The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 517 - 395, Your Majesty, a great victory at Yellow Court Alley!_2

"This Mr. Lin, he really defeated Dan Che? No... aren't you visiting for the first time? Why... Hidden within the Capital there is such a formidable chess player?"

"Stronger than the Grandmaster chess players in court? Why is he unknown and obscure? Just happened to meet him myself?"

At this moment, she even doubted this was no coincidence, but coming to witness this scene had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, one she hadn't mentioned to those around her before this...

"Mr. Lin..." Hou Renmeng, Shen Juan, and others also couldn't hide their shock, wondering could their lord's chess prowess be so terrifying?

Dan Che, the little monk, sat motionless in his place. He lifted his head, his face no longer proud, staring blankly at Zhao Douan, his voice hoarsely saying,

"I've never heard of a chess player like you in the Capital."

Zhao Douan stood up, smiled, and offered no further explanation,

"The Capital is not as simple as you Western Regions people think."

Having dropped this remark, he felt the mood around him, knowing he couldn't stay longer; otherwise, once the news spread, he would no longer be able to get away.

He glanced apologetically at Princess Wen Zhu, leaned in, and whispered,

"It's getting late, I have some matters to attend to, so I must take my leave." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Princess Wen Zhu snapped back to reality, pursed her lips, and although she wanted to take this man for a thorough questioning, she still nodded, "As you wish, Mr. Lin."

Zhao Douan gave a meaningful look to Qian Kerou and others, preparing to leave.

"Wait a moment!"

Suddenly, Chen Jiuyan, whose forehead was graced with a wisp of white hair, spoke out excitedly,

"May I ask where Mr. Lin's residence is, I wish to visit..."

Zhao Douan paused in his steps, glanced at him, and said with profound meaning,

"I have a word of advice for Chen."

Chen Jiuyan was startled, bowed respectfully, "Please speak, Mr. Lin."

Zhao Douan only said lightly, leaving behind a phrase, "To wear the black gauze cap, one must bear its weight. To be an official, one must first learn to bend."

Chen Jiuyan was stunned, chewed on these words carefully, and instantly flushed with embarrassment.

Realizing that this mysterious gentleman had seen through his intentions at a glance.

Over the past year, the Empress had promoted numerous young officials, with many like Han Congee, Feng Ju ascending rapidly.

As a chess official, Chen Jiuyan was restless, knowingly came to this challenge accepting the risks without consulting his superiors.

His aim was merely "to show himself," curry favor and ask for recognition, but he forgot, not everyone is qualified for a swift rise to the top.

The crowd parted subconsciously, creating a corridor for three Lihua Hall Jin Yi to lead the way, as Zhao Douan walked out of Yellow Court Alley.

Chen Jiuyan raised his hands high, deeply bowing toward his departing figure.

The crowd dispersed with a roar, spreading the word of this impromptu game on a winter alley's chessboard, enough to be recorded in history.

...

"The Yellow Court Alley is just ahead; my disciple Dan Che is over there," said the Red Sect Master, an old monkey, sharing a ride with Master Bian Ji, pointing towards the chess institute's building in the distance.

Dressed in white, Bian Ji forced a smile. Although Yu Country's loss in chess was not a big concern to the Divine Dragon Temple, with the Debating Scripture event approaching, this giving such prominence to the opponent was not good news.

"Let's walk there," suggested the Red Sect Master, dismounting the carriage, flanked by several Western Regions monks, smiling as he stepped onto the thin layer of snow on the street.

However, as he turned the street corner, he saw a large crowd coming from the distance, all with excited expressions, seemingly eager to spread the news to their friends.

"It seems something has changed," Mage Bian Ji remarked, sensing that something was amiss.

The Red Sect Master frowned slightly, only to see a Western Regions monk who had been watching here, also rush over with the crowd, hastening to approach.

"Is Dan Che still playing? Is the game over?" asked the Red Sect Master.

The surely low-EQ monk shook his head, paying no mind to Mage Bian Ji's presence, and said breathlessly,

"Dan Che won against Yu Country's national chess master, but was defeated by a nameless person."

He paused, then added, "Defeated miserably."

The smile faded slowly from the Red Sect Master's face, like a clump of ice and snow in the corner of a wall.

...

Imperial Palace.

When Grandmaster Chen Jiuyan went to play his game without permission, the news had already reached the White Horse Hall, and messengers had entered the palace, delivering the news straight to the Empress' desk, who had just returned from the Xiuwen Pavilion.

"What? A Western Regions monk swept through Yellow Court Alley, and Grandmaster Chen Jiuyan went to challenge him?"

In the imperial study, Xu Zhenguan's expression changed upon hearing this, and soon anger surged in his brows,

"Who allowed him to go? Send for him to return... No, it's probably too late. Find out the outcome of the game and report back immediately."

After sending someone to investigate, the Empress paced the room, her mind unsettled.

The lady-in-waiting Mo Chou spoke softly from one side of the room,

"Your Majesty, it's just a game of chess, after all, its impact is ultimately limited, especially when Grandmaster Chen's strength is clear to all on the chess circuit today."

However, Xu Zhenguan was not comforted and shook her head with a sigh,

"What concerns me is not merely a single game of chess."

Her radiant face gazed out of the imperial study toward the snow-clad Imperial Palace,

"What concerns me is the Buddhist Zu Ting."

Mo Chou fell silent for a moment.

The Debating Scripture of Buddhism seemed like a mere struggle between two forces, but how could it not have any impact on the court's grounds?

Not to mention the issue of the Da Jing Master fleeing, the Buddhist Zu Ting from the Western Regions were already looking to expand their influence just as the court was cracking down on Buddhism and suppressing the Divine Dragon Temple.

Standing in Xu Zhenguan's shoes, she was naturally not pleased with the Divine Dragon Temple growing too powerful, nor was she content to see the Buddhist Zu Ting gaining fame by stepping on the Capital's chess scene.

What was at stake was not just a matter of pride, but also how the people viewed the new court under the Empress's rule.

"I can almost imagine how those scholars in the south, who are not fond of me, will slander and hype this up if Chen loses, using it to write articles to argue that my court has disgraced Yu Country."

Xu Zhenguan said expressionlessly,

"Moreover, if that monk from the Western Regions caught everyone by surprise, how could he lack confidence?"

Mo Chou was also gritting her teeth with indignation,

"That Chen is detestable; does he not know he represents the court? At this critical juncture, every move involving the Western Regions will be scrutinized by the whole world?"

But no matter how resentful they were, it was ultimately too late. The news came too late, and even if the Empress had extraordinary cultivation, she couldn't personally storm over and drag Chen Jiuyan back from the chessboard.

In an atmosphere of tension and anxiety, the monarch and her subjects waited, finally receiving the report that Chen Jiuyan had been miserably defeated.

Inside the imperial study, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Even though they had braced themselves, the sense of sighing was inevitable on Xu Zhenguan's face when the outcome was confirmed.

"Your Majesty, I will immediately capture that Chen."

Mo Chou was unremitting in her anger, "Shall we call for other Grandmasters to challenge? Or... shall we try to cover up this matter as best as we can?"

At this point, Xu Zhenguan's anger subsided, and after a brief contemplation, she finally sighed and said,

"No hurry. Order the Imperial Court to minimize the impact of this matter. Let's not have the other Grandmasters take the field."

Losing once could be attributed to carelessness; to send other Grandmasters to retrieve the situation could backfire if they lost again, serving only to glorify the Western Regions.

"Yes." Mo Chou responded but did not immediately leave. Instead, she said,

"Your Majesty, another report has come in, saying that Princess Wen Zhu and her party have been spotted in Yellow Court Alley."

Aunt?

Xu Zhenguan was momentarily taken aback, then pondered with a furrowed brow,

"Understood. Is Princess Wen Zhu still over there?"

"They say that after Chen Jiuyan lost his game, Dan Che didn't leave and is still accepting challengers. Princess Wen Zhu is there too, and, uh, there seems to be several people of unknown identity around the Princess," reported Mo Chou.

Xu Zhenguan nodded and said,

"Send someone to keep watching, and report any movements, but don't follow Princess Wen Zhu too closely."

"Yes."

After the person left, the Empress stood alone at the entrance of the imperial study, gazing out at the vibrant sun and snow, lost in contemplation.

It was unclear how much time had passed before Mo Chou returned in a rush, her expression clearly agitated,

"Your Majesty, there has been a change at Yellow Court Alley!"

Xu Zhenguan snapped back to reality and cast an inquiring look at her trusted lady-in-waiting.

Mo Chou spoke with an unusual tone, "Someone has intervened and decisively defeated Dan Che, reversing the situation! The news is already spreading."

Xu Zhenguan was startled, exceedingly surprised, "Is the news confirmed?"

This result was far beyond her expectations.

Who could have turned the tide after Chen Jiuyan's loss?

The first thought was some other chess associate acting on his own, but that didn't seem right either.

Mo Chou excitedly nodded,

"The message came from Princess Wen Zhu; she is just outside your sleeping quarters, requesting an audience with you. That young man who defeated Dan Che is the one by Princess Wen Zhu's side."

...

I will correct any typos later.