"Your Highness's move was really exquisite."
Chu Liuyue looked at the chessboard in front of her, and the black chess piece in her hand had not yet fallen.
"My black pieces are almost all blocked."
Opposite him, Rong Xiu sat quietly. When he heard the words, his thin crimson lips curved slightly.
"You clearly still have a way to go, right?"
Of course Chu Liuyue could tell.
but
"Even if you take this step and barely get out of the current predicament, hasn't Your Highness already prepared a dragnet? You will lose anyway, and there is no point in taking this extra step."
Chu Liuyue threw the chess pieces back into the chess jar and raised his hands.
"I surrender."
Seeing her well-behaved look, Rong Xiu raised his eyebrows slightly.
"You weren't paying attention. What were you thinking about?"
As he spoke, he began to put away the chess pieces.
Chu Liuyue looked at his slow movements and couldn't help but wrinkled her nose.
In fact, even if she concentrated on playing chess with Rong Xiu, she could barely achieve a tie.
If you really want to talk about it, Rong Xiu is indeed superior.
Rong Xiu said slowly:
"This step may seem boring, but some people will take it."
Chu Liuyue hummed: "It's just a waste of time."
"Not only did Situ Yan not cancel the engagement between Rong Jin and Situ Xingchen, but he also took the initiative to plead for mercy. Even if His Majesty is furious and wants to deal with the Queen and the Crown Prince immediately, he still has to give Situ Yan some face."
Chu Liuyue had long expected that Situ Yan would not cancel the engagement easily, but she did not expect that he would help so quickly.
It can be seen from this that Situ Yan does not think highly of Rong Jin.
Rong Xiu smiled faintly:
"If the problem could be solved so easily, there would be no need to postpone it until today."
Chu Liuyue suddenly moved closer, placed her hands on the chessboard, stared at Rong Xiu and asked:
"Your Highness, did you already know that Situ Yan would help?"
Rong Xiu raised his eyes slightly, his deep eyes passing over Chu Liuyue's face, half smiling.
"Didn't Yue'er already know that?"
There seemed to be some kind of ambiguous air flowing slowly between the two of them.
Chu Liuyue looked at Rong Xiu thoughtfully.
Of course she knows.
However, the reason why she guessed like this was purely because she knew something.
But what about Rong Xiu
He also knows
Chu Liuyue paused and said:
"Because Situ Yan asked for help, His Majesty has not deposed the crown prince yet, and even the Queen has not officially issued an order to depose him. But many people have realized that something is wrong. Now all kinds of speculations are rampant and people's hearts are shaken. And His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation of Qijiao Alley , but there has been no progress. Your Highness, what are your plans?"
Rong Xiu put away the chess pieces completely and looked at Chu Liuyue's curious expression. He couldn't help but bow his head and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"Although you won't win by taking one more step, it will be more exciting. And that way you can win more happily."
Prince's Mansion.
Because Rong Jin was under house arrest again, the atmosphere in the entire Prince's Mansion became very solemn.
Everyone at the top and bottom was filled with despair and lifelessness, and they did not show any trace of the proud look they had when the prince was in glory.
Who would have thought that the prince who was once envied by everyone would now end up in such a predicament
Although His Majesty has not given the order yet, rumors are spreading in the imperial capital, saying that even the Queen is under house arrest this time, and it will only be a matter of time before the Crown Prince is deposed.
Chu Xianmin sat in her room.
It was already late autumn and the weather was getting cooler.
Her residence was deserted and deserted, even more like a cellar in the cold winter.
Her hand slowly touched the veil on her face.
Even though she was the only one here, she didn't dare to show her face.
Because even she herself was afraid of seeing that face.
Back then, how could she have ever imagined that she would reach this point
She thought for a long time and finally got up.
She heard that Situ Xingchen was visiting the Prince's Mansion today, so she had to pay her respects anyway.
Walking outside, the road was eerily quiet, not much better than her place.
She made her way toward the front hall.
After walking for a long distance, I finally saw silhouettes of people on the road.
Most of them were servants, but when they saw her, they just gave her a cursory salute and left in a hurry.
Chu Xianmin couldn't help but laugh at herself.
In the past, these people would try their best to make fun of her when they met her, but now they don't even bother to do that.
Faintly, you can hear the whispers of those people.
"I really don't know what Princess Situ is planning! Now that the Crown Prince and the Queen are under house arrest, they will have to be deposed sooner or later! This one hasn't even canceled her engagement with the Crown Prince yet! Isn't this causing trouble for herself? ?”
"Who knows? Maybe he is just infatuated and willing to live and die together?"
"I don't think so! Didn't you see the way the eldest princess treated the prince? I just went in to serve tea, and I didn't even see a smile on her face! She said she came to visit the prince, but whoever saw it, I think I was forced to come here!"
"Who can force her? She is the apple of Emperor Xiankang's eye in Xingluo Kingdom!"
"Anyway, with her here, His Majesty won't do anything to the prince for a while. But I think we should find another way out! If the prince's mansion is not protected, everything will change completely!"
"I heard that His Majesty has paid great attention to His Highness the Third Prince recently, and he seems to be planning to make him the King."
Chu Xianmin gritted her teeth and walked forward.
In the front hall, Rong Jin and Situ Xingchen sat across from each other.
After the events of the past few days, Rong Jin had lost weight and looked very haggard. Even his last bit of energy was almost exhausted.
He was worried about both the Queen and himself. He was anxious for days and nights, and this was naturally the case.
Fortunately, the position of the prince was finally saved!
"Xingchen, I really don't know how to thank you."
Rong Jin looked at Situ Xingchen in front of him with gratitude on his face.
"I knew you wouldn't just sit idly by!"
In Rong Jin's opinion, the reason why Situ Yan was willing to help must be because of Situ Xingchen's pleading.
Therefore, in my heart, I cherished Situ Xingchen even more.
However, Situ Xingchen didn't think so.
Being stared at by Rong Jin like that, she felt like her whole body was hairy and she could hardly sit still.
If it hadn't been for her father's order, she wouldn't have come at all!
"Your Highness, there is no need to be polite. This is what Xingchen should do."
Situ Xingchen almost gritted his teeth and spit out these words.
Rong Jin didn't realize what she was thinking at all, he just sighed deeply.
"Unfortunately, my father believed that my mother was guilty and refused to let me see her. I don't know what her condition is now."
Situ Xingchen was impatient to hear this. Remembering his father's explanation, he asked softly, seemingly unintentionally:
"Your Highness, the reason why Your Majesty is like this is because of the Seven Corners Alley. Do you know what is going on there?"
(End of chapter)