Jiang Yun closed his eyes and didn’t want to talk to him.
However, his lazy appearance was just too beautiful. From his hair to his toes, he was delicate, his muscles were like condensed fat, and every part of his body was written with seductive charm.
Sui Heng couldn’t help but grab the person into his arms and tightly encircle him.
Jiang Yun then opened his eyes again and said, “Why do you think he’s ugly and a hypocrite?”
Sui Heng replied contemptuously, “Does this need Gu to think too? This matter has spread throughout Jiangnan. If it weren’t for his ugly appearance, why would he hide behind the curtains all day and be ashamed to see people? Gu guess this hypocrite should not be ordinary ugly, mostly the kind that is extremely ugly.”
“Where does that hypocritical statement start? He clearly has a good reputation.”
Sui Heng’s expression grew increasingly disdainful.
He laughed coldly: “What virtue reputation? He created this elusive thing to win people’s hearts because he can’t do anything. As far as Gu knows, half of his ‘deeds of honor’ were fabricated, just like those ‘Jiangdu Fu’ and ‘Feng Qiu Huang’, he deceived the ignorant people and the storytellers in the tea house. If this hypocrite really disregards his background and respects the wise and virtuous, as he advocates, why did he turn a blind eye to a talent like Chen Qi and deliberately suppress him? In the end, he even looks down on the other party’s illegitimate identity. If his good reputation really spreads throughout Jiangnan, why is it that once the Recruitment Platform is established, so many famous Jiangnan scholars prefer not to be remunerated but to go on the platform to expose his incriminating evidence of falsifying the name of?”
“Has it never occurred to you that those so-called famous scholars might have been instructed to deliberately fabricate charges to discredit him? Why don’t you go and listen to what the people of Jiangnan think?”
Sui Heng raised his eyebrows, “Why should Gu go get to know him? Gu has no interest in that ugly guy.”
Jiang Yun instantly understood.
Whether those incriminating pieces of evidence were true or false didn’t matter at all to this person, so what if he knew that someone had deliberately woven them? To discredit the reputation of the enemy’s crown prince and to subdue the other side’s troops without a fight is a superior tactic of war for the Sui Empire.
He didn’t know why he had a momentary urge to argue these things with this person just now.
Why does he care about an enemy crown prince’s view?
Sui Heng was somewhat dissatisfied.
He narrowed his eyes and asked, “Why did you suddenly mention that hypocrite and say so many good things for him?”
Sui Heng naturally knew in his heart that even though Jiang Rongyu was ugly and hypocritical, he was not just a foodie. He is skilled at scheming and is cunning. If not, he would not have repeatedly succeeded in sabotaging his southern expedition plan.
Even though he detested this person to the extreme, he had to admit that he could be considered a rival.
But it is impossible for him to say this in front of his beloved little lover.
His little lover comes from Jiangnan.
Sui Heng wondered if his lover had been deceived by this hypocrite’s “virtuous name” before too?
After all, his little lover is so soft-hearted, so kind, and so deceitful.
Jiang Yun perfunctorily said, “Just asking.”
Sui Heng remained vigilant and said, “Why don’t you casually ask about Gu then? In your eyes, how’s Gu compared to Jiang Rongyu?”
Jiang Yun didn’t want to talk anymore.
But Sui Heng had to hear the answer.
He was very much afraid that his little lover was really under the spell of that hypocrite.
Jiang Yun then looked at him seriously and said, “As I said, his body is not as good as Your Highness’s, and…”
“And what”
“His blessings are not as good as Your Highness.”
Sui Heng heard this statement for the first time and asked curiously, “How could it be better?”
Jiang Yun extended his finger and drew circles on his face.
“Your Highness is strong and has parents who look forward to loving you. Although you have encountered many setbacks and pressures, you have a broad and bright heart, tenacious perseverance, and a childlike heart that are rare in ordinary people. You’re also a good and considerate lover, with countless admirers and followers around you. At first glance, you are blessed, and in the future, you will surely have a long and happy life.”
Sui Heng was greatly praised by him and proudly said, “That’s natural. Gu is tall and mighty, with unparalleled blessings and longevity. How could that sick seedling be compared?”
“That’s right.”
“So if Your Highness really obtains the world in the future, you will definitely do better than him, right?”
Sui Heng then said, That goes without saying.
Jiang Yun continued, “However, Your Highness should also beware.”
“Aware of what?”
“As far as I know, although Jiang Rongyu may not be as lucky as Your Highness, but he is not easy to defeat. Your Highness needs to work hard, be more virtuous than him, and be more able to win people’s hearts in order and defeat him to obtain the world.”
“……”
Sui Heng lowered his face and said, “Which side are you actually standing on?”
Jiang Yun slowly took out a white chess piece from his sleeve and said, “I stand on the side of the common people. Tomorrow, Your Highness, please lead your advisors and helpers to climb up the tower and fight against me. How about that?”
Sui Heng thought that Jiang Yun was just talking.
Unexpectedly, early the next morning, Jiang Yun dressed neatly and solemnly sent him a challenge invitation, inviting him to climb the Linglong Pagoda.
Sui Heng blocked the person on the bed, took advantage of it, and then raised his eyebrows and asked, “Do you intentionally want to embarrass Gu in public?”
Jiang Yun retorted, “Your Highness, are you afraid?”
Sui Heng obviously not afraid.
Sui Heng gazed intently. “If Gu wins, what’s the prize?”
Jiang Yun whispered in his ear.
Sui Heng’s eyes lit up. “Really? This is what you said. When the time comes, don’t push Gu away again.”
Jiang Yun’s ears reddened and he nodded.
Sui Heng needs to go to the palace first.
The Yan family fabricated an auspicious stone, intending to use the theory of heavenly punishment to plot the assassination of the Crown Prince on Mount Li. In just one day, it spread throughout the entire Sui capital, shocking the court and the public and infuriating Emperor Sui. Although there is no direct evidence pointing to Yan Bing, the Yan family’s rebellion against the government is a dead giveaway, with complete human and material evidence that cannot be refuted. Emperor Sui issued several imperial edicts, dismissing and imprisoning the two main offenders in the Yan family and all accomplices involved in the case. Yan Bing was demoted and confined to his ancestral home to reflect and think over his mistakes. Anyone involved with the Yan family in court was dismissed and dealt with severely. The Yan family’s descendants were never allowed to enter the court as officials. In one night, the first big, powerful family, which had been in the Sui capital for nearly hundred years and had dominated the Sui capital, fell down like a mansion and collapsed into pieces.
The decision to make Yan Bing reflect on his past experiences in his ancestral home was personally suggested to Emperor Sui by Sui Heng.
Xu Qiao was somewhat surprised.
He thought that according to Sui Heng’s temperament, he would definitely make Yan Bing pay the heaviest price, and it would never be as simple as just being grounded and demoted.
After leaving the palace gate, Xu Qiao asked Sui Heng about this matter.
Sui Heng sneered, “Against an old fox like him, killing is too easy, letting him watch the Yan family’s demise step by step with his own eyes is the greatest punishment for him.”
Xu Qiao looked aghast and said, “Your Highness is wise.”
The Sui capital court ushered in a true purge, but both the court and the people could see that with the downfall of the Yan family, the young and ambitious Crown Prince would become the true dominant figure in the court, influencing important national decisions.
Outside the palace gate, Sui Heng and Jimo Qingyu met head-on.
Jimo Qingyu still didn’t have a good expression towards Sui Heng, he snorted coldly, shook his sleeves, and left.
Sui Heng suddenly said, “Left Prime Minister, please stay.”
Jimo Qingyu frowned and stopped, asking, “Any problem?”
Sui Heng came to him, and after a moment of silence, he didn’t say anything but instead bent down and lightly saluted him.
The meaning of this ritual is self-evident.
Jimo Qingyu was stunned for a moment, then said with a stern face, “Your Highness’s generous gift, this old man can’t bear it.”
“There’s also no need for Your Highness to thank this old man either. If you want to thank, thank God for letting you get a big bargain!”
He didn’t say what the big bargain was, he got up and walked forward with a stomach full of frustration.
The corner of Sui Heng’s mouth rose and he laughed once.
He thought to himself, He didn’t pick up a big bargain, he picked up a treasure.
The Crown Prince’s every move is more eye-catching than ever before.
So the news that the Crown Prince will climb the Linglong Pagoda to challenge the Linglong Chess Game quickly spread among literati and scholars.
Early in the morning, the Linglong Pagoda was crowded with people, and even major tea houses in the Sui capital started gambling to see which side would win.
Amidst the attention of the crowd, the young and handsome Crown Prince, accompanied by a group of skilled chess players, boldly climbed the pagoda.
Jiang Yun deliberately staggered from Sui Heng and only climbed the pagoda a quarter late with the company of Shi Fang.
This naturally did not conform to Sui Heng’s plan. According to the plan, he was going to climb the tower with his beloved little lover in the spotlight, but was despised and mercilessly rejected by Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun is very popular among the literati, so during the process of climbing the tower, many scholars gathered around him, competing to talk to him, discussing poems, songs, poetry, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
Jiang Yun gave elegant and polite answers.
Sui Heng’s jealousy surged as he ordered his soldiers to block the onlookers half a zhang away before sitting comfortably under the chessboard and looking up at the huge chessboard embedded in the tower wall.
Chen Qi was also among the entourage.
At this moment, he also followed Sui Heng’s gaze and looked at the chessboard.
“The world” and “the common people” were divided on both sides, just like the tangled black and white pieces on the chessboard.
Jiang Yun, wearing a green robe, sat elegantly across from him.
Sui Heng casually picked up a black piece in his hand. At first, he looks diffident. After looking for a moment, he raised his eyebrows in surprise and then showed a serious expression.
He is proficient in the game of chess and can already see that it is a genuine and difficult-to-decipher exquisite chess game.
He was surprised because he didn’t expect his little lover to create such a clever and ingenious chess game in just one night, so much so that when he looked at the difficult board, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of compassion.
Gloomy, it’s because, at his current level… he may really not be able to solve it.
But it was just not being able to solve a chess game, Sui Heng didn’t feel anything.
He is even more worried that the good luck at night will be gone.
Sui Heng was holding a chess piece in his hand, lost in thought.
Jiang Yun’s gaze suddenly rose and fell on Chen Qi, saying, “How does Military Advisor Chen view the relationship between the world and the common people?”
Pre-game dialogue is a popular activity among literati.
Chen Qi was immersed in the chess game. Upon hearing this, he slightly furrowed his eyebrows and didn’t know why Jiang Yun was suddenly asking him. After a pause, he said sternly, “The world is the world of the common people. Without the common people, there would be no world.”
“If one day the king’s selfish desire transcends the mortal world and attempts to turn the world into a world of one person, what does Military Advisor Chen think should be done?”
Chen Qi said, “As a minister, I should be forthright in my advice.”
“What if the minister’s selfish desires also exceed their duties?”
Chen Qi finally lifted his eyes and met Jiang Yun’s.
After a while, he said, “That’s a traitor, and they should be punished.”
Jiang Yun smiled, “I hope Military Advisor Chen can remember today’s words.”
Chen Qi frowned.
Knowing that Jiang Yun deliberately instigated in front of Sui Heng, but he couldn’t do anything, he could only grit his teeth and endure it.
Jiang Yun didn’t seem to see it and still asked in a warm and elegant manner. “So, in Military Advisor Chen’s opinion, where should the next piece land? Military Advisor Chen is the most talented person in Jiangnan, you are the first article master in the past. I think you can surely break my game.”
Chen Qi’s face became more and more ugly.
Because he devoted all his efforts and energy to studying articles, although he was also proficient in the art of chess, he was far from being a master of chess. Today, he came only as an advisor with him and had no intention of going down.
But the other party came up and grabbed him, obviously intending to retaliate against him.
Chen Qi clenched his fists secretly, and his gaze on Jiang Yun became even colder.
Jiang Yun: “Could it be that with the astonishing talent of Military Advisor Chen, he couldn’t solve this small chess game?”
For a moment, all eyes fell on Chen Qi.
In a daze, Chen Qi felt as if he had returned to the Liushang Banquet a month ago. He kneeled in humiliation in front of the Shui Pavilion, surrounded by countless probing, contemptuous, or mocking gazes that fell on his back like knives, making him almost unable to lift his head.
He hasn’t experienced this feeling for a long time.
Since arriving in the capital of Sui, although his plans have been repeatedly disrupted, Sui Heng’s trust in him has not diminished, and he has even been assigned an important position. Those famous officials in Jiangnan who once looked down on him have all rushed to flatter and please him. His career in the capital of Sui can be described as soaring, with a bright and smooth future ahead.
But unfortunately, a Chu Yan emerged.
When he was at his peak, he publicly humiliated him in this way.
Chen Qi could hardly conceal the darkness in his eyes.
But he knew that at such a critical moment, in front of the new ruler, Sui Heng, he could not show any signs of composure.
He quickly regained his composure and said, “Young Master’s words are too heavy. There are only a few people in the world who can break the Linglong Chess Game. Chen knows he is inexperienced and dares not offend.”
Jiang Yun didn’t say anything more.
Looking at Sui Heng, who was still pondering over the chess pieces, he asked, “Has Your Highness come up with any ideas?”
Sui Heng said, “You sit over here. There’s one thing Gu doesn’t quite understand.”
Jiang Yun stood up and sat down closer to him, asking him what he didn’t understand.
Sui Heng: “Hand.”
Jiang Yun extended his right hand and was immediately held by him.
Sui Heng said, “Gu thinks holding your hand will make Gu think faster.”
“……”
However, a whole morning passed, and Sui Heng didn’t come up with a solution.
In the afternoon, the battle could not continue.
Because Jiang Yun is sick.
Jiang Yun’s cough has broken out again, and it is more severe than before. After taking the medicine, he still has a persistently low cough.
Sui Heng knew that it was mostly because all the patients he had accumulated a few days ago had finally broken out. Suddenly, he felt extremely sad and walked into the bed. Seeing Jiang Yun still leaning against the bedside, reading as usual, he couldn’t help but come forward and tightly hug the person, saying, “Sorry.”
Jiang Yun coughed again.
He said, “I’m fine.”
Sui Heng: “It’s all Gu’s fault.”
Jiang Yun patted his shoulder and spoke lightly, “I’m really fine. I’m still waiting for Your Highness to break through my chess game.”
Sui Heng looked gloomy and said, “Don’t laugh at Gu anymore.”
“Your chess game, Gu afraid that he won’t be able to break it in this lifetime.”
“Can’t Gu just give up to you and admit defeat?”
The corners of Jiang Yun’s mouth gently lifted as he said, “This is what Your Highness said yourself. Your Highness owes me a piece, and when Your Highness see me again in the future, Your Highness will have to abandon your piece and admit defeat.”
