Chapter 364: Chapter 222: Utterly Convinced in Defeat_2
"Third Young Master, are you really alright?"
Zheng Qian directly ignored the butler, his eyes fixed intently on Zhao Yao.
"Your Highness, I heard from my elder brother that your chess skills are excellent. Why don’t we play a game now?" He wanted to personally verify if this was indeed his master. His master must be smarter than him; otherwise, he wouldn’t acknowledge him.
The butler hastily said, "Third Young Master, dinner will be served shortly."
"Elder Brother is going to cook himself later, so dinner won’t be that soon," Zheng Qian replied. "Your Highness, let’s play a game before dinner."
"Alright, my purpose in visiting today is to play chess with you," Zhao Yao found Zheng Zhengshi’s younger brother a bit peculiar.
"Please, Your Highness, step into my courtyard."
"Third Young Master..."
"Once Elder Brother and Second Brother are done bathing and changing, tell them His Highness is in my courtyard playing chess with me," Zheng Qian finished speaking and gestured for Zhao Yao to proceed. "Your Highness, please."
"Alright."
Zheng Qian led Zhao Yao to his courtyard.
Zhao Yao found Zheng Qian’s courtyard rather elegantly styled, which seemed a bit incongruent with his arrogant nature.
Zheng Qian led Zhao Yao directly to his study, "Your Highness, please have a seat."
Zhao Yao sat down opposite Zheng Qian.
"Your Highness, please choose your pieces first."
Zhao Yao played white, and Zheng Qian played black.
When Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng finished bathing and arrived at Zheng Qian’s courtyard, they found him already playing chess with Zhao Yao, and scolded him for being impolite.
Zhao Yao waved his hand to indicate he didn’t mind. Besides, his purpose in visiting tonight was to play chess with Zheng Qian.
The two were already engaged in the game, so Zheng Rang couldn’t interrupt them. He instructed Zheng Cheng to serve them and went to the kitchen to prepare dishes that Zhao Yao liked.
Zheng Cheng sat by the side, offering tea and snacks to Zhao Yao.
Although Zheng Cheng wasn’t particularly skilled at chess, he could understand it.
Zhao Yao and Zheng Qian had been playing for a while, both fiercely contesting each move, neither yielding an inch.
Initially, as the game began, Zheng Qian felt a bit disdainful of Zhao Yao. He couldn’t believe that a six-year-old child like Zhao Yao could be smarter than him. After all, he couldn’t accept that his master was a six-year-old kid. However, after a few moves, he didn’t dare maintain any semblance of disdain.
Even with just a few moves, Zheng Qian could tell that Zhao Yao’s chess skills were not simple.
After a few more moves, Zheng Qian found that Zhao Yao’s chess skill matched his own. This made him take the game completely seriously. After playing for a while longer, Zheng Qian’s brows furrowed slightly.
Zhao Yao came to play tonight expecting to lose, but after a while, he realized that Zheng Zhengshi’s talented younger brother wasn’t as formidable as he had imagined.
After a few more moments, Zhao Yao discovered he might actually be better in chess than Zheng Zhengshi’s genius brother.
Strange, wasn’t Zheng Zhengshi’s brother supposed to be a genius? Wasn’t he supposed to be very good at chess, even matching the unparalleled intelligence of Grand Commandant Zheng?
Zheng Qian naturally noticed Zhao Yao’s incredulous and doubtful look. He felt a pang in his heart, thinking that he was being looked down upon by the young Prince opposite him.
Suddenly, Zhao Yao recalled what He Lianfang had said this afternoon. He asked his second uncle to teach him a special trick so he wouldn’t lose too embarrassingly. His second uncle said it wasn’t necessary and assured him that he would surely win. It seems his second uncle was right.
Zheng Cheng noticed that the black pieces had been forced into a disadvantage by the white pieces, feeling quite pleased, and couldn’t help but reveal a smile.
Indeed, eldest brother was right; the tenth Prince could actually win against his younger brother in chess.
Hahaha, this time the little brother has met his match.
Zheng Qian had read some military strategy books, and after playing a while with Zhao Yao, he realized Zhao Yao was using strategies. Initially, he could identify which strategies Zhao Yao was using and could respond. But as the game went on, he couldn’t figure out what strategies Zhao Yao was using anymore.
The chess game was like a battlefield; Zhao Yao had already gotten used to playing chess using strategies with He Lianfang. Moreover, he had just played chess with He Lianfang this afternoon, naturally employing the military strategies he learned. These strategies were self-created by He Lianfang, not found in any military books, so it was normal for Zheng Qian not to recognize them.
Although Zheng Qian was extremely intelligent and had read many military books, his level of mastery in military strategy surely couldn’t match He Lianfang’s.
He Lianfang was a War God, having created many strategies. He had currently taught them only to Zhao Yao. Even though Zhao Yao had only learned the basics, it was enough to surpass many people.
Despite having read many military books, Zheng Qian had never been on a battlefield commanding troops, which remained mere paper talk. Zhao Yao hadn’t been on an actual battlefield either, but he often engaged in simulated battles on the sand table with He Lianfang, which granted him some practical experience.
Additionally, Zhao Yao displayed exceptionally high talent in military strategy, which Zheng Qian could not match.
As the game continued, Zheng Qian felt increasingly overwhelmed. He utterly failed to grasp Zhao Yao’s chess strategies.
This tenth Prince appeared so innocent and cheerful, yet his moves in chess were extremely cunning and insidious, leaving Zheng Qian defenseless.
Each time Zheng Qian thought he had predicted Zhao Yao’s next move, he ended up falling into a trap set by Zhao Yao. Only once he fell into the trap did he realize he had been outwitted.
Too deceitful!
Zheng Qian thought he had foreseen Zhao Yao’s next move, only to find that Zhao Yao had anticipated his anticipation.
In chess, Zheng Qian could plan five moves ahead compared to others like the Prime Minister and his father, yet Zhao Yao could foresee ten moves ahead. From the moment Zhao Yao placed the first piece, he had set a trap. Although some of Zheng Qian’s moves were unexpected to Zhao Yao, Zheng Qian never fully escaped from Zhao Yao’s trap.
Zheng Cheng observed that Zheng Qian had entirely fallen into a disadvantageous position, making it very difficult to turn the tables.
Initially, Zheng Qian made his moves very quickly, but as the game progressed, his pace slowed significantly. In contrast, Zhao Yao kept his moves swift from the beginning.
At this point, Zhao Yao elegantly drank tea while patiently waiting for Zheng Qian to make his move.
Zheng Qian’s brows were tightly knit; his usually aloof expression showed signs of distress.
This move, Zheng Qian had yet to figure out. No matter how he contemplated, he couldn’t reverse his losing momentum.
It was the first time Zheng Cheng had seen his younger brother racking his brains like this. At this moment, Zheng Cheng felt his brother seemed like an ordinary person.
Since Zheng Qian started studying, in any aspect, he had never come across a rival nor felt as helpless and powerless as he did now.
Seeing himself in dire straits yet unable to rescue himself, at this moment, Zheng Qian discovered he wasn’t omnipotent.
For the first time, Zheng Qian deeply understood what "powerlessness" meant.
He did not want to lose, but he was unable to turn the defeat into victory.
Sweat covered Zheng Qian’s forehead and face; he was sweating profusely in anxiety. This was also the first time he had sweated so much.
In the past, no matter how hot the weather was, not a bead of sweat would appear on Zheng Qian.
Zheng Qian’s left hand, resting on his knee, was tightly clenched into a fist, his eyes filled with struggle.
Zhao Yao saw Zheng Qian’s conflicted expression and did not urge him or say anything, quietly waiting for him to make his move.
Seeing his younger brother in such a helpless state for the first time, Zheng Cheng couldn’t help but feel some sympathy and had no heart to mock Zheng Qian.
Zheng Qian took a deep breath, then stood up and made a salute toward Zhao Yao.
"I lost!"
He lost miserably!
Though reluctant, he admitted defeat wholeheartedly, as he genuinely had no way out.
Zhao Yao also stood up, returned the gesture to Zheng Qian, "Thank you for letting me win."
"The student admits defeat wholeheartedly!" At this moment, Zheng Qian’s attitude and tone had changed, no longer carrying the arrogance from when he first met Zhao Yao. Now, his attitude and tone were filled with respect.