Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 257 Chess Match

Inside the side hall, Hua Yan was teaching Dong Gua how to do embroidery.

Donggua was preparing to embroider a headband for Master An, but her chubby fingers wouldn't obey her commands. After only two days of learning, they were already pricked into bamboo sieves.

“This pomegranate pattern is already a mess of embroidery. If you were to inlay the newly acquired pearls on it, Steward An would surely scold you for wasting things.” Hua Yan sighed. Dong Gua really didn’t have any talent for doing these delicate tasks.

Green Willow chimed in, "Yes, Winter Melon, why not wrap these beads up and have the merchant's clerk send them to Lin'an? Madam An's embroidery is excellent; it's better than ruining them..."

Donggua listened to the advice, held the needle and thread and muttered to herself, "Fine, embroidery is too difficult. My hands are better suited for kneading dough."

As she was speaking, Donggua saw Huayan raise her hand and rub it on her hair. She followed suit, and unsurprisingly, she pricked her scalp again the next moment.

When Mengzhu arrived at the side hall, she saw the three of them in a chaotic scene, but fortunately, their injuries were not serious.

Seeing that Mengzhu seemed to have something to say, Huayan called Xia'er from outside the door and asked her to take Donggua downstairs to apply the medicine.

After Mengzhu explained the reason, Huayan's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she didn't react for a moment: Could it be that Her Majesty asked me to go over so that I could beat the Emperor?

Mengzhu was also somewhat bewildered, and hesitated before saying, "...Yes...it should be, judging from the way Your Highness looked just now, it seems that she was really upset because she lost the game."

Hua Yan reluctantly put down the sewing basket and said to Meng Zhu, "Do you think I can win?"

Mengzhu and Lvliu: "...Maybe...it's good to vent our anger for our master."

Seeing that Hua Yan was about to leave, Lü Liu quickly stopped her: "Since you are going to see the Emperor, you should dress up and at least wear some jewelry to show that you are serious."

Mengzhu also said, "Your hair is a bit messy. Why don't I call Ruizhu over? Her hair-combing skills have gotten better and better these days."

Hua Yan looked herself up and down, then touched her hair, before walking to the dressing table and taking out a white jade hairpin to put on. "Let's go."

Inside the study.

The Emperor was saying to Consort Chun, “The Empress Dowager is determined to move to Shanglin Garden to live permanently. I have tried to persuade her many times, but to no avail. Wan’er, please go to Shou Kang Palace to keep the Empress Dowager company for me these days.”

Before the new year, Empress Dowager Zhou had mentioned this to Consort Chun. Consort Chun paused in her chess game and asked in a hoarse voice, "When has Your Majesty decided to leave the palace?"

"In early March, I ordered the Ministry of Works to go to Shanglin Garden to repair Xianheng Hall."

Consort Chun bowed her head and replied, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager prefers quiet. It would be good for her to go to Shanglin Garden to recuperate for a while."

The Emperor stroked the chess piece and said gently, "Wan'er, there's no need to be sad. Hunting in spring and autumn, and escaping the summer heat, there will always be a time to reunite with your mother every year."

With both empress dowagers residing in the inner palace, Empress Dowager Zhou's actions were less about quiet recuperation and more about withdrawing from the world. However, this also meant she could no longer protect Consort Chun within the palace.

Hua Yan entered the study and bowed to the Emperor and Consort Chun.

The Emperor saw that Hua Yan was not wearing any makeup and was dressed as simply as usual, and raised an eyebrow. "Wan'er just mentioned that Consort Meng's chess skills are superb. I am eager to see what she has to offer."

Consort Chun pulled Hua Yan to a seat and asked the Emperor, "What will happen if Your Majesty loses?" Hua Yan's heart tightened upon hearing this, and she quickly grabbed Consort Chun's arm. Her "stolen" chess skills were hardly a guarantee of victory...

The Emperor couldn't help but smile at their little antics. He then removed a jade thumb ring from his left thumb and said loudly, "Let's play three games of chess. If the lady can beat me in one game, I will use this as a wager, how about it?"

This thumb ring is engraved with cloud patterns all over and the two characters "Zhenghe" are engraved in the center. It is the only one of its kind in the world. It not only represents the emperor's authority, but it was also specially made by the Imperial Workshop after the emperor ascended the throne and set the reign title. It also has the meaning of keeping it as a memento.

Hua Yan's eyes trembled slightly as she pushed the jade thumb ring in front of the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty was merely joking just now..."

"It's alright, Consort Meng, there's no need to be nervous. If you lose, you can simply paint one picture for me every month."

Consort Chun said, "What's so difficult about that!" She readily agreed on behalf of Hua Yan, and then instructed Meng Zhu to bring the chess pieces bestowed by Empress Dowager Zhou. The two boxes of lustrous chess pieces gleamed softly in the sunlight.

Hua Yan tried her best to control her facial expressions, but had no choice but to accept the challenge.

Then, within an hour, they lost two more games...

Seeing the emperor's lips constantly curled up, Hua Yan couldn't help but feel annoyed.

At the start of the third game, it was the Emperor's turn to go first. This time, the Emperor held the Jade and opened with the "Star and Small Eye" formation. One position on the Star position was advantageous for developing towards the center, while the other on the Small Eye position was for establishing a solid foundation, aiming to seize key points in the corners. It was a well-rounded opening that combined offense and defense.

Hua Yan focused her mind and responded with a "double star" formation. Her white pieces shone brightly, and her layout was expansive, aiming to overwhelm others with sheer force.

After a moment's thought, the Emperor used the "Point 3-3" technique in the upper right corner to strike directly at the heart of the enemy.

Hua Yan frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and responded with the "retreat and push" move, skillfully maneuvering to protect her own shape while restraining the jade pieces.

The two sides went back and forth, neither giving an inch. Seeing the Emperor's fierce offensive and his "invasion" from the center, Consort Chun was once again worried for Hua Yan. This move was like a divine intervention, already penetrating Hua Yan's territory.

The game was not even halfway through, and more than an hour had already passed. During this time, Chun Tao, a palace maid from Dieqiong Pavilion, came to report that Consort Guo's complexion was unwell and she had come to ask Consort Chun to find an imperial physician to examine her pulse.

Consort Chun looked at the Emperor, who said, "Have Jingming go to the Imperial Hospital and instruct the imperial physicians to give Xiu Rong a proper diagnosis and treatment."

Jingming received the order in the outer room, while Lvliu and Ruizhu led Chuntao to the tea room to wait.

Hua Yan held a white chess piece, pondering for a moment. She glanced at Consort Chun, who understood immediately. Consort Chun then called over Aunt Mei and instructed her, "Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. Aunt Mei, please take some nourishing items from the storeroom and accompany the imperial physician to the Xiu Rong Palace to visit her."

After Aunt Mei left, the game of chess continued in the study.

Hua Yan's expression was solemn. After hesitating for a long time, she made a move, attempting to surround the Emperor's pieces. However, the Emperor's "invasion" concealed a hidden strategy. He skillfully employed the art of "maneuvering," his jade piece nimbly shifting within the white pieces' encirclement, seeking an opportunity to break free. Hua Yan lightly raised her wrist, her jade fingers picking up a white piece, pressing it tightly with a "leaning" technique, trying to disrupt his rhythm.

Upon seeing this, the Emperor raised an eyebrow slightly. This technique seemed to have been learned from the previous game, and he couldn't help but admire Hua Yan.

He remained calm and composed, rapidly analyzing various possibilities, and ultimately instigated a "calamity" below.

The outbreak of conflict is like throwing a huge stone into a calm lake.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Hua Yan's forehead. She gently bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth, her expression extremely focused. After calmly thinking, she finally found a key "material" to overcome the "calamity" and successfully dealt with it.

The Emperor was slightly taken aback, and praised, "Consort Meng is not only meticulous, but also adept at applying what she has learned. This move is brilliant."

After this initial setback, Hua Yan gradually stabilized the situation and placed a piece in the upper left corner. This seemingly abrupt move, dug in the corner, was actually a deadly trap that instantly turned the tide of the battle.

The Emperor frowned, hastily trying to salvage the situation. But Hua Yan pressed her advantage, pressing forward relentlessly, each move precise and accurate. Finally, the Emperor sighed deeply, resigning himself to defeat, "In this final game, I concede defeat."

Hua Yan rose and bowed gracefully, "Your Majesty is too kind. If it weren't for Your Majesty's concession, I would have had no chance of winning."

The Emperor reached out to help Hua Yan up, picked up the jade thumb ring from the side, and placed it in Hua Yan's hand: "You are a wise and talented woman, and you deserve this victory."

It's a real pity that I couldn't win the monthly painting award.