FID – Chapter 816

Chapter 816 — My Imperial Uncle Is a Pawn?

A cup of warm tea was presented in front of her.

“Have a cup of tea to calm your anger. Once you’ve settled down, you can scold us however you like,” said Liu Yusheng with a gentle smile.

“After drinking the tea, have a couple of snacks too. You didn’t eat much at the table just now. Getting angry and punishing your own stomach is hardly worth it. If you’re angry at someone, it’s them who should go hungry.” Feng Mohan also handed over some pastries. “But leave my Imperial Aunt out of it, and don’t let her go hungry. She’s eating for two now.”

Glaring at the items placed before her, then at the two people whose tone and demeanor were completely different from how they behaved in front of outsiders, the Empress Dowager lifted her gaze, her eyes cold as ice. “What exactly are you trying to do?”

What did they want from her?

Meeting the Empress Dowager’s eyes, from the icy depths, Liu Yusheng seemed to see the walls of defense that had just been built up again, one after another.

Handing the tea and snacks to the old attendant, Liu Yusheng’s expression turned serious.

“In the Liu family courtyard, whenever the younger generation angered their elders, we would coax them like this until they were happy again — bowing humbly, wearing colorful clothes to amuse them. I have no other intention in doing this, only to help Your Majesty calm your anger and forgive us juniors for our impropriety.”

“I am not one of those elders in your Liu family courtyard, I don’t need your coaxing!”

Raising her hand, after hesitating for a moment, Liu Yusheng gently held the Empress Dowager’s tightly clenched hand that gripped the bedsheet to control her anger, and smiled softly, “You are still an elder. Strictly speaking, you are my mother-in-law, and also Xiao Feng’er’s… grandmother.”

With that, she stood up, bowed respectfully, and withdrew from the room.

Seeing this, Feng Mohan followed Liu Yusheng’s example and gently grasped the Empress Dowager’s clenched fist before quietly stepping back.

It wasn’t until they had left that the Empress Dowager, as if suddenly burned by something, quickly withdrew her hand.

Her expression shifted, revealing a trace of panic.

“Your Majesty!” The old maid quickly moved forward.

Pointing at the cup of tea and the plate of pastries, the Empress Dowager snapped sharply, “Take them away, remove them!”

What was this?

Pity? Did they think she was pitiable?

Or were they trying to use this method to get what they wanted from her?

Apart from the title of Empress Dowager, she had nothing left. She had already lost everything. What more did they want from her?!

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s strange behavior, the old maid hurriedly removed the items and left the room. When she returned to the inner chamber, the old woman had already reclined back onto the bed.

Facing the wall, her shoulders trembled slightly.

There was no sound, but for the old maid who had served her for many years, she knew.

The Empress Dowager was crying.

Leaving the main hall of the Yangxin Hall, Feng Mohan followed Liu Yusheng into the side hall.

As soon as they entered, he couldn’t wait to ask, “Imperial Aunt, what exactly are you trying to do with all of this?”

Sitting down on the couch, Liu Yusheng was still reflecting on the Empress Dowager’s reaction, feeling a little unsettled. “Xiao Feng’er, do you think what I did was a bit too much for the Empress Dowager?”

“What’s too much? It was just a few jokes. You didn’t do anything unforgivable to her,” Feng Mohan said nonchalantly.

“Sometimes, a careless mistake might be exactly what makes someone upset,” Liu Yusheng replied with a bitter smile. “I actually didn’t have any particular intentions. I just wanted to get a little closer to the Empress Dowager. I know it’s impossible to make her forget those old grudges, but at least, at least I could make her not get upset so quickly. Perhaps one day, at some point, she might feel a little sympathy because of this closeness…”

“Aunt, you’re overthinking it. Right now, just focus on taking care of your health and looking after my cousins. Wait for Uncle to return. As for everything else, leave it to me, as the man in charge.” Slapping his chest, Feng Mohan tried to act mature, making Liu Yusheng laugh.

After leaving the side hall and walking out the gates of Yangxin Hall, Feng Mohan’s easygoing expression disappeared, replaced with a more serious demeanor.

During this time, Mo Yan had been keeping an eye on Yangxin Hall, but had not discovered anything unusual. The Empress Dowager had not made any moves during her time there.

Despite this, he never let his guard down. In this vast imperial palace, aside from his uncle and aunt, he didn’t even trust himself.

That night, the emperor’s direct military forces were quietly mobilized, and at the same time, Qin Xiao was summoned into the palace overnight.

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a chessboard was placed in front of the young emperor. When Qin Xiao arrived, the emperor was already playing chess against himself.

Seeing him enter, the young emperor smiled and pointed to the seat opposite him. “General Qin, you have spent most of your life on the battlefield, with great military achievements in the border camps. I’ve often heard my Imperial Uncle speak highly of your accomplishments, always with great respect. He said that you are a genius in leading troops and warfare, and are also highly skilled in chess. Today, I would like to learn from you. Please, General, do not hesitate to teach me.”

The hall was empty, with only the young emperor and the chessboard in sight.

The night breeze gently brushed through the hall, making the curtains flutter lightly, adding to the quiet, spacious atmosphere.

Qin Xiao walked in step by step and sat down opposite the emperor.

“What skill in chess? The King is overpraising me. In my life, the only thing I’m truly skilled in is leading troops and fighting wars. I’ve spent decades defending the border, putting my life on the line in every battle, always prepared to die for my country. It’s been many years since I last played chess.” He picked up a black piece, gently rubbed it between his fingers for a moment, and placed it on the board. “But since Your Majesty is so interested in playing, I naturally can’t decline.”

There was no further conversation. The battle on the chessboard, though devoid of smoke, was just as perilous.

With a single move, Feng Mohan lost by one piece.

“Your Majesty, I concede.”

Feng Mohan raised his gaze, his eyes dark and profound, the smile not reaching his eyes. “General Qin is indeed, as my Imperial Uncle said, an expert in chess. Every move on the chessboard is strategic, and I have no more retreats left.”

Qin Xiao smiled. “If we’re talking about chess skills, the King is the true master. No one in our court can surpass him. Looking at this game, for the emperor to lose by only one piece at such a young age is already impressive. Given time, your skills will surpass mine. Moreover, there is still one piece left on the board. That piece could make me lose the entire game.”

Feng Mohan narrowed his pupils, staring intently at Qin Xiao.

His own pieces had all been placed on the board.

With hands accustomed to holding a sword, calloused from years of use, he picked up a black piece and placed it at a critical point on the board.

One man guarding the pass, and no one can get through.

The outcome shifted instantly.

Qin Xiao pointed at the piece. “This piece is the King of Nanling.”

Feng Mohan took the piece into his palm, forming a fist. He stared at Qin Xiao deeply. “General, are you saying my Imperial Uncle is a chess piece?”

“On the chessboard, everyone is a piece. Life is like chess.”

He opened his palm, and the black piece, illuminated by the light, reflected a faint yellow glow.

“General, you’re mistaken,” Feng Mohan placed the piece back in the box, curling his lips. “My Imperial Uncle is not a chess piece. He is my confidence. This game, I can lose, and I am prepared to lose. But as long as my confidence remains, who can push me into the mud?”

“Then, Your Majesty, what exactly is the reason you summoned me into the palace? Not to win me over, nor to relinquish power… was it just to play a game of chess? It can’t be that simple.”