chess bowls with two-colored chess pieces immediately appeared on the chessboard.

Yan Chu calmly walked over and sat down on the side of the black pieces. She said, “Please,” and then placed a piece on the board.

Lord Xiling gladly sat down and took a white piece and placed it on the board.

Neither of them said much. In just a moment, there were dozens of pieces on the board. Yan Chu’s speed was extremely fast. She placed her pieces with a sound, almost without thinking. Lord Xiling, on the other hand, had a calm expression. He would ponder for a moment before each move, looking very cautious.

Yan Chu laughed inwardly. She had never actually learned how to play chess. She had only watched her father and brother play. She truly only knew a “little bit about it.” She was angry at him for insulting and deceiving her but didn’t dare to show it, so she took this opportunity to play a trick on him to vent her anger. He had indeed taken it seriously.

After about an hour, the situation on the board gradually became clear, but it was completely different from what she had expected.

Anyone could see that she had a huge advantage. The pieces she had placed casually earlier had all miraculously come to life!

She hadn’t intended to win, but now there was a possibility of winning. Yan Chu’s expression gradually became serious. She placed her pieces slower and slower, racking her brain to find a strategy. For a moment, she was completely lost in the game. After about an hour, when the black pieces had taken up most of the board, she finally couldn’t help but get carried away. She subconsciously looked up to see his reaction and suddenly came to her senses.

Unknowingly, he had drawn her into the game!

The reason she had this advantage was not only because he had deliberately let her win. How exciting would it be to defeat him at chess? He had clearly anticipated her thoughts and guided her step by step to create this situation.

Discovering the truth, Yan Chu was even more annoyed. But since she had been the one to play the trick first, she couldn’t get angry at him. She sulkily threw the chess pieces back into the bowl and looked at the chessboard. “Is this your skill, My Lord?”

Lord Xiling said, “How are my chess skills?”

As he spoke, he leisurely placed a piece on the board, and the situation on the board immediately changed dramatically.

It turned out that he had already won, and all her careful planning had become a joke.

Yan Chu stared at that chess piece for a long time before looking up at him again and slowly saying, “You are not very kind to play such a trick on me, Lord Xiling.”

“You don’t know how to play at all,” Lord Xiling pushed the chess bowl away and leaned back slightly. “Do you think I was trying to win against you?”

Yan Chu was stunned.

“With others, I naturally try to win. With you, I was trying to lose,” Lord Xiling lightly stroked his wide sleeve. “It is also infinitely enjoyable to have to think about every move, to think about how to let you find a way to live.”

Yan Chu was speechless.

“I can’t even manage to lose,” Lord Xiling stood up and leaned over to look down at her. “You claim to know a little bit about it, but you haven’t made any progress.”

The expression on his handsome face hadn’t changed much, but there was a hint of mockery in his voice, which gave a strange sense of intimacy. Yan Chu felt as if a thunderbolt had struck her heart. In a trance, this tone sounded familiar.

“When you can beat me, that’s when you’ll have made progress.”

...

A game of chess, a dream. When she woke up, the only sound was the wind rustling the maple leaves. There was no one there, and the remnants of the chess game on the table had also disappeared without a trace.