Emperor Yu lifted his teacup and took a sip. The taste was decent, not as exquisite as the Imperial Palace’s exclusive Cloud Mist Tea, but it possessed a sweet freshness from the mountains and wilds.
“You sure take it easy,” Emperor Yu said with a light chuckle.
“The ways of the world are now familiar to me, my heart roams freely everywhere,” Li Hao replied with a casual smile.
Poetry and Book Experience +66.
Emperor Yu was momentarily taken aback, glanced at Li Hao, and thinking about the young man’s situation, his eyes flickered slightly.
“No wonder that stubborn group of old bones in Hanlin Hall like you so much.”
He seemed to sigh, and then to lament.
Li Hao was somewhat surprised; wasn’t Hanlin Hall the haunt of scholars and literati? He hadn’t seemed to have much interaction with them.
“Come, let’s see if your chess skills have improved. Don’t just pretend.”
Emperor Yu lifted the hem of his robe and sat on the cushion, half-joking as he spoke.
Seeing this, Li Hao also sat upright and respectfully. He knew that His Majesty’s visit wasn’t just for playing chess, but he had also brought with him the answer Li Hao had been waiting for.
Only this answer was deeper and heavier than he had anticipated.
This made him feel rather ashamed.
They put away the scattered pieces on the chessboard and slowly began to play.
Li Hao took the white pieces.
“Don’t let me win; I don’t need any charity,” Emperor Yu said as he picked up a piece.
Li Hao nodded, “I wouldn’t dare.”
Soon, on the chessboard, the white pieces launched a fierce assault, quickly taking the offensive. The formation was as solid as a fortress, with the black pieces forced to retreat, surrounded by the white and unable to escape.
“You little…”
Emperor Yu slightly grinned; the kid said he wouldn’t give an inch, and he really meant it. Experience tales with empire
Li Hao coughed lightly, perhaps taking it too seriously. Nowadays, with his Chess Path Sixth Stage, although he had just reached the Sixth Stage and his experience wasn’t fully matured, he could easily defeat His Majesty when he was at the fifth stage.
“Again.”
Emperor Yu clearly didn’t like to lose—or perhaps, he had never really experienced losing… except when playing against Li Hao.
After three consecutive games, Li Hao still subtly went easy, allowing His Majesty to enjoy some fun in the game, rather than being completely overwhelmed.
Soon, Emperor Yu’s craving for chess was cured.
And so, during the fourth round of chess, when Emperor Yu’s demeanor wasn’t so serious and focused, while making his move, he seemed to casually say,
“Have you ever thought about the consequences of killing the Buddha Lord?”
Li Hao was more than capable in his chess-playing and as the old man brought up serious matters, his expression became slightly more solemn.
“I have.”
“Oh? And what are you thinking?”
Emperor Yu placed a piece and looked at Li Hao with interest.
“I think, the senior will probably have a headache and have to deal with the mess,” Li Hao said with a sighed.
Emperor Yu was slightly startled, then inquired, “And what do you think I will do about it?”
Li Hao shook his head slightly, “I haven’t thought it through.”
“Not thought it through?”
“Yes, whatever the decision, I am prepared to accept it.”
Li Hao said this and then added, “As long as it’s not my life that’s taken.”
“…”
Emperor Yu stared at the serious young man for a couple of seconds, and with a mix of laughter and tears, said,
“You really are carefree, aren’t you afraid that the Buddhist sect will pressure me, and to quell the anger, I will strip you of your titles and take back the third-class peerage you worked so hard to obtain?”
“If it’s just that, then the Buddha Lord’s death is still worth it,” Li Hao said.
Emperor Yu was lost for words, and said with some annoyance, “You really are willing to let go.”
“One sacrifices a moment of glory for an eternity of freedom.”
Li Hao smiled, “I’m just a passerby in this Mortal World, nothing to cling to. With wine, food, and friends, I have enough.”
Poetry and Book Experience +166.
“These words sound like Zen Buddhist teaching. If the Buddha Lord had managed to understand it, perhaps he wouldn’t have been killed by you.” Emperor Yu shook his head and sighed.
“Perhaps his cultivation wasn’t sufficient,” Li Hao said.
Emperor Yu glanced at him. Their eyes met, and they both burst into laughter.
After the laughter subsided, Emperor Yu said to Li Hao, “If I were to take back your titles and honors, would you resent me?”
Li Hao shook his head and quietly placed a piece: “How could I? They were a reward from the senior.”
“But you earned them through hard work.”
“Without those titles, I would work just as hard,” Li Hao said.
Emperor Yu looked at him, a faint smile on his lips. He bent down to place his piece, but when he finished, he saw that Li Hao had previously moved a piece that blocked another path for him.
This cunning kid… Emperor Yu was a bit annoyed; they were discussing serious matters, and this kid was still
fiddling with the chessboard.
Enough playing!
Emperor Yu threw the piece he was holding into the Chess Box and said as he flicked his sleeves,
“Let’s talk about the serious matter. I should probably thank you. The Buddha Lord had already fallen into demonhood. Your action was also removing a hidden danger for Dayu.”
Li Hao was startled and asked with surprise, “Senior knew that the Buddha Lord’s incarnation was Demon Luo?”
Emperor Yu nodded slightly and looked at Li Hao, “It seems you also knew. Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“I forgot,” Li Hao coughed lightly.
Emperor Yu slightly pursed his lips, but his eyes were deep, as if something was stirring within.
Forgot? This kid clearly didn’t want to make it more difficult for him in dealing with this matter…
“You…”
Emperor Yu shook his head slightly and said, “This time, the remnants of the Buddhist sect are pressuring me to revoke your peerage. This is most likely driven by demons attempting to divide us and strike when we’re vulnerable.”
“There is a method now, to temporarily put you at a disadvantage. I’ll announce to the world, strip you of your titles, and imprison you in the royal dungeon, feigning a break.”
“This will lure the demons into attacking, waiting for the Buddhist sect to cause trouble, turning a passive position into an active one.”
Li Hao listened quietly, and slightly nodded; it was indeed a good strategy.
“But this way, the act must be thoroughly convincing, and you will suffer a great deal,” Emperor Yu looked at Li Hao.
Li Hao nodded: “It’s possible.”
Emperor Yu looked at him intently and asked, “What compensation would you need afterward?”
“Compensation?”
Li Hao thought for a moment and said, “If possible, give me some calligraphy and paintings from famous masters, musical scores, or chess manuals to admire, and some recipes…”