Chapter 86: One Move Short
Lu Yun was surprised by the Initial Emperor’s chess skill, unaware that the Initial Emperor was ten times more surprised than him. The Initial Emperor had been playing chess for over thirty years, had studied countless chess manuals, and played innumerable games. After becoming Emperor, his vision and perspective broadened significantly, leading to his current chess skill.
But this young man before him, even if he had been learning chess since childhood, had only played for seven or eight years. How could he be an equal match for him?
The Initial Emperor also put aside his dismissive attitude and brought out his full capabilities to contend with Lu Yun.
Both sides made moves with increasing caution, entering a prolonged period of deep thought.
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Just as the Initial Emperor and Lu Yun were engrossed in their game, Xiahou Ba went to the bedchamber to pay his respects to Empress Xiahou.
“This old minister pays his respects to the Empress. May Your Ladyship have ten thousand blessings and peace.” Xiahou Ba bowed to Empress Xiahou, who quickly helped him up, saying, “Father, you flatter your daughter. There are no outsiders here…”
“Propriety must be observed, and gossip avoided.” Xiahou Ba said seriously. After he sat down in the guest seat, the father and daughter exchanged pleasantries. The Old Grand Tutor then suddenly asked in a low voice, “Your Ladyship, permit me to ask a presumptuous question, how is your relationship with His Majesty?”
“Very good?” Empress Xiahou was startled for a moment, and then blushed slightly, saying, “Father, why do you ask this?”
“And how has His Majesty always treated the several princes?” When the princes were younger, Xiahou Ba had never paid attention to this matter.
“They are all doing well.” Empress Xiahou knew that her father would not speak without reason, so she answered frankly, “His Majesty seems to be a bit strict with the First Prince. Just today, he even dismissed all the reading companions and lecturers around him from the palace.” The Empress sighed, “Alas, that child is too strong-willed. I, his stepmother, cannot persuade him no matter how I try.”
“Mm.” Xiahou Ba nodded, pondered for a moment, then changed the subject, no longer inquiring about the princes. This left Empress Xiahou quite confused.
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Great Xuan, adhering to the style of the Wei and Jin dynasties, categorized everything. Chess players were also divided into nine ranks. These nine ranks, from highest to lowest, were: First Rank, Entering the Divine; Second Rank, Sitting and Observing; Third Rank, Concrete Manifestation; Fourth Rank, Understanding the Obscure; Fifth Rank, Using Wisdom; Sixth Rank, Subtle Dexterity; Seventh Rank, Fighting with Strength; Eighth Rank, Appearing Foolish; Ninth Rank, Guarding Simplicity.
The Eighth and Ninth Ranks required no evaluation; they could merely be considered people who knew how to play chess. Seventh Rank, Fighting with Strength, referred to players who, during a game, would always engage in battle when possible, relying on brute force rather than wisdom. Sixth Rank, Subtle Dexterity, referred to players who, during a game, did not plan for the long term and only used minor tricks and cleverness. Fifth Rank, Using Wisdom, meant players who already knew how to use strategies but could not yet comprehend the variations in the game. At Fourth Rank, Understanding the Obscure, one had the variations of the game clearly in mind and could adjust their strategy at any time.
As for Third Rank, Concrete Manifestation, it meant that during a game, one could anticipate the opponent’s moves and foresee the changes in the situation in advance. Second Rank, Sitting and Observing, meant that the chess variations were unfathomable and beyond the reach of ordinary people. Only the First Rank, Entering the Divine, which could overwhelm the opponent without a fight, could achieve victory.
Typically, it was extremely rare for chess skill to reach the First Rank. If one emerged, they were universally recognized as a Chess Saint. Therefore, even chess kings like Fang Guozhen, before reaching the First Rank, Entering the Divine, only dared to call themselves National Masters and not Chess Saints.
However, the Initial Emperor’s chess skill had clearly reached a transcendent realm. Lu Yun mustered all his concentration and fought him until the end of the game. The chessboard was still a complex interweaving of black and white, so intricate that Du Hui, observing, felt dizzy at a glance, and still, no victory or defeat had been decided!
As dusk began to fall, the four princes came as usual to the Inner Palace to pay their respects. Du Hui, however, dared not interrupt the Emperor. He had lamps lit in the waterside pavilion and then tiptoed out to ask the four princes to return.
“What, Father Emperor is playing chess again?” The princes were naturally well aware of the Initial Emperor’s obsession with chess. While in the Capital City, the Emperor would still exercise some restraint, but now, while out of the palace to escape the heat, it was common for him to play chess without eating.
Du Hui nodded.
“I wonder which Imperial Chess Master is playing with Father Emperor today?” Huangfu Zhen asked with a smile. The so-called Imperial Chess Master was a chess expert specifically assigned to play with the Emperor.
“It’s not an Imperial Chess Master, it’s a young man named Lu Yun.” This was not a secret, so Du Hui had no reason to conceal it.
“Who is Lu Yun?” Huangfu Zhen and two others were surprised, while Huangfu Xuan’s heart sank, and he became somewhat uneasy.
“He is a disciple of the Lu Clan, ordered by His Majesty to accompany him.” Du Hui said softly.
“I have some impression.” Huangfu Zhen nodded, and asked curiously, “Why has Father Emperor been playing with a young man until now?”
“Yes, his addiction is too great.” Huangfu Shi grumbled.
“Lu Yun’s chess skill is extremely high.” Du Hui said softly.
“How high?” The brothers asked in surprise.
“In this old servant’s humble opinion, I fear it is… on par with His Majesty.” Du Hui said.
“Ah?!” The princes cried out in surprise, and even Huangfu Xuan could not hide his shock. They knew that their Father Emperor’s chess skill was virtually unmatched in this era!
‘This Lu Yun must be befriended!’ Huangfu Zhen immediately made up his mind. The Emperor would surely summon Lu Yun to play chess often in the future!
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After ushering out the princes for the Emperor, Du Hui returned to the waterside pavilion with dim sum, hoping to sate the Emperor’s hunger. However, the Initial Emperor paid him no mind, his fingers toying with a chess piece, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
Lu Yun’s expression was somewhat grim, as if his energy had been depleted.
The Initial Emperor spent a full half-hour contemplating his move. Normally, even deep thought in this era wouldn’t take so long, but since he was the Emperor, Lu Yun could only let him be.
When the Initial Emperor finally placed his carefully considered move, Lu Yun smiled bitterly and said, “Your humble servant has lost.”
“Excellent!” The Initial Emperor said with great relief, his voice hoarse. “I have won one piece against you.” With that, he burst into laughter, exclaiming loudly, “So exhilarating! So exhilarating! I have never felt so exhilarated!”
“…” Lu Yun, however, frowned, staring intently at the chessboard as he reviewed the game. Although he hadn’t intended to win against the Initial Emperor from the start, he hadn’t held back at all this time! He found the result of his full effort still ending in defeat utterly unacceptable.
The Initial Emperor, in a great mood, stood up and stretched, saying, “I’m starving. You take your time looking at it yourself!” He then strode out of the waterside pavilion.
From a distance, the Initial Emperor’s voice drifted back, “Don’t be unconvinced. We’ll fight another match tomorrow, and I’ll surely annihilate you!”
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Although the Initial Emperor told Lu Yun to take his time, now that the Emperor had left, Lu Yun couldn’t remain in the waterside pavilion. An eunuch then escorted him out of the inner palace.
The eunuch was the same one who had fetched Lu Yun earlier, and his attitude now was worlds apart from before.
Gazing at the starry sky, Lu Yun felt a pang of hunger. Just as he was about to return to his residence to find something to eat, the eunuch who escorted him out smiled and said, “Young Master, you don’t need to return to your previous quarters. Du Gonggong has already arranged a new residence for you.”
“Eunuch Chen, I still need to go back and collect my belongings,” Lu Yun said. The eunuch had introduced himself earlier.
“No need,” Eunuch Chen replied. “Your luggage has already been sent over.”
Lu Yun had no choice but to follow Eunuch Chen to a courtyard adjacent to Yaoguang Hall. He found the place spacious and elegant, with beautiful scenery, and he was the only resident in the entire courtyard.
As Lu Yun entered the house, he saw a table laden with steaming hot food. Eunuch Chen smiled and said, “Young Master, please eat first. Someone will bring hot water to serve you for a bath later. If you need anything else, just give them instructions.”
“Thank you, Eunuch Chen,” Lu Yun replied courteously.
“Not at all, not at all,” Eunuch Chen waved his hands quickly. “Young Master has gained the Emperor’s favor, and you will surely soar to high officialdom in the future. It is only right, it is only right.”
After Eunuch Chen left, Lu Yun began to eat ravenously at the table full of food. The physical exertion from playing this game of chess was equivalent to a major battle.
After finishing his meal, just as expected, palace servants prepared hot water. Lu Yun bathed and then lay down on the soft bed, staring blankly at the painted ceiling, thinking to himself: ‘I never expected that a single game of chess would catch Huangfu Yu’s eye…’
It seemed that the two objectives of his accompanying the Emperor had both been achieved. He was particularly satisfied with his ability to suppress his murderous intent and face Huangfu Yu calmly.
However, how could he have lost like this?! Although his original plan was to deliberately lose to Huangfu Yu, there was a difference between losing on purpose and genuinely losing!
Lu Yun’s competitive spirit burned fiercely. He sat up from the bed and instructed the palace servants outside to find him a set of Go.
The servants attending him had already received orders from above to do their best to fulfill his requests. Soon, a chessboard and two boxes of chess pieces were brought in.
Lu Yun picked up a chess piece and began to review the game on the chessboard. If the Initial Emperor were present, he would surely be astonished again, because Lu Yun could recall all the positions and the order of every move, recreating the day’s game flawlessly!
