Chapter 114: Wasn’t It You Who Solved the Endgame?

Old Lady Su’s reaction was indifferent. When Su Mixue befriended Su Wan and accompanied her to various banquets at different mansions, she would show off her talents, so naturally, she knew that Su Wan understood chess.

Su Mixue solved the endgame, gaining the favor of the Eldest Princess, and thus had another opportunity to stir up trouble.

Old Lady Su did not want this mother and daughter pair to become a threat to Su Wan: “Your Highness, this is just a small matter, there’s no need to make a special trip for it. The Crown Prince’s concubine is kind-hearted and it was just a small effort on her part. If you are too grateful, it would embarrass her instead.”

Su Mixue, having heard the news, rushed out and was furious upon hearing Old Lady Su’s words, her face turning green with anger.

In her heart, she deeply resented the old hag for favoring Su Wan.

But given the situation, Su Mixue couldn’t claim that she solved the endgame for the sake of credit. Such a strong desire for merit would surely incur the Eldest Princess’s displeasure.

Su Mixue forced a smile and said selflessly, “Aunt, you don’t need to be so polite. You are my elder, and it is my honor to help you. With my cousin returning home, it is indeed a happy occasion, and we juniors should visit you.”

As she said this, she gave a bitter smile, “But now, as the Crown Prince’s good concubine, I am not qualified to visit you.”

The Eldest Princess was a shrewd person and easily understood Su Mixue’s meaning.

Yesterday, she had sent someone to inquire about who solved the endgame, and it was soon discovered that it was Su Mixue who had solved it at Guo Temple.

There was no need to guess; it was clear that this information was released by the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion.

To be cautious, the Eldest Princess investigated at Guo Temple herself and found that Su Mixue had indeed been there a few days earlier. The young monk mentioned that every time Su Mixue visited the temple, she would insist on solving the endgame.

On the day the endgame was solved, Su Mixue descended the mountain, and the timing matched perfectly.

Xie Wuya was the Eldest Princess’s lifeblood, and since Su Mixue solved the chess endgame, no matter how significant the favor was, the Eldest Princess felt obligated to repay it.

“What’s the problem? If you want to come to the Eldest Princess’s residence, just have Feng’er bring you.” The Eldest Princess gave Su Mixue a clear answer, indicating she would help restore Su Mixue’s status as the Crown Princess.

Su Mixue felt a surge of joy and was about to bow in gratitude.

At this moment, Xie Wuya suddenly asked, “Su Liangyuan^[1]良媛 = Liangyuan, is the title for the Crown Prince’s concubine., was it you who solved the endgame?”

Su Mixue looked at Xie Wuya with eyes brimming with emotion. His skin had a pale hue from lack of sunlight, his handsome features appeared exceptionally distinct, and his eyes seemed untouched by the world’s impurities, very clean.

Her cheeks flushed slightly pink, and she softly replied, “Aunt lives alone in the mansion, and I feel very sorry for her. I wanted to help her in any way I could. My cousin being able to descend the mountain is the happiest thing for her.”

The onlookers, hearing Su Mixue’s words, began to praise her.

“Don’t say that, Liangyuan has a good heart, it’s just her background that’s holding her back.”

“Exactly, I often met Liangyuan at the teahouse before. She is charitable and kind-hearted, a good girl. She would never do something like stealing someone’s dowry or fiancé.”

“I also think there’s more to the story. Marriage matters are always decided by parents and matchmakers, she couldn’t have had a say in it. Don’t blame her for everything; I believe it was the stepmother and the Marquis of Dingyuan who were responsible.”

Qinglan and Su Jihong exchanged glances and smiled at each other upon hearing the initial remarks. Clearing Su Mixue’s name seemed effortless.

However, when they heard the last statement, their faces darkened.

People in the crowd continued to speak well of Su Mixue, and the person leading the conversation subtly gave Su Mixue a look before quietly slipping away.

Su Mixue breathed a sigh of relief, ignoring Qinglan and Su Jihong’s feelings. As long as her reputation improved and with the Eldest Princess’s assistance, regaining her position as Crown Princess was within reach.

Xie Wuya remained silent and clapped his hands.

A servant immediately brought out a small low table from the carriage, placed two thick cushions at the entrance, and then set up a chessboard.

Seeing this setup, Su Mixue’s expression changed drastically, and she instinctively took a step back.

Qinglan, however, pushed her forward with a proud look on her face and said, “Xue’er, Mr. Xie is a Go master, renowned throughout the nine provinces and rarely meets his match. If you play a game with him in public, even if you don’t win, just drawing with him would bring you fame across the land.”

Su Jihong’s eyes held a hint of encouragement. “Xue’er, don’t be afraid. Father will support you. Even if you lose, it doesn’t matter; after all, very few people can defeat him. The fact that you could solve his endgame is already remarkable.”

Su Mixue was at a loss. She couldn’t even solve the endgame set by Xie Wuya when he was in his teens.

So many years had passed, and his chess skills must have improved immensely, making it impossible for her to catch up.

“Su Liangyuan, please.” Xie Wuya lifted his robe and sat cross-legged on the cushion, gesturing to the seat opposite him. He said formally, “When I set the endgame back then, I left a message: Whoever solves the endgame must play a game with me. If they win, I will grant them a condition. If they only solve the endgame but do not win against me, it doesn’t count.”

Su Mixue’s face turned pale. Was she forced to play against him now?

“I descended the mountain yesterday specifically to play a game with the person who solved the endgame and fulfill my wish.” Xie Wuya noticed Su Mixue’s odd expression and frowned, speaking bluntly, “You seem hesitant. Could it be that there is some hidden truth behind the solution of this endgame?”

Su Mixue’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly sat cross-legged on the cushion and forced a smile. “Cousin, it took me years to solve your endgame. And that was your level as a teenager. Now, ten years have passed, and your chess skills have probably improved significantly. How could I possibly be your match?”

Qinglan, realizing the severity of the situation, nudged Su Jihong with her elbow, signaling him to say something in support of Su Mixue. “If Xue’er loses too badly and Mr. Xie doesn’t acknowledge it, all our efforts will be in vain.”

Su Jihong, with a peculiar confidence in Su Mixue, said with a sense of fairness, “Mr. Xie, why don’t you play against Xue’er at the level you were at when you were a teenager?”

The Eldest Princess, initially anxious and wanting to stop Xie Wuya’s unreasonable demand, saw that Su Mixue had already sat down to face the challenge. With Su Jihong supporting her, she figured Su Mixue’s chess skills must be quite good.

Feeling slightly more assured, she advised Xie Wuya, “Wuya, the Marquis of Dingyuan is right. You should play at the level you were at when you were ten. You shouldn’t bully a girl.”

Xie Wuya’s eyes were full of disapproval. “Playing against Su Liangyuan at the level I was at in my teens is not only disrespectful to the game of Go, but also an insult to Su Liangyuan.”

Su Mixue bit her lip until it almost bled, wanting to say she didn’t fear such an insult.

“Enough,” Xie Wuya said impatiently, holding a black piece in one hand and a white piece in the other, and placing them on the board.

In no time, the pieces were interwoven across the board. With a blank expression, but a hint of emotion, he said, “This game is similar to the one on the stone tablet. If you can solve the endgame, this endgame shouldn’t be too difficult for you either.”