Li Xi's disappearance did not affect Li Yi's daily life, at least not in the eyes of others.
Chen Quan sent him living expenses every month on time, only telling him that his sister was away on business and her return date was uncertain.
Because of the secrecy of the mission, it was inconvenient to write to him.
There was nothing that could be done about it. Only a few people knew about Li Xi's assassination attempt. Although the emperor who was assassinated had regained consciousness, he did not take any action against it, but only secretly sent people to look for her.
Even though Chen Quan knows the whole story, it cannot be known to anyone else.
Li Yi knew that his sister held a special position, so he did not suspect anything.
He planned to participate in the autumn examination two years later, so in addition to completing his studies, he also made sure to do his homework every day.
He studied classics, history, philosophy, and literature under Master Xu, and delved into the writing techniques and strategies of the eight-legged essay.
He usually spends his afternoons in Xu Shanzhang's courtyard.
After completing his assigned study tasks, he often had the opportunity to witness the chess matches between Luo Fuzi and Xu Shanzhang.
This is not only a time for him to relax, but also another form of learning and inspiration.
"Chengyi, have you not seen your elder brother lately?" Master Luo asked him curiously.
Chengyi was the courtesy name given to Li Yi by Xu Shanzhang, which means to inherit morality and promote learning.
Upon hearing this, Li Yi was slightly taken aback, and then respectfully replied, "In response to the Master, my elder brother has been very busy with official duties lately, and often has to travel to various places to handle many important matters, so his visits have become more frequent. However, he often writes to me, urging me to study diligently and not to let down the headmaster and the other teachers who have carefully nurtured me."
Upon hearing this, Master Luo stroked his long beard, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "Although official duties are heavy, he does not forget to mentor the younger generation. Your elder brother is indeed a rare talent. Chengyi, you should also take him as an example, not only to strive for excellence in your studies, but also to learn from your elder brother's demeanor in your conduct."
Master Xu smiled and nodded, adding, "Master Luo is absolutely right. Chengyi, your elder brother has set an example, so you need to work even harder. You must not only achieve something in your studies, but also have the world in your heart, so that you can become a pillar of the country in the future."
Upon hearing this, Li Yi felt a surge of warmth in his heart, but also a great sense of responsibility on his shoulders.
He bowed solemnly and said, "I am deeply grateful for the teachings of the headmaster and the master. I will keep them in mind and live up to your expectations. I will do my best in both my studies and conduct, take my elder brother as my role model, and strive to become a useful person."
After saying that, the three of them continued to immerse themselves in the game of chess.
Master Luo and Master Xu were both highly skilled chess players, and every move they made contained hidden strategies.
Although Li Yi was not skilled in this art, he could still sense the philosophy contained within the game while watching it.
With the last piece gently placed, the situation on the chessboard instantly became subtle and complex.
Just like the ever-changing winds and clouds in the world, it's difficult to predict the outcome in a short time.
Master Luo smiled slightly, seemingly very satisfied with his move. Headmaster Xu, on the other hand, frowned slightly, staring intently at the chessboard, seemingly deep in thought about his counter-strategy.
"Master Luo, you've fallen into my trap. Be careful." Master Xu's words were gentle and confident, revealing a calm indifference to victory or defeat.
Upon hearing this, Master Luo smiled faintly, a glint of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.
“Master, it is too early to speak. The game is not over yet, and the outcome is not decided. I will now break your game.” With that, he reached out, picked up a chess piece, and slowly placed it down.
Li Yi watched as Master Luo turned defeat into victory and couldn't help but admire him greatly.
“I acknowledge it, Headmaster,” Master Luo said, bowing in thanks.
Master Xu smiled slightly, shook his head gently, and said, "Master Luo's chess skills are superb, and I humbly admit defeat. Although I lost this game, Master Luo's move was a risky one. If you are not careful, you will lose the whole game and ruin everything in an instant."
Upon hearing this, Master Luo said calmly, "What the headmaster said is very true, but the way of chess is like the way of life. Sometimes you have to be brave and go forward to break out of the game, but you also have to assess the situation and not just act recklessly."
Winter nights come early, slowly concealing the hustle and bustle of the day in darkness.
The lanterns lit under the porches of each household not only illuminated the way home for those returning late, but also added a touch of warmth and anticipation in the cold wind.
In the alley, a figure jumped down from the wall and disappeared around the corner.
Inside a house, a young man seemed to have been waiting for a long time, pacing back and forth.
Moonlight filtered through the sparse clouds, casting dappled patterns on the bluestone slabs of the courtyard, adding a touch of mystery to the tranquil night.
The young man's pace quickened, and he frequently looked up at the deep alley outside the door, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.
"Why aren't they here yet?" he muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the empty courtyard, trembling slightly.
Just then, a faint gust of wind, accompanied by the rustling of falling leaves, quietly approached from the other end of the alley.
The young man immediately stopped in his tracks, his ears perked up as if trying to catch the slightest sound.
Sure enough, a moment later, that familiar figure reappeared in the shadows of the corner, light and agile, like a ghost in the night.
"Father, you've finally arrived!" The young man hurried forward, his voice tinged with urgency.
"Something came up and I was delayed," the middle-aged man said.
He took the letter from the young man, quickly scanned its contents, and his brows furrowed. "The situation is more complicated than we anticipated," he said in a low voice, folding the letter neatly and putting it into his pocket.
"That would be good, wouldn't it? Now all the major sects are united against the Red Lotus Sect. And the Crown Prince and Prince Liang have been making constant small moves lately." The young man's eyes were full of worry.
The middle-aged man—no, the leader of the Red Lotus Cult—had anticipated that he would eventually encounter such a situation.
"Don't be impatient. The Crown Prince and the Prince of Liang won't cause any big trouble. It's just a minor skirmish."
He glanced at the young man before him and calmly said, "Right now, you should do your job well, and I will take care of the rest."
“Yes, Father,” the young man replied respectfully.
His identity must not be revealed now, otherwise it will ruin everything.
The cult leader said, "We don't know what's wrong with that dog emperor now. They say he's in a coma, but we haven't heard anything concrete. It seems we need to send someone to find out."
Young man: "Let An Yi go. My son doesn't need too many people guarding him. He's perfectly safe now."
"How is your mother?" the cult leader suddenly asked.
"She often asks about you, saying that she has been thinking of you, Father, all these years." The young man sighed with emotion.
"Alas, I often think of her too." The leader sighed softly. "Tell her that our family will be reunited soon."
Young man: "Father, rest assured, your son will live up to your expectations, protect Mother and myself, and wait for that day to come."
The cult leader nodded, but didn't say anything more.
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