Four Seasons Brocade – CH 135

Chapter 135 ☆、

Chu Mao’s face was slightly flushed with the effects of wine, his handsome features possessing a captivating charm. Ah Wu was almost afraid to look directly at him, so she lowered her head to pick up Weiqi pieces as a cover. Chu Mao paused for three breaths before replying, “I have not decided yet. How about this: if you lose, you grant me one request.”

Ah Wu could hardly believe that Chu Mao was even more audacious than she was. While her own bet was large, it was clearly stated and fundamentally different from Chu Mao’s, which felt like a sword hanging over her head at any moment.

Ah Wu’s rational mind told her she absolutely could not accept this bet, but she was so desperately drawn to the famous paintings at Shuangjian Tower, her heart, liver, and lungs aching with longing.

Ah Wu finally learned her lesson. She realized that her previous reluctance to gamble was not due to clever restraint, but rather because the other party had not offered a bet tempting enough.

Ah Wu observed Chu Mao again. His eyes were now slightly glazed with intoxication, and Chu Mao’s gaze was somewhat dazed, indicating he had drunk quite a bit. Ah Wu recalled that Chu Mao’s wine glass seemed to have been constantly in his hand. Such a good opportunity—only a fool would not cherish it.

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“Alright,” Ah Wu said with a confident smile.

Chu Mao politely offered Ah Wu the black pieces and the first move, which Ah Wu readily accepted. At the start of the game, Ah Wu was confident of victory, envisioning the doors of Shuangjian Tower slowly opening. However, in the later stages, the situation reversed dramatically. This was not due to a wrong move by Ah Wu, but rather because her opponent cunningly feigned weakness from the beginning, luring her in step by step, eventually encircling and trapping her, leaving Ah Wu flustered and overwhelmed.

Ah Wu, panting, glanced at Chu Mao. His face was still slightly flushed, but a peculiar smile played on his lips. Ah Wu suspected that even his earlier slight drunkenness was a deliberate act by Chu Mao.

“How cunning,” Ah Wu cursed inwardly, but her pace slowed, each move cautious and deliberate, fearing she might fall into another trap.

The smooth, black Weiqi piece nestled between her slender, white index and middle fingers, like a black-and-white painting, clean and translucent, almost too beautiful to look away from.

Ah Wu hesitated to place the piece, but suddenly saw Chu Mao reach out towards it. She quickly withdrew, thinking he was impatient and trying to snatch it away.

Chu Mao paused, then withdrew his hand. “If you do not make a move soon, it will be dawn.”

Ah Wu had already intended to renege, and Chu Mao’s sarcastic remark made her even more unwilling to keep the bet. Just then, Tao Siyao and Xiangsi returned from setting off fireworks. Ah Wu was immediately delighted, declaring her innocence—it was not she who wanted to play Weiqi with Chu Mao.

So, seeing Tao Siyao enter, Ah Wu surprisingly stood up and smiled at her, saying, “Lady Tao is back! Come and play Weiqi with the Prince; I am really not good at it.” Ah Wu made a gesture to offer her seat, “Your Highness, I’ve heard Lady Tao is an excellent Weiqi player. Weiqi is only interesting when the players are evenly matched. Why not start another game with Lady Tao?”

Tao Siyao was slightly tempted, glancing at Chu Mao. Chu Mao’s gaze towards Ah Wu, however, began to turn cold.

Ah Wu quickly covered her forehead, feigning concern, and said, “Oh dear, I just had some wine, and my head’s starting to hurt. I will probably have to rest for a while.”

Looking at the unmoved Chu Mao, Ah Wu knew her excuse was a bit far-fetched. Her face flushed, and with no one offering her an out, she felt utterly frustrated.

“Are you admitting defeat?” Chu Mao asked calmly.

“How could I?” Ah Wu exclaimed. “We have not even finished playing yet!” She then added, “My head really hurts today, Your Highness. Perhaps we could continue the game another day?”

Ah Wu had a perfectly calculated plan: another day, but when? Next New Year’s Eve? Who would remember how the game was set up then?

Chu Mao nodded, “Very well.” Then he turned to Li Yanguang and instructed, “Put away the Weiqi board. Do not move a single piece. I will continue the game with the Princess next time.”

Hearing this, Ah Wu’s smile became somewhat stiff.

Similarly, Tao Siyao and Xiangsi’s smiles were even more stiff than Ah Wu’s.

Mei-Meng, however, came over with a charming smile. She first greeted everyone present before lively asking Ah Wu, “Princess, where’s your sister Zi-Shan? Nanny Hao set up two separate tables for us servants. They are clamoring for a drinking game and are looking everywhere for Zi-Shan to be the game master.”

Ah Wu thought Mei-Meng’s timing was excellent, and she was even somewhat grateful to Mei-Meng. “Oh, I have not seen her anywhere yet. I wonder where she’s gone off to. It’s very cold outside. Could you please send someone to help Chi-Jin look for her?”

After a while, Chi-Jin, who was skilled in martial arts, indeed “lived up to expectations” and brought Accountant Duan and another rather handsome young boy.

“What’s going on?” Ah Wu asked in surprise.

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Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng, who followed Chi-Jin in, both looked rather grim.

At this moment, Zi-Shan, who had just been “found” and was standing beside Chi-Jin, said, “Your Highness, Sister Mei-Meng, Chi-Jin, and I found Accountant Duan and Mingze engaging in illicit affairs in the Weixiu Garden. These two are shameless and despicable, daring to act so brazenly in the inner courtyard. We had no choice but to bring them here.”

Both Accountant Duan and Mingze had cotton gags in their mouths. Upon hearing Zi-Shan’s words, they shook their heads repeatedly, making muffled noises as if protesting their innocence.

Ah Wu turned to Chi-Jin and Mei-Meng and said, “Were you not looking for Zi-Shan? Why did you end up in Weixiu Garden?”

Chi-Jin interrupted, “Mei-Meng and I went out to look for Zi-Shan. Cai-Mei said she saw Zi-Shan go to Weixiu Garden just after dark, so we went there. But we did not see Zi-Shan; instead, we found Accountant Duan and Mingze…” Chi-Jin could not continue.

Ah Wu looked at Zi-Shan again. “I have not seen you in so long; where have you been?”

Zi-Shan replied, “Just as it was getting dark, Cai-Mei sprained her ankle and asked me to run to Weixiu Garden to find Zhu-Meng, saying she had medicine specifically for sprains. I went, but on the way, I ran into Xiu-Yi, who said that the mistress was not there, and the maids at Yulan Hall were making a fuss, and she could not calm them down, so she asked me to go and take care of them. I had no choice but to turn back to Yulan Hall and ask Xiu-Yi to get the medicine for Cai-Mei. When I returned to Weixiu Garden after dealing with Yulan Hall, I happened to see Chi-Jin and Mei-Meng looking for me there, but they accidentally stumbled upon the scandalous affair between Accountant Duan and Mingze.”

Zi-Shan recounted this long story without even taking a breath.

“Since Xiu-Yi went to Weixiu Garden first, how come she did not notice this?” Ah Wu asked again.

Xiu-Yi quickly stepped forward and said, “When I went there, I just saw a man’s shadow flash into Weixiu Garden. I was terrified. How could a strange man enter the inner courtyard? But I was alone, and it was dark all around, so I did not dare to make a sound. I just stayed outside the garden to keep watch. A moment later, I saw Mingze sneaking in again. I had no idea they would dare to do such lewd things in the garden. I only dared to come out when Chi-Jin and Mei-Meng came looking.”

“Your Highness, this matter involves Accountant Duan and the servants in the outer courtyard. It’s not appropriate for Nanny Hao and me to interfere. Why do we not listen to what they have to say? They certainly would not be so outrageous as to dare to cause trouble in the inner courtyard,” Ah Wu said to Chu Mao, then turned and ordered someone to bring Cai-Mei and Zhu-Meng over to speak.

In fact, all the key figures present realized that this was a trap set for Zi-Shan, but they did not know who had set it, and it was clear that Yulan Hall’s people had already seen through it.

Chu Mao watched this play directed and acted by Ah Wu and nodded in approval.

As soon as the cotton cloth was removed from Accountant Duan and Mingze’s mouths, Mingze threw himself at Chu Mao and Ah Wu’s feet, kowtowing and saying, “I am innocent! I am innocent! I saw Accountant Duan sneaking into the inner courtyard, and out of curiosity, I followed him into Weixiu Garden. But as soon as I saw Accountant Duan enter a room, I was pushed from behind and shoved into that room, and then the door was locked from the outside. There was no one outside, and Accountant Duan and I shouted until our throats were hoarse, but no one came to open the door. There was an incense burner burning in the room, but I did not pay attention at the time. Later, my head became more and more dizzy, and I could not control myself…I…”

Accountant Duan quickly added, “It’s all because of the incense. But I noticed it myself, so I restrained myself. When Chi-Jin and Mei-Meng came in, it was only because Mingze could not control himself and tried to tear my clothes. I did not do anything with him.”

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At this moment, Ah Wu did not need Nanny Hao to ask questions. She asked first, “Since Mingze said he followed you, Accountant Duan, into the garden, how did you get in, and what was your purpose? Did you not know that you cannot enter the inner courtyard without the master’s orders?”

Accountant Duan suddenly fell silent, but his gaze could not help but sweep towards Mei-Ying.

Ah Wu had anticipated that Accountant Duan might not reveal the truth for Mei-Ying’s sake, but she still wanted to see how sincere he truly was. “It’s fine if you do not tell me. This whole situation today was clearly someone trying to smear your and Zi-Shan’s reputation. Otherwise, Cai-Mei would not have just happened to sprain her ankle at that moment, sending Zi-Shan to Weixiu Garden to fetch medicine for her. It just so happened that Xiu-Yi called her away, and Mingze accidentally stumbled in, even preparing incense—they will stop at nothing!” Ah Wu sneered. “Or perhaps you bribed Cai-Mei, daring to covet my head maid, Zi-Shan?”

Upon hearing this, Cai-Mei, who had just been brought over, immediately replied, “He bribed me! He saw that I was close to Zi-Shan, so he told me to lure Zi-Shan to Weixiu Garden tonight.” Cai-Mei was clever; seeing that Zi-Shan had clearly cleared her name, to avoid implicating others, she had no choice but to shift the blame and pin everything on Accountant Duan.

Cai-Mei’s actions were merely improvisation, lacking thorough consideration. Xiu-Yi, upon hearing this, mocked, “Oh, so even though you are close to Zi-Shan, you can be easily bribed to deceive her?”