Xiao Jingxi watched Ren Yaoqi slowly walk out of the courtyard. There was still a faint smile in his beautiful dark eyes, but a hint of contemplation quietly emerged.
He turned around and slowly walked back to the stone bench and sat down. He picked up the round chess pieces that had been put back into the chess pot with his slender fingers and reviewed the previous chess game one by one, his movements focused and leisurely.
There was only one person and one sheep left in the quiet courtyard, forming a silent landscape.
At some point, a man in a gray cloth shirt quietly stood behind Xiao Jingxi, standing there with his hands hanging down without saying a word.
Xiao Jingxi didn't look back. He waited until the chess pieces on the board were fully placed before he spoke. His low, soft voice was like ancient music: "Han's affairs are their family affairs. They don't need to interfere."
The man in the grey cloth shirt unconsciously said yes before continuing, "Han Dongshan went to ask for help from the prince's steward, Gu, who sent someone to investigate."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxi tilted his head slightly and frowned, "Why is the palace so idle lately?"
The man in gray lowered his head and didn't dare to respond.
Xiao Jingxi looked at the chessboard, his fingers moving lightly to change the chess situation on the board, and said leisurely: "You go and talk to Manager Gu. They can't even handle their own family affairs. What else can the Yanbei Palace expect from them?" Although his tone was gentle, his words were extremely heavy.
"Yes, sir, I understand." The man in gray hurriedly lowered his head and replied.
Xiao Jingxi continued to fiddle with the chessboard, sometimes retreating and making a move again. The pieces were placed silently, with only the sound of the wind blowing and the grass rustling.
Just when the gray-clothed man thought Xiao Jingxi had no more instructions, he heard him speak again: "Go check on Han Dongshan."
Although the man in gray was a little surprised as to why his master suddenly paid attention to the Han family, he still obeyed the order immediately.
"How is the situation in the army now?" Xiao Jingxi put aside the Han family's affairs and asked about something else.
"My lord, Madam Wu has returned home with Sister Wu. They are accompanied by Wu Xiao and Zhou He, an old strategist. Zhou He has requested an audience with the prince three times in the past few days, and the prince has met with him twice."
The Madam Wu he mentioned was the wife of the current Ningxia General Wu Xiaohe, and also Princess Xiao Wei of the Yanbei Palace, and Xiao Jingxi's aunt.
Xiao Jingxi heard this without wavering, "I'm asking about military matters, not the palace."
The gray-robed man paused, then lowered his head and continued, "Ever since the news of the imperial court's military reductions was publicized, several riots have broken out within the Yanbei army, instigated by several individuals with ulterior motives. Following the young master's instructions, I have temporarily held my troops in place and have secretly tracked down those troublemakers. I heard reports today that they plan to gather more people to cause trouble in the near future, and even plan to rob several large shops in Yunyang City, take the money, and then hide in the mountains to rule over them."
Xiao Jingxi said nothing when he heard this. He stared at the chessboard with a thoughtful look, and it was unclear whether he was thinking about the chess moves or the reports from his subordinates.
After a while, he picked up the chess pieces on the chessboard, which were gradually being decided, and put them back into the chess pot one by one. "Go ask Tong He to prepare the carriage. We're returning to Yunyang City today."
"Then here at the White Dragon Temple..."
Xiao Jingxi said calmly: "Tongde will stay."
As soon as he finished speaking, a man of average build and ordinary appearance came out from nowhere and bowed respectfully to Xiao Jingxi.
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