bayedsolid Chapter 402 Playing Chess with the Emperor
Chapter 402 Playing Chess with the Emperor
"Your Majesty, let me play chess with you."
I heard that the old emperor was a master chess player, and he loved to play chess with his concubines whenever he had free time. Few of them could beat him.
Do not know is not true.
Or was it to deliberately let the emperor off the hook in order to please him?
Father said that the Emperor always lost to him when playing chess, and seeing the Emperor's dark face, he had no choice but to let him win.
Miaomiao stared at the chessboard on the table, wanting to give it a try too.
The emperor looked on with suspicion, "You know how to play chess?"
"Go...I don't know how."
Backgammon?
"No."
"Tanko?"
"No, I won't..." Miao Miao grinned and chuckled.
The emperor was getting impatient. "Then what can you do?"
Although he quite liked this girl who looked like a daughter, she was cute and innocent, but actually quite clever.
But he wasn't just an ordinary old man playing with his children.
He is the emperor.
In this world, only others are there to keep him company.
The little guy said he'd play chess with him, but nobody knows who's actually playing with whom.
“Your Majesty, I know how to play Gomoku,” Miao Miao said without hesitation, quickly gathering the pieces on the board.
I dragged the princess into a game to demonstrate.
In less than fifteen minutes, Miaomiao won the game.
He even explained the rules to the emperor several times.
"It's very simple and easy to learn. Does Your Majesty want to learn?"
emperor:……
So simple, it really is a game of strategy for kids.
If I play with her, do I have to let her win?
Even as a child, Yuqing needed someone to coax her into playing chess.
One child is enough to appease. At this age, having to take care of a child is just asking for trouble.
Loss of status.
He turned to look at Zhen Meiren, "Why don't you play a game with the child?"
Reluctantly, Zhen Meiren replied, "...Yes."
She's someone who plays chess with the Emperor, yet they're making her play with a child.
Even if you win, it's an unfair victory.
But since the emperor had spoken, she had no reason not to comply.
I'll make that brat cry and beg for his mother.
Miaomiao didn't care; it didn't matter who she played with. She had specifically memorized the Gomoku (Five in a Row) formation.
Gomoku is said to have appeared before Yao invented Go, but Go has been more popular since then, and the two games have different ways of playing.
Gomoku (Five in a Row) is all about speed and tests your intuition and reaction time.
Go is about capturing stones and controlling territory; it tests patience and tactics, and is a true game of strategy between people.
She has a high chance of winning at Gomoku.
While seemingly simple and easy to understand, Black must still follow the forbidden moves rule and cannot place stones at will.
But there are still various formations, probably more than a dozen.
They are all the crystallization of the wisdom of later generations.
Of course, she wouldn't tell anyone her winning strategy.
Playing against someone as gifted as her father, she could even beat him several times over, and it was definitely not a case of her holding back.
In Go, anyone in this era could easily crush her.
People should have self-awareness.
You must learn to play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses.
If it's a game of strategy, she would absolutely never touch Go.
Miao Miao was already in position. Looking at the composed old emperor beside her, she asked, "Your Majesty, is there a gift for winning?"
"Naturally there is."
"Your Majesty, may I specify the gift?"
"What do you want?" The Emperor looked up at Miao Miao, originally intending to bestow something upon her.
Whether you win or not, you should be rewarded.
Winning would be even better, as it would be a legitimate victory.
Miao Miao glanced around the hall, her gaze falling on the cats, then looked at Consort Zhen. "I don't want gold, silver, or jade. I like kittens. Win a round and you can choose a cat. If you win, I'll give you a whole roasted lamb from Yipinju."
“No, a cat cannot be used as a bargaining chip.” Before the Emperor could speak, Consort Zhen jumped out.
Miao Miao raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying in a soft, sweet voice, "Is Lady Zhen afraid of losing to a child like me?"
Jane: ...
She was instantly provoked by the little brat's words, "Fine, I'll go ahead and go, how?"
That brat deserves a beating.
This game is so simple; if she can't even beat a child, how can she have the face to play chess with the emperor?
Alright, if I win, I'll get a whole roasted lamb from Yipinju Restaurant. The Emperor loves lamb the most.
It's still Yipinju.
Before she entered the palace, she dreamed of having a meal at Yipinju.
Now that he has risen above others and become a superior person, he has lost his freedom and can no longer go to Yipinju or eat a single meal there.
It turns out that being the emperor's favorite concubine doesn't guarantee everything.
It's somewhat of a pity.
Princess Yuqing remained silent, sitting on a grand chair and petting the cat.
Although she didn't like the cats' owner, she let it go for the sake of the cats' betrayal.
She suddenly took a liking to these cats.
It has to be said that these cats have excellent taste; they know how to abandon darkness for light.
She had a feeling that her daughter would definitely win a cat.
“Best of three, Lady Zhen can try three rounds first,” Miao Miao said innocently, resting her chin on her hands.
The emperor looked at the somewhat arrogant little fellow and couldn't help but smile.
Even the hardest-hearted person has a soft spot and simply can't resist a cute little cub acting cute and charming in front of them.
Besides, it's a cub that looks like a girl.
Even the emperor was somewhat dazed.
Jane started with great confidence and tried three rounds.
It happened so fast that she didn't even have time to react before the three rounds were over.
She won the best-of-three series.
It only took the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
She became even more confident.
He was somewhat pleased with himself, thinking that he would let the child have a turn later, otherwise the child's crying would disturb the emperor's peace.
Miaomiao looked at her with a smile, "Empress Zhen, are you ready? Let's begin."
Princess Yuqing patted her daughter's head, "Miaomiao, don't embarrass your mother, you will definitely win."
"Don't worry, Mother," Miao Miao assured, patting her chest.
Consort Zhen also looked at the Emperor expectantly.
"Those who win will be rewarded, and the reward will be generous." Xuan looked at the two with great interest.
"I'm going to start." Miao Miao, playing black, made the first move.
While playing chess, he urged his opponent, "Hurry up, you're so slow..."
"Quick, it's that simple."
This time, Zhen Meiren was given no chance to breathe; it was a best-of-three series.
Miao Miao won.
They slaughtered their opponents, leaving them utterly annihilated.
Pointing to the black and white cat on the ground, she said, "Empress Zhen, I want the one called Black Cloud Covering Snow."
The smile on Zhen Meiren's face had long since vanished; she thought to herself that the little brat must have gotten away with it by chance.
With difficulty, he managed to utter a single word, "Okay."
In the following rounds, Miaomiao changed her formations: the Diagonal Three Formation, the Plum Blossom Formation, the Sword Formation...
Zhen Meiren's forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and her thin lips were tightly pursed.
If she were stronger, she probably would have crushed the chess piece in her hand.
The palace maid quickly stepped forward to wipe her sweat.
The emperor was not in much interest at first, thinking it would end soon, and was wondering what gift to give to appease the little guy if he started crying.
However, unexpectedly...
His cat, his beloved pet.
In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they were won away one after another.
All I could hear was the little girl's soft, sweet cheers.
Somewhat jarring.
The emperor frowned, but he couldn't stop it, as that would make him seem petty.
Jiang Miaomiao: "Empress Zhen, I won. I want the Four Seasons Good."
"Come again..."
"Your Highness, I won again. I want that longevity charm."
"Your Highness, I want that one..."
"I want that one..."
"..."
"Come... again..."
Consort Zhen no longer cared how many cats she had lost, nor did she notice that only the lion cat in the Emperor's arms remained.
They didn't even notice that the emperor's face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
That's how gamblers are; when they're blinded by greed, they don't care about anything else and only think about winning back their losses.
It remains a best-of-three series.
Zhen Meiren was unwilling to give up, "Again..."
“Your Majesty, you have run out of bargaining chips.” Miao Miao looked at Ruixue in the Emperor’s arms. “Your Majesty, a king’s word is law! That Ruixue in your arms is mine now.”
Emperor Xuan: ...tightly hugged the lion cat in his arms.
I have this urge to kill Zhen Meiren.
You idiot, you're so stupid!
What's the use of looking alike? You can't even compare to Zhen'er's finger.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. I didn't mean it. I..." Consort Zhen hurriedly ran over and knelt down in front of the Emperor.
She cried her heart out.
She wanted to say that she had been tricked by this little brat.
This girl is playing dumb to fool others.
There's something wrong with this move.
But she couldn't bring herself to say it; she had lost to a child time and time again.
Ashamed.
The key point is that she lost the Emperor's auspicious snow.
When Consort Zhen was alive, she also kept a lion cat, which I heard looked very similar to this one, and was also named Ruixue.
She knew perfectly well that she was just a substitute, but if she couldn't even compare to a cat...
It was quite disheartening.
The Emperor looked at her coldly: "Go back and practice your chess skills. Don't come to see me if you don't improve."
Princess Yuqing initially wanted to laugh.
Even the title of "most favored concubine" is nothing more than this.
Then I saw that my father's face was not good; he was in deep trouble.
My daughter has already played with it!
She quickly stepped forward to mediate: "Father, victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. Miao Miao has won against Mao'er, so you can win it back from her."
The emperor thought about it and agreed.
His expression softened slightly, and he sat cross-legged opposite Miaomiao, glaring at her.
It's such a simple matter, why do you have to ask him to do it?
waste!
"Girl, are you ready?"
"Alright." Miao Miao nodded and said very seriously, "Your Majesty, please go first."
Then she looked at her mother, the princess, who was giving her meaningful glances.
Miao Miao understands without her mother even giving her a meaningful look.
Playing chess with the Emperor is nothing like dealing with those annoying concubines; she still wants her head.
So, you still have to release water when necessary, and release more water, but you can't let anyone notice.
So that's the ending.
The Emperor easily won back his beloved pet, Ruixue.
However, winning all the cats is not easy.
Oh well, I'll just consider it a gift for the little guy.
"I'm tired. You can take those cats with you. They've served me well in playing chess. I'll also bestow some jewelry and jade upon them. Let Yuqing take you to choose some." The emperor couldn't help but pinch Miaomiao's chubby little face.
They've all turned red from being squeezed.
Princess Yuqing then tried to wink at her daughter.
She leaned close to her daughter's ear and whispered, "Those cats are Father's favorites. What do you want to do back there? If you like them, Mother will buy you ten or eight. I want a house... a house..."
The emperor slowed his pace as he heard his daughter and maidservant chirping behind him.
Sure enough, the little guy called out to him, "Your Majesty, wait."
"What's the matter?"
Miao Miao ran up to him and said, "Your Majesty, my mother taught me that a gentleman should help others achieve their goals and not take away what others like. Can I exchange the cat for another gift?"
"Oh! What do you want to change to?" The emperor looked at her with great interest.
The little girl is quite sensible.
“I visited Prince Chen’s villa a few days ago and thought it was a nice house. My elder brother and Princess Rong’an are engaged and will get married next spring. I’d like to add some betrothal gifts for my brother. Could Your Majesty exchange all the rewards for that house?”
The Emperor thought for a moment and then granted his request.
I played to my heart's content today; such a simple game of strategy is surprisingly profound.
evening.
Princess Yuqing led Miaomiao out of the palace.
I came by horse-drawn carriage.
On their return journey, however, two more carriages arrived, laden with goods.
At the entrance of Lu Garden.
Lu Qingyao was extremely worried and paced back and forth at the door.
He frowned as he saw what his daughter had brought back.
She didn't just raise a daughter, she practically raised a god of wealth.
"Mother, I asked the Emperor for a house. I suspect Jiang Zijin is hiding in that house. Quickly send someone to check it out." Miaomiao handed the house deed to her mother.
Lu Qingyao didn't care about house deeds or land deeds; she checked her daughter's entire body from head to toe.
I felt relieved when I found that not a single hair on my head was missing.
"You can't ask the Emperor for anything from now on, understand?"
Royal families are not like ordinary people's families; they don't value family ties as much, especially the emperor.
They have so many children that they can't even count them all on their fingers, and they can't even take care of their own.
Why would they care about their grandchildren?
After saying that, he took his daughter and went into the mansion.
After the mother and daughter finished hugging and cuddling, Princess Yuqing followed them and said, "Third Sister, you must be careful these next few days. Be careful that Jiang Yunze doesn't come looking for trouble."
Lu Qingyao looked surprised: "Why?"
Princess Yuqing smiled faintly, "Our daughter stood up for you and the two boys in front of my father, and he gave you three years' worth of Jiang Yunze's salary. Do you think Jiang Yunze would come looking for you if he knew?"
Lu Qingyao: ...
Looking at her daughter with a stern face, she said, "Jiang Miaomiao, you're getting bolder and bolder. Why are you saying those things to the Emperor? What if you anger him..."
My head needs to be moved.
Compared to Jiang Yunze's meager salary, his daughter's safety was the most important thing.
After saying that, he looked at Princess Yuqing very seriously: "Princess, you are a mother now. Your child is so audacious and reckless. Don't you restrain her? Look at her, she even dares to ask the Emperor for this and that. What if she angers the Emperor..."
No wonder my daughter has been so bold and reckless since she was little.
She's just like Princess Yuqing.
Everyone else was getting anxious, but the mother and daughter remained completely calm.
Princess Yuqing opened her mouth.
"And... I didn't offend the Emperor. Father Emperor likes Miaomiao quite a bit and has no suspicions."
Lu Qingyao's reputation as a tigress was not unfounded.
How dare he yell at her?
In her entire life, apart from her father, mother, and Cui Yan, no one had ever dared to be fierce to her.
The princess looked unwell.
“Princess, the fact that you brought Miaomiao into the palace can’t be kept secret forever. Prime Minister Cui has found out and is currently in your residence, looking very unhappy. You… why don’t you think about how to explain it to him?” Lu Qingyao glanced at the princess’s residence next door.
Princess Yuqing withdrew the foot she had just stepped out.
"I will not go back first. I have important matters to discuss with Prince Jing. I will take my leave now. Just say... just say you have never seen me before."
After the princess finished speaking, she got into the carriage without looking back.
Lu Qingyao: ...
……