Chapter 416: A National Master, a Consort, and a Noble Lady

Heng Xian's words were not an exaggeration, nor were they offensive; they were crisp, straightforward praise and sincere flattery.

This was completely different from the bootlicking of eunuchs and palace maids; this came from a young man like Heng Xian, a master of both literature and martial arts whose reputation was known far and wide!

The Princess of Qin was very pleased and said with a smile, "The Master of Poetry who wrote, 'Since ancient times, all sages have been lonely; only the drinkers leave their names behind,' is not only handsome and exceptionally talented, but even knows how to speak so well when complimenting others!"

Heng Xian bowed, "Your Highness is too kind!"

Consort De seemed very satisfied with Heng Xian and also assumed the posture of a mother-in-law: "Young people shouldn't be praised too much!"

Ji Yaoyue, who had been observing her mother's words and actions, finally began to laugh happily.

Afterwards, they each took their seats, and palace maids and eunuchs brought out a pile of melons, fruits, and snacks.

While chatting and laughing, Consort De used the Princess of Qin as a mouthpiece to ask about Heng Xian's family situation.

Heng Xian gave a rough overview of his family, saying his father was in business and his mother was a cultivator, and so on.

Once the conversation had reached a lull, the Princess of Qin suddenly said, "Since the Master of Poetry is so gifted in literature and also a martial cultivator, surely you are not ignorant of 'hand talk'?"

Hand talk?

Heng Xian pondered for a moment before realizing it meant playing Go. He had played Go in his previous life, but he wasn't proficient; he was the type of amateur KTV singer who could belt out a few lines when needed, but otherwise didn't really know how.

Compared to these ancients who specialized in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, he certainly couldn't compare, so he declined, "I'm not very good at it!"

The Princess of Qin laughed, "The Six Arts of a gentleman—I don't believe the Master of Poetry when he says he doesn't know how!"

Consort De also said, "Heng Xian, no need to be humble. Accompany your aunt for a few games of hand talk!"

Heng Xian opened his mouth, not knowing how to refuse.

In the moment he was stunned, the female official had already set up the chessboard.

Heng Xian glanced over and couldn't help but be slightly taken aback: twenty-one by twenty-one, four hundred and forty-one intersections???

It was completely different from the nineteen-by-nineteen grid of his previous life!

How the hell was he supposed to play this?

He immediately said righteously, "I am truly not skilled at this. Why don't you and the Princess of Qin play, and I shall learn a thing or two!"

"That won't do! Today we specifically sought you out to play chess!" The Princess of Qin insisted.

Consort De covered her mouth and chuckled.

Heng Xian pointed at the strangely-faced Ji Yaoyue: "Otherwise, the Princess can play on my behalf..."

Before he could finish, the Princess of Qin interrupted, "How can a dignified Master of Poetry be so petty? If you are asked to play, then play!"

Consort De also said, "That's right! When an elder invites you, you must not refuse!"

It seemed that playing chess with Heng Xian was something the two had agreed upon; their attitude was quite persistent.

Heng Xian really couldn't push it off anymore, so he sighed, "Fine! Then this junior will reluctantly accompany the Princess of Qin for a game!"

"Please!" The Princess of Qin waved her hand.

"Please!" Heng Xian nodded.

The two walked to the chessboard and sat on opposite sides.

Consort De and several high-ranking female officials walked behind the Princess of Qin; Ji Yaoyue and her younger brother Ji Yaofan walked behind Heng Xian.

Ji Yaofan couldn't help but lower his head and snicker.

Heng Xian turned his head and asked in surprise, "What is the Prince of Wu laughing at?"

Ji Yaofan coughed lightly and said with a straight face, "Let it be known to you, there are ten National Masters in the Imperial Capital of Qijing: one Saint, one King, one Consort, one Noble Lady, and six hermits!

The 'one Consort' is my aunt, the Princess of Qin, and the 'one Noble Lady' is my mother. You have just agreed to play against two National Masters!

I fear the Master of Poetry will be crying soon!"

"Pfft—" Ji Yaoyue finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, then added, "If you don't want to play, just refuse. It's not a big deal!"

"What are you saying?" The Princess of Qin feigned complaint, "It's the New Year, just two games of hand talk. It was hard enough for your aunt to enter the palace; I have to leave before noon!"

"Sister is right!" Consort De's eyes were full of smiles.

It was unclear what necessary connection there was between hand talk and leaving the palace.

Heng Xian finally understood: these two just wanted to see the "Master of Poetry" make a fool of himself. He coughed lightly, "It is no shame to lose to two elders. Come on!"

"Come!" The Princess of Qin reached out, "You are the junior, I will let you take the first black stone!"

Heng Xian didn't stand on ceremony and picked up a black stone to move first.

The Princess of Qin took the white stone and moved second.

Don't underestimate her; the Princess of Qin's chess skills were indeed ruthless—surrounding, capturing, intercepting, and cutting, all while not forgetting to lay out her own strategy. She was truly remarkable.

Heng Xian was in a precarious position, walking on thin ice, and was very passive...

"Haha..." Ji Yaofan laughed non-stop.

Consort De and several female officials also wore smiles they couldn't suppress.

Only Ji Yaoyue stood by Heng Xian's side with a depressed look, her right hand gripping the corner of her clothes tightly.

"Nephew-in-law, be careful!" The Princess of Qin smiled faintly. She didn't call him "Master of Poetry" anymore. Although calling him "nephew-in-law" was an acknowledgment of his relationship with Ji Yaoyue, it carried a hint of contempt.

"Thank you for the reminder, Princess of Qin!"

Heng Xian chuckled, still placing his stones at a leisurely pace.

The Princess of Qin continued to surround and kill.

However, as they played, the Princess of Qin suddenly let out an "Eh."

The smiles on the faces of Consort De and the female officials gradually disappeared.

Because... they were already approaching the mid-game, and Heng Xian, who had seemed precarious, showed no signs of being surrounded and killed. This was incredible.

As a National Master playing against an ordinary person, a "mid-game victory" was standard procedure; falling into a bitter struggle after the mid-game was not a good choice.

Could this rookie Heng Xian actually hold on until now?

The look of triumph on the Princess of Qin's face vanished; her brows furrowed slightly, and she began to play steadily.

After another dozen stones, Heng Xian was basically surrounded!

The Princess of Qin's face lit up with a smile again, but she only laughed halfway before discovering in horror that the two players' stones were evenly matched; the previous cuts were all fake, and she couldn't surround Heng Xian at all.

And after Heng Xian placed a finishing touch of a stone, the entire board instantly came alive. Everything was possible; a counter-surround and counter-kill were about to begin.

This was simply incredible and inexplicable!

"Uh..." The Princess of Qin held a stone in mid-air, unable to place it down for a long time.

Consort De and the female officials examined the board with serious expressions, only to find that there seemed to be fake cuts, delays, and traps everywhere.

How could they continue playing?

Ji Yaofan's mouth was already wide open.

Ji Yaoyue let go of her hand, an unconcealable smile on her face.

Heng Xian didn't look up, maintaining an appearance of deep thought, while secretly opening the Profound Yellow Heavenly Hexagram: "Is this being too much of a bully?"

The hexagram showed: 【Yes】.

Heng Xian: "It's exhilarating!"

The hexagram showed: 【...】

"I lost!" The Princess of Qin put down her stone in defeat, then stared fixedly at Heng Xian: "How did you do that?"

Consort De and the others also looked over.

Heng Xian looked "blank": "I don't know, I just played randomly."

"This..." The Princess of Qin's face was ugly; she glanced at Consort De.

Could it be that this Heng Xian just blundered his way to a win? It wasn't impossible, after all, there were too many variations on a board with over four hundred intersections.

Consort De nodded slightly.

The Princess of Qin gritted her teeth: "Again! I will take the black stones!"

"Please, Princess!" Heng Xian waved his hand.

The new game began.

This time, the Princess of Qin was not as swift, but steady, calm, and ruthless.

Heng Xian remained "trembling with fear," looking as if he were about to lose.

However, by the mid-game, the Princess of Qin's excellent position suddenly vanished, and Heng Xian's entire board was alive.

Consort De, the Princess of Qin, and the others had never seen such a hellish situation.

The Princess of Qin's stone was raised in mid-air again for a full third of an incense stick's time before she threw it down in defeat: "I lost again!"

Consort De and her group stared fixedly at "Heng Xian."

(End of chapter)