When the war first broke out, the Wei Kingdom’s attack came with lightning speed, catching the Kingdom of Yao completely unprepared. Within seven days, they had captured four cities. However, Yao had long been aware of their malicious neighbor’s ambitions and quickly responded, organizing defensive counterattacks.

The disadvantages of fighting on foreign soil were quite obvious—they couldn’t claim any advantage in terms of timing, terrain, or popular support. Although Wei had the experience of swallowing An Xia, Yao was different from An Xia. The latter mostly consisted of plains and river valleys—flat, open land—while Yao’s interior was mountainous. Not only was travel difficult, but many strategically advantageous positions were easy to defend but hard to attack, which slowed the advance of the Wei army.

At this point, if reinforcements from Jin arrived, the situation would become quite unfavorable. Therefore, Xiao Jing’s mission was to guard the Chikan Forest in southern An Xia, prevent Jin forces from passing through, and buy more time and opportunities for the royal army.

After clarifying these relationships, Feng Miaojun didn’t gain clarity but became even more confused:

What kind of person was Yun Ya? Would he really, for the sake of factional struggles within Wei and to create difficulties for the Crown Prince, allow Fu Lingchuan and his companion—two major threats—to return to An Xia? If Xiao Jing couldn’t withstand the pressure and allowed large numbers of Jin troops to pass through, the Wei royal army’s war plans would certainly be hindered.

What other calculations in this situation remained unclear to her?

After the two men finished discussing state affairs, Xiao Yan’s mouth began to hurt again, making it impossible for him to pretend nothing was wrong. Yun Ya probably felt he had been punished enough, so he asked Feng Miaojun to bring out a chess board for a game with him.

“Hey!” Xiao Yan felt insulted.

Yun Ya glanced at him and used just three words to end any dispute: “I’m tired.”

He was a long-term chronic patient with heart problems—when he said he was tired, who would dare make him continue exerting himself?

Xiao Yan could only resentfully pick up the chess pieces.

Yun Ya closed his eyes and said: “If you can defeat An’an, I’ll grant you one request.”

Xiao Yan’s eyes immediately brightened: “Any request at all?!”

“Yes, as long as it’s within my power.”

Xiao Yan immediately pointed at Feng Miaojun with delight: “Good! If I win, you’ll give her to me!”

Yun Ya lifted his eyelids to look at him once, then continued resting with his eyes closed.

Was this tacit approval?

Feng Miaojun’s lips curled, silently furious.

She had previously agreed with Yun Ya that she could be his attendant, but he must give her sufficient respect and never treat her like property to be given away.

His words were still fresh in her ears, yet he was already going back on them.

She clenched her left hand into a fist inside her sleeve, wanting nothing more than to slap Yun Ya. If she weren’t so wary of his cultivation level, she would have already turned against him.

Xiao Yan lacked perception and couldn’t see she was angry. He smiled and said: “Come, I’ll give you a handicap of one piece.”

Feng Miaojun secretly circulated her spiritual technique to suppress her anger bit by bit. Now looking at him, the corners of her mouth slowly curved upward.

Wanting to defeat her? Hah, it wouldn’t be so easy.

Finally, Xiao Yan could silently rest his mouth and heal.

Feng Miaojun started poorly, being surrounded and intercepted by Xiao Yan, suffering consecutive losses. At first, seeing Yun Ya make the bet, he thought Feng Miaojun must be skilled at chess, but now he was finally reassured. Looking at her, he became increasingly pleased, as if he had already secured this beautiful young woman: “Don’t worry, An’an, you won’t be at a disadvantage following me in the future!”

Hearing this, Yun Ya opened his eyes and looked at the chessboard: “A true gentleman doesn’t speak during chess.”

Wasn’t that for watching chess, not playing? Xiao Yan knew he was annoyed and laughed: “A man of honor keeps his word!”

Yun Ya said softly to Feng Miaojun: “Don’t panic, you still have a chance to win.”

Feng Miaojun lowered her head, fingering the chess piece in her hand, biting her red lips until they glistened, refusing to look at him.

Yun Ya knew she was angry with him for using her in a bet, so he stretched out his hand to stroke her back: “This fellow’s chess skills are quite poor. He’s just making a strong opening move to intimidate. If you just stabilize your position, his momentum will naturally fade later.”

“Hey, hey!” Xiao Yan called out repeatedly, “This is a competition between An’an and me—why are you interfering?” Yun Ya understood his chess style too well; with just a few pointers, the little maid could defeat him. This guy probably regretted his bet and didn’t want to lose the beauty, so he was planning to cheat.

“Hm.” Yun Ya chuckled softly and said no more.

The chess match continued.

Feng Miaojun felt uncomfortable because Yun Ya’s hand never left her back. His palm was very warm, heating her back, yet his touch was light, like a sparrow fluttering its wings against her back—soft and ticklish.

This was harassment!

She couldn’t help but shift, trying to shake off his hand. But Yun Ya said again: “Focus, don’t get distracted. You can win against him.”

How could she focus on him touching her like this?!

Feng Miaojun was about to glare at him severely when she suddenly felt something was amiss.

She was about to place a piece, her gaze still surveying the board, when she felt Yun Ya’s fingertip lightly trace a line on her back, then tap twice.

What did he mean? Her mind was disturbed by that warmth, and she absently placed a piece.

Xiao Yan smiled with delight, while Yun Ya leaned close to her ear and said in a tone of exasperation: “Foolish!”

She wanted to flip the table and shout, “I quit!”

But that was just a thought.

Just as Xiao Yan finished placing a piece and Feng Miaojun was contemplating her next move, Yun Ya’s fingertip slid again, in a different direction, tapping four times, then changing direction and tapping twice more.

Feng Miaojun’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He wouldn’t be this frivolous, so it must be—four spaces to the left of Xiao Yan’s piece, then two down?

Was he using this code to tell her how to play?

Feng Miaojun couldn’t help but close her eyes briefly. The dignified State Preceptor was cheating at chess! She instinctively turned her head, glancing at Yun Ya—

And he appeared completely nonchalant, without the slightest guilt.

Xiao Yan was truly unfortunate to be matched against such an opponent.

Feng Miaojun had originally intended, in her anger, to create a problem for Yun Ya and see how he would handle it. Now she suddenly changed her mind and, following his instructions, placed a piece.

Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed, while Yun Ya, stroking his chin, smiled and praised: “Good move.”

This was a hint that she had moved correctly. Feng Miaojun secretly rolled her eyes—he wasn’t praising her, he was praising himself. So two-faced!

From then on, she simply emptied her mind and thought of nothing, waiting for his instructions and responding with each move.

In reality, the chess match had transformed into a contest between Xiao Yan and Yun Ya.

Xiao Yan quickly discovered that the young beauty’s chess style had suddenly changed, becoming meticulous and detailed, fierce in attack, steady in defense, with calculated advances and retreats, moving comfortably within the confines of the board.

Halfway through the game, he felt as if he were sinking into a quagmire, struggling at every turn.

This feeling wasn’t unfamiliar. Xiao Yan thought that her style was surprisingly similar to Yun Ya’s. “Is she just an attendant?” He raised his head to glare at the State Preceptor in dissatisfaction. “You haven’t interfered?”

Yun Ya’s smile was perfect: “My attendant could defeat you without the slightest effort.”

Xiao Yan still looked at him suspiciously.

Feng Miaojun suddenly said: “If you’re concerned, we can switch positions.”

Xiao Yan didn’t hesitate: “Good.”

Feng Miaojun stood up without reluctance, also taking the opportunity to escape from Yun Ya’s control, and sat on the opposite side.

Being too close to him, surrounded by his aura, made her nervous.

Xiao Yan carefully turned the chessboard around. Yun Ya rested his chin on one hand, staring at her intently.

What was this girl up to?