The Great Tang Dynasty: The Celestial Master Descends the Mountain, Starts by Being Deceived into Ma

Chapter 53 Suppressing the Retired Emperor!

The atmosphere inside the main hall of Da'an Palace was somewhat delicate.

Li Yuan sat in the center, his gaze passing over Li Shimin and landing directly on Lu Jinghe.

"Are you the Taoist priest who's going to marry Gao Yang?"

Lu Jinghe stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble Taoist, Lu Jinghe, greets the Emperor Emeritus."

Gao Yang had already scooped up the little girl and snuggled up to her, saying sweetly, "Grandpa Emperor~ Zhao Ning missed you so much!"

Little Sizi stretched out his little hand: "Great-Grandpa! Great-Grandpa! Persimmon's here too!"

Li Yuan's expression softened instantly, his eyes narrowing into slits as he smiled: "Oh dear, my Zhao Ning has arrived, and my little Si Zi has arrived too!"

The three of them chatted for a while before Li Yuan raised his head and his gaze fell on Lu Jinghe again.

The smile faded, replaced by scrutiny.

"Zhao Ning, take Si Zi to the back palace to play first. I want to have a word with you, my consort."

Gao Yang was taken aback and subconsciously looked at Lu Jinghe, wondering if something had happened. With Father Emperor here, there shouldn't be any problems.

Lu Jinghe nodded slightly, indicating that she could rest assured.

Gao Yang bit her lip, then picked up the little boy and stood up. Before leaving, she whispered, "Grandpa, please don't make things difficult for him—"

'

Li Yuan glared: "Am I that kind of person?"

Gao Yang didn't speak, but his eyes clearly said: You are.

After they left, only Li Yuan, Li Shimin, and Lu Jinghe remained in the hall.

Li Yuan glanced at Li Shimin standing at the door and snorted coldly, "What are you doing here? I didn't call you."

Li Shimin stepped forward a few steps, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Li Yuan waved his hand casually, "Sit down, don't stand."

Li Shimin was taken aback; this attitude was much better than he had expected.

He silently sat down on the chair to the side, no longer speaking, ready to watch the show.

Li Yuan then looked at Lu Jinghe again, sizing him up.

"Young man, I heard you're a Taoist priest?"

"Yes."

"What kind of Taoist priest could make my granddaughter stay out all night, and make Li Erlang bang on the table with those civil officials in the imperial court?"

Lu Jinghe smiled slightly: "Perhaps—it's because I know more?"

Li Yuan was amused by this: "You know a lot? What are you good at?"

Lu Jinghe thought for a moment: "Playing chess, fortune telling, fighting, building things..."

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Play chess?"

He was quite interested in this. The old man was getting on in years, and besides having a bunch of younger brothers and sisters for Li Shimin to raise, he was also interested in playing chess.

"That's right." Lu Jinghe nodded. "The Grand Astrologer Li Chunfeng lost a house to me in a game of chess."

Li Yuan was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "That old rascal Li Chunfeng? He claims to be a national champion!"

"That's what he called himself. He's all talk, but he's actually a complete novice." Lu Jinghe said calmly. Li Chunfeng's tricks on him weren't over yet, and Lu Jinghe would definitely give him a chance to tease him.

"Oh ho..." Li Yuan became interested and leaned forward: "So arrogant?"

Lu Jinghe laughed: "This isn't arrogance, it's the truth."

He shouted outside, "Someone come here! Set up the chessboard!"

Li Shimin sat to the side, watching this scene, his lips twitching slightly.

This kid...was he doing this on purpose?

They could have simply made the old man happy, but instead they chose the harshest approach.

But that's fine, he wants to see how Lu Jinghe will handle this situation.

If we were to do the fortune-telling and chess games as usual... it would probably drive the old man crazy.

The chessboard is set up.

Li Yuan sat down and pointed to the person opposite him: "Come, play a game with me."

Lu Jinghe sat down, glanced at the chessboard, and then looked at Li Yuan.

"Grandpa, are you sure you want to go?"

Li Yuan glared: "What? Scared?"

Lu Jinghe shook his head: "It's not that I'm afraid, it's that I'm afraid you'll be unhappy if you lose."

Li Yuan laughed in exasperation: "I've fought half my life, what kind of wins and losses haven't I seen? It's just a game of chess, how could it make me unhappy?"

'

Lu Jinghe nodded: "That's good."

He raised his hand in a gesture of respect: "Your Majesty the Retired Emperor, please go first."

Li Yuan didn't stand on ceremony, picked up the cannon, and brought it down with a bang.

"A direct shot!"

Lu Jinghe glanced at it and casually jumped onto the horse.

Li Yuan initially maintained a composed demeanor, placing his pieces with ease, displaying an air of strategic brilliance.

But as the rain continued, his brows furrowed.

This kid—why isn't he following the expected path?

He was walking around aimlessly like a beginner, but every step he took hit his vital points.

He wanted to jump off the horse, but found his spot blocked.

He wanted to get out of the car, but found the road blocked.

He thought of the general, but found that the enemy's old commander had already hidden in a place out of his reach.

"You—" Li Yuan held the chess piece, unable to place it for a long time.

Lu Jinghe smiled: "Your Majesty, have you made up your mind?"

Li Yuan glared at him: "What are you rushing me for! Can you rush a game of chess?!"

After thinking for a long time, he finally made a move.

Lu Jinghe followed closely behind, making his move decisively and cleanly.

Li Yuan's face grew increasingly dark.

Half an hour later.

Li Yuan stared at the chessboard, speechless for a long time.

On the chessboard, his general was completely surrounded and unable to move.

Meanwhile, the enemy's pawn was slowly approaching him.

A decisive blow, General.

"Grandpa, you've lost." Lu Jinghe said calmly.

Li Yuan:

'

He looked up at Lu Jinghe, his gaze somewhat complicated.

This kid really knows how to play chess.

And it's not just any ordinary meeting.

It was the kind of meeting that made you want to smash the chessboard, and he actually didn't let himself!

Li Shimin watched from the sidelines, amused, but he forced himself not to laugh out loud.

Li Yuan took a deep breath, threw the chess piece onto the board, and said, "Let's play another game!"

Lu Jinghe nodded: "Okay."

This time, Li Yuan learned his lesson and no longer launched a rash attack. Instead, he proceeded steadily and cautiously, advancing step by step.

Lu Jinghe remained as lazy as ever, casually placing his pieces without any apparent strategy.

But half an hour later.

Li Yuan stared at the chessboard and fell silent again.

We lost again.

And they lost even worse than in the first game.

He clearly thought things through carefully with every move, so why did he still lose?

"Again!"

The third game.

Li Yuan changed his strategy and began to imitate Lu Jinghe's approach.

You're wandering around? I'm wandering around too!

Then he discovered that the other person's "chaos" was orderly, while his "chaos" was genuine chaos.

Half an hour later.

Li Yuan stared at the unfinished game on the chessboard, his face turning ashen.

"Your Majesty, would you like another round?" Lu Jinghe asked earnestly.

Li Yuan:

'

He took a deep breath, then another, and then yet another.

Then he raised his head, stared at Lu Jinghe, and said, word by word, "Boy, are you playing me for a fool?"

Lu Jinghe looked completely innocent: "Why does Your Majesty say such a thing? I was just playing chess normally."

Li Yuan was so angry his mustache stood on end: "Normal chess playing? You call this normal chess playing?"

Lu Jinghe nodded seriously: "Yes, that's how I usually do it."

Li Yuan looked at Li Shimin: "Is this how he usually plays?"

Li Shimin suppressed a laugh and nodded: "Yes, I heard from Li Chunfeng that this is how he won Li Chunfeng's house."

Li Yuan:

'

Is Li Chunfeng out of his mind? How could he dare to bet on a game of chess with someone like that?