After feeding the exiled criminals, she was forced to reveal herself

Chapter 439 Don’t Guess the Emperor’s Thoughts

"Oh? This chess set looks good."

After Xiahou Jie finished admiring the courtyard view of Qiu Mansion, he turned around and saw a new set of chess pieces specially laid out by his ministers.

He couldn't help but look up at Duke Qiu.

The latter did not hide his true feelings and smiled to please the emperor: "I wonder if this chess piece of mine is pleasing to the emperor?"

Xiahou Jie smiled.

Duke Qiu also laughed.

As long as the emperor understood what he meant, there was nothing more for him to say.

Originally, the best things in the world are meant to be presented to His Majesty the Emperor.

He had secretly spent countless energy and resources on making this set of black jade chess pieces. He had originally planned to keep them for the New Year's greetings before sending them to the palace. Unexpectedly, today was the day to send them to the emperor ahead of time.

Xiahou Jie has always liked rare things. He was bored staying in the palace and came out to relax. Unexpectedly, he saw some little gadgets that interested him in the Qiu Mansion.

For a moment, the discomfort he had just felt when he saw that the garden of the Qiu Mansion was more exquisite than the one in his palace, faded away unconsciously.

Instead, the attention was drawn to the black jade chess piece.

While Duke Qiu was waiting for the emperor to sit down, he secretly looked at the gloomy face of the emperor when he came in. It had faded a little, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Seeing that the emperor's gaze was no longer lingering on the courtyard he had just renovated, the huge stone stuck in Duke Qiu's throat finally fell to the ground.

It is not easy to please the emperor.

Especially the current emperor whose temperament is becoming more and more treacherous.

But Duke Qiu was very conceited in his heart. Emperor Liang's visit to the Qiu Mansion late at night was also a rare honor for the Qiu family.

Especially in this winter when the capital city was in turmoil, the wealth of the Qiu family made many outsiders jealous.

The old Duke took the time to signal the servant who came to serve tea and water, telling him to go find the master quickly.

The servants retreated quietly and waited until they found a place where they would not disturb their masters. Then they turned around and hurried outside the mansion to look for Qiu Suan, the eldest master of the Qiu family.

Late in the night, Qiu Suan did not rest at home, but stayed overnight in a red-light district drinking with several colleagues.

This matter could be a big or small matter, and the servants in the mansion hurriedly rode their horses to the west city to look for someone.

Warm indoors.

The chess game between the king and his minister has begun.

The two of them played chess, moving back and forth, but neither of them was in a hurry.

Duke Qiu also realized that His Majesty left the palace late at night not to play chess with him, but it seemed that the emperor had something on his mind, which made him feel irritable, so he came out to relax.

I was not concentrating when playing chess.

Duke Qiu pretended not to see it and accompanied the troubled emperor, playing his game slowly, neither attacking nor defending, appearing casual and considerate.

After all, Xiahou Jie was smart, so how could he not see his intention after a few rounds?

Although the minister's desire to please and serve was too obvious and not very popular, what was rare was that for the upset Xiahou Jie, Duke Qiu's actions tonight actually made him feel very good.

As the game went on, he even teased the old Duke for his poor chess play tonight.

Duke Qiu laughed heartily and joined the emperor in self-mockery.

The king and his ministers enjoyed the game of chess very much.

Xiahou Jie's mood gradually relaxed.

Duke Qiu was an old fox. When he saw the emperor's gloomy expression improve, the alarm bells in his heart went off.

The midnight snack and warm wine prepared by the servants were also brought up.

The atmosphere is just right here and now.

Duke Qiu seized the opportunity and respectfully asked the emperor's will.

"Your Majesty, have you been too busy managing state affairs these days?"

Xiahou Jie placed a piece on the chessboard and said, "I am a little tired." The minister nodded. Since His Majesty said so, it meant that the emperor was willing to continue chatting. However, at this time, he, as a minister, could not say too much.

You can only serve the emperor's thoughts, but you cannot guess them.

The emperor would not leave the palace for no reason.

The old Duke just stayed with Xiahou Jie like this.

Pour wine for the emperor from time to time.

Xiahou Jie took a sip, looked at the chessboard which was not too difficult, and slowly said, "My dear, do you usually like to dream?"

When Duke Qiu heard the emperor suddenly say this!

The alarm bells are ringing in my heart!

Long live, did you suddenly have another strange dream tonight?

Duke Qiu had a calm face, thought for a moment, and answered seriously: "To be honest with you, Your Majesty, I have caught a cold since winter and have become a little weak. For some reason, I have not been able to sleep well at night in the past few months. I do have many dreams. Sometimes, I toss and turn, and even have dreams several times. However, I usually wake up during the day, so I can't remember clearly."

"Oh? You feel unwell, have you consulted the imperial physician?"

At this time, Xiahou Jie unexpectedly showed concern for him.

Duke Qiu smiled and said, "Thanks to your majesty's great blessing, the imperial physician of the Imperial Hospital did prescribe a prescription for me and took care of my condition."

"Really? How's the effect?"

"The doctors are great, and he is naturally much better." When Duke Qiu saw that the emperor's cup was empty, he quickly filled it again with both hands, "Your Majesty, although the affairs of the world are serious, your Majesty's health is the most important. Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself."

Xiahou Jie nodded slightly, feeling very touched by his subject's concern.

The two continued raining for a while.

Duke Qiu felt a little hesitant as he didn't hear the emperor speak for a long time.

Is the emperor waiting for him to ask?

And they were afraid of offending the emperor.

Duke Qiu was also worried that he had guessed the emperor's thoughts wrongly, and he was in great torment.

After enduring for a while, Duke Qiu thought about it and still felt that if he didn't ask actively tonight, His Majesty might not say it out loud.

Just when Duke Qiu mustered up the courage to speak, the emperor opposite him, who was studying the chess game with his head down, suddenly spoke.

"My dear, what is destiny?"

Duke Qiu: “…”

The old Duke had been cautious all his life, but he was so frightened by the emperor's sudden words late at night that he felt a chill down his spine!

Xiahou Jie raised his eyes and glanced at him, smiled faintly, then lowered his head and said, "I had a dream tonight, it was quite interesting."

Qiu Guogong thought: What kind of dream? !
But he didn't dare to ask now!
The emperor had a smile on his lips, but there wasn't even a trace of warmth in his dragon eyes!
"Qiu Aiqing, it's your turn."

The emperor reminded him.

Duke Qiu suddenly came to his senses, hurriedly glanced at the situation, and followed the emperor's first move to place a piece.

"You lose this time."

"It is only natural that I lose to Your Majesty."

"Hahahaha!"

I don’t know whether he was happy about winning the game of chess or about what Lord Qiu said.

Xiahou Jie suddenly felt that the depressed feeling that had been accumulating in his chest had miraculously dissipated!
He threw away the chess piece in his hand and looked up at his favorite minister.

"I dreamed tonight that the enemy was at the gates of the city. When I woke up, I felt unlucky. I would like to stay at your house. It would be nice to have a response from the outside."

Xiahou Jie lowered his eyes and chewed on the old Duke's words just now, and hummed with satisfaction: "Losing to me is destiny."

(End of this chapter)