Xiao Man had the zither table removed and a chess table brought over, and the master and disciple began to play. "When I came over, I ran into the Fourth Princess. She wanted to pay her respects, so I brought her along."
"What are you lacking recently?" Feng Mo Ran asked, understanding at once.
Xiao Man chuckled twice. "As expected, nothing can be hidden from you. Mo Han is new to Lan Yue and is not accustomed to the climate here. He's been unwell and confined to bed for several days. I've prepared medicine for him, but it's missing one ingredient: Zi Yang Cao."
"He's becoming more delicate," Feng Mo Ran said softly. His words held both dissatisfaction and envy. Previously, this child's eyes and heart were focused solely on him, but now, he didn't know where he ranked.
"He's not a martial artist, so his body can't compare to mine. Furthermore, due to my affairs, he's been constantly worried and hasn't rested properly. Now that he's settled down, the taut string has snapped, and he's fallen ill," Xiao Man said while placing a stone. "In the past, when he was unwell, he could still seek the monk Wu You to treat him. But now that Wu You has passed on, he only has me."
Upon hearing this, Feng Mo Ran paused, his raised chess piece hovering in the air. "Wen Mo Han, at least, has parents. Truly, the only one who belongs to you is me!"
"Stay and have dinner with me today before you leave. This Tantai Palace is so desolate, with no one to talk to."
"I'm afraid I can't today," Xiao Man said, urging Feng Mo Ran to make his move. "I have to leave the palace shortly. If I don't stay to watch him, Mo Han won't take his medicine obediently."
"Is he still a child?" Feng Mo Ran's words were full of jealousy. "You indulge him so much!"
The Fourth Princess had been listening to their conversation. With her sharp mind, she could discern Feng Mo Ran's dissatisfaction in his words. However, she was momentarily unsure whether Feng Mo Ran was displeased with Wen Mo Han or Xiao Man.
"He's a patient, so it's not unreasonable for me to dote on him a little," Xiao Man said with a smile. "When I was sick in the past, didn't you also indulge me like this?"
"That's different," Feng Mo Ran said slowly. "Xiao Zhen and I indulged Xiao Man out of affection for her. But Xiao Man indulging Wen Mo Han, the nature of it is completely different."
"What's different? It's all indulgence," Xiao Man placed a chess piece. "You're going to lose."
Feng Mo Ran glanced at the game situation and smiled slightly. "Until the very end, who wins and who loses is not yet determined."
Feng Mo Ran placed a piece, which was particularly shrewd, making the previously clear game once again complex and unpredictable. Xiao Man furrowed her elegant brows. "I was hasty. I thought I could beat you today, but I didn't expect you to be so profoundly skilled."
Feng Mo Ran's smile grew gentler. "Playing chess requires a calm mind. If the mind is not calm, one is easily disturbed, and thoughts will go astray. In chess, one wrong move leads to every subsequent mistake, ultimately resulting in a complete loss. Therefore, one must not be careless."
Xiao Man glanced at Feng Mo Ran with a hint of pride and placed her next piece. "Then I absolutely must win today."
"I'll be waiting to see."
The Fourth Princess didn't care much for chess. Watching the two engage in what seemed like an intense battle on the chessboard was, in her eyes, just two people playing with pieces, utterly meaningless. However, she found the content of their conversation extremely interesting.
"By the way, the Empress Dowager still won't allow you to leave Tantai Palace?" Xiao Man asked casually.
Feng Mo Ran nodded imperceptibly, his entire focus on the chessboard. "I'll go here."
"Do you want to go out for a walk?" Xiao Man's dark eyes fixed on the black and white stones on the board, asking curiously. "No matter how beautiful Tantai Palace is, one would get tired of seeing it every day."
"I want to, but wanting and being able to are two different things," Feng Mo Ran said softly. "Don't conflict with her. I will be fine here."
"Don't you want to see my Imperial Princess's residence?" Xiao Man looked up at Feng Mo Ran. "My Imperial Princess's residence has been decorated beautifully, retaining its former characteristics while incorporating things I like."
Feng Mo Ran fell silent for a moment upon hearing this. The Imperial Princess's residence was where the Empress Yue Xian had lived in her youth, and he had visited it frequently. He was very familiar with its layout and could picture it with his eyes closed.
"I used to go often. Has it changed much?"
"The changes aren't significant; the overall structure remains the same, with only minor adjustments." With a click, Xiao Man placed a piece, a smile on her face. "Now, are you going to admit defeat?"
Feng Mo Ran carefully examined the board. He had indeed been checkmated by Xiao Man. He couldn't help but laugh and returned the piece to the pot. "You little girl, you've learned to play tricks to beat me."
Xiao Man picked up the remaining pieces and put them into the pot. "Master, your chess skills are superb. For me to win, I have to put in a lot of effort. When you're drowsy, I can take you by surprise and win."
Feng Mo Ran found this amusing and turned around, only then noticing the Fourth Princess still standing there. "You haven't left yet?"
The Fourth Princess smiled and curtsied. "I'm waiting for the Imperial Princess to leave with me."
Feng Mo Ran nodded and rose to head inside. Xiao Man placed the last few pieces into the pot. "It's about time. I'll leave the palace now and visit you again tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, please bring me a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts from Wu Lane," Feng Mo Ran's voice called out. "I haven't had them in a long time and I miss them."
"Alright," Xiao Man replied, then left Tantai Palace with the Fourth Princess. They walked along the path out of the palace, each in silence.
The Fourth Princess was very curious about the relationship between Xiao Man and Feng Mo Ran. Judging by their interactions, they seemed to be very close. Xiao Man also called Feng Mo Ran "Master." Were they master and disciple?
"Imperial Princess, you and Sir Feng have a very good relationship."
"Naturally."
"Are you master and disciple?"
"Yes," Xiao Man answered every question.
"Did Sir Feng also used to be in Yusheng?" Xiao Man grew up in Yusheng. If they had met somewhere, it would have to be Yusheng.
"He was the Imperial Preceptor of Yusheng, and I was the eldest daughter of the General's mansion."
The Fourth Princess immediately understood. She had heard rumors about the Imperial Preceptor of Yusheng, but this Imperial Preceptor was elusive, and she never imagined he would be the Emperor's Consort of Lan Yue.
"I heard Sir Feng was previously the Emperor's Consort of Empress Yue Xian."
"He was her former fiancé," Xiao Man corrected. "After my parents got together, Master broke off his engagement with my mother."
"Oh, so that's how it is." The Fourth Princess smiled broadly. She had finally found a 'flaw' between them. A man being jilted was a great disgrace in Lan Yue. If a man was jilted, it was extremely difficult for him to remarry. Even if he remarried, few families would be willing to take him as their main husband; he could only be a male concubine!