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墨書 Inktalez
The night was deep and dark, but the Zhenbei Wangfu was brightly lit.
"Mr. Luo, please follow me," the steward said as he guided me through the numerous courtyards. "The prince is waiting for you in the study."
Each step felt as if I were walking on cotton, my heart filled with caution. Sixteen years ago, on that snowy night, the Empress Dowager had schemed to kill the Empress, and the great fire eight years ago was merely a continuation of her plan. The Zhenbei Wang was in cahoots with the Empress Dowager, and there must be something amiss for him to seek me out at this time.
I still remembered my mother's last words when I was eight: "Qing Yu, remember the moonlight tonight. One day, you will understand why you must go through all of this..." At that time, I was too young to grasp the deeper meaning behind her words. I only vaguely recalled the way she gazed at the imperial city, filled with an unspoken longing and heartache.
As I turned a corner of the corridor, I suddenly noticed a shadow flickering among the trees ahead. Instinctively, I took a step back but then heard a familiar light cough. It was Xiao Yuyang! He was here too?
The steward seemed unaware of anything unusual and continued to lead the way. As we passed through the area of shadows, I caught a glimpse of him standing with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed intently on me. This fool was once again protecting me from the shadows?
Recalling the harsh words he had just spoken, along with the news brought by Ying Qinu, a wave of bitterness surged in my heart. I pushed open the door to the study, and a waft of sandalwood greeted me.
Zhenbei Wang stood with his back to the door, gazing at a scroll on the bookshelf.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects," I said, maintaining a calm demeanor as I bowed.
"Mr. Luo, please rise," Zhenbei Wang turned around, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "I hope you will forgive the late hour of my visit."
"You are too kind, Your Highness." I subtly surveyed the surroundings; it seemed there was no one else in the study. Yet, I wondered where the steward had gone.
"I have heard that you are skilled in chess," Zhenbei Wang said as he walked to the qin table and retrieved a set of white jade chess pieces. "Would you care to play a game with me?"
Chess was my father's forte during his lifetime, and I was naturally familiar with it.
"I hope to not embarrass myself," I replied as I knelt at the chess table.
"I have heard that during your Excellency's lifetime," Zhenbei Wang continued while arranging the pieces, "he particularly enjoyed playing a game of 'broken chess.'"
"The name is..."
"A Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight," I interjected, my heart jolting at the mention. This variant of broken chess was my father's original creation and had never been shown to anyone else.
How could Zhenbei Wang know about it?
"Indeed," he smiled, "I have also played this game with your Excellency."
"Only..." He gave me a meaningful glance, "That game, we never finished."
The white piece in my hand trembled slightly. "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"Do you know why that fire burned so strangely that night?" He suddenly lowered his voice.
"What do you know?" I forced myself to remain calm.
"I only know," he placed a piece down, "that night, Your Excellency played an unfinished game in the study, intending for the Crown Prince to solve it."
The Crown Prince? Are you referring to Xiao Yuyang?
"Unfortunately," he sighed, "the game was not finished before the fire broke out..."
Just then, a muffled sound came from outside the window!
I sprang to my feet. "Someone's here!"
Zhenbei Wang remained unhurried. "It's nothing; perhaps the Crown Prince is just growing impatient."
What?! "Your Highness knew he was outside?" I was secretly alarmed.
"Though I am old," he said with a bitter smile, "I am not so out of touch as to be unaware that someone has replaced the sentries at my own residence."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Yuyang pushed the door open. "Since Prince Uncle knows it's me, why bother with all these detours?"
He wore a dark brocade robe,
His expression was cold and stern, showing no trace of the earlier embarrassment. It turned out he had deliberately let me discover him... This person always acted this way. He seemed indifferent, yet he was always protecting me from the shadows.
"The Crown Prince arrives just in time," Zhenbei Wang said calmly as he made a move on the chessboard. "This remaining game was prepared for you."
Xiao Yuyang scoffed, "Are you suggesting that there is some secret hidden in this game?"
"Who knows..." Zhenbei Wang glanced at me meaningfully. "Perhaps it concerns Your Excellency, or maybe... Your Honorable Mother?"
At his words, Xiao Yuyang's expression changed dramatically. "You!"
I was taken aback. What did Zhenbei Wang mean? What did he know?
Just then, a sudden rush of footsteps echoed from outside. Xiao Yu's voice came from afar: "Young Master! It's bad! Consort Duan is in trouble!"
Both Xiao Yuyang and I turned pale. Mother?!
But at that moment, Zhenbei Wang stood up. "Crown Prince, Miss Luo, you must think carefully... How should this game be played?"
"Mother!" The words slipped out before I could stop myself, and I quickly bit my lip.
Xiao Yuyang stepped forward swiftly, grabbing my wrist tightly. "Don't panic, follow me." His palm was warm, reminding me of how he held my hand not long ago at Huaqing Pavilion.
But the tenderness of that moment had already faded, leaving only an irresistible force.
"Your Highness..." I instinctively tried to break free.
"Isn't it chaotic enough?" He didn't turn around, his voice as cold as ice. "Is this really the time to worry about such things?"
Zhenbei Wang's voice drifted from behind, "Crown Prince, you must think carefully; if you take a wrong step..."
"I appreciate your good intentions, but I understand," Xiao Yuyang continued walking, "Some matters are not as simple as a game of chess."
As we passed through the corridor and stepped into the moonlight, he suddenly halted. "Xiao Yu, what exactly happened?"
Xiao Yu knelt down. "Reporting to the Crown Prince, someone just saw people from Tianji Pavilion laying an ambush outside Garden Stroll, seemingly targeting Consort Duan..."
" Garden Stroll?" Xiao Yuyang's gaze sharpened. "Isn't Mother in the palace?"
"Yes..." Xiao Yu's voice trembled. "It was the Empress Dowager who issued the decree, saying she wanted to enjoy the moon outside the city and specifically requested Consort Duan to accompany her..."
My heart raced. "This is a ploy to draw the tiger away from its mountain!"
"Tomorrow's autumn hunt will surely involve significant movements from the Empress Dowager, so we must act first..." Before I could finish my sentence, Xiao Yuyang had already released my hand.
"I will go to Garden Stroll; you return to the palace and keep an eye on the Empress Dowager."
"No!" I blurted out without thinking.
"The Empress Dowager's target is Mother, and the situation over there is even more dangerous!"
"So you absolutely cannot go."
He finally turned to look at me, his eyes filled with an unprecedented severity.
"Do you think the Empress Dowager chose tonight by chance?"
"She's testing us!"
"If you expose your identity..."
"But..."
"There are no buts!" He raised his voice, which was rare for him.
"If you truly trust me, then do as I say!"
Under the moonlight, his features were sharp, devoid of any trace of the gentleness he once had.
Yet, in his eyes, I saw a deep concern.
This person... clearly cares, yet insists on putting on a facade of indifference.
"Alright." I took a deep breath.
"I promise you, I'll keep an eye on the Empress Dowager. But you must promise me..."
Before I could finish my sentence, he suddenly raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears at the corner of my eye.
"Silly girl, I promise you, I will bring Mother back safely."
In that moment of tenderness, I almost lost control of my tears.
But the next instant, he returned to his cold demeanor.
"Remember, no matter what happens, do not act rashly."
With that, he turned to leave.
On impulse, I grabbed his sleeve. "A Yang..."
He froze in place.
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