CHAPTER 397: CHAPTER 365: WINNING MR. LIU’S PAINTING

The events unfolded just as Zhao Xi had anticipated.

After tens of rounds between Emperor Guangxi and Song Wei, the outcome was clear.

Song Wei won.

He put his hands away and stood up, preparing first to apologize and then to withdraw.

Emperor Guangxi glanced at the board but wasn’t willing to let it go, "Just now, I intentionally let you win to spare your losing face, dare to try another round?"

Song Wei listened and replied with a bow, "What the Emperor says is his decree; I can only obey, there is no question of daring or not."

"Sit." The Emperor motioned him.

Song Wei sat back down; this time the Emperor picked first, choosing the white pieces.

Song Wei picked up a black piece and held it between his fingers; he didn’t hurry to place it but looked at the Emperor, "Since it’s a game, wouldn’t it be boring without a wager?"

The Emperor’s hand paused, he looked up, "What a big mouth, the game hasn’t even started, and you already assume you can win the second round against me?"

Song Wei said, "I’m not a master in chess; winning the first round was already sheer luck. Once the Emperor goes all out in the second round, I have slim chances. At such times, without a wager for motivation, defeat is certain."

It was rare for the young lad to speak without sarcasm; the Emperor raised his eyebrow and asked him, "What kind of wager do you want?"

Song Wei smiled, "I heard the Empress Dowager has a painting by Mr. Liu, if I win, would the Emperor grant it to me?"

The Emperor squinted his eyes.

A painting by Mr. Liu in Mother’s hands? I’ve never heard of it.

Zhao Xi was puzzled too; the Imperial Grandmother has always disliked antiques and paintings, Shou’an Palace barely displays any, so when did this painting by Mr. Liu appear?

As the Emperor was about to speak, Zhao Xi interjected, "Song Hanlin only has a fifty percent chance of winning, and the other fifty percent, you could lose, what if you lose?"

Song Wei spoke frankly, "If I lose, I will do whatever the Emperor desires."

As soon as the words fell, Emperor scoffed coldly, "Do you take me for a fool? Given my status, even if I don’t play chess today, dare you go east when I command west?"

Song Wei chuckled lightly, "If you take it that seriously, then there’d be no one in this world to wager against you."

Emperor Guangxi thought so too, pondering for a moment, "Alright then, if you lose, from this day forward, you are at my command, no excuses allowed, dare to take this challenge?"

In essence, should Song Wei lose this chess game, he’d willingly become Emperor Guangxi’s strategic sword.

No doubt, the Emperor wouldn’t personally step in, but use his hand to deal with the Su Family.

Honoring the wager, Song Wei hesitated little, nodding directly, "Alright."

"Straightforward!"

The Emperor smiled satisfied and began placing the pieces.

In the first round, the Emperor underestimated his opponent’s skill, giving Song Wei an early advantage.

In this round, he dared not be careless, engaging at full concentration.

Song Wei, desiring the painting from Shou’an Palace, was equally unwilling to yield.

Another back-and-forth ensued, resulting in a draw.

"Again." The Emperor said while picking up the pieces.

Seeing Song Wei glancing towards the window now and then, the Emperor noticed he was watching the hour, and instructed Mr. Cui, "Message them to cancel the southern trip and have the Empress and the Ministry of Rites prepare for the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet."

After Mr. Cui withdrew, the Emperor said to Song Wei, "If you find it too late to dare go home, I’ll have someone see you off later."

Song Wei withdrew his gaze, "You overstate, Emperor; I’m only worried that being out too long will cause anxiety in my family."

The Emperor directed another eunuch, "Go to the Song Mansion and notify them that I have some matters to discuss with Mr. Song at the palace overnight, and he’ll return later."

The eunuch took leave from Qianqing Palace.

"Can you play chess calmly now?" The Emperor feared he might cause another issue.

Song Wei nodded, "Please, Emperor."

The Emperor placed a piece unceremoniously.

After a tense standoff, it resulted in another draw.

If winning the first round was luck and drawing the second was coincidence, then the third game was pure skill.

Emperor Guangxi looked at Song Wei with a rather unfriendly gaze, wanting to hit someone, "Is this what you mean by knowing a little?"

Song Wei did not admit to any wrongdoing, "My chess skills were learned at the Imperial College. My mentor once said that the way of Go is profound and vast, revealing the roundness of heaven and the square of earth, the yin and yang and the five elements, and the balance of them. In that sense, my knowledge is but the tip of the iceberg. To say I know a little is not inappropriate."

After all that talk, wasn’t it just that Song Wei managed a draw against the Emperor, who was said to be unmatched both in court and among the public, with his ’little knowledge’ of chess?

This stab was undeniably ruthless.

Zhao Xi noticed how his father was so enraged by someone that he seemed to be having a fit, and couldn’t help but smirk a bit.

Watching the beginning of a new round of battle on the chessboard between ruler and subject, Zhao Xi instructed the little eunuch waiting by the side to invite Song Yuanbao from Yutang Palace.

...

According to the previous plan, Zhao Xi would accompany the Emperor on a journey to Jiangnan the next day. Song Yuanbao did not want to go and had already received half a month’s leave. He was packing up to go home when unexpectedly a eunuch from Qianqing Palace came to invite him over.

"Young Master Song, His Highness requests your presence at Qianqing Palace."

Song Yuanbao was a bit stunned, "Did he say what it’s about?"

The little eunuch hesitated for a moment, then spoke truthfully, "Mr. Song is currently playing chess with the Emperor, and His Highness is watching."

With this explanation, Song Yuanbao had a rough understanding. Mostly likely, the Emperor and his father were evenly matched in skills, and His Highness wanted him to join the excitement.

Song Yuanbao tidied himself up briefly and followed the little eunuch to Qianqing Palace.

As soon as he entered the main hall, he saw both of them each holding a piece, lost in thought during the game.

Understanding that it was not the moment to disturb the Emperor, Song Yuanbao softly greeted Zhao Xi.

Zhao Xi nodded toward the chessboard and asked him, "Can you understand it?"

Song Yuanbao shook his head without even looking, "My chess skills are far inferior to my father’s."

Back in the countryside, Song Yuanbao had rarely encountered Go. In the Capital, he only learned a bit from his father. After entering the Imperial College, where the scholars taught it, his stay was short, and soon he was in the palace serving as a companion to the Eldest Prince.

The Study Room had teachers who taught Go, but every time he played against Zhao Xi, even when allowed to concede pieces and take back moves, he would still lose.

Song Yuanbao used to love showing off, but after entering the palace and being surpassed by the Eldest Prince in every aspect, he gradually learned the rules and was no longer so fixated on winning or losing—though in truth he longed for a comeback, the opponent was too skilled. Each time he just started to gain a little, he would be pressed back down.

Zhao Xi gestured to him, "If you don’t know, watch carefully. There’s much to learn in today’s games. Once you understand, we’ll have a match someday."

Song Yuanbao thought to himself, when have I ever not lost against you in a match?

Facing someone as formidable as Zhao Xi, he was willing to admit defeat.

Zhao Xi gave a faint smile and turned his gaze back to the chessboard.

Silence fell upon the hall, only occasionally interrupted by the crisp sound of jade chess pieces landing on the board.

Soon, the pace of play slowed.

Evidently, after several games, both players had largely grasped each other’s strategies and dared not place their pieces carelessly.

Outside, the sky turned completely dark. The lights lit up one after another, illuminating the main hall and even the entire Imperial City in grandeur.

The game in the Emperor’s bedroom continued.

This game took quite a while, and the outcome wasn’t decided until an hour later.

The result was Song Wei’s victory.

After so many matches, even if Emperor Guangxi didn’t want to admit defeat, he had to acknowledge Song Wei’s extraordinary chess skills. Today, he met his match.

Arranging the black and white chess pieces, Song Wei smiled and looked at Emperor Guangxi, "Since it’s my luck that I won, should the Emperor fulfill his promise?"

Emperor Guangxi had previously been focused on winning a game to regain his honor and hadn’t thought carefully about Song Wei’s request. Realizing it now, he asked, "Do you really have to have that painting from the Empress Dowager? I have quite a collection of paintings myself; can’t you choose another one?"

Song Wei did not make concessions, "I have a particular fondness for Mr. Liu’s paintings, and I hope the Emperor can fulfill it."

Emperor Guangxi waved his hand, "A wager is a wager; I’m not a petty person. It’s just that the evening is late, and the Empress Dowager has likely retired. I shouldn’t disturb her now. How about I get the painting another day and then fulfill the promise?"

Song Wei had no objections, "As long as the Emperor doesn’t forget, it’s fine."

Emperor Guangxi was also tired, "Someone, see Song Hanlin out of the palace."

Before the little eunuch could step forward, Zhao Xi said, "Father, I will escort Mr. Song out of the palace."

Song Wei glanced quickly at Zhao Xi, then lowered his eyelids, "I do not dare accept this honor."

Zhao Xi said frankly, "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen anyone match my father’s chess skills. I want to take the opportunity to seek some advice from you."