Why weren’t these two playing chess properly, fighting over fruit instead? Feng Miaojun raised her hand to summon a maid: “Bring three more plates of washed cherries.” Let’s see who would still try to snatch hers.

Meanwhile, Xu Guangxiang had suffered a crushing defeat and finally conceded.

Yun finally glanced at Feng Miaojun: “Care for a game?”

“No, thank you,” she said with a smile under Xu Guangxiang’s watchful gaze. “My chess skills are poor. I’d only embarrass myself.”

She did have some self-awareness. Just as Xu Guangxiang was about to challenge Yun again, he said, “If you win a game, I’ll donate five hundred thousand taels of silver to New Xia; if we draw, I’ll give one hundred thousand; if you can continue from this endgame and defeat me”—he lightly tapped the chessboard, making two crisp sounds—”one million taels.”

Not only was Xu Guangxiang stunned, but Feng Miaojun also exclaimed in surprise: “You’re that wealthy!” Even when she had been by Yun’s side, she had never seen him spend money lavishly. She only knew he was well-off and never short of funds, but had no idea he was rich enough to rival a nation.

Ah, why hadn’t she extracted more money from him back then to supplement the household expenses?

“Just some modest savings,” he said, showing rare humility. “Well, will you play?”

The stakes were very attractive to her. New Xia was hers, and New Xia’s shortage of funds meant the mighty Queen herself was short of money. Yun had targeted this point precisely when setting up this invitation.

Feng Miaojun, however, wasn’t easily fooled. There were no free lunches in this world: “Let’s be clear first, what if I lose?” This fellow only mentioned winning, not losing—it was a trap. He had used the same trick on Xiao Yan before.

“If Your Majesty loses…” he said casually, “then just treat me to a meal.”

“It’s a deal.” She could certainly afford a meal. “General Xu?”

Xu Guangxiang bit her lip and reluctantly gave up her seat.

Yun lightly tapped the chessboard: “Want to win big first?”

These days, the bold prospered while the timid starved. Since Feng Miaojun had already sat across from him, she didn’t hold back. She directly took a piece from the bowl and made a bold high attack.

Her chess strategy was so daring that both of them frowned.

The endgame Xu Guangxiang had left was highly unfavorable. Trying to turn defeat into victory would be a fool’s dream. Since the situation couldn’t get much worse, Feng Miaojun simply abandoned the defensive position and went all-out on the attack.

Xu Guangxiang hadn’t expected that such a delicate, rosy-cheeked young girl would play chess so fiercely, using a ruthless, piece-trading style.

Yun held the advantage and naturally didn’t want to engage in a life-or-death struggle with her, but gradually she managed to open up a path for herself.

The game lasted about an hour. Although it ultimately ended with Feng Miaojun’s defeat, the process was brilliant, with both sides displaying ingenious strategies. Watching from the side, Xu Guangxiang felt her horizons broadened, realizing that the Queen of New Xia was truly extraordinary.

Could someone who played such good chess be incompetent?

As the game ended, dusk had fallen. Feng Miaojun let out a long breath: “I lost. Shall I host tonight?”

Yun was excited about the chess match: “Let’s hold that thought. Another game.”

So they started anew, both declining dinner.

This time starting from scratch, Feng Miaojun was no longer at a disadvantage and could finally match Yun from the beginning. Observing their chess styles, Xu Guangxiang noted that both were bold and decisive, repeatedly making surprising moves.

Yun casually placed a piece and said nonchalantly: “Your Majesty’s new policies are quite bold.” He didn’t finish the thought—what he meant was “recklessly bold”!

Feng Miaojun maintained her composure: “Fortune favors the bold.”

She knew what Yun was referring to. Which newly established ruler didn’t adopt policies of light corvée and low taxes upon ascending the throne? Only she did the opposite. These days, waves of opposition surged in the royal court, criticizing her and Fu Lingchuan for their stubbornness and willfulness. After all, with public resentment boiling, officials were under great pressure. However, the treasury was indeed tight. War expenses flowed like water, and deficits were the norm. When expenditure couldn’t be reduced, the only option was to increase income—by squeezing the people.

She certainly knew such actions would lead to serious consequences, perhaps even triggering many unpredictable chain reactions.

But if the consequences weren’t serious, why would she do this?

Yun was quite curious: “Fu Lingchuan has always been steady and mature. This time, he’s joining you in turning heaven and earth upside down.” The one holding real power was Fu Lingchuan, and the one who could push through the new policies against all opposition was also Fu Lingchuan. However, conversely, if this attempt failed, he would be the one to take the blame.

Fu Lingchuan was willing to bear all the risks—had he seen the inevitable trend, or was he also trying to please her?

Both were possible.

She smiled slightly: “I persuaded him.”

Her smile was light, and Yun narrowed his eyes, curious about how she had accomplished this. Such bold actions matched her style, not Fu Lingchuan’s. If Fu Lingchuan was willing to listen to her, what benefits had she offered him?

Thinking further about Fu Lingchuan’s persistent pursuit of her, Yun felt an inexplicable fire rising in his heart, burning more fiercely in silence.

This manifested in his chess style, which became filled with killing intent, increasingly dominating. Even a military leader like Xu Guangxiang watched with cold sweat on her hands.

Yun’s voice grew colder: “He’s quite obedient. Isn’t he afraid this situation will spin out of control?”

Feng Miaojun countered each move, occasionally sacrificing a few pieces or territories to stabilize her position.

“Without destruction, there can be no construction,” she gave him a strange glance. “This is all for the good of both countries. Why is State Preceptor Yun displeased?”

Indeed, what she and Fu Lingchuan were doing was targeted. Yun’s thin lips tightened slightly: “I fear you might be too clever for your good.”

She smiled faintly: “State Preceptor Yun is concerned.”

After that, Yun also fell silent, and the two continued playing in silence.

The game lasted until the beginning of the Zi hour (11 PM – 1 AM) when Feng Miaojun finally won by a narrow margin of one and a half points.

Xu Guangxiang had rubbed her eyes countless times on the side. If not for her determination not to leave these two alone, she would have gone to rest long ago.

Feng Miaojun had concentrated intensely for over three hours and was somewhat tired. She turned her neck, which made a cracking sound: “Let’s stop here for today. Please prepare the five hundred thousand taels, State Preceptor Yun. The people of New Xia thank you for your selfless contribution.” With that, she stood up.

Xu Guangxiang suddenly said: “By the way, after all this time, have the assassins who ambushed our State Preceptor still not been caught?”

Feng Miaojun expressed sincere regret: “I’ve ordered an investigation twice. Results should be available in three days. I’ll send someone to inform you both then.”

She and Fu Lingchuan had both ordered a thorough investigation into this case. But so far, no useful clues had been found, not even suspects. She suspected in her heart that someone who could calculate the timing of the explosive bug so precisely must have been very close to the carriage, perhaps even sitting inside it.

Was it a self-inflicted injury plot by the man playing chess right now?

Thinking this, she showed nothing on her face, simply bidding farewell to both and gracefully leaving.

Her figure disappeared into the flower corridor. Yun’s gaze remained fixed in that direction, silent and lost in thought.