The Emperor felt amused and wondered if he should let her win a game, seeing how happy she was.
He smiled and looked at the chessboard, but then he paused.
Hmm... I was too engrossed in my thoughts and forgot to restrain myself...
Lian Hua, seeing that he hadn't made a move, urged him again, "Please make your move, Your Majesty. Are you thinking it over? That's fine, after all this is the strategy I've been pondering..." for a long time, so it's only right that you take a moment to think...
Before she could finish, her smile slowly faded; she opened her mouth slightly and stared blankly at the chessboard.
Did His Majesty put her in checkmate?
When did that happen?!
She looked carefully and calculated; it was the move right before her little pawn crossed the river—His Majesty had put her in checkmate!
And she, so focused on that pawn, hadn't even realized it.
She had lost again!
She couldn't even cross the river before losing again!
