He looked like that, which made Xu Jue Ning and Tang Bu Lan, who were guarding the door, extremely curious. They both wanted to go in and see what was happening on the chessboard.
Whoosh! The man suddenly messed up the entire chessboard.
He did not want to look at this outcome anymore. If he looked at it a few more times, it would seriously affect his mood.
He quickly picked up the pieces and said, “Come on, kid. Let’s play another game.”
Yu Qing was speechless and found it strange that this guy did not keep his word.
The man had seen something, but he still found it hard to accept such a crushing defeat. He gave a reason for another game. “The previous game was only half played by me. I saw that you are young and gave you the side that had the upper hand. I did not expect to underestimate you. Come, let us play a full game from start to finish this time. Neither of us will take any advantage.”
Yu Qing was at a loss for words and really wanted to ask if he could have some self awareness.
Of course, he could not say it like that. He spoke more tactfully. “Sir, who exactly are you? I have to go on duty early tomorrow morning. I cannot play too late. Just because you are from the Si Nan Mansion, I cannot throw away my court duties and only accompany you in playing chess, right?”
As soon as these words came out, it put a label on the situation. The man’s hand that was picking up pieces stiffened. After calming down a little, he also realised that his state of mind had a problem.
Once calm, he would understand that although the other party was young, in this area he could not keep up with him at all.
The gap was too big. The two were not opponents on the same level at all.
He was racking his brains while the other was just casually dealing with it.
Yet the result was still a brutal thrashing.
After calming down and thinking about it, he finally understood what a once in a century four subject top scholar was. He indeed had his unique qualities.
But he still felt quite angry. On their first meeting while playing chess, the other gave him no face at all. He could not help but snort. “Is this what you mean by knowing a little bit?”
Yu Qing said something against his heart. “You let me win.”
In reality, it was he himself who had held back. He had not played seriously against the opponent at all.
He had only dealt with it perfunctorily.
The man twitched the corner of his mouth. He somehow felt that the other was saying, I really only know a little bit, I just did not expect your chess skills to be so poor.
Whoosh. The man thought of the proper business at hand and threw the half handful of pieces back into the jar. “Forget it, no more playing.”
Not playing was good. Yu Qing breathed a sigh of relief. He actually hated doing such boring things the most. He politely said on the surface, “Yes.”
He did not even pick up the remaining pieces on the chessboard. The man stared at him. “In the blink of an eye so many years have passed. When you were little I even held you in your home. You probably do not remember.”
“Uh…” Yu Qing felt a bit puzzled. He had met another person who said they had held Ah Shi Heng. So he said, “May I ask your honourable name, sir?”
The man said, “Chu Tian Jian. I am in charge of the Rear Division in the Si Nan Mansion. Has your father ever mentioned me to you?”
Yu Qing’s heart tightened, even to the point of shock. He knew the other might be a high level figure in the Si Nan Mansion, but he had not expected it to be the head of the Rear Division himself. This was one of the people whose status in the Si Nan Mansion was second only to the Earth Mother. He immediately got up from the mat, bowed respectfully with clasped hands and said, “Greetings to the Rear Division sir.”
Chu Tian Jian waved his hand. “Never mind. You gave me a show of strength as soon as you arrived. It is too late to be polite now. Sit down.”
Yu Qing bowed slightly but did not dare to sit as an equal. Before he did not know, so ignorance was not a crime. Now that he knew, how could he dare? He already felt somewhat uneasy and regretted not deliberately losing to the other earlier.
However, if they played another game, he would still have to win, because the other had said that if he lost he would have to play another game with him. He actually quite hated playing chess.
Chu Tian Jian seemed used to such scenes. Since the other did not sit, he did not force it and continued. “I heard from someone that Pei Qing Cheng said when your family left the capital that year, you encountered an ambush. Only you and your father survived, and your father ended up with a lifelong disability. He passed away only last year. Is this true?”
Yu Qing said, “It is true. It was when Lord Pei asked that I told him.”
Chu Tian Jian frowned. “You really do not know who the murderer was?”
Yu Qing replied, “Someone silenced them and cut off the clues.”
Chu Tian Jian was silent for a moment, then said, “Back then I and your father could be considered quite close. Although later it was exposed that your father was a secret agent for the other side, using both His Majesty’s trust and the power of the Si Nan Mansion to secretly build strength for the other side, it was after all a matter of the court.
Your father and the Si Nan Mansion cannot be said to have a grudge. At least between us individuals there was no personal enmity. At worst, in the future we would each serve our own masters and stop contacting each other. There was no need to put your entire family to death.
The reason I came this time is actually to tell you that the disaster that befell your family has nothing to do with the Si Nan Mansion.
I can guarantee to you that it was definitely not done by people from the Si Nan Mansion.”
Yu Qing neither confirmed nor denied it. He did not know the specific situation and it was not good to say much. He only bowed slightly and said, “I have noted it down.”
There was some movement outside. Someone came to the small courtyard entrance to signal. Xu Jue Ning, who was guarding the door, immediately went to inquire.
Chu Tian Jian only turned his head to look, then turned back, put down his feet from the mat, stood up, and faced Yu Qing. “I came this time with some personal feelings as well. It is still the same words. Back then I and your father were quite close and had some friendship after all. Seeing the son of an old friend grown into an adult, my heart is comforted. I also have the intention to give some private care, so there are some things I still want to advise you on.”
Yu Qing muttered in his heart but politely said on the surface, “This junior is willing to receive your guidance.”
Chu Tian Jian nodded. “Since you have already entered official service and are mixing in the capital, building a good relationship with the Si Nan Mansion will only benefit you and not harm you. To take a step back, if you build a good relationship with the Si Nan Mansion, it will be easier for me to speak up for you in the future. Do you not think so?”
A thought flashed in Yu Qing’s mind. He instantly associated it with what Pei Qing Cheng had said and could not help but probe. “I wonder how this junior should build a good relationship with the Si Nan Mansion?”
Chu Tian Jian said with hands behind his back, “It is also simple. Naturally it is to use your strengths. Shi Heng, there is a great opportunity right now. For the six hundred year grand celebration of the Jin Kingdom, all departments must present odes to congratulate. Although the Si Nan Mansion does not stand in the court, it still needs to appear and participate on such occasions.
I am in charge of the Rear Division. Matters in this area happen to fall under my responsibility. The Earth Mother cannot sing praises in public, so the one presenting the ode to praise will definitely be me.
Everyone knows some things. The Si Nan Mansion may be fine doing other things, but writing lyrics and odes is not our strong point. Forcing it would lose not only the face of the Si Nan Mansion but also the face of the Jin Kingdom in front of all sides.
Just right, in consideration of the old friendship with your father, I was about to give you some care, and it happened to coincide with this matter. This matter happens to be what you are good at. It can truly be called heaven’s will.
Writing an ode is nothing to you, just a matter of lifting a hand. I will give you a few days. Once you have written it, hand it to me directly. In the future your relationship with the Si Nan Mansion will be natural with me watching from behind.”
Yu Qing laughed inwardly. He found that it was exactly as Pei Qing Cheng had predicted. The Si Nan Mansion really had come to find him to do something similar.
Moreover it was even more excessive than what Pei Qing Cheng said.
Not only making things difficult by writing poems to regain face, now they even wanted him to help write the ode.
The problem was that they were clearly asking him for help, yet in their mouths it became them kindly taking the initiative to help him.
If Pei Qing Cheng had not told him in advance, he would really have been fooled by this nonsense.
Fine, he did not want to agree.
Promising something to this kind of person and not fulfilling it would probably cause a lot of trouble. This was not someone he could mess with casually.
However the other was the dignified head of the Rear Division of the Si Nan Mansion who had come personally to his door. It was not good to refuse on the spot.
He could only drag it until tomorrow. Tomorrow he would resign from his official post and run away immediately.
After thinking it over again and again, he clasped his hands and said, “Sir, would it be all right if I consider it for a day or two?”
Chu Tian Jian was stunned. He had thought that with his status coming personally to the door it would be a sure thing. He had not expected the other to actually not agree.
His face immediately sank. “What? You are not even willing to do such a simple thing? Do you look down on the Si Nan Mansion, or do you have an opinion of me?”
Yu Qing, who had already received a reminder, knew clearly in his heart that what simple thing? Once he agreed, after finishing the ode on one side, the poetry matter on the other side would definitely not escape either.
He had his own reason and replied, “Sir has misunderstood. How would this official dare? It is just that I cannot promise you now, otherwise I will have no way to explain to the Censorate.”
Chu Tian Jian was startled and asked, “The Censorate does not allow you to write things for the Si Nan Mansion?”
Yu Qing said, “Not that. It is like this. The Vice Censor also asked me about the same thing and wanted me to write this. I am afraid I will not write it well. There are so many seniors in the Censorate. As a newcomer, how could I dare to claim the spotlight? I did not readily agree.
Sir, I am a person of the Censorate. If I do not agree to the Censorate but agree to your side first, would that not make me eat from inside and work for outside? How would the entire Censorate view me afterwards? I am a proper gentleman and will absolutely not act like a villain!”
“……” Chu Tian Jian was speechless. So that was the reason. He actually believed that Pei Qing Cheng would definitely also ask this kid to write an ode. With such a talented kid under him, it would be a waste not to use him, so he would definitely assign tasks.
He was just about to suggest postponing the time a bit when Xu Jue Ning suddenly ran over from outside and reported at the door, “Sir, a group of troops from the stationed army outside the city has come to the Zhong Mansion entrance and wants Ah Shi Heng to go out immediately.”
Yu Qing pointed at himself with a face full of astonishment. “The stationed army outside the city is looking for me?”
Chu Tian Jian saw his confusion and snorted, “What is the stationed army outside the city doing coming into the city to join in the fun? Tell them to talk about anything tomorrow and not to disturb the people. Just say I am here.”
Xu Jue Ning immediately said, “Sir, it is the Wolf Guards!”
“……” Chu Tian Jian’s expression froze. His brows furrowed and he instantly fell silent.
In Yu Qing’s mind there was already a scene of a group of giant wolves fiercely galloping. He felt shocked and uncertain, not knowing what they wanted with him.
Xu Jue Ning added, “I told them that sir is here but they refused. They said they have important military duties to handle and want Ah Shi Heng to come out to see them immediately. They said if the Si Nan Mansion dares to obstruct, they will treat it as delaying military affairs!”
Chu Tian Jian took a deep breath. Although his face was gloomy, he did not say any more harsh words. Instead he said to Yu Qing, “The Wolf Guards will not enter the city without reason. If they are looking for you, it is probably really something. You should still go and show your face. Logically they should not make things difficult for you. We will talk about our matter after you have dealt with the Censorate’s business.”