Yuan Xiang stretched his head further and asked curiously, "Did Madam Chang win or lose?"
Looking at the head that stretched out in front of him, Cui Jing said: "...You might as well jump down and take a closer look."
Yuan Xiang replied "yes", stretched out his hand and opened the window frame a little wider. Just as he was about to move, he suddenly paused and asked cautiously: "Commander-in-chief, is this action too unusual and conspicuous?"
Cui Jing looked at him and said nothing.
Yuanxiang laughed dryly and closed the window a little smaller.
There was a sudden commotion in the backyard, and it was indeed because the winner had been decided.
This kind of noise often only occurs when there is a victory or defeat that is beyond everyone's expectations.
But this unexpected result was not sudden - winning or losing a game of chess was not determined by just one move. From the beginning to the middle to the end, everyone could clearly see how the win or loss was determined.
Looking at the chessboard in front of him, Song Xian tried his best to sound calm enough and said -
"I lost."
He was almost restraining himself and waiting for the already flamboyant girl opposite him to show a smug look or say something arrogant... Indeed, she was now very qualified to do so.
"Mr. Song just lost this round." The girl suggested calmly, "We didn't agree on the number of rounds before, how about a best-of-three game?"
Song Xian raised his eyes to look at her, with surprise, confusion, and doubt... Could it be that one round was not enough, and she wanted to win another round from him to show off even more?
But those eyes were so calm and honest that there was no flaw.
After staring at each other for a moment, Song Xian actually looked away in embarrassment, and then looked at the chessboard again. In a trance, he seemed to be pulled back to the silent battlefield again - the process of this game of chess made him feel as if he was on the battlefield.
This was very strange, as he clearly had no idea what a real battlefield looked like.
And now, looking back carefully, I feel that the opponent's "tactics" are not fierce attacks, but a roundabout and gentle spirit under the planning...
It is often said that one who watches chess can see clearly, but no one can understand the feeling better than him who is in the middle of it.
Is it an illusion?
Why would she need to be roundabout and conciliatory? Why would she need to give in implicitly to save his face?
Under the watchful eyes of the public, she should win as quickly as possible so that it will be more glorious and more eye-catching when the news spreads. This is in line with her style, isn't it?
At this moment, he felt that the girl in front of him, who he had always defined as superficial and ostentatious, suddenly became unpredictable, as if he had never really seen through her...
The impact of this feeling was even more unacceptable to him than losing the game.
"Brother Song, let's play another round!"
"Yes, Brother Song, I think I underestimated the enemy in this round..."
"Brother Song, don't hold back on this round..."
Listening to the persuasion and comforting voices in his ears, Song Xian's face turned red and white.
He did underestimate the enemy at first, but he was not the one who held back.
"No need."
He stood up with his limbs somewhat numb and stiff: "If I lose, I lose. It is true that Song is not as skilled as others."
If you continue to engage in sophistry at this time, you will be truly inferior.
After hearing him admit defeat, the surroundings became noisy again.
Listening to those mild discussions, the faces of the other people in Xunmei Society inevitably became embarrassed.
In contrast, Cui Lang's words were very sharp: "Are you admitting defeat now? Then are you going to follow through on your promise to become my disciple?"
Cui Lang's face showed an undisguised look of pride.
The master won, Wuershe was saved, his family was still there! And he was going to have a junior apprentice! Wait... this Song Xian was going to be his junior apprentice?
Glancing at Song Xian's changing expression, Cui Lang suddenly felt that it was a bit unfair: "Master, isn't it too easy for him to just ask him to become your disciple?"
He had prepared for a long time in order to become a disciple, and even risked being beaten. How come this guy lost a game of chess and got a great benefit today!
Damn it, there are people in this world who get something for nothing and receive rewards without any merit!
But Song Xian obviously didn't think so.
But he knew that he couldn't say anything regretful now.
Countless eyes fell on him... Did Mr. Song really want to take a woman as his master?
And she is such a young girl.
Song Xian had just stood up, while the young girl was still sitting there. She looked at the young man Song Xian, who was much taller than her, but she did not give people a sense of looking up to her.
She spoke in a steady tone: "Mr. Song should know that you don't need to prove your own greatness by looking down on others, and you should not trap yourself in a maze with prejudice."
There was silence all around.
Are you starting to act like a teacher and preach?
Hearing this, Song Xian felt a burning pain on his face.
"My apprenticeship with Qiao Jijiu was indeed not fair. Although it was just my personal matter, it is natural that Mr. Song, who was rejected as a disciple, treated me with some dislike. If it were me, I might also feel dissatisfied--"
The girl's voice continued: "But this dislike and dissatisfaction, whether it is eliminated or deepened, must be based on facts. If you insist on holding on to this prejudice and let yourself fall into bias and paranoia, wouldn't it be more harm than good?"
Song Xian's stiff and cold ten fingers trembled slightly and then slowly closed.
Now that you've finished preaching, the next logical step is to ask him to become your disciple, right?
"Only those who can help others solve their doubts can be teachers." Chang Suining also stood up at this time, but said: "If Mr. Song thinks that my words are useful in solving his doubts, then I will be Mr. Song's teacher today-"
Finally, he said, "The purpose of becoming a disciple is to find a like-minded person, not to make an enemy. If Mr. Song is not interested, then it is fine not to become a disciple. If you are interested in the future, it will not be too late to become a disciple again."
There was a sound of surprise all around.
Was he actually relieved? He was not going to let Mr. Song become his disciple on the spot? Some people breathed a sigh of relief for Song Xian, while others looked at the young girl again with a different look.
Prince Rong is the latter.
Cui Jing had another layer of thought besides the latter.
"Grand Commander, please don't say that..." Yuan Xiang came to his senses after listening attentively until now, and suddenly showed emotion: "I think what Madam Chang said...whether it is to establish oneself in the world or to enter the officialdom in the future, it will be of great use to Mr. Song. Mr. Song will not suffer any loss even if he calls me teacher."
It may seem that you have suffered a loss in this game of chess today, but you can avoid bigger setbacks in the future.
Cui Jing looked at the two people standing opposite each other beside the stone table.
It was obvious that Song Xian was hostile to her.
But she treated the other person with tolerance and patience.
This is completely different from her attitude towards people like Ming Jin and Chang Miao, where she would rather take action than talk.
Be it the chess game, or what she just said, or the decision of whether to become a disciple or not - she was determined to overthrow the other party's high platform built with prejudice, while also providing just the right amount of protection.
Protecting the self-esteem and pride of the poor scholar.
This is not a kind of leniency in treating others as equals, but a kind of respect for talent from top to bottom.
It was almost impossible for a young girl to have such a demeanor and vision without any reason, which caused Cui Jing to have a rare look of confusion in his eyes.
"Who taught her this?" he asked as if talking to himself.
Yuan Xiang exclaimed, "Ah!" and subconsciously asked, "Qiao Ji Bar?"
Isn't Qiao Jijiu the teacher of Lady Chang?
Cui Jing did not comment.
Mr. Song, who was sitting at the stone table in the backyard, raised his hand to salute with a complicated expression, then left the place in a slightly embarrassed manner.
"Brother Song!" Someone followed.
His troublesome brother put his hands on his hips and said, "If you don't become my disciple today, you won't have such a good opportunity in the future!"
After shouting this at Song Xian's back, Cui Lang said to Chang Suining, "Master, if he wants to come back to become your disciple again in the future, don't let him get away with it. I will be the one to check on him then!"
Hu Huan shook his head secretly.
Judging from the situation, Cui Liulang really wants to close the shop.
Cui Lang's idea was indeed not very friendly. If he couldn't be the last disciple, who else could be the gatekeeper disciple?
"Ningning's chess... is actually so good?" Qiao Yubai couldn't hide his surprise - the unknown shocks were increasing!
"What's the big deal? Ningning is very good at using the spear." Chang Sui'an gave him a universal answer: "You don't know yet, but Ningning's strength is to turn other people's strengths into her own strengths!"
Qiao Yubai: "..."
Is this inhuman strength serious? Why does it feel like since Ningning's brain broke, it seems that God has given her a special meal... No, this is not a special meal, it is clearly a feast for the gluttons! Qiao Yubai looked at the girl with mixed feelings. He just wanted to ask, is Ningning full after eating this meal?
"Ms. Chang just said that you play chess pretty well...this is too modest!" Tan Li couldn't help but sigh at this time - he was so worried about Madam Chang just now, it turned out that he was worrying for nothing.
Chang Suining smiled and said, "Compared with horse riding and archery, calligraphy and painting, it can only be called pretty good."
Tan Li: “…”
Very good. This mysterious state of being humble and yet completely unable to be humble is not something that ordinary people can reach.
As he listened to more and more praises, Chang Suining showed no sign of satisfaction.
This was not a real competition for her, and in fact her victory was unfair.
It should be understood that even if people have the same talents, if their backgrounds are different, there will be differences even if they make the same efforts - although what she did as the crown prince before was somewhat like a puppet, she had fought for the treatment that the crown prince deserved.
If the chess game is like a battlefield, then she has held a peerless sword as bright as the sun in her hand for a long time, while Song Xian only has a needle in his hand at most.
This is inherently unfair.
But the vast rivers need someone holding a sword to guard them with flesh and blood, someone holding a carving knife to correct and carve them with all his heart, and someone holding a needle to embroider them with all his heart and soul.
They are not opposites, and neither of them is perfect. Even though they may not be able to walk the same path, they still have to perform their respective duties.
"Come on, let's go back and continue drinking tea!"
Cui Lang was in a good mood and greeted everyone. He also invited Tan Li and the others. He liked people who spoke nicely and not awkwardly. Tan Li happily agreed.
"Brother Tan, Mr. Song just left...isn't this inappropriate?" someone beside him reminded him in a low voice.
"We can't cry with them, right?" Tan Li lowered his voice and said, "Mr. Song needs to be alone right now..."
He had come here to eat for free today, and he had only eaten half of the meal. He was still not full. The banquet like the Plum Blossom Poetry Festival was doomed to be unable to continue. What was he waiting for if he didn't find the next customer? Besides, the next customer was Madam Chang!
Tan Li didn't care about others and joined the Wuer Society on his own.
Out of courtesy, Chang Suining also invited Prince Rong, who had been watching for a long time.
"…but there is no wine at the table."
"With such a weak body, it is not suitable for you to drink." Prince Rong smiled and said, "That's good, it won't spoil your fun."
Chang Suining smiled: "Then please."
The group went towards the bamboo courtyard.
Qiao Yumian walked slowly holding the maid's hand. Cui Lang always walked three steps behind her to block the slightly chaotic flow of people behind her.
When she stepped over the threshold of the bamboo courtyard, Qiao Yumian paused as if she had noticed something and turned her head back in confusion.
Although he knew that she couldn't see him, Cui Lang still felt like he was being caught. He let out a random sigh and fumbled around with his hands: "Yihu, where's my fan!"
"It should have fallen on the seat, right?"
"Go in and look for me!"
Qiao Yumian felt inexplicably at ease.
It was Cui Liulang who was always behind her.
She curled her lips slightly: "Xiao Qiu, let's go in too."
After Chang Suining and others left, the onlookers who came from all over also dispersed while talking.
A waiter in the hall walked over to the stone table and wanted to remove the chessboard.
"Wait a minute."
The young man's cold and steady voice sounded. The waiter turned around and looked. Although he didn't know the identity of the person, he still subconsciously stepped aside, saluted and left for the time being.
Officials and dignitaries often came and went in the museum, so as a waiter, he had developed a pair of eyes that could recognize people.
Cui Jing walked over and his eyes fell on the chessboard.
He watched quietly, and the process of the girl sitting and playing chess seemed to be replayed before his eyes.
The chess game is a game of chess, and the art of war is like the art of war...
And this method of employing troops seemed to be very similar to the way one person employed troops… This was not particularly obvious, but he had studied and summarized this method over and over again for many years, and was very familiar with the way “the late Crown Prince” employed troops, so he had this feeling.
The handwriting and painting style can be copied...but where did you learn the art of war?
At this moment, a ginkgo leaf with its edges just turning yellow, swirled and gently fell onto the chessboard.
Cui Jing raised his hand and moved the ginkgo leaf away. His slender fingers fell on a white piece that had just been covered by the ginkgo leaf and he picked it up.
This should be the last move she made.
“…Elder brother?!”
Suddenly, a shout was heard from behind. Cui Jing, who was concentrating on his work, subconsciously withdrew his hand, and the chess piece was also taken into his palm.
"Why is my eldest brother here too?" Cui Lang came over in surprise: "Are you here with my ninth uncle?"
Cui Jing didn't comment: "Why did you come out?"
"I'm here to look for the fan!" Cui Lang shook the folding fan in his hand. "It must have fallen here accidentally when I was shoving with those people just now... By the way, did you see Master playing chess with Mr. Song just now?"
Cui Jing nodded, and his right hand holding the chess piece was placed behind his back.
Cui Lang recounted the situation of the chess game with great excitement.
Cui Jing: “…”
So, what was the point of asking him if he had seen anything...? Finally, Cui Lang bravely invited his eldest brother: "Brother, would you like to come in and sit with me?"
Cui Jing glanced in the direction of the bamboo courtyard and said, "No need."
He went in and sat down, but the students probably didn't dare to sit down.
"Then please wait a moment, elder brother!" After saying this, Cui Lang hurriedly bowed and trotted back to the bamboo courtyard.
Cui Jing was puzzled. What are you waiting for? Good night, everyone.
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