Chapter 745: 344 Suspicions (Nine More)_2 Chapter 745: 344 Suspicions (Nine More)_2 The Emperor said irritably, “How old are you exactly? Can’t you accompany me for a few more years? Even those of the Qin family haven’t said they can’t accompany the Empress Dowager for a few more years yet!”
The Emperor was a sentimental man, and he remembered how Eunuch Wei had followed him during his most desperate times.
Eunuch Wei smiled, “Yes.”
But in his heart, he thought, these days you really bring up the Empress Dowager in every other sentence.
A nightmare left the Emperor sleepless. He was too lazy to go to the Imperial Study Room, so he asked Eunuch Wei to bring the memorandums to the Sleeping Palace for him to review.
Eunuch Wei instructed two clever eunuchs to bring the memorandums to the desk, and then he lit a lamp for the Emperor.
After bathing, the Emperor changed into dry clothes, sat behind the desk, and began to review the memorandums.
“You should go to sleep,” the Emperor said to Eunuch Wei.
Eunuch Wei was not as old as the Qin family, but he was a few years older than the Emperor. The Emperor had taken his words to heart, worrying that if he continued to delay, it would take a toll on Eunuch Wei’s health.
How could Eunuch Wei not understand the Emperor’s intent? He laughed, saying, “I just mentioned it casually. Your Majesty, you shouldn’t take it to heart. I’m in good health, and I’m not tired yet.”
The Emperor knew that if he forced him to sleep, Wei would not be able to rest, so he did not persist.
After reviewing a few memorandums, the palpitations brought about by the nightmare finally faded a little. However, he still didn’t feel sleepy and continued reading the memorandums.
After a storm, there was an increase in patients. The Medical Hall became busy again. Gu Jiao received two patient visits on the same street.
As Gu Jiao came out of the first patient’s house and passed a Chess Club on her way to the second patient’s house.
Generally speaking, a Chess Club is a relatively quiet place, but it was unusually lively today, with people crowding inside and outside, and occasional gasps could be heard.
Gu Jiao was puzzled and looked at it strangely, but because the patient was still waiting, she didn’t go in.
A grand chess game was taking place in the Chess Club. The reason for the grandeur was that one of the players was the recently esteemed Mount Mao Recluse.
The Mount Mao Recluse was in his forties, not a local citizen of the Capital City. He had traveled to the Capital City last year. Due to his excellent chess skills, he was invited by numerous Chess Clubs and even by some wealthy families to play chess.
His worth was very high, and all the chess players in the Capital City took pride in competing against him. If someone happened to win one or two rounds against him, they could boast about it for years.
Unfortunately, no one had ever beaten him before.
The Crown Prince’s Consort was an exceptional chess player, but they had never played against each other.
The Mount Mao Recluse only played against one person a day. The contender would have to pay a high price for the match or defeat all the chess players in the Chess Club that day to play against him.
The chess player sitting across from him now belonged to the latter category.
Calling him a chess player might not be quite right; an old beggar would be more apt.
Yet, incredibly, such a ragged old beggar had managed to sit across from the Mount Mao Recluse.
It was a sight to behold.
It was unclear whether the throng of spectators were there to watch the chess game or the spectacle. In any case, the hall was packed to the brim, leaving hardly any room to stand.
In a private room, a lady-in-waiting dressed like a commoner said to the Crown Prince’s Consort, “A formidable old beggar is playing against the Mount Mao Recluse. Once he loses, the Mount Mao Recluse will be able to pay his respects to the Crown Prince’s Consort.”
“No rush.” The Crown Prince’s Consort did not interrupt their game, “Have him come when they are finished.”
She came to find someone to play chess with.
She heard that the Mount Mao Recluse was a talented player, and she needed to maintain her level of skill, so she needed to play against talented chess players.
Unexpectedly, in the end, it was the old beggar who won.
The lady-in-waiting exclaimed in surprise, “Could it be? The Mount Mao Recluse lost!”
“Victory or loss is common in war,” said the Crown Prince’s Consort. She was strict with herself, but not so much so with others.
The lady-in-waiting asked, “Then… does the Crown Prince’s Consort still want to play with him?”
“Yes.” The Crown Prince’s Consort wouldn’t deny someone’s abilities just because they lost once, and she wouldn’t see the old beggar in a better light because he won one game, either. There are always some people in this world who are unusually lucky, but she trusted an established reputation more, “Let him come in to keep me company for a few rounds of chess.”
The Crown Prince’s Consort and the Mount Mao Recluse played several rounds of chess. The Mount Mao Recluse’s chess skills were indeed good, and the Crown Prince’s Consort had certainly acquired new skills from those games. However, he still fell somewhat short in comparison to the expert level that she had in mind.
However, at present, there weren’t many in Zhan Country who were even more proficient at chess than him.