Xiao Man placed a white piece first, followed closely by Nangong Yu.
For some reason, she disliked looking into Nangong Yu’s eyes. She always felt as though they could see through everything. She couldn’t explain why she felt a pang of guilt.
Xiao Man was annoyed. Last night, she had gone to the hot spring pool first, and Nangong Yu had barged in. It was Nangong Yu’s fault, so why was she feeling guilty?
Thinking of this, Xiao Man’s movements became a little faster. Nangong Yu’s pace, however, remained unhurried. He always placed his piece after Xiao Man, never appearing aggressive.
In contrast, Xiao Man’s playing style evolved from timid at the start to aggressive and dominant.
Nangong Yu looked at Xiao Man, wondering if she was harboring resentment towards him.
"You're so fierce. Are you still angry about what happened last night?"
Xiao Man looked up, feigning innocence. "What is Your Highness talking about?"
Nangong Yu narrowed his eyes. She was good at pretending.
Nangong Yu didn't call her out. He slowly poured her a cup of tea. "Yesterday, I heard Wen Mohan say that if one ruins a lady's reputation, they must propose marriage. I tore your clothes; doesn't that mean I've ruined your reputation?"
Xiao Man, mid-sip of tea, sputtered it out upon hearing Nangong Yu’s words, drenching his face.
Xiao Man instinctively felt doom. She quickly straightened up and used her sleeve to wipe Nangong Yu's face. "Your Highness, this humble subject didn't do it on purpose. Let me wipe your face for you."
Si Ye glanced at the steady, unmoving Nangong Yu, and then at Xiao Man frantically wiping his face with her sleeve. His eyelids twitched. Would His Highness kill the eldest daughter of the Protector General's mansion on the spot?
Nangong Yu waved away Xiao Man's hand and took out a handkerchief, wiping his face himself. "You are indeed bold."
Xiao Man dared not speak, observing Nangong Yu's unpredictable expression.
It was over. The old madam would have another excuse to deal with her. If Nangong Yu added fuel to the fire, the old madam would surely want to devour her alive.
"Sit down and continue. If you lose, both offenses will be punished. If you win, this matter will be dropped." Nangong Yu's voice revealed no emotion, but Xiao Man understood this was a chance for leniency. She sat down again and placed another piece.
In order to survive, Xiao Man played with utmost seriousness. Nangong Yu had initially just wanted to test her, but as the game progressed, he became increasingly alarmed. He looked at Xiao Man, realizing what wet nurse Sheng had said was true; this woman was indeed hiding her true abilities. Such chess skills could not be acquired overnight!
"Does Chan Master Wuyou cheat when he plays chess?"
Xiao Man blurted out, "Yes."
After saying it, Xiao Man realized Nangong Yu was trying to trick her. Indeed, he had asked her to play chess with ill intentions, likely still suspicious about last night's events.
Nangong Yu glanced at the flustered Xiao Man, a slight smile forming on his lips. "When he plays chess with me, he always cheats, asking me to give him concessions. Despite being a monk, he has a fondness for Nu'er Hong."
Xiao Man remained silent, playing her moves. She knew that the more she spoke, the more mistakes she would make.
Seeing Xiao Man’s silence, Nangong Yu realized she was guarding herself. "How long have you known Chan Master Wuyou?"
"Not long. We met just a few days ago. The Abbot said I have a connection with him," Xiao Man carefully chose her words.
"Is that so?" Nangong Yu sneered inwardly. Wuyou's demeanor suggested they had known each other for many years, yet Xiao Man claimed they had only recently met. One of them had to be lying!
Xiao Man calmly placed her pieces. She and Wuyou had indeed only met recently. It was Empress Dowager Yunqi, Dugu Man, who had been friends with Wuyou for years! She wasn't lying!
"Yes." Xiao Man smiled, her expression brightening the surroundings. Nangong Yu was momentarily stunned. "Your Highness's complexion seems much better. Are you feeling well?"
"You... are you concerned about me?"
Nangong Yu snapped back to reality, surprised that he had been dazzled by Xiao Man's smile.
Xiao Man steadily placed a piece, her expression growing even gentler, her voice becoming incredibly soft. "Can't I be concerned about Your Highness?"
Nangong Yu was lost in thought for a moment. A pear blossom petal drifted down, landing in Xiao Man's hair bun. Nangong Yu reached out and picked up the petal from her hair. Xiao Man's smile became even more radiant.
*Snap.* Xiao Man placed her final piece, exclaiming gleefully, "Your Highness, I concede."
Nangong Yu lowered his head to look at the chessboard. The black stones were trapped, with no hope of recovery. It was all because he had been distracted for a moment and made a wrong move, a single move that led to his complete defeat!
Xiao Man happily got up to leave. After taking a few steps, she turned back, picked up the clothes from the stone bench, and skipped away from Nangong Yu's courtyard.
Nangong Yu remained seated at the chess table, staring at the game board for a long time before a light chuckle escaped his lips.
Just as Wuyou had said, she was indeed a cunning little fox. She had used her beauty against him. With such a disposition, how could she be a simpleton!
Si Ye discreetly glanced at the chessboard, looking as though he couldn't bear to watch. Their master prided himself on his excellent chess skills, yet he had been utterly defeated by a seemingly unremarkable noble daughter, losing miserably. It was truly pathetic!
When Si Ye saw Nangong Yu chuckle, a chill ran down his spine. Had his master lost his mind from the defeat, laughing after such a crushing loss!
"Sir, are you alright?" Si Ye asked cautiously.
"What could possibly be wrong with me?" Nangong Yu looked at the petal in his fingers and said with a smile, "Xiao Zhen has indeed raised a remarkable daughter. I am increasingly curious about her."
Si Ye was bewildered by Nangong Yu's words. Was he planning revenge after losing the game?
"I asked you to investigate the relationship between Xiao Man and Wuyou. Did you find anything?"
"I did. There is no relationship between them!" Si Ye stated with certainty. "If Chan Master Wuyou is not lying, then on the fifteenth of last month, it was the first time Chan Master Wuyou met Xiao Man."
"The first time?" Nangong Yu was somewhat surprised. This was impossible. Wuyou had said Xiao Man had come to retrieve something he had kept for her, which implied they knew each other. But if they met for the first time on the fifteenth of the third month, could it be that Xiao Man had given him that item on the fifteenth of the third month?
"Did you find out what Xiao Man took from Wuyou?"
Si Ye nodded. "I learned from the young monk who cleans Chan Master Wuyou's room that a box was missing from his room, and that box... you have seen it before."
Nangong Yu's mind flashed with the image of a box. "A puzzle box!"