A murderous glint flashed in her eyes.
If it weren't for her, Gu Linchao wouldn't have treated her that way.
It was all Wen Nongnong's doing.
...
After leaving the Empress Dowager's courtyard, Wen Nongnong was unusually silent.
Gu Linchao noticed this, reached out and squeezed her fingers, and said gently, "In the future, if I am not with you, do not go to see the Empress Dowager alone."
"What if she wants to see me? Can I refuse directly?" Wen Nongnong asked quickly.
"Yes, of course." Gu Linchao said confidently.
A smile returned to Wen Nong Nong's face. She snuggled up to him and hugged his arm. "Your Highness is so good to me."
Gu Linchao's face flushed, but this time he didn't pull his arm away, letting her hold him.
"Now Your Highness finally believes me, right?" Wen Nongnong suddenly said, then patted her chest with lingering fear. "The Empress Dowager's eyes were terrifying just now, like she wanted to kill me, but I don't even know what I did wrong. Could it really be like I said before, that she hates me so much out of jealousy?"
Moreover, I find her strange. When I visited her this morning, she looked haggard and listless, without any makeup. But when she summoned you, she was clearly dressed up, and she looked unhappy when she saw me with you.
She said it casually, but Gu Linchao took it to heart. His brows furrowed immediately, and his expression turned ugly.
Wen Nongnong seemed oblivious to his odd behavior and shook his hand. "Never mind, let's not talk about unhappy things. Your Highness hasn't agreed to take me to the town at the foot of the mountain for dinner yet."
Looking at the girl's innocent and naive appearance, Gu Linchao opened his lips, but ultimately did not remind her of those sordid things.
Why let her know?
He would never let the Empress Dowager bully her again.
If the Empress Dowager continues to act recklessly, he will not consider that she is her brother's widow and will surely punish her.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Let's go," he said in a low voice.
Wen Nongnong was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, "Your Highness, are you really going to take me?"
"Well, since you like small towns, then stay there for the night and head straight back to the capital tomorrow morning."
"Aren't you coming back to Huangming Temple?" Wen Nongnong asked in surprise, suppressing her joy.
"Yes, let's go say goodbye to the abbot now." Gu Linchao looked at the bright smile on her face, the gloom in his heart was dispelled, and he smiled gently.
When the two arrived at the Zen temple where Abbot Xuanqing was, they were surprised to see Xiao Yan there as well.
He sat calmly opposite Master Xuanqing, playing chess with him.
After losing another piece, he yelled, "Old Monk Xuanqing, did you cheat?"
Master Xuanqing glanced at him with a smile, then chanted a Buddhist prayer, and said, "The Duke of Jingguo is still the same as before."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was quite pleased, "This Duke is indeed as young as before."
Xuanqing said, "This humble monk is referring to your chess skills."
Xiao Yan: "..."
When Wen Nongnong and Gu Linchao came in, they happened to hear this. Wen Nongnong couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Uncle, you really need to change. You're already so old, yet you still don't have any ambition. You're making a fool of yourself."
Xiao Yan was shot in the chest. What does it mean to be "old"?
"Can't you speak properly, girl? I'm so young and handsome, how dare you say I'm old? I'm even younger than Hengzhi."
“Our prince is much younger than you,” Wen Nongnong said bluntly. Of course, Xiao Yan was not old at all; she was just trying to annoy him.
Xiao Yan: "..."
His mind was in turmoil, and he couldn't concentrate on the game anymore. He stood up and gave his seat to Gu Linchao, saying, "Hengzhi, you must beat the old monk Xuanqing and save face for your uncle."
Gu Linchao glanced at the unfinished game on the table, then looked at him without saying a word. He sat down, picked up his pieces, and started playing on the board.
Master Xuanqing looked at him with a smile, "Is Hengzhi planning to go down the mountain and return?"
Gu Linchao nodded, "Yes." He paused, then said softly, "Nongnong is too noisy. To avoid her disturbing Buddha, I'll take her back first."
Wen Nongnong: "..."
She stared at his back in disbelief.
So... you used her as an excuse?
Xiao Yan suppressed a laugh so hard his lips twitched, and gave her a look that said, "You've finally met your match."
Wen Nongnong was so angry she almost turned into a pufferfish, and kicked her directly.
She was so well-behaved and gentle, yet in Gu Linchao's eyes, she was just too noisy.
Did he always think that way about her?
And she even has a high opinion of herself.
I'm so annoyed.
In the end, Gu Linchao and Xuan Qing drew.
Looking at the chessboard on the table, Xuanqing sighed and said, "If Heng hadn't yielded to me today, I'm afraid I would have lost."
Gu Linchao humbly said, "I didn't let him win; it's just that my master's chess skills are profound."
Xuanqing said, "Don't try to comfort your master. You were the one who let me win. Moreover, you picked up the pieces left by the Duke of Jingguo and continued the game. Otherwise, I would have lost miserably today."
Xiao Yan: "..."
Wen Nongnong said gloatingly, "Uncle should spend more time practicing chess when he has nothing else to do."
Xiao Yan glanced at her and said, "You talk as if you're a great chess player. Let's have a match sometime when you have time."
Wen Nongnong said, "What I know in chess, my uncle may not know."
Xiao Yan said in surprise, "Is there any chess game in this world that I can't play?"
Wen Nongnong really had to admire his shamelessness. He played the game terribly, yet he dared to boast that there was no game he couldn't play.
"There are many things my uncle can't do."
Xiao Yan retorted, "Then tell me, what's the name of the chess game that you know but I don't?"
"Gomoku (Five in a Row)." Wen Nongnong blinked.
Xiao Yan was taken aback. He had indeed never heard of it before and said somewhat awkwardly, "You didn't make this up, did you? I've never heard of it before."
“I’ve already told you, there are many things your uncle doesn’t understand,” Wen Nongnong said.
Xuanqing asked with interest, "What kind of Gomoku (Five in a Row) is this that Benefactor Wen is talking about? Could you please enlighten me?"
Upon hearing this, Wen Nongnong humbly replied, "I dare not presume to offer my guidance. In fact, Gomoku is just a game for children. If Your Highness knows how to play, let Your Highness tell you."
Xuan Qing looked at Gu Linchao, "Hengzhi."
Gu Linchao said, "It's really not a sophisticated game. As Nong Nong said, it's just something children play." As he spoke, he fiddled with the chessboard and laid it out for him to see.
Xiao Yan quickly leaned closer to take a look.
Upon seeing it, he exclaimed, "This is so much fun! I want to learn how to make it!"
Wen Nongnong coughed lightly, "Uncle, only people who don't know how to play chess would find Gomoku fun."
Xiao Yan: "..."
After learning the rules of Gomoku, Xuanqing's interest waned. "I see."
Gu Linchao stood up. "I will visit Master again next time. It's getting late, so we'll head back now."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
