vstars Chapter 591 is both the player and the piece.
Chapter 591 is both the player and the piece.
After Jiang Xiaoqi placed his black piece, he helplessly drank his tea, waiting for the opponent to make their move.
The cup of tea was finished, but the white pieces still hadn't fallen.
"Your Highness, how long are you going to be spacing out?"
"Sigh~ I'm doing this so that I can't take back my moves. Since I can't take back my moves, I naturally have to carefully consider and think things through before making a move."
How could you be so hasty? If one wrong move leads to a series of wrong moves afterward, wouldn't the game be beyond saving?
Jiang Xiaoqi put down the few black pieces she was playing with. "Is Your Highness referring to the chess game or something else?"
"Sigh~ What else could it be but a game of chess? What does Lord Jiang think it is?"
The question was thrown back at him, but the Prince of Xuan Nan didn't intend to give a direct answer.
Jiang Xiaoqi naturally didn't say anything, but continued to urge the other party to make a move.
"Then only Your Highness knows. I'm not a mind reader. Does Your Highness need to consider this for the time it takes to drink a few cups of tea? Or should I go and take a short rest?"
That was quite a cheeky remark, but the Prince of Xuannan didn't mind. After thinking for a moment, he finally placed the white piece in his hand.
"Take a nap? What nap? Don't sleep tonight, play chess with me!"
"Your Highness, are you sure you're not mistaken? You're free tomorrow, but it's not my day off; I have to work. No, no, I really can't risk my life to keep you company!"
"Oh, taking leave? There's nothing important to do at the Hanlin Academy all day, so what difference does it make whether I go or not?"
Prince Xuannan waved his hand, wanting Jiang Xiaoqi to ask for leave, determined to play chess all night.
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort has only just arrived in the capital. It wouldn't be good if word got out that you're not coming home tonight."
Jiang Xiaoqi had no choice but to bring up the Princess of Xuan Nan, since he was at home and had no idea that the Princess of Xuan Nan had already retired to the Empress's palace.
Upon hearing this, the Prince of Xuannan was taken aback at first, then smiled and said, "Since the Princess Consort has gone to the palace to meet the Empress, she will probably stay there tonight. I will be alone in my room when I return. Why don't we play a few rounds of games together?"
Jiang Xiaoqi was somewhat surprised. He knew that the princess and the empress were related, but he did not expect that the two, who had not seen each other for many years, would still be so close.
However, the Prince of Xuannan's actions today are definitely not just about playing chess; he's trying to torture him like an eagle!
"Your Highness, even if the Princess Consort is not here, staying up late is bad for your mental and physical health, you..."
Jiang Xiaoqi tried to persuade him again, but before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the Prince of Xuan Nan, who said, "My health has always been good, and staying up late for one or two nights occasionally is no big deal!"
"Lord Jiang, stop making excuses. Tonight's chess game is decided. Have your servants bring another pot of strong tea!"
Jiang Xiaoqi had no choice but to accept her fate. Everyone says that a higher-ranking official can crush you, and she couldn't refuse too forcefully.
This man is not only of high rank, he is the emperor's uncle, the most honorable prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Forget it, I can't afford to offend them.
The game became noticeably faster in the latter half, with black and white pieces intertwining, entangled, and locked in a tight battle.
At this moment, neither side dared to slack off in the slightest, and neither had time to drink the newly brewed pot of strong tea.
Suddenly, the Prince of Xuannan paused, the white piece that was about to fall hovered in mid-air, and his eyes sharpened.
"Lord Jiang, your move may seem ordinary, but it actually contains a hidden secret."
Jiang Xiaoqi chuckled lightly, "Your Highness flatters me, it was merely a matter of going with the flow."
"What a fine idea to go with the flow! But how can Lord Jiang be sure that going with the flow will definitely lead to success?"
Whether it succeeds or not depends on human effort; we can't leave everything to so-called fate or luck.
If you don't do your best and take each step steadily, even the greatest fortune will be in vain. Ultimately, you must control your own destiny.
The King of Xuan Nan made another move, and his pace noticeably slowed down again.
"What Lord Jiang said seems to make a lot of sense. So, it seems that the choice of playing black or white was already made long ago?"
"Your Highness, I have always chosen black, without ever changing my mind. But Your Highness, do you prefer black or white?"
After Jiang Xiaoqi placed a black piece, he finally had time to pour himself a cup of tea and also poured one for the Prince of Xuan Nan.
"Sigh, is it really possible for me to choose black or white whenever I want?"
There was a clear sense of helplessness in the Prince of Xuan Nan's tone. After a moment's thought, Jiang Xiaoqi knew that this was probably related to the Princess of Xuan Nan.
The fact that the princess is staying in the queen's palace today is a clear indication of her stance.
The princess was making her position clear to the officials of the Great Zhou court, letting His Majesty know her stance, and most importantly, letting her own prince know his decision.
This decision is final; there is no room for discussion or reversal.
The Prince of Xuannan felt that he was not the one playing the game, but a pitiful pawn, a pawn willingly being held in someone else's hand.
Jiang Xiaoqi gleaned a lot of information from the Prince of Xuan Nan's expression, and even the fleeting hint of grievance did not escape his keen eyes.
Is the prince... feeling wronged?
Because of the princess's stance and her taking sides, the prince was put in a difficult position and had no choice but to take sides as well.
Husband and wife are one, so of course they should stand on the same side.
However, there may be exceptions. It's just that we don't know whether the prince values himself more or the many years of marriage he has with the princess.
"Of course, Your Highness can choose to play black or white as you wish."
While the world isn't entirely black and white, the game of chess is remarkably simple: it's either black or white, with no gray areas.
As soon as Jiang Xiaoqi finished speaking, another black piece was placed, just a few breaths after Xuan Nan Wang had placed a white piece.
In such a short time, there was almost no opportunity to think carefully, and this move looked somewhat casual.
But only the Prince of Xuannan, who was playing against him, knew that this move was not made casually at all.
"Hehe, as expected of the top scholar, your chess skills are superb. I, the king, am humbled and admit defeat."
I lost this game. If I continue, I don't even have a chance of a draw.
"I've reached a dead end, there's no chance left, so I won't struggle anymore."
Jiang Xiaoqi raised her eyes and smiled slightly, "Your Highness, you flatter me."
Prince Xuannan waved his hand, "Alright, alright, let's play another round."
As he spoke, he began to tidy up the chess pieces on the board.
In the second game, Xuan Nan Wang was noticeably more serious and quicker in placing his pieces, but just like in the previous game, he gradually fell behind again.
"Your Highness, would you like to play black this time?"
"Is there a difference? Does the black pieces really have an advantage? Don't try to fool me. It's clearly related to the skill level of the player, not the color."
"That prince..."
"Forget it, what's done is done. I'll just be a pawn for now."
"Your Highness, why do you say that? Sometimes, the one who wields the chess pieces is also a chess piece. And a chess piece can also be the one who wields the chess pieces!"