"Your Majesty, I hope you will issue an edict allowing me to return to the capital every year from now on."

"I told the late Emperor that I would never return to the capital in this lifetime."

"But now, I regret it, and I hope Your Majesty will allow me to take back what I said."

If Pei Zhi stays in the capital for a long time, Shang Huai will definitely come back several times a year.

Xiao Chengci replied, "The late emperor is dead. How can I take back what you said to him?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Huai's expression darkened, but he was too lazy to argue. In his heart, however, he planned to think of another way.

At worst, we can just have his dad fake being sick every year from now on.

This way, he could return to Beijing every year under the pretext of visiting someone in the hospital.

"Although I cannot take back what you said to the late emperor."

"But the two elders of the business are getting old, and you are their only grandchild."

"I hereby grant you special permission to return to the capital every year, as long as there is no war, to fulfill your filial duties to your parents."

Xiao Chengci did not say how long Shang Huai could stay in the capital each year.

Xiao Chengci understood that Shang Huai was not the kind of person who would abandon his responsibilities for Pei Zhi's sake.

The Zhenbei Army was a responsibility that Shang Huai could not relinquish; it was the home of his soul.

He knew that as a general, his every move was related to the safety of thousands of soldiers and the peace of the border.

Therefore, he would never leave the land he swore to defend for long, lest the army lose its leader, leading to instability and unforeseen events.

Shang Huai is by no means the kind of person who would neglect his duties.

This is why Shang Huai had hundreds of thousands of Zhenbei Army troops gathered in the north of the city.

Xiao Chengci was not worried at all, as Shang Huai, relying on his military power, had achieved great merit and threatened the emperor.

Despite the deep love between them.

But there are some things they understand that the other party would disdain to do.

Just as Shang Huai wouldn't worry that Xiao Chengci would come after him after becoming emperor.

The meal was relatively peaceful.

After having dinner, Shang Huai left first, agreeing to come and pick up Pei Zhi the next day.

After having dinner, Pei Minxue tactfully left.

"It's still early today, would you like to come with me to the study for a game of chess?"

Pei Zhi: "Playing chess? How good are you at chess?"

"You ask who it's compared to?"

"With Shang Huai?"

Xiao Chengci laughed: "He's probably at the level of a one-year-old child, what's there to compare?"

Pei Zhi became somewhat interested after hearing Xiao Chengci's arrogant words.

Inside the study, a servant brought a cup of hot tea.

Xiao Chengci and Pei Zhi sat opposite each other, and Pei Zhi made the first move.

"Shall we make a bet between the two of us?"

Pei Zhi hesitated for a moment: "Why don't I observe your playing style first?"

Pei Zhi is not an adventurous person.

What if Xiao Chengci suddenly suggests playing chess? What if Xiao Chengci makes a request that Pei Zhi finds difficult to agree to?

Xiao Chengci understood Pei Zhi's concerns, "How about we play Gomoku?"

Xiao Chengci took the chess pieces and placed them on the chessboard.

"Does this make sense? Five pieces in a line is enough; it's not about skill level."

"Then tell me, what do you want to bet?"

Xiao Chengci was straightforward: "Whoever loses has to take off a piece of clothing."

Pei Zhi glanced down at Xiao Chengci, then shook her head decisively.

Do I look like an idiot?

That's hilarious, this isn't a bet at all.

Whether she wins or loses, isn't Xiao Chengci the one who benefits?

What's the ultimate outcome of playing this kind of bet? It's self-evident.

Pei Zhi toyed with the chess piece in her hand: "So, all you really want is to have some fun and then sleep with me?"

Xiao Chengci felt somewhat embarrassed when he realized that Pei Zhi had ruthlessly exposed his thoughts.

"That's not what I meant."

"So what do you mean?"

"Is taking off your clothes fun?"

"Or are you saying you won't sleep on the same bed with me tonight?"

Xiao Chengci hesitated for a moment, then said sincerely, "I can sleep on the floor afterwards."

Pei Zhi tossed the chess piece into the chess box. "I'm too lazy to waste my time with you."

"Let's change the stakes."

"Let's play another round. You beat me today."

"From now on, I am willing to coexist peacefully with Shang Huai!"

Pei Zhi opened her mouth slightly, seemingly not understanding what Xiao Chengci meant by peaceful coexistence.

Xiao Chengci looked at Pei Zhi with calm eyes. No explanation was needed; the two of them understood each other's thoughts simply by looking at each other.

Pei Zhi chose black and made the first move.

Xiao Chengci looked at the black pieces in Pei Zhi's hand, curled his lips, and also placed a white piece.

The two men played chess back and forth, and gradually, their expressions became somewhat serious.

Towards the end, the speed at which the pieces were placed also slowed down.

After Pei Zhi made her move, her hand trembled involuntarily.

Because Pei Zhi realized that she had made a mistake.

She didn't realize that Xiao Chengci had already prepared a trap, waiting for her to fall into it.

Pei Zhi was somewhat annoyed. If Xiao Chengci made another move, Xiao Chengci would win.

Pei Zhi pursed her lips, clearly looking somewhat annoyed.

Before Xiao Chengci made his move, he noticed Pei Zhi's expression.

And so, under Pei Zhi's gaze, Xiao Chengci landed in a place Pei Zhi had not expected.

Pei Zhi was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Xiao Chengci.

Pei Zhi thought that Xiao Chengci had been distracted; otherwise, how could Xiao Chengci have made a mistake?

After setting up this scheme for so long, how could it not be wrapped up?

Pei Zhi looked up and met Xiao Chengci's gaze. The moment she did, she suddenly understood.

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