Chen Yi naturally had no idea what had happened between Xiao Jinghong and the Barbarian Tribe.
After returning from Jiaxing Garden, he remained in the study room, writing and sketching, reading books and playing the qin.
Not to improve himself, but simply to calm his mind and still his spirit.
Playing the qin late at night was, in truth, somewhat ill-timed.
Fortunately, Chen Yi's qin Dao had now reached great mastery. Playing more soothing melodies instead helped the people in Chunhe Garden sleep soundly.
As for everyone else...
Chen Yi rather hoped someone would be disturbed by his qin music.
That would mean they had been keeping watch on the movements within Chunhe Garden.
While Chen Yi did these things, his thoughts remained on the chessboard in his mind.
Based on the information he had previously received from the White Tiger Guard, there were many more pieces on the board now.
Aristocratic Families, officials and wealthy gentry, jianghu sects, and more.
For example, the Qinghe Cui Family.
Besides Cui Mao, the family head and a Heavenly Minister, there were Cui Qingwu, Song Jin Jian, and others.
For example, Shuzhou officials.
Fan Yuanzhou, the newly appointed Right Provincial Administrator of the Shu Provincial Administration, came from the Ministry of Rites and was a native of the Capital Prefecture.
There was also Zhao Wenjing, who would soon arrive in Shuzhou to serve as Deputy Commissioner of the Surveillance Commissioner's Office—he came from Jizhou.
Then there were the Jizhou Trading Company, Caobang, Ma Gang, the Salt Gang, Wind and Rain Tower, Wudang Mountain, Bright Moon Tower, the Mountain Tribe...
Though they were numerous, only black stones and white stones represented them.
Since his chess Dao had taken the world as its board, he would follow the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth—everything bore