RPAGF Chapter 300 Playing Chess
Chapter 300 Playing Chess
Chapter 300 Playing Chess
A faint murmur of mockery echoed through the area, causing many to scoff at Ye Ru. In their eyes, Ye Ru was clearly unqualified to be compared to Xiu Hanlin.
Although Xiu Hanlin did not stay in the Forbidden City for long, his chess skills and scholarship were second to none.
After all, those who can become chief examiners are all well-read and knowledgeable.
"It seems I've made a mistake. I originally wanted you to use this chess game to enhance your literary reputation, but now it seems I've backfired."
Hearing the whispers around him, Zhao Mingcheng was momentarily taken aback, then looked at Ye Ru with an apologetic gaze and slowly said.
"It's alright. If I were to win, wouldn't the impact be even greater? Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise. I appreciate Lord Zhao's intentions. Now, I'll just wait for Xiu Hanlin to keep his appointment."
Ye Ru shook his head and followed Zhao Mingcheng into the Mingtai Tower. At that moment, two figures also appeared there.
"This must be Ye Ru, the young scholar. I am Yang Li. I heard that Ye Ru wants to compete in chess with Xiu Hanlin. I think it would be better to back down now, since the gap between a young scholar and a scholar is probably not small."
Yang Li bowed to Ye Ru, then said in a deep voice.
"Yang Li..."
"This person seems to be a student of Xiu Hanlin. He has a rather arrogant personality, but his scholarship is also quite good. At least he can be said to be the most qualified person to be in the top three in the imperial examinations in the Forbidden City."
After Ye Ru was stunned for a moment, Zhao Mingcheng said to Ye Ru in a low voice.
This made Ye Ru suddenly realize why the other party spoke so arrogantly; it turned out they had something to rely on.
Xiu Hanlin's personality determined that he was arrogant and aloof, and those who could become his students must be quite learned.
Yang Li seemed to have heard Zhao Mingcheng's words, puffed out his chest slightly, and then said with a smile, "Greetings, City Lord Zhao. I extend my greetings to you on behalf of my master."
"Alright, alright, I am an official appointed by the imperial court, and you are a student of the National Academy of Saints. There is no need for such formalities."
Zhao Mingcheng waved his hand and said.
"Politeness is still necessary."
Yang Li said.
"Although I am not very learned, I would like to exchange chess skills with your teacher. Since ancient times, there has never been a game that cannot be played. Moreover, everyone has their own expertise and there is a sequence to learning. I think that if I exchange chess skills with your teacher, we may both benefit greatly. What do you think, Brother Yang Li?"
Ye Rudao.
"How dare you! My master's chess skills are superb. Do you think you, at such a young age, could possibly achieve that?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Li's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Yang Li, you mustn't be so presumptuous."
At that moment, an aged voice rang out, causing everyone to turn around. They saw Xiu Hanlin, dressed in the robes of a Hanlin scholar, enter from the Mingtai Tower.
"This is Lord Zhao's banquet. Have you forgotten what I taught you? The host has his manners, and the guest has his manners. Not speaking ill of others is the most basic principle of conduct."
Xiu Hanlin came up to Yang Li and reprimanded him.
"I have met Xiu Hanlin."
Ye Ru and Zhao Mingcheng bowed.
"I made everyone laugh."
Xiu Hanlin smiled slightly at the people around him and said.
"Hmph, wait until you lose, then let's see what you have to be so smug about."
After being reprimanded, Yang Li's expression turned noticeably uglier, and he inwardly scoffed.
“Let’s go to the main seat. This will give you a place to have a game of chess.”
Zhao Mingcheng waved his hand and said that although he had seen Ye Ru's chess skills in the Four Mirrors and Three Bright Hall, that was only in an illusion. He was still very interested in observing it in person.
"It's a good opportunity for me to see how big the gap is between you and Xiu Hanlin."
Chen Tianjian, who had been silent to the side, stroked his beard with interest and chuckled.
Afterwards, the group walked towards the main seat of Mingtai Tower. As if it had been arranged beforehand, the main seat had a very large area, and below it was a projection screen chessboard. There was a person standing there, seemingly to enlarge the chess game between the two people onto the projection screen.
"This competition between the two of you will be extremely intense, so I have made preparations in advance."
Zhao Mingcheng said with a smile to Ye Ru and Mr. Xiu.
"Then why don't we start now?"
Xiu Hanlin said to Ye Ru with a smile.
"I couldn't ask for more, please."
Ye Ruyi gestured, and the two ascended the platform and took their seats.
Seeing how young Ye Ru was, the surrounding people burst into laughter again.
"With such a big show of force, who do you think you are? You'll be in for a world of hurt if you lose, hmph."
Yang Li thought maliciously to himself.
Do you think Ye Ru can beat Xiu Hanlin?
Zhao Mingcheng looked at the two people sitting upright on the platform and said to Chen Tianjian with a smile.
Although Ye Ru had previously displayed extraordinary chess skills, who could guarantee that his success wasn't accidental? Moreover, Chen Tianjian had told him that Ye Ru had achieved great success in the arts of qin (a seven- or eighteen-year-old boy), poetry, and calligraphy. This was not the kind of talent that an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy could display. Such talent could probably be called monstrous.
In the game of Go, the higher-ranked player should hold a number of white stones without revealing them to the other player. The lower-ranked player then reveals one black stone, indicating that "if the number is odd, the player plays black; otherwise, white." Revealing two black stones indicates that "if the number is even, the player plays black; otherwise, white. However, since you have fewer stones, I should give you a handicap, so you will play white first."
Xiu Hanlin picked up a handful of chess pieces and said slowly.
"Sir, there's no need for you to yield to me. Let's follow the rules. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished."
Ye Ru said with a smile, without the slightest bit of politeness, which made Xiu Hanlin frown:
"Chief Ye, one must not be arrogant, otherwise no one can save you."
Ye Ru's words made him quite uncomfortable; wasn't the other party being a bit too arrogant?
"This young man is too arrogant. He has the chance to go first but doesn't use it. He has to guess instead. He will lose badly and then lose face. Where will he put his face?"
One of them couldn't help but laugh when he heard Ye Ru's arrogant words.
"He's just a newborn calf; he'll suffer later."
"Following the rules is not as good as me taking the card. Guess, sir?"
Ye Ru also picked up a handful of chess pieces.
"As you wish, I guess even."
Xiu Hanlin said in a deep voice, clearly not very happy with Ye Ru's actions.
Slowly opening his hands, Ye Ru was also stunned; it was actually two hands.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Xiu Hanlin took out a white chess piece and made the first move. Since Ye Ru was so arrogant, he didn't need to hold back. Only by experiencing the bitterness of defeat could he learn a lesson.
"Let's take a step-by-step approach, since this is what Mr. Xiu has always wanted to see."
Ye Ru smiled, then with a flick of his sleeve, a bright chessboard, imbued with a subtle air of talent, appeared between the two of them.
The chessboard was fixed in mid-air by the power of talent, and the faint burst of talent caused an uproar among the crowd.