Zuo Wuji curled his lips and said, "Back then, she wanted to bear children for me, but I refused. She insisted! As a result, something went wrong. Why are my women always killed by my children?"
Realizing he was speaking his true thoughts while drunk, Zuo Wuji angrily retorted, "She killed her mother. If she didn't listen, I'd give her a few slaps to scare her. Is there a problem? I provide her with good food and drink, isn't that good enough?"
Yue Hongxi watched Zuo Wuji, saying nothing.
She noticed that Zuo Wuji appeared unusually dejected today.
"Your father treated me like a son, and I sincerely called him father. I was merely repaying a debt of filial affection. I always keep my word and repay kindness! The Great Gan dynasty killed my first wife, and Liang Xiao wants to abduct my two daughters. Is this proper?"
"Get out! Go as far as you can. Anyway, I am the famous Zhenbei Marquis of Great Liang, destined to reach the highest position!"
Zuo Wuji slammed the table, smashing the wine bowl. Under Yue Hongxi's helpless gaze, he turned and left.
In the secret chamber, Zuo Jing was talking with Qing.
The door creaked open a sliver, letting in light.
Zuo Wuji entered with two female Yun Tian Guards.
"Father, please, give me back the children…"
Zuo Jing looked at Zuo Wuji, suppressing her inner terror, and pleaded continuously.
"Slap!"
The sudden slap made Zuo Jing's vision go golden.
"This is the last slap. From now on, you are Liang Xiao's woman!" Zuo Wuji said hatefully, then urged the Yun Tian Guards behind him, "Dress her up and present her to Liang Xiao!"
Zuo Jing immediately knelt, begging, "Father, give the children back to him. I'll work for you like an ox or horse, anything!"
Zuo Wuji turned and glanced at Zuo Jing, sneering, "The children's names are already engraved on the jade pendant. From now on, they will be parentless, with only me as their maternal grandfather."
Hearing this, Zuo Jing still refused to give up, repeatedly kowtowing and pleading, but Zuo Wuji turned a deaf ear.
In the Yan family courtyard, a figure entered the garden with a sinister grin.
It was Qin Xun!
"As expected of a core disciple, congratulations on your escape!" Yan Liu bowed with a smile.
Qin Xun merely muttered to himself, "This matter is not over. A true gentleman never lets an insult go unavenged!"
Yan Liu smiled and said, "Naturally. Once the Great Liang Emperor dies and a new emperor ascends the throne, Qin Feng will lose his power, and then he'll be at our mercy. By then, all his women, including Zhi Rou, will be yours to enjoy."
Only then did Qin Xun laugh heartily and look around.
Yan Liu understood and invited him into the main hall, offering good wine, "There are no outsiders here."
"Where is the Cult Master?" Qin Xun asked.
Yan Liu explained, "It is not convenient to see you for the moment, but the Cult Master has promised that you will be promoted to Pope soon, worshipped by thousands, and your name will be recorded in the annals of the cult!"
Qin Xun nodded joyfully, "In a while, I will thoroughly organize the intelligence on Qin Feng, making it easier to overthrow him later!"
Yan Liu then ordered someone to escort him away.
Watching Qin Xun's retreating figure, a cold smile appeared on Yan Liu's face.
"Since one is a chess piece, one should be prepared to be a discarded piece."
At night, the Chess Saint was studying the chess pieces sent by Liang Xiao with Zhuo Yun and others, playing with great enjoyment.
Suddenly, a young servant reported from outside, "His Majesty has arrived!"
As everyone was about to go out to greet him, Mu Cheng had already entered with Ye Chengxiu.
"His Majesty's order is that all irrelevant personnel leave, leaving only the Chess Saint, Li Xin, and the second daughter Zhuo!" Ye Chengxiu urged.
"Your Majesty's late visit, this old woman is remiss in not welcoming you…"
Before the Chess Saint could finish her pleasantries, Mu Cheng spoke, "I have always been grateful for the Chess Saint's past assistance, which is why I have protected the chess academy."
"This old woman remembers Your Majesty's kindness," the Chess Saint nodded.
"I have an impertinent request." Mu Cheng looked at the three confused individuals and sighed, "Arrange for the chess academy to pack up. When Liang Xiao returns to the country, together with the Li family, you will accompany Liang Xiao to Great Gan as an envoy delegation from Great Liang. Without my order, you are not to return to the country!"
"What does Your Majesty mean by this?" the Chess Saint asked, bewildered.
Li Xin quickly said, "Your Majesty, my grandmother is advanced in age and not suited for arduous travel…"
Mu Cheng said sternly, "The emperor's command cannot be disobeyed! I have already informed your grandfather. Your entire Li family will go together. It is best to bring your essentials. If I deem it time for you to return, I will naturally send someone to fetch you."
The Chess Saint, Li Xin, and Zhuo Yun were all stunned and confused.
"The Chess Saint and the Li family are both loyal to me, how could I mistreat you? Ask no more questions, my decision is made!" Mu Cheng said earnestly.
With matters thus, the Chess Saint, despite her reluctance, had no choice but to agree.
After Mu Cheng left, the Chess Saint said with displeasure, "What has this Liang Xiao done to make His Majesty act like a different person? I heard he can summon 'heavenly lightning.' Could it be some sort of sorcery…"
Li Xin chided, "Grandmother! What are you thinking? How could the Marquis of An Guo be a sorcerer…"
Even Zhuo Yun couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
Due to her deep resentment, her master actually thought of Liang Xiao practicing sorcery!
The next day, the people of the chess academy were also greatly shocked upon hearing this.
"We have to go on an envoy mission to Great Gan from so far away? Can we not go!"
The chess players asked Li Xin one after another.
Li Xin explained, "My grandmother said that no one will be forced, and you are free to stay or go."
Only then did the chess players relax. However, one-third of them stated, "Marquis An Guo is also a grandmaster of chess. We are willing to accompany them!"
The news of the Great Liang chess players preparing to form an envoy delegation to visit Great Gan did not cause much of a stir in the capital.
In contrast, the capital's citizens were amazed to hear that Liang Xiao was proficient in chess.
Thus, it seemed only natural for the Chess Saint to lead the delegation to Great Gan.
Meanwhile, the Li family was in utter chaos.
Li Xin's grandfather, Li You, and father, Li Shiheng, were both worried.
"His Majesty wants our entire family to travel to Great Gan, what does this mean?" Li Shiheng was uncharacteristically anxious, like a ant on a hot pan.
This was an unprecedented and bizarre event in the history of state visits between the two countries.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been sufficient for him or Li Shiheng to be members of the delegation; there was no need for the entire family to accompany them.
Mu Cheng's request was that even infants should be brought along, which was rather absurd!
"His Majesty has already promised compensation for our family. Given His Majesty's favor towards us in the past, he certainly does not intend to harm us," Li You sighed, but his face was equally perplexed. "Could it be that he intends to arrange for Xin'er and the Marquis An Guo to be together, and he is worried that our family will be resented and framed by other families because of this?"
The father and son could only speculate as such. The emperor's command could not be defied, and the Li family began to sell off their property.
At this time, Liang Xiao was at the Honglu Temple, waiting for Zuo Wuji to bring Zuo Jing.
After the Shadow Guards delivered the intelligence on the chess academy and the Li family, Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang exchanged glances.
Zhuo Zifang whispered, "The behavior of this Great Liang emperor is rather unusual. He seems to want to protect these loyal officials?"
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment, then immediately took Hua Xiong and requested an audience with Mu Cheng.
In the imperial study, after Hua Xiong examined Mu Cheng by observation, listening, and asking questions, he sighed, "The Great Liang emperor is indeed in poor health. His heart脉 is weaker than that of an ordinary person, requiring a change in diet and good rest, with no strenuous exercise. I suspect that you may have taken some sort of potent poison in the past, which has damaged your fundamental health. However, this potent poison is not recorded in the pharmacopoeia of either country…"