"Mother-in-law, Father-in-law, I came here today to discuss something important with Lingyan. I hope you two elders can give us some space to be alone so that we can have a heart-to-heart talk."
Nalan Yunzhi changed his usual reserved and elegant demeanor. As soon as he entered the door, he bowed deeply to Feng Jingyun and Mulan Jin. His attitude was humble and respectful, and he looked like a model son-in-law who was well-educated, gentle and elegant.
Feng Jingyun and Mulanjin exchanged a glance and sighed inwardly. They knew Nalan Yunzhi's sudden visit was definitely for Lingyan, but now that things had come to this, there was no point in saying more.
Feng Jingyun slowly stood up and silently left the study. Mulanjin wanted to say something, but when he caught a glimpse of Feng Lingyan's calm and composed expression, he swallowed the words that were on his lips. In the end, he also chose to remain silent, following his wife out of the room.
Watching her grandmother and grandfather leave one after another, just as Feng Qiyan was about to follow them out, Feng Jingyun suddenly turned around and looked at her with complicated eyes.
Feng Qiyan understood what he meant and immediately retracted the leg that had just stepped out of the door. She walked to a corner of the study and picked up a book with a sad face and began to read. However, she was extremely upset at the moment and could not concentrate on reading at all. The words in front of her seemed to have become a pile of meaningless symbols.
Nalan Yunzhi glanced at Feng Qiyan's direction out of the corner of her eye, thinking that they were now "allies", so she no longer paid attention to the little girl and walked straight towards Feng Lingyan who was sitting by the window.
"Lingyan..." Nalan Yunzhi stared at Feng Lingyan with a deep and complicated gaze as he was about to stand up from his seat. He raised his hand to signal him to be patient, and then walked straight to Feng Lingyan and sat down.
"I am usually busy with state affairs and haven't played chess for a long time. Today I have some free time, how about Lingyan playing a game with me?" After Nalan Yunzhi said this, he began to put the chess pieces on the chessboard that had already become a draw into the chess pot one by one.
In the quiet study, wisps of light smoke rise from the incense burner, like fairies dancing. The whole room is filled with a light fragrance, which makes people feel peaceful.
Feng Lingyan, sitting across from Nalan Yunzhi, had an indescribably complex look in his eyes. He understood the deeper meaning behind Nalan Yunzhi's action, but after a brief reflection, he nodded slightly, indicating his willingness to play chess with the emperor.
The chess pieces fell, the game unfolded, each move filled with temptation and strategy. Nalan Yunzhi concentrated on his next move, while Feng Lingyan responded cautiously. She tried to discern his true inner thoughts from Feng Lingyan's moves.
As the game progressed, their expressions alternated between solemnity and lightheartedness. Nalan Yunzhi's clever strategy seemed to hint at her desire to reconcile; Feng Lingyan responded with a calm demeanor, his moves rigorous and steady, as if assessing Nalan Yunzhi's sincerity.
The atmosphere in the study gradually grew tense, the alternating placement of chess pieces akin to a battle between the two men's minds. In this silent game, Feng Lingyan struggled to understand Nalan Yunzhi's thoughts, while Nalan Yunzhi waited eagerly for Feng Lingyan's response.
Finally, the game entered a crucial phase. Nalan Yunzhi made a crucial move, his gaze fixed firmly on Feng Lingyan. Feng Lingyan stared at the chessboard, pondering silently. He understood that this move represented Nalan Yunzhi's determination.
Feng Lingyan took a deep breath, as if making a difficult decision. He gently placed a piece down, as if lifting a heavy burden from his heart. This game ended in a draw, just like the previous match between Feng Lingyan and Feng Jingyun. Nalan Yunzhi's face blossomed with joy, like a flower blooming in spring. She felt that Feng Lingyan's move had given her the answer she had long awaited.
A subtle atmosphere permeated the study, like a veil, light and mysterious. Their eyes met, as if, at this moment, their feelings were conveyed through their eyes, without the need for words.
The game ended, but the two sat in silence. After a long moment, Nalan Yunzhi rose from her seat. Like a lithe butterfly, she fluttered directly towards Feng Lingyan, placing a gentle kiss on his face. She left with the words, "I'll come see you another day," and then happily departed, leaving Feng Lingyan stunned.
Feng Lingyan sat quietly in the chair, as if under a spell, motionless. His eyes followed the receding figure, his heart groaning. Coming to his senses, he let a helpless smile slip, secretly regretting: How could I have been so careless!
The Emperor's chess skills were good, but compared to herself, Meng Lishi, or her mother Feng Jingyun, they were not on the same level. However, judging from the Emperor's words and actions, she had most likely misinterpreted his intention to "maintain the status quo" as a willingness to "reconcile" with her...
At the same time, Feng Qiyan also ended her role as a "spy." She gently closed the book in her hands, as if closing off a mysterious world.
Soon, Feng Qiyan was pulled into the room by Feng Jingyun and Mulanjin. After closing the door, Feng Jingyun couldn't wait to let Feng Qiyan sit next to him and asked anxiously, "What did your uncle and the emperor talk about just now?"
Feng Qiyan blinked her bright, watery eyes and answered seriously and earnestly, "They only played a game of chess, and didn't say a word during that time. When they parted, my aunt only said, 'I'll come visit you another day,' and then she left with a happy smile on her face."
"Feng Qiyan, could it be that your aunt, the emperor, bribed you to say that?" Mulan Jin grabbed Feng Qiyan's ear like an eagle grabbing a chick, and said sternly.
"Grandpa, this is unfair!" Feng Qiyan stopped calling out for her grandfather and instead begged for mercy by calling him "Grandpa" affectionately. "This concerns my uncle's lifelong happiness. How could Qiyan be such a spineless person? Every word Qiyan said is true."
Seeing that Feng Qiyan showed no signs of lying, Feng Jingyun glanced at Mulanjin, who then quickly released the hand that was pinching Feng Qiyan's ear and said with a wide smile, "Grandpa was just joking with you. Why are you so nervous?"
Feng Qiyan curled her lips slightly, pretending not to notice the quarrel between the two old foxes.
When Nalan Yunzhi left Qingrongyuan, he happened to meet Feng Cailan who had just returned from court. The two of them then went to Feng Cailan's study and had a secret conversation for nearly an hour. It was already noon when they came out of the study.
"The cooking skills of the cook in the General's Mansion are really good..." Nalan Yunzhi glanced at Feng Cailan beside him and said meaningfully.
Feng Cailan was just planning to send the cook to the imperial kitchen in the palace to serve the emperor, but unexpectedly it started to rain heavily.
Nalan Yunzhi suppressed the corner of his mouth that was about to turn upward and said seriously: "It's raining heavily and the roads are slippery. It's probably not safe to take a carriage now..."
Feng Cailan rubbed her eyebrows with a headache, and finally could only reluctantly take the initiative to speak and ask Nalan Yunzhi to stay for lunch.
So, Nalan Yunzhi bought himself another afternoon to spend time with Feng Lingyan.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
