Chapter 175 - Shaking the Nation (1/2)
A month later, in the Imperial Capital.
In a garden of mesmerizing beauty and singing birds, the emperor sat across from a wizen old man under a pavilion. At a closer look, it was easy to recognize him as being Mr. Sima.
A stone table laid between them, with a chessboard filled with black and white pieces. Mr. Sima was playing the black pieces.
The emperor held a white piece, still unclear as to the best place to put it. When he finally placed it, he chuckled sadly, “Mr. Sima’s skill is exquisite. I fall sorely short. But could you at least give me some leeway as an Emperor? You won ten matches already.”
“Ha-ha-ha, Your Majesty is too modest!”
Mr. Sima chuckled, “I am only able to grasp this square foot area, while Your Majesty plays with the whole nation in mind. How could my meager skill ever compare? Your Majesty may have lost ten chess matches but has resolved the land’s issues. It is I who has fallen dreadfully short!”
“Ha-ha-ha, Mr. Sima mustn’t joke. In this land, it is unknown who shall be the true winner!”
“But Your Majesty has everything set in place and is only waiting for the final piece, correct?” Mr. Sima let a meaningful chuckle as he placed a black piece on the board.
The emperor’s face twitched a second as they exchanged glances. Then they burst out laughing.
“Im-Imperial father…”
A thundering cry came from behind, shaking with it the ground in its wake. The emperor waved the maids to clean the board, “Damn, that brat is back again.”
“Ha-ha-ha, Your Majesty need not fret. I have come prepared!”
Mr. Sima waved for the maids to leave, as he smiled at the board, “I brought a black iron board this time so the third prince won’t get to disturb the match!”
The emperor smiled, “Mr. Sima is thoughtful.”
A familiar figure rolled into their sights. The fatty was jumping over and quaking the ground with every step.
The emperor turned to the heavy weighting Yuwen Cong and lamented. [What did this kid eat to grow even fatter in these three months?]
Bang~
Yuwen Cong ran for all he was worth at the emperor – soaked in sweat, and filled with panic. Watching the ball growing ever bigger, the two servant girls were feeling fear, fear for their lives that the fatty would slip and barrel straight for them.
“Cong’er, slow down!” The emperor pointed at him impatiently.
But the warning fell onto Yuwen Cong’s deaf ears as he strained to understand, “What did you say, imperial father?”
His eyes finally catching onto who the emperor’s guest was, had robbed him of the attention of what was in front. A mischievous rock found itself in his path, and the fatty was now falling to the ground like a ton of bricks.
He found it odd as the ground only grew nearer, inertia working against him and turning him into a veritable living ball of flesh rolling on its merry way straight for the emperor.
The emperor stood in shock and stepped back. Mr. Sima was too out of it, “The third prince is a man of extraordinary talent. Who else can have such a precise shape?”
Bam!
In his sighing, Yuwen Cong found himself shooting right before him, taking out the stone table by happenstance as well.
The black iron chessboard was also thrown to the ground and the game scattered everywhere.
His face twitching, Mr. Sima stood agape at the ball of flesh, itching to curse him. The ball was aiming for the match all along, but who’d have thought to lift the chess in that dire moment?
And he even promised the chess match would be untouched. It was not only touched, but the board was entirely thrown off.
“Mr. Sima, are you alright?” Yuwen Cong rubbed his poor spine as he crawled on his stubby legs.
Mr. Sima’s eyes twitched and took a deep breath, “Third prince, few and far in between had managed to shame me. You should be proud to be one of them!”
[Eh?]
Yuwen Cong was at a loss, blinking his bean-sized puppy eyes cluelessly. Suddenly, a bellow came from behind him, “Cong’er, how many times have I told you that a prince must remain calm and upright. What got you so frantic that you had to lose all decorum?”
With uncanny agility, Yuwen Cong kneeled and cried, “Imperial father, this time it’s huge, titanic!”
“Humph, what titanic? Are you going to say the sky is falling?”
With an angry snort, the emperor flicked his sleeve at the servants to rearrange the table and bring tea. He took back his seat and shouted coldly at Yuwen Cong, “Over the past century, the Tianyu Empire had been in harmony, filled with peace and prosperity. The biggest event was only fifty years ago, when Quanrong had crossed the borders. The second is the death of You Guiqi two months ago. What could be more grave than these two?”