Chapter 25#

When he learned that Wen Zhuo was ill, Emperor Shunyuan sympathized with him and granted him a leave from court to recover at home.#

The days of recuperation were quite peaceful. Aside from meals and basking in the sun under the corridor for half an hour after noon, Wen Zhuo spent most of his time in bed, drowsy and listless.

This time, he had truly exhausted himself. It would take time for his vitality and blood to recover, but what was worse than his physical condition was his state of mind.

For him, the month of torture and interrogation in the Dalisi prison still haunted him. His body no longer bore injuries, but the memories were etched into his bones. Now, he had to face these people who had brought him torment and suffering every day, which was truly draining.

Fortunately, during his illness, everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, just as he had planned.

Shen Zheng, after all, could not report to the Wen residence every day, much as he wished to.

Wen Zhuo gave him a stack of reading lists, all essential classics and histories that a prince of the Great Qian must study. He urged him to catch up on his previous lessons and not to speak with a strong Nanping accent, lest it offend court officials.

Shen Zheng now read much faster than rumored, and his comprehension was excellent. This made Wen Zhuo suspect—did Shen Zheng also return to the same point in time as him and Xie Langyang?

Could it be that Shen Zheng had come back even earlier, perhaps while still in Nanping, avoiding certain persecutions and humiliations, which was why he was not dazed and incoherent?

As for Wen Zhuo’s own childhood, it was purely a matter of slow development, which gradually normalized as he grew older?

But he could not ask Shen Zheng about these doubts. After all, the theory of rebirth was absurd. If Shen Zheng suspected that he had also undergone a similar experience, the truth behind the Chuntai Chess Tournament could no longer be concealed.

Earlier, he had thought he could hide the frame-up from his past life from Shen Zheng forever, pretending it had never happened. That had never seemed difficult to him.

But now, the thought of having to hide something from Shen Zheng made his chest feel tight. This tightness was not like the fear of a sword hanging over his head—he could not quite explain it.

As he had expected, Shen Zheng trusted him deeply. Shen Zheng believed that protecting Liu Qiyin was what had earned him Wen Zhuo’s favor, unaware that Wen Zhuo had long harbored thoughts of changing course.

But before long, Wen Zhuo’s head began to ache again, so he had to empty his mind and focus on sleeping.

Gu Weizhi, following Wen Zhuo’s orders, began after the conclusion of the Chuntai Chess Tournament case to purchase specialties of the capital, pack his bags, and prepare to return to Bozhou.

However, because he had made a name for himself with his shout in the East Tower, many people now recognized his face. Everyone praised him for turning the tide and saving the face of the Great Qian. Thus, chess masters and wealthy households in the capital vied to invite him for a chat, wanting him to recount in detail the thrilling moment on the final day when he shouted out in indignation.

And so, Gu Weizhi was reasonably delayed.

A few days later, Xue Chongnian’s recommendation was delivered to Emperor Shunyuan’s desk.

Emperor Shunyuan narrowed his eyes and pondered deeply but found no flaw.

Wen Zhuo was ill and had never been interested in power, let alone forming factions, so he had not recommended Gu Weizhi.

Furthermore, Gu Weizhi, by a twist of fate, had blocked the Grand Tutor’s pressure in this case, allowing the emperor’s edict to be smoothly implemented and resolving Xue Chongnian’s predicament. It was only natural for Xue Chongnian to recommend him.

Besides, Gu Weizhi was not from a noble family and had not entered the gates of the Eight Veins. Appointing him as Vice Minister of Revenue was not a bad way to weaken the influence of the aristocratic families.

“Approved.”

The emperor’s word was law. The Imperial Guard immediately sent men to pursue Gu Weizhi, who was already on the road back to his hometown.

These tidings were kept from Wen Zhuo to avoid disturbing his peace, and everyone tacitly agreed not to bother him.

Fortunately, all was calm, and Wen Zhuo slept soundly.

On the afternoon of the seventh day of home recuperation.

Wen Zhuo leaned against the bed, holding a bowl of egg custard prepared by Jiang Mannü, which had been enriched with red dates, longan, walnuts, yam, red beans, wolfberries, ginseng root, and other ingredients. He ate while gagging.

The gagging brought a thin sweat to his body, but oddly, it refreshed him somewhat.

He handed the half-finished egg custard back to Jiang Mannü, his gaze involuntarily drifting to the window. Outside, there was no sound of people, only the noisy chirping of swallows on the eaves.

“How long have I been lying in bed?” He shook his sleeves, pressing his arms against the blanket to let the sweat dry.

“Seven days,” Jiang Mannü replied, casting a regretful glance at the generously supplemented egg custard. It was a pity that the master had such a small appetite—she could have downed three bowls herself.

Seven days already.

Had he finished reading the books?

Did he have no questions at all?

The witchcraft calamity in Emperor Wu of Han’s later years, the Xuanwu Gate Incident under Emperor Taizong of Tang—both were internal turmoil sparked by struggles for the heir apparent. Did it not make one wonder how a prince should understand the “essentials of establishing oneself”?

Emperor Xiaowen promoted sinicization but triggered the Rebellion of the Six Garrisons. The First Emperor of Qin built the Great Wall, and Emperor Yang of Sui dug the Grand Canal, yet both accelerated the downfall of their dynasties. Did it not make one think about the balance between implementing reforms and enforcing laws?

He had said to come as little as possible, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t come at all.

Annoying.

Wen Zhuo propped himself up, hunched his back, and coughed twice.

“What’s wrong, master?” Jiang Mannü hastily put down the egg custard and patted Wen Zhuo’s back.

“My back aches,” Wen Zhuo said. “Massage the acupoint at my shoulder well.”

“I don’t know where that is,” Jiang Mannü said, ashamed. That day, when His Highness had massaged the master’s acupoints, her mind had been too dull to think of moving closer to the bedside to learn.

“It’s nothing, it’s not too sore.” Wen Zhuo straightened his back and asked casually, “His Highness hasn’t been coming by recently, has he? I told him to come less often to avoid attracting attention.”

Jiang Mannü quickly replied, “Rest assured, master, His Highness hasn’t come even once!”

“……”

Wen Zhuo pulled the blanket over himself and lay back down, facing the wall, eyes closed, refusing to see anyone.

Jiang Mannü scratched her head, puzzled as to why the master had suddenly become sleepy. After a moment’s thought, she continued, “…He sent a servant to say that these past few days, he’s been detained in the palace, cramming on princely etiquette. He won’t be allowed to leave until he’s learned it.”

Wen Zhuo pushed the blanket aside and slowly sat up again.

So that was it.

“Cramming etiquette—does that mean His Majesty intends to let him attend court sessions?”

That was faster than he had anticipated.

Currently, those allowed to attend court sessions included the Crown Prince, Prince Xian, the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince, and Shen Chen.

Shen Chen had only been granted this favor in the past six months due to Consort Yi’s diligent service during the emperor’s illness.

Although Shen Zheng had exposed Nanping’s conspiracy in time, Emperor Shunyuan still preferred not to see this son, who bore the stigma of being a hostage. After all, it represented his failure as both an emperor and a father.

Jiang Mannü was puzzled. “Master, aren’t you sleepy anymore?”

Just then, Liu Qiyin returned from outside, carrying a vegetable basket. Seeing Wen Zhuo starting to frown in thought again, she scolded, “Master, you’ve barely recovered, and you’re already slipping into your old habits! It’s not about attending court—His Majesty is holding a Special Grace Banquet, and His Highness is required to attend.”

“Special Grace Banquet?”

This had not happened in the previous life. After losing the Chuntai Chess Tournament to Nanping, Emperor Shunyuan had been too furious and heartbroken to think about holding any banquet.

“Eunuch Ge came to inform us, but you were asleep. Eunuch Ge said His Majesty instructed that if you were not yet well, we need not inform you—you should rest and recuperate.” Liu Qiyin patted the dirt off her palm, wiped her hands clean with a damp cloth, and draped a garment over Wen Zhuo.

“Under what pretext is this Special Grace Banquet?” Wen Zhuo pulled at his collar.

“The pretext is to honor the hardships of the border troops and remind the capital’s officials to cherish their blessings. In truth, after dealing with over eighty officials in this case, the court is in turmoil, so His Majesty wants to soothe the ministers’ hearts and show favor.”

“Oh. But because of this pretext, His Majesty has also invited the Nanping envoys and the three chess players to attend. Presumably, he wants to further suppress Nanping’s arrogance. After all, he can’t really break off relations with Nanping over a chess tournament and start another war—the Ministry of Revenue wouldn’t have enough silver to sustain it.”

Wen Zhuo paused slightly. “You’re saying that Wukan has already been released from confinement.”

Liu Qiyin replied, “That’s right. They can’t really kill the Nanping envoy. I suppose having His Highness attend the banquet is meant to make them lose face and slink back to Nanping in disgrace. Once they’re completely subdued, General Jun Dingyuan can lead the army back to court.”

Jun Dingyuan.

Jun, Ding, Yuan.

A buzzing sound erupted in Wen Zhuo’s mind. The leisurely idleness of the past few days shattered into pieces. He threw off the blanket and stood abruptly, his clothes slipping from his shoulders and falling to the floor with a soft thud.

He finally remembered what he had forgotten.

Jun Dingyuan’s triumphant return to court was the most immediate life-threatening crisis!

There was something that not only he knew but also Xie Langyang. If Shen Chen also possessed memories of the previous life, or if Xie Langyang had already exchanged information with him, then the Yongning Hou family was in imminent danger!

Time was tight. He had to find a way to remedy this fatal mistake immediately. Mend the fold after the sheep are lost—but how could he do it without leaving a trace…

Wen Zhuo was truly panicked now. In his anxiety, the fire of rage rushed to his heart, and his temples began to throb with pain. He had to press hard against his forehead to fight the ache.

“Master?” Liu Qiyin’s face changed color.

Jiang Mannü grew anxious. “Master, what’s wrong with you? Please stop thinking and rest!”

Wen Zhuo inhaled sharply, forcing his eyes open, and exhaled, “If I don’t think now, everything will be too late. I knew that once I set foot on this path, heaven wouldn’t let me rest easy!”

His teeth chattering, he reached for the cold tea on the table and tilted his head back to gulp it down. The cool liquid sliding into his chest cleared his mind somewhat.

Even in the previous life, he had failed to accomplish this. Because this mistake occurred too early, too conclusively, and with too little room for defense. When the Third Prince exposed it, they had nearly been thrown back to square one overnight.

Now, the Yongning Hou had become Shen Chen’s enemy. Shen Chen would not fail to seize this opportunity. The time left for him was even shorter than in the previous life.

“What time is it now?”

Liu Qiyin replied, “The end of the You hour, almost the Xu hour.”

“When does the Special Grace Banquet end?” Wen Zhuo asked.

Liu Qiyin shook her head.

Wen Zhuo said in a deep voice, “I must enter the palace to see His Highness. Help me change clothes!”

Liu Qiyin and Jiang Mannü could not enter the imperial palace, nor could they pass messages inside. Unless Shen Zheng came to them or Wen Zhuo entered the palace, they had no way to meet.

But this matter could not wait. He had to discuss it with Shen Zheng immediately!

Seeing the seriousness on Wen Zhuo’s face, Liu Qiyin understood the gravity of the situation. Without a word, she hurried to fetch his robes, then said to Jiang Mannü, “Quick, get some water!”

Jiang Mannü was immensely strong, and Liu Qiyin worked efficiently. In less than half an incense stick’s time, they had washed and dressed Wen Zhuo neatly.

A servant was already waiting in the front hall. As soon as Wen Zhuo stepped into the sedan chair, the servant cracked his whip, and the brown horse galloped off.

Now that evening had fallen, the streets leading to the imperial city were crowded with vendors packing up their stalls and heading home, inevitably slowing their progress.

The wooden wheels rolled over the brick pavement, creaking and groaning. Wen Zhuo sat upright in the sedan chair, his body swaying slightly.

When no one was around, he slipped his hand out of his sleeve and slowly opened his palm, revealing a deep red pill lying quietly.

This was what he had secretly taken from the box while Liu Qiyin and Jiang Mannü were not paying attention.

Although this Nanping quack medicine was as toxic as potent poison, it could indeed clear the mind and keep the spirit from flagging.

His mind was in turmoil now; perhaps one pill…

Two thoughts clashed fiercely in his heart. Wen Zhuo clenched his fingers tightly. The pill grew slightly warm in his grip, but his knuckles turned pale and cold.

He turned his head to look beyond the curtain. The whole street was shrouded in twilight, only the direction of the imperial palace was brightly lit.

Emperor Shunyuan was holding the Special Grace Banquet in the Baohe Hall. All civil and military officials, imperial clansmen, and nobles were present—over 180 people in total.

The emperor sat majestically on the dragon throne. Imperial relatives and high-ranking ministers were seated on either side. The dishes on the banquet tables were arranged according to rank, and by the time it came to the lowest end, where the Nanping envoys and chess players sat, the food had become somewhat meager.

This was deliberately done by Emperor Shunyuan.

By the Xu hour, the ceremony of swallowing, music, tea offering, and wine pouring had all been completed. Deep in their cups, these robed officials and armored ministers began to speak freely according to the emperor’s intent.

“Today, His Majesty holds this Special Grace Banquet—first, to honor the sacrifices of the soldiers; second, to soothe the Nanping envoys and send them off. Two fine occasions together—shouldn’t we drink a toast with Lord Wukan?”

“Yes, yes, a toast it is.”

“Fill Lord Wukan’s cup—don’t let it be said that we Great Qian are stingy.”

Wukan’s face turned ashen. He knew this banquet was meant to humiliate him and Nanping. But he had just been released from house arrest and dared not make a public scene.

In truth, he was not Nanping’s diplomatic envoy at all—he was merely the envoy sent to participate in the chess tournament. But Emperor Shunyuan’s actions had unintentionally elevated his status, putting him on the spot.

Suppressing his rage, Wukan grudgingly drank the wine.

The moment he finished the cup, someone immediately said, “Lord Wukan, having been granted an audience with our emperor as an envoy, shouldn’t you offer three cups of wine in gratitude?”

“You—” Wukan clenched his cup tightly, his resentful gaze fixed on the official in question. The atmosphere tensed for a few seconds before he slowly rose and raised his cup toward Emperor Shunyuan, saying stiffly, “I, as a foreign minister, thank His Majesty the Great Qian Emperor for his generous banquet. It is my great honor.”

With that, he downed the fiery liquor in one gulp.

The three chess players sitting beside him showed no reaction at all, as if the banquet, the fine food, the music and dance, and the veiled verbal sparring had nothing to do with them.

As one person sat down, another stood up. One after another, officials challenged Wukan, forcing him to keep drinking cup after cup.

No amount of alcohol tolerance could withstand such targeted attacks. Soon, Wukan was half-drunk, and his emotions could no longer be well hidden.

He wiped the wine stains from his mouth, blinked his drunken red eyes, burped, then staggered to his feet and grinned at Emperor Shunyuan. “Your Majesty, Great Qian Emperor, you have set out such a splendid feast, yet you only let us watch these common entertainments—dances, acrobatics, and such. Doesn’t that detract from the grandeur of a great celestial dynasty? We crude barbarians in Nanping can still appreciate the elegance of painted beams and savor the excellence of literature. But upon arriving in Great Qian, instead…”

Gong Zhiyuan said coldly, “What do you mean? Are you implying that the brush and ink of Great Qian cannot compare to those of Nanping?”

Wukan waved his hand repeatedly, but his tone carried a hint of provocation. “Ah, today I have come to Great Qian to meet friends through chess. I have heard that Great Qian is home to a gathering of national chess masters. Now that so many worthies are assembled, why not enliven the occasion with a game?”

Bu Zhangyi was furious. “The Chuntai Chess Tournament affair has already been dealt with leniently by His Majesty! How dare you still mention playing chess!”

Wukan narrowed his eyes and stared sinisterly at Bu Zhangyi. “Oh? Since our Nanping chess players’ skills all come from the Eight Veins of Great Qian, and all the games we won in Nanping were colluded with the Eight Veins, what is there for Great Qian’s masters to fear?”

The hall fell into instant silence.

The officials stared coldly at Wukan. The atmosphere dropped to freezing point, friction ready to spark at any moment.

The Chuntai Chess Tournament case had already been concluded. The Great Qian officialdom was in turmoil, and countless people had paid the price. No one wanted to dwell on this matter any further.

But to refuse the challenge now would be to admit guilt. If they accepted and lost by some mishap, who could bear the responsibility?

Of course, in truth, they did not believe they would lose. Except for the confidants of the Crown Prince, Prince Xian, and the Third Prince who knew the real situation, the other officials believed that Xie Qian, Shi Qingjiu, and Helian Qiao had genuinely been bribed into losing their games.

Seeing everyone silent, Wukan laughed maliciously. “Gentlemen, are you afraid? Well, I’m drunk and talking nonsense. If the national masters of Great Qian dare not compete with these three youths, then pretend I said nothing. It’s not as if the masters at this banquet have also been bought off by Nanping, right?”

This remark finally provoked a master. He roared, “Presumptuous brat! How dare a barbarian from Nanping spew such arrogance here! Today, I will play against you and wipe the floor with Nanping!”

Wukan chuckled. “Losing to the venerable Master Chen Xiaoming is the fortune of these three youths—how can that be called losing face? It seems Lord Chen is willing to compete?”

Watching the shifting situation, Shen Chen glanced at Shen Zheng, who was still idly picking at peanuts, and had a sudden inspiration. He stood up, wearing a harmless smile.

“Father, Your Son thinks Lord Wukan’s suggestion is rather interesting. Since we meet through chess, why not enliven the banquet with a game? Your Son has heard that Lord Wukan, to preserve Nanping’s dignity, would rather die than admit the last three games were fixed. So why not let them be convinced today at the banquet?”

Seeing that Shen Chen’s words aligned with his own intentions, Wukan quickly agreed before anyone could object. “Excellent! This prince speaks with remarkable grace and dignity. It seems the spirit of Great Qian still lives!”

Emperor Shunyuan frowned deeply.

He did not think Great Qian would lose, but he was utterly sick of the whole chess affair and wanted nothing more to do with it. He had expected a minister to refute Wukan, but to his displeasure, his own son had seconded the motion.

Shen Chen, as if oblivious to the emperor’s displeasure, put on a pure and innocent face. He deliberately glanced at Shen Zheng, who sat with head bowed, and smiled at Wukan. “Lord Wukan, if you lose this time, you’ll have nothing to say. You’ll have to admit that Nanping’s attempt to steal the chicken but lose the rice has backfired.”

His words seemed to support Great Qian, but his real aim was to provoke Wukan into the next move.

Sure enough, Wukan followed his lead and clapped his hands. “Excellent! If Nanping wins, then it will prove that our country had no need to play fixed games with those three. The so-called leakage of the chess games must be a farce, staged by Great Qian itself!”

Only then did everyone understand Wukan’s true intention—

He wanted to overturn the verdict!

Shen Chen’s smile grew wider. Lifting his chin arrogantly, he said, “Let me put it bluntly. At court the day before yesterday, Father informed us that the matter of fixed games in the Chuntai Chess Tournament was personally witnessed by Fifth Brother in Nanping. You lot spent all your time forcing the chess players to memorize board positions and game records, dabbling in crooked ways—you have no real skill. Fifth Brother sensed something amiss, silently memorized the game records, and thus uncovered your conspiracy. Or does Lord Wukan mean to say that Fifth Brother has deceived Father and everyone under heaven?”

Wukan burst into loud, contemptuous laughter. “I have no idea where Fifth Prince got those game records. In Nanping, he… hah! Not only did he never see a single game record, I doubt he even laid eyes on a chess piece!”

Shen Zheng, who had been enjoying his meal, raised an eyebrow slightly at this. But he did not look up; instead, he leisurely picked up a bunch of grapes and began peeling them unhurriedly.

Shen Chen pressed his advantage. “Are you saying my Fifth Brother doesn’t know chess? Ridiculous! If he didn’t know chess, how could he have memorized those three exquisite games in their entirety?”

Shen Chen immediately shot a glance at Xie Langyang.

Xie Langyang, sitting among the guests, groaned inwardly but had no choice. He rose and bowed. “Your Majesty, in the Chuntai Chess Tournament case, the Xie family bears guilt. I beg Your Majesty to grant the Xie family a chance to redeem themselves and let us strive to restore Great Qian’s honor. Although my relatives have been slaughtered, I believe every word of the Fifth Prince. The Fifth Prince, while in Nanping, had Great Qian’s interests at heart. He secretly memorized the game records and thus resolved this crisis. I believe that the Fifth Prince, having been immersed in the chess manuals of the Eight Veins, must have some insight into the game. Why not have the Fifth Prince join this competition as well, to expose Lord Wukan’s drunken ravings?”

Only then did Shen Zheng put down his grapes. He wiped his hands with a silk cloth, casting a half-smiling glance at Shen Chen and Xie Langyang. “You two go back and forth like that, and you’re about to push Great Qian into the fire. Since when does Nanping winning prove they didn’t cheat at the Chuntai Tournament? Those are two completely different things. If some official, under mental pressure, accidentally loses, will he also be accused of collusion and dragged out to be executed? Are you trying to liven things up, or are you making these gentlemen gamble with their lives?”

Shen Chen was taken aback and quickly explained, “That’s not what Your Son meant!”

Shen Zheng raised an eyebrow. “Then what did you mean? You think the Nanping players have no skill at all and Great Qian will definitely win? But winning doesn’t prove Great Qian’s masters are strong; after all, the opponent cheated all the way. What’s there to boast about beating such an opponent? What kind of entertainment is that?”

Shen Chen was left speechless, a thin sheen of sweat forming on his forehead. He hadn’t expected Shen Zheng to become such a skilled debater. “That’s not what I meant either!”

Feeling flustered, he had a sudden inspiration and quickly said, “Very well. If a game is unfair to the gentlemen, I propose a game of self-play! All masters of chess can play against themselves in their minds and produce exquisite board positions. The founders of my court’s Eight Veins created many secret chess manuals through self-play. Self-play requires no confrontation with an opponent, but the level of skill will be instantly apparent. This way, we can determine a winner without putting the gentlemen on the spot. Fifth Brother has seen so many game records in Nanping—surely he has learned more than just those three games. He doesn’t need to display extraordinary skill; if he can just memorize another exquisite board position, it will prove his words are true.”

This proposal was novel. The officials in the hall nodded in succession. Self-play would reduce the pressure and reveal one’s depth of foundation, which would actually be a challenge for Nanping players who relied on memorizing game records.

Shen Zheng stared fixedly at Shen Chen’s face.

Shen Chen looked innocent and harmless, always smiling when he spoke. Everyone called him gentle and kind.

Who would have thought that this man would become the power-hungry, self-opinionated Emperor Shengde?

Seeing that Shen Zheng remained silent, Shen Chen knew he could not possibly memorize another board position because Wen Zhuo was ill. Even if he weren’t, there was no time to teach him now.

A slight smile curled at the corner of Shen Chen’s lips as he tried to put on an innocent expression.

But then Shen Zheng turned and bowed, his face full of righteous indignation, and said boldly to Emperor Shunyuan, “Your Son seconds the motion! Let it be self-play! As Lord Xie… oh, Director Xie, said, Your Son, while in Nanping, was steeped in the chess manuals of the Eight Veins. I have had insights and created my own style. Today, I am willing to demonstrate self-play to clear my name!”

The smile on Shen Chen’s face instantly froze.