: Chess

After meeting Princess Taiping in Changchun Palace, Xue Chongxun did not confirm Princess Taiping's attitude. His judgment was relatively optimistic, but such important decisions cannot be judged. They must be made with clear decisions, otherwise it will be risk. Then he did nothing and accompanied Princess Taiping to have a banquet and play chess all day long.

People have a lot of things to do every day. Even aristocrats like Xue Chongxun have many things to do by themselves, but he never does it and is only willing to grasp one of the key points of a series of things. He believes that the key now is Princess Taiping. If she ultimately cannot make up her mind to give up defending Li Tang, then Xue Chongxun wants to seize power not only faces a huge opponent, but also loses many allies, and may become a lonely person, leaving only a few direct descendants who cannot support the country.

Xue Chongxun didn't know how to ask directly, because he had said he had no intention of seeking a position in order to show his loyalty. If he asked again now, he would obviously behave in a different way. So he often accompanied Princess Taiping and waited for her to clearly express her attitude.

But Princess Taiping was also very mysterious, but pretended to be fine. She was happy to have fun in the Huaqing Palace with Xue Chongxun. It was like the world's peace and they were just on vacation here now.

The palace where Princess Taiping lived in Changchun Palace was spotless, and all the furniture was neatly arranged. Although there were many precious calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall, the wood on the table was made of expensive wood, and the curtains were made of high-quality silk silk, but it gave people a feeling of inanimate... It was probably because it was too neat, but it seemed dead.

But Princess Taiping was content with such a arrangement. Xue Chongxun didn't feel uncomfortable. She was sitting cross-legged on the cushion and looking at the chessboard and thinking, holding a white piece in her hand and unable to fall (the difference between black and white guest in the Tang Dynasty was exactly the opposite). Princess Taiping smiled and said, "Your chess is getting worse and worse."

This has nothing to do with chess skills. Xue Chongxun's mind was very confused. He had all kinds of random thoughts but he didn't think about chess. It would be strange if he could play it well. He casually put the black piece in his hand on the chessboard, raised his head and breathed a sigh of relief, and attracted the attention of the arrangement in the hall.

He had seen Princess Taiping's place where she lived countless times before, but he never felt anything was wrong, because his living room looked like this. It was not until Yao Wan went to the Jin Palace to be his close servant and became a little familiar with Yao Wan once said, "Your place is too neat, not like a place where people live forever, lacking in anger." He realized it.

However, now it seems that Princess Taiping's heart is similar to him, and it can be seen from where she lives. Xue Chongxun's heart suddenly felt a little comfort, just as there were two sounds with similar frequencies and resonance.

Next to the vermilion railing not far away, a piano player with elegant white felt (cotton cloth) was sitting behind the piano platform and playing elegant songs seriously. The sound of the "Ding Dong" was undulating, and the quiet rhythm did not feel the hustle and bustle of the world. Xue Chongxun pulled his collar and found that his lining was also cotton fabric... This material was produced in Xizhou, and it is not something that ordinary people wear now. The price is as expensive as silk. People at the bottom often wear hemp.

"Please admit defeat." Princess Taiping took a step without hesitation.

Xue Chongxun looked down and was stunned. Princess Taiping raised her light red wide sleeves to cover the lower half of her face and smiled happily.

"My son is too poor in chess skills and cannot meet opponents. I can't let my mother enjoy the fun," said Xue Chongxun.

Princess Taiping smiled and said, "I'm very happy. Finally, there's someone who plays chess worse than me... Even if those who accompany me give in to me on purpose, I know that he knows the whole game of chess and cannot enjoy it if he wins. Only Chongxun plays seriously and can't win me, haha."

Xue Chongxun: “…”

"One more game." Princess Taiping said enthusiastically, and waved her sleeves and greeted the eunuchs standing beside her to clean up the chessboard and open the black and white pieces into the porcelain jar.

Xue Chongxun straightened his body and said seriously: "I will concentrate on this game and win my mother's game."

Princess Taiping smiled and said, "Just let the horse come over." When she smiled, Xue Chongxun was attracted by the swaying of gold ornaments on her hair. He looked with the flow and saw the skin on Princess Taiping's ears, and her snow-white neck under her black hair. These subtle places made Xue Chongxun very much love, and he also liked Princess Taiping's eyes, the unpredictable flavor. Many places made Xue Chongxun feel very comfortable, so he not only rationally analyzed the pros and cons of the power between mother and son, but also did not want to oppose Princess Taiping in his subconscious mind.

Perhaps it was Xue Chongxun's bright eyes that attracted Princess Taiping's attention. She reached out and touched her hair gently, and asked in a little confusion: "What are you looking at?"

"The gold ornaments on my mother's hair are very beautiful." Xue Chongxun said calmly.

"Is that true?" Princess Taiping showed a Qianqian smile, "Don't be distracted. You have to take this game seriously, I will not show mercy."

Xue Chongxun slowly said in a deep voice: "Does your mother mean chess or something?"

Princess Taiping hurriedly raised her sleeves and smiled and leaned back and forth, "You guys are here again, it's interesting... let's play chess."

Xue Chongxun bowed and bowed: "Mother is an elder, so I'll take the initiative."

The palace gradually became quiet, and the piano player in front of the railing also changed. Now the style is even quieter, with the piano sounds appearing and coming from a very distant place, but in fact she is just a dozen steps away. The sound is like the sound of rain, creating rain out of thin air in the vast snowy world, and spring is coming early. So the "crackling" sound of the chess pieces occasionally falling on the chess board can be clearly heard.

Princess Taiping and Xue Chongxun were both focused for a long time and were speechless.

Perhaps Xue Chongxun's chess skills are really bad, and she puts little pressure on Princess Taiping, so she should be distracted. After a while, she said something that has nothing to do with playing chess: "The Chang'an thing is not difficult to deal with, but it will mess up people's hearts. It is necessary to tell Zhang to bring a secret order back so that he can be wary of something."

"As long as our family is together, others will not cause any trouble." Xue Chongxun said disapprovingly. What he is most concerned about now is the relationship with Princess Taiping. As for other forces, the powerful gentry is huge. After all, losing the imperial organization is a mess. If it is too much, it is just a mess. If it is really too much, it will be solved by state machines or force.

Princess Taiping pondered for a moment and nodded slightly, not saying anything more.

After more than half an hour of this game, Xue Chongxun still surrendered. He was involved in both chess and calligraphy and painting, but he was helpless and not very good. Those who are proficient in only swords, guns, sticks and sticks.

When Princess Taiping called the eunuch to report, she looked out the window and said, "It's better to have a rest early than to have a banquet, so you can stay here with me and finish dinner before going back."

"Yes, thank you for your mother's hospitality." Xue Chongxunli responded several times.

"Come with me and wait for them to deliver food."

Xue Chongxun hurriedly stood up and respectfully helped Princess Taiping to support her flatteringly. When he gently held Taiping's arm, he got closer and immediately smelled a fragrance. What made him feel comfortable with his body and mind was not this fragrance, but another faint smell except for the fragrance. It was very nice to smell that should be the smell of Princess Taiping's body itself... Although it was very light, it could be felt completely.

Princess Taiping dragged her long skirt and walked slowly towards the window on the spotless floor. Her posture was dignified and generous. Her snow-white neck was as straight as a swan, and her back and neck were straight. It was probably a habit formed by the court's training etiquette since childhood. Xue Chongxun gently supported her next to her, at least on the surface he looked very filial.

"Does the smell smell good on me?" suddenly Princess Taiping asked faintly.

Xue Chongxun was slightly shocked when he heard this: Could it be that she can read the mind? Otherwise, how could she know what I was thinking? He didn't sniff and make a move to smell it. He just smelled it naturally between breathing, and then he muttered a few words in his heart.

He gritted his teeth and pretended not to care, "It smells good."

Princess Taiping waved, and when Xue Chongxun understood, she smiled and said softly in Xue Chongxun's ear: "It's not just sprinkle some gouache or add spices when taking a shower. You should also pay attention to your diet. I don't eat some things, and the imperial doctor will give me some advice on the recipe."

After hearing this, Xue Chongxun thought that the noble man had spent a lot of time studying these things... But indeed, the details of his mother are always refreshing. The people around her are only afraid of her, but few people hate her. Those literati who did not even have the qualifications to meet were just conjectures.

Xue Chongxun said: "Mother lowers interest rates and reduces her body and so on, so she can feel at ease."

"I'm not talking about Ankang, why do you want to change the topic?" Princess Taiping smiled. Her smile always made Xue Chongxun feel like he was seen through.

"I will also smell good if my mother doesn't use those things. We are connected with flesh and blood... smells like each other." Xue Chongxun said with a shameless face.

Princess Taiping immediately stretched out her finger and poked his forehead: "Is this what you said?" It is hard to see her making such intimate moves towards others, and Xue Chongxun should be honored.

At this time, the palace maids brought the rice one after another, and saw that it was an ordinary dish, four dishes and one soup, and the staple food was rice. Rice was not commonly eaten in Guanzhong, and corn was common, but the palace probably felt that rice was white and crystal clear. According to the view of replenishing shape, it would be beneficial to the skin? Anyway, many of the pastries made in the palace were translucent and very beautiful.

The two of them sat down at the table and just had a meal like this. Xue Chongxun's eating behavior was a bit rude, but she didn't sprinkle the rice and soup on the table. Princess Taiping seemed to like watching Xue Chongxun eat. She looked generous but was a person who cared about the details... She didn't think there was anything wrong with Xue Chongxun's eating behavior. The man was too elegant and seemed a little petty after all.

The snowflakes were floating outside the window again, and the mother and son were eating a common meal together, which seemed a little warm.
Chapter completed!