A game of chess to send affectionate
Qi Yan turned her head and saw the chess box on the shelf, and said with a smile, "It's been a long time since I played against Your Highness. I wonder if Your Highness would be interested in having a game with your ministers?"
Nangong Jingnv readily agreed, the two did not call anyone in to serve, Nangong Jingnv took the chessboard, and Qi Yan got up and took down the chess box on the shelf.
When the box was opened, Qi Yan naturally picked up a sunspot and placed it on the star position, but her hand stopped in mid-air.
In the past, she and Nangong Jingnv played handicap chess, Qi Yan let two to four sons, and then played with white first.
Seeing Qi Yan's embarrassed expression, Nangong Jingnu said lightly, "Let's guess first."
"Okay." Qi Yan threw Heizi back into the box and pushed Bai Zi in front of Nangong Jingnv. Nangong Jingnv grabbed the odd number, Qi Yan grabbed the even number, and according to the rules, Nangong Jingnv held Bai first.
Nangong Jingnv: "I've asked for advice." After speaking, she pressed a white stone on the star position in the upper left corner of the chessboard...
On the other side, the Chaotang has a different appearance. It is rare that "Nangong Rang" did not come, and the supervising prince Nangong Da and the third prince Nangong Wang will debate the candidate of the chief examiner again.
The general examination is to screen talents for the final palace examination. It can be said that the chief examiner of the general examination is the nominal "mentor" of all the candidates this year. Whichever faction masters this is equivalent to monopolizing the talent pool in the court for the next three years.
The fifth prince, Nangongda, nominated Gongyanghuai, Minister of Rites, as the chief examiner for this year. The Ministry of Rites has always been in charge of the imperial examinations in the Wei Kingdom. Gongyanghuai, who comes from an aristocratic family, has been appointed as the second-ranking examiner, both in terms of qualifications and identity. They all meet the requirements of a chief examiner, and the most important thing is that today's Gongyanghuai has taken refuge in Nangongda's camp...
Even Qi Yan once wrote to him and told him: My only mission is to be loyal to the king. The implication is to warn Gongyanghuai not to stand in line easily, the position of the crown prince has not yet been determined, and the battle for the throne is changing, and no one will know the answer until the last moment. There are many lessons learned in history. Every new emperor’s ascension to the throne is accompanied by the exchange of a large number of officials. If you want to stand on the court to the end, the best way is to remain neutral, and you can protect yourself if you have no merits and no faults...
However, Gongyanghuai did not represent him alone in the court, but the family interests of the entire Gongyang family. He is not an extremely high-ranking official like Xing Jingfu, the middle book, and neither side will easily offend each other.
Although the official rank of the Minister of Rites is not low, when the party struggle has reached such a stage, if he does not choose a side, he is afraid that he will not be able to keep his black gauze hat.
After deliberation and decision by the entire Gongyang clan, Nangongda, the prince of the supervisory kingdom, was chosen.
The third prince, Nangong Wang, nominated Lu Boyuan, the minister of personnel at the time, the eldest son of the Taiwei's mansion, and the former champion.
Since the fall of Concubine Hui Gui's mother's family and the imprisonment of the second and fourth princes, Lu Boyuan and Nangong Wang gradually became confidants and friends. Of course, Qi Yan's credit was also involved.
She once gave Nangong a coup and asked him to find a way to get the support of the Taiwei Mansion.
Since Lu Quan claimed to be ill five years ago, he seldom went to court, and he has been huddled in Tangquan Mountain to recuperate. This matter can be deceived but others are deceived, but Qi Yan, she knew that Lu Quan wanted to drag the emperor to death in this way.
As long as Nangong Rang died, Lu Quan, as the founding father of the two dynasties, was also Nangong Rang's opposite-sex brother, the new emperor would never be able to do anything to the Taiwei Mansion again!
Lu Quan once instructed the eldest son not to stand in line, but unfortunately Lu Boyuan did not have the keen political sense of his father. He is a person with great ambitions, and he is not willing to live in his father's shadow all his life, so it is logical to hit it off with Nangong Wang.
In Lu Boyuan's view, although Nangongda is the prince of the supervising country, he seems to have more advantages than Nangongwang, but these are just appearances.
First of all, the mother concubine of the fifth prince is not honorable. She is also a concubine, but she is not as old as Nangong Wang. The most important thing is that he is disabled. Based on Lu Boyuan's understanding of the emperor: Nangong Rang will never let such a person be easily criticized. The prince succeeded to the throne.
…
Of course, there are different voices regarding the selection of the chief examiner.
Some old ministers of the neutral faction elected Xing Jingfu, the so-called "loyal king" force.
But no matter who of the three is the chief examiner, there is no real benefit to Nangong Jingnu. What she needs now is someone who can extradite talents to her own camp.
Inside the Weiming Palace, Nangong Shunv took Qi Yuxiao's hand and walked on the way to the main hall.
The little guy is in a good mood today, jumping up and down all the way.
Nangong Shunv, who always abides by the palace rules and etiquette, has never limited Xiao Yuxiao's nature. Today, she looks a little unwilling.
Suddenly, Nangong Shunv stopped, Qi Yuxiao raised her head curiously, and asked, "Second aunt, why didn't you leave?"
Nangong Shunv looked down at Qi Yuxiao, her gloomy eyes flashed with light. She squatted down, put her hands on Qi Yuxiao's tender shoulders, and asked, "Does Yuxiao know why your father couldn't go home for three years?"
Qi Yuxiao thought for a moment, then replied, "Didn't the second aunt say that my father is a local parental official and can't go back to Beijing easily?"
Nangong Shunv shook her head and said sternly: "You have grown up now, and the second aunt told you that it was actually your father and mother who quarreled. Your father went to Jinzhou for three years and did not come back."
Qi Yuxiao's watery eyes widened, and she asked in a milky voice, "Why did father and mother quarrel?!"
Nangong Shunv: "The reason for the quarrel is no longer important. Do you want them to be reconciled as before?"
Qi Yuxiao: "Think!"
Nangong Shunv looked at both sides and whispered, "Then let Xiancao and Lingzhi take you to the main hall to find your father during the day, find a way to meet your father and mother, and pester them all day long, okay? "
Qi Yuxiao was obviously hesitant: "But... my mother doesn't like Yuxiao pestering her."
Nangong Shunv said firmly: "As long as your father is there, your mother will never scold you."
Qi Yuxiao: "Okay!"
Nangong Shunv let out a shallow breath, feeling a lot of stagnation in her heart dissipated. Although doing this is a bit sorry for Qi Yuxiao, if this is the only way for Qi Yan to see Xiaodie, she can only do this.
Qi Yan is the prefect of a party, and will go back to Jinzhou in a few days, as long as these days are delayed.
…
Nangong Shunv quickly brought Qi Yuxiao outside the main hall of Weiming Palace. Seeing Qiu Ju guarding outside, she asked, "Jingnv is reading?"
Qiu Ju smiled and said, "The concubine came in the morning, but he never came out. Do you need a servant to go in and pass the message?"
Nangong Shunv was slightly surprised: "No need, the weather is good today, I will sit in the yard with the princess for a while."
Qiu Ju: "Yes."
In the dormitory, Hei Zi and Bai Zi almost covered the chessboard, and the two sons each took up half of the country and it was indistinguishable. Only the corner on Qi Yan's left hand side had about a dozen vacancies, which also became the key to who would win this game.
Nangong Jingnu held a white child between her green and jade fingertips. She had been taking the exam for almost half an hour, but she had yet to settle.
Qi Yan looked away from the opponent's face and cast it on the chessboard.
Nangong Jingnv's chess skills are reasonable, but better than Qi Yan imagined.
Although black has the upper hand on the chessboard at the moment, the remaining numbers in the corner are enough for Nangong Jingnv to turn the situation around. Qi Yan did her best in this game.
With a "snap", Nangong Jingnv settled down, and Baizi was inserted into the last open space on Qi Yan's left hand like a nail.
Qi Yan hooked the corner of her mouth and put her fingers into the chess box. With a "crashing" sound, she picked up a black stone and placed it on the left eyebrow peak.
Qi Yan: "Your Highness."
Nangong Jingnu raised her eyebrows and cast her eyes on Qi Yan's face. This was the first sentence the other party said after playing chess.
Nangong Jingnu: "What's the matter?"
Qi Yan: "Your Highness thinks... Who will win this game of chess?"
Nangong Jingnu frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"
Qi Yan smiled and said, "It's nothing, just asking."
Nangong Jingnu looked at the chessboard and said cautiously, "Although Heizi has won the five eyes now, the empty eyes are not enough, and it is not a foregone conclusion."
Qi Yan: "Since that's the case, can Your Highness raise some bets?"
Nangong Jingnu's eyes glowed: "Oh?"
Qi Yan lowered her eyes, cast her gaze back on the chessboard, and said softly, "If the minister is lucky enough to win a son and a half son, can His Highness promise the minister one thing?"
Hearing this, Nangong Jingnu's heart flashed a hint of anger: Once upon a time, she felt that Qi Yan's winning and indifferent appearance was indescribably dazzling, but now, there is only indignation and anger left.
She hated Qi Yan's appearance as if he was in control of everything. Back then, he betrayed him earlier and relied on his understanding of himself to save the mother and daughter of the concubine. Although three years later, the wound has been aching.
In the three years that Qi Yan left, only she knew how much effort Nangong Jingnu had put in. She vowed to surpass this unscrupulous person in all directions, and during the holidays, let the other party taste the taste of being toyed with!
Nangong Jingnv laughed in anger: "The concubine is still so confident, have you never thought about losing?"
Qi Yan suddenly raised her head, looked directly into Nangong Jingnu's eyes, and said in a low voice, "If the minister loses, let His Highness handle it."
Nangong Jingnu opened her mouth, and a sour feeling spread in her chest.
In fact, she couldn't tell why she was obsessed with it, she just wanted to completely win over Qi Yan, and she had to win everything Qi Yan had confidence in!
But…
and then? After winning
Nangong Jingnu never thought about...
Is it an illusion? Nangong Jingnu actually read deep sadness from those amber eyes.
Whatever you do, what can you do with Qi Yan
In the end, Nangong Jingnv couldn't understand the meaning of these four characters, just like the many profound words Qi Yan said at the beginning.
A pair of show fists clenched and tightened, Nangong Jingnv looked directly into Qi Yan's eyes, and her red lips parted lightly: "Okay, this palace promises you."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Qi Yan smiled, but the sadness in his eyes was a little richer.
Nangong Jingnu: "Tell me, what do you want this palace to promise you?"
Qi Yan: "My mind. If the minister wins, I would like to ask Your Highness to tell the minister what is in your heart." Qi Yan's voice was very soft, with a firmness.
Nangong Jingnu's heartbeat slowed for half a beat, and her eyes were a little hot. It's been so long, no one has asked themselves if they have something on their minds...
The affairs of Chaotang are like a big stone pressing on Nangong Jingnu's heart, no matter how tired or painful, she can't share it with anyone.
Qi Yan did not stipulate what the "concern" was, for a moment, Nangong Jingnu really wanted to vomit!
Nangong Jingnv looked at the open space in the corner of the chessboard again, she didn't think she would lose.
However, if Qi Yan wins...
Nangong Jingnu: "Okay."
With a "pop", Qi Yan decisively fell.
Qi Yan: "That's it."