Song Wei emerged just as he encountered Xie Jia Yan. The seemingly ordinary crimson official robe looked remarkably handsome on him.
His back was straight, his waist defined, and his face was fair and clean. Youth was indeed a wonderful thing, but alas, his family had no daughters of a similar age.
"General Song!" Xie Jia Yan cupped his hands in greeting.
Song Wei kindly reminded him, "His Majesty is likely in a foul mood today, Young Master Xie. Be cautious later."
"General Song, you mean..." Xie Jia Yan implied.
"Don't mention it!" Song Wei sighed. "That old scoundrel Wang Ning Qing is too cunning."
He could have borne a few scoldings from His Majesty today, but the Emperor hadn't even spared him a critical glance.
Who would have thought that the esteemed maternal uncle of the Emperor would disguise himself as a disheveled, stooped groom?
"Wang Ning Qing?"
"The patriarch of the Wang clan, the Emperor's maternal uncle. The Wang family hasn't been to the capital in years. This time, it's bound to be trouble. Stay away from the Wang family, stay close to His Majesty, listen more and speak less," Song Wei whispered as a reminder.
Those who could deliberate in the Taiji Hall were all old foxes. Xie Jia Yan was too young and unaware of the past bloody storms. If he carelessly said the wrong thing, being implicated would be unfortunate.
"Thank you for your guidance, General Song." Xie Jia Yan expressed his sincere gratitude.
Song Wei had always taken good care of Xie Jia Yan, who served in the Taiji Hall. That was why he had secretly revealed information about Wang Ning Qing to the Qianniu Guard.
This was to prevent Song Wei from being blamed by His Majesty if other secret guards discovered it.
Among the Sixteen Guards of the Southern Army, Song Wei was the most trusted by His Majesty, but he also felt the chill of being at the top. Many coveted his position.
"It's nothing, nothing," Song Wei said heartily.
"General Song, Prime Minister Mo asked me to repair an ancient painting a few days ago. When I came out, I thought I saw General Feng's carriage."
Song Wei's expression indeed changed. He thanked Xie Jia Yan and hurried away.
The Prime Minister was in charge of the capital's security and had the authority to transfer personnel within the Sixteen Guards of the Southern Army. Feng Qi Rui, to avoid being a mere attendant under him, had actually sought out Prime Minister Mo.
Although he might not succeed, it was certainly a disgusting move.
This Feng Qi Rui, he would wait and see.
Xie Jia Yan watched Song Wei depart in haste, a slight smile playing on his lips before he walked towards the Taiji Hall.
His Majesty's punishment of Feng Qi Rui was to keep him in the capital. However, after reclaiming the military power of Youzhou, His Majesty could not truly abandon Feng Qi Rui.
It was not impossible that Feng Qi Rui's connection with Prime Minister Mo had the Emperor's tacit approval. However, Xie Jia Yan would not give him a chance to rise again.
General Song was clearly the most suitable person for this task. This was the sense of crisis that a military general should possess.
When Xie Jia Yan entered, His Majesty was fiddling with a chessboard. Without looking up, he said, "Come and play chess with me."
Xie Jia Yan responded with a "Yes" and His Majesty pointed to the seat opposite him, signaling him to sit down.
The chessboard displayed a remnant game. His Majesty held the white pieces, so Xie Jia Yan picked up the black pieces and made a move.
His Majesty, holding a white piece, looked at Xie Jia Yan with a questioning expression, "What kind of move is this?"
The situation had been tense and evenly matched, but the black piece placed here seemed to be seeking defeat.
"One cannot break without establishing, and stepping back does not necessarily mean losing," Xie Jia Yan's gaze fell on the chessboard, and he held a piece in his hand, having already decided where to place it.
His Majesty looked at Xie Jia Yan. This young man always gave him a strange feeling, a sense of natural closeness, yet he felt he could not see through him.
Just like now, he was clearly talking about the chess game, yet his words seemed to hold a deeper meaning.
Undeniably, after his black piece was placed here, the stagnant chess game came alive again.
Almost the moment the white piece was placed, the black piece followed, so quickly that there was no time to think.
The pace of the game quickened. The black pieces, which had been in a losing position, suddenly became aggressive, pressing forward step by step.
Finally, His Majesty put down his piece. "I lose."
"Your subject was merely fortunate."
After the game, His Majesty's mood seemed to have improved considerably. He smiled and said, "My skills are inferior to yours. Losing is losing. It seems you were holding back before."