The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 38

Chapter 038 Neither Lose Nor Win
Three days later, Xiao Yan accepted Zhou Shumei as his concubine.

This made Xiao Min and Zhou Shumei, who had always been on guard against Madam Li’s interference, breathe a sigh of relief. However, Xiao Xiwei pursed his lips and smiled. He did not comment on all of this.

The second day after taking a concubine, Xiao Min bid farewell and returned to Ping City.

On this day, Xiao Xiwei was leaning against the bed of Arhat and flipping through the books.

The faint golden sunlight outside the window reflected her lowered eyebrows. It was as calm and beautiful as a quiet painting.

However, the scene was quickly broken.

“What’s there to look at with these ledgers! Let’s go, big brother will take you to see some rare things!” Xiao Xiyang stretched out his hand and pulled out the ledger from Xiao Xiwei’s hand. He smiled and said.

“No.” Xiao Xiwei shook his head and raised his hand to snatch the ledger back. Xiao Xiyang raised his hand and dodged.

“Aren’t you bored staying in your room all day?”

“Boring. But, I’m more afraid of the heat.” Xiao Xiwei picked up the iced mung bean soup on the table and took a leisurely sip when she saw that she couldn’t get the ledger back.

“Aiya, what are you afraid of at such a young age?” Xiao Xiyang simply pulled Xiao Xiwei over and walked out of the door.

Before Xiao Xiwei could react, he was dragged out of Marquis Mansion by Xiao Xiyang.

Outside, there was already a carriage waiting there.

Xiao Xiyang pushed Xiao Xiwei into the carriage and jumped onto a white horse. “Let’s go to Rongxing Pavilion.” As he spoke, he put his legs on the back of the horse and took the lead.

Seeing Xiao Xiyang’s back, Xiao Xile shook her head helplessly.

Rong Xing Pavilion is the largest restaurant in the capital. Most of the officials and nobles in the capital like to meet at Rong Xing Pavilion.

When the carriage arrived at Rongxing Pavilion, Xiao Xiwei took out her veil and covered her face to help Hong Yu’s men get off the carriage.

The atmosphere in the capital is not very open. Although women can go out, they should avoid suspicions wherever they go. Civilian women should return the favor. Your daughter usually goes out with her face covered with a veil and a servant girl at her side to avoid being hit by others.

On the table in the middle of the Rongxing Pavilion, a youth dressed in grey rough linen clothes sat with his chest crossed. In front of him was a tray of aftermath, surrounded by a large group of people.

“Brother Xiang, I’m here again!” Xiao Xiyang walked over to the youth and smiled.

The youth didn’t raise his eyebrows, “Old rules.”

Xiao Xiyang smiled and frankly took out fifty taels of silver and placed it on the table. “The silver is here, but this time, it’s not me and you.” With that, he turned around and pulled Xiao Xiwei over. “This time, she’s coming with you.”

Xiao Xiyang knitted his eyebrows and glared at Xiao Xiyang angrily. Was the reason why he tricked her out in the heat of the day so that she could play chess with others? However, when she saw the youth’s face clearly, she instantly changed her mind.

Although his face was still a little childish, she still recognized him. Although he was now unknown, ten years later, he was Chu Xizhi’s right hand man, the youngest prime minister in the history of the Great Yue Kingdom. His other stable and secret identity was Uncle Ping An’s abandoned direct son. His mother was the daughter of the Xiang Clan’s first wife, who had been killed for participating in the rebellion of the Six Kings. If it was true, he and Zhongyong Marquis Mansion would still be able to have a little relationship, because Zhongyong Marquis Mansion’s second concubine mother, Xiang shi, was Xiang Mingxuan’s cousin.

Back then, she did not think about it carefully, but now she recalled that since Xiang Mingxuan’s mother was kicked out of the manor by Uncle Ping An because of the rebellion of the Six Kings, then Second Concubine’s life in the manor was probably not easy. In addition, what happened afterwards was even more intolerable to her father, even Xiao Xichun, who had just been born, was implicated.

She also accidentally told her Xiang Mingxuan’s background when Chu Xizhi was drunk. She also said that he had won his trust by playing chess with Xiang Mingxuan in the restaurant back then and asked him to support him until he ascended the throne.

Unexpectedly, the restaurant Chu Xizhi was referring to was actually Rongxing Pavilion. This was truly a distortion.

If she had tried to rope in Xiang Mingxuan before Chu Xi, wouldn’t Chu Xi be missing a right hand man? Even if he couldn’t win him over, he couldn’t at least let Chu Xizhi win him over.

“I’m not going down with a woman.” Xiang Mingxuan coldly swept a glance at Xiao Xiwei and then coldly spat out a sentence.

Xiao Xi smiled and said, “Young Master, do you look down on women?”

Xiang Mingxuan pursed his lips and said nothing.

“Ancient Mulan for father army, after there is Mu Guiying led the army, more former dynasty liang hongyu cleverly defeated the enemy! Which one of them is worse than the man? Even if you don’t talk about these heroines, for example, if it wasn’t for the virtuous housekeeper of ordinary women, how could you men be at ease in adventuring for your careers outside? Xiao Xi’s lips curled into a mocking smile. He raised his hand and picked up the fifty taels of silver Xiao Xi Yang had placed on the table and turned around. “Look at how confident Young Master was in setting up the chess game with fifty taels of silver in Rongxing Pavilion. It should be different from ordinary men, but I didn’t expect that … it wouldn’t matter if this chess game isn’t played.”

“Sister.” Xiao Xiyang hurriedly pressed Xiao Xiwei’s hand and blinked at her.

He managed to trick her into coming here with great difficulty, how could he return with such a futile result?

Xiao Xiwei smiled coldly and turned around, “Young Master Xiang, your mother is also a woman. Do you look down on her too?” After saying that, he turned around and left.

Xiang Mingxuan’s face sank.

Xiao Xiyang’s heart skipped a beat. It was over. This time, Wei’er must have offended Xiang Mingxuan thoroughly. The treasured sword that he was jealous of would probably never have a chance to obtain again.

Unexpectedly, Xiang Mingxuan suddenly stood up and said, “Miss, please stay.”

“What? Young Master still has something to say?” Xiao Xiwei turned around.

Xiang Mingxuan waved his right hand and made a’please ‘gesture, “Miss, please sit down.”

Or if it was someone else, they would probably have already lost their face long ago and would not have sat back down no matter what. However, right now, this person was Xiao Xiwei, and the one opposite was Xiang Mingxuan that she wanted to rope in. Therefore, she did not hesitate at all. She immediately returned and sat across from Xiang Mingxuan. She even raised her hand and lifted her veil.

Xiang Mingxuan was stunned, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.

She didn’t expect the woman in front of her to act straightforwardly and cleanly. She didn’t have Sihao’s embarrassment. Seeing that her face wasn’t painted, her curved eyebrows and apricot eyes were exceptionally beautiful and refined. She was definitely not comparable to an ordinary woman. She didn’t have a good impression of her, so she wasn’t that disgusted with playing chess with her.

Xiao Xiwei stared at the chessboard seriously for a long time. Finally, he raised his hand and picked up a white pill. Without hesitation, he placed it on the chessboard.

“Sister, what are you doing?” Xiao Xiyang only hated that his hand was too slow. Seeing Xiao Xiwei’s son fall onto the chessboard and commit suicide, his heart ached so much that he almost dripped steady blood.

His sword!

Xiang Mingxuan first looked at Xiao Xiwei in surprise, but when he looked at the chess game again, he discovered that the game had changed in a few seconds. Whitey, who was originally restrained everywhere, committed suicide, but the rest of the whitey suddenly had room to maneuver. However, that room was only enough to lose a few steps at night.

Raising his hand, another black spot fell on Ming Xuan.

Before he could lift his hand, Xiao Xiwei followed closely behind.

He looked at Xiao Xiwei in surprise.

Doesn’t she even need to think?

Looking at the chessboard, the originally declining chess game was delayed a few steps.

Xiang Mingxuan frowned. After thinking for a while, he left behind another black spot.

Just like last time, Xiao Xiwei’s white spots descended as soon as his black spots descended. This time, the situation was also delayed by a few steps.

At this moment, Xiang Mingxuan had originally looked down on Xiao Xiwei in his heart. He focused his attention and didn’t dare to delay any longer. He thought for a long time before leaving behind a son. However, no matter how he landed, Xiao Xiwei was able to follow him quickly without even thinking for a moment.

Xiang Mingxuan’s eyebrows tightened as beads of sweat gradually seeped out from his forehead.

Ever since Xiang Mingxuan set up the chess game in Rongxing Pavilion, many Game Forest experts in the capital had lost, and no one had ever let Xiang Mingxuan show such an expression.

All of a sudden, everyone gathered around and watched the two of them play Yi with rapt attention.

Time ticked by. Finally, Xiang Mingxuan took the lead and threw Blackie out of his hand. He stood up and bowed towards Xiao Xi. “Young lady, I admit defeat.” After saying that, he handed the treasured sword beside him to Xiao Xiwei and said, “This sword belongs to the girl.”

Seeing Xiang Mingxuan admit defeat and take out the sword, Xiao Xiyang’s eyes lit up.

Xiao Xiwei heaved a long sigh of relief, and her tense nerves immediately relaxed. She stood up but did not reach out to receive the sword that she handed to Ming Xuan. “Young Master Xiang, you’re being modest. This game of chess is a draw. I didn’t win.”

“For me, not winning is losing.” Xiang Mingxuan said concisely.

“To tell you the truth, I knew from the beginning that I couldn’t defeat you in this game. That’s why I quickly decided to break your chess rhythm and find out the flaws so that we can draw.” Xiao Xiwei said.

With her chess skills, she was definitely not inferior to Xiang Mingxuan, so she could only speculate. However, if it was Xiang Mingxuan ten years later, he would definitely not be disturbed by her small actions. However, this was him ten years ago.

Only then did the crowd who were watching the chess suddenly realize what was going on.

“In the end, I don’t have enough determination.” Xiang Mingxuan’s eyes flashed with a strange color. “Please accept this sword.”

Xiang Mingxuan’s eyes were filled with determination.

Xiao Xi smiled and said, “If Young Master doesn’t mind, I want to take back the money I gave you just now.”

Xiang Mingxuan raised his eyebrows, not knowing what he meant.

“I didn’t win against Young Noble, but Young Noble didn’t win against me either. So, I took back my silver and Young Noble took back Young Noble’s sword. This is fair to both of us, isn’t it?” Xiao Xi said with a smile.

Xiang Mingxuan’s sword only looked at the scabbard and knew that it was not of ordinary quality. When it came to silver, it was not only fifty taels, but Xiao Xiwei had actually rejected it just like that.

The surroundings were filled with astonishment, and everyone’s faces were filled with astonishment.

Seeing the treasured sword in his hand being forcefully pushed out like this, Xiao Xiyang felt his heart pained to the point of bleeding. He gritted his teeth and whispered to Xiao Xiwei’s ear, “Little sister, do you recognize anything? That sword is called Qiushui, and its blade is like autumn frost, cutting gold and jade. Even if you have silver, you won’t be able to buy it!”

“You want it?” Xiao Xiwei turned to look at Xiao Xiyang.

Xiao Xiyang hurriedly nodded.

“Then why don’t you go play chess and win against Young Master Xiang yourself?” Xiao Xi smiled.

Xiao Xiyang’s face stiffened.

If he could win, would he still need to lure her out?

“Young lady, since I’ve set up a bet here, I’m naturally willing to admit defeat.” Xiang Mingxuan said again. Although he was dressed in cloth, he had a certain bearing. Without waiting for Xiao Xiwei to answer, he put the sword on the table and turned around to leave.