Four Seasons Brocade – CH 099

Chapter 99 ☆、

Tang Xiujin was extremely focused on the chessboard, his eyes glued to it. He seemed oblivious to someone approaching, only a slight blush betraying his excitement.

Ah Wu herself blushed slightly, feeling a little guilty, and whispered, “Second Brother Tang.”

Tang Xiujin turned his head and saw a woman, as beautiful as a plum blossom spirit, standing under a white plum tree. Snow paled in comparison to her fragrance, and plum blossoms paled in comparison to her color.

A silver-blue cloak trimmed with white fox fur and embroidered with pink plum blossoms revealed a glimpse of a dress adorned with cherry blossoms, silver dust, and scattered white plum blossoms. A simple gold filigree rose hairpin held her hair in place, and two shimmering white pearls dangled from her ears.

This simple attire still made the plum blossoms, the pride of Daci Temple, pale in comparison. Today, Tang Xiujin truly understood the meaning of the phrase “shaming the flowers” in the idiom “the moon hides its face in shame.”

Tang Xiujin was mesmerized, while Ah Wu felt her face growing increasingly hot. This man was, after all, someone she had fallen for in her past life. Ah Wu could not remain unmoved; a surge of joy rose within her, the exhilarating feeling of “revenge achieved,” yet she also regretted falling for someone so superficial.

Little did Ah Wu know that Tang Xiujin had already fallen deeply in love with her before even seeing her face. Sometimes, fate was sealed with just a glance, a word, or even a scrap of clothing.

“Second Brother Tang,” Ah Wu called again.

Tang Xiujin finally snapped out of his daze, awkwardly standing up, bumping into the chessboard, and ruining the game. Realizing his rudeness, Tang Xiujin quickly composed himself. Having spent a year or two in the court, he was no longer a naive young man and soon regained his composure.

Ah Wu smiled. “Second Brother Tang, what a refined taste you have, playing chess alone in the plum garden. Would I have the honor of playing a game with you?” Ah Wu shamelessly asked familiarly. Playing chess while talking could be seen as a friendly exchange, much better than a solitary conversation between a man and a woman.

Tang Xiujin gestured for her to join in.

Ah Wu slowly stepped forward. Tang Xiujin took a deep breath, feeling as if the fragrance of plum blossoms throughout the garden surrounded her. After she passed, plum blossoms fluttered down, as if paying homage to her footprints. Truly, she was like a fairy, and the scene was like a dream.

If it were not for the pre-existing engagement, he… Tang Xiujin dared not think further.

After Ah Wu sat down, Tang Xiujin politely offered her the black pieces first. Ah Wu did not refuse, making her initial move quite ordinary. Tang Xiujin did not think much of it; he roughly knew why Ah Wu had come to him.

Therefore, Tang Xiujin waited for Ah Wu to speak, pondering how to refuse without hurting her feelings, minimizing her disappointment. But Ah Wu remained silent, her slender, jade-like fingers holding a black piece, seemingly translucent in the sunlight, captivating Tang Xiujin’s gaze.

Ah Wu made frequent moves, but Tang Xiujin was equally matched. His chess skills were quite good; few of his peers could beat him. Even his fellow disciple Rong Jie only managed a 30/70 win against him. Thinking of Rong Jie, Tang Xiujin paused. In fact, before the Longqing Emperor issued his decree, he and his father had high hopes for the Rong family. Aside from the shrewdness of Master Rong, his two sons were indeed promising. Their teacher, Dong Mi, had said that Rong Jie would definitely be among the top three in the next imperial examination and perhaps even produce a father and son who both achieved the highest rank in the examinations.

It was a pity that the Longqing Emperor had appointed Master Rong as the tutor of the Fourth Prince. This move was unexpected by even the high-ranking officials in the court, making them increasingly aware of the Emperor’s unfathomable mind; they had served him for decades and still could not understand him.

In the middle of the game, Ah Wu was already showing signs of defeat. Tang Xiujin was pondering how to deliberately let Ah Wu lose less embarrassingly.

Hidden in the shadows, Tang Yin and Rong Yin were frantic. Why was Ah Wu so engrossed in the game, not saying a word? Their time was precious.

As if hearing the inner thoughts of these two “sister-selling thieves,” Ah Wu finally spoke: “Second Brother Tang, are you really willing to let Sister Yin marry so far away?”

Her voice was like a clear spring, flowing over the ice of early spring, sending a shiver down one’s spine, like a sacred chant.

Tang Xiujin looked up at Ah Wu, remaining silent. He, of course, was unwilling.

“To be frank, my second brother is utterly devoted to Sister Yin.” Ah Wu felt a pang of embarrassment saying this herself. These two had been having an affair before marriage, had they not? But they were incredibly lucky; a whole bunch of people were worried sick about them. “If Sister Yin marries my second brother, he will never betray her in this life.”

The most important thing in a woman’s life was marrying the right person. Even if the man was from a prominent family and incredibly wealthy, if the person was wrong, she would suffer a lifetime of hardship. But if Tang Yin married Rong Yin, she would not have to worry about these things. Besides, a mother-in-law like Lady Cui was hard to find; the key was that she was kind and of modest birth, so she could not act like a mother-in-law in front of Tang Yin.

Back then, during the autumn hunt, Grand Secretary Tang had considered everything before agreeing to the marriage.

“If Grand Secretary Tang agrees, my father said we can separate the family and live separately. We will also find a way to get my second brother transferred elsewhere, and Sister Yin will naturally go with him.” Ah Wu added another piece to the list. Tang Xiujin hesitated for a long time, his white chess piece hovering in his hand. He had not expected Master Rong to have such audacity. Thinking about it, it was not entirely impossible. Besides, girls were naturally inclined to be more outgoing, and Yin’er’s heart was already leaning towards Rong Yin. If he forcefully stopped her, she might resist and cause trouble. He knew his sister quite well. Furthermore, this marriage had already been agreed upon that day; now that it had changed, Grand Secretary Tang would lose face, and it was a blatant slap in the face to the Fourth Prince. Although his chances of inheriting the throne were slim, he was still a prince.

Seeing a softening in Tang Xiujin’s expression, Ah Wu slowly made a few more moves before saying, “Besides, the situation is still unclear; how can we be sure…” Ah Wu placed a piece, creating a four-black formation in the center of the white pieces’ territory. “How can we be sure that things will not turn around?”

When Tang Xiujin looked at the chessboard again, his expression changed drastically. What was clearly a favorable position had been completely ruined by Ah Wu’s decisive counterattack, leaving him in a hopeless situation.

Ah Wu pushed the chess box. “Thank you for the concession.” She had long wanted to play a game with the talented Tang Xiujin, to utterly defeat him, to avenge her past life’s “blindness.” In her previous life, he spent his time with Gu Xihui, composing poems and playing chess, and even boasting about his wife’s chess skills—it truly infuriated Ah Wu. Ah Wu was a woman, and she was determined to get revenge, even if it was a lifetime too late.

Tang Xiujin, naturally more magnanimous, smiled and said, “Sixth Sister, your chess skills are excellent.”

Ah Wu’s eye twitched. “You know how to seize an opportunity, actually calling me ‘sister’ now.”

“I will try to persuade my father,” Tang Xiujin immediately declared. The overall situation was unclear, and he felt it was inappropriate to place a bet so early. Besides, based on his interactions with the Fourth Prince, he actually felt the Fourth Prince was the most suitable candidate for the throne. Of course, such important matters were not up to the subordinates to decide; it was all the Emperor’s decision.

Ah Wu smiled sincerely, like a peony blooming in the snow after spring had returned.

Tang Xiujin’s hand under the table tightened. “I heard Sixth Sister’s marriage has been arranged?”

Ah Wu’s expression changed. That big mouth of Rong Yin! He’d get a good beating from her when she got home. Ah Wu stood up and said, “The game is over, and I cannot stay any longer.”

Tang Xiujin rose and watched Ah Wu leave, finally unable to resist saying, “Sixth Sister, if you ever need anything in the future, I will gladly serve you, even from afar.”

Ah Wu’s heart stirred. Given Tang Xiujin’s cautious and reserved nature, it was extremely difficult for him to say such a thing. Ah Wu had already walked out of the pavilion, but could not help turning back to give him a sweet smile.

After the beauty vanished, Tang Xiujin sat slumped, heartbroken, his mind filled with the image of Ah Wu under the plum blossoms, turning back to give him a radiant smile. “A smile that turns back, a hundred charms bloom”—not only would the beauties of the imperial harem pale in comparison, but all the beauties of the world would likely never again catch Tang Xiujin’s eye.

Compared to Tang Xiujin’s dejected expression, Tang Yin hurriedly pulled Ah Wu away, asking, “How did it go? How did it go?”

Seeing Tang Yin’s eagerness, Ah Wu lost all interest in teasing her. “Second Brother Tang agreed to give it a try.”

Tang Yin exclaimed joyfully, “Ah Wu, Second Brother Rong was absolutely right! Your words are truly life-saving and healing! I tried everything with my brother—crying, making a scene, even threatening suicide—but nothing worked!”

Ah Wu thought to herself, “Of course! I used my trump card without Father’s permission!”

“Um, your second brother is here to pick you and Auntie up. He’s outside the garden,” Tang Yin said, her face slightly flushed.

Ah Wu then remembered his mother, Lady Cui. “Where is my mother?”

“Do not worry, my aunt is here today too. She’s taking your mother for a stroll in the garden.” Tang Yin smiled slyly, urging Ah Wu to go find Rong Yin, while she herself slipped away. If Tang Xiujin caught the two meeting in secret, there would definitely be trouble.

Upon exiting the garden gate, Ah Wu indeed saw Rong Yin waiting anxiously outside. He met Ah Wu with a somewhat embarrassed, foolish smile.

Ah Wu was not falling for it this time. It seemed Rong Yin had not wasted his years in the martial world; he’d actually learned to play dumb to outsmart her.

“Ah Wu, how did it go? Did Brother Xiujin agree to speak to him?”

Ah Wu was not so kind to Rong Yin, replying irritably, “No, I am nobody to him; why should he listen to me?”

“I knew you’d be capable, Ah Wu. Looks like your second brother has not been spoiling you for nothing,” Rong Yin chuckled.

Ah Wu was practically laughing in exasperation at Rong Yin’s words; it seemed she could not fool him at all.

“Ah Wu, come on, let’s go find Madam,” Rong Yin said with a smile.

Ah Wu did not suspect anything. She figured she had finished what needed to be done today, and things were settled, so going to see Lady Cui was only natural. Rong Yin led Ah Wu to a secluded spot, a small garden densely planted with green bamboo, and a small meditation room. Presumably, it was the place of practice for some master.

“Why is Madam here?” Ah Wu asked curiously.

“Brother Junji, what a coincidence!” Just as Rong Yin spoke, Ah Wu saw a figure emerge from the bamboo grove—none other than Gu Tingyi.

Ah Wu was so angry she felt like vomiting blood. What a coincidence! You, Rong Yin, you really need to get beaten up with a feather duster! But Rong Yin was a trained fighter; he ran faster than a rabbit. Ah Wu looked back, but he was already gone.