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

At the same time, Seventh Master Xie, having just heard the servant’s report, threw his teacup to the ground, the white porcelain shattering crisply.

“What does the Empress mean by this?” he turned and said. “Our Xie family member—since when is it her place to interfere? Why is she meddling in our affairs?”

Xie Yan Fang examined the chessboard and said: “How should I put it… Yan Lai is a member of the Xie family, but not entirely so anymore. Having joined the border army, he’s half under the Empress’s command as well.”

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

“We want to suppress Yan Lai’s reputation, while the Empress wants to elevate the border army’s reputation, so her interference in this matter is reasonable.”

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

Xie Yan Fang’s fingers, which held a chess piece, waved at him in warning: “The Empress.”

That Chu woman was no longer the little girl from before. Three years had passed; Chu Wei was gone, and her position as Empress was secure.

Through her power.

Xie Yan Fang had warned them before not to underestimate this girl, to treat her as an independent faction. Seventh Master Xie had verbally agreed but hadn’t truly taken it to heart. Now, however, having witnessed and experienced it firsthand, he had to acknowledge it.

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

Xie Yan Fang placed the chess piece in his hand and said: “Seventh Uncle, don’t overthink it. We are all relatives of His Majesty—that is the greatest closeness. As for Yan Lai, it’s enough that this matter has been stirred up. Whether to keep him confined at home or otherwise isn’t so important. If the Empress wants him to go, then let him go.”

Seventh Master Xie reluctantly agreed.

Xie Yan Fang comforted him further: “I’ll go see the Empress later. After all, Yan Lai is our family member.”

Since the Empress ordered Xie Yan Lai to request punishment from His Majesty, he, as a member of the Xie family, should also go.

Seventh Master Xie smiled slightly: “With you there, it’s indeed not a big deal.” Then he frowned again, “I just find it infuriating when matters within our control are unexpectedly disrupted.”

And this wasn’t the first time, either.

Xie Yan Fang said, “Life can’t always go as planned. But it also can’t be perpetually unfavorable. It’s like this chess game—obvious and hidden moves, but with careful thought and patience, my side eventually returns to clarity—”

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

“When you play chess against yourself, how do you determine winning or losing?”

Both winning and losing would be himself. Clever people always had peculiar thoughts. Seventh Master Xie was used to it. He sat down and poured himself more tea, listening to Xie Yan Fang placing pieces.

“Going back to the matter at hand,” he said, “why is the Empress protecting Xie Yan Lai? For the border army’s sake, she could choose someone else—the border army didn’t send only Xie Yan Lai.”

After he finished speaking, he heard neither Xie Yan Fang’s response nor the sound of a piece being placed.

Seventh Master Xie turned to see Xie Yan Fang holding a chess piece, one hand supporting his chin, eyes focused intently on the chessboard—

He’d become absorbed in playing chess against himself. Seventh Master Xie shook his head without saying more, drank his tea in one gulp, and left without disturbing Xie Yan Fang’s enjoyment of the game.

The pavilion fell silent. A breeze came, carrying flower petals that danced into the pavilion and landed on the chessboard.

Xie Yan Fang placed a chess piece and picked up the flower petal.

“It’s because she likes him,” he said.

That girl and Xie Yan Lai—he and Butler Cai had joked about it privately several times—their relationship was unusual.

But so what? His relationship with that girl was also unusual.

Because of family background, circumstances, and various matters, relationships between people are always complex.

But the bonds between people can also be very simple.

She protected him simply because she liked him.

Butler Cai walked over at this moment, overheard, and asked curiously: “Who likes whom?”

Xie Yan Fang looked up and said: “Anyone can like anyone.”

Butler Cai frowned: “At a time like this, what is the young master thinking about? Who cares who likes whom? What does it have to do with us?” Then he smiled, “Even if it did matter, if the young master doesn’t approve, it becomes irrelevant.”

Xie Yan Fang laughed heartily, placing down a chess piece: “Butler Cai is right.” Then he asked, “Is everything prepared?”

Butler Cai nodded: “All arrangements have been made at court. After Yan Lai presents himself for duty, they will raise the matter.” He added, “Seventh Master must be furious that he couldn’t bring him back this time?” He shook his head with a smile, “Actually, there’s no need to be angry. No matter how much commotion there is in the streets, it doesn’t affect the court. Excitement comes quickly and disperses just as quickly.”

Xie Yan Fang looked at the chessboard, picking up a chess piece, and asked: “Has everyone arrived?”

Butler Cai nodded: “They have.”

Xie Yan Fang placed the chess piece down and smiled at the chessboard: “Now the game becomes clear.”

……

……

By the time Liang Qiang reached the city gate, the street parade had ended, but he could still feel the seething clamor within the city.

He reined in his horse before the city gate, gazing forward as if imagining the lively scene inside.

Behind him, more than a dozen soldiers also reined in their horses and stood at attention, but neither the majestic city gate nor the bustling city caused any change in their expressions.

Seeing them in military uniforms, the surrounding people immediately gathered around.

“Are you from the border army?”

Liang Qiang looked at those who asked and nodded.

The people instantly became enthusiastic: “Heroes!” “Come into the city quickly!” “Too bad you missed the flower rain.” “No matter, just say the word, and everyone will welcome you again.”

Someone shouted, “Hero, take off your clothes!”

The clamor rose again at the city gate.

Faced with the joyful crowd, Liang Qiang and his soldiers remained expressionless, but one of Liang Qiang’s clan brothers was about to dismount—

“Brother Qiang!” he couldn’t help but say excitedly, “So many people welcoming us, our Liang family finally—”

“This is the glory of the border army, not related to our Liang family,” Liang Qiang interrupted him, his eyes containing a warning. “Eighth Brother, don’t speak carelessly and bring trouble—that would indeed concern our Liang family.”

The clansman froze, instinctively looking around, and said in a low voice: “Yes, I understand.”

For this return to the capital, although Liang Qiang had said no attendants were needed, his father was still worried and selected a collateral branch brother to accompany him.

This was also a form of patronage—following Liang Qiang meant he wouldn’t have to seek odd jobs in the city to make a living. Many in the family envied him.

He couldn’t afford to annoy Liang Qiang, much less cause trouble.

Liang Qiang looked again at the enthusiastic crowd, raising his hand in greeting: “Thank you all, but we are the border army, yet we are not.”

“We are yet we are not?” What did that mean? The people were puzzled.

“I am with the border army, but I’ve come to the capital on personal business,” Liang Qiang said. “So, thank you all for your kindness, but I cannot accept it.”

Nevertheless, he unfastened his outer robe and took it off.

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

The soldiers behind him obeyed and removed their outer garments.

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

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

“Even for personal business,” some people wondered, “they’re still border army, still heroes.”

Why couldn’t they accept the welcome?

“They’re just being modest,” some people explained, watching the group enter the city gate with admiration. “The border army is truly brave and also courteous.”

A chorus of praise rose behind them.

The clansman riding beside Liang Qiang still couldn’t help but share the same doubt.

“You’re brave too, your achievements are even greater than that of Xie Yan Lai,” he muttered. “If he deserves it, so do you. Besides, it would be a good opportunity to restore our Liang family’s name.”

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

Liang Qiang said nothing. Inside the city, the commotion was even more palpable, with fresh flowers, silk flowers, and red silk scattered on the ground like a colorful carpet.

And seeing their group—imposing in manner but oddly dressed—

“Are you trying to imitate Young General Xie?”

“Who are these people? Are they worthy of imitating him?”

Mocking questions rose around them.

The clansman looked somewhat uneasy and indignant: “Of course we’re worthy!”

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

The clansman, seeing the young man’s indifferent expression, stammered again: “Brother Qiang, you’re truly steady now, indeed someone destined for greatness.”

Worthy or not, destined for greatness or not, Liang Qiang swayed in his saddle, and even what he did wasn’t for him to decide.

However, none of that mattered. He would certainly make the entire city take notice; the name Liang Qiang would become known to all.

In this life, isn’t that what people seek? Isn’t that enough?

“To the Grand Tutor’s mansion,” he said.

……

……

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

He was standing in the court hall, watching the young man who walked in.

The young man was still bare-chested, carrying thorny branches on his back, walking into the solemn hall filled with civil and military officials.

His steps were slow, but as he walked in the hall, no matter how he tried to avoid it, his gaze couldn’t help but fall on the high dragon throne ahead.

The little Emperor sat on the dragon throne.

The Emperor had grown taller, but not enough to block Xie Yan Lai’s line of sight. His gaze passed over the little Emperor to the silhouette of a woman behind the hanging screen.