Chapter 8: Playing Chess with the Foolish King

Soaking in the hot spring, Xiao Zhiyan began to organize her thoughts. She didn't particularly like Duanmu City, nor did she have much interest in that Prince Han, whose beauty was so divine it incited envy among gods and men. She only cared about whether she could live a decent life here; as for some "warm home," she wasn't foolish enough to take such things seriously.

After a comfortable bath, Xiao Zhiyan dressed and made her way to the Cold Lotus Palace, a residence reserved only for the Empress. The Cold Lotus Palace was not overly luxurious, but it was exceptionally exquisite and grand. Xiao Zhiyan liked places that were steady yet tasteful like this.

Perhaps due to the exhaustion of the journey, Xiao Zhiyan leaned against the bed and quickly fell asleep. After an unknown amount of time, she heard Jing Man's startled voice: "Your... Your Majesty..."

Xiao Zhiyan sat up with a jolt. Oh no, she had forgotten that she was the Empress, and since it was their wedding night, they were supposed to consummate the marriage... Xiao Zhiyan was completely mentally unprepared; to do something so intimate with a man she had only met once was truly difficult for her to accept.

But before she could devise a strategy, Ye Muqing appeared before her, yawning. "Xiao Yan, why did you go to sleep before I arrived?"

Jing Man stood to the side, looking somewhat awkward. Being tactful, she withdrew, and the palace maids also quietly retreated. Xiao Zhiyan truly felt as though she were crying out to the heavens and receiving no answer; she could only brace herself and say to Ye Muqing, "Your Majesty... the journey from the Kingdom of Feng was quite tiring. How about... how about... how about we..."

"Xiao Yan, are you tired? Then let us rest early..." A clear look of disappointment appeared on Ye Muqing's flawless face. "I originally wanted Xiao Yan to play chess with me."

Looking at the chess box Ye Muqing pulled out from behind his back, Xiao Zhiyan's eyes instantly welled with tears. "Oh no, Your Majesty, I suddenly feel full of energy and refreshed, as if my body is powered by a million-volt engine..." Glancing at the increasingly bewildered Ye Muqing, Xiao Zhiyan swallowed hard. "In short, I think we should just play chess..."

Although he hadn't understood her words at all at first, Ye Muqing clearly understood her final sentence: "I think we should just play chess." He immediately beamed with joy. "Really? Really? Xiao Yan is wonderful, I like you so much!"

Xiao Zhiyan felt exasperated. He liked her just like that... Ye Muqing had lived in a closed environment for so long that he seemed unable to adapt to the atmosphere of the palace. If he liked something, he liked it; if he was frustrated, he was frustrated. He didn't need to care about various tedious etiquettes; everything was expressed openly on his face without the slightest concealment.

Xiao Zhiyan's Go skills were terrible, and she was prepared to be slaughtered. However, after only a few moves, she discovered that Ye Muqing was a complete novice. She looked up at the seriously contemplating Ye Muqing with some doubt and asked softly, "I say... Your Majesty... are you actually playing Go..."

Ye Muqing was even more bewildered than Xiao Zhiyan. "This isn't Go. Cheng said I am more suited to this way of playing where you collect five pieces. He said this 'Five in a Row' is harder and more fun than Go."

Xiao Zhiyan's mouth twitched again. She had forgotten once more—Prince Han was an unadulterated fool. Although his appearance truly didn't suggest it, one absolutely could not deny his inner nature as a fool... But this was fine too; two people who couldn't play chess together playing "Five in a Row" would be more harmonious...

She couldn't help but lament in her heart: *God, why is her fate always so full of comedic elements? Other people's transmigration plots have ups and downs, but hers is either death or disability. Having finally survived, she now has to endure playing Five in a Row with a fool in the middle of the night while suppressing her fatigue. She must be a stepchild...*

They played for a continuous hour. Xiao Zhiyan couldn't help but yawn, but Ye Muqing remained enthusiastic. Seeing Xiao Zhiyan's weariness, Ye Muqing said kindly, "Xiao Yan, you must be tired. Let us rest early then."

"Where will you be resting, Your Majesty?" Xiao Zhiyan asked cautiously. It was late now; he should be returning to his own palace to rest.

"In Xiao Yan's place, of course!" Ye Muqing answered quite naturally.

"Idiot..." Seeing that her final attempt had also failed, Xiao Zhiyan couldn't help but curse softly. "Fine, I won't waste words with you. Ye Muqing, if you want to rest, then rest quickly. Don't wake me up later when I fall asleep!" She could avoid the first of the month, but not the fifteenth; since she had married here, it was only a matter of time. She might as well just go for it... Fortunately, Prince Han's looks were decent enough for the public... Xiao Zhiyan climbed into bed gloomily, only to turn around and find that Ye Muqing had also silently laid down beside her.

"Ah!" Completely caught off guard, Xiao Zhiyan let out a startled scream.

"Xiao Yan, what's wrong?" Ye Muqing looked at her in confusion. "What happened?"

"You, you, you... You're a ghost! How did you get into bed without making a sound!" Xiao Zhiyan was still shaken, pointing at Ye Muqing and shouting in exasperation.

"But didn't Xiao Yan tell me to rest quickly..." Ye Muqing said with a look of grievance, as if Xiao Zhiyan were bullying him.

"Fine, fine, just sleep." Seeing Ye Muqing's exquisite yet aggrieved face, Xiao Zhiyan found herself helpless. She could only blow out the red candles, plunging the room into darkness.