Chapter 147 Another Secret

Before the eldest prince walked out, he couldn't help but take a look at the prize placed in front of his mother.

It was a set of exquisitely crafted Go.

A chessboard and two boxes of chess pieces.

The chessboard was made of a huge piece of white jade, with black lines crisscrossing on it.

The two boxes of chess pieces were also extremely extraordinary. Although they were made of the same jade, they felt warm and were extremely suitable for playing.

This Go set was indeed not an ordinary item.

But it would be the best in the palace.

Not to mention, there was a great possibility that there was another set exactly the same.

Many things, without scarcity, would be greatly discounted in value.

This is true for Go, and so is the position of crown prince...

The eldest prince went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with an empty stomach, but he did not find Zhao Feng.

The eldest prince was not surprised by such a result.

He was happy with it, and he casually summoned a close attendant to come over and sent him back to Qingshu Palace to deliver the message.

"Report to my mother, and tell her that I am waiting for the chief steward Zhao here. Please go back after he arrives."

"Let my mother have her meal first, and don't wait for me."

After sending a little eunuch back, the eldest prince asked the people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs to simply arrange a lunch for him.

He ate here while waiting.

To be honest, he did understand his mother's mood.

After all, compared with the rewards in the first competition, today's rewards were too shabby.

He was a little disappointed, not to mention his mother who was full of expectations.

In this regard, the eldest prince sighed and sighed.

After the eldest prince had lunch in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he began to wait.

If it were someone else, he would have felt bored long ago, but the eldest prince was interested in studying his palm lines, which was much more comfortable than when he was in Qingshu Palace.

After a while, there was a noise outside the door, and the eldest prince looked over.

He thought it was Zhao Feng who came back, but it turned out to be the chief steward Shang.

But when he saw Shang, the eldest prince stood up and saluted, "Old steward, how are you?"

"Your Highness, why are you here?"

Shang, who had just returned, was very surprised and asked while returning the salute.

"Nothing, I just want to ask Zhao about something."

Shang nodded calmly, and then told the eldest prince, "Zhao is in Ganlu Palace, and no one can tell when he can come back."

"Why don't you go back first, and I'll give you a message when someone comes back."

The eldest prince smiled, but said, "Don't bother the old steward. I have nothing to do today, so I'll just bother you for a while in the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Shang, seeing that he couldn't persuade the eldest prince, stopped forcing him.

"Okay, okay, then I'll sit with you for a while."

The eldest prince didn't refuse this time.

Shang first poured a cup of tea for the eldest prince, and then poured himself a cup.

The two drank tea in silence for a while. Even though they didn't talk, there was no awkward atmosphere.

But in the end, the eldest prince, who had questions in his mind, spoke first.

"Old steward, have you heard about the Gobang competition in the Imperial Garden today?"

Shang steward couldn't help but smile, as if he imagined that the eldest prince, who was so old, had to play Gobang seriously with his younger brothers and sisters.

The eldest prince was not stupid, and he soon understood what Shang steward was laughing at, but he could do nothing about it.

"It seems that the old steward has heard about it."

"Of course." Shang steward smiled and responded, and then said: "Now the monthly Imperial Garden gathering is a topic of great discussion in the palace."

"Today, your highness won the first place, and I haven't had time to congratulate you yet."

Shang steward said and arched his hands to congratulate.

"It's just a tie for first place, but Ankang won another game."

"Victory and defeat are common in the military, and your highness doesn't have to take it too seriously." Shang steward comforted.

"Hehe."

The eldest prince smiled and shook his head, then asked: "Then I think the old steward is also very clear about the purpose of my visit to Steward Zhao?"

Shang Steward smiled and said nothing.

The eldest prince did not say anything, just stared at Shang Steward, waiting for his reaction.

After a long time, Shang Steward drank the tea in the cup, and then slowly said: "Your Highness, no matter what you want to ask Zhao Steward."

"But for such an important matter as today, we, as servants, are just following orders."

"If your Highness doesn't know, how can we, as servants, know?"

Shang Steward finished speaking, looking at the eldest prince's eyes sincerely.

After looking at each other for only a second, the eldest prince moved his eyes away.

Shang Steward had made it very clear, and there was no need for him to stay here any longer.

"It's getting late, so I won't bother the old steward anymore."

After saying that, the eldest prince left without looking back, and his attendants hurried to follow.

After leaving the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the eldest prince did not go in the direction of Qingshu Palace, but went in the opposite direction, and no one knew where he was going.

…

At the same time.

The three little ones in Jingyang Palace had just finished their meal.

After dinner, there must be some after-meal activities.

In addition, Li Xuan and Yu'er had watched for a long time in the morning, and they had long been tempted by the chess bug. They couldn't wait to take out the prizes they got today and planned to play a few games.

Princess Ankang had played enough during the competition today, and directly served as a referee for them.

It's true that high-end goods feel different when played.

This Go board not only looks gorgeous, but also has an excellent experience in use. It is much better than their original Go board that was patinated by rubbing.

And I don't know what kind of jade this chess piece is made of, it feels very warm.

Princess Ankang likes to grab a handful in her hand, and even stick it on her face.

Li Xuan and Yu'er watched others play chess for a whole morning, and they were itching to play.

Today is a good time to play Gobang in the yard.

Li Xuan and Yu'er played several games, winning and losing.

After not playing for a few days, Li Xuan felt that Yu'er's chess skills seemed to have improved a bit.

Before, he could easily abuse her, but now he would be overturned if he was not careful.

"It seems that this little girl has been practicing hard in secret!"

Playing chess is a kind of fun, and watching chess is another kind of fun.

In the morning, Princess Ankang played several games, and even played several games very difficult.

But at this time, watching Li Xuan and Yu'er fighting hard, it was very interesting.

Especially the level of this man and cat, it was the most interesting time.

Princess Ankang sometimes had to cover her mouth while watching, for fear that she would laugh and affect the two players.

Just when they were having fun, there was a knock on the door, followed by the eunuch in flowery clothes.

"His Highness the Grand Prince wants to see you."

The three children stopped laughing and looked at each other in surprise.

"Why is the Grand Prince here?"

They all had the same question at the same time.

Li Xuan thought further: "Is he not satisfied with the draw?"

But no matter what, it's not good to leave the Grand Prince alone when he comes to visit.

Yu'er walked to the door and brought him in.

All his attendants were left outside.

The cold palace is not a place you can come to whenever you want.

Even if the flowery eunuch at the door gave the Grand Prince a favor, they had to report this matter anyway.

Before, when there was no one guarding the door, it was up to you to do whatever you wanted, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs had no control over it.

But now that there are two flowery eunuchs guarding the door, the nature is completely different.

The Grand Prince didn't think there was anything wrong.

Today, he suddenly got interested and planned to come to Jingyang Palace to take a look.

After he was brought in by Yu'er, he saw the chessboard on the table at once.

Judging from the appearance, they had already started the game with the prizes they were given.

And he hadn't touched his chessboard yet.

After seeing the thing covered under the red cloth, Concubine Zhang checked it inside and out many times, but didn't find anything special, so she started to get angry.

The eldest prince naturally had no chance to touch the prize that belonged to him.

He didn't know what it felt like.

Just as the eldest prince was staring at the chessboard on the table in a trance, Princess Ankang's voice sounded first:

"Ankang greets my brother."

The eldest prince woke up from his dream, and a standard smile appeared on his face. He replied: "My brother suddenly came to visit and disturbed my interest. I hope you don't blame me."

"It's nothing, we are just playing Gobang." Princess Ankang explained with a smile: "My brother, sit down and chat."

The eldest prince was invited by Yu'er to sit on the stone chair next to Princess Ankang.

The stone chair was warmed by the sun and was very comfortable.

The eldest prince was first attracted by the Go set.

But it looked exactly the same as his own, with no difference.

He then noticed the chess pieces on the chessboard and couldn't help but laugh.

The eldest prince thought: "Thirteenth sister is interesting. She actually lowered her level and played with her maid."

There were only Princess Ankang and Yu'er in the whole yard. The eldest prince naturally thought that Princess Ankang and Yu'er were playing chess before.

He never thought that the other chess player was actually the little black cat in Princess Ankang's arms.

"Royal brother, is there anything you want to do today?"

After the eldest prince sat down, Princess Ankang asked cautiously.

As the saying goes, no one comes to the temple for no reason.

What's more, this is their Jingyang Palace, which is a cold palace.

Speaking of which, the eldest prince should be the first person among Princess Ankang's brothers and sisters to come here.

"Royal brother happened to pass by here, and came in to congratulate and see Thirteenth sister's residence."

"Speaking of which, my brother is also incompetent. He has never been here in all these years."

The eldest prince said this and glanced at Jingyang Palace.

But even he couldn't utter any compliments.

Compared with Qingshu Palace, Jingyang Palace is simply a refugee camp.

Many buildings are in a dilapidated gray.

Although it looks neat and clean, it gives people such a feeling.

And apart from being clean, there are really no other advantages.

Compared with other palaces in the palace, this place is as simple as an ordinary house.

Even the courtyard where the servants of Qingshu Palace live is probably more refined than here.

Therefore, the compliments that the eldest prince has always used may become sarcastic.

Therefore, he held it in for a long time and only uttered four words intermittently.

"Neat and clean."

Princess Ankang saw the eldest prince's embarrassment, and she pursed her lips slightly, holding back her smile, and said seriously: "My brother is thoughtful."

In fact, the eldest prince himself was embarrassed to hear these words.

He had never visited before, and today he came because he won the first place. The purpose was too obvious.

And seeing Princess Ankang trying hard to hold back her laughter, the eldest prince couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook his head.

"Ankang, I won't hide it from you."

"I came to see if your prize is the same as mine."

After telling the truth, the eldest prince felt a lot more relaxed.

Princess Ankang couldn't hold it back any longer, and smiled.

Then she pushed the chessboard and chess pot and said to the eldest prince: "Then my brother just watch."

The eldest prince was stunned. He didn't expect Princess Ankang to be so easy to talk to.

After all, he came to check Princess Ankang's gifts, but didn't bring his own.

In the eyes of the eldest prince, this was extremely unfair, and even a kind of oppression.

But Princess Ankang smiled and pushed her prize to him.

At this moment, the eldest prince sincerely doubted what he had learned over the years.

"Well, you're welcome, brother."

The eldest prince saw Princess Ankang nod to him, slowly reached out and touched the chessboard, and then carefully played with the chess pieces in the chess pot.

After a while, seeing that he was still playing carefully, Princess Ankang couldn't help asking: "How is it, brother."

"But what's the difference?"

The eldest prince's movements suddenly paused, his eyes dimmed a little, and he was silent for a moment before answering:

"I don't know."

The eldest prince had never touched his prize at all, so there was no way to compare.

Princess Ankang suddenly felt a pang in her heart for no reason.

Although she didn't know what was wrong with the eldest prince, she felt inexplicably sad when she heard the words "I don't know".

Not only Princess Ankang, Li Xuan and Yu'er also felt the same way.

For the first time, they felt such a violent emotional fluctuation in the eldest prince who was expressionless like a piece of wood on weekdays.

The eldest prince let go of the chess pieces in his hand and let them fall into his own chess pot.

He turned his head and looked around Jingyang Palace again, but found that the gray layer he saw at the beginning had disappeared unconsciously.

Instead, there was a warm orange soft light, just like these simple buildings were covered with sunshine.

And the most shining thing in the entire Jingyang Palace was the two people and the cat in front of him.

"What is this?"

The eldest prince didn't understand.

Why is there a light in the dilapidated Jingyang Palace that has never shone even in the gorgeous Qingshu Palace.

"Royal brother, royal brother..."

"What's wrong with you?"

When the eldest prince came to his senses, Princess Ankang was shaking her white and tender little hands in front of him.

The eldest prince stood up from the stone chair in panic and kept retreating, as if he was avoiding something terrible.

"Brother, are you okay?"

Princess Ankang asked with concern.

Yu'er hurried forward two steps. She saw that the eldest prince seemed a little dazed. She was afraid that he would do something to hurt Princess Ankang, so she approached the eldest prince in advance to prepare.

Li Xuan also looked at the eldest prince strangely, wondering what happened to him.

The eldest prince realized that he had lost his composure, smiled quickly, and prepared to leave.

"I'm fine, Thirteenth Sister, I have something else to do, so I'll leave first."

The eldest prince bowed and was about to leave.

But at this time, Princess Ankang pointed at him timidly and said:

"But brother..."

"You're crying."

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Today's extra chapter is presented, and it will continue tomorrow.

Record: Extra chapter (9/7)