C74
Time flies, and before you know it, half the day had passed. From the start, Empress Dowager Chu had given Bai Yushuang a head start of five cities, and by the last match, she had conceded fifteen. Yet, it was all for naught, as Bai Yushuang still found herself utterly defeated.
"Empress Dowager, if I may be so bold, does it feel good to crush a junior like this?" Bai Yushuang asked, staring at the board where only one of her blue flags remained, feeling utterly hopeless.
Empress Dowager Chu nodded honestly, "It does feel quite satisfying."
Bai Yushuang was exasperated.
Just then, Feng Tiange walked in, like a ray of hope for Bai Yushuang.
"Empress Dowager, I won't compete with you. When you made your name, I was still in diapers. But if you're willing, how about a match with your granddaughter?" Bai Yushuang, being a general, needed to salvage some pride after so many losses.
Empress Dowager Chu turned to look at her granddaughter.
"If the General wishes, I am more than happy to oblige," Feng Tiange said with a smile.
Bai Yushuang was pleased and generously suggested changing the battle strategy to a game of chess, as Feng Tiange had never been on the battlefield.
Now, Empress Dowager Chu became a spectator, while Feng Tiange and Bai Yushuang engaged in a battle of wits for several rounds. The chess match lasted two hours, with Bai Yushuang only conceding when sweat began to bead on her forehead.
"The general won." Feng Tiange showed no sign of disappointment and respectfully bowed to Bai Yushuang.
Bai Yushuang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good thing she won; otherwise, she'd have been quite embarrassed.
After Bai Yushuang and Feng Tiange left, Nanny Sunn approached her mistress to offer comfort. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. The young lady held her own against General Bai for so long; her skills are quite impressive."
Empress Dowager Chu chuckled. "You didn't notice, did you? If Tiange hadn't gone easy on her, Bai Yushuang wouldn't have had a single piece left."
Nanny Sunn was stunned.
"That child is kind-hearted. She didn't want the kitchen staff to suffer any unnecessary consequences," Empress Dowager Chu said, glancing out the window at Feng Tiange walking alongside Bai Yushuang. Her granddaughter was destined for greatness.
Outside the Hall of Happiness, Bai Yushuang was so pleased with her victory that she demonstrated her sword skills to Feng Tiange. As she finished, Feng Tiange couldn't help but admire her. Bai Yushuang had qualities that made her an unparalleled general; in all seven kingdoms, she had never seen a general with better sword skills.
"I still don't understand why Dugu Yan said I lost because I chose the wrong weapon. I wonder if she even recognizes this sword. It's ranked tenth, while her Wind Slash Sword is only sixth!" Bai Yushuang remarked wistfully, holding her Hongming Sword as she walked over to Feng Tiange.
Feng Tiange raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. "I think the former Crown Prince Consort might have meant that you were showing off in front of her..."
A teasing remark from back then had stuck with Bai Yushuang all this time, and Feng Tiange was amazed.
Bai Yushuang paused, gripping the hilt of the Hongming Blade, and spoke earnestly, "You don't understand her. She would never mean it that way."
Feng Tiange offered an apologetic smile, though inwardly she thought that beneath Bai Yushuang's serious exterior, she was probably a mess inside.
"Of course, I don't know the former Crown Prince Consort as well as you do... But you must know how she felt about the Wind Slash Sword." Feng Tiange finally steered the conversation to the main point.
"People and swords are inseparable," Bai Yushuang's expression shifted.
After a moment of silence, Feng Tiange said, "I think the Crown Prince's intention to melt down the Wind Slash Sword might not be a bad idea..."
Bai Yushuang turned to look at Feng Tiange.
"Did Rong Qi send you? Is he afraid I'll try to seize the Wind Slash Sword and end up dead at the hands of the corrupt concubine's remnants?" Bai Yushuang hit the nail on the head.
This time, it was Feng Tiange's turn to be taken aback. "Since you know how dangerous this is, why insist on coming?"
"I just want to see if Dugu Yan is truly gone," Bai Yushuang wouldn't reveal her true purpose to anyone. She wanted to pay her respects to Dugu Yan.
Feng Tiange cleared her throat, "General, since you understand the stakes, you won't be reckless, right?"
"Hah, why would I want the Wind Slash Sword?" Bai Yushuang scoffed, turning away with a slight chill in her eyes. "You're not one of Beiming Yuan's people."
"He's just a prince," Feng Tiange smiled faintly.
Bai Yushuang sensed the innate defiance and courage in Feng Tiange. "With your spirit, given time, you'll achieve what I have."
"You're too kind, General." This was what Feng Tiange disliked most about Bai Yushuang—her stubbornness. Couldn't she just admit someone might surpass her? How much did she want to be unbeatable?
Feng Tiange remembered how Bai Yushuang would always shout, "I'm tired of playing!" before retreating whenever she lost. Feng Tiange wanted to ask her, on the battlefield, it's win or die—do you really have the luxury to get tired of playing?
If it weren't for her own principle of not pursuing a desperate enemy, letting Bai Yushuang go seven times, would she still be here swinging her sword?
As Feng Tiange left the Happiness Prolonging Hall, Bai Yushuang kindly advised her to keep her distance from Rong Qi, warning that he'd eventually drag her down.
This made Feng Tiange finally understand something Rong Qi had told her before. If his third royal sister did something good, Bai Yushuang might not give him credit, but if she did something bad, Bai Yushuang would definitely hold it against him forever.
Until Feng Tiange left, Bai Yushuang called Dao Wu over from where he stood at a distance. "How's the task I gave you coming along?"
"Everything's ready," Dao Wu reported honestly.
Dugu Yan only had the Hongming Blade left in this world, and she was determined to protect it at all costs.
After the conflict at the Nether Market with Qin Luoyi, Xie Ruxuan didn't go home. Instead, she waited outside the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion for Feng Xueyao for two hours.
As dusk approached, she finally saw Feng Xueyao's carriage arrive. Qin Luoyi's words kept echoing in her mind, and she didn't want to believe them. She hoped Feng Xueyao would give her an explanation.
And Feng Xueyao did explain.
"Really? I didn't even notice!" Feng Xueyao looked at Xie Ruxuan in surprise. "I thought you were feeling down these past few days and wouldn't come out..."
"I'm fine." Xie Ruxuan always put on a brave face in front of Feng Xueyao. She practiced martial arts, so it was only natural for her to protect her friends.
"Good to hear. I was worried and was planning to come see you tomorrow," Feng Xueyao said, taking Xie Ruxuan's hand. "Your hand is so cold. Let's go inside."
"No... I have something to do, so I won't go in." Xie Ruxuan pulled her hand back, hesitating as she was about to leave. "Are you really planning to come see me tomorrow?"
"It's not just a plan; I will definitely come find you tomorrow," Feng Xueyao replied with a gentle smile. "It's been a while since we went shopping together."
Upon seeing Feng Xueyao's smile, Xie Ruxuan felt a wave of regret. How could she let a few words from Qin Luoyi make her doubt her best friend? It wasn't until Xie Ruxuan left that Feng Xueyao's smile slowly faded. Her father had mentioned that Xie Jin might make a comeback, so keeping Xie Ruxuan as a friend could still be beneficial.
The night was deep, with a full moon hanging high and stars twinkling like magic. On the second floor of the Four-sea Merchant Alliance, Rong Qi was lounging in a wisteria-woven rocking chair, waiting for Lei Yi to return from delivering an important message from another state. Unexpectedly, Wen Ci had already learned something from the Five Coins Iron Shop. Bai Yushuang had just asked Xia Bo to forge a replica of the Wind Slash Sword and had taken it away moments ago. Upon hearing this, Rong Qi slid right off his chair...
