I can't control his game of chess.
When Yan Huanyue returned to the main room, she saw that Pei Xuanzhi had moved the small table and chessboard from the east wing bed and placed them on the small couch under the south window.
On the small table were two plates of delicate pastries, two empty cups, and a pot of wine being warmed in hot water.
Pei Xuanzhi was standing by the green plum tree on the high table beside the couch, his slender, fair fingers idly picking up the fallen plum blossoms that had landed on the table, looking rather lazy and idle.
When he saw her come in, a slight ripple appeared in the calm water in his eyes, but his expression remained unchanged.
He turned and threw the fallen plum blossoms he had collected in his palm into the charcoal stove burning under the north window. Gradually, a faint fragrance of plum blossoms filled the room, mingling with a very faint scent of osmanthus that seemed to come from nowhere.
Yan Huanyue closed the door, took off the jade hairpin that held her hair in place, strolled to the small couch, looked at the chessboard, and asked with a smile, "What's going on here? How is Madam Sun?"
Pei Xuanzhi stood by the charcoal stove, gently stroking the delicate flower petals in his palm, and slowly said:
"Madam Sun has calmed down considerably after taking the medicine. It's snowing outside. Since you've been meditating all day, why not change your mood now? The wine in the pot is thick wine from Chang'an. Although it's not particularly expensive, it has a unique flavor. It's sweet and not very intoxicating, so the old, weak, women, and children can all drink it."
Yan Huanyue took off her shoes first, climbed onto the small couch, sat cross-legged, and smelled the wine pot warming in hot water. A fragrance of wine mixed with the scent of osmanthus wafted into her nostrils.
"No wonder, I was wondering where that osmanthus fragrance came from."
She poured a cup out and saw that the wine in the sky-blue cup was like milk and white as jade, not the usual clear wine.
Take a small sip; it's warm, smooth, and sweet, with a pleasant aroma—and indeed, the alcohol content isn't strong.
She quickly finished her drink, then casually picked up a white chess piece and poured herself another cup. After taking a sip, she looked at him and said, "Then go take a bath quickly, and come back to drink with me... Is this enough wine?"
Pei Xuanzhi raised his chin, and Yan Huanyue looked in the direction he indicated. There were two jars in the corner.
Yan Huanyue felt much more at ease, realizing that he was sometimes quite satisfactory in his work. She urged, "Go quickly, let me think about how to play this game."
Pei Xuanzhi's pace was much faster than before.
After he left, Yan Huanyue held a wine cup in one hand, sipping wine, and casually placed chess pieces in the other.
She is indeed not good at chess, and she has little interest in it.
When some of her fellow students gathered to play chess, she would sometimes go over to watch the fun. Although she wasn't very good at it, the sound of the wooden chess pieces clattering against the chessboard was quite energetic.
When it comes to Go, she doesn't like to join crowds of spectators. The game of Go is very quiet, and the placement of a stone is as light as raindrops falling from the eaves, yet a single drop can stir up a storm. Sometimes, when a game is almost over, she still hasn't figured out the key to the game.
She had drunk Pei Xuanzhi's wine tonight, so it wouldn't hurt to keep him company for a while to kill some time. She just hoped he wouldn't look at her and sigh later.
In the past, when Senior Brother Gu couldn't find anyone to accompany him, he would insist on dragging her along.
After playing one game, Senior Brother Gu scratched his head and frowned, having fully witnessed the strangeness of her chess style, the difficulty of placing her pieces, and the abysmal skill level. He then gave up the idea of inviting her to play a game.
When she was setting up the chess pieces, her mind went blank, so she silently recited the collection of techniques that she already knew by heart.
They quickly arranged themselves into the Chinese character "颜" (yán), and finished the pot of wine.
After pouring out the last drop of wine, she filled another pot with hot water and kept it warm.
While munching on snacks and reciting his books, Pei Xuanzhi entered the inner room halfway through the second pot of thick wine, wearing a cloak and with snow on his shoulders.
Yan Huanyue poured him a cup of thick wine. Turning around, she saw that he had taken off his cloak and was wearing a snow-white brocade robe embroidered with gold. He didn't have a jade belt around his waist, but only a loosely tied gold rope, which made him look quite relaxed and comfortable.
The room was warm, and he liked to dress like this, so Yan Huanyue didn't say much and quickly moved all the chess pieces back into the chess cage.
As Pei Xuan passed by her, the cool fragrance emanating from him momentarily washed away the smell of wine, yet she still couldn't help but take a gentle sniff.
Pei Xuanzhi sat cross-legged opposite her, gathered his robes, and asked with a smile, "How is Senior Sister's recollection of the chess moves going?"
Yan Huanyue sat up straight, switched the black and white chess boxes, casually picked up a black chess piece and slammed it onto the chessboard, saying with a profound expression, "Let's begin."
Pei Xuanzhi also stopped smiling and picked up a white piece, placing it next to her.
Yan Huanyue was trying her best, but by the thirteenth move, she could no longer understand his strategy at all.
She tried her best not to waste too much time, doing her best and leaving the rest to fate, carefully controlling the small areas on the chessboard, hoping not to lose too badly.
If Senior Brother Gu saw her current behavior, he would probably ask her if she didn't want to continue.
Pei Xuanzhi didn't scratch his head, didn't smile bitterly, and didn't question her. He just kept sipping his wine while carefully observing her moves and placing his pieces meticulously.
It was as if she really had some skill that could help him figure out some brilliant solution; she herself felt a little embarrassed looking at herself.
Snow fell softly on the bamboo grove outside the eaves.
Beside the lamplight, Pei Xuan placed his piece down and nodded, saying, "Senior Sister Yan, you flatter me."
Yan Huanyue breathed a deep sigh of relief. He could have won much earlier, but he managed to wait and linger for so long before finally winning. He must have some skill.
"I told you, my chess skills are terrible."
Pei Xuanzhi said, "Senior Sister Yan's chess style... is indeed somewhat unbelievable."
Yan Huanyue couldn't help but laugh, casually putting away the chess pieces, and said, "It's getting late, you should..."
Pei Xuanzhi poured her a cup of wine at the right moment and said with a smile, "After I met Madam Sun at dusk, I went out for a stroll and bought some jewelry for my senior sister, as well as the most popular storybooks in Chang'an lately."
Yan Huanyue asked, "What kind of storybook?"
"The book 'After Entering Mingde' seems to describe what the disciples of the Mingde Sect saw upon their birth."
Yan Huanyue's interest was instantly piqued, her eyes shining brightly. "Let me see it."
Pei Xuanzhi handed over a book wrapped in brocade, and Yan Huanyue couldn't stop reading after opening the first page.
This book was clearly not written by a disciple of the Mingde Sect, nor did it originate from the spiritual community. It was probably just a fabrication by ordinary people, but its strength lies in its intricate plot and captivating story.
The book wasn't thick, but as the effects of the alcohol gradually took hold, she became slightly tipsy and couldn't read it quickly, so she decided to read it again when she woke up the next day.
Closing the book, he saw a brocade box on the chessboard. Pei Xuanzhi had already half-reclined on the soft pillow behind him and fallen asleep fully clothed.
Yan Huanyue put down her book and opened the brocade box, which contained a dazzling array of hairpins and jewelry.
She closed the brocade box, went to the bed, fetched a quilt, moved the small table beside the couch, and softly called, "Xuanzhi, lie down and get some sleep."
Pei Xuanzhi gave a mumbled response and continued to sleep.
Afraid of waking him, Yan Huanyue could only cover him with the quilt first. As she leaned over, a faint, cool fragrance wafted out from his clothes, gently teasing her.
Slightly tipsy, she really did have a strong urge to actually smell it.
Even if this thing isn't spreading fragrance, it smells really good.
She watched as Pei Xuanzhi's long eyelashes cast a shadow on his face, remaining motionless for a long time, before she quietly approached him.
Before anyone could get close, Pei Xuanzhi seemed to sense someone approaching. He turned his head half an inch to the side, then slightly opened his eyes, still sleepy, and mumbled:
"Sister Huanyue..."
She was caught trying to sneak a sniff, so Yan Huanyue closed her eyes helplessly, gently patted his shoulder, and whispered, "I'll cover you with a blanket, you can sleep well."
Pei Xuanzhi lay in the brocade quilt, his eyes closed wearily, and murmured softly, "Thank you..."
The words were still on his lips, but he had already fallen asleep.
Seeing him lying there so oblivious and defenseless, Yan Huanyue couldn't help but feel a little contempt for herself. Fortunately, she only wanted to smell the fragrance and never intended to do anything wrong.
After getting up to wash up, she turned off the candles, lay down properly on the bed, took a Shouyuan Pill, and then recited her books until she fell asleep.
The next morning, as soon as she got up, she heard the rustling of Pei Xuan's clothes as he got out of bed outside the curtains.
She lifted the curtain and saw Pei Xuanzhi standing by the couch, fastening the jade belt around his waist. Upon seeing her, he smiled and said:
"I didn't expect to sleep here last night. Today, I've let everyone in the courtyard go home for the New Year. I'll go talk to the steward and bring back some food in a bit."
With that, he took the cloak, put it on, and went out the door.
Yan Huanyue had just finished washing up and tidying up the chessboard from last night when she heard someone call from outside the door, "Is Madam Yan here?"
When Yan Huanyue went out, she saw that it was Lu Yan, so she invited her in and poured her a cup of tea.
Lu Yan said apologetically, "I was supposed to host a welcome dinner for you and Ah Xuan yesterday, but it was delayed because of my mother's illness. My mother took her medicine last night and is feeling much better. I came to ask Ah Xuan what he thinks, whether to hold the dinner today or something else."
Yan Huanyue sat opposite her and said with a smile, "Second Miss called for me as soon as she arrived, so she must know that Junior Brother Pei is not here. I am not familiar with the Lu family's affairs, so you can ask him when he returns."
Lu Yan took a sip of tea with a worried expression and said cautiously, "I... am sometimes a little afraid of him. You are husband and wife. If it is your wife's wish, will he disagree?"
Yan Huanyue shook her head and said, "I can't make decisions for him, and he's frail and sickly, and rarely argues with anyone. Why are you afraid of him, Miss?"
Lu Yan smiled apologetically, "Perhaps it's just that I'm naturally timid. Ever since I heard that A-Xuan was a demon, I've always been trembling with fear. Actually, he's never done anything... I really didn't expect it. I thought he was very willing to listen to you."
They deliberately gave everyone in the courtyard a day off. If it wasn't to be alone together, could it be that they had some kind of scheme they didn't want others to hear or see?
Lu Yan couldn't help but take a deep look at Yan Huanyue. She had heard that last night, when A Xuan went in while she was taking a bath, he was kicked out shortly afterward and even vomited blood.
This means he was beaten up, and that the woman was sure to subdue him.
It's strange that someone who could beat him so badly he wouldn't dare utter a word is now saying he can't make decisions for him...
Why would Ah Xuan leave the perfectly good Tianyan Sect and return to this home that never treated him well before?
Looking at Lu Yan's somewhat dazed gaze, Yan Huanyue felt that the light in her eyes was dull.
In just a short while, she hadn't even finished a few words when she drifted off into thought several times, which was quite unusual.
Yan Huanyue couldn't help but say softly, "Or I could ask him when he comes back, and then give Second Miss a reply, would that be alright?"
Lu Yan looked at her with a moment of confusion, then seemed to suddenly regain her composure and replied, "That's all we can do. Thank you, Madam Yan."
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Author's note: I'm so sleepy I'm in a coma. I might revise it tomorrow.
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2023-11-25 22:51:44 and 2023-11-27 01:50:39!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the grenade: 1 Crimson Worm;
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Su Nianqiao 70 bottles; lala 60 bottles; T 40 bottles; Pipi Pig who loves AD calcium 34 bottles; Turtle Tea Tea, Waiting for Meals 20 bottles; Yan An, Only You! 10 bottles; Y. 7 bottles; Kabecey 5 bottles; Never Forget the Beginning, Green Feelings 3 bottles; Tiger Sauce is the Cutest, Fangfang Not Fang 2 bottles; Let Me Eat Sweet Cookies!, Zhou Man's Sword Bone, Zhizhi Fuzhizhi, Heart, Go with the Flow, Silly Netizen Lin, ☆Candle Under★, Jiuyuan, Xia Minglang, Jiang Chong, Sanyuwanzitou, Little Rabbit Slayer's Wish Come True, Little Bookworm Kris who loves brainstorming, Every Big Shot Does 1 bottle a day;
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