Recognizing each other, chess pieces

As they entered the An Tai Hall, the Emperor gave a wink to the eunuch beside him, leaving the two accompanying men outside. Shen Muchen understood that the Emperor wanted to speak with him alone. Shen Muchen gave Mo Liangcheng a wink, signaling him to be patient, and then followed the Emperor into the hall.

From the entrance to the main hall, the two remained silent, exchanging not a single word. Finally, the emperor spoke, "Your name is Tang Siyuan, isn't it?" Shen Muchen replied, "Yes." The emperor continued, "That's a good name. But no matter how you disguise yourself, you can't fool my eyes. You are my Cheng'er. Cheng'er, you resent me for not investigating the truth for you, for letting you go to the desolate borderlands unjustly..."

Shen Muchen was silent for a moment before saying, "I firmly believe that Father Emperor made the right judgment and choice, which is why he sent me to the frontier. But I also saw many sights there that I had never seen in the palace. I also learned that the reason we live in peace and contentment is because those soldiers are silently protecting this land in places we cannot see, building new walls with their own bodies to block thousands of enemy soldiers. Therefore, I have never resented it, and that's why I have grown, haven't I?"

The Emperor said, "I thought you would be utterly disappointed in me, your father, but I never expected you to have such an awakening. I am very pleased, hahaha!" After saying this, the Emperor pulled Shen Muchen to sit down, and they drank tea and played chess together, just like always...

Outside the main hall, no one was allowed to enter without the emperor's summons. Ling Jingxia and Mo Liangcheng waited quietly outside. Mo Liangcheng disliked the person who had dragged him onto the stage to perform, but he felt sorry for him seeing him shivering in the cold wind. He took off his cloak and covered Ling Jingxia with it. Ling Jingxia was a little surprised and before he could speak, the emperor summoned them into the hall.

The Emperor immediately noticed Ling Jingxia's cloak, then glanced at Mo Liangcheng. Mo Liangcheng felt uneasy under the Emperor's gaze. The Emperor sighed and asked, "Have you both thought this through? This path won't be easy!" Mo Liangcheng was unwilling, but Ling Jingxia took his hand. Ling Jingxia looked firmly at the Emperor and said, "I have no regrets. After all, to have someone to love in this life is such a wonderful thing!"

The Emperor looked at Ling Jingxia's resolute gaze, then glanced at Shen Muchen. Shen Muchen naturally noticed as well, but what he didn't expect was Shen Muchen's words: "If two people truly love each other, perhaps in my eyes, it has nothing to do with gender, but rather the harmony of souls!" After hearing this, the Emperor was silent for a moment, thinking, "Never mind, I am ultimately different from them," and waved his hand, dismissing them.

But in the next instant, the emperor's soul was gripped tightly by someone. "You old fool who's good for nothing but ruining things! Do you think you can protect them like this? How naive!" He was about to succeed, but the person in front of him ruined it! Yin Yaochun angrily gripped the emperor's soul by the neck until the emperor's soul turned to ashes before his eyes, turning into starlight and dissipating into the world.

Mo Liangcheng seemed to sense something and glanced back at the palace. Shen Muchen noticed Mo Liangcheng's unusual behavior and quickly asked, "What's wrong?" Mo Liangcheng shook his head and said nothing was wrong, but he still looked preoccupied. Ling Jingxia didn't understand what Mo Liangcheng was so preoccupied with. The master simply told him to keep an eye on Mo Liangcheng and didn't say anything more.

As soon as the three of them left the palace gates, a eunuch came to deliver a message, saying that Mo Liangcheng and Ling Jingxia were to travel together for a few days, seemingly to test their resolve in the face of the world. Because of Shen Mucheng's companionship today, the Emperor was greatly pleased and bestowed upon him a residence. Shen Mucheng smiled, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch!" He then took out some silver and gave it to the eunuch. The eunuch, naturally pleased with the silver, accepted it with both hands and said, "I am also serving His Majesty. His Majesty's happiness is my happiness, so it is only right that I work hard. Thank you, gentlemen. If there is anything I can do to help, I will do my best. I will take my leave now. Oh, by the way, today is the New Year. I wish you gentlemen continued peace and prosperity, and many happy times ahead."

After speaking, the eunuch who delivered the message returned to the red walls and green tiles. No one knew his fate, and no one pitied a eunuch whose life was as insignificant as an ant.

Meanwhile, Xu Zixie was still waiting for Shen Muchen to come out so they could leave together. Before he arrived, he sensed a strong killing intent emanating from him, seemingly tinged with familiarity. He lured his attacker to the outskirts of town and asked, "Who are you? Why do you want to kill me?" "Heh, do I need a reason to kill you?" The man in black charged forward, knife in hand. Seeing this, Xu Zixie had no choice but to fight him head-on. After a few rounds, Xu Zixie subdued the man in black. "Speak," he said, "who sent you to kill me?"

"Heh, do you think I'd tell you? Dream on! Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, Shen Muchen is also being hunted. Do you think he'll even see you alive? Hahahaha!" The man in black, seeing Xu Zixie's frantic state, knew his superior was right; Shen Muchen was his Achilles' heel. Xu Zixie desperately wanted to be by Shen Muchen's side to ensure his safety. The man in black, having exhausted himself, stood up again and waved with a smile. All the men in black emerged. "What's the use of being anxious? Do you think you'll ever see him again? Hahahaha!" The men in black slowly approached Xu Zixie, forming a circle around him. Xu Zixie slowly gripped the sword in his hand, while the man in black watched as Xu Zixie fought against twenty or thirty people. Xu Zixie could severely injure several people, but his strength was gradually waning. Xu Zixie's body was covered in wounds, and the only time he had worn clean white clothes, now they were stained with blood.

Shen Muchen returned to the inn unharmed. Those men in black had tricked him; he was alright, alright. He finally breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed at the inn's entrance. Just then, someone passing by saw Xu Zixie covered in blood, pale-faced, and unconscious at the inn's entrance. Several kind-hearted people took Xu Zixie to the clinic. The doctor at the clinic had never seen anyone injured like this before. What kind of deep-seated hatred could have caused this? The doctor treated the wounds, applied medicine, and settled Xu Zixie down. While tending to her, the doctor sighed, wondering if she could survive this ordeal. If she did, her life would be safe, but if not... alas, so young, what a pity.

Jiang Yi's subordinate told him about Xu Zixie's assassination attempt. Jiang Yi stroked the chess piece in his hand and slowly asked, "Does he know?" The subordinate, not quite sure who he was referring to, asked, "I don't really understand." Jiang Yi simply waved his hand, dismissing him.

Jiang Yi stared at the chessboard before him, muttering to himself, "This game is getting bigger and bigger, and everything is starting to become unpredictable. I don't know how to end this. Some people always have to pay the price for their greed." With that, Jiang Yi placed a chess piece on the board. "Now this is a complete game. Mu Siyan, it's time for you to return!"