Nangong Yu sat in the private room, looking at Xiao Man, who was sleeping soundly on the cushion, with a hint of doting in his eyes. He really wanted to go down and pick her up, but he managed to restrain himself.
After half an hour, an old man walked onto the stage, scooped up a handful of chess pieces, and looked at Xiao Man, who was still asleep, asking, "Odd or even?"
"Even." Xiao Man yawned and sat up, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes. The old man placed the chess pieces on the board and counted them. Indeed, it was an even number. "I concede."
Xiao Man, playing black, moved first. The old man followed closely. Xiao Man played very quickly, and the old man was no less. However, halfway through the game, the old man's speed began to slow down, while Xiao Man maintained her pace.
"Elder Bi's chess skills are exquisite. He will surely defeat that arrogant young man. His winning streak ends here."
"I'm not so sure!" a chess player analyzed. "Look at Elder Bi's playing speed, it's getting slower and slower, but Mr. Xiao's moves haven't changed at all."
As an incense stick was about to burn out, Elder Bi put down his chess piece: "Generations produce talents. I have lost this game."
"I concede, senior."
"Even Elder Bi lost. Is this kid really that good?" In an instant, the Chess Pavilion became lively. Everyone looked at each other, unconvinced, and flocked to the stage to challenge.
By the time it got dark, Xiao Man had won twenty consecutive games.
"I'm tired today. I'll continue tomorrow." The crowd didn't want Xiao Man to leave, but wherever Xiao Man went, people naturally made way.
Xiao Man left the Chess Pavilion yawning. Zhu Yun, however, had woken up from his nap. He had also been at the Chess Pavilion all afternoon. He wasn't interested in chess and didn't understand why people were so excited about playing it. However, he was very dissatisfied that Xiao Man had done nothing all day!
As soon as he returned to the Prince of Chu's mansion, he exaggerated Xiao Man's idleness to Nangong Yan.
Nangong Yan listened and smiled, "Zhu Yun, you are too impatient."
"Your Highness, he takes money but doesn't get things done. Why aren't you angry?"
"He is already getting things done," Nangong Yan said slowly.
"He is already getting things done?" Zhu Yun rubbed his head and thought about everything Xiao Man had done that day. His final conclusion was that Xiao Man was a swindler!
"My fourth brother is fond of chess, and the Chess Pavilion is a place he frequents. Our guest is using his own way to attract my fourth brother's attention. Just you wait, within three days, my fourth brother will approach him himself." Nangong Yan had been wondering what method Xiao Man would use to persuade Nangong Yu, but he hadn't expected him to attract Nangong Yu's attention in this way.
"Really?"
"Let's bet ten taels of silver."
"One tael!" Zhu Yun held out a finger. "I need to save the rest to marry a wife."
"Alright, one tael it is."
The next morning, Xiao Man took her pulse for the Princess of Chu and then went out. She first went to Baxian Pavilion to buy a box of her favorite pastries before leisurely heading to the Chess Pavilion.
At this time of day, the Chess Pavilion was usually not very crowded. However, today it was packed. When Xiao Man appeared at the entrance, all eyes turned to her.
Xiao Man walked towards the stage with a box of pastries in one hand and yawning in the other. The proprietor of the Chess Pavilion quickly greeted her, "Mr. Xiao, what tea would you like today? We have the best teas, Junshan Silver Needle, Biluochun, Yuqian Longjing..."
"A pot of Yuqian Longjing, please." Xiao Man sat down leisurely on the stage. The proprietor personally brewed a pot of Longjing tea, served the Chess Pavilion's signature tea snacks, and placed a small table next to Xiao Man for the tea and snacks.
Xiao Man opened the pastry box, picked up a piece of peach blossom cake, and ate it while drinking tea. When a chess player sat down, Xiao Man put down her teacup and gestured for the opponent to move first.
The chess players who came today had all heard that someone was guarding the stage and had won twenty consecutive games, and they had come to challenge him. They had expected the defender to be an old man with a white beard, over seventy years old. Who knew it would be a young man? Moreover, this young man was incredibly fast. Even grandmaster-level chess players were at a disadvantage against him!
"Forty consecutive wins! Does she plan to win a hundred games in one go?"
"At this rate, it's entirely possible!"
"Look, Master Cui has arrived." Loud cheers erupted from the crowd. Xiao Man let out a burp. She had eaten too many pastries and drunk a lot of tea, and she felt full. She stood up to leave.
"Mr. Xiao, Master Cui has arrived. Where are you going?"
Xiao Man turned her head, "Please wait a moment, I need to go to the restroom."
Master Cui smiled and nodded, then sat down by the chessboard. Xiao Man took a full two quarters of an hour to return, walking back at her leisurely pace. Seeing Xiao Man, who looked half-asleep, the crowd felt annoyed, but since they couldn't beat her, they could only endure it.
As soon as Xiao Man sat down, her demeanor changed completely: "Let's guess the first move."
"Alright." Master Cui dared not be careless. After all, this person had defended the stage for two days and won forty consecutive games, which was an unprecedented glorious achievement. Even he had only accumulated fifty wins, which had taken him three years.
Master Cui took the first move. Xiao Man maintained her rapid playing rhythm, but Master Cui remained unfazed, playing at his own pace, completely unaffected by Xiao Man.
No matter how slowly Master Cui played, Xiao Man would immediately place a piece after him. Then she would start arranging various small animals on the board with chess pieces. When Master Cui made a move, she would place another piece, completely disregarding the game on the board.
"Master Cui is still steady. He hasn't been affected by Xiao Qin at all."
"Why do I feel like Xiao Qin doesn't even care about Master Cui?"
"She's using chess pieces to make a pig. Is she calling Master Cui a pig?"
Master Cui's hand trembled as he moved a piece. He couldn't help but look at what Xiao Man was making with the chess pieces. Indeed, it was a pig!
"Young man, one cannot be too arrogant."
Xiao Man glanced at the chessboard: "Have you made your move?"
Master Cui choked on his words, unable to swallow or spit them out. He heavily placed a piece. Xiao Man picked up a piece and followed: "You lost."
Master Cui was shocked and looked closely at the chessboard. Unknowingly, he had no escape. He picked up a chess piece, struggling in his death throes, thinking there might be a way out. But after looking for a long time, no matter how he played, it was a dead end. Finally, he dejectedly put down his chess piece and turned to leave.
"Master Cui has lost."
Xiao Man yawned: "So sleepy, I'm going home."
"Wait." Si Chen came down from upstairs, "Mr. Xiao Qin, my master invites you."
Xiao Man yawned, as if she hadn't heard him, and walked straight past Si Chen, out of the Chess Pavilion, and disappeared!