CHAPTER 026
"You saved my little prince’s life, and now you're teaching at the Imperial Academy, even lecturing in the male academy on classical studies. As the life-saving benefactor and mentor of the little prince, Prince Yun will certainly reward you generously," Chen Si slightly tilted her head, glancing at Scholar Lu Yuner, and continued, "However... I wonder, what do you seek, Scholar Lu?"
Today's invitation, as per Prince Yun's intentions, was for Lu Yuner to enter the manor, primarily concerning the little prince's lifelong matter. Ever since the lord passed away, finding someone trustworthy for the little prince to spend his life with has been a concern weighing heavily on Prince Yun's heart.
Although many wealthy and powerful families have personally visited to seek marriage with the little prince, Prince Yun has consistently declined them all because the little prince did not like any of them.
Now, it’s rare that the little prince has someone he favors. After all, selecting a good match for the little prince is of utmost importance. In aristocratic families, a suitable match is often the first criterion. One would think Prince Yun would be particularly cautious, but instead, he directly chose Lu Yuner.
Prince Yun is well-versed in the ways of the world, has met countless people, and has always had a unique insight into judging people and situations. From Prince Yun's tone, it’s evident that he holds Lu Yuner in high regard.
From the moment the little prince met Lu Yuner, his words, actions, and even a glance revealed his fondness for her.
The look in one’s eyes when they like someone is unmistakable, and similarly, it's impossible to hide when they don't.
The observant Chen Si noticed that Lu Yuner, though appearing respectful on the surface, was actually avoiding suspicion, clearly aware of the little prince’s feelings for her. She had just noticed the little prince's slightly reddened eyes and the damp marks on his collar when they met at Qinghua Court.
There was no doubt that Lu Yuner had no romantic feelings for the little prince.
Lu Yuner’s gaze gradually hardened; it seemed her suspicions were confirmed, and that Prince Yun was already aware of everything. She no longer concealed her thoughts. "Indeed, I do have a request."
So, she does have ulterior motives!
Chen Si's expression changed slightly. Although she was somewhat surprised by Lu Yuner’s direct response, any favorable impression she had earlier vanished instantly, casting aside her doubts, and she let out a faint chuckle. "Wealth or power? Or perhaps both?"
Lu Yuner naturally heard the sarcasm in the words, but she remained calm and did not explain, responding in a cold tone, "It concerns the little prince."
Chen Si frowned slightly, puzzled for a moment, then suddenly realized something, a flash of disbelief crossing her eyes.
This Lu Yuner is indeed an extraordinary woman.
At the Wanxi Pavilion.
Inside, it was quiet and serene, with a purple copper Boshan incense burner placed on a sandalwood table, the smoke rising slowly, swirling gently with the breeze.
At this moment, Su Bai was leisurely seated on a soft couch at a small table, a chessboard spread out in front of her, with plates of vegetables, fruits, and pastries on the side.
She lightly tapped the table with her fingers, her deep, dark eyes, carrying an unfathomable look, fixed on Lu Yuner. She smiled faintly and said, "Scholar Lu, no need to be so formal, please sit."
"Yes." Lu Yuner noticed that although Prince Yun was dressed in a simple white robe, appearing scholarly and refined on the outside, there was an underlying fierceness within.
Although she felt a bit anxious, Lu Yuner still sat down across the chessboard, her eyes inadvertently falling on the chessboard in front of her, causing her gaze to flicker slightly.
"Scholar Lu is exceptionally wise, so I believe you already know the purpose of today’s invitation to the manor. Firstly, you saved the little prince’s life, and I will naturally reward you generously. If you have any requests, you may ask me," Su Bai said slowly, holding a white jade chess piece in her hand, her eyes narrowing slightly with a hint of inscrutability. "Secondly, I plan to ask the Emperor to issue an edict bestowing marriage between you and the little prince."
As she spoke, her eyes, sharp as an eagle’s, were fixed intently on Lu Yuner.
An edict to bestow marriage? This cannot happen.
Lu Yuner's brow twitched slightly, and summoning her courage, she immediately rose and knelt by the side, lowering her head cautiously, "Please reconsider, Prince Yun."
"What! Do you think the little prince is unworthy of you?" Su Bai's expression turned cold, her voice, though weathered by the years, was still strong and firm, showing a hint of displeasure.
Chen Si, who was quietly waiting outside, remained indifferent, not the least bit surprised.
After all, Prince Yun was a person who had experienced the vicissitudes of life and was decisive in killing. The pressure of facing such a person felt like confronting a fierce beast, causing Lu Yuner's scalp to tingle with numbness. At this moment, her palms were damp with sweat, but no matter what, she was not going to give up out of fear today.
If an edict for marriage was issued, it would completely disrupt her plans.
She had always avoided romantic entanglements, not wanting any additional ties. Of course, she could still marry and have children, then simply leave when the time came.
But when that time comes, could she truly abandon everything here?
No... she couldn’t.
Although she did not consider herself a good person, she was not a wicked one either.
Everything had to be done in accordance with the word "conscience."
Lu Yuner steadied herself, gritted her teeth, and said, "What I mean is that the little prince is of noble birth, and I am unworthy. Moreover, I do not have any romantic feelings for the little prince."
Lu Yuner did not wish to explain further, so she straightforwardly expressed her thoughts.
After she finished speaking, she secretly observed Prince Yun’s reaction, noticing her raising an eyebrow, a faint ripple in her otherwise calm eyes, yet there was no trace of anger.
Seizing the opportunity, Lu Yuner continued, "I believe that for a marriage to last, it must be founded on mutual affection, where both parties grow old together. The little prince is pure and kind and will certainly find a partner with whom he shares mutual affection. I also believe this is what the lord would have wanted. Just now, Prince Yun mentioned that if I had any requests, I could ask. Then, I ask you to rescind this order."
Su Bai's eyes were deep, as calm as a thousand-foot cold pond, and she said lightly, "I have always kept my word. Do you think I will rescind it just because of what you said? Where would my authority be then?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuner lowered her gaze in disappointment, her eyes darkening. Indeed, she was of low status and insignificant. Why would Prince Yun heed her words? A sense of helplessness and frustration welled up in her heart.
Su Bai continued to observe Lu Yuner, taking in every change in her expression. After a while, a meaningful glint appeared in her eyes, and she said, "However, if you play a game of chess with me, and you manage to win, I might consider your request."
Lu Yuner snapped out of her thoughts and looked up, her hope rekindled. Her long lashes fluttered slightly as a trace of doubt crossed her eyes. "Prince Yun, do you mean it?"
Su Bai's lips curled into a faint smile, difficult to interpret. "What? Are you afraid I'll deceive you?"
The two reached an agreement, and then Chen Si was called in to witness.
Prince Yun took the white pieces, and Lu Yuner the black. Seated across from each other at the chessboard, they prepared to play.
The original Scholar, having been taught from a young age, not only had renowned teachers to guide her but also had an unexpected opportunity to learn chess during a visit to Aunt Mu while traveling south with her mother.
After the Scholar’s parents passed away, leaving her alone in the world, she frequently visited Aunt Mu, using those visits to continually refine her chess skills. Over the years, she often played and practiced with Sister Ran, though she had yet to defeat her.
Though she couldn't claim her chess skills were masterful, she was certainly well-versed.
The small chessboard holds infinite possibilities, with an ever-changing game where strategy is fluid.
As the ancients said, "Chess embodies the principles of heaven and earth, the dynamics of yin and yang, the order of celestial bodies, the extremes of wind and thunder, the balance of life and death, the strength of mountains and rivers, the rise and fall of the world, and the prosperity and decline of human affairs."
The chessboard is like a battlefield, with both sides using black and white pieces as soldiers. At first, the pieces are scattered, but soon the two began to fiercely clash on the board.
As the game progressed, Chen Si’s expression shifted with each change in the board's dynamics.
The first half of the game was merely an appetizer, with both sides testing each other’s chess skills. The true brilliance emerged in the latter half.
As the pieces filled the board, the tension mounted, increasing the challenge. The game tested not only the players' memory, judgment, and imagination but also their ability to control the flow of the game.
At this point, with the chess pieces scattered and conflicting, it was evident that Prince Yun was beginning to struggle. Meanwhile, Lu Yuner’s moves were unpredictable, clearly not yet satisfied. The black pieces in her hand switched constantly between attack and defense—sometimes storming forward like a fierce army, other times striking like a tiger released from its cage, charging straight in.
Advance to attack, retreat to defend.
In the end, Lu Yuner won the game.
Su Bai and Chen Si exchanged a knowing glance, a spark of amazement flashing in their eyes.
After the game, Prince Yun decided to rescind the order directly, foregoing the initial consideration.
However, Lu Yuner was required to visit Prince Yun's manor every half month to play chess with him. Lu Yuner found nothing objectionable about this and agreed.
With the matter settled, Lu Yuner took the carriage provided by Prince Yun's manor to return home.
By this time, the night had deepened, the sky as dark as ink, with the moonlight faint and misty.
Just as she lifted the curtain, she met a pair of familiar, beautiful eyes in the moonlight outside. Lu Yuner froze, her hand still suspended in mid-air as she asked, "Little Prince Su, why are you here so late?"
Su Qingwan’s cheeks flushed as she smiled shyly, "I... I wanted to escort Sister Yuner back home."
"This is really inappropriate." Lu Yuner recalled what had happened earlier at Qinghua Court and was about to lower the curtain and step back.
Suddenly, a force from behind pushed her inside, followed by Chen Si's urging voice, "Scholar Lu, it's already late. Don't delay any longer. You should head back early so your servants don’t worry."
Chen Si clapped her hands, smiling with satisfaction. She couldn't help it—her little prince needed to be pampered. To give them some time alone, she deliberately stayed far from the carriage, leading the horses forward.
The unexpected push caused Lu Yuner to lose control of her balance, and she fell forward toward Su Qingwan. Fortunately, Lu Yuner reacted quickly, placing her hands on either side of Su Qingwan against the carriage wall, preventing her full weight from falling on him.
But this left them in a rather compromising position, with Lu Yuner above and Su Qingwan below.
Su Qingwan, worried about Lu Yuner falling, instinctively placed his hands on her waist to support her. He immediately felt something soft brush against his face—clothing covering something warm and supple, with a faint, cool fragrance rising and falling with each breath.
What was this!?
Su Qingwan suddenly snapped out of his thoughts, his fair face rapidly turning crimson, and even his ears flushed red.
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