"This King has no interest in that darn contraption box," Prince Qin said indifferently, drinking his wine without looking away.
He knew very well where this contraption box came from, but what puzzled him was Xiao Man's intention in bringing it out.
"I am interested. You will break this chess game for me," the old Emperor commanded, allowing no refusal from Prince Qin.
"No," Nangong Yu refused without a second thought.
"This is an order. If I tell you to go, you go."
Nangong Yu seemed displeased, but he still rose to look at the endgame Xiao Man had set. After a single glance, he turned to Xiao Man, "You woman, you are truly greedy. Winning against this King once was not enough, you had to embarrass this King in front of so many people."
Xiao Man touched her nose, "This humble woman is wrongly accused."
"This endgame of yours, where is the way out? It's clearly a dead game."
"There is a way out, it depends on whether Your Highness has the resolve to risk everything to survive," Xiao Man whispered with a smile.
The crowd watched the two whisper together, all feeling a bit curious. Would Prince Qin be able to break Xiao Man's endgame?
Nangong Yu stared at Xiao Man for a long time, so long that Xiao Man's smile could no longer be maintained. Nangong Yu turned and returned to his seat, "This game, this King cannot break it."
"You can't break it either, boy. Are you perhaps unwilling because the girl is pretty?" the old Emperor asked disbelievingly. Nangong Yu's chess skills were extremely refined. If even Nangong Yu couldn't break it, should he re-examine Xiao Man?
Nangong Yu's expression was calm, his peerlessly handsome face revealing no trace of emotion, "I once played a game with her. Because I underestimated her, I lost. I then promised her that I would never win against her again. This King, a man of seven feet, how can he go back on his word? Even if I could break it, I cannot."
The old Emperor rarely saw Nangong Yu with such an expression and showed delight, "Rare indeed, you have lost a game before. Xiao girl, how did you win against him?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, Your Highness saw that I was a young woman and thus gave me ten moves. This humble woman was then lucky enough to win." Su Dan Novel Network
The old Emperor glared at Nangong Yu, "You are being unfair, boy. I am your father, and you only give me three moves. But for a young lady, you are willing to give ten moves?"
Nangong Yu remained unfazed, "You are the one who likes to compete with a young girl."
The old Emperor was momentarily speechless and turned away, no longer paying attention to Nangong Yu. Instead, he looked at Xiao Zhen, who sat as steadily as a mountain, "Chancellor Xiao, your daughter lives up to the praise of Nanny Sheng. Her Zither skills are superb, her painting skills astonishing, and her poetry is also excellent. This endgame, it seems, is unbreakable."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise. My daughter has merely been showing off."
At this moment, Wen Moyu stepped forward and walked directly towards Xiao Man, "I will try Xiao sister's endgame."
"Miss Wen, please."
The crowd's eyes lit up. The most beautiful woman in the capital, versus the most talented woman in the capital. The match between these two was truly a spectacular show.
Wen Moyu sat before the chessboard, holding a chess piece, and slowly placed it down. With this single move, the crowd covered their faces, unable to bear watching. There were not many pieces left to begin with, and with Wen Moyu's move, a large portion of the remaining pieces were instantly lost, pushing the game to a desperate point.
Xiao Man cast an appreciative glance at Wen Moyu, truly the most talented woman in the capital. Her mind was quick and she did not follow conventional paths. She immediately placed a piece, blocking the path of the white pieces. Wen Moyu placed another piece, and the crowd thought, is Miss Wen foolish? This is not how you commit suicide by offering yourself as a sacrifice!
The smile in Xiao Man's eyes grew more intense, "Miss Wen, excellent strategy."
"Xiao sister's chess skills are exquisite, Moyu admires you." Wen Moyu placed her third piece. What was originally a seemingly hopeless, certain-death situation, suddenly showed a glimmer of hope. The crowd bowed to look closer. How could this suicidal move actually create a path to survival?
No one expected that Wen Moyu's self-sacrificing style of play would actually carve out a path to survival. She engaged in a fierce battle with Xiao Man on the chessboard. Despite not having the advantage, she ultimately achieved a draw with Xiao Man.
Xiao Man looked at the chessboard and handed the contraption box to Wen Moyu, "Congratulations, Miss Wen, this contraption box is yours."
Wen Moyu did not reach out to take it. Her gaze flickered towards Nangong Yu, only to find that Nangong Yu was not looking at them at all. She felt disappointed, "I have not won against you, how can I take your contraption box."
"A draw is also a loss for me," Xiao Man placed the contraption box in front of Wen Moyu and then rose to return to her seat.
The old Emperor was extremely curious and descended from the platform to examine their game. Upon seeing it, he praised it endlessly, "Chancellor Wen, your daughter is truly quick-witted. To be able to break such a difficult chess game, reward her, a generous reward."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Chancellor Wen looked at his daughter with pride. This daughter was the result of his painstaking efforts in nurturing her, naturally, she could not be compared to the daughters of those uncivilized people!
Wen Moyu picked up the contraption box and respectfully presented it, "Your Majesty, your humble subject has fortunately not disgraced the mission and has won this contraption box."
The old Emperor took it and played with it for a moment, then returned it to Wen Moyu, "I was merely curious about what Mo family's contraption boxes were like. Having seen it now, I don't see any particular marvel. Let the young people have their fun."
The contraption box returned to Wen Moyu's hands.
After Wen Moyu took it back, Wen Mohan snatched it away. Wen Mohan played with it in his hands, occasionally whispering something to Wen Moyu. It was evident that the siblings had a very close relationship.
Xiao Zhen wanted to know what the contraption box in Xiao Man's hand was about. As Xiao Man returned, he leaned back slightly and inquired.
"Man'er, did you really get that contraption box from a beggar?" Xiao Zhen felt some doubt. Mo family's contraption boxes were not easily obtainable by just anyone.
Xiao Man nodded with a smile, "It took me quite some effort to open it when I got it. To my surprise, it was empty inside. Truly disappointing. Father, are you interested in that contraption box?"
Xiao Zhen shook his head, "Not really interested, just curious."
"If Father likes it, shall I go and ask for it back?"
"Nonsense! Once something is given away, there's no reason to take it back." Xiao Zhen straightened his body, feeling a vague sense of unease because he also possessed a contraption box!
Xiao Man found the banquet boring and quietly left the banquet hall. As soon as she stepped out, the head maidservant of Consort Xian also followed. Nangong Yu glanced at them and sighed. To be so sharp and yet dare to leave alone, truly unafraid of death!
Xiao Man wandered outside alone, leaning on the corridor by the lake, admiring the red carp swimming in the water.
A figure quietly approached and reached out towards Xiao Man. Xiao Man turned her head and looked coldly at the person who was caught red-handed and extremely embarrassed, "Nangong Yi, what do you want?"