usatvline Chapter 233 Chess Player
Chapter 233 Chess Player
The emperor nodded, a nostalgic look in his eyes: "You remembered too?"
Zhou Qianzheng said nostalgically, "How could I forget? I never imagined that more than 30 years would have passed in the blink of an eye."
The two reminisced about the past for a while, but Lin Ziping couldn't get a word in edgewise and could only sit there with a smile.
"Your Majesty, it's getting late, you should rest," Dongshan said.
The emperor yawned: "What time is it?"
Zhou Qianzheng said, "It's already past 11 PM."
"Is it so late?" the emperor said. "You always enjoy playing chess with Qianzheng so much."
"Your Majesty and Lord Zhou both had a few drinks tonight. Shall I have someone bring up some hangover soup?" Dongshan asked.
"Haha, Dongshan, you cunning fellow, you've already sobered up, why would you need a hangover soup?" the emperor laughed loudly.
"Then, shall this old servant have someone bring some midnight snacks?" Dongshan asked with a smile.
The emperor waved his hand: "I'll pass, but does Qianzheng want it?"
Zhou Qianzheng shook his head: "I'm getting old, and I can't digest food well. Young friend Lin has been with us all night, would you like to eat something else?"
Lin Ziping rubbed his stomach sheepishly: "I ate a whole plate of pastries, I'm already full."
The Emperor laughed and said, "It seems that the snacks Dongshan prepared today are to your liking. It's kind of you to have the patience to keep two old men company all night. Dongshan, take him down and come back to work tomorrow."
What?
Are you coming to work tomorrow?
Did you hear me wrong?
Dongshan coughed lightly: "Lin Ziping, why aren't you kneeling down to express your gratitude?"
Lin Ziping was now certain he hadn't misheard, and he knelt down with a thud: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
The emperor waved his hand: "Take him down from Dongshan."
"Yes," Dongshan nodded.
Lin Ziping kowtowed deeply, stood up, bowed, took a few steps back, and left with Dongshan.
Dongshan lifted the tent flap and said, "His Majesty is going to rest. Go and make preparations."
The palace servant waiting outside the tent replied, "Yes."
Dongshan strode out, and Yan Shu stepped forward and said, "Godfather."
Dongshan nodded slightly.
Yan Shu stepped forward and draped the cloak draped over Dong Shan's arm.
“Make arrangements for him,” Dongshan said.
Yan Shu glanced at Lin Ziping, then bowed his head and said, "Yes."
Lin Ziping was startled. "No way, does being on duty mean being on duty as a eunuch?"
The emperor seemed quite happy just now, surely he doesn't deserve this kind of punishment?!
Lin Ziping wrapped his clothes tighter: "Sir, my family has had only one son for three generations, I... I can return to the guard camp... I..."
Lin Ziping was somewhat incoherent. If he were a man, this wouldn't be a big deal, but the problem was that he wasn't. If he took off his pants, he would be exposed, and this was not something that could be solved by losing one thing.
Dongshan glanced at Lin Ziping sideways: "Speak less, do more."
"Yes," Lin Ziping replied, lowering his eyes.
The three gradually moved away from the emperor's tent.
"Did you figure anything out tonight?" Dongshan's voice came from ahead.
Lin Ziping stared wide-eyed in confusion.
Seeing that Lin Ziping remained silent for a long time, Dongshan said with some annoyance, "I told you you were clever, but how come I can't see that at all?! Could it be..."
Lin Ziping lowered his eyes and said, "Please forgive me, sir, I am foolish."
"Alright, alright. I've been entrusted with this task, so I must fulfill my duty." Dongshan sighed deeply. "Tell me what you saw and heard tonight."
By whose commission am I entrusted, and for whose cause am I to be loyal?
Lin Ziping concealed his emotions and recounted everything he had heard that evening.
"In your opinion, what is the relationship between the Sixth Prince and the young master of the Li family?" Dongshan asked after Lin Ziping finished speaking.
"It's acceptable." Lin Ziping carefully chose his words and slowly uttered the two words.
Dongshan glanced back at Lin Ziping and chuckled, "Your evaluation is standard and unoriginal."
"Please enlighten me, sir," Lin Ziping said.
Dongshan did not answer Lin Ziping's question, but continued to ask, "Who do you think is more skilled at chess, His Majesty or Lord Zhou?"
“His Majesty won tonight,” Lin Ziping said.
"Lord Zhou is the number one chess player in the Great Zhou Dynasty," Dongshan said with a half-smile. "He is unmatched throughout the entire court."
Does the top chess player have 3C certification? Or do they have a record of winning against everyone?
The title of "number one player" is just a compliment!
Lin Ziping inwardly scoffed, but outwardly replied respectfully, "This humble servant is dull-witted and lacks skill in chess, so I cannot discern anything. I only know that Your Majesty won this game."
“Yes, you said you only believe what you see,” Dongshan said. “But do you know that what you see is what they want you to see?”
"What does this mean, sir?" Lin Ziping raised his eyes and looked directly at Dongshan's back.
Dongshan, however, didn't want to say anything and said, "It's getting late, you should go home tonight."
He then turned to Yan Shu and said, "Yan Shu, go and bring him over at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow."
"Yes," Lin Ziping and Yan Shu replied in unison, clasping their hands in a fist salute.
Dongshan said nothing more and left.
Once he could no longer see Yan Shu's back, Lin Ziping clasped his hands in a fist salute and prepared to leave as well.
"Wait a moment." Yan Shu stuffed something into Lin Ziping's hand. "This is a reward from the master. He asked me to give it to you."
Lin Ziping rubbed the object in his hand; it was a porcelain bottle about the thickness of a thumb.
"Thank you," Lin Ziping said, gripping the porcelain bottle tightly.
Yan Shu said, "I will pick you up from the prefectural guard camp at dawn tomorrow."
Lin Ziping nodded.
The two walked side by side for a distance before parting ways.
Leaving the tent and walking to a secluded spot, Lin Ziping straightened his shoulders and back, wiped away non-existent sweat from his forehead, and let out a long sigh of relief, his tense nerves finally relaxing once he saw that no one was around.
Being a close advisor to the emperor is no easy task; one must be extremely cautious in speech and action, and one's heart is always in suspense.
Upon opening the bottle bestowed upon me by Dongshan, a familiar scent wafted out.
A knowing glint flashed in Lin Ziping's eyes. The person entrusted to Dongshan was either Lin Zhong or Granny Liao.
Thinking of this, a mocking smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. Could this be considered having connections in the court? Had he found his organization?
Oh well, perhaps this is Lin Ziping's fate.
Lin Ziping opened the lid of the porcelain bottle and poured the pills inside into his mouth.
The medicine was very effective; in no time, I could no longer feel any pain.
Back at the guard camp, under the moonlight, they could see several people lingering in front of the tent in the distance. Who could it be but Fan Ji, Pu Santong, Wu Xudong, and Tang Jiawei?
"What are you doing here?" Lin Ziping approached quietly and suddenly slapped Tang Jiawei on the shoulder.
"Hiss—" Tang Jiawei couldn't help but gasp.
"Are you alright? Haven't you applied the medicine yet?" Lin Ziping asked.
Wu Xudong said, "Old Lin, take it easy. You can kill a tiger with your palm, how can Xiao Wei's small body withstand it?"
Lin Ziping laughed out loud upon hearing this, seemingly taking away the vexation that had been lingering in his mind all night. "Old Wu, is my slap really that powerful? Why don't you give it a try?"
Wu Xudong waved his hands repeatedly: "Xiao Wei is injured just like you, how come you seem fine?"
Lin Ziping's heart skipped a beat, and he sighed, "Since I'm healthy again, Xiao Wei, you'll have to practice more."
Tang Jiawei smiled but didn't reply.
Fan Ji asked, "Lin Ziping, what's the situation now?"