Chapter 151: The Third Surprise (Two Chapters Combined)

Under the splendid weather, Zhu Yu and his entourage leisurely embarked on their journey to Drum-Beating Mountain. The autumn breeze brought a refreshing coolness, and on this road steeped in antiquity, everyone’s mood was filled with ease.

For the elite guards from the Western Depot accompanying the emperor, traveling with His Majesty was far more relaxed than endlessly dealing with the never-ending tasks within the Depot. This softened the usually stern expressions on their faces considerably.

Zhu Yu and the others felt the same; to them, this was a journey to enjoy the scenery, with sightseeing as the core purpose. The only concern was the time spent on the road.

As long as they arrived at Drum-Beating Mountain before Su Xinghe’s Go Tournament began, all was well.

Yet, not everyone shared this lighthearted mood.

Wei Zhongxian, Wang Zhi, and Wang Yuyan grew increasingly heavy-hearted the closer they got to Drum-Beating Mountain.

At that moment, Wang Yuyan’s heart was laden with the weight of leaving home, regret over her mother, and trepidation about the impending encounter with Murong Fu.

She regretted it deeply. At the time, it was a moment of impulsiveness; she sought closure for her unrequited love of more than a decade and thus made the request to Zhu Yu.

When Zhu Yu agreed, she felt joy, believing his actions gave her future hope and provided a perfect conclusion to her feelings for her cousin.

However, as she gradually heard others’ perspectives of Murong Fu, which starkly contrasted with her idealized image, her faith was shattered.

The perfect image of Murong Fu in her heart began to crumble, leaving Wang Yuyan increasingly at a loss, uncertain of what to say when they finally met.

The heartfelt farewell she had planned now seemed foolish and immature.

Thus, Wang Yuyan approached Murong Fu with a heart full of anxiety, nervousness, and regret.

What embarrassed her was that every time her emotions reached a peak, the night came, and Zhu Yu’s warm embrace and passionate attentions overwhelmed her, erasing all her feelings completely.

By sunrise each day, the pool of emotions within her began to gather anew, repeating this cycle, causing her to secretly look forward to the nights with Zhu Yu.

Of course, Zhu Yu thoroughly enjoyed these moments.

As for Wei Zhongxian and Wang Zhi, they were another matter entirely.

Their anxiety stemmed from the enigmatic “Treasure Go Puzzle” that had remained unsolved for over thirty years, and the elusive mastery of the lifelong true energy of a senior Go master.

Wei Zhongxian, in particular, felt as if he were walking on thin ice every day, his mind tirelessly processing all possible outcomes like a high-performance processor.

Among the three, Wang Zhi maintained the best mindset—not because he was particularly formidable, but because he had grown up within the palace. Even in his youth, he had always served others and learned to serve.

Now, for the first time, being served himself felt almost heavenly.

The one who treated him so attentively was Wei Zhongxian, whom he regarded as a competitor, so Wang Zhi understood the motives behind Wei’s actions.

Because of this, Wang Zhi secretly vowed to seize this rare opportunity. Having just tasted the feeling of superiority, he was determined not to return to insignificance.

It must be said that although Wei Zhongxian lavished attention on Wang Zhi, he did so with careful restraint—expressing goodwill without seeming obsequious.

Moreover, they were the only two of their rank in the entire group, so besides necessary matters, they spoke only to each other.

Wei Zhongxian’s experience mingling among all walks of life came to the fore during their conversations. Within three days, Wang Zhi had accepted him as a confidant and shared many palace secrets openly.

He promised that if he solved the Treasure Go Puzzle, he would not treat Wei Zhongxian unfairly; and if he failed, he would still do his utmost to assist Wei.

Receiving this promise made Wei Zhongxian even more enthusiastic, and he spent days and nights learning Go techniques from Wang Zhi.

He knew how unwise it was to stake his fate on a still-youthful eunuch.

He also noticed that while chatting and gossiping, Wang Zhi’s eyes often held a sincere, distant look.

Yet, whenever the Treasure Go Puzzle was mentioned, Wang Zhi, though trying to conceal it, could not hide the gleam of genuine passion in his eyes.

This keen perception was something Wei Zhongxian had learned at the gambling table in his youth.

Back when he was called Li Jinzhong, if he saw such a look at the table, no matter how good his cards, he would withdraw immediately.

Losing wasn’t what he wanted, and winning wasn’t necessarily a true victory.

Thanks to this insight, Wei Zhongxian had escaped countless life-threatening situations and gained the capital to find patrons to support him.

That said, Wei Zhongxian studied Go not to become a master but to honor himself.

Though the journey was long, and he might never become a true Go expert, his theoretical knowledge grew steadily.

By the time the moment came, even if he failed to spot Wang Zhi’s tricks on the spot, he could detect them later.

If Wang Zhi solved the puzzle and rose swiftly, Wei Zhongxian would not complain but cling to him tightly.

But if both failed, Wei Zhongxian would repay grievances with grievances.

Overall, except for these few, everyone else in the group enjoyed the journey.

Well… not entirely; for a while, Hua Wuqing and Tie Xinlan had to bite their tongues and swallow their frustrations.

Was it really necessary to show off their affection in front of Zhu Yu alone? And then, for the next three days, Zhu Yu dragged Jiang Yuyan and Wang Yuyan to flaunt their love in front of them?

They were kept awake, forced to eat midnight snacks, watching the three feed each other.

Because of this, Hua Wuqing hadn’t slept in his bed for half a month.

As night fell, Zhu Yu’s group found a small town to stay. Thanks to Hua Wuqing’s persistent efforts, Tie Xinlan finally agreed to sleep in a bed.

After settling the horses and luggage, everyone gathered downstairs to eat.

While dining, Zhu Yu glanced through the window and saw Wei Zhongxian and Wang Zhi still busy outside. Despite lacking martial arts skills, they were doing the most laborious work in the group.

Seeing this, Zhu Yu felt a twinge of schadenfreude—who dared to make the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old do such laborious tasks? This must be a highlight of his life.

Alas, let’s pray that if Wei Zhongxian ever gains power as in history, he forgets this humiliation.

“Everyone’s eating. Why are those two still working outside? Should we invite them in to eat first?”

Following Zhu Yu’s gaze, kind-hearted Wang Yuyan noticed the two working hard.

“Well, you have good eyes. Hopefully, they remember your kindness. Call them in.”

Zhu Yu teased Wang Yuyan and then instructed a nearby guard.

The sharp-witted elite guard from the Western Depot went outside to fetch them, emphasizing that it was Wang Yuyan’s kindness that brought them in.

Having spent so long in the palace, the two knew how to behave. They thanked the messenger politely, then entered and solemnly expressed their gratitude to Wang Yuyan.

This caught Wang Yuyan off guard, but Zhu Yu quickly intervened.

“Alright, put away your scheming thoughts and find a place to eat.”

Wei Zhongxian and Wang Zhi quietly agreed, looking around only to find all the tables in the inn were occupied by their own party.

Conveniently, everyone could be seated except for the two of them.

Zhu Yu’s large table had many empty seats, but who would dare sit there? Only a fool would risk it.

Seeing them hesitate, Zhu Yu observed the situation and laughed.

“Well, you two aren’t that lucky. Find somewhere to sit and wait until someone finishes.”

“Understood.”

Watching Wei Zhongxian’s retreating back, Zhu Yu suddenly remembered something.

“Wei Zhongxian, come here. I have a question for you.”

As night approached and the street emptied, the inn’s first floor was filled with Western Depot personnel, so Zhu Yu spoke without concern.

Although close by, Wei Zhongxian still jogged over and respectfully said, “Your Majesty, what do you wish to ask? Your servant will answer everything.”

“Nothing much, just curious—what was your role in the palace before? You brought snacks before me, so you must have held a significant position?”

“Well… um…” Seeing Wei Zhongxian’s forehead start to sweat, Zhu Yu grew more curious.

“What’s wrong? What kind of high official can’t even tell me?”

“Your servant dares not, Your Majesty. You misunderstand. I held no official post.”

“No post? Are you deceiving me? Even the lowest eunuch in the palace has a position. You tell me you have none?”

“A misunderstanding, Your Majesty. Even if I had three guts, I wouldn’t dare deceive you.”

“Then speak honestly.”

“Well… I was popular in the palace but had no fixed position. Whenever a eunuch needed help, I assisted.”

“Heh, interesting. This is the first time I’ve heard of a leisurely eunuch in the palace.”

Zhu Yu wasn’t addressing Wei Zhongxian but looked toward Yu Huatian at the next table.

Before Zhu Yu finished, Yu Huatian rose and knelt before him, inwardly cursing himself for not having done away with Wei Zhongxian earlier. The emperor was unaware of the eunuchs’ true duties; a vague answer would have sufficed.

Of course, this was Yu Huatian’s panicked inner thought. He wouldn’t dare truly deceive the emperor and now had to plead for forgiveness.

“Your Majesty, forgive me, your servant deserves death. Recently, I have been distracted by grand plans; I will investigate thoroughly henceforth.”

“Enough. I don’t believe you just learned this today. I’m too lazy to manage such small matters. Everyone has their use, as long as their hearts are right and they know their place. What do you say, my Supervisor Yu?”

“Y-Your Majesty’s teaching is correct.”

“Enough of kneeling. Go about your duties.”

“Yes.”

After responding, Yu Huatian returned to his meal but ate grain by grain, clearly distracted.

This brief exchange chilled Wei Zhongxian’s heart. His dream hadn’t even taken flight, yet he had made a mortal enemy of the Western Depot’s supervisor.

Seeing Wei’s pale face, Zhu Yu realized he had inadvertently set up a formidable adversary for the young noble.

Yet, he didn’t regret it; rather, he found it amusing. Was this the protagonist’s expected path? Fighting monsters and leveling up? But this adversary was quite formidable.

Having set the stage so well, Zhu Yu’s interest was nearly spent. After one last question, he would eat properly.

“Where were you needed? It seems my side isn’t lacking help. How did you come here originally?”

“Your Majesty, I had been in the palace for many days without seeing the emperor’s face, so I struggled to find an opportunity.”

Hearing this, Wei Zhongxian strove to cast aside his fear of Yu Huatian and answered diligently, contemplating his future survival.

“Hm, I see. Nothing more. You may go.”

Having obtained his answers, Zhu Yu returned to the unique rustic dishes before him.

Wei Zhongxian, hearing the emperor dismiss him, hesitated but gritted his teeth and spoke.

“Your Majesty, I omitted something earlier. I am currently serving a palace maiden.”

Wei Zhongxian intended to introduce Wu Zhao to the emperor!

He hadn’t planned this but, having antagonized Yu Huatian, he had no choice. He needed a patron, someone behind him to prevent Yu from openly attacking him.

Though this opportunity lay before him, he lacked confidence. As for Wang Zhi, if he truly gained master-level skills, he might serve as a strong backing, but Wei doubted his chances.

If things unfolded this way, Wei’s fate would be sealed. Now was his closest moment to the emperor, and he had to find a patron—or create one himself.

He briefly considered Jiang Yuyan and Wang Yuyan but quickly discarded the idea.

Everyone knew the Concubine Yan had ties with Yu Huatian, and Wang Yuyan, though a palace maiden, was rumored to be closely linked to the Six Doors.

Why would either accept him? Thus, Wei resolved to build his own patron.

In his haste, he blurted out his thoughts but immediately regretted it.

This was the wrong time — so many people present, and in front of two empresses, recommending a palace maiden to the emperor?

It felt less like seeking survival and more like suicide.

“Oh? If you’re willing to speak up, this palace maiden must be special to make you think she will be favored.”

If it were anyone else, Zhu Yu would be annoyed by such shortcuts, but Wei Zhongxian intrigued him from the start.

Pressed by Zhu Yu, Wei Zhongxian braved the answer.

“She is talented and extraordinarily beautiful. Though I don’t yet know her special qualities, there must be some I haven’t discovered.”

At this, Zhu Yu lost interest immediately. No special talents? What courage to step forward?

While eating, he responded nonchalantly, “Oh, what’s her name?”

“Your Majesty, the maiden I serve is called Wu Zhao.”

At this point, Wei Zhongxian gave up restraint, hoping the two empresses present were magnanimous.

“Wu Zhao? What kind of name is that? Sounds ordinary.”

Seeing the emperor disdain the name, beads of sweat streamed down Wei Zhongxian’s forehead. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

“Hear me, Your Majesty. She has a nickname—Meiniang.”

“Meiniang? Hm! Sounds familiar. Meiniang? Wu Zhao? Wu Meiniang! My goodness! *cough* *cough*.”

Half of Zhu Yu’s mouthful was stuck, the other half sprayed onto Jiang Yuyan opposite him, causing quite a commotion.