Chapter 6 — The Jade Robe and Old Dreams

I raised my gaze to find Qin Mau Quynh standing before me. She had noticed me as well. Setting her porcelain teacup down upon the table, she arched a delicate brow.

Oh, is this not Lady Lu? What brings you the leisure to stroll through the Eastern Palace today?

I have come to pay a visit to my eldest sister.

Ah, of course. I remember now that your sister has been unwell.

Since you are already here, why do not we test our skills in a match once more? The last time we skipped stones across the water, I was entirely unprepared. Let us try our hand at a game of Go this time. What do you say?

Qin Mau Quynh had begun studying the intricate art of Go when she was merely five years old, and by the age of seven, she was already playing evenly with the royal tutors. Throughout all the passing years, she had never once met a rival. I looked straight into her eyes.

Lady Qin, I did not come here to play games with you.

What is the matter? Are you afraid?

She rose abruptly to her feet and strode over until she was standing right in front of me.

Because you happened to win by pure luck that single time, do you truly believe yourself to be formidable? Or are you simply terrified of losing?

I was just about to open my mouth to reply when a familiar voice echoed from behind us.

Play the game.

I turned my head. Zhao Chap Thu was standing beneath the shaded veranda, though it was impossible to tell how long he had been lingering there. He looked at us both and began to walk over at a leisurely pace.

Since both of you are eager to compete, let us raise the stakes with a wager.

Qin Mau Quynh eyes instantly lit up with excitement.

Your Highness, what do you wish to wager?

Zhao Chap Thu directed a profound, inscrutable gaze toward me.

If she loses, she must immediately obtain a divorce from Lu Chu.

The surrounding courtyard fell into an instant, heavy silence. I looked directly at him.

By what right does Your Highness use my marriage as a mere wager?

Do you dare to accept or not?

A faint smile touched my lips.

And if I happen to win?

He paused for a fraction of a second.

If you win, this woman will no longer be permitted to remain within the Eastern Palace.

He turned his head to look at Qin Mau Quynh. She stood frozen in absolute shock.

Your Highness?

Therefore, you must not lose.

She bit her lower lip hard, her gaze dropping to the ground.

This subject knows her place.

I shook my head slowly.

What Your Highness is proposing is undeniably unfair to me.

Zhao Chap Thu raised an eyebrow.

Then what is it that you want?

If I win...

I want that from this day forward, Your Highness shall treat me as a complete stranger and avoid me as if I were a pestilence. Can Your Highness manage to fulfill that?

He froze entirely. He clearly had not expected me to demand such a condition.

Does Your Highness dare to agree to this?

I mirrored his exact question right back at him. He stared at me for a long, silent moment, his expression dark and unreadable. At last, he gave his answer.

Very well.

Words alone hold no weight; we must write down a formal pledge and seal it with our testimony.

He remained silent for a brief interval before ordering his attendants to bring brush and paper. With his own hand, he penned the agreement and stamped it with his personal seal. He handed the document directly to me. I accepted it, folded the paper carefully, and tucked it away into my sleeve.

Your Highness, please make the first move.

The Go board was swiftly set between us. Qin Mau Quynh took the black stones and made the opening play. Her style of play was exceptionally aggressive, carrying an overwhelming momentum of attack. I took the white stones, building my defensive formations step by step. Her mastery of the game was undeniably profound. After thirty moves, my position had already begun to slip into a disadvantage. A triumphant smile touched the corners of her lips, and the speed at which she placed her stones quickened. I stared intently at the board as a light film of sweat broke out across my forehead.

Lady Lu, you really ought to simply concede now.

She placed a stone down and laughed softly.

Judging by the state of this board, I believe victory is nearly mine.

Zhao Chap Thu stood nearby, a faint, mocking smile lingering at the corner of his mouth. I said nothing, keeping my eyes fixed on the board as I calmly placed my pieces one by one. Move sixty-seven. I dropped a single white stone into place. Qin Mau Quynh smile instantly stiffened and vanished.

You...

Lady Qin.

I smiled gently.

You have lost.

Upon the board, the white stones had formed an inescapable encirclement. The black stones were trapped densely within, utterly deprived of any room to move. She stared blankly at the grid of lines, her fingers gripping her remaining stone so tightly that her knuckles turned stark white. She parted her lips, her face painted with disbelief, and turned her head to look at Zhao Chap Thu with an expression of desperate supplication. Yet Zhao Chap Thu did not even glance at her. His gaze remained locked onto me, burning with a tempest of suppressed fury. I stood up, retrieved the written pledge from my sleeve, and smoothed it out.

I sincerely hope Your Highness will honor this agreement.

I dipped into a formal curtsy.

I still have to visit my eldest sister, so I must take my leave.

I turned on my heel and walked down the covered walkway toward my sister courtyard. I had barely made it halfway when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed rapidly behind me. I refused to turn around, instead quickening my pace. Yet the pursuer quickly closed the distance, grabbed my wrist with terrifying force, and jerked me backward. I was forced to halt and spin around. Zhao Chap Thu stood right before me, his breathing ragged, his eyes bloodshot. He tightened his grip around my wrist until the pressure ached.

Shen Thanh Tu.

He ground the words out one by one.

Just what on earth must I do for you to willingly divorce Lu Chu and become my noble consort?

I looked straight into his eyes and spoke with absolute calm.

That is an absolute impossibility. Not even in death shall we part.

Furthermore, our agreement has already been officially sworn. I must ask Your Highness to release my hand.

He only tightened his hold further, refusing to let go.

What if I promise to grant you the title of Crown Princess, and vow that from now on I shall desire you alone?

I looked at him and suddenly let out a soft laugh.

Your Highness, you are the Crown Prince and must serve as a model for the realm. Everything you have been taught since childhood demands that you remain upright, steady, and impartial in bestowing your favor. Today you declare that you want only me. Tomorrow, once you ascend the throne, your ministers will flood you with memorials of remonstrance. The day after that, the Empress Dowager will bring down her full pressure. Just how long do you imagine you can withstand all of that? One month? A single year? Or perhaps three?