Shupu wasn't difficult to play. Cui Buqu understood the rules after he watched Feng Xiao and Ming Yue play a game.
This game did not depend entirely on brains to win, for one would still need luck. Cui Buqu's luck was quite good, and he won the first round.
Ming Yue still had something to do, so he left first. Both Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu were surrounded by a courtyard full of blooming osmanthuses, a gentle light diffusing into petals of white and fading yellow, giving off warmth when the Autumn light fell and giving off a faint fragrance when the wind blew.
But the most important thing was them underneath the tree.
Their presences were there, and so were the liveliness of mortal human beings.
The stone table that the board of chess was placed on was wiped clean of dust, even the jade-green teacups at its side bore the colour of green springs.
There was no doubt that this belonged to Feng Xiao. Ming Yue knew Feng-er's nature, and so the teacups that were brought back were rinsed thrice with steaming water by him. Otherwise, Feng Xiao would have most certainly complained from the beginning of time until the very last speck of dust at the bottom of the teacups.
Cui Buqu held a small bowl of congee with both his hands, taking sips as he played, allowing the warm liquid to flow from his throat into his stomach, warming up the condition of his body.
Compared to Feng Xiao, he was more adaptable to their circumstances. Even if someone gave him a bowl of congee now that contained grains of sand while food is sacred and as long as he was hungry, he would gulp it all down as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
After drinking a small half, Cui Buqu felt a little full.
He held the bowl in his hand and did not move, watching the board of chess, his eyebrows raising.
Feng Xiao's eyebrows flew up, said a little cockily, "I won."
Cui Buqu was expressionless, "This is only the second round."
Those words meant that the third round would decide the victor.
They were people who had been through dangerous places and climbed back to the world of the living together, having seen a countless number of strange treasures and valuables. Yet, both of them unexpectedly took a small gamble very seriously.
To Cui Buqu, obtaining that name list was a must, and Feng Xiao just wanted to win the gamble, seemingly as if he had never lost before.
After Ming Yue was through with his work, he returned to watch the game.
However, just as he walked until the front of the courtyard, his footsteps paused.
Because Feng Xiao's face had lost its previously high-spirited look; he was instead looking serious.
He looked at Cui Buqu for a few seconds, then at the board of chess, and the colour of his face changed.
What happened?
Ming Yue felt a little concerned, indecisive between "walking over and get himself unlucky" or "remaining here and watch the theatre". In the end, he chose the latter.
He squinted at the board, and the chess stones that belonged to Cui Buqu had reached the end.
It seemed like Commander Cui won, Ming Yue said silently.
Considering Feng-er's pride and confidence, there was never a time where he lost, and so it was difficult for him to not feel disappointed.
"It is obvious this isn't the first time you played shupu since you used little tricks of yours so familiarly like that." Feng Xiao snorted.
"Where do those words come from?" Cui Buqu drawled, fingers tapping on the surface of the ceramic bowl. It meant that he was in a very pleasant mood.
Feng Xiao thought: I could've studied his intentions and predict his moods more accurately if I'd known this a little earlier.
But it wasn't too late now either.
"It's just a small game, yet you still wanted to cheat. Master Daoist Cui, aren't you a conniving one?" Feng Xiao looked speechless.
"All is fair in war." The corner of Cui Buqu's eyes curled upwards, showing a smile from the bottom of his heart that was hard to come by these days, "Two wins out of three games. Since I've won, please abide by your words, Commander Feng, and give me the name list as soon as possible."
Feng Xiao, "Let's have another game."
"I am tired."
How could Cui Buqu allow him to turn the tides? He rose to his feet, dragging them as he turned to his room to rest.
Ming Yue walked over, watching Feng Xiao kicking back his legs and looking cocky. It looked as if feathers of varying colours had sprouted out behind him and so he asked curiously, "Why did you lose to him on purpose?"
Feng Xiao sneezed, "In order for one to take, first you must give; don't you understand?"
Ming Yue, "No?"
Feng Xiao chuckled, "This is why, I am number two of this house, and you are number three."
Ming Yue twitched his lips, "In your opinion, with Cui Buqu's intelligence, would he be able to tell that you lost on purpose?"
Feng Xiao, "So what if he could tell?"
"If he could tell, he would go with the flow, and that means he cares not about your goals, as long as he has the name list. So," Ming Yue gave him a look of sympathy, "I do not know what you were hoping to get from Cui Buqu, however, it is very obvious that what you think is not important to him."
Feng Xiao was waving his fan, but his hand froze when he heard that, pinning his gaze on Ming Yue instead and asked curiously, "Lao-san (Old Three), all of a sudden your brain picks things up easily. Certainly, you're not someone from the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai in disguise?"
Ming Yue didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "This is called, 'A bystander sees things all the more clearly'. You take no one seriously at all, even Prince Jin was not an exception. Even if you had your goals, it's quite different to see you willing to show weakness for someone else."
Feng Xiao, "Speaking of Prince Jin, since Yu Xiu earned his trust, it's quite difficult to assume that there aren't people from the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai around the Crown Prince and the others. About the matter I asked you to investigate last time, how is your progress?"
Returning to official matters, Ming Yue retreated his gaze and shook his head as he said, "There shouldn't be anyone from the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai around the Crown Prince. Within the Palace Chambers, it would not look too good for the Jiejian Bureau to interfere. However, from what I know, the Zuoyue Bureau is also investigating. Cui Buqu held the unconditional trust of the Empress, perhaps he has already found something. Since you spend time with him day and night, there's no harm in seeking out a chance to ask him."
Feng Xiao, "I already did. After Yu Xiu's case, the Empress gave orders to investigate the Palace Chambers and dig out a few suspicious people. However, they were all unrelated to the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai. Looking at the bright side, Xiao Lu's hand hasn't reached so far out. On the dark side, he has buried his traps far too deep, and they cannot be discovered so easily. However, there is someone else that you need to keep an eye on after we return to the capital."
Ming Yue asked in confusion, "Who?"
Feng Xiao did not keep him in suspense, "Princess Leping."
Ming Yue was astounded, "You suspect that after the Thousand Lantern Banquet, there are still remnants who hid by her side?"
Feng Xiao neither confirmed nor invalid the fact, "Regardless, keep your men tight around the Princess' manor."
...
One year came after the last, the moon was halved and then whole again.
After Qixi, the Lunar New Year's Eve drew near.
Since the establishment of the present dynasty, the Emperor did not follow the system of the former dynasty due to convenience, he has instead wrought all anew, moving into the new capital, reforging new rules, and decreasing taxes, restoring life. Although most of the people knew that war between the Imperial Court and Göktürk was inevitable, to them, the daily necessities they needed were far more important. Following the spreading of the new dynasty, as the people lived comfortably, they were more willing to buy goods and prepare for festivals, creating a crowded scenery of small allies.
To the Imperial Officials and noble houses, the trending subjects of debate recently were nothing related to the Lunar New Year's Eve, but on Princess Lanling and Yuwen Xuan-zhu.
According to rumours, Princess Lanling who has always been gentle and obedient to her parents suggested marrying herself to the Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau, Feng Xiao, when the topic of marriage was brought up.
Although everyone knew that Princess Lanling was interested in Feng Xiao, no one expected her to do something so bold as to suggest it to the Royal Couple.
Coincidentally, these past few days, Second Commander Feng returned to the capital. A great many people wanted to watch the theatre, of how he would respond to this.
As for Yuwen Xuan-zhu, naturally, it was also related to marriage.
Women put marriage first and foremost, however, her identity was much more awkward and sensitive compared to Princess Lanling.
Her mother was Princess Leping who couldn't help but want to seek out the best son-in-law for her daughter. Yet the truth was, among those who were willing to marry Yuwen Eying, Princess Leping complained that they were of too low birth, and those that met her standards were not willing to marry.
Thus, Princess Leping had no choice but to leave the palace and beg her most capable mother.
Empress Dugu was naturally happier to see her daughter more often.
Among all her children, this eldest daughter alone was the one she spent a great deal nurturing; she was also the one she gave the most love to.
A pity that although her daughter was born from a prestigious house, her fate was not all that good for a woman.
She lost her husband and had no sons, only a single daughter, Yuwen Eying. Her parents would leave her eventually, and once her daughter is wedded, Princess Leping could only depend on the brother who would be Emperor in the future.
As she thought about this, Empress Dugu felt pity for her. Her hand absent-mindedly caressed her pearl's black hair, heartbroken as she watched the one or two grey hairs between them.
Like all mothers beneath the Heavens who loved their daughters, even if the Emperor and she were heralded as the Royal Couple, and she was deep in the country's politics, she was still a mother, especially one who held guilt in her heart.
"I heard that you were choosing a son-in-law for Eying recently, that your far-sightedness has grown worse. There are so many outstanding men in the world, yet none of them was someone you liked?" Empress Dugu joked, "Could it be that you're like your Fifth Sister, who wants Feng Xiao for a son-in-law?"
Even though Princess Leping on her lap was no longer young, her beauty was no longer able to conceal the wrinkles at the corner of her eyes. However, in front of a mother, regardless of how old, she was still that daughter who held her parents in great esteem. Years had changed nothing about this.
As Princess Leping heard this, she couldn't stop herself from sniggering, "Feng Er-lang is at the height of his vigour and youth, brilliant in martial arts where few in the world could have. Fifth sister carries a maiden's heart; it's not strange she would be drawn to him. If only I was ten years younger, I might have been similar!"
The Fifth Sister she mentioned was the one who has given her heart to Feng Xiao, Princess Lanling.
The Empress smiled and said, "Unfilial daughter, how dare you say yourself old in front of your mother! You are still young now, and as the Dynasty's eldest princess, if there is a man you have set your gaze on, just request your father. Why suffer from such injustice?"
Princess Leping's expression dimmed, and for a moment, she didn't speak.
Empress Dugu said slowly, "Since you don't want to be windowed for life, then call upon a Fuma1 with a striking appearance to go with yourself as lovers. Otherwise, there are plenty of people in this world who wish to get close to you, so they may use you to climb to higher grounds. An incident like the Thousand Lantern Banquet might repeat itself."
The princess immediately knelt and pleaded for forgiveness, "Mother, what happened before was my fault. The Crown Prince and Prince Jin were harmed. If anything happens to them, not even a thousand deaths could redeem me. I dare not do it again!"
The Empress sighed and helped her up in person.
"Your father and I have never placed this blame upon you, you're too hard on yourself. Yuwen Yun was long gone, you do not owe him, and there is no need to be a window for him. Think about it: if your husband is someone from the Five Surnames and Seven Families2, having someone like that for a stepfather, Eying's past would soon be forgotten by others, and no longer will her past be mentioned."
"Mother, these days, I thought frequently, if I hadn't married Yuwen Yong, how good would that be!" Princess Leping sprawled on her lap, crying softly.
Empress Dugu had a rigid personality, yet her eldest daughter is soft; she truly is unlike her mother.
However, the Empress had an endless amount of patience for this eldest princess.
"Silly child, the past is in the past, there is no need to wallow in it. If you are unwilling to marry again, I will not force you. As for Eying's marriage, do you have anyone in mind after seeing so many candidates?"
Princess Leping shook her head, "No matter how I look, everyone was lacking. This child, Eying, is naïve and innocent. It's easy for her to be led on by someone else. I want her to be safe for the rest of her life."
Empress Dugu thought for a moment, "As things have come to this, her husband should be intelligent and powerful so he could protect her. In your opinion, how does Cui Buqu sound?"
Princess Leping's heart skipped.
She raised her head to look at her mother!
Against the source of light, Empress Dugu's expression was a little difficult to see.
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[1] Fuma: the husband of a princess is called a Fuma.
[2] Five Surnames and Seven Families五姓七族: are the families that served generations of soldiers during the early Tang Dynasty. They are the Longxi Li Clan, the Zhaojun Li Clan, the Qinghe Cui Clan, the Boling Cui Clan, the Fanyang Lu Clan, Xingyang Zheng Clan, and the Taiyuan Wang Clan.