Offered As A Lucky Bride To The Mad Princess To Ward Off Misfortune - Chapter 62

62: The Affairs of the World Are Like a Chess Game, the Universe Unpredictable…

Yu Nanqing understood that Xiao Qiling’s actions were meant to reassure her. She could sense the countless gazes fixed upon them, and she knew this was also the stance Xiao Qiling wished to convey to the Xiongnu.

She decided not to rush, a smile forming in her eyes as the corners of her lips curved slightly upward. “Who says I can’t dance?” she teased.

Xiao Qiling raised an eyebrow, as if to say: Then shall the Princess Consort perform a dance for me when we return to the manor?

Yu Nanqing caught her meaning and silently mouthed a firm refusal: No way.

His Highness Prince Ning sighed, finally turning her gaze back to a more relaxed posture as she looked toward Gulanduo.

The hearts of the court officials hung in suspense, following Xiao Qiling’s line of sight.

But after her gaze left Yu Nanqing, it never wavered again. To Prince Ning, Gulanduo, whose dance had captivated the crowd, was no different from the other dancers beside her—not even worthy of lingering in her eyes as long as some of the court officials.

“Last month during the hunt, the Princess Consort requested that His Majesty decree the Ning Manor would take no concubines. A royal decree cannot be defied, so I suggest the Princess consider other options.” Xiao Qiling said, turning her head to a palace maid nearby. “The night is chilly. Fetch a cloak for the Princess to ensure our honored guest does not catch a cold.”

The Princess Consort of Ning had won the top honor at the Spring Qiong Banquet with her essay, an event that left a deep impression on the officials who had attended the Western Mountain gathering.

Now that it was brought up, it seemed perfectly legitimate and aligned with Emperor Wenjing’s intentions. However, the Xiongnu’s military strength was not to be underestimated, and Emperor Wenjing had to give them some face. He smiled and said, “How can a marriage be decided so hastily based on a single encounter? The Princess has not been in Great Qi for long. Why not stay longer, get to know the fine young men of Great Qi, and then make a decision?”

After speaking, Xiao Qiling did not glance at Gulanduo again. A palace maid of Great Qi draped a cloak over Gulanduo, covering the arms and shoulders she had deliberately exposed.

Seeing this, Muerle gave Gulanduo a subtle glance.

But Gulanduo was not willing to give up. Her ambitions extended beyond merely toppling the Great Prince of the Xiongnu. Like her ancestors, she coveted the fertile lands of Great Qi. The harsh winters of the north claimed countless lives to starvation each year. If she could claim Great Qi as part of the Xiongnu’s territory, her people would no longer suffer the bitterness of winter, and her name would be immortalized in history.

The Prince of Chen might help her defeat the Great Prince, but it was the Prince of Ning, who had been adopted as a son by his uncle, who could truly destabilize Great Qi.

If Great Qi remained stable, how could she seize the opportunity to strike?

Gulanduo clutched the cloak with one hand and bowed once more to Emperor Wenjing. “The Xiongnu royal court has never limited itself to a single consort. I am aware that His Highness the Prince of Ning is married to the Princess Consort, and my meeting with her on the main street was quite pleasant. In my humble opinion, Your Majesty need not worry about this.”

“My father dotes on me greatly. If Your Majesty consents, in addition to the gifts presented earlier, I am willing to bring three thousand warhorses, carefully selected by my father for me, as my dowry to Great Qi.”

Three thousand warhorses!

The Xiongnu could scarcely produce three thousand warhorses in a year, let alone ones handpicked by the royal court!

The Xiongnu’s fearsome reputation in battle relied heavily on their formidable warhorses. While the civil officials might not fully grasp the significance, many of the military generals present were familiar with the value of the warhorses Gulanduo mentioned.

Fine warhorses were rare not only in Great Qi but also among the Xiongnu tribes. Warhorses, like soldiers, were typically granted by the Chieftain only when a prince came of age. Yet, when Gulanduo reached maturity, she received three thousand warhorses—fully one thousand more than the Great Prince, born of the primary consort, had received.

The Xiongnu’s warhorse breeds were far superior to those of Great Qi. An ordinary Xiongnu horse could fetch a hundred taels of silver, while the royal court’s warhorses were priceless, often worth several times more than an ordinary horse yet still unattainable at any price.

Such a dowry was undeniably tempting. Not only the military generals but even the civil officials were swayed. This was no mere marriage of a Great Qi princess to the Xiongnu—it was a Xiongnu princess marrying into Great Qi!

A beautiful woman accompanied by warhorses—what a heavenly bargain!

The court officials’ gazes shifted unanimously toward Xiao Qiling, then flickered among the three adult princes. Even those aligned with the Princes of Chen and Xuan had to admit that Prince Ning undeniably inherited the breathtaking beauty of the late Empress, so it was no wonder Gulanduo had chosen him twice.

Noticing a flicker of hesitation in Emperor Wenjing’s eyes, the Noble Consort timely handed him a cup of wine.

Emperor Wenjing’s gaze swept to Xiao Qiling, and he sobered instantly.

No matter how lavish Gulanduo’s dowry, it would go to the Ning Manor, and he could not allow such a risk to linger.

But how could he refuse?

Emperor Wenjing furrowed his brow, caught in a dilemma. At that moment, Princess Rongxi suddenly raised her sleeve to cover her lips and chuckled.

“Princess Gulanduo is so charming and spirited. If my son Chengli weren’t already betrothed, I would want such a delightful daughter-in-law.” Princess Rongxi said, her gaze turning to Gulanduo with a sigh. “But Prince Ning already has a consort, and Great Qi only distinguishes between principal and secondary wives. Even past emperors never had two empresses simultaneously. The rites cannot be broken. Does the Princess mean to have Prince Ning overstep his bounds and commit a grave offense? I urge the Princess to reconsider.”

“I…” Gulanduo hadn’t expected Princess Rongxi to shut her down so decisively with a single sentence.

But it was Princess Rongxi who had suggested she and her brother come to Great Qi. Did this mean she had to choose the Prince of Chen? Was the Prince of Chen so easily controlled?

Gulanduo looked at Princess Rongxi, hoping to sway her.

But Princess Rongxi only smiled and nodded slightly at her.

There was no room for negotiation.

“Then I shall reconsider,” Gulanduo said, biting her lip. Following the path Princess Rongxi offered, she bowed with a hint of grievance and walked toward Muerle.

Muerle, who cherished his only sister, felt his heart ache for her. Though he knew Gulanduo was upset over their plan’s failure, her dignity as a young woman had also been undeniably wounded.

The thought that all of Gulanduo’s grievances were for the sake of his claim to the chieftain’s throne filled Muerle with rage.

He couldn’t directly confront Emperor Wenjing or Prince Ning, but he could teach a lesson to the Princess Consort of Ning, who stood in the way of their plans.

It was this woman occupying the position of Princess Consort that prevented his sister from achieving her goal. A lesson for her would at least vent Gulanduo’s frustration.

As Gulanduo took her seat, Muerle suddenly stood, saluted, and turned toward Yu Nanqing. “When I arrived in Great Qi, I heard of the Princess Consort of Ning’s grace. Seeing today how much Prince Ning cherishes her, I am quite curious. Might I have the honor of witnessing the Princess Consort’s elegance?”

As a member of the inner household, the Princess Consort’s status allowed her presence at such banquets, but she was still a private figure. Muerle’s public remark drew immediate rebuke from a Ministry of Rites official. “Are you suggesting the Princess Consort should perform a dance? That’s absurd!”

To the rigid officials of the Ministry of Rites, it was acceptable to watch a foreign princess dance, but for a woman of Great Qi’s imperial family to perform publicly was utterly unthinkable—worse than death itself.

Muerle scoffed dismissively. “In the Xiongnu, the capable rise. I didn’t say the Princess Consort must dance. Having seen her today, I’m merely curious. If the Princess Consort is truly so exceptional, it would put Gulanduo’s mind at ease, would it not? A win for all.”

“You misunderstand, Second Prince.” Xiao Qiling said lazily, refusing to play along. “This Prince fell for the Princess Consort at first sight.”

Xiao Qiling’s words were a clear declaration to Muerle: no matter what he questioned, Xiao Qiling was smitten with Yu Nanqing’s appearance, so comparisons were unnecessary.

With Gulanduo’s captivating dance as a precedent, the court officials had already inwardly praised her beauty. Hearing Xiao Qiling’s words, though they had seen Yu Nanqing before, their gazes couldn’t help but drift toward her.

Xiao Qimin, seated where the officials’ gazes passed, let out a derisive chuckle and said to Xiao Qijun below him, “I was about to say these people must be blind. With so many beauties in the capital, they’re still dazzled by a Xiongnu princess. How embarrassing.”

Xiao Qijun ignored him, his brow furrowed as he pondered what had gone wrong with the Xiongnu’s actions tonight.

Xiao Qimin lifted his wine bowl, took a swig, and grew even more gleeful. “Why so quiet, Fourth Brother? Are you upset because Gulanduo didn’t choose you?”

“Well, Gulanduo’s luck is truly rotten. Any other husband, and she might not be outshone. But in the Ning Manor, she can’t compare to the Princess Consort, and in the Chen Manor, she can’t compare to the Princess Consort’s brother…”

“Shut up!” Xiao Qijun snapped, a flash of panic crossing his face at the mention of Yu Nanbo. “If Third Brother wants Gulanduo, just ask Father Emperor to grant her to you. Why drag me into this?”

“My uncle killed so many Xiongnu. Marry her and spend every day on guard?” Xiao Qimin sneered again, tossing a peanut into his mouth and chewing carelessly.

As long as Xiao Qijun was displeased, he was pleased.

To their left, Yu Nanqing bit into a grape and choked at Xiao Qiling’s “love at first sight” comment, bending forward to cough softly several times before regaining her composure.

Dressed in a regal gold-red consort’s robe, Yu Nanqing exuded an air of nobility. She rarely wore such vibrant colors; back at the Duke’s manor, she found them unnecessary, and later, though she noticed Xiao Qiling’s preference for such hues, the intricate hairstyles and accessories required were too much trouble, so she gave up the idea.

This outfit had taken over an hour to prepare, handpicked by Xiao Qiling herself, and it suited her perfectly. After choking, her fox-like eyes glistened with unshed tears, and a strand of dark hair fell across her chest. Yu Nanqing brushed it aside casually and shot a faint, reproachful glance at the culprit, Prince Ning, stunning the officials who had been making comparisons.

When their gazes fell back on Gulanduo, even her captivating dance faded from their minds.

Thus, the matter was resolved with a fleeting moment.

Unaware of the officials’ thoughts, Yu Nanqing merely nodded slightly at the gazes directed her way.

Muerle, utterly unwilling to concede, pressed on. “Your Highness, Prince Ning, even our Xiongnu tribes know to marry a virtuous wife. Can it be that the grand Prince of Ning is so shallow?”

Xiao Qiling remained unmoved. “This Prince’s royal brothers are all skilled in martial arts. Didn’t the Princess choose me for my looks? Besides, my days are numbered. What’s wrong with wanting a consort who brings me joy? The Second Prince claims to care for the Princess—would you have her marry me only to live as a widow?”

Muerle was speechless.

Longevity was a taboo topic in both the Xiongnu and Great Qi, especially for someone gravely ill. Muerle had calculated every angle but never expected Prince Ning to use his “limited days” as a reason for refusal.

As soon as Xiao Qiling spoke, Yu Nanqing couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

Her smile bloomed, outshining the lavish decorations of the golden hall.

Yu Nanqing understood Xiao Qiling’s intentions, but her poison had flared up just days ago. To others, her talk of “limited days” was a passing remark, but to her, it was a genuine worry.

She didn’t want Xiao Qiling to use her illness as an excuse, nor was she someone who hid behind her.

Muerle’s doubts about her, clearly prepared in advance, didn’t require her to mimic Gulanduo’s dance. He had investigated her and come with a purpose.

If this continued, Muerle’s rhetoric would grow more aggressive, and Great Qi risked appearing timid. Though she didn’t serve Emperor Wenjing, she couldn’t let Great Qi show weakness before the Xiongnu.

“Thank you for your high regard, Second Prince.” Yu Nanqing said, turning to face him. “What would you like to test me on?”

“Hey, you’re not suggesting the Princess Consort tame a horse, are you?” someone interjected. Gulanduo’s mention of three thousand warhorses, combined with a precedent of horse-taming at a palace banquet, prompted the remark. “Taming horses is my specialty. I’ve been in the northern border for over a decade—I can tell the quality of your Xiongnu horses with one ride.”

Hearing the Great Qi general’s challenge, a flash of hostility crossed Muerle’s face, quickly concealed. He smiled and said, “Of course, I wouldn’t ask the Princess Consort to tame a horse. I’ve heard of her literary talents, so surely she excels at chess as well.”

“Before coming to Great Qi, I brought the Linglong Chessboard, left by the Chess Sage Kunningzi. As it was only recently unearthed and cleaned but not yet purified by a shaman, it would be disrespectful to present it to Your Majesty. So, I brought it along.”

“I offer the Linglong Chessboard and invite the Princess Consort to solve its puzzle. If she succeeds, I will present it to her with both hands.”

Muerle’s words sparked excitement among the civil officials. “Kunningzi’s Linglong Chessboard? Is this true?”

“I’ve long heard that Kunningzi traveled the Zhou Kingdom, his whereabouts elusive, and when he vanished, so did the famed Linglong Chessboard. When the Xiongnu claimed to have found it years ago, I thought it was a hoax.”

“To see Kunningzi’s Linglong Chessboard in my lifetime—what a blessing!”

Kunningzi, a chess sage from three hundred years ago, was said to have reached an unrivaled mastery of chess. Eventually, he played against himself, creating the Linglong Chessboard—a puzzle even he couldn’t fully solve.

Those who had seen it spoke of it with awe, and its loss was a regret for generations of chess enthusiasts.

Past emperors, including those before Great Qi’s founding and Great Qi’s own Taizu, had sent armies to search for this chessboard. To think it was truly in the Xiongnu’s hands!

To Great Qi, the Xiongnu were mere barbarians. How could such an elegant treasure fall to them?

The excited civil officials soon sighed in regret.

Countless chess masters had failed to solve the Linglong Chessboard. Even with all of Great Qi’s resources, it was likely unsolvable. Yu Nanqing had no known talent in chess—how could she crack it?

Upon hearing “Linglong Chessboard,” Yu Nanqing showed none of the officials’ concerns. Instead, she let out a breath of relief.

The officials had never seen the Linglong Chessboard, but she had—not only seen it but witnessed it being solved.

This dated back to her previous life.

While traveling through the Western Regions on imperial orders to handle border trade, she received another decree from Emperor Wenjing to negotiate peace with a rebel army that had conquered ten cities in half a month.

With the treasury empty and military generals waning, Emperor Wenjing sought to recruit the rebels to avoid further war.

Yu Nanqing accepted the decree and headed to the northern border.

Before meeting the rebel leader, she took shelter from rain in a dilapidated temple, where she encountered the legendary Linglong Chessboard.

As she and her entourage approached the temple, they were surrounded. Yu Nanqing stepped forward to negotiate, expecting little success, when a guard emerged, saying his master invited her inside.

The northern border was a chaotic mix of factions, and Yu Nanqing wasn’t set on sheltering in that temple. She considered retreating, but the guard’s demeanor was firm. As her soldiers prepared to act, more guards appeared from the shadows.

Outnumbered, Yu Nanqing had her soldiers stand down and entered the temple alone.

Expecting a den of fierce foreigners or rugged bandits, she found the temple surprisingly clean. A slender man in black robes sat with his back to her, his face covered by a black iron mask as she drew closer.

Clearly unwilling to reveal his identity, Yu Nanqing had no pressing curiosity. She lowered her gaze and offered a respectful bow.

Before she could speak, the man pointed to the seat opposite him. “You must be the top scholar of the 21st year of Zhaoyuan, correct?”

Yu Nanqing hadn’t expected him to know her identity. “May I ask who you are?”

“A mere passerby on a stormy night,” he replied. “Since fate has brought us to shelter here together, why not sit and play a game of chess?”

At first, Yu Nanqing didn’t know it was the Linglong Chessboard. Watching the man move and capture pieces repeatedly, with the board shifting unpredictably, piqued her interest. “The people traveling with me—could you allow them to take shelter in the temple as well?”

The man waved a hand, and a hidden guard silently descended from the rafters, stepping outside to give orders.

“Now, is that satisfactory?” Seeing her still standing, he gestured again. “Sit. Solving this chess puzzle alone is rather lonely. Join me in studying it.”

Yu Nanqing sat opposite him as requested.

As she contemplated the board, the man shared the chessboard’s origins. Yu Nanqing had heard of it but hadn’t realized the legendary Linglong Chessboard was the one before her.

“This is the Linglong Chessboard?” she asked, puzzled, before quickly realizing the truth.

The man held far fewer black pieces than the white pieces in her jar, indicating the puzzle had already been partially solved.

They sat across from each other, playing for over three hours as the rain outside gradually ceased. Yu Nanqing, holding a white piece, hesitated. “Sir, I’m here on imperial orders for urgent matters. I’m afraid I cannot finish this game.”

“Is your emperor truly worth such devotion?” the man asked, raising his eyes to meet hers, his tone almost unreasonably provocative.

His casual words carried an innate air of nobility. Having spent years in the court, Yu Nanqing momentarily felt as if she were facing a high-ranking noble.

But on second thought, it seemed impossible.

She knew Emperor Wenjing’s sons, and no other royal descendants could carry such presence, especially not in the chaotic northern border during these troubled times.

So, who was this man?

Yu Nanqing’s grip on the white piece tightened, her suspicions about his identity growing.

She remained silent, and the man didn’t press. After a long gaze, he chuckled softly. “Very well, to each their own. If you believe it’s worth it, so be it. But the game is nearing its end. Don’t you want to finish it with me, Scholar?”

He picked up a black piece, blocking her move, and took a captured white piece. “Let me guess—a civil official like you, traveling thousands of miles to the northern border, must be on important business. You’re here to find the rebel leader, aren’t you?”

Yu Nanqing held her breath, her light-colored eyes watching him warily, a trace of tension in her expression.

The man met her gaze calmly, as if seeing through her intentions didn’t faze him. “Finish this game with me, win or lose, and I’ll consider it a fulfilled wish. I’ll take you to meet him. How about that?”

Yu Nanqing’s furrowed brow didn’t relax. The court had sent several envoys, even cabinet ministers, to find this rebel leader, all to no avail.

Clearly, the rebel leader had no interest in negotiating with the court, and the court had no means to force him.

Yet now, simply finishing this game could grant her a meeting. Yu Nanqing feared a trap.

“If I finish the game, I’ll meet him? And he’ll discuss what I wish to talk about?”

The man laughed again. “Taking you to see him is already giving you face. Expecting him to listen to your emperor’s grandiose words might be asking too much—unless…”

Yu Nanqing looked up. “Unless what?”

He tossed a black piece into the jar, the clack resounding clearly in the quiet temple.

Leaning forward, he reached around her neck, his hand emerging from his wide sleeve to rest on the back of her neck, gently pulling her closer to the chessboard.

Yu Nanqing was forced to lean in, the distance between them shrinking. She could almost feel the cold chill of his mask.

But it was soon replaced by the pleasant scent of white sandalwood, mingling with their intertwined breaths.

A faint, almost inaudible tsk came from beneath the mask. Just as Yu Nanqing thought she’d misheard, the man spoke. “What’s your relationship with Xiao Qijun? Have you ever been intimate?”

Yu Nanqing froze. She’d imagined he might reveal his identity or even hold her hostage.

But she never expected him to ask about Xiao Qijun, let alone their relationship.

“No,” she said, her racing heart calming. “He’s a prince, and I’m a court official, serving the emperor.”

“So, no intimacy?” he pressed, as if he wouldn’t rest without an answer.

It was an unreasonable question, but Yu Nanqing, seeking the chance to negotiate peace, closed her eyes and said with difficulty, “No. I have no such relationship with His Highness the Prince of Chen.”

“Ha—”

As her words trailed off, the man let out a leisurely chuckle.

Yu Nanqing opened her eyes, her gaze slowly moving up his face, now closer, and locking onto his deep, dark eyes that seemed to draw her in.

Instinctively, she wanted to pull away. “You…”

“The affairs of the world are like a chess game, the universe unpredictable,” the man said, his hand leaving her neck to brush over her trembling eyelashes, a calm smile in his eyes.

“Xiao Qijun is no saint. You may serve him, but always keep a way out for yourself. Understand?”