Nanqianyue pinched her thigh hard, forcing herself to smile less happily.
She smiled slowly and said, "With Mr. Mo's comprehensive evaluation beforehand, what else can I say?"
The implication is that you're right, and I support you!
The second prince glared at her angrily.
She was a poetic genius; if she said a few good words for him, everyone's opinion of him would improve.
She supported Mr. Mo's words, thinking he was stupid and couldn't understand?
It seems that this imperial concubine, who has already married, has not settled down and her heart is still with other men.
Old Master Xu chuckled a few more times, then skipped over the topic, asking, "What about the other students?"
A student stood up, nodded, and said, "I have made a fool of myself."
One poem after another about peach blossoms was recited, and both Xu Taigong and Mr. Mo gave their comments, most of which were better than the Second Prince's poem.
This infuriated the second prince.
He comforted himself, saying it was okay, there would be another chess match later, and he would definitely win back his face then!
Otherwise, after today, the capital city will probably be filled with talk of how he is unworthy of the poet.
"Everyone's poems are quite good. Next, we'll learn from each other in chess."
Xu Taigong looked proudly at Qin Yi, "I have specially invited Prince Anzheng to oversee things today. Those who wish to challenge him should move to the flower hall. The rest of the students may follow and watch."
"Mr. Mo, please." Old Master Xu stood up and personally led Mr. Mo to the flower hall.
Qin Yi also stood up and walked to Nan Qianyue's side. "Let's go."
Nan Qianyue quickly waved her hand, "I can't, how dare I challenge you?"
He was invited by Master Xu to be a guest of honor, which shows how superb his chess skills are.
Qin Yi chuckled, "Xu Zhimo is coming to paint today, but only if the Poet Immortal is here."
"Xu Zhimo?" Nanqianyue once thought he had misheard.
“Nan Nan, he is a famous painter. His paintings are priceless. However, he has a unique personality. Unless he is willing, no one can persuade him to come.”
Xiao Chen explained gently that he noticed Nan Nan's confusion about the artist's name. He had intended to write Xu Zhimo's name on her palm, but ultimately refrained from doing so.
"Oh, let's go then." Nan Qianyue quickly followed Xu Taigong and the others.
The flower hall is located in a spacious garden, surrounded by peach blossoms and flowing water, with rockeries and green pines creating a pleasant atmosphere.
The flower hall is open on all sides, with only semi-transparent curtains swaying in the wind.
A chessboard was set up in the middle, with Qin Yi sitting on one side and the other side temporarily empty.
Mr. Xu and Mr. Mo sat in a corner watching. Under a peach tree outside the hall, a man in his thirties, dressed in a white robe that resembled that of a Taoist priest, was adjusting his easel.
Suddenly, he looked at Nanqianyue, who was chatting idly in the garden, and smiled with admiration, "Poet Immortal, could you please sit on the east side of the chessboard?"
Nanqianyue paused for a moment, pointed to herself, then to the chessboard in front of Qin Yi, and looked at the priceless painter with a question mark in her eyes.
Xu Zhimo nodded emphatically, "Yes, yes, yes!"
"Come on over, Poet Immortal, a spot has been prepared for you long ago." Old Master Xu looked at Nan Qianyue with a smile.
Nan Qianyue waved to Xiao Chen, "I'm going now."
She entered the flower hall, bowed to the two elderly men, walked to Qin Yi's side, pointed to the seat to his left, and whispered, "Dongfang?"
Qin Yi nodded sullenly.
I just asked her to come over, saying we should admire the scenery, but she actually went off to chat with that person.
"Who will be the first to challenge?" Xu Taigong looked at the crowd watching in the garden, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally falling on the Crown Prince of Nan Jing and the First Prince of Xi Qiu.
Mr. Mo lifted his eyelids and glanced at Xu Taigong without showing any emotion. He knew perfectly well that Dongling was going to surpass the chess skills of other countries as well.
Ah, too bad, their Prince of Nanjing's chess skills are not so easy to deal with.
"I'll do it!"
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice, and it turned out to be... the Second Prince!
Old Master Xu's eyelids twitched, and his smile froze for a moment.
"Then, then I'll learn from your royal uncle."
Xu Taigong deliberately used the humble word "learning" so that even if the Second Prince lost, he wouldn't lose too much, and could simply consider it as a learning experience.
However, when these words reached the ears of the Second Prince, they were interpreted as disrespect and an assumption that he would lose to his uncle.
The Second Prince suppressed his displeasure and strode into the flower hall, sitting down opposite Qin Yi. He straightened his back, afraid of losing to Qin Yi in terms of imposing manner.
He wanted to show Nanqian Yue that marrying him was her good fortune!
"Uncle, please go first!" The Second Prince adopted a gentlemanly demeanor, while keeping an eye on Nan Qianyue's expression out of the corner of his eye.
She must have thought he was a humble and polite gentleman.
Qin Yi didn't refuse and picked up a black piece, placing it at the center.
Such a bold move suggests that the outcome is already decided, and perhaps the player intends to end the game sooner rather than later.
The second prince was horrified. His uncle's method of attacking the emperor was... truly arrogant to the extreme!
Playing chess is extremely demanding on one's mental state. Although the Second Prince did not show much emotion on his face, his heart was already consumed by anger, and he was only thinking about winning. The white pieces he placed were already in disarray.
Old Master Xu shook his head. The outcome was already decided; why was the Second Prince still struggling so desperately?
It's not surprising that he lost to Prince Anzheng.
Nanqianyue glanced at the Second Prince's forehead; it was covered in sweat.
Then she looked at Qin Yi... Even the fishermen didn't seem as idle as him.
"Still playing?" Qin Yi raised an eyebrow, his expression showing a loss of patience.
The second prince's fingertips, gripping the chess piece with excessive force, turned bluish-white. He gritted his teeth and suddenly dropped the piece.
"...I lost."
He dared not look anyone in the eye, especially Nan Qianyue. She must be very unwilling to marry him; she must want to marry the Imperial Uncle.
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