After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

The other party just showed a sign, saying they wanted to go inside the second courtyard to take a look.

At the time, the person guarding the gate was a second-class steward, who was very experienced and was in charge of the entire courtyard.

I'm very busy tonight.

Especially the Xiaoxiang Pavilion Poetry Gathering and the Three Courtyards, where important people gather, cannot afford the slightest mishap.

Once the patient entered the hospital, as long as there were no major problems, he would not interfere and would entrust the patient to this second-class steward with peace of mind.

The problem is, this second-class steward... doesn't recognize the young master's face!

At this point, they were still politely saying things like, "I'm sorry to offend our honored guest... No, no."

Upon hearing this, the son-in-law spread his hands helplessly and said, "You see, it really won't work."

Fortunately, I had finished dealing with the matter of the tribute wine and was planning to keep an eye on the second courtyard. I happened to pass by here and decided to stop by for a look. It was a lucky and timely arrival.

As one of the head stewards of the mansion, he was secretly taken there by the chief steward to recognize people, but the son-in-law naturally did not recognize him.

Upon glancing at him, she was taken aback and quickly came forward, smiling broadly as she said to her son-in-law:

"Distinguished guest, you have misunderstood! On this Mid-Autumn Festival, how could we refuse to let our honored guest in?"

The other person's eyes widened immediately, and they asked, "Can I go in?"

Zeng Yihe chuckled and said, "It's late now, and the moon is high in the sky. If our honored guest wishes to go in and witness the prodigy of the Northern Dynasty, what's wrong with that?"

The other person was clearly even more surprised at this point, and glanced at the crowd surrounding them, asking, "They can go in too?"

Zeng Yihe's eyes visibly froze for a moment. He didn't know how his son-in-law had entered the mansion, but judging from the token in his son-in-law's hand, he figured that the Imperial Guards must have brought him in... which was most likely His Highness's arrangement.

However, he was unsure of what his son-in-law meant by his tone and actions.

After thinking about it, I realized that the son-in-law probably wanted to save face in front of these people. So, he broke the rules of the Prince's banquet as soon as he opened his mouth, allowing everyone... even these minor officials who didn't know what had happened and whose foreheads looked like they had been hit... to enter, and then receive their praise.

This matter can be big or small.

Logically speaking, if he were to make the suggestion and allow his son-in-law to bring in so many...unseemly...people, he would certainly be severely punished.

But since the other party is the son-in-law, things are definitely different. If I don't let him in and offend him, I'm afraid I'll have a lot of trouble later when the son-in-law moves into the house.

Letting him in would likely result in severe punishment... Well, severe punishment would be even better, since he's taking the beating for the sake of the son-in-law's reputation... Thinking about it this way, things make perfect sense... I couldn't be happier if he were severely punished.

So he smiled and said, "Since you've asked, then of course it's fine."

Upon hearing this, the people around cheered. However, the son-in-law's eyes visibly showed resentment, which puzzled the man.

Ning Nan's eyes also showed helplessness at this moment.

He had originally thought that if the steward of the Prince's mansion said no, then he wouldn't have to come in, and he could also take the opportunity to avoid playing chess.

He only needed to sit there secretly wiping away his tears and muttering about how the Prince's Mansion looked down on him, and others would only pity him and stop bothering him.

He no longer needs to accompany his aunt to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion poetry gathering.

Just stay in the courtyard and wait for that dark-skinned woman surnamed Qin to come over.

But unexpectedly... the steward of the Prince's mansion, who was said to be a seventh-rank official even in front of the Prime Minister's gate... actually let him in!

After the group of minor officials entered, they made a great fuss with their entourage.

This naturally caught the attention of the two players on stage who had just finished ten games of chess.

To his surprise, the person playing chess in the Northern Dynasty was indeed a child, who looked about the same age as Li Xing.

The other was an acquaintance… Shangguan Zhao, the fourth son of the Marquis of Zhenguo. Shangguan Zhao stared at him wide-eyed, then immediately stood up, intending to greet him. He quickly said that his name was Jia Songling.

The other person's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Shangguan Zhao greets Brother Jia."

At this point, these petty officials, their foreheads bruised and their heads thrashing but not quite dead, started making a ruckus, saying things like "Jia Wudi is invincible," "Jia Wudi is unmatched in the world," and "I wonder if the prodigy from the Northern Dynasty would dare to compete with Jia Wudi."

This made the boy in the melon-shaped hat raise his eyebrows, stand up, and ask, "Are you Jia Wudi? Do you want to play chess with me?"

As for Miss Ning, who was eager to lure him to some Xiaoxiang Pavilion to write poems for him and used "Jia Wudi must fight the Northern Prodigy, shrimp soldiers and crab generals, run away" as a pretext, she was holding her own hand, puffing out her cheeks and pretending to be dazed, staring at something else, as if it had nothing to do with her.

But the other party was just a kid, and he didn't know what was so great about betting on him. Winning wouldn't be honorable, so he pulled Sanzhuang aside and whispered a few words to him. Sanzhuang nodded vigorously and then ran out.

After giving instructions to the three strong men.

He was thinking of stalling for time.

But unexpectedly, the Northern Dynasty child on the stage craned his neck and said, "Hey! I don't care if you're truly invincible or just pretending. You want to play chess with me? Fine! But?"

His eyes darted around, and he pointed at Shangguan Zhao, saying, "Hmph! You'll have to get past him first!"

Ning Nan was stunned for a moment, then looked around and found that Shangguan Zhao was also stunned.

The two looked at each other in bewilderment.

The boy from the Northern Dynasty said, "Here's what we'll do: you play ten games with him first. I'll see how good you are before deciding whether to play with you or not. If you can't even beat him, then don't even think about challenging me."

Tong Jiaqi spoke firmly, his little face tense, trying his best not to let anyone see his smug expression... Hmph, just when you're feeling sleepy, someone brings you a pillow! This guy named Shangguan Zhao has a strange playing style. This fake invincible guy has come along. Although he's definitely a pushover, it'll be a good opportunity for him to see Shangguan Zhao's playing style clearly. He'll then go all out and beat Shangguan Zhao ten games in one go.

Upon hearing this Northern Dynasty prodigy's words, Ning Nan was stunned for a moment, then exchanged a wry smile with Shangguan Zhao.

However, after a wry smile, their eyes inexplicably became somewhat at ease.

Ning Nan walked onto the stage and sat in the seat for the Northern Dynasty child.

While waiting for the servant to arrange the dishes, Ning Nan smiled at Shangguan Zhao and said, "Fourth Young Master Zhao, if it really comes down to it, then Jia—"

With a mocking expression, he deliberately drew out his words, "—Let me make this clear: if it were me, the Fourth Young Master Zhao, who were to give me a handicap, I would simply throw down my pieces and leave without a word. How about that?"

Shangguan Zhao's eyes widened in surprise, and his emotions stirred.

He never expected the other party to say such a thing... His mother was just a slave girl from the Northern Dynasty, of lowly status.

From a young age, she lived cautiously in the Marquis's mansion. Knowing that her father loved chess, she tried her best to please and flatter him.

Watching others play chess, studying chess scores, not daring to win for fear of upsetting others, but not daring to lose for fear that his father and some guests would find playing chess with him pointless... all these things continue to this day.

He's the kind of person who's afraid of everything, from wolves in front to tigers behind, always looking down on others.

At this moment, Shangguan Zhao looked at Ning Baixuan, whom he had only met twice. The other party had clear eyes and a sincere tone. Shangguan Zhao's eyes welled up with tears, and a sense of heroism arose in his heart.

His expression became frank, and he smiled, "If I were to face the great talent Ning Baixuan, I would be ashamed of my inferiority; but if I were to face the invincible Jia Songling, I would be willing to give it my all."

Ning Nan's expression turned solemn, and he respectfully cupped his hands, saying, "The invincible Jia Songling requests to learn from the Fourth Young Master's skills!"

Shangguan Zhao also cupped his hands and said, "Shangguan Zhao of the Marquis of Zhenguo's residence, at Mr. Jia's invitation!"

Snapped!

Ning Nan's eyes were serious as he reached out to pick up the fruit!

……

……

The courtyard is divided into three sections.

A young eunuch trotted in silently and went up to Prince Xin at the head of the table. He lowered his head and whispered something, as if reporting something. Prince Xin listened quietly but did not say anything.

At this moment, the servant from the second courtyard also ran in and began to move the chess pieces on the chessboard.

Everyone assumed that the second duel between the Northern Dynasty prodigy and Shangguan Zhao had begun, and shifted their attention to that side.

On the chessboard of the Xiangqi game.

The Northern Dynasty prodigy changed his previous agile chess style, becoming as swift as the wind and as aggressive as fire.

It seems that Shangguan Zhao, under this stimulation, changed his previous mature and cautious playing style to a more open and aggressive one.

When a person makes a move, their defensive strategy is as continuous as green mountains, while their offensive strategy is as devastating as the earth cracking and mountains collapsing.

The small chessboard suddenly became a scene of endless wonder.

After watching half the game, everyone in the room looked at each other with amazement in their eyes.

The King of Qi's eyes were filled with complex emotions. He stroked his thick, long beard, sighed, and raised a cup of Chaodachun wine, saying:

"Your dynasty's prodigy only managed a draw, yet his chess style has been completely transformed, like wildfire igniting a prairie fire. The sheer number of moves he has made is truly astonishing."

Seeing that Tong Jia had finally shown his true abilities, Da Chun was relieved and smiled as he returned the toast, saying, "Your Highness Qi is too kind."