Chapter 7 Draw
For some reason, upon hearing this announcement, Song Lingyi breathed a sigh of relief as if she had been pardoned.
Xiao Mingyi's gaze fell on her for a moment, then turned to the carved wooden door, as if thinking about something.
"Let him in."
After a while, the door of the elegant room behind him opened and closed, and the sound of faint footsteps was heard.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince is safe and sound."
Song Lingyi subconsciously turned around and looked at the agarwood-colored figure that was bowing and saluting. It was like a slender green bamboo growing in a clear stream in a valley, with outstanding grace and neither humble nor arrogant.
"No need to be polite, just sit down."
Xiao Mingyi knew the relationship between the Lu and Pei families and guessed Pei Erlang's purpose for coming to the teahouse. But since he didn't tell him, he didn't ask.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Pei Zhao stood up, his gaze softening as he fell on the girl. He gave her a look that said, "Don't worry," and walked to the other end of the chess table and sat down.
"Pei Erlang, you came at the right time. I have nothing to do today and wanted to find someone to play chess with. I heard that you are good at chess. Let's play a game." Xiao Mingyi had a faint smile on his lips and his tone was neither cold nor indifferent.
"It's disrespectful."
The two of them slowly and methodically put the black and white chess pieces on the chessboard into the chess box.
The third person in the room stood there awkwardly, not knowing whether to stand, sit, walk or stay. It was simply torture.
The dark blue dot fell calmly. Xiao Mingyi glanced at Song Lingyi and said calmly, "What are you standing there for? Sit down."
Song Lingyi bit her lip and held her breath, then quietly sat down on the crescent-shaped stool beside her.
The Boshan stove was filled with smoke, the chess game had just begun, and the sound of chess pieces being dropped could be heard clearly in the room.
"I wonder if His Highness summoned Lingyi for something important?" Pei Zhao dropped a child.
Xiao Mingyi raised his eyebrows slightly, his dark eyes turning to the tense girl. Wandering and murder were not good for a woman's reputation, so she probably hadn't told the Duke of Jin yet.
"Before entering the capital, one of my lieutenants disappeared..."
Song Lingyi's heart was pounding and she clenched her fists under her sleeves.
"Oh?" Pei Zhao remained calm. "Then Your Highness must investigate thoroughly. But what does this have to do with Lingyi?"
"We were still investigating, and Pei Erlang came." Xiao Mingyi raised his eyelids and looked at him with a smile.
Song Lingyi broke out in a cold sweat on her back.
This bastard was clearly trying to cover up her mistake, hinting to Pei Zhao that the captain's death was related to her.
But Pei Zhao remained calm and said nonchalantly, "Your Highness must have misunderstood. Lingyi came with me to the capital and didn't come into contact with any captains during this time."
Xiao Mingyi sat in a casual posture, holding a black piece in his hand. He tapped it twice on the chessboard and placed the piece casually.
"This matter is still under investigation. What is Pei Erlang's motive in being so eager to testify for her?"
Pei Zhao stroked the chess piece and smiled faintly, "The Lu and Pei families have a very good relationship, and Lingyi and I hit it off right away. She came out with Second Miss Lu today to settle accounts, and she has to return to the Duke's Mansion when the time comes. She can't stay here for long, so please make it convenient for me, Your Highness."
Song Lingyi, who was sitting next to him, had a slightly changed expression, and a complex emotion surged in her heart.
Xiao Mingyi pondered for a moment, his fingers lazy and his expression unclear.
"It turns out we hit it off right away."
After saying this, he glanced at the girl thoughtfully.
"If you want to give me a break, that's fine. As long as you can beat me in this round, I'll let you take the person away."
The elegant room fell into a sudden silence.
Pei Zhao narrowed his dark eyes and said with a smile, "Your Highness is an excellent chess player. It is really difficult for me to defeat you."
Hearing that this was a polite remark, Xiao Mingyi twirled a black piece between his fingers and tapped the chessboard casually, "Pei Erlang, you're too modest. You're a famous talent in Kyoto. It shouldn't be difficult for you to win a game against me."
Those narrow, long phoenix eyes glanced at Song Lingyi, and with undisguised amusement and malice, his deep voice echoed in the elegant room, "A captain is missing. This matter can be big or small, depending on my feelings."
"..." Bastard. Song Lingyi cursed inwardly.
Pei Zhao's expression remained calm, unperturbed. He said calmly, "Since that's the case, I'll have to give it my all."
A game of chess lasted for a full hour.
Song Lingyi couldn't understand the chess game, but from the two people's focused state, it could be seen that they must have encountered an opponent of equal strength.
During this time, a servant came in to serve tea. The swirling steam of hot tea enveloped Pei Zhao's elegant face. His eyes were always fixed on the chessboard, and his thin lips were slightly pursed.
Da, da, da...
Black and white chess pieces scattered like stars. Pei Zhao's moves were vastly different from his own; they were unpredictable, full of traps and murderous intent. Xiao Mingyi seemed to be handling the situation with composure, but in reality, he didn't dare to let his guard down for even a moment.
The two of them fought back and forth for a long time, arranging their troops on the chessboard.
The game ended in a draw, as expected.
Xiao Mingyi raised his eyebrows slightly, showing no emotion towards the result. His tone was like a casual chat, "It seems Pei Erlang can't take anyone away today."
Hearing this, Pei Zhao frowned slightly. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a "bang" next to him, followed by a cry of pain.
They both turned their heads.
The crescent stool tipped over and Song Lingyi fell to the ground. She rubbed her tailbone and slowly stood up.
Meeting the gazes of the two men, her face flushed slightly and she muttered, "By the time you finish this game of chess, the sun will be setting." Isn't it natural to feel sleepy?
Dada.
Two hurried knocking sounds attracted Song Lingyi's attention, and she turned to look at Xiao Mingyi.
"It's a draw. It seems Pei Erlang can't protect you today." He said this, but his expression was a little happier.
"Your Highness, this is wrong."
If before, Song Lingyi was afraid that Xiao Mingyi would kill her and reveal the fact that she was a beggar and lived in Hutou Village; at this moment, Song Lingyi inexplicably developed a courage to fight to the bitter end.
Pei Zhao already knew everything he should know, and he could already guess what he shouldn't know. The fact that he dared to come to the teahouse today meant he was willing to protect her. With Emperor Xuanyuan and the Lu and Pei families as his backers, why should she let anyone else hold her back?
Pei Zhao was a man of self-discipline and righteousness, and he wouldn't do anything like shirking his obligations. But she was different; she could do it.
"Even if it's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, investigating a case still requires evidence, right?"
"If you have any doubts, please provide evidence. Otherwise, I'll be leaving."
Xiao Mingyi was silent, his deep phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and his eyes clearly said, "Did you hit your head?"
"Anyway, I live in the Duke's Mansion and won't run away. Once His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has found evidence, it won't be too late to come and question him."
Song Lingyi narrowed her eyes and smiled falsely. Without hesitation, she pulled Pei Zhao out of the elegant room.
A group of strong men in brocade clothes and armed with swords who were guarding outside the door wanted to draw their swords to stop the people.
"Cough..." Xuanfeng coughed lightly.
The strong men restrained their momentum and gave way.
After everyone left the teahouse, Xuan Feng quickly walked to the door of the elegant room and said, "Your Highness, Miss A Li and Pei Erlang have left!"
Xiao Mingyi sat beside the chess table, holding his chin with one hand and humming indifferently.
Seeing this calm demeanor, Xuan Feng stamped his feet anxiously, "Your Highness, you can't do this!"
"Women need to be coaxed. If you just let her go like this, won't that give others an advantage?"
Xiao Mingyi has not told anyone else that Xu Er's death is related to Song Lingyi, so Xuanfeng always thought that the two were having a conflict.
"Xuanfeng, do you know a lot about matters between men and women?" Xiao Mingyi weighed the chess piece and looked at him with amusement.
Xuan Feng choked and pursed his lips to say, "This humble official is also thinking about His Highness."
Miss Ali is no longer a homeless beggar. She is the cousin of the Duke's family. She is favored by the Duke and has saved the emperor. People who want to propose marriage to her are almost lining up at the door. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince does not hurry up and propose marriage, he will have no place to regret it in the future.
"I have nothing to do with her."
Crash——
Xiao Mingyi threw the chess piece in his palm into the chess box and said, "Let's pretend that the incident at Hutou Village never happened. Tell the people below to keep their mouths shut."
…
The evening mist gradually gathers in the sky, and smoke from cooking rises from the streets.
A carriage with a lantern bearing the Chinese character "Pei" rumbled towards the Duke's Mansion.
Song Lingyi shifted her gaze slightly and looked at Pei Zhao who was sitting on the other side. The dim light and shadow reflected his angular profile, his thick eyelashes drooped, and his expression was calm and gentle.
After thinking for a long time, she finally asked, "How did Brother Jianzhi know I was in the teahouse?"
Pei Zhao's eyes darkened: "We just met by chance."
Song Lingyi nodded slowly. A ray of sunlight leaked in through the window and sprinkled on her hair and cheeks, making her face look even more smooth and fair.
"Actually...the group of bandits chasing me that day when I met you in Qingshi Town were His Royal Highness's men."
Pei Zhao looked at her quietly, waiting for her to continue.
"I lied to you." Song Lingyi lowered her eyes and spoke weakly, "After my father passed away, our family lost their livelihood. My mother had to take medicine every day, and our family's income was insufficient to cover expenses... When my mother passed away, she dismissed the servants in the mansion and asked three Kunlun slaves to escort me to the capital. But the situation was turbulent, and they died at the hands of thieves. I had no choice but to disguise myself as a beggar..."
Listening to her story, the gentle smile that usually graced Pei Zhao's lips vanished, his brows furrowed, and his eyes revealed a mixture of astonishment, sorrow, and concern...
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