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

The golden sun revealed its full form on the horizon.

The thin mist on the street was completely cleared away by the golden light.

The shadows of a group of people stretched longer and longer in the light.

Not long after.

The long shadows then leaped into the Tianjin Tower like fish.

The waiter, who was originally humble and respectful on the outside but proud on the inside, did not dare to utter a word. He wiped his forehead with a soaked towel, bowed and scraped to make way, and hurriedly went to the front to lead the way and arrange tables and chairs for everyone.

A square table in a secluded spot on the first floor.

Ning Nan sat facing south at the square table, while Feng Yu sat facing north. The two were waiting for the restaurant to deliver a chessboard with nineteen lines and chess pieces.

At the square table, besides the two of them, the woman dressed as a man, Miss Gongsun, sat on the east side. Her expression was somewhat solemn, and her phoenix eyes were long, delicate, and full of charm.

Two chairs were originally placed on the west side of the square table. Everyone invited Wu Tanhua and Qin Gongzi, the grandson of the Grand Secretary, to sit down.

Wu Tanhua seemed ashamed to sit opposite Gongsun Heng, and said he would not sit down. Instead, he stood behind Feng Yu and said, "I have long admired the name of Feng Yu, the master of Bailu Academy." Feng Yu returned the greeting with a wry smile, knowing that this Tanhua was waiting for him to humiliate Jia Wudi.

Since the third-ranked scholar did not sit down, Qin Yun also smiled and did not sit down. He also exchanged pleasantries with Feng Yu, saying things like "I have long admired you." Feng Yu, being adept at interpersonal relationships, returned the greetings one by one.

If neither of them sat down, the others dared not sit down either.

Li Yanting, however, said frankly and without ceremony, "If senior brother doesn't sit down, then I, with my limited mobility, will not stand on ceremony."

The crowd's faces fell, but they couldn't show their anger, so they forced a smile and said, "Junior brother, please sit down."

When Qing Zude saw how insensitive his junior brother was, his chubby face twitched, and he chuckled, unable to resist making a sarcastic remark: "Senior sister is quite beautiful, so it's alright for her to sit down; junior brother's looks are not far behind."

Lian Zixing opened his folding fan and said, "He said you're shameless, shameless." Everyone burst into laughter.

Feng Yu gave the two of them a reproachful look, then quickly comforted Li Yanting, saying, "Wen Zhao, please don't be angry. They've always been like this."

Li Yanting glanced at Qing Zude indifferently and pointed to the empty square table: "After the chessboard and pieces are delivered, I need to make the moves for my senior brother and brother Ning to restore the Laurel Chess Game. I wonder if senior brother Qing remembers the layout of the Laurel Chess Game."

Everyone was taken aback.

After Li Yanting said this, everyone remembered that Feng Yu and Ning Nan were to try to break the Laurel Chess Formation, one playing white and the other black. To break the chess formation, one must first remember the chess formation.

This Li Yanting... can actually remember the entire chess game?

Qing Zude's face stiffened.

Lian Zixing pointed his folding fan at Qing Zude and said, "No virtue, no virtue!"

"Hahahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter.

Qing Zude's chubby face twitched, and he clenched his little chubby hand into a fist, angrily punching Lian Zixing, saying, "I don't remember! It's not that I'm being immoral!" Lian Zixing, however, didn't care and said, "My ancestors remember, my ancestors remember..." Everyone knew that this strange man was bringing up Qing Zude's name again, and they couldn't help but burst into laughter again.

Ning Nan and Li Yanting couldn't help but laugh, but Qing Zude's face turned red, and he simply ignored Lian Zixing and shut his mouth.

A series of hurried footsteps sounded.

The manager of Tianjinlou, while saying "Excuse me, excuse me" and bowing with a smile, waited for the crowd to make way for him so that the chessboard and chess pieces could be brought in.

Ning Nan glanced at the chessboard, a rare old rosewood chessboard, showing considerable care. The shopkeeper smiled wryly and bowed, saying, "Young Master Ning, Young Master Ning, our Lou Erfu was blind to your greatness just now..."

"He's here to apologize..." Ning Nan chuckled and said, "It's alright, it's nothing."

The shopkeeper quickly said, "Young Master Ning, you are so magnanimous! You are so magnanimous!" He hadn't expected that such a talented person... they were completely oblivious to his abilities, as if they had never imagined that someone so talented and without a formal academic background would participate in the imperial examinations...

Across from him, Feng Yu smiled and picked up a perfectly round and translucent white chess piece, saying, "This chess piece is a Baoshan Yongzi chess piece, a rare treasure, a real gem, it's just a pity..."

Feng Yu drew out his words, and the shopkeeper was immediately terrified.

Feng Yu smiled and said, "It's just that it's lost some of its age. I imagine it's a piece that's been polished for no more than three years. It's naturally extremely precious. Manager You, you've put in a lot of effort." Feng Yu clasped his hands and smiled.

The shopkeeper was taken aback, his eyes widening as he exclaimed, "Your eyes are truly discerning! Indeed, this box of chess pieces was purchased by the owner himself three years ago in Yunnan, to entertain our distinguished guests who have refined tastes... Hehe, these chess pieces have truly found a kindred spirit today."

Upon hearing this, Wu Shangmei, Qin Yun, and the others couldn't help but slightly narrow their eyes. This Feng Yu... no wonder the people of Bailu Academy admired him so much; his knowledge was so profound! He could even tell the age of this Yongzi Jade directly!

The students of Bailu Academy naturally praised their senior brother for his extensive knowledge and were all proud of him.

The manager of Tianjinlou was all smiles, flattering the man while secretly being astonished. His opinion of the students from Bailu Academy rose even higher. This distinguished guest's ability to recognize the chess piece's age was astonishing, but what puzzled him even more was that he hadn't introduced himself and had no recollection of this talented young man, yet the man knew his surname was "You." This was truly strange, and he wondered when the waiter had asked him.

Ning Nan was also somewhat surprised. He glanced at the jet-black chess piece in his hand and said in amazement, "Brother Feng is truly knowledgeable."

Feng Yu smiled at Ning Nan and said, "To be honest, Brother Ning, I actually have a set of Yongzi chess pieces from the Former Liang Dynasty. It's at least three hundred years old and has witnessed countless matches between great masters over the centuries... If Brother Ning has the time, I would like to invite you to my residence for a chat." Feng Yu smiled and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, speaking with an elegant demeanor.

Ning Nan smiled and said, "Of course, of course. I will definitely come to bother Brother Feng when I have time."

As the two were talking.

Clap clap clap!

The bookworm moved with lightning speed, restoring the Laurel Chess Game at an astonishing pace. The students from White Deer Academy couldn't help but swallow hard, saying, "Junior Brother is truly knowledgeable and has a remarkable memory."

Gongsun Heng also glanced at it and nodded secretly. She had reviewed the Moon Laurel Chess Game countless times in order to try to find a way to break it. Now, seeing this, she realized that the opponent, Mr. Zhang Jian's student, was truly amazing. He had restored the game without missing a single piece. What surprised her even more was that the opponent did not hesitate at all. He grabbed a handful of chess pieces and quickly placed them one by one. It was unbelievably fast. She knew that she could not do such a speed.

The game was already decided.

Feng Yu, holding a white cup, smiled and said, "Brother Ning, please!"

Ning Nan smiled and nodded, picked up a chess piece, and placed it on the "fourth and fifth" position.

The move was actually quite ordinary, and everyone had their own solution. But what was unexpected was that... Feng Yu paused inexplicably upon seeing the opponent's move, frowned in thought, and made no move.

Seeing this, Gongsun Heng couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed. She really thought there was hope of solving the Laurel Chess Game today.

After a moment, seeing that Senior Brother Feng was still hesitant.

Gongsun Heng pursed her lips and tentatively said, "Senior brother, why don't I play a game for you first? You can just watch for now?" She wanted to play a game with Ning Baixuan quickly, and after defeating him, she would ask Feng Yu for advice so that she could further study the Laurel Chess Formation and try to break her grandfather's Laurel Chess Formation with the white pieces as soon as possible.

Feng Yu was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Alright, junior sister, please." He pushed the chess box to Gongsun Heng.

Gongsun Heng picked up a chess piece as white as egg white, which was icy cold to the touch. With a "snap," she placed it on the "top six three" position. "Good!" Everyone's eyes lit up, and they immediately cheered.

The white pieces are one step closer to the final victory.

Qing Zude sneered, "After three moves, it will be time for White to finish off." The Laurel Chess Game... is it really that easy to break? Everyone agreed.

Gongsun Heng smiled slightly, clearly quite pleased with her move.

Li Yanting, sitting opposite him, saw his senior sister, who was actually younger than him, make the exact same move he had made. He knew that her skill level was only about the same as his. His eyes became worried. He raised his eyes and glanced at his senior sister. After a moment, he couldn't help but sigh softly.