Chapter 192: Get Out

As the saying goes, those who would take a knife for their brothers often end up being stabbed by both their brothers and their brothers’ sweethearts. Lu Xian felt that his life was hanging by a thread.

He was suffocating with frustration but dared not shift the blame back.

Joking aside, Xie’s favoritism had gone beyond the horizon—could he be trusted? If Lu Xian dared to say a word against Jiang Xuening, who knew what might happen next?

Lu Xian racked his brains, trying to come up with a suitable excuse for himself.

Unexpectedly, Xie Wei showed no signs of abnormality. Instead, he smiled lightly, as if floating like dust, and continued, “Since you’re not idle, why don’t you hurry back to your work?”

Lu Xian was momentarily stunned. “Huh?”

But Xie Wei didn’t even glance at him again. He turned directly to Jiang Xuening and said, “This trip back to Jinling is for me to return to my hometown and pay respects to my ancestors. Traveling with you, we’ll just say it was a coincidence that we met. Since I have an old connection with Minister Jiang, it’s only natural to give you a ride. So, we won’t head straight to the border. We’ll follow the route back to the capital first, and then decide when to change course westward along the way.”

Jiang Xuening was also taken aback for a moment before she understood his meaning.

Originally, she had been puzzled. As a close confidant of the emperor, Xie Wei’s sudden departure from the capital would undoubtedly attract many watchful eyes. Without a proper reason, it would be troublesome. She had forgotten that, on the surface, this man was a member of the Xie family of Jinling, and returning to Jinling to pay respects to his ancestors was a perfectly valid excuse.

Traveling with her was also easy to explain.

After all, she had been away from the capital for two years, and it made sense for Jiang Boyou to bring her back.

This man really thinks of everything, no matter the situation…

Using me as a shield, huh.

Jiang Xuening muttered in her heart but quickly agreed aloud, “Alright.”

Xie Wei then said, “Let’s set off now.”

Jiang Xuening, who hadn’t left the carriage, agreed again and was about to climb back inside.

However, before turning away, she couldn’t help but glance at Lu Xian.

Really, with the way he had acted as if facing a great enemy earlier, she had thought they had inadvertently offended some taboo of Xie Wei’s, and something major was about to happen, making her tense up for nothing.

But in the end, nothing happened.

Is this guy okay?

Though the glance was brief, Lu Xian was a sharp man. After a moment of confusion, he quickly caught on, sensing the doubt and disdain in her look. He felt a bitterness in his heart that he couldn’t express, and could only glare in frustration.

Perhaps finding the scene amusing, Xie Wei chuckled.

Lu Xian felt even more stifled.

Both Dao Qin and Jian Shu were present, one driving the carriage and the other riding a horse.

Accompanying them were the dozen or so guards in tight-fitting attire they had seen earlier below Guanlan Tower, all experts, following alongside the two carriages.

At this moment, the sky had just brightened, and a thin mist enveloped the city gate.

Xie Wei also got into the carriage.

The group set off boldly out of the city.

As Xie Wei had said, if they headed straight for the border, it would inevitably raise suspicions among those who were watching closely, potentially jeopardizing their mission. Therefore, they didn’t head northwest toward Chuzhou but instead took the official road to Yangzhou.

Jiang Xuening hadn’t slept well the previous night, so the carriage ride was a good opportunity to catch up on sleep.

Over the past two years, she had traveled frequently, so the carriage was comfortably equipped, and she didn’t feel much discomfort from the bumps.

However, after waking up, she felt bored.

At first, she lifted the curtain to look outside, but the scenery of Jiangnan was nothing special. Trees didn’t grow in the sky, and clouds didn’t float on the ground. After a while, it all seemed mundane.

Most of the journey was spent either traveling or resting.

She spent the majority of her time in the carriage.

So, she resorted to reading.

Anticipating the long journey, she had brought a few casual books to read along the way.

But reading in the carriage was particularly straining on the eyes, and the casual books weren’t very substantial. In just six or seven days, she had already finished flipping through them.

“Sigh, how boring…”

Lying in her carriage, Jiang Xuening tossed the last book into the corner. She stared at the wooden grain on the ceiling and let out a long sigh.

Pulling aside the carriage curtain, she saw withered grass stretching across the landscape.

They had been traveling north for over a thousand miles, and the scenery of Jiangnan had gradually changed. The weather grew colder, and a thin layer of frost had formed on the red leaves of the distant mountains.

Xie Wei’s carriage was not far ahead.

Throughout the journey, they had mostly stayed in their own carriages, only stopping at post stations or inns to rest. They rarely crossed paths, almost as if they didn’t know each other, exchanging few words.

During moments of idleness, Jiang Xuening occasionally found herself thinking about this man, pondering questions related to him.

For example, did she really know what kind of person Xie Ju’an was?

Without a doubt, he was like the thick fog on the mountains—elusive and impossible to fathom.

He conducted himself with propriety, rarely showing any carelessness, and carried an innate air of nobility. Even though she knew of the bloodshed he had caused in his past life and how ruthless he could be, it was hard to deny that he truly lived up to the world’s praise of him as having the “bearing of a sage.”

Sometimes, she even wondered: back at the guesthouse, when she faced Xie Wei, had she been more angry or more disappointed?

The way he had used his influence to manipulate her, his calculated schemes, and his cold-heartedness—all to save the princess at the border for the sake of the greater good—had undoubtedly made her feel like a pawn in his hands. But delving deeper, perhaps it was also because she had held some hope for Xie Wei.

It was as if she felt he shouldn’t have been that way.

Though he was far from simple, Jiang Xuening subconsciously believed that Xie Ju’an, dangerous and scheming as he was, still had his own principles and bottom line. He would never stoop to the level of true villains.

Staring at the carriage ahead, Jiang Xuening lost herself in thought. It wasn’t until a cold breeze brushed her face that she snapped out of it.

Why was she overthinking this? Once they rescued the princess, they would go their separate ways, and she would stay far away from him. What kind of person Xie Wei was no longer concerned her. It was better to focus on how to pass the long, boring journey.

With that in mind, her gaze naturally fell on Dao Qin, who was riding beside her carriage.

The young man in blue, carrying a bow and arrows, rode alongside her carriage.

She leaned on the window frame and called out, “Dao Qin.”

Dao Qin turned his head and saw her gesturing for him to come closer. He instinctively glanced at Xie Wei’s carriage ahead, hesitated for a moment, then turned his horse to ride parallel to her carriage, moving closer. “What does Miss Ning’er need?”

Jiang Xuening blinked. “Do you know how to play chess?”

Dao Qin stiffened. “A little.”

Her eyes lit up. “That’s perfect! Come into the carriage!”

Dao Qin’s eyelids twitched. “What do you want to do?”

Jiang Xuening didn’t understand his reaction. Why was he acting as if he were facing a great enemy, just like that coward Lu Xian? Though puzzled, she directly lifted a chessboard from inside her carriage and said, “The journey is too boring. Come play a few games with me.”

Dao Qin: “…”

He gave her a long, silent look, feeling as though he had the worst luck in the world. Lacking the courage to respond, he simply didn’t answer. Instead, he urged his horse forward with a nudge.

Jiang Xuening had initially thought that Xie Wei’s people usually showed her some respect and obeyed her requests. Seeing Dao Qin move, she assumed he was about to agree. To her surprise, he rode straight ahead!

She watched as he approached Xie Wei’s carriage, leaning close to the window and seemingly exchanging a few words with someone inside.

Before long, he returned.

Still unaware of the gravity of the situation, Jiang Xuening said in exasperation, “Do you really need to ask your master’s permission just to play a game of chess?”

Dao Qin looked at her. “Master invites you over.”

“…”

In an instant, all expression froze on her face, then slowly crumbled.

Under Jiang Xuening’s gaze, which was almost accusatory, Dao Qin felt an inexplicable sense of guilt and slowly lowered his head. He repeated softly, “Master invites you over. Right now.”

Jiang Xuening felt a long-lost desire to die.

She slowly put down the chessboard and had the coachman pull over. As she got out of the carriage, she forced a smile at Dao Qin. “I’ll remember your loyalty to your master.”

Dao Qin didn’t dare to respond.

Jiang Xuening entered Xie Wei’s carriage.

As soon as she lifted the curtain, she saw a chessboard set up inside, with black and white pieces scattered across it. Xie Wei was holding a book of chess strategies, seemingly studying a game.

The moment she stepped inside, her bravado vanished. She asked softly, “Did you need me for something, Master?”

Xie Wei glanced at her. “Didn’t you want to play chess?”

Jiang Xuening felt as though she had swallowed a bitter pill.

Xie Wei casually pointed to the seat across from him. “Dao Qin said you were bored. Sit.”

*I’m bored, but I don’t want to die!*

*What exactly did Dao Qin say?*

Jiang Xuening screamed internally, but facing Xie Wei, she wilted like a frostbitten eggplant and reluctantly sat down.

Xie Wei asked, “Do you want to play white or black?”

Jiang Xuening looked at the chessboard and felt dizzy.

Xie Wei said, “White has the advantage. You take white.”

Jiang Xuening felt tormented. “Can we… not play chess?”

Xie Wei, who had been about to hand her the white stone box, paused. He looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “What do you want to play, then? Xiangqi? Backgammon?”

Jiang Xuening timidly raised her hand. “How about… Gomoku?”

Xie Wei: “…”

*Why do I suddenly feel the urge to throw this box of white stones at her face?*

Jiang Xuening felt that death was imminent.

Xie Wei!

This was Xie Wei!

The Xie Ju’an who strategized and triumphed from a thousand miles away!

She had actually dared to suggest playing Gomoku, a child’s game, with Xie Wei!

But…

Go was so mentally exhausting.

She really didn’t want to play it.

After uttering the words “Gomoku,” Jiang Xuening buried her head, trying to avoid Xie Wei’s piercing gaze.

Xie Wei didn’t speak for a long while.

After a while, he began to tidy up the pieces on the board, separating the white and black stones. He placed a box of white stones beside her and said, “Let’s play.”

Jiang Xuening looked up. “Play what?”

Xie Wei’s eye twitched slightly, and he said lightly, “If you don’t play, I’ll throw you out of the carriage.”

Jiang Xuening shivered and, without another word, picked up a white stone and placed it in the center of the board.

This was the “Tengen” position.

In this game, anyone who dared to place a stone here was either a fool or a genius.

But clearly, she was neither.

She cautiously glanced at Xie Wei.

Xie Wei stared at the stone for a moment before picking up a black stone and placing it next to hers.

Jiang Xuening looked at it and thought: Perfect, this is how Gomoku is played!

She felt a little pleased and immediately followed up with a skilled move.

Jiang Xuening knew that Xie Wei was exceptionally strong at chess.

But she thought that Gomoku was simpler than chess. Even though Xie Wei’s skills were formidable, they might not be as effective in this simpler game. It was as if she had dragged Xie Wei down to her level, and she could defeat him with her experience.

However, as the game progressed, more and more stones were placed, and the areas to consider multiplied. She was focused on the upper right corner but failed to notice the formation developing on the left. Xie Wei placed another black stone, completing a line of five.

She lost.

Jiang Xuening held her breath, feeling that she had been close and unwilling to concede. She said, “Again, again.”

Xie Wei glanced at her but said nothing, helping her collect the stones.

They played another round.

This time, Jiang Xuening was again just a step behind, and Xie Wei beat her to the win. She felt deeply frustrated and unwilling to accept defeat.

By the third round, she carefully planned her moves, trying to conceal her strategy and outthink Xie Wei. Finally, she placed a stone that she hoped would mislead Xie Wei, then calmly watched to see if he would notice.

Xie Wei seemed unaware and placed his stone exactly where she had hoped.

When his finger left the stone, Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but laugh. She immediately placed her pre-planned next move and said, “Haha, Master, you fell for it! I win this round!”

Xie Wei remained silent, his expression calm.

But to Jiang Xuening, this was clearly him trying to save face.

She didn’t care. Happily collecting the stones, she forgot her initial reluctance when Xie Wei had summoned her, now fully engrossed in the game.

Overall, Xie Wei won more often.

But every three or four games, he would occasionally lose one.

When Jiang Xuening lost, she frowned deeply, and when she won, it was never easy.

This made the game all the more addictive.

Especially when she occasionally managed to win a round against Xie Wei, her joy was palpable, and her boredom vanished. It was an indescribable happiness.

By the thirteenth round, she finally won again.

When she placed the decisive stone, sealing her victory, joy was written all over her face.

She said cheerfully, “Master, your chess skills are astounding, but they’re not much use in a child’s game like Gomoku, are they? This is what they call, ‘Even the wise can make mistakes,’ while I, the fool, occasionally get it right.”

Xie Wei looked at her, then down at the board.

The wind lifted the carriage curtain, and the lazy afternoon sunlight of late autumn fell on the scattered black and white stones, each one gleaming with a soft luster.

Following this beam of light, he looked outside.

Mountains, rivers, and vast fields stretched before him.

A flock of geese flew south in the distance.

Hearing her say, “Even the fool occasionally gets it right,” the corner of his lips finally curved into a faint smile. The light fell into his eyes, pooling in their depths into an unprecedented calm and serenity. Even his refined, ink-painting-like features seemed to soften, like the gentle contours of distant mountains.

Jiang Xuening was about to collect the stones when she looked up and saw this. It was as if a block of ice had melted before her eyes, leaving her momentarily dazzled.

This version of Xie Wei was truly too handsome.

In that moment, as if possessed, she murmured sincerely, “If only Master could always just be Master…”

“…”

Xie Wei heard her and turned to look at her.

The faint curve of his lips slowly faded.

Jiang Xuening had been momentarily entranced, her inner thoughts slipping out without her realizing it. Only when his gaze landed on her face did she suddenly snap out of it, her body stiffening.

Xie Wei’s expression was now blank.

The earlier warmth that had been so intoxicating now seemed like a mere illusion. He coldly lowered his gaze and said, “Get out.”

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