Chapter 273
It was rare for his younger brother to meet the girl of his dreams, the Fourth Miss Bai. Murong Yu was naturally delighted to help facilitate this important matter for his brother.
“My eldest sister has already been granted the title of Commandery Princess! His Majesty conferred it personally today…” Bai Jinzhi exclaimed joyfully, “Princess of Zhen!”
“Forgive me!” Murong Yu smiled. “May I ask if the Princess of Zhen would honor us with her presence?”
“Sister…” Bai Jinzhi tugged at Bai Qingyan’s sleeve.
“I’ve heard that the Princess of Zhen has exceptional Go skills. May I have the honor of playing a game with the Princess of Zhen?” Murong Yu, smiling like an aristocratic gentleman, bowed to Bai Qingyan, showing none of the Emperor’s usual aloofness.
Bai Qingyan sidestepped Murong Yu’s bow, glanced at Xiao Rongyan, and seeing the smile in his deep eyes, she agreed.
Murong Yu noticed Bai Qingyan’s glance at his brother, slightly puzzled in his heart.
“Nanny Qin, Chun Tao and Lingzhi will suffice to accompany me and Jinzhi.” Bai Qingyan turned and instructed Nanny Qin.
After all, it was someone else’s ship. How could she bring along all her guards and maids?
“Yes!” Nanny Qin nodded and bowed.
Nanny Qin felt at ease with Xiao Rongyan. Although boarding a merchant’s pleasure boat slightly compromised Bai Qingyan’s status, Xiao Rongyan was a benefactor to the Bai family, so…it was acceptable.
Xiao Rongyan’s steward hurriedly stepped forward and said, “Commandery Princess, County Lord, ladies, gentlemen…please!”
Dong Tingzhen glanced at the distant pleasure boat and sighed inwardly. Brother Chang Yuan was still eagerly waiting for his cousin. What should she do?
Seeing this, Dong Changsheng smiled and bowed to Xiao Rongyan, “Then we’ll take advantage of our cousin’s company and shamelessly ask for a cup of wine on Brother Xiao’s pleasure boat.”
The two illegitimate daughters of the Dong family were stunned to see Murong Yu and Xiao Rongyan… Only when Bai Jinzhi tugged on them did they blush and follow. But their eyes kept sneaking glances at Murong Yu and Xiao Rongyan, afraid of being seen.
Although Mrs. Song, their aunt, never mistreated the two illegitimate daughters of the Dong family, she didn’t care to teach them either, leaving them to live with their respective concubine mothers. As a result, the two illegitimate daughters were somewhat awkward, lacking the composure and grace of legitimate daughters.
While everyone loves beauty, the two illegitimate daughters of the Dong family were a bit too obvious.
As the First Merchant in the world, Xiao Rongyan’s pleasure boat had two floors and was unparalleled in grandeur in Dadu City.
The lower floor was spacious and luxuriously furnished with redwood furniture. Even the rare, exquisite decorations were authentic pieces from famous scholars. As soon as one entered, the air was filled with fragrance. Luxurious embroidered gauze curtains hung around to block the sunlight, creating an elegant ambiance.
Earlier, Murong Yu had mentioned playing a game of Go with Bai Qingyan. Xiao Rongyan’s steward promptly had a Go board brought over. The maids opened the Go box, served tea and snacks, then withdrew.
Dong Changsheng talked with Xiao Rongyan about Lu Yuanpeng, mentioning that Lu Yuanpeng was kneeling in the ancestral hall again. Xiao Rongyan smiled, shaking his head while holding a teacup.
“Although Lu Yuanpeng is always causing trouble, I do admire him this time!” Bai Jinzhi ignored the tea and nonchalantly nibbled on a snack, looking like she was hungry.
“Bring a cup of milk tea for the County Lord and add more honey,” Xiao Rongyan instructed the maid beside him.
Murong Yu’s lips curled into a smile as he placed a piece on the Go board.
“Thank you, Mr. Xiao. I’m indeed hungry. The palace banquets aren’t meant for eating! By the time the food is served, it’s already cold…” Bai Jinzhi spoke candidly in front of Xiao Rongyan.
Dong Tingzhen covered her lips and chuckled, “Cousin, do you think palace banquets are for eating?”
“If not for eating, what’s the point of a banquet!” Bai Jinzhi said nonchalantly.
Murong Yu, while playing Go, was distracted by Xiao Rongyan, Bai Jinzhi, and the others’ conversation, puzzled by his brother’s interest in such a carefree girl.
Xiao Rongyan smiled, his eyes falling on Bai Qingyan. Seeing her focused on the game, he softly instructed someone to bring Bai Qingyan a plate of steamed milk cakes.
Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes to place a piece, instinctively suspecting that the Yan Emperor was overly attentive to her sister, Bai Jinzhi.
She made her move, speculating on the Yan Emperor Murong Yu’s intention.
There were rumors in Dadu City that the Yan Emperor’s visit to Dadu was not just to send his son to Jin and congratulate the Emperor of Jin on his birthday but also to seek a marriage for his brother, the Ninth Prince Murong Yan.
Bai Qingyan clenched her piece. Could it be that the Yan Emperor wanted to marry her sister Jinzhi to his brother Murong Yan?
“Chun Tao, go get me a new cup of tea! This one has cooled…” Bai Qingyan spoke.
Chun Tao quickly responded and took Bai Qingyan’s tea cup away.
Bai Qingyan made her move.
The Bai family held no power in the court or the military. Despite their great victory in the southern border, she and her sister were only conferred the titles of Commandery Princess and County Lord, with no real authority.
With Yan’s envoy in Jin, even if the Yan Emperor sought to marry his brother to Jinzhi or a princess, the Emperor would likely agree.
Bai Qingyan’s hand hovered over the Go board, then shifted directions. What had been a slow game instantly transformed, causing the Yan Emperor Murong Yu to lose half his territory.
Murong Yu was startled and looked at Bai Qingyan, who remained focused on the game. After a moment’s thought, he made his move.
Bai Qingyan quickly countered, and Murong Yu lost a significant portion of his pieces, sealing his defeat.
Distracted by Xiao Rongyan earlier, Murong Yu found himself on the verge of losing the game upon returning his attention to the board.
“The Go board is like a battlefield. The Princess of Zhen is indeed a born strategist. I feel deeply inadequate…” Murong Yu placed his pieces back in the Go box and admitted defeat.
Playing Go was merely an excuse for Murong Yu to invite Fourth Miss Bai onto the pleasure boat. He hadn’t been truly focused on the game; winning or losing was of little consequence to him.
“The Go board is more than a battlefield. This world is a massive game of chess, with kings and ministers as the pieces…” Bai Qingyan picked up one of Murong Yu’s pieces. “But even the smallest piece, if not controlled by the player, can cause a great upheaval…potentially destroying a nation and costing lives!”
As she spoke, Bai Qingyan placed the piece on the board.
In an instant, with a single move, the once victorious white pieces were utterly defeated.
Bai Qingyan looked up, her serene eyes meeting the slightly shocked Yan Emperor Murong Yu without flinching, even carrying a hint of menace.
Murong Yu’s heart skipped a beat, baffled by Bai Qingyan’s sudden hostility.
He glanced at Bai Jinzhi, who was chatting and laughing, and immediately understood. It seemed the Princess of Zhen believed he had ulterior motives towards Bai Jinzhi.
As an elder brother, Murong Yu understood Bai Qingyan’s feelings at that moment. Instead of anger, he chuckled softly.
Murong Yu, known as an exceptionally handsome man, had a smile that was particularly captivating and mesmerizing.