Imperial Consort Yi welcomed the Emperor to his seat and softly said: "Today is a happy day, so I called them to come and watch the play."
Gu Yan got up and stood quietly with everyone with his head down. He raised his eyebrows and saw that there was another person behind the Emperor. That person had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. He was wearing a black robe and had a masculine aura. He had a high-spirited appearance. Just as he was wondering who this person was, he stepped forward and greeted Imperial Consort Yi: "Erchen greets Imperial Consort Yi."
Imperial Consort Yi seemed to have just noticed him and said in surprise: "Zhuo'er also came. This consort is really happy."
Zhuo'er, Huan Zhuo.
Gu Yan understood in his heart. The Emperor gave a seat, so everyone sat down. Because of the Emperor's arrival, the relaxed atmosphere was swept away. Everyone was cautious and even spoke cautiously.
The Emperor didn't seem to notice. He only focused on talking with Imperial Consort Yi. Huan Xuan and Huan Zhuo also occasionally talked. The rest of the people held their breaths and didn't speak. Imperial Consort Yi said something that made the Emperor laugh. When he raised his head and saw Gu Yan, he said to her: "This is General Yi's wife, right?"
Gu Yan quickly got up and replied: "Replying to the Emperor, yes."
"Is everything okay?"
"Many thanks to the Emperor and Imperial Consort for your care. Everything is fine."
The Emperor nodded and didn't ask anymore. After eating, the Emperor was in high spirits and wanted to play chess with Huan Xuan. The Emperor didn't say anything, so everyone couldn't leave without permission. They could only wait.
The two played chess back and forth. After a while, the Emperor laughed and said: "Xuan'er, you lost."
Huan Xuan raised his hand and admitted defeat: "Fuhuang's chess skills are superb. Erchen is no match."
The Emperor beckoned for Huan Zhuo to come over. The two people had only taken two steps when the Emperor suddenly said to Gu Yan, "I heard that the southern people have the most ingenious minds. Why don't you play chess with Zhuo 'er and let us see?"
Gu Yan was just about to decline when Chen Qiong, who was beside him, said, "Your Majesty, let me play. My father taught me how to play chess."
The Emperor nodded with a smile and let her go.
The two of them played chess in front of the chessboard. Imperial Consort Yi's expression changed slightly, but she quickly covered it up.
The Emperor was watching the game with great interest. The Imperial Consort Yi was waiting on the side. Huan Xuan had time to go to Gu Yan and ask, "Do you know how to play Go?"
Gu Yan nodded and said, "A little."
Huan Xuan sat on an empty chair and said, "Then why don't you go and play chess with Second Brother? Second Brother's chess skills are second to none in Shenyang."
Gu Yan said, "My chess skills are not good. I'm afraid the Emperor will laugh at me."
Huan Xuan still wanted to say something, but Xiao Rong came over and said, "Cousin, you drank wine just now. Drink some hangover soup."
Huan Xuan heard this and took the soup, but didn't drink it. He put it aside and said, "Rong 'er, why don't you accompany Mufei?"
Xiao Rong lowered her head and smiled. She said softly, "Niangniang has the Emperor to accompany her."
Gu Yan saw this and quietly got up to give up his seat, leaving the two of them to talk.
By the time the Emperor returned, the sun was already setting in the west. Everyone knelt to send off the Emperor, then bowed to Imperial Consort Yi and left.
Chen Qiong held Gu Yan's hand and slowly walked towards the palace gate. He was still excitedly reminiscing about the game just now, "I've long heard that His Highness the Duan Of Silla's chess skills are unparalleled. Today's game was really good."
Gu Yan smiled and asked him, "You also like to play chess?"
Chen Qiong nodded, "I've loved to play chess since I was a child. Father even asked the Emperor to let a chess scholar from the palace come to our home to teach me chess."
Gu Yan heard this and said, "I've also heard that the Duan Of Silla's chess skills are superb. He's a match for you. In the future, if you can find him to play chess often, you'll definitely become the first female chess scholar in the capital."
Chen Qiong heard this and said somewhat dejectedly, "His Highness the Duan Of Silla is diligent and eager to learn. How could he have the time to play chess often? Although Niangniang is regularly summoned to the palace, His Highness the Duan Of Silla is rarely seen."
When Gu Yan heard this, he laughed and joked, "That's easy. If Meimei marries the Duan Of Silla, you'll be able to see each other every day. You can play chess whenever you want."
When she heard Gu Yan's words, Chen Qiong's face flushed red. She pouted playfully and said, "What are you saying, Older Sister? Marriage is an important matter. It's decided by our parents. How can I make the decision?"
Gu Yan said, "Meimei, what you're saying is wrong. In our Nan Hua, if a woman likes a man, she can ask her parents to come forward and mediate. Isn't it a wonderful thing if both sides are willing?"
When Chen Qiong heard this, she blushed and didn't say anything. Gu Yan smiled and changed the topic. He didn't mention it again.
The winter days in the North were long. Although Gu Yan was born in the South, she liked the beautiful scenery of thousands of miles of falling snow. The carriage left two ruts in the newly fallen snow. She wore a fur coat and held a heater in her hands as she leaned against the window. She lifted the curtain and looked out the window. She said, "A Nuo, I used to think that snow was the same as fluffy April in Jiangdu. Now I know that snow is so beautiful."
"Your Highness, don't look at it anymore. Be careful not to catch a cold." A Nuo frowned worriedly.
Gu Yan smiled and obediently lowered the curtain, "Can't you hope that I'm well?"
"Your Highness is afraid of the cold, and you look at the snow all day long. How can I not worry?" A Nuo retorted angrily. Gu Yan looked at her helplessly and changed the topic, "Ask if it's still far away."
A Nuo obediently stuck her head out to ask the coachman. She told Gu Yan, "It's not far away. It's just around the corner. I really don't understand. It's just a stick of incense. Second Young Master can just send it over from Jiangdu. Why does Your Highness have to make it yourself? "
Gu Yan looked at the small carved mahogany box beside her and said, "You don't understand. It's very useful."
Sure enough, the carriage stopped steadily in front of the Chen Estate's gate. She had sent someone to deliver the visiting card earlier, so there was already someone waiting at the gate.
She got out of the carriage and was led into the Chen Estate by the doorman. She turned into a winding corridor and entered an exquisite courtyard house.
。 The maidservant at the gate saw her and came forward to salute from afar, "Greetings to the General's Madame. My Miss has been waiting for you for a long time."
Gu Yan smiled and excused her, then entered the room.
Chen Qiong already knew that Gu Yan had arrived. He welcomed her as soon as he entered the door, "Sister, you're here. It must be very cold outside."
Gu Yan untied the rope on his Overcoat and said, "It's alright. I can still stand this cold. Sister, how have you been recently?"
Ever since they met in the palace, Imperial Consort Yi would summon them to the palace every two to three days for a gathering. If they weren't admiring flowers, they were admiring paintings. Huan Xuan would also appear at this time. Occasionally, the Emperor would bring Huan Zhuo over, so they were already familiar with each other in private.
The two sat at the table. Gu Yan had A Nuo present the small box and said, "This is the incense I promised sister. It was just made yesterday. Take a look."
Chen Qiong happily took it and opened it. A burst of fragrance assailed her nostrils. It was light but not greasy. It reminded her of bamboo after the rain. She happily took a sniff, "Sister is really amazing. I've troubled sister."
Gu Yan shook his head and said, "Sister is too polite." Then he smiled slyly, "I heard that His Highness the Duan Of Silla loves to admire bamboo in the rain."
Chen Qiong heard this and her face flushed red. She pouted playfully and said, "Sister, what are you saying?"
Gu Yan laughed, "Sister, the New Year's Eve banquet is in a few days. The Emperor may appoint a marriage for His Highness Cheng Wang."
Chen Qiong looked at her and said, "I also heard from my father that Imperial Consort Niangniang has already asked the Emperor for a decree several times."
"Then do you know who Imperial Consort Niangniang is asking for?"
Chen Qiong shook his head, "I don't know."
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