in2ebook Chapter 188 This is my lonely sigh.
Chapter 188 This is my lonely sigh.
Cheng Yan almost doubted his life when he saw Emperor Jing'an. He suppressed a laugh and said, "It's just a game of chess among family members. It's just for fun. Winning or losing is not important. How about this: if Your Majesty can win a few chess pieces from the princess today, I will practice with Your Majesty for a few hours another day. What does Your Majesty think?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing'an immediately became interested: "Really?"
"Of course it's true."
"Alright!" Emperor Jing'an rolled up his sleeves and immediately went up. Anyway, he wouldn't suffer any loss if he lost, and he would benefit if he won. It would be foolish not to do something like this.
Emperor Jing'an picked up a black piece from the chess basket, quickly scanned the chessboard, and then his gaze landed on an empty space in the middle: "I will place it here."
The chessboard on the sides is sealed off. Only in the empty spaces can new possibilities emerge, and only then can the sealed pieces be unlocked little by little.
“Then I’ll place it here.” Qin Yizhen held the white piece and placed it on his other side. “This is called ‘when soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it.’”
“Then I shall ride the wind and waves, and flow downstream.”
Before long, the brother and sister were playing chess, taking turns talking and exchanging witty remarks.
Qin Yizhen's chess style is calm, like a gentle mountain stream, but it also changes its pace from slow to fast, constantly catching up.
Emperor Jing'an's chess style may seem casual, but he always plans three steps ahead and harbors hidden dangers.
Observing a game of chess is like observing a person; perhaps this is true.
Despite Emperor Jing'an's affectionate attitude towards Cheng Yan, Qin Yizhen, and the others, he is never lacking in intelligence and shrewdness. After all, Empress Dowager Cheng would not allow the future ruler to be a foolish scoundrel, unless she wanted to spend her whole life as a hardworking empress dowager.
After the first game, the two players were tied. Emperor Jing'an was not satisfied and wanted to choose a game himself for another match.
However, Qin Yizhen said that playing chess with him was too tiring and required her to be fully focused, so she didn't want to play anymore. She gave her seat to Cheng Yan and then went to the small kitchen to have someone prepare food.
Emperor Jing'an played a few rounds with Cheng Yan, winning and losing, but he enjoyed the game. He also savored the pastries and soups made by the new cook of the Marquis of Pingxi's residence, and finally ate his favorite candied hawthorns. He and Qin Yizhen stayed in a corner and whispered to each other.
How does my uncle treat you?
"It's fine." Qin Yizhen asked, puzzled. "Why do you ask that? Did he do something?"
"No," Emperor Jing'an retorted. "I heard he's been indulging in sensual pleasures lately, so I'm a little curious. Do you know what 'sensual pleasures' means?"
Qin Yizhen felt a little itchy to hit him. She thought that if this younger brother wasn't the emperor, she would press his head down and tap him a couple of times to tell him to eat more, use his brain, and not be curious about everything.
"What brings Your Majesty out today? Have the two Grand Tutors agreed to release the prisoners? Has the Empress Dowager agreed to release them?"
Emperor Jing'an became emperor at the age of eight. He was not even as tall as the dragon throne. The little boy had a lot of pressure on his head.
Throughout the year, in the mornings he would study with the Grand Tutor or go to the Imperial Study with Empress Dowager Cheng. In the afternoons he would practice martial arts and study military strategy with another Grand Tutor. In the evenings, he would probably have to review his lessons. There was never a moment of leisure.
Although Emperor Jing'an was already the emperor, with many capable ministers and generals under his command, he only needed to learn to be a wise ruler who could distinguish right from wrong. However, the Qin family originally came from the military and ascended to the throne by relying on their horsemanship skills to lead the Qin family army.
Every son of the Qin family is capable of donning armor and going into battle.
If a country has no more capable military generals, then the emperor will be the sole commander-in-chief, holding military power over the country.
Qin Yizhen felt a pang of sadness as she watched him sit there eating a candied hawthorn, completely disregarding his imperial dignity. She couldn't help but reach out and pat his head.
Emperor Jing'an paused, then looked up at her. Finally, he seemed to sigh, lowered his head somewhat dejectedly, and continued to eat his candied hawthorn.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Why are you sighing all of a sudden?
"Who did you offend?"
“Sister Yizhen, you don’t understand,” Emperor Jing’an sighed again. “This is my lonely sigh…”
Cheng Yan reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him out: "Come on, let your uncle show you what true enthusiasm is."
This kid looks like he deserves a beating.
Seeing that they were about to leave, Qin Yizhen became anxious: "Where are you taking His Majesty?"
"The dueling arena." Cheng Yan waved his hand, telling her not to worry about it. "Have someone prepare more food so His Majesty can eat before returning to the palace."
Qin Yizhen originally wanted to tell him to stop fooling around and what if he hurt someone, but seeing that Emperor Jing'an was also very interested and seemed to be interested as well, she immediately stopped caring and could only remind him, "Then be careful."
"understood."
Qin Yizhen followed them out the door and watched the two leave. She seemed to have caught Emperor Jing'an's habit of sighing and lamenting, and let out a long sigh herself.
"Life is full of expectations and joys, but also helplessness and sorrow; it's always difficult to have it all..."
They gained power and wealth, but power and money also became obstacles in their relationships, causing everyone to have concerns. They all had feelings for each other, but they were always worried that the other person would change and then betray them.
As Granny Jin was tidying up the teacups, she heard this and said, "I heard that Miss Fang once wrote a poem, I think it was called something like, 'I once worried that too much affection would harm my Buddhist practice, but entering the mountains I feared leaving behind the beauty of the city. How can one find a way to have both, to be true to both Buddha and to you?'"
“In this world, where can one find a way to have both, to be true to both Buddha and to you? Princess, don’t you agree?”
"Actually..." Qin Yizhen opened her mouth.
"What does the princess want to say?"
"I, a Taoist from Dongqin, do not believe in Buddhism. I cultivate with my Taoist companion, and one day we will ascend to immortality together. This will be in keeping with my Tao and my beloved."
Granny Jin: "......"
If you said that yourself, why were you just making those emotional pronouncements?
Granny Jin was speechless and decided to ignore it: "You're right."
Do whatever you want, okay?
After finishing her tidying up, Granny Jin quickly slipped away.
As the sun began to set, Cheng Yan brought Emperor Jing'an back for dinner. Qin Yizhen saw that his clothes were neat and there were no injuries on his face, and finally breathed a sigh of relief. She then urged him to eat more.
Emperor Jing'an's hand holding the chopsticks trembled. His hand trembled, and his legs began to shake. He wanted to complain, but when he caught a glimpse of Cheng Yan's gaze, he could only hold his breath and lower his head to eat the rice bowl covered with tears.
My dear sister, my uncle is so fierce, waaaaaah~~~~
However, his uncle, who was fierce in his eyes, gently ladled half a bowl of soup for his sister, placing it in front of her while saying, "Be careful, it's hot."
His sister enjoyed it very much, eating her soup bowl with great pleasure, and then used serving chopsticks to put food on his plate, encouraging him to eat more.
The couple were deeply in love, oblivious to everyone else around them.
Emperor Jing'an almost burst into tears.
Okay, okay, so he's the only one in the world who got hurt?
I have not failed the people of the world.
But the world has ultimately failed me!