Chapter 431

Outside the West Palace gate square, tens of thousands of chess-watchers fell utterly silent.

Everyone was staring at the bare-bottomed, snot-nosed child.

Everyone had imagined countless possible endings—perhaps a reclusive elder would appear, or a stoic mysterious middle-aged stranger, or the Emperor and Empress's nearby experts would intervene, or the scholars of the State Academy and Imperial Academy would step in,

But no one imagined it would be such a little brat!

Not only the people of Qin, but even they themselves found it utterly absurd!

Especially after Master Huoye Ming spoke, many felt utterly embarrassed.

This is simply… humiliating!

"Whose child is this, with such audacity?"

"What's going on?"

Someone in the crowd shouted a rebuke.

Crown Prince Ji Gan also looked from afar: "Where did this child come from?"

"This… I don't know!" an official behind him blushed and waved his hand toward the distance.

A group of Wǔchéng Bīngmǎ Sī soldiers moved forward to disperse them.

The child's mother was terrified and quickly pulled the child behind her.

On the other hand, Mulan steeled herself to produce the "Black Cavalry Guard" token from the princess's mansion.

But the child tilted his head, thought for a moment, and loudly declared: "In the sea of chess, age doesn't matter—skill reveals the spring and autumn!"

These words were taught by Heng Xian!

The child's mother and Mulan froze in place.

The Wǔchéng Bīngmǎ Sī soldiers stared blankly for a moment.

The densely packed spectators all around were also stunned!

Such words clearly couldn't come from a child; to speak like that… seemed… not right!

"What does this mean?"

Ying Zhuhou folded his fan, his face full of surprise.

Crown Prince Ji Gan glanced at the child, slightly furrowing his brow.

……

Imperial Palace, Fengtian Pavilion.

Prince Qin looked toward the West Palace gate, involuntarily rose, and said: "Has Heng Xian made a move? The restrictions of Qijing are too strong—below the mid Nascent Soul stage, one's spiritual sense cannot extend ten zhang. Your Majesty, should we consider loosening them another day?"

Chang Gongzhu and the others also gazed into the distance.

His Majesty the Emperor paid no heed to Prince Qin, instead looking toward the pavilion's outer door.

Soon, Jia Gonggong came running up, sweating profusely: "Your Majesty, Heng Xian has made a move, but…"

"But what? Stop beating around the bush!" Prince Qin snapped first.

Jia Gonggong carefully observed the expressions of His Majesty the Emperor and the various nobles, then replied: "Heng Xian didn't act himself; he sent a child instead!"

"Uh…" the Emperor and others' expressions froze slightly.

"He doesn't go himself but sends a child? What… what kind of trick is this?"

His Majesty the Emperor curiously asked: "How old is the child?"

Jia Gonggong's face showed a strange expression: "Maybe seven, or perhaps eight or nine!"

"Swish—"

The Chancellor rose, his face a mix of shock and doubt: "Even the Chess King and Chess Saint have lost to Qin's chess players, yet Your Majesty granted Heng Xian the title of marquess; he doesn't nervously act himself but sends a nursing infant—does he harbor a grudge, deliberately humiliating our Great Zhou?"

Seeing this, Consort De, though inwardly puzzled as well, calmly said: "Chancellor, why get angry? Let's hear Heng Xian's reasoning—there must be a cause; perhaps he's finding another shortcut, seeking a way out."

The Chancellor, His Majesty the Emperor, and several others looked toward Jia Gonggong.

Jia Gonggong wanted to cry but had no tears: "No! It's said… Heng Xian thinks the Qin chess players' skill is too poor, not worth his personal effort!"

Inside the pavilion, the silence was frightening.

……

Outside the West Palace gate square.

At this moment, too, it grew quiet because of the child's remark.

Just then, a group of eunuchs from the Princess Tai Ping's mansion delivering orders finally caught up, shouting loudly: "This child has come to play chess!"

"This…"

The crowd instantly erupted in an uproar.

"Pfft—"

In the corner, Ying Zhique, who was sipping Great Zhou's specialty bamboo-tube tea while watching the spectacle, sprayed his mouthful of tea all out.

"Are they palace eunuchs ordered to play chess? Truly unimaginable!" Han Fuyao chuckled lightly.

The Princess of Wei also laughed: "It's laugh-out-loud funny!"

Not far away on the high platform, Ying Zhuhou, beneath the ceremonial guard, vigorously slapped his fan: "Is Zhou just throwing in the towel? Using a child to insult me?"

Huoye Ming's face also darkened like still water.

Crown Prince Ji Gan and the others were somewhat confused, not knowing how to respond.

Just then, the bare-bottomed child wrenched free from his mother's hand and ran off, shouting: "One hundred drumsticks—I'm going to win!"

The crowd spontaneously made way.

The bare-bottomed child, unimpeded, made his way to the side of the high platform and, under everyone's gaze, laboriously climbed the steps.

The sight was too beautiful!

Crown Prince Ji Gan couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

The onlookers all around couldn't bear to watch.

Huoyeming was also watching the child; just then he suddenly calmed down, threw his head back and gave his trademark big laugh: "If the Great Zhou lets the child come up, I have no objection, but this Jiangshan Sheji game requires eight moves each time, each move consumes a huge amount of vital energy, and it's basic common sense that the Qi Sea must not touch the Jiangshan Sheji pieces—how could this child possibly play?"

Terms: Huoyeming (a name), Great Zhou (a dynasty/state), Jiangshan Sheji Chess (a game/board), Qi Sea. Also "child" generic.

The bare-bottomed child timidly glanced around, "whoosh" wiped a smear of snot on his gray, loose sleeve: "I'll walk, others will make a move!"

"Eh!" Hu Ye Ming stared.

Not far away, Prince Ji Qian wore a doubtful expression, looking toward the distant emissary Tàijiān, then glancing toward the imperial city, he gave a subtle look to the expert behind him.

That expert stepped forward, walked to the child's side: "I'll make the move for you!"

Hu Ye Ming smiled narrowly: "Little friend, do you really want to play chess with this old man? If you lose, you're not allowed to cry!"

The bare-bottomed child blinked: "I'm afraid you'll cry!"

Hu Ye Ming was momentarily choked, but not annoyed, he looked at the spectators around, clasped his fists in salute: "I, Hu Ye Ming, have played chess for over a hundred years; I have always accepted any challenger. Now that this child represents the Great Zhou, I cannot treat him as a child, so it's not bullying the young with age!"

I hope that after this game, the Great Zhou chess world will automatically admit defeat, and stop doing things that invite ridicule!

These words are infuriating!

The hundred-thousand-strong crowd of chess spectators were all filled with righteous indignation, yet there was truly nothing they could do.

Hu Ye Ming again looked at the bare-bottomed child: "Little friend, I'll let you choose first!"

Good!

The bare-bottomed child waved the "little chicken", tilted his head, wandering among the light dots representing the thirty-six states, finally pointing to one called "White Beard Kingdom".

Ah!

Below the stage, a chorus of sighs.

Even the inexplicable hope that had arisen in Prince Ji Qian's heart vanished.

Even those who don't know how to play understand that among the thirty-six state pieces, the weakest is the "White Beard Kingdom".

The weakest child chooses the weakest "White Beard Kingdom"—what's the trouble?

Could it be that the palace is really preparing to throw caution to the wind, just doing whatever???

Hu Ye Ming again laughed up to the sky, casually picked a state, waved his hand indicating: "Little friend, you make the first eight moves!"

The bare-bottomed child again tilted his head, pointing at the "State and Altar Chess" board: "Here, here, and here!"

The expert beside immediately obeyed and made a move.

Whoa!

Nonsense!

This… is simply too outrageous!

Below the stage again rose a chorus of impatient rebukes.

The "State and Altar Chess" is divided into internal affairs, military, agriculture, industry, and commerce; the opening basically is to first seize territory militarily, then develop agriculture, then handle internal affairs, and finally consider other matters!

This child went straight to commerce, then labor, then internal affairs, with no military or agriculture at all—this basically amounts to a chaotic rhythm!

Hu Ye Ming slightly shook his head, proceeded step by step, operating casually.

Next, the bare-bottomed child placed another eight pieces!

Hu Ye Ming gave a light smile, also placed eight pieces—the first six for development, the last two for attack—directly destroying half of the bare-bottomed child's foundation!

"Ah!" many in the audience turned away, unable to bear watching any longer.

The bare-bottomed child, however, paid no heed, placed another eight pieces, and actually managed to gather his shattered foundation together.

Hu Ye Ming placed eight pieces, and again destroyed half of the bare-bottomed child's foundation.

In this way, the bare-bottomed child and Hu Ye Ming each placed thirty-two pieces.

The next eight moves were up to the bare-bottomed child, yet looking at the board, his "State" teetered on the brink of collapse, while Hu Ye Ming's "State" was strong and vigorous.

Hu Ye Ming smiled narrowly: "Little friend, no need to continue—you've already lost!"

The bare-bottomed child scratched his head: "There are still the last eight moves; wait till I finish them!"

Hu Ye Ming straightened his back: "Good! This old man will wait till you finish!"

The bare-bottomed child looked at the board, gathered his strength: "My hundred chicken legs! Move one, eliminate all traitors! Move two, impose fivefold taxes! Move three, all citizens become soldiers! Move four, repair the narrow road openly, secretly pass through Chen Cang!"

Move five, beauty trap! Move six, spread rumors! Move seven, strike at the heart of the enemy! Move eight, battle with backs to the water—kill!

After the eight moves were made, the "State" suddenly transformed, baring fangs and brandishing claws, fierce and brutal, with myriad schemes.

"Boom—"

Hu Ye Ming's strong and vigorous "State" instantly collapsed into a pallid gloom.

Even more disastrous than the previous defeat of the "Chess Sage"!

(End of chapter)