The Company

Chapter 73: Xianyang Palace

【One】

Xianyang, the capital of Qin. North of the Wei River, south of Mount Jiuzong, where both mountains and waters faced the sun, hence the name Xianyang.

Since the twelfth year of Duke Xiao of Qin, when the Qin state moved its capital to Xianyang, construction began on Xianyang Palace. It was only gradually completed during the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, spanning over fifty years.

Subsequent Qin kings continued to renovate, expand, and refurbish the palace. Even after Qin Shi Huang ascended the throne, Xianyang Palace remained an important venue for governance, court assemblies, state banquets, and receiving envoys from various feudal states.

Later, each time Qin conquered a state, it would replicate that state's palace beside Xianyang Palace, expanding the imperial complex. Thus, along the northern bank of the Wei River, six distinctive palaces representing the conquered states were constructed.

These palaces were not arbitrarily built on a whim. The design of Xianyang City was modeled after celestial phenomena. Numerous palaces resembled countless stars, while the Wei River flowed east-west through Xianyang, mirroring the Milky Way spanning the heavens. Bridges were built across the Wei River, like the Magpie Bridge connecting the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. The Epang Palace was constructed to replace temporary palaces, while Ganquan, Zhangtai, Shanglin Park, and others corresponded to celestial constellations, resembling brilliant stars surrounding the Polaris.

Xianyang Palace, north of the Wei River, occupied the position of Polaris—the seat of the Imperial Star.

Xianyang Palace "had four grand gates opening in all directions, emulating the Purple Palace, symbolizing the dwelling of the emperor." "The Wei River traversed the capital, mirroring the Heavenly River, with bridges spanning southward, imitating the Cowherd."

Every October, the night sky's celestial phenomena perfectly aligned with Xianyang City. The Milky Way and the Wei River echoed each other between heaven and earth, while the lights of the palaces shimmered in distant harmony with the twinkling stars above. It was truly a manifestation of modeling heaven and earth, achieving unity between humanity and the cosmos.

And the first month of the Qin calendar began on the first day of October each year.

The Boss still remembered that New Year's Eve when Xianyang City first took shape. He had secretly slipped out of the night banquet with the eldest prince Fusu, climbing atop the watchtower of Xianyang Palace to gaze at the celestial phenomena above and the nighttime scenery of Xianyang below.

The capital of Qin was structured in harmony with the heavens, shining as brightly as the sun and moon, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity.

Unfortunately, it all proved to be a mirage. Xiang Yu's great fire reduced these magnificent palaces to ashes.

The Boss looked up at the palace, both unfamiliar and familiar, never expecting to see Xianyang Palace again—especially the main hall.

Speaking of which... he had only found Chiwen, who was still fast asleep on the roof ridge of the Dumb Shop. As for Yaoying and Chaofeng, who knew on which eaves they were still quarreling...

The Boss snapped out of his reverie in an instant, refocusing his attention. They were now standing at the very center of Xianyang Palace's main hall.

He looked down at the green bricks beneath his feet, inlaid with jade—spoils of war from when King Zhaoxiang of Qin had detained King Huai of Chu. These were the only remnants preserved without demolition when Qin Shi Huang renovated and expanded Xianyang Palace after unifying the six states.

He looked up and, unsurprisingly, saw a bronze mirror hanging high on the beam of the hall.

It was a square bronze mirror, four feet wide and five feet nine inches tall. Legend had it this mirror could reveal a person's internal organs. In those days, rumors spread that the First Emperor would look into this mirror during court sessions—anyone whose courage swelled or heart raced violently would be executed.

If the Doctor were here hearing this, he would surely exclaim about it being some kind of X-ray machine.

Unfortunately, when the First Emperor hung this mirror, it was after nearly being assassinated by Jing Ke. Its original intent was to intimidate assassins, and later to awe the ministers, demonstrating his ability to perceive the slightest details.Thus the phrase "mirror of justice" was originally known as "Qin mirror of justice," referring precisely to this Qin Palace Mirror. Of course, this was not the real Qin Palace Mirror, nor was this the actual Xianyang Palace.

Scanning his surroundings, the Boss was astonished to discover that even after more than two thousand years, he still remembered everything clearly. He could even identify which period of the Xianyang Palace this illusion represented based on the furnishings.

The gold and silver inlaid bronze sacrificial vessel placed before the imperial throne was a trophy transported all the way from the Qi Kingdom's royal palace. The row of thirteen sets of chime bells behind the throne were tributes offered by the royal family after the fall of the Yan Kingdom. As for this bronze deer kneeling obediently beside the main hall's imperial throne... the Boss narrowed his eyes, certain he had never seen this statue before.

Recalling the legendary anecdote of "pointing at a deer and calling it a horse," the Boss lowered his gaze.

Therefore, this must be an illusion of the Xianyang Palace from after Qin Shi Huang's passing, during the reign of Qin Er Shi.

"I once thought to let the illusion array decide whether the chess game would commence. Had you not sought me out, I would have found another way." A clear, bright voice interrupted the Boss's thoughts.

The Boss shifted his gaze back to the blue-robed Taoist seated at the center of the main hall, feeling that this master he hadn't seen in a long time seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

Tang Yuan had already vanished without a trace. The white chess piece that had fallen on the board happened to land face up, with the characters "Tang Yuan" written in cinnabar. The Boss wasn't naive enough to believe his master had mercifully sent Tang Yuan back to the Dumb Shop.

So the illusion array in the small courtyard earlier had been set by his master himself. How laughable that he had assumed it was Zhao Gao's doing. After a moment of silence, the Boss spoke gravely, "Master, I hope you know what you're doing..." "I know. I've been waiting for this game for a long time too." The blue-robed Taoist smiled faintly, rearranging the scattered chess pieces on the board.

The Boss stared intently at the chessboard. When he had first seen his master, there were only three or four pieces on the board, but unknowingly, the number had grown to nearly ten...

From outside the hall came measured footsteps, and one could vaguely make out a pair of pheasant tail feathers gradually rising beyond the doorway, trembling slightly with the person's advancing steps.

This should be the military crown of King Wuling of Zhao that the person wore.

"Master, since you haven't been trapped by him, then I don't need to play this game with him either." The Boss quickened his speech.

"No, this game is between him and me, not you. You too are merely one of my chess pieces."

As the blue-robed Taoist's words fell, the Boss felt the chess piece he was clutching tightly move, instantly slipping from his control and flying toward the Liubo Chess board in front of the blue-robed Taoist.

The Boss strained to see the expression on the blue-robed Taoist's face, but found the scene before him blurring and distorting as if veiled in mist.

When he regained his senses, he found himself sitting in a room at the Dumb Shop, with a cup of fragrant hot tea even placed before him.

The Boss wasn't naive enough to believe he had truly returned to the Dumb Shop—this must be another illusion, like the previous small courtyard and Xianyang Palace.

He didn't make any rash moves, watching the steam rising from the teacup before him as he sank into deep thought. If he too was one of the chess pieces, then who were the other pieces?

[Two]The towering vermilion palace walls, dazzling glazed tiles, and an endless stream of people in ancient attire—across the street, a palace-gowned girl outside the Imperial Household Directorate stared at him with astonishment...

Lu Zigang stood bathed in the brilliant autumn afternoon sunlight, feeling a dizzying sense of unreality. Was he dreaming again?

But today’s dream felt far too real...

A graceful girl carrying a small bundle crossed the street and stood before him, tilting her head curiously as she asked, "Master Lu, what are you doing here? Are you going back to see the Director?"

For a fleeting moment, the girl’s smiling face overlapped with the tear-streaked one from his memories. Lu Zigang decided then and there that, dream or not, he would not let this girl fall into danger again.

He grabbed Xia Zelan’s wrist urgently and said, "Miss Xia, please come with me."

"How do you know my surname is Xia?" A flicker of surprise crossed her almond-shaped eyes, mingled with embarrassment and annoyance.

Feeling her delicate hand twitch in his grasp, Lu Zigang quickly revealed his identity: "That plate of egg-fried rice ten years ago..."

Xia Zelan froze, studying the handsome jade carver before her. The more she looked, the more familiar he seemed. With a soft gasp, she exclaimed, "So it’s you—the big brother from next door!"

But Lu Zigang had no time to explain.

The Renyin Palace Coup scheduled for that night was inevitable. Even in his previous attempt using the compass to return to the past, when he had tried to stop Xia Zelan from returning to her palace duties, she had still been captured by the Embroidered Uniform Guard as an accomplice. This time, he resolved to flee the capital with her immediately.

Grasping Xia Zelan’s hand, Lu Zigang strode confidently along the route etched in his memory. The few hours he had once spent with this girl remained a cherished, unforgettable fragment of his past. He had even traveled to Beijing later, seeking out the small courtyard near Qianmen in hopes of reliving those memories, only to find it replaced by a modern commercial street...

After winding through alleys for what felt like an eternity—nearly reaching Xia Zelan’s home—Lu Zigang finally noticed the curious stares of passersby. He released her hand at once and apologized sincerely, "I’ve been presumptuous, Miss Xia. Zigang has reasons he cannot disclose."

"What exactly is happening?" Xia Zelan rubbed her wrist, now marked red from his grip, her expression utterly bewildered. Facing her heartbreakingly lovely features, Lu Zigang could not bring himself to reveal the brutal future awaiting her. Instead, he turned and led the way into a small restaurant nearby.

After her parents passed away in the capital, Xia Zelan had chosen not to return to her hometown in Suzhou permanently. After escorting their coffins back for burial, she had returned to Beijing alone. Unable to manage the restaurant her parents left behind, she leased the property and—thanks to her exceptional culinary skills—was recruited as a cook in the Imperial Kitchen. Lu Zigang knew that passing through this restaurant and circling past the kitchen would lead to Xia Zelan’s small courtyard.

As it was not yet dinnertime, the restaurant was empty; the staff were likely all in the kitchen preparing ingredients for the evening. Watching Lu Zigang navigate the dining hall and bypass the kitchen with practiced ease, Xia Zelan bit her rosy lip and hurried after him.Lu Zigang, however, did not notice the thoughts of the girl behind him. He pushed open the courtyard gate, and the narrow yard appeared before his eyes just as he remembered—jars of stacked sauce vats, neatly dried vegetables, strung mountain mushrooms and radish strips, piles of cabbages, and golden corn hanging in clusters under the eaves, all exuding a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Lu Zigang allowed himself to indulge in the memories for three seconds before composing himself and turning to Xia Zelan with a serious expression. "Miss Xia, time is of the essence. Please gather your valuables. We must leave the city before nightfall."

Seeing Xia Zelan’s somewhat bewildered expression, Lu Zigang couldn’t outright say that a palace coup would occur that night—even if he did, she wouldn’t believe him. He could only insistently urge her to pack quickly. Unable to refuse, Xia Zelan went inside and soon emerged carrying a bundle only slightly larger than before. Though puzzled by how little she had brought, Lu Zigang had no time to dwell on it as the sun in the sky gradually shifted westward.

He had just remembered a critical issue that needed immediate resolution: he did not have a travel permit.

A travel permit, or luyin, was a type of passport for journeys. The Ming Dynasty strictly controlled population movement, requiring a luyin for any travel beyond a hundred li from one’s hometown.

Applying for a luyin was also a hassle. To put it in modern terms, it was like living in Beijing and needing to go to Nanjing on business—you’d first have to fill out an application form at your local residential committee, detailing your name, age, occupation, destination, purpose of travel, return date, and so on, leaving nothing out. This form would then be submitted to the relevant municipal department for review, and only after a series of procedures and stamps could you obtain the permit, the luyin.

In ancient times, entering or leaving a city normally required a luyin. Although the soldiers at the city gates didn’t check everyone among the daily crowds entering and exiting the capital, being randomly inspected and failing to produce one carried severe consequences.

The Great Ming Code stipulated: "If soldiers or civilians travel beyond a hundred li without a permit, soldiers shall be treated as deserters, and civilians as illegal border crossers. Those without a permit who cross borders illegally shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane."

Moreover, the Rényín Palace Coup was unprecedented and unheard of. After tonight, anyone on the road would inevitably be checked for their luyin and household register.

The household register, similar to a modern ID card, was something he also lacked. And Xia Zelan’s household register would be useless since, after tonight, she would be a wanted criminal.

After only a moment’s hesitation, Lu Zigang said firmly, "Follow me."

He led Xia Zelan away from the cozy courtyard, through the still-empty small restaurant, and across the bustling Qianmen Street. Relying on the reincarnation memories he had glimpsed earlier, Lu Zigang searched for the route until, a quarter of an hour later, he finally spotted the familiar signboard.

Though he knew such blind trust might seem laughable, he felt deep down that as long as he found the Dumb Shop, there was no problem the Boss couldn’t solve.Ascending the steps and pushing the door open, the Changxin Palace Lantern at the entrance of Dumb Shop remained perpetually lit. Some of the antique furnishings inside the shop felt familiar, while others were entirely unseen before. The only constant was the Boss, seated behind the counter, engrossed in a book. He wore a Wrapped Robe from the Qin and Han dynasties, with wide sleeves and a snug fit, embroidered with a winding Crimson Dragon so vivid it seemed as though the dragon were tightly coiled around him, as if fearing its prey might escape.

"Ah... you've arrived..." The Boss looked up at the sound of the door, his jade-like face betraying no surprise. He didn't question why Lu Zigang, who should have been carving jade upstairs, had entered through the front door.

Xia Zelan, however, gasped in shock upon seeing the Boss's face, covering her lips to stifle the exclamation that nearly escaped.

Unaware of Xia Zelan's reaction behind him, Lu Zigang stepped forward and lowered his voice. "Boss, I need two household registrations and travel passes. We must leave the city before tonight."

He didn't elaborate further, but the Boss seemed to understand everything. After a moment's contemplation, he sighed softly, stood up, and walked toward the inner room of Dumb Shop.

Lu Zigang clenched his fist in relief—he had known the Boss would have a solution.

Before long, the Boss emerged carrying a bundle and several sheets of yellow paper. "These are the household registrations and travel passes I prepared for you. Miss Xia cannot use her real name. Zigang, you'll keep your original name, and Miss Xia will pose as your younger sister, renamed Lu Minglan. The bundle contains fifty taels of scattered silver notes, enough for your journey. There are also two sets of men's clothing—it will be more convenient for Miss Xia to travel in disguise..." It was unclear how the Boss had managed to prepare so thoroughly in such a short time, as if he had anticipated their arrival.

Lu Zigang took the documents and glanced at the detailed descriptions of their physical features. The travel pass listed their reason for the journey as escorting a bride to her wedding—a plausible explanation for a woman traveling long distances.

"You have one hour before the city gates close. You can leave through Chaoyang Gate..." The Boss meticulously instructed Lu Zigang and even introduced him to a boat captain he knew.

Gratefully, Lu Zigang clasped his hands in salute, knowing further words were unnecessary. He hurriedly led Xia Zelan out of Dumb Shop, hired a donkey cart, and headed straight for Chaoyang Gate.

At this time, BJ had only inner city gates; the outer city walls would be built a decade later to resist the southern invasions of Mongol cavalry. The city then had nine gates, which would later give rise to the famed position of "Nine Gates Commander," formally titled the Commander of the Five Patrol Battalions and Infantry of the Nine Gates, responsible for guarding the inner and outer areas of the gates, enforcing curfews, firefighting, and other duties.

Each of the nine gates, due to their locations, served different types of traffic. Chaoyang Gate, situated on the eastern side of BJ's inner city, was where grain transported from the Jiangnan region via the Grand Canal arrived. After reaching Tongzhou, the grain was hauled into Chaoyang Gate through the Tonghui River and the moat, then stored in large granaries nearby for use by the capital's officials and residents. Thus, Chaoyang Gate was known as the "Grain Gate."

Thanks to the thriving canal transport, ships from Jiangnan carried not only grain but also a wealth of local products and handicrafts, making the area around Chaoyang Gate densely populated and commercially prosperous.Boss directed them to leave through the Chaoyang Gate, firstly because it was the closest gate to them, and secondly because Chaoyang Gate was also the nearest city gate to the Tongzhou Wharf, making it convenient for them to travel south by boat with fewer checkpoints along the way.

Lu Zigang had consulted numerous historical records and discovered that the initial chaos of the Renyin Palace Rebellion occurred because the Jiajing Emperor was injured and fell into a coma. Empress Fang took charge of the situation and used the opportunity to eliminate Consort Duan, who was deeply favored by Jiajing, leading to a dramatic upheaval in the palace. Two or three days later, when the Jiajing Emperor regained consciousness, the situation did not escalate further, and even Consort Duan’s father and family remained unaffected.

Thus, they only needed to leave the capital ahead of time to avoid the turmoil.

As dusk fell, Lu Zigang and Xia Zelan smoothly exited the capital through the Chaoyang Gate and reached the Datong Bridge before nightfall. The Tonghui River, located in the eastern part of the capital, was a canal built during the Yuan Dynasty for grain transport. Its name, "Tonghui," was given by Kublai Khan, the founding emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. "Hui" means benevolence and also signifies smoothness. The two characters "Tonghui" expressed Kublai Khan’s hidden ambitions.

Over the next two hundred years, the Tonghui River gradually silted up. Despite several attempts to dredge it, all efforts failed. It was only a little over a decade ago, when the Jiajing Emperor ordered the river to be dredged again for the construction of numerous imperial temples and ancient structures, that the project finally succeeded. As a result, the banks of the Tonghui River began to regain the prosperity of the Yuan Dynasty era, with inns, taverns, restaurants, and teahouses lining the shores, earning it the nickname "the Qinhuai River of the North."

Now, Lu Zigang and Xia Zelan could take a boat directly from the starting point of the Tonghui River at the Datong Bridge, travel along the Tongzhou North Canal, and head all the way south to regions like Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Due to the busy traffic on the Tonghui River, boats operated day and night. However, the 24 locks along the river had specific opening and closing times, so whether leaving or entering the capital, one had to wait in line.

The boatman recommended by Boss, seeing their urgency to depart, arranged for them to board a grain transport ship scheduled to depart at a quarter past midnight. This grain transport ship had entered the capital fully loaded with grain, and on its return journey, with the cargo hold empty, it took on some private jobs. A wealthy family was relocating from Beijing to Hangzhou, and many servants were loading luggage and furniture onto the ship. The family members naturally traveled on more comfortable passenger boats, while the servants accompanying the cargo on this ship turned a blind eye to the boatman selling extra tickets for some extra income.

After finalizing the boarding time with the boatman, Lu Zigang took Xia Zelan to a nearby restaurant for a belated dinner. The food here was neither refined nor particularly tasty—it was merely passable. During the meal, Lu Zigang hesitated, wanting to explain the reason for their departure from the capital to Xia Zelan, but after several attempts, he found himself unable to speak. In the end, he could only apologize and promise to give her a proper explanation the next day.

Xia Zelan remained calm, lifting her teacup to take small, quiet sips.

As the moon rose and the night deepened, the bustling noise along the banks of the Tonghui River gradually gave way to a tranquil atmosphere under dim lantern lights. Many patrons in the restaurant were also waiting for night boats to depart. After finishing their meals, several tables ordered pots of tea or wine and continued chatting. Lu Zigang and Xia Zelan’s table was no exception, though the two of them exchanged little conversation.Lu Zigang kept looking around in all directions. He could no longer recall the exact time the Embroidered Uniform Guard had come to Xia Zelan’s small courtyard to arrest people, and the darkness of the night further blurred his sense of time. He had no choice but to remain constantly vigilant, wishing desperately that the grain transport ship outside the window would set sail the very next second.

The number of patrons in the restaurant dwindled, and the murmur of conversation grew softer and softer. Only when the waiter had dozed off, snoring loudly over the counter, did Lu Zigang finally hear the night watchman’s drum.

"Boom—Boom! Boom!" One slow beat followed by two quick ones—it was already the third watch of the night.

Time to board the ship. Lu Zigang breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and stamped his numb legs. Out of habit, he glanced out the window once more. But this time, his gaze fell upon a figure standing in a nearby alley, a sight that sent a chill straight to his bones.

The figure had long silver hair, gleaming like moonlight, and a pair of crimson eyes stared back at him with neither joy nor sorrow. Dressed in a feiyu uniform and carrying an xiuchun sword at the waist, the person was unmistakably attired as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

No! That wasn’t the main issue! Why was this person here?

A flicker of shock and fury crossed Lu Zigang’s eyes before he squeezed them shut. When he reopened them, he had regained his composure. Turning to Xia Zelan, he spoke gently, “Go, I’ll see you onto the ship first. I need to buy something—I’ll join you shortly.”

With a troubled heart, Lu Zigang stepped out of the restaurant and watched as Xia Zelan boarded the grain transport vessel. No Embroidered Uniform Guards rushed out to intervene along the way. Lu Zigang stopped a sailor, slipping several silver notes into his hand. Only when he saw Xia Zelan’s figure disappear into the cabin did he finally, uncontrollably, clench his fists.

Huhai’s presence here—where he shouldn’t have been—served as a stark reminder that this was no dream, but a game of chess.

If his guess was correct, the moment he had received that unknown chess piece, he had already been drawn into the game. Though he didn’t understand why the setting of this match was an era he recognized, populated by people he knew, one thing was certain: his opponent in this game was undoubtedly Huhai.

Lu Zigang turned and strode toward a nearby alley. As he walked, he murmured under his breath, “This is a game of chess, isn’t it? It seems… this is a scenario I’ve always wished for, so I must be the defending side, and you the attacking side. Since it’s a game, there must be a winner and a loser. And the decisive move in this match… is whether Xia Zelan can safely leave the capital, right? After all, that’s what I’ve always hoped for.”

With each step, he uttered another sentence, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper. Yet he knew the person lurking in the shadows would hear every word.

“But you’ve already lost.”

Behind him, the grain ship began to move, departing ahead of schedule—ten minutes earlier than planned—thanks to the bribe Lu Zigang had offered.

Lu Zigang’s emotions were tangled. While he rejoiced that Xia Zelan had escaped the capital without incident, Huhai’s appearance had forced him to wake up to the realization that this was an illusory world, a mirage crafted by the chess game.

The girl he cared for had long ago died in the bloom of her youth—a reality no amount of effort could ever change.

A silver-haired figure emerged slowly from the darkness. His cold crimson eyes fixed on Lu Zigang before he arched an eyebrow and declared arrogantly, “You and I have an unfinished game from years ago. Today, we resume it.”

Lu Zigang warily eyed the two Embroidered Uniform Guards flanking Huhai—clearly his subordinates.

Huhai’s lips curled slightly. Under the moonlight, his pale, almost luminous cheeks bore a complex expression. “Truthfully, I would have liked to see you win. I followed you all the way—from the Imperial Supervisor to the Front Gate, to Dumb Shop, then to Chaoyang Gate…”

A cold sweat broke out on Lu Zigang’s back. He had been under surveillance the entire time, completely unaware. Still, he retorted stubbornly, “You make it sound noble, but you had no reason to act until something actually happened.”

Huhai let out a derisive snort. If he had wished, his authority alone—symbolized by the feiyu uniform he wore—would have been enough to ensure Xia Zelan never left Beijing.

Though Huhai didn’t voice it aloud, the mockery in his laugh was unmistakable. Lu Zigang instantly grasped the unspoken implication, his face stiffening. Yes—why hadn’t Huhai intervened to stop them?"You... wouldn't go easy on me, would you?" The moment these words left his mouth, Lu Zigang found them ridiculous. Though he didn't fully understand the true rules of this chess game, he felt that with Zhao Gao setting up such an elaborate scheme, the loser would likely pay a heavy price even if not with their life. Could Huhai possibly be this kind-hearted?

Huhai snorted coldly. "Tch, why would I? Because even if I don't lift a finger, you still can't win..."

Lu Zigang thought he must have misheard—there was actually a tone of frustrated disappointment in Huhai's words. "Don't believe me? Look behind you." Huhai slightly raised his chin, gesturing toward what was behind Lu Zigang.

Following his gaze, Lu Zigang saw a graceful figure swiftly approaching them. He was stunned—shouldn't Xia Zelan have gone south with the grain transport ship? Why hadn't she left?

Meeting Lu Zigang's shocked gaze, Xia Zelan smoothed her hair and confidently walked toward the Embroidered Uniform Guard nearby. Though upon closer look, the guard captain's hair color seemed strange, it didn't stop her from clearly lodging her complaint: "Sir, this humble girl reports this man for trafficking women."

Hearing this, Huhai nearly laughed aloud. He glanced at Lu Zigang's devastated expression, cleared his throat, and asked, "Oh? Is this true?"

"Absolutely! This man is highly suspicious. Although he looks very much like Master Lu whom I know, he knew my name upon meeting, which even Master Lu didn't know.

"Moreover, the clothes he wears are different from Master Lu's, and his accent is strange.

"He also knows where my home is and told me to pack my valuables. Unfortunately, the neighbor's restaurant was empty, so I didn't dare act rashly.

"And the Dumb Shop he took me to must also be a fake—the boss there couldn't possibly still be that young after all these years...

"I haven't dared to raise the alarm in the city because the cloth pouch at his waist likely contains a dagger. At the city defense checkpoint, I was completely helpless—since he held forged household registration and travel documents, no one would have believed me.

"I originally planned to jump into the river and swim away under cover of darkness, but unexpectedly, he didn't board the ship. Just now, I slipped off the ship from the stern, intending to find a place to rest for the night before reporting to the authorities in the city, when I saw you, sir. You must be here to arrest this man!"

Xia Zelan's words were filled with anguish, each syllable dripping with distress.

Lu Zigang hurriedly pulled the knife from the cloth pouch at his waist, explaining anxiously, "This is a knife! It's a matching pair with your Kundao knife—have you forgotten, Miss Xia?"

Due to the dim lighting by the riverbank, Xia Zelan couldn't clearly see the knife in Lu Zigang's hand. Not daring to approach him, she instead took a step back, moving closer to the Embroidered Uniform Guard official. With renewed confidence, she scolded, "You're not Master Lu at all! If you were, then show me the piece of jade I gave you today to prove your identity!"

Lu Zigang's face instantly turned ashen—he truly couldn't produce it. That piece of jade should currently be in the hands of the Ming Dynasty's Lu Zigang, about to be carved into a Longevity Lock...

"Can't produce it, can you? You really aren't Master Lu!" Xia Zelan had only been about seventy percent certain before, but now she felt her judgment was correct.Huhai spread his hands in response, indicating he had done nothing—it was all Lu Zigang’s own doing. Under Xia Zelan’s guarded gaze, Lu Zigang felt a chill run through his body, his face twisting into a bitter, despairing smile.

Yes, from the incident with the Hengwu incense until now… he remained just as self-righteous as ever.

【This round: Black side, Huhai, wins】

【Three】

“A pitiful blade—its only wish was to be with the Kundao forever. Yet it has failed once again.” A monotone voice echoed through the main hall of Xianyang Palace.

On a checkpoint of the Liubo Chess board, a black and a white piece lay side by side. Zhao Gao curled his lips into a confident smile, extending a slender finger to mercilessly remove the white piece, leaving only the black one behind. Once placed outside the board, the crimson characters “Lu Zigang” inscribed on the white piece began to fade slowly.

Sitting across from him, the Taoist in blue robes showed no change in expression despite losing a piece. Though his eyes remained closed, he accurately reached out and grasped the stone boqiong on the table.

Liubo Chess had two playing methods. Initially, six bamboo chopsticks were used, with moves determined by tossing them. Later, the chopsticks were replaced by multi-sided boqiong, similar to dice in later eras.

By the time of the First Emperor, boqiong already existed. The boqiong used in this game of Liubo Chess was made of stone, with narrow top and bottom faces carved with seal script, while the remaining twelve sides bore numbers representing the steps for moving pieces.

The blue-robed Taoist traced the patterns on the stone boqiong’s surfaces and tossed it casually onto the board. “Ah, it’s a two,” Zhao Gao said with a playful grin.

But the Taoist reached out and touched the top face of the stone boqiong, remarking lightly, “After all these years apart, has Gao forgotten how to count? This is clearly a five.”

Zhao Gao raised an eyebrow, offering no apology. “Oh, my mistake. It seems… Master’s eyes aren’t blind after all…”

Ignoring his probing words, the Taoist accurately picked up a white piece and moved it five steps along the board’s intersections without hesitation, placing it right beside a black piece.

“Tsk, when two meet on a narrow path, the brave one prevails…” Zhao Gao tapped the table mockingly, his gaze drifting toward the docile bronze deer crouched near the imperial throne as a meaningful smile played on his lips.

…

The Boss removed the Golden Ghost Mask from his face. He had secretly placed another golden mask in the main hall of Xianyang Palace, using this one to spy on his master’s chess game with Zhao Gao. Though he had aimed the mask at the Qin palace mirror above the board to reflect the game, the distance made it hard to see the names on the pieces clearly or hear their conversation distinctly.

He could only confirm that his master had lost one piece. He wondered who had been eliminated…

The Boss stood and tried to leave this illusion of the Dumb Shop, but the carved door before him remained firmly shut.

He should be a white piece, yet his surroundings showed no change—so the piece his master moved likely wasn’t him.

Then… who could it be?

【Four】

Tang Yuan finally saw the master he had been worrying about endlessly. To his relief, his master did not look as wretched as he had imagined.But after his master and senior brother exchanged a few cryptic words like they were speaking in riddles, the scene before him unexpectedly shifted back to the small courtyard from before.

The hot spring remained icy cold, indicating this was still an illusion. This time, however, he was the only one trapped here—his master and senior brother had vanished without a trace.

Well, he wasn’t entirely alone. The Little White Snake was still coiled around his wrist, fast asleep.

Adopting a "wait and see" attitude, Tang Yuan crossed his arms and sat cross-legged in the pavilion. Eventually, out of sheer boredom, he closed his eyes to rest.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Tang Yuan felt an irresistible force lift him to his feet and propel him forward. Realizing he couldn’t break free, he resigned himself to the situation and watched as this force carried him out of the courtyard.

Beyond the barrier, what met his eyes was a palace shrouded in darkness, with a few distant halls still illuminated by lantern light. As he was swiftly and involuntarily moved along, Tang Yuan strained to keep his eyes wide open, observing his surroundings until he came to a halt before the entrance of a grand hall.

The massive doors swung inward of their own accord with a creak, revealing a pitch-black interior that seemed to harbor man-eating monsters ready to pounce at any moment.

The Little White Snake around his wrist twitched restlessly.

A gentle yet unyielding push from behind forced Tang Yuan into the hall. The doors slammed shut behind him with a loud clang, plunging everything into darkness. All he could hear was his own breathing and the pounding of his heart.

"How can it be a child? Has the Chief Minister truly run out of people…?" A wooden, robotic voice echoed from the depths of the hall.

"What’s wrong with being a child? Don’t underestimate me!" Tang Yuan fully leveraged his "advantage" of being a minor, deliberately adopting a defiant youthful posture in hopes of lulling the other into complacency.

"Child, do you know where you are?" The voice in the darkness drifted near and far, making it impossible to pinpoint its source.

"No! I heard we’re supposed to play a game of chess." Tang Yuan plopped down cross-legged on the floor and feigned ignorance, shouting, "Are you my opponent? What kind of chess? I’m great at Go, Chinese chess, military chess, and checkers! I can even handle aeroplane chess!"

The other party seemed bewildered by the list of games Tang Yuan rattled off. After a moment’s hesitation, it stammered, "It… it is Liubo Chess."

"Liubo Chess? Never played it. How do you play?" Tang Yuan asked nonchalantly.

"It is not you and I playing Liubo Chess. We are merely pieces on the board." Though the tone of the voice in the darkness was indiscernible, one could still sense the profound emotion behind these words.

"Oh, then how do we determine victory or defeat between us?" Tang Yuan mimicked the other’s manner of speaking and tossed the question back. "I am the defender, you are the attacker. I set the challenges, you solve them," the other replied succinctly, answering every question. "Since there’s a winner and a loser, there must be rewards and punishments. What happens if I win? What if you win?" Tilting his head, Tang Yuan put on an innocent and naive act, even though the other might not be able to see his expression in the dark. "The winner lives, the loser dies," the voice in the darkness declared, each word dripping with cruel finality.Tang Yuan blinked his large eyes, fearless as a newborn calf, and asked in a crisp voice, "Then what challenge will you set?" From the deepest part of the hall, a flickering flame suddenly illuminated the face of a round-cheeked young man. He held a bronze Human-shaped Lamp, wore bamboo-yellow robes, and had eyes curved into smiling slits, giving off an amiable and likable aura—a stark contrast to his earlier ruthless words.

"My challenge is simple. My true form is a Bronze Weight, hidden somewhere in this hall. You have three chances to find it. Succeed, and you win. Fail, and I win."

Somehow, as the round-cheeked young man spoke, the lamps and candles in the hall ignited one after another, illuminating the entire space.

Only then did Tang Yuan see clearly: the hall was filled with dozens of bookshelves, each crammed with densely packed Bronze Weights of varying sizes and weights.

To pick the correct one from thousands of Bronze Weights, with no hints and only three chances, seemed an impossible task.

Tang Yuan made no objection but nodded in understanding. Clasping his hands behind his back, he began examining the shelves starting from the first one against the wall, scrutinizing each weight with great care.

The round-cheeked young man holding the oil lamp watched Tang Yuan’s small retreating figure and suddenly felt a disorienting sense of time slipping. Back when the young master was this boy’s age, he had been just as clever and adorable…

As Sun Shuo lost himself in sweet memories, the child suddenly turned his head and asked again, "By the way, is there a time limit for this challenge of yours?"

"Ah?" Sun Shuo had intended to set a time limit, but in this illusion, time didn’t truly flow, making it impossible to measure. Remembering the young master’s earlier instruction to go easy if possible, he feigned hesitation and nodded, "There’s no time limit…"

"Oh, that’s a relief. I’ll take my time and look carefully." Tang Yuan clenched his small fists, psyching himself up.

Sun Shuo was left speechless.

With a room full of Bronze Weights, he had a feeling this child would never finish examining them all…

[Five]

"Though ordinary, the Bronze Weight still wishes to be recognized. It’s a brilliant challenge, but this child found its flaw. This should be a stalemate." Zhao Gao sighed softly, his tone a mix of admiration and slight mockery. "Tsk, should I say, as expected of the fine disciple you trained?"

The Taoist in blue robes ignored his leading remark: "So, do we wait or continue?"

"Continue." Zhao Gao picked up the stone boqiong with his middle and index fingers, smiling faintly. "We’d better pick up the pace."

The stone boqiong spun between his fingertips before being tossed onto the game board. It whirled several times before coming to a stop, revealing the highest number—twelve—carved on its top face.

"My, my, now we can truly speed things up!" Zhao Gao clapped his hands with a smile.

According to their pre-established rules, the number rolled on the stone boqiong could be distributed among one or several game pieces. Zhao Gao calculated briefly and moved three black pieces, advancing a total of twelve steps. Each black piece he moved landed precisely beside a white piece."Let's make this quick." Zhao Gao flashed an impatient smile at the blue-robed Taoist. "After all, I've been waiting for this day for far too many years..."

...

The Boss, who had once again donned the golden mask, couldn't clearly discern which three chess pieces were responding to the challenge through its obscured vision. Just as he intended to observe further, the carved wooden door of Dumb Shop was knocked upon.

"Hello! Anyone here? Oh? Boss, you're in!"

A familiar voice rang out—precisely the one the Boss least wanted to hear at this moment.

The golden mask was slowly removed, revealing before the Boss the doctor's radiant smile.

(End of Chapter)