Duke Ning Li Jian looked at the two men calmly playing chess in the hall.
His brows slowly furrowed.
A sense of unease flashed through his heart.
Yet he could not say exactly what was wrong.
"Zeng Anmin?"
Li Jian cast an indifferent glance at the figure seated opposite Emperor Jianhong.
But...
Zeng Anmin could not even be bothered to acknowledge him.
He merely frowned in deep thought as he stared at the chessboard before him.
After a long while, he raised his head with a pained expression and looked at Emperor Jianhong.
"No, Your Majesty, this move does not count. Let's do it again."
As he spoke, he reached out and picked up the black piece Emperor Jianhong had just placed there.
Then he set down the white piece in his own hand.
"Ah! That's more like it!"
"Hehe."
Zeng Anmin grinned and looked up at Emperor Jianhong. "Your Majesty, it's your turn."
Emperor Jianhong held back a laugh.
Looking at Zeng Anmin's shameless manner, he said helplessly,
"County Duke Zeng, the Unrivaled National Scholar praised throughout the streets."
"Who would have thought that in private, you were actually such a rascal?"
Zeng Anmin smiled smugly.
"Matters should be judged on their own merits. When it comes to affairs of state, one absolutely cannot be careless."
"But for something as pleasant as chess, there is no need to be so fussy. Otherwise, how exhausting would my whole life be?"
"Fine, fine, fine."
Emperor Jianhong shook his head with a laugh, then raised a brow and gently placed another piece.
"Clack."
"How will you answer this move?"
The instant Zeng Anmin saw Emperor Jianhong's move, astonishment flashed across his face.
He immediately grew so anxious that he could neither sit nor stand still.
"No..."
"How could this happen..."
"I