Chapter 147 Gusu

"I am telling you in advance why I am having you leave the palace."

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty." (x2)

Wei Zhongxian and Wang Zhi bowed while standing. It was not out of disrespect toward Zhu Yu, but rather because Zhu Yu was currently sitting inside a moving carriage, making it impossible for the two of them to kneel.

"This journey will eventually lead us to a place called Druming Mountain. Someone there has set up an intricate endgame puzzle, which no one has been able to solve for thirty years. I brought you along specifically to break this chess puzzle. If either of you can solve this endgame, you won't even need my reward; you will receive unimaginable benefits—benefits so great that even I find myself coveting them."

"This servant is willing to put forth his utmost effort to solve this endgame for Your Majesty, and dares not ask for the slightest reward."

"Though this servant does not understand the art of chess, I am willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty, and dare not harbor extravagant hopes for benefits."

Before Zhu Yu's voice had even faded, Wei Zhongxian and Wang Zhi spoke up in unison. Their underlying meaning was clear: they would strive to fulfill the Emperor's desire, but benefits that even the Emperor coveted were things they dared not accept for fear of losing their lives. He should simply keep them for himself.

Seeing them hastily refuse the reward he offered, Zhu Yu realized they had misunderstood. He chuckled and said, "Look at how frightened you both are. Even if these benefits were given to me, I wouldn't be able to use them. To put it bluntly, whoever solves the endgame puzzle has a chance to acquire the lifelong internal energy of a veteran grandmaster."

Zhu Yu's words genuinely startled the two of them. Wei Zhongxian and Wang Zhi exchanged glances, each catching the deeply hidden hostility in the other's eyes.

Although Zhu Yu did not notice their thoughts, Wei Zhongxian was, after all, Wei Zhongxian. Under such a powerful temptation, Zhu Yu truly feared that Wei Zhongxian's mind might snap and lead him to secretly murder Wang Zhi before they even reached Drumming Mountain.

He quickly added, "The two of you must work together closely. You should know that you won't be the only ones going to Drumming Mountain to solve the chess puzzle."

Hearing this, both men felt a shock in their hearts, assuming the Emperor had seen right through their previous small gestures and was issuing a warning.

Upon hearing these words, the two men successively promised that they would definitely cooperate fully and strive to solve the endgame puzzle.

Shortly afterward, Wei Zhongxian looked at Zhu Yu with a somewhat awkward expression and said, "Your Majesty, although this servant desperately wants to do his best, I don't know how to play chess at all. This, I'm afraid..."

Wei Zhongxian's unstated meaning was obvious: while he desperately desired the lifelong genuine Qi of a veteran grandmaster, he was useless in this regard. To prevent any retribution later on, Wei Zhongxian simply decided to take preventive measures in advance.

"Do you know why I chose someone who doesn't know how to play chess?"

Guessing that Wei Zhongxian would ask this question, Zhu Yu deliberately adopted a profound and unfathomable expression as he spoke.

Hearing Zhu Yu's question, Wei Zhongxian and Wang Zhi both shook their heads, looking at Zhu Yu with puzzled expressions.

"Because this endgame puzzle cannot be solved through normal methods!"

"This... are there abnormal methods for playing chess? Please enlighten us, Your Majesty."

"I don't know the specifics myself, but I do know one thing: to crack this endgame puzzle, the first step requires sacrificing a section of your own chess pieces, and only then is it possible to solve the puzzle. As for where the first move should be played and which section of pieces should be sacrificed, I have no idea. The two of you will have two chances for trial and error. If you fail to grasp these two opportunities, it will prove that you lack this destiny, and I will not punish you."

Wang Zhi had never even heard of such a method for breaking a game, which instantly aroused his curiosity about the endgame puzzle the Emperor had mentioned. After all, he was also a lover of chess; otherwise, even with his innate intelligence, if he had no interest in Go, how could he possess such profound chess skills?

Following that, Zhu Yu mentioned a few minor details he recalled that required their attention, and then dismissed them.

As the two departed, their thoughts differed completely. Wang Zhi was quite confident and full of anticipation, while Wei Zhongxian was the exact opposite.

It was hard to tell whether he simply overthought everything, but his mind raced with endless considerations.

Was this trial-and-error opportunity meant for him alone, or was it shared with Wang Zhi? If they played, should he move first or second? If he went first and Wang Zhi deliberately sabotaged him, what should he do? If he went second, it would mean Wang Zhi had already failed—would Wang Zhi still do his utmost to help him then? If...

Countless thoughts flooded Wei Zhongxian's mind, leaving him utterly exhausted. Yet, he forced himself to pull it together, analyzing every single detail in an effort to figure out a solution. After all, this was an unprecedented, genuine opportunity to leap over the dragon's gate!

That was the lifelong internal energy of a veteran grandmaster! Wei Zhongxian did not know if the Jing Dynasty harbored any hidden grandmasters, but on the surface, the only four grandmasters in the Jing Dynasty each controlled one of the empire's four major intelligence agencies!

After Wei Zhongxian and Wang Zhi left, Jiang Yuyan, sitting inside the carriage, said somewhat anxiously,

"Your Majesty, how could you entrust such an important matter to two eunuchs just like that? Besides, you are far too unreserved! Saying something of this magnitude so openly, aren't you afraid of someone eavesdropping? You must remember that both Sister Yuyan and I heard every word clearly."

When Zhu Yu first heard Jiang Yuyan's words, they sounded off. Although he knew Jiang Yuyan cared about him, she had never interfered with his decisions before. What had gotten into her today?

However, upon hearing Jiang Yuyan's final sentence, Zhu Yu understood.

She was not worrying about him at all; rather, she simply did not trust Wang Yuyan, fearing that Wang Yuyan might leak the secrets, or more directly, she was afraid Wang Yuyan would act as an informer and betray Zhu Yu.

"Alright, why talk like that? Both of you are my imperial consorts; what is there for me not to trust? I trust you both, and I believe you will live up to that trust. Let's drop this subject here."

Jiang Yuyan's words carried much more than a hint of gunpowder; they were practically drawn daggers in plain sight. If the conversation continued, there was no telling what else she might blurt out, so Zhu Yu swiftly terminated the discussion.

Hearing Zhu Yu's words, Wang Yuyan's heart naturally felt as sweet as honey, warmed by his affirmation. She secretly swore to herself that she would never breathe a single word of what she had just heard, even if it cost her life.

As for Jiang Yuyan... what she was thinking was that the Emperor was far too sentimental. His sentimentality was fine in itself, but he shouldn't assume everyone else was equally sentimental.

She had already made up her mind: during this period, she would keep a close, unblinking eye on Wang Yuyan. At the slightest sign of betrayal, she would strangle the threat in its cradle!

With this matter temporarily settled, the convoy proceeded toward Gusu according to plan. The journey was smooth and uneventful, and not even a shadow of the bandits Zhu Yu had anticipated crossed their path.

Now on the verge of entering the Gusu territory, where the Suzhou River was already visible, let alone bandits, aside from their own entourage, it was rare to see a single soul.

Speaking of which, there was one more matter: Yu Huatian truly had not lied. Every time they passed through a region, a few more people were added to the convoy. Before they had even traveled halfway from the capital to Gusu, the procession had already swollen to over five hundred people.