After My Death, The Villain Blackened Again: Chapter 6

ARC 1: THE EMPEROR SCHEMES TO GRAB A MAN’S WIFE (3)

If something was to happen between her and this darling of Tiandao, then the only opportunity would be during this one time she entered the capital.

The first thing Yan Ge did after arriving in Jingcheng was to buy a few sets of women's clothing.

When she was wearing men's robes, she thought that Ming Lan's appearance would have a special quality in women's wear, but after trying them on, she had a sudden urge to cover her eyes.

Wearing men's wear had become a habit, and she honestly couldn’t see Ming Lan’s feminine beauty in a dress. In the end, she bought two sets of ornate nobleman's clothing.

Yan Ge wore a purple silk-embroidered gown paired with a belt studded with precious stones. Without the armor's dreary and murderous air, she found that Ming Lan’s tall and slender body had a somewhat distinguished atmosphere.

The most famous temple in Jingcheng was the Dajue Temple.

After strolling around the city, Yan Ge rode a horse there.

Thanks to the good fortune of Ming Lan's father, she had an exclusive courtyard. Every time the host returned to Jingcheng, she would live in the incense burning temple for a few days.

Yan Ge did not go to the host's private courtyard this time. Instead, she used a pilgrim identity to ask for a side room.

The current emperor had been on the throne for five years. He was a year younger than Ming Lan and was to come of age this year.

Normally, a male youth became an adult once they turned twenty, but by the time the emperor ascended the throne, he already had the experience of a crafty old fox.

Coming of age meant that imperial concubines could be established, and Chaotang¹ turned chaotic over this matter. The emperor's heart was vexed, so he went straight to Dajue Temple to relax.

Great Master Liaofan of the Dajue Temple just happened to return from a recent tour. The emperor wanted to have a chat with him, but when he arrived, his men reported that Master Liaofan was playing chess² with someone in the Houshan bamboo forest and would only be available when he completed three matches.

The emperor waited in the tearoom for a long time, but he still did not see the man.

Not just anyone could enter the Houshan bamboo forest, and the emperor was aware of Master Liaofan’s chess skills. Those who could use chess to hang the great master were not ordinary.

The emperor stood up and decided that he may as well go there.

He never thought a young man would be the one playing against Master Fan.

The youth looked like he had not yet come of age. His facial features were somewhat effeminate, and his body was quite thin and frail. However, his voice was clear and sharp, and every movement was brisk and scholarly. When the youth stared at the chess table, it was like a light breeze and a clear moon³. The emperor had a seldom-felt sense of appreciation for the young man.

While Master Liaofan and Yan Ge played against each other, the emperor watched silently from the sidelines.

By the end of the third match, the sky was already dim. Master Liaofan looked up at Yan Ge and laughed heartily: "Easy to lose, and easy to win; neither victorious or defeated. This old man is curious to know how this benefactor achieved the same outcome in all three matches.”

Master Liaofan’s words shocked the emperor. Even he could not casually win or lose against Master Liaofan. How did this young man do it? He could not help but raise his head to re-evaluate the teenager.

Yan Ge also laughed, and her voice was bright and cheerful: "Great Master believes me to be too incredible. The first time was luck, the second was an accident, and the third can only demonstrate that we are evenly matched."

Had he not observed the three games of chess, the emperor would have certainly thought the youth did not know the immensity of heaven and earth⁴. His chest surged, and for a moment, he really wanted to pull his up his sleeves and play three games with him.

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1. Cháotáng (朝堂)palace hall where the emperor had an audience with his courtiers to discuss state affairs↩︎
2. T/NJust so you know, this is Chinese chess, otherwise known as 'Go'. Husbando called it 'chess' and I didn't feel a need to correct it↩︎
3. Light breeze and a clear moon (光风霁月 — guāng fēng jì yuè)idiom that means a noble and benevolent character↩︎
4. Not know the immensity of heaven and earth (不知天高地厚 — bù zhī tiān gāo dì hòu)idiom that means having an exaggerated opinion of one's abilities↩︎

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Historical settings are pretty...painful. Thank husbando for doing the heavy lifting.