Warm room chess game
After Ming Shiyin left, the autumn wind in the courtyard seemed to grow even cooler. Yi Xing involuntarily coughed twice more, his thin shoulders trembling slightly.
"A banquet in the palace? There are too many people there, and the atmosphere is too murky. How can Yi Xing stand it?" Gongsun Li said immediately with concern, her rabbit ears trembling slightly with unease.
Pei Qinhu was even more direct, waving his hand and saying, "Exactly! Xing'er, how about I speak to Lord Ming for you? Just say you're not feeling well..."
“No.” Yang Yuhuan shook her head gently. Her mind was more delicate and insightful. “Since Lord Ming specifically requested that Yixing be brought along, there must be a deeper meaning. We must prioritize the overall situation.” She walked behind Yixing and naturally grasped the handle of the wheelchair. Her voice was gentle as water. “However, it’s still early for the banquet. It’s windy outside. Let’s go back inside first. I’ve mixed a new calming incense. Lighting it will make you feel better.”
Yi Xing glanced gratefully at Yang Yuhuan and nodded. He did feel somewhat exhausted; the waves of chill felt like fine needles piercing his bones.
Upon seeing this, Pei Qinhu rushed forward, but instead of pushing the wheelchair, he bent down and carefully lifted Yi Xing up along with the blanket, his movements surprisingly steady and gentle.
"Brother Tiger!" A faint blush instantly spread across Yi Xing's pale face, making him somewhat embarrassed. Although he was physically weak, he was proud and never wanted to be treated like a fragile porcelain doll.
"Oh dear, I can't push this wheelchair very well, this is much faster!" Pei Qinhu didn't care at all, carrying him as if he were a feather, striding towards the inner room, muttering, "Xing'er, you're too light, you need to eat more! I'll go to the West Market later to buy you your favorite osmanthus cake!"
Gongsun Li covered her mouth and chuckled softly, quickly following behind and tucking the thin blanket that had slipped off Yi Xing's lap back in.
Yang Yuhuan watched their retreating figures, smiled gently, picked up her pipa, and followed them.
The indoor and outdoor worlds were worlds apart. Inside the warm pavilion, silver charcoal burned quietly in a carved bronze incense burner, radiating a cozy warmth that dispelled the chill of the autumn night. The air was filled with the calming incense that Yang Yuhuan had just lit; it was a blend of sandalwood, amber, and a few calming herbs, its fragrance elegant and mellow, bringing peace to the mind.
The bookshelves on all four walls were piled high with voluminous books and chess manuals, including bamboo slips, silk scrolls, and thread-bound editions. On the long table by the window, an unsolved ancient chess game lay spread out. This was where Yi Xing usually spent most of his time, filled with the cool fragrance of ink and chess pieces, but today, with the arrival of his companions, it was filled with a rich sense of life and warmth.
Pei Qinhu carefully placed Yi Xing on the soft couch by the window, and hurriedly pulled over an even thicker blanket to cover him. Gongsun Li then poured another cup of hot tea and placed it in Yi Xing's slightly cool hands.
"Quick, have some more hot drinks to warm your stomach."
Yi Xing held the warm teacup, the rising steam warming his pale face, and his long eyelashes seemed to be damp with moisture. He looked at his companions gathered around the couch, their faces clearly showing their worry, and the awkwardness he felt from being forced to rely on them gradually dissipated, turning into a warm current that quietly spread throughout his body.
"I'm really fine, I just caught a bit of a chill." He tried to reassure them. "Since Master sent me, I know what I'm doing and won't overexert myself."
“You’re just too sensible, that’s why I always worry.” Gongsun Li sat down on the embroidered stool beside his bed, resting her chin on her hands. “It’s always the same, you endure everything and say nothing.”
Pei Qinhu pulled up a stool, sat down with an air of authority, and chimed in, "Ali is right! Xing'er, if you feel unwell, you must tell me right away! I'll carry you on my back or hug you, and bring you back immediately!"
Yang Yuhuan gently placed the pipa on the stand beside her, walked to the soft couch, and extended her slender fingers to softly place them on Yixing's wrist, carefully feeling his pulse. Her fingertips were warm and moist, carrying a faint, herbal fragrance. After a moment, she nodded slightly: "His pulse is somewhat weak, but still relatively stable. However, his qi and blood are ultimately insufficient. He must not overexert himself at the banquet today."
As she spoke, she took out a small white jade porcelain bottle from her sleeve and handed it to Yixing: "Inside are honey pills that I made with old ginseng and astragalus. If you feel short of breath or have palpitations, take one pill."
Yi Xing took the porcelain bottle and held it in his palm; the warm, smooth touch seemed to reach straight to his heart. "Thank you, Sister Yu Huan," he said softly, his voice filled with sincere gratitude.
To divert everyone's attention and to calm their unease about the "tough battle" that night, Yi Xing looked up at Pei Qin Hu and said softly, "Brother Hu, I've thought of a solution to the move you asked about yesterday. Would you like to hear it now?"
Upon hearing the word "chess," Pei Qinhu's head immediately throbbed with anxiety. He waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "No, no, no! Xing'er, please spare me! Your chess is more mentally taxing than practicing the most complex set of boxing techniques!" Although he said this, his face showed no impatience, but rather a doting smile. "I'll stay here with you. You should rest well and make sure you're well-rested!"
Gongsun Li also laughed and said, "Yes, Yixing, you should just quietly be your 'group's darling'! We can talk about using your brains when we meet Lord Ming and that Lord Di."
The words "darling of the group" made Yi Xing's ears burn slightly, but he didn't insist. He was indeed a little tired, so he obediently leaned back against the soft cushion. His gaze swept across the window; the sky had completely darkened, with a few scattered stars dotting the inky blue sky, their light reflecting off the warm yellow lanterns that had just been lit in the courtyard.
He gently stroked the warm, white porcelain bottle in his palm, savoring the comforting fragrance in the room and the unconditional care from his companions. This warmth stood in stark contrast to the cold and complex world of power he was about to face.
He knew that his master had taken him there not merely to "meet" Di Renjie. Yao Tian's situation in Chang'an was delicate. Although he acted according to his own principles, mostly to help the weak and balance power, in the eyes of the Dali Temple, he was ultimately a rule-breaker, an entity not to be tolerated in the light. Recently, there seemed to be an undercurrent targeting Yao Tian, attempting to push them completely into the abyss of "rebellion." Perhaps his master was preparing for the future, searching for a new... possibility?
Yi Xing closed his eyes, his mind racing as he considered all the possible scenarios that might unfold that night, like laying out an invisible chessboard in his mind. What kind of piece would Di Renjie be? And how should he make his moves to both protect the Emperor Yao and avoid a complete confrontation with the Dali Temple, which represented the government?
As he pondered, drowsiness gradually crept in. Amidst the soothing aroma of incense and the low, reassuring conversations of his companions, his tense nerves slowly relaxed, and his consciousness gradually sank into a warm darkness.
Before he finally fell into a deep sleep, his last vague thought was that, no matter what, he had to protect this "home" that gave him warmth and a sense of belonging in his own way.
Outside the window, the nightlife of Chang'an was just beginning, with thousands of lights hanging like an inverted galaxy. Beneath this brilliance, light and shadow intertwined, order and chaos coexisted. A game of chess concerning the future was quietly unfolding.
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