The chess piece landed on the board with a crisp sound.

After hearing the servant’s account, Seventh Master Xie simultaneously smashed his teacup on the ground, the white porcelain shattering crisply.

“What does the Empress mean by this?” he said, turning around. “Our Xie family’s people—when is it her turn to interfere? Why must she meddle in matters that don’t concern her!”

Xie Yanfang studied the chessboard and said, “How should I put it? Yanlai is a member of the Xie family, but now not entirely—having entered the border army, so half of him could also be considered the Empress’s person.”

He placed another piece, his voice harmonizing with the sound of the piece falling.

“We want to suppress Yanlai’s reputation, while the Empress wants to elevate the border army’s reputation, so it’s only natural she would interfere in this matter.”

“She—” Seventh Master Xie raised his eyebrows to speak.

Xie Yanfang waggled the fingers holding the chess piece at him, reminding him, “The Empress.”

That Chu family girl was no longer the little girl from before. Three years had passed. Chu Ling was gone, and she sat firmly in her position as Empress.

By her own ability.

Xie Yanfang had reminded them before not to underestimate this girl, to treat her as an independent party. Seventh Master Xie had agreed verbally but didn’t really take it to heart. But now, having seen and experienced it firsthand, he had to admit it.

“The Empress’s thoughts are unfathomable,” Seventh Master Xie said. “She controls His Majesty. I feel her reach is extending farther and farther, yet she still refuses to be close with us.”

Xie Yanfang placed the chess piece in his hand down and said, “Seventh Uncle, don’t think too much about it. We are all His Majesty’s relatives—that is the greatest closeness. As for Yanlai, this matter has caused enough of a stir. Whether to keep him confined at home or whatever else—it’s not that important. If the Empress wants him to go, then let him go.”

Seventh Master Xie reluctantly agreed.

Xie Yanfang comforted him further. “I’ll go see the Empress in a bit. After all, Yanlai is our family member.”

Since the Empress had Xie Yanlai plead guilty to His Majesty, he as a member of the Xie family should also go.

Seventh Master Xie smiled. “With you there, it’s truly not a big matter.” He frowned again. “I just feel annoyed that matters within our control were disrupted by an unexpected turn.”

And this wasn’t the first time either.

Xie Yanfang said, “Life cannot go as one wishes in everything. However, it also cannot be perpetually against one’s wishes. Just like this chess game—some moves clear, some obscure—but if you focus and play carefully step by step, my side will eventually return to clarity—”

Seventh Master Xie turned to look at the chessboard, somewhat amused.

“You’re playing chess against yourself—what victory or defeat is there to speak of?”

Victory or defeat were both his own anyway. Smart people always had strange notions. Seventh Master Xie was used to it. He sat down to pour himself fresh tea, listening to Xie Yanfang place pieces.

“Speaking of which,” he said, “why does the Empress protect Xie Yanlai? For the sake of the border army, she could have chosen someone else. It’s not as if Xie Yanlai is the only one who came from the border army.”

After finishing this sentence, he heard neither Xie Yanfang’s voice nor the sound of a piece being placed.

Seventh Master Xie turned to see Xie Yanfang holding a chess piece, one hand propping up his chin, his gaze focused intently on the board—

He’s become absorbed even in playing chess with himself. Seventh Master Xie shook his head and said nothing more. He drank his tea in one gulp, and not wanting to disturb Xie Yanfang’s enjoyment of the game, he stood up and left.

The pavilion was quiet and still. A breeze came, carrying flower petals that danced through the pavilion and landed on the chessboard.

Xie Yanfang placed his chess piece down and picked up a petal.

“Because she likes him,” he said.

That girl and Xie Yanlai—he and Steward Cai had joked privately about it several times. Their relationship was unusual.

But so what? The relationship between him and that girl was also unusual.

Because of family backgrounds, because of circumstances, because of all sorts of things, relationships between people were always very complicated.

But the bonds between people could also be very simple.

She protected him simply because she liked him.

Steward Cai came over just then, heard this, and asked curiously, “Who likes whom?”

Xie Yanfang looked up and said, “Anyone can like anyone.”

Steward Cai frowned. “At a time like this, what is the young master thinking about? Who cares who likes whom? What does it matter even if someone likes someone? What does it have to do with us?” He then smiled. “Even if there is a connection, if the young master doesn’t like it, it can become nothing.”

Xie Yanfang laughed heartily and placed his chess piece down. “Steward Cai is right.” He then asked, “Everything is prepared?”

Steward Cai nodded. “All arrangements in court have been made. After Yanlai appears before the throne to report on his duties, they will raise it.” He added, “Seventh Master must be quite upset he didn’t bring him back this time, right?” He shook his head with a smile. “Actually there’s no need to be upset. No matter how lively things get on the streets, it has nothing to do with the court. Excitement comes quickly and dissipates quickly too.”

Xie Yanfang looked at the chessboard, picked up a chess piece, and asked, “Everyone has arrived?”

Steward Cai nodded. “They have.”

Xie Yanfang placed the piece down, looked at the board, and smiled with satisfaction. “Now the chess game is clear.”

……

……

When Liang Qiang reached the city gate, the street parade had already ended, but he could still feel the boiling clamor within the city.

He reined in his horse before the city gate, looking ahead, as if imagining the lively scene within the city.

Behind him, a dozen soldiers also reined in their horses and stood at attention. Neither the imposing city gate nor the bustling city caused any ripple in their expressions.

Seeing them wearing military robes, the surrounding citizens immediately gathered around.

“Are you border troops?”

Liang Qiang looked at the inquiring people and nodded.

The crowd immediately became enthusiastic. “Brave warriors!” “You should enter the city quickly!” “Such a pity you missed the flower rain.” “No matter—just say the word and everyone will welcome you again.”

Someone even shouted loudly, “Brave warriors, quickly remove your clothes!”

Clamor rose again before the city gate.

Facing the people’s joyful crowding, Liang Qiang and the soldiers remained calm, but one of the clan brothers accompanying Liang Qiang was about to dismount—

“A’Qiang!” he said, unable to contain his excitement. “So many people welcoming us—our Liang family has finally—”

“This is the honor of the border army, unrelated to our Liang family,” Liang Qiang interrupted him, his gaze carrying a hint of warning. “Eighth Brother, don’t speak carelessly and invite trouble—that would be related to our Liang family.”

The clan brother’s body stiffened. He instinctively glanced around and said in a low voice, “Yes, I understand.”

For this return to the capital, though Liang Qiang had said not to bring attendants, Father Liang was still uneasy and selected a branch family brother to accompany Liang Qiang.

This was also a form of advancement. Following Liang Qiang meant not having to do odd jobs in the city to make a living anymore. Who knew how many people in the family envied him?

He couldn’t anger Liang Qiang, and even more couldn’t cause trouble.

Liang Qiang looked again at the enthusiastic crowd around him and raised his hand in salute. “Many thanks, everyone, but we are border troops, yet also not.”

Are yet not? What does that mean? The people were stunned.

“I am border army, but this trip to the capital is for private matters,” Liang Qiang said. “So, I thank everyone for your kindness, but I cannot accept it.”

However, he did unfasten and remove his outer robe.

“To avoid misunderstanding, everyone remove your military robes.”

The soldiers behind him obeyed and removed their clothes.

Liang Qiang said no more and urged his horse past the crowd into the city.

The people stared blankly at this group of men wearing only inner garments and holding their outer robes—

“But… even if it’s private matters,” one citizen said in confusion, “they’re still border troops, still brave warriors.”

Why couldn’t they accept the welcome?

“That’s them being modest,” another citizen said with understanding, watching the group walking through the city gate with admiration. “The border troops truly are both brave and courteous.”

A chorus of praise arose behind them.

The clan brother walking beside Liang Qiang still couldn’t help but voice this question.

“You’re also brave—your achievements are even greater than that Xie Yanlai,” he muttered. “If he can receive it, so can you. Besides, it would be a perfect opportunity to restore honor to our Liang family.”

Let the people of the capital all know that the Liang family had returned in glory!

Liang Qiang said nothing. Once inside the city, they could feel the clamor even more. Fresh flowers, silk flowers, and red silk were scattered on the ground like a colorful carpet.

When people saw their group—imposing in bearing but dressed incongruously—

“Are they trying to imitate Young General Xie?”

“What kind of people are they? Do they even have the qualifications to imitate him!”

Mocking and questioning voices arose all around.

The clan brother looked somewhat uneasy and said indignantly, “Of course we’re qualified!”

Liang Qiang cut him off. “Don’t say anything more.”

The clan brother looked at the young man’s indifferent expression and said sheepishly again, “A’Qiang, you’re truly composed now. You really are someone destined for great things.”

Whether he was qualified, whether he would accomplish great things, Liang Qiang sat swaying on his horse—even what things he would do were not for him to decide.

But none of that mattered. He would certainly cause the entire city to take notice. His name, Liang Qiang, would become known to everyone.

In this lifetime, wasn’t that what people sought? Wasn’t having that enough?

“Go to the Grand Tutor’s residence,” he said.

……

……

The Grand Tutor was not at his residence at this time.

He was standing in the court hall watching the young man walk in.

The young man still had his upper body bare, thorned branches on his back, walking through the solemn hall lined with civil and military officials.

His steps were slow, but walking through the hall, no matter how he tried to avoid it, he could not avoid the towering dragon throne ahead.

The young Emperor sat on the dragon throne.

Though the young Emperor had grown somewhat taller, it didn’t block Xie Yanlai’s line of sight. His gaze passed over the young Emperor to see the silhouette of a woman behind the hanging curtain.