Pingyang knew chess, but was not very proficient. He stood aside and watched for a while.
An old chessboard full of historical traces straddles the middle of the two of them, like an unbridgeable gap. The black and white chess pieces on the chessboard surround each other in an attempt to cut off the opponent's retreat.
Zhao Yue's chess skills were mastered by Chen Ping, and his playing style emphasizes tricky defense; Cui Wenxi's temperament is calm and steady, and he will plan his retreat almost every time he drops a chess piece.
At first, the speed of the two's moves was not too fast, but they were not too slow either.
As the number of black and white chess pieces on the chessboard increased, the speed of the two's moves gradually slowed down.
Pingyang on the side felt bored after watching for a while and went out on his own.
A little breeze penetrates into the house through the ice-cracked window lattice, carrying bits of sunlight onto the low couch. The interweaving of light and shadow outlines a quiet, harmonious and elegant scene.
The men and women playing chess on the low couch, one red and one white, sit in straight postures, all focusing on the small chessboard. From time to time, a faint fragrance came from the incense burner not far away. Fang Ling stood beside the incense burner, waiting for orders.
Cui Wenxi held the chess piece in his hand and seemed to be stumped. He didn't know where to place the piece.
Zhao Yue glanced at her and smiled.
The girl stared at the chessboard intently, with trouble written on her plump silver face.
The distance between the two parties was close, and he could clearly see her long, curly eyelashes, light lip lines, and the rather sexy mole on her earlobe.
Anyway, now that she was reluctant to make a move, he watched idly and restlessly. He simply supported himself on the short table with one hand and stared at her with his chin in one hand.
Cui Wenxi frowned and glanced at him, "What are you looking at?"
Zhao Yue didn't answer and immediately closed her eyes mischievously.
Cui Wenxi: "..."
The young and handsome boy, with red lips and white teeth, secretly opened one eye, and his playful movements made her laugh, and spat: "Erlang, don't think you can disturb me like this."
Having said that, he dropped his chess pieces and cut off his retreat.
Zhao Yue was surprised, staring at the large number of dead and injured Heizi, and said: "Is the Fourth Emperor Aunt confused?"
Cui Wenxi said calmly: "I will have no regrets."
Zhao Yue grinned. Is there any reason not to take the head that was delivered to his door
Luo Baizi immediately surrounded and massacred all the black ones, clearing out twelve of them at once.
After picking up twelve chess pieces, the battlefield suddenly became empty.
Cui Wenxi had already made plans in his mind, so he took his time and decided to play the game again.
Zhao Yue realized that she wanted to risk her life and survive, so she cautiously accepted the challenge.
The two fell into a tug of war again.
After a while, Pingyang came over to see what was going on. The two of them seemed to be in trance like an old monk, their minds focused on the chessboard. She was curious to see the living chess pieces on both sides, and Cui Wenxi was currently at a disadvantage.
Next she sat next to him and had tea time.
During this period, the two players didn't say a word, and they didn't even move much in their sitting positions. This shows that both sides are calm masters.
Pingyang couldn't sit still and quietly went out again.
Previously, Cui Wenxi took a self-destructive approach to carve out a way out and cleverly turned things around. Now it was Zhao Yue's turn to hesitate, staring at the chessboard for a long time unable to make a decision.
Cui Wenxi calmly picked up the slightly cold tea and showed a successful smile.
At first, she arrogantly thought that Zhao Yue's chess skills were not as good as hers, but now it seemed that she was careless. That boy was much more difficult to deal with than she had imagined, and his chess playing style was just as tricky as before on the court.
In the past, Pingyang said that he was in trouble, but today he had a glimpse of the light of day. He was indeed a bit weird.
Cui Wenxi slowly put down the tea bowl and smoothed his sleeves in a leisurely manner.
Zhao Yue on the opposite side dropped Bai Zi. She glanced at him and immediately made a decision to block his retreat.
Zhao Yue laughed out of anger and spat: "Tricky."
Cui Wenxi said shamelessly: "Being kind to your enemies is cruelty to yourself."
Zhao Yue glanced at her but didn't answer.
Things got tough on the chessboard and he started dilly-dallying.
But he was a bit clever after all. Even though Cui Wenxi set up a dragnet with desperate measures, he still broke through her defenses at extremely strange angles and gradually reversed the situation.
Cui Wenxi let out a "tsk" sound, picked up the sunspot between his two fingers and chased after him.
The chess game fell into a melee.
Seeing that it was almost noon, Pingyang came over to ask the two of them.
Unexpectedly, the two of them got into a fight and were not even interested in eating until the winner was determined.
She felt helpless and simply went to use it first.
Cui Wenxi had nothing to eat in the morning, and later she became hungry and began to growl.
Zhao Yue Zhizi on the opposite side hesitated and was surrounded again.
While he was thinking about how to break the situation, Cui Wenxi couldn't hold back her hunger and made a gesture to Fangling. Fangling smiled and passed the cakes to her stomach.
Later, the pastries were served, including soft and glutinous rice cakes, salty meat paste cakes, fried taro and Kui dumplings, and lukewarm white fungus soup.
Cui Wenxi left the couch and walked to the copper basin to clean her hands. After wiping away the water stains with a handkerchief, she saw that Zhao Yue was still concentrating on her thoughts and deliberately served a rich and fragrant meat pastry and shook it in front of him.
Zhao Yue was attracted by the fragrance and couldn't help but said: "Aunt Four Emperors, this is too much."
Cui Wenxi smiled and said: "If Erlang admits defeat, he won't be hungry now."
Zhao Yue snorted and ignored it.
Cui Wenxi: "I'll invite you first."
Zhao Yue focused on pondering the chess game and trying to find a breakthrough.
Cui Wenxi picked up the white fungus soup and took a small taste with a spoon. It was soft and sticky. With a little honey added, it was not too sweet and was pretty good.
The taro and Kui dumplings on the plate looked quite tempting, so she picked one up with her chopsticks and tasted it.
The taro kueh was wrapped in glutinous rice flour and eaten in her mouth. The skin was crispy and fragrant, and the inside was soft and glutinous. The aroma of taro kueh flowed between her teeth. She ate two of them at once.
Seeing her eating aside, Zhao Yue couldn't help but glance at her.
Fang Ling smiled and said, "Why don't Your Highness also use some to pad his belly?"
Zhao Yue endured it.
I will not be deceived until I break this game.
However, Cui Wenxi deliberately teased her and praised: "The taro and Kui dumplings are fried extremely well. The skin is crispy and crispy, and the inside is soft. The taro and Kui mud is just right sweet, and it tastes quite delicious."
Hearing this, Zhao Yue's Adam's apple rolled, and she couldn't help but swallow her saliva, half believing and half questioning: "Is it really so delicious?"
Cui Wenxi turned his head and looked at him, "Erlang can give it a try if he doesn't believe it."
Zhao Yue snorted proudly, "Don't mess with my mind."
Cui Wenxi laughed, he was really stubborn.
The guy really couldn't hold it back. His stomach was obviously growling, so he suppressed his hunger and put down Bai Zi before saying: "Aunt Four Emperors, it's your turn."
Cui Wenxi: "Have you thought it through?"
Zhao Yue: "No regrets if you make a move."
Cui Wenxi stood up and went to the short couch. He only glanced at the chess game and quickly dropped the black pieces.
Zhao Yue touched her chin and fell into deep thought.
Fang Ling was still waiting in the room, and Cui Wenxi asked her to go down for lunch first, as there was no need for anyone to wait here for the time being.
Bai Zi fell, and Zhao Yue once again used extremely tricky methods to break the trap set by Cui Wenxi.
She looked at the chess game and began to think seriously.
Zhao Yue could not sit still for a long time. While she was thinking, she got up and went to the copper basin to clean her hands and tasted the taro and Kui dumplings that she praised.
Don't tell me, it's really good.
After finishing the taro and Kui dumplings, I saw two bowls of white fungus soup on the table, which seemed untouched, so I casually picked up one bowl and used a little, then put it back in its original place.
At this time, Cui Wenxi said: "It's your turn, Erlang."
Zhao Yue stepped forward, saw the chess pieces on the chessboard, frowned and said: "The ghost of the Fourth Emperor is really lingering."
Cui Wenxi snorted coldly, "I asked you to admit defeat, but you refused to obey."
Zhao Yue insisted on fighting to the end.
After the two of them went back and forth and lost six pieces, he fell into trouble again.
Cui Wenxi stood up and went to use the white fungus soup. Seeing that the rice cake seemed good, he also used a piece.
After a while, Zhao Yue said: "It's your turn."
She was surprised that he moved so quickly, and she stepped forward to see what was going on.
The two of them dropped a few more chess pieces.
Zhao Yue's death struggle made Cui Wenxi quite difficult to cope with. She was afraid that she would lose the chain at the last moment, so she was very vigilant every step she took.
While she was thinking about how to close the net, Zhao Yue went to taste a piece of meat pastry and felt less hungry than before.
The two of them just went back and forth and consumed a lot of the pastries on the table.
At first, Cui Wenxi didn't notice anything unusual about the bowl of white fungus soup. After using two spoons, he looked at the other bowl and didn't touch it at all.
She asked curiously: "Don't Erlang like to eat white fungus soup?"
Zhao Yue stared at the chess game and replied: "It's okay."
Cui Wenxi: "Then why not use it?"
Zhao Yue: "I have used it twice."
Cui Wenxi was stunned.
She looked at the untouched bowl of white fungus soup sluggishly, and then looked at the one in her hand, her expression gradually becoming serious.
To make sure she was using it correctly, she brought two bowls of white fungus soup over and asked, "Which bowl did you use?"
Zhao Yue raised her head. One bowl in the wooden tray was mostly used, but the other bowl had no trace of being touched. He seemed a little confused and pointed to the untouched white fungus soup, "Isn't this yours?"
Cui Wenxi: "..."
At a certain moment, both of them seemed to realize something and looked at each other at the same time.
It took a long time to work together, but they used the same bowl? !
It's true... it's true...
The two stared at each other.
A strange awkwardness emerged between the two, just like when they bumped into each other in the rockery.
Zhao Yue did not dare to look at the half-used bowl of white fungus soup. She looked away uncomfortably and turned her attention to the chessboard, trying to numb herself to the fact that she didn't know anything.
Cui Wenxi pretended to be calm and put the wooden tray back on the table, not daring to eat again. She turned her back to him, wishing she could slap her ears and make you greedy!
Men and women share a bowl of soup. This misunderstanding really makes people don't know how to deal with it.
No, Zhao Yue, who was sitting on the low couch, felt embarrassed, her ears were slightly red, her expression was awkward, and she wanted to dig a hole in the ground and bury herself.
Cui Wenxi was also embarrassed and didn't know how to deal with himself for a while.
Just when the two were at a loss, Pingyang and Faang Ling's voices sounded outside.
Cui Wenxi was alarmed, fearing that they would notice something unusual, so he immediately returned to the low couch and sat down with a guilty conscience.
Zhao Yue raised her head, their eyes met, and they looked away at the same time, not daring to look at each other at all.
"Isn't it finished yet?" Pingyang entered the room and asked.
Cui Wenxi replied calmly: "Get ready to close the net."
Pingyang joked: "So, I'm afraid Erlang will lose."
Zhao Yue didn't say a word. She pinched her palms nervously with her shorter hands, trying to make herself more promising and not so embarrassed.
Pingyang's eyes fell on the table and saw that most of the pastries had been used up. Only the bowl of white fungus soup had not been touched at all. She felt curious and asked: "Today's white fungus soup was cooked very well. Didn't you use it?" ?”
Cui Wenxi: "..."
Zhao Yue: "..."
The two looked at each other silently, then looked away at the same time.
Cui Wenxi replied bravely: "It's not bad, I've used it a lot."
Pingyang looked at Zhao Yue curiously and said, "Erlang also likes to eat white fungus on weekdays. This is specially prepared for you. Why don't you use it today?"
Zhao Yue: "..."
He felt really embarrassed when he was asked. He silently raised his forehead with one hand and said perfunctorily: "The taro and Kui dumplings are the best. I used a lot of them with tea and never touched the white fungus soup."
Pingyang didn't notice anything unusual about the two of them and didn't say anything more.
The two of them then played absent-mindedly. Cui Wenxi shamelessly pretended that nothing had happened and continued to be as steady as an old dog, because the victory or defeat was too important to her.
Zhao Yue was thin-skinned and had hidden ghosts in her heart, so she couldn't be as calm and composed as she was.
He had been at a disadvantage before, and because this misunderstanding disturbed his mind, he accidentally made a wrong move.
Cui Wenxi was stunned and reminded him in a very gentlemanly manner, "Has Erlang thought clearly about this step?"
Although Zhao Yue was upset, she still maintained her grace and said: "I will have no regrets."
So Cui Wenxi unceremoniously paid him off.
One wrong step, every wrong step.
Zhao Yue no longer wanted to fight with her. After the two sides fought for a long time, he was defeated and unable to fight anymore.
In the end, in order to maintain his dignity, he chose to admit defeat.
The two-hour game ended with Cui Wenxi winning. She bowed her hands to Zhao Yue and said, "I accept."
Zhao Yue returned the gift, "The Fourth Emperor's chess skills are very good. Erlang is convinced that he lost today."
He was not upset that he was defeated by her, after all, he did have some real abilities.
Pingyang, who was sitting at the table, reminded him at the right time: "Now that the outcome has been decided, shouldn't it be time for Erlang to get down to business?"
Zhao Yue then got down to the topic and asked: "Earlier, the Fourth Emperor's Aunt said she wanted to transfer Feng Zheng closer. Where do you want to transfer him?"
Cui Wenxi was secretly happy and replied: "Is it feasible to build a county under the jurisdiction of Gyeonggi Province?"
Zhao Yue lowered her eyes and picked up the chess pieces on the chessboard into the chess box. In order to cover up her inner shyness, she returned to her businesslike indifference and said, "There are not many places."
Cui Wenxi retreated and asked for help, "If Erlang is in trouble, it doesn't matter if it's not under the jurisdiction of the capital, as long as it's a little closer to the capital."
Zhao Yue said "Huh", "I'll go back and think about it."
Cui Wenxi said gratefully: "Thank you Erlang for giving me this opportunity."
Zhao Yue glanced at her and said, "The favor Aunt Four Emperors solicited from my mother-in-law last time will be considered as repayment. Does it count?"
Cui Wenxi hurriedly said: "Count."
The guy felt uncomfortable in his heart, he was arrogant and wanted to save face, and he was not as thick-skinned as Cui Wenxi. He didn't want to continue to get along with her, so he asked Pingyang to pass the meal.
Cui Wenxi didn't want to work with him either.
So one is in the side hall and the other is in the side room.
While Zhao Yue was eating, Pingyang sat aside and chatted with him for a while.
She has been depressed these years, which worries the palace, so Zhao Yue said: "Sister, I still have to go out more. If I meet the right person, I can marry again."
Pingyang held his chin with one hand and said quietly: "In this world, who can find a better husband than Xu Lang?"
Zhao Yue: "You haven't even walked out yet, how do you know it's not there?"
Pingyang didn't want to mention this, "Erlang, you're almost here. Your father had already taken care of the family when you were your age. Why don't you hurry up and let me worry about it?"
Zhao Yue retorted: "Mom, that's just worrying."
Pingyang teased: "There is a reason why she worries about you."
Zhao Yue: "???"
Pingyang: "You don't have a single concubine in your huge East Palace. You hang out with the old pedantic gang in the political affairs hall all day long, and you are hardly interested in women. I can't help but wonder whether my son is good enough."
Zhao Yue: "..."
He didn't want to hear this and said angrily: "I'll be back later."
Pingyang poked his arm, "Are you angry?"
Zhao Yue said deceitfully: "Recently, the exams submitted by various ministries need to be processed. Even my father is concerned about this. He will ask me about many things."
Pingyang said "oh".
Zhao Yue said: "What happened to the Fourth Emperor's aunt today will not be the same next time."
Pingyang said perfunctorily: "Okay, okay, I won't do it next time." He added, "The Fourth Emperor's Aunt is quite interesting. Even if she and the Fourth Emperor's uncle reconcile, we will continue to communicate in the future."
Zhao Yue raised her eyebrows, "I think you and my mother-in-law think highly of her."
Pingyang: "Who in the family doesn't think highly of her?"
Zhao Yue shut up and did not refute.
Pingyang continued: "Besides the fact that Aunt Four Emperors was barren, she could hardly find anything wrong with her. Or perhaps she was jealous of God. Seeing that she was talented, beautiful and well-established, she also found a good couple, so he deliberately made things difficult for her and ended up with her. Such a shortcoming.”
Zhao Yue did not agree with this view, and said secretly: "The Taiyuan Hospital also treated her, and it is said that there was no problem diagnosed."
Pingyang nodded, "I don't see the reason, but I've been seeking medical advice for several years and nothing has happened."
Zhao Yue said for the first time: "Since I haven't made a famous diagnosis, what if I have another husband?"
As soon as these words came out, Pingyang couldn't help but be stunned. She realized later: "You are talking nonsense. Could it be that there is something wrong with the Fourth Emperor's Uncle?" After a pause, "If the Fourth Emperor's Uncle is ill, then the person brought back from Weizhou How to explain the outer chamber?"
Zhao Yue shut up and said nothing.
Although the reason cannot be explained at present, it is impossible that the entire hospital is full of quacks. Moreover, among the old men there are top-notch gynecological experts who are not famous for their diagnosis. This shows that there should be nothing wrong with Ms. Cui.
He hid his little thoughts deep in his heart, not wanting anyone to see out his hidden agenda.
After finishing the meal, Zhao Yue really didn't stay too long and was ready to go back to the palace.
Pingyang asked: "When will Erlang give news about Feng Zhengwai's transfer?"
Zhao Yue said angrily: "Sister, you are really caring and even urged me to come."
Pingyang said shamelessly: "I am a biological sister from the same mother. I have been close to each other since I was a child. It is inevitable that I will be unhappy when we are about to be separated. Why don't you be more considerate?" He added, "What's more, we are making divorce now. , I feel depressed in my heart, so Erlang should be more considerate and give me some face."
Zhao Yue pointed at her and said, "Your niece is quite good and loyal."
Pingyang: "When Erlang goes back, hurry up and transfer Feng Zheng to a county in Gyeonggi Province. It's best to choose a better county and don't stuff him into a dirty corner."
This statement made Zhao Yue laugh angrily and spat: "We have arranged to co-write it."
Pingyang threatened viciously, "If Erlang doesn't handle this matter well, I will go to the palace every day to nag you in my mother's ear about choosing a concubine, and let her urge you to get married and have grandchildren every day. See if you can bear it."
Zhao Yue: "..."
Too much!
He was really offended by her shamelessness and said angrily: "You are as unreasonable as my aunt."
Pingyang said confidently: "You are my brother. It's already good enough that I didn't act like a gangster."
Zhao Yue: "..."
He didn't want to waste words with such a shrew, so he stood up and said, "I'm back."
Pingyang: "I'll give it to you."
Zhao Yue said disgustedly: "No, I have to suffer from your anger even if I eat a meal from you."
Pingyang grinned, "Then I'll go tell Aunt Four Emperors."
Zhao Yue said immediately, as if she had been stepped on, "No need."
Pingyang: "???"
He was afraid that he would see the girl fall into embarrassment again, so he hurriedly said: "Wei Shaozhong, you're back."
Father Wei outside responded yes.
So the master and servant left Yuqiong Garden.
Cui Wenxi came over and was surprised to hear that Zhao Yue had returned to the palace. Pingyang explained: "Erlang said that he has been busy these days and has to go back to read the examinations submitted by various ministries."
Cui Wenxi said "Oh", knowing that he must be embarrassed because the two of them were eating the same bowl of white fungus soup, so he avoided it. She didn't expose it, she just said: "I can get my wish today, thanks to Pingyang's help."
Pingyang smiled and said: "It's your own ability that makes the Fourth Emperor better than Erlang." After a moment of pause, "I have just told him to transfer Feng Zheng to a county under the capital, and he must choose a better one." county."
Cui Wenxi secretly said with joy: "Can he agree?"
Pingyang: "I shouldn't, but I have to. Otherwise, I would go to the palace every day and let my mother chant sutras in his ears, get a wife and have children, which would annoy him."
Cui Wenxi covered her mouth and smiled: "I really do have you."
At the same time, Zhao Yue on the other side was sitting in the carriage and silently buried her face in her hands, looking like she couldn't see anyone.
If it was embarrassing at the rockery before, then today's situation is even more embarrassing.
He tried to recall the situation at that time. He had used the bowl of white fungus soup twice, and Cui seemed to have used it two or three times.
It's just a bowl, and it's the same spoon.
It’s really terrible!
Whenever he thought of the two of them looking embarrassed and uncomfortable, Zhao Yue wanted to beat himself to death. If I had been a little more careful at that time, there would not have been such a misunderstanding and it would not have been so embarrassing.
Why do some embarrassing things always happen every time I'm alone with her
Zhao Yue was a little frustrated and felt that she would not be able to see anyone in the future.
Sometimes he also worries about why he can't be thick-skinned, but he can't be thick-skinned in front of her. Her every move, every frown and every smile will make him think a lot, and he can't treat it with the attitude of handling government affairs.
This is really fatal.
The carriage was closed and no one could see his embarrassment. He slapped himself shamelessly, but he was afraid of damaging his face, so he didn't dare to hit him too harshly.
After all, the boy felt sorry for himself, trying hard to adjust his emotions and thinking about how to thicken his skin.
Anyway, sooner or later, he will be involved with Mr. Cui.
After taking a lunch break at Pingyang Mansion in the afternoon, Cui Wenxi went back and was informed by his servant that Prince Qing was in another courtyard.
Cui Wenxi ordered Fangling to put Zhang Yanqi away and asked, "When did you go?"
The servant replied: "I left early this morning."
Cui Wenxi made a gesture, and the slave retreated. After there was no one in the wing, she said to Fang Ling, "Let's find Mrs. Liu from the other courtyard tomorrow. I have something to ask her."
Fang Ling nodded and couldn't help but grumbled: "I think that woman is so smart, she's probably reaping the benefits from both ends."
Cui Wenxi pursed her lips and smiled, "It's better to benefit from both ends. Sell the situation here to Yanlan, and then sell the situation at Yanlan's place to me, so that I can do things easily."
Fang Ling didn't seem to understand her intention, "What are your plans, Madam?"
Cui Wenxi lowered his head and looked at his hands, and said calmly: "I have to find a way to get her to come to me. Only by partnering with her can we get Prince Qing."