readytorunbook Chapter 178 A stroke of genius
Chapter 178 A stroke of genius
I accidentally saw what he said, which shocked everyone.
Including Emperor Xing'an and the Empress.
Xuanyuan Che chuckled, "Sweetheart is someone you hold dear to your heart. Prince Chu, perhaps you're mistaking it for the better."
Xuanyuan Che chuckled, as if what he had just said was just a joke, and everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Even Feng Chenyi, who was beside Zhai Yun, had calmed down a lot.
Chu Xuan smiled distantly, "Emperor Che is the ruler of a country, yet he also likes to joke. He must have joked about state affairs a lot, right?"
Xuanyuan Che had only heard that the Second Prince Chu was carefree, often hanging out in the streets, and behaved in a bohemian manner. However, he had not expected that even in the government, he could not change his bad habit of speaking quickly.
The smile on his face was a little hard to maintain.
It had been many years since anyone had dared to speak to him like this. Xuanyuan Che forced a stiff smile and said, "It's getting late, Second Prince Chu, you should calm down and watch the competition first!"
Emperor Xing'an, who had been watching the show, heard Xuanyuan Che say this and then reluctantly ordered the chief steward beside him, Tai Guanli: "Begin!"
Everything was ready, and Guan Li began to draw the first lot.
The atmosphere was tense all around, and everything that just happened seemed to be just an episode, forgotten by everyone as the tense atmosphere faded.
Zhai Yun whispered in Feng Chenyi's ear: "Qi Nuo and the others should have already started."
For such a grand banquet, the defense of the Imperial Household Department must be lax. Feng Chenyi had already made arrangements before coming. Qi Nuo led a few people to sneak into the Imperial Household Department and find the list of palace maids who left the palace with Concubine Chen that year.
Originally, Zhai Yun wanted to go there in person, but the situation at the examination venue was too complicated to understand, so Zhai Yun could only come here with Feng Chenyi.
Just as everyone was holding their breath and waiting for Guan Li to open the paper, Feng Chenyi whispered, "Just act according to circumstances."
The rules of the competition allow one to fight six, which sounds good. However, everything in the competition is unknown. The Xuanyuan Kingdom is good at witchcraft, so it is almost impossible to fight one against six.
The letter paper was suddenly opened, and even Zhai Yun's heart was in her throat. Brother Yi said he would win, and Zhai Yun would definitely support him.
Zhai Yun had prepared for this competition for so long, but the rules were changed just before the competition, making all her preparations go to waste.
Emperor Che and Emperor Xing'an each wrote three lots, which meant they decided on three competitions and what they would be competing for.
Emperor Xing'an always thought that Xuanyuan Che's visit to the court was just for a routine competition, so what he wrote was nothing more than the six arts such as music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but it was not certain what Xuanyuan Che wrote.
Since Xuanyuan Che decides the content of the competition, this competition must be very complicated.
When Zhai Yun saw the large characters written with wet ink on the paper, her heart sank.
Chess. It was written on the notepaper.
Jiang Shu was the best chess player in the Imperial College, so it went without saying that he would be the one to compete in this competition.
Xuanyuan Che just gently signaled to Fu Yiming beside him, and Fu Yiming chose a gentle-looking man from among the people they brought to fight.
Zhai Yun didn't recognize him, but Feng Chenyi beside her did, because Zhai Yun heard Feng Chenyi whisper, "Why is it him?"
Looking at the person sent by Xuanyuan Country, everyone looked normal, as if they had just met by chance. Only Feng Chenyi frowned imperceptibly.
Zhai Yun was curious: "Do you know him?"
Feng Chenyi turned around and glanced at Zhai Yun, as if he was in a difficult position. "He is the best chess player in the world."
Feng Chenyi didn't say his name, but just by hearing the name, Zhai Yun knew why Feng Chenyi looked like this.
The best chess player in the martial arts world! Jiang Shu, an inexperienced chess player, was like a blank sheet of paper in front of him. In Fengli Country’s first competition, he had no chance of winning.
Although she had anticipated the outcome, when she saw Jiang Shu's chess skills change from black to purple, and from full of confidence to trembling hands and not daring to play chess, Zhai Yun felt that letting Jiang Shu participate in this competition might have been a wrong decision.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Jiang Shu who was hesitating.
Jiang Shu looked at the chessboard, sweat pouring down his forehead, and his hand holding the black piece was trembling.
Some ministers who were anxious and knew Jiang Shu were stamping their feet, urging him to leave quickly.
Jiang Shu on the stage felt dizzy and dark. He was surrounded and had nowhere to put his chess piece. The urging from the audience made his already helpless heart even more panicked.
What should he do? This was his first time appearing in front of so many people, and it was such a grand occasion, with civil and military officials sitting in the audience.
It was Emperor Xing'an, Emperor Che of Xuanyuan Kingdom, and the kidnapped second prince of Xixuan Kingdom.
If he loses today, the whole world will know how badly he, Jiang Shu, was defeated today!
Jiang Shu collapsed. He thought he was an excellent chess player and no one in the Imperial College could match him. But today's game dragged him from heaven to hell.
He lost!
There is always someone better than you, and there is always something better than you. He is just a frog in the well.
Jiang Shu held her hand and fell down dejectedly. His pride prevented him from speaking in front of such a distinguished person. He gave up!
He no longer had the strength to hold the ball, nor could he hear any other sounds. His world was dark.
The chess piece fell from his fingertips. When everyone in the audience saw Jiang Shu's expression, they all knew who the winner was. Some were excited, while others were frustrated.
When the black piece fell from Jiang Shu's fingertips, those who had expected him to win gave up hope.
When the chess piece falls onto the chessboard, the game will be destroyed. Even if Jiang Shu does not say that he surrenders in person, it is equivalent to his automatic surrender.
Jiang Shu, who was soaked in sweat, suddenly heard a voice: "Catch the piece, drop six horizontally and five vertically!"
Although Jiang Shu hadn't figured out who the voice belonged to, his instinct to win made him catch the chess piece that was about to fall onto the board. Jiang Shu didn't hesitate at all. After seeing the position clearly, he took the piece and placed it down.
Jiang Shu's sudden action shocked everyone. He had obviously lost, but at the last moment he caught the falling black piece and made another move.
Everyone looked at the chessboard curiously, even Emperor Xing'an couldn't help but stand up from his seat and take a few steps forward.
After Jiang Shu made his move, he was also carefully studying how to make this move.
Xuanyuan Che's eyes showed shock. He was very familiar with the chess style of the person he brought with him, so he remembered every move of this game clearly.
The moment Jiang Shuzi fell, he saw it clearly.
"What a stroke of genius! Amazing! I didn't expect Mr. Jiang to have such high attainments in chess!" The minister who was proficient in chess praised in surprise.
"Brilliant! Brilliant! This move has turned the originally deadlocked situation back to a draw." The ministers who understood chess praised it one after another.
Some ministers were whispering in secret that the Jiang family's move was really clever. They started with a low attack, and then made a stroke of genius to tie the game. This way they neither lost the game nor offended those who wanted to lose the game!