Women dressed as men: powerful officials

Chapter 120 Game of Chess

After Qi Shengxin left, the atmosphere in the hallway became a little subtle.

Xu Yuan tapped the teacup gently, and seeing that Qi Chengen had no intention of speaking, he took the initiative to ask, "Is the Prime Minister ill?"

After hearing Xu Yuan's words, Qi Chengen said, "As you get older, your health will naturally deteriorate."

After Qi Chengen finished speaking, he saw Xu Yuan tapping his teacup gently, not knowing what he was thinking about, and asked again: "Look... you look about the same age as Xin'er, you should be seventeen or eighteen this year, right?"

"I am fifteen this year, so I should be younger than Master Qi."

"Fifteen, that's about the same age as Zhu'er, no wonder he looks smaller too."

Hearing Qi Chengen's words, Xu Yuan smiled and said, "I dare not deceive the Prime Minister. My family is poor and I don't have much to eat, so I have always been short. This makes people laugh at me."

Xuyuan is actually not short. In fact, she is considered tall among women.

But she was pretending to be a man, so it was inevitable that she looked a little inadequate.

But there was nothing wrong with making a wish. After being reborn, she was already past the age where she would feel inferior because of her appearance, height, or family background.

Not only is she not inferior, but she likes herself very much.

Because, even with her frail body, she can do things that most people can't.

Qi Chengen was a little surprised by Xu Yuan's frankness. He couldn't help but laugh and said, "When other young masters see me, they all say that they are talented, but they are not as frank as you."

"Some people are ashamed of being poor, while others feel superior because of being rich. The younger generation only knows that nowadays, being able to grow up alive and go to school is already very good. Therefore, the younger generation does not think that being poor is shameful, nor does it think that being educated is superior. If the younger generation does not cherish the things accumulated by their parents, even the richest family will be squandered."

"From what you said, you really don't look like a 15-year-old boy."

After Qi Chengen finished speaking, he couldn't help but laugh, stood up and said: "I haven't seen such an interesting young man like you for a long time. Do you know how to play chess? I have nothing to do today, and Xin'er is not here, so I feel like playing chess."

Xu Yuan followed Qi Chengen and stood up, and replied, "A little bit."

"Okay, let's play a game of chess, and when Xin'er comes back, we can start the banquet."

After Qi Chengen finished speaking, he said "Come here", and ordered someone to go to the backyard to invite Qi Shengzhu to come. Finally, he said to Xu Yuan, "Come to my study."

Xu Yuan nodded and followed.

Qi Chengen’s study is also large and is in a separate building.

Xu Yuan instinctively looked around, and Qi Chengen saw this and said, "I am the prime minister. I deal with a lot of things every day, so my study is naturally large. This study has three floors. The first floor is for office, the second floor is for some books I collected, and the third floor is converted into a bedroom. Sometimes I fall asleep in the study late at night."

"The Prime Minister works day and night, which is a blessing for the country and the people."

"Hahaha, you, young man, always speak so nicely."

The smile on Qi Chengen's face grew wider.

The two people entered the study room. Qi Chengen went to get the chess pieces. Xu Yuan stood there quietly until Qi Chengen came back, and then he sat down.

The chessboard unfolds.

Qi Chengen said: "You come first, otherwise if it gets out, people will say I'm bullying a child."

"You are too polite, Prime Minister. If you don't tell anyone about what happened today, no one will know."

After making the wish, he picked up a chess piece and put it down.

Qi Chengen also picked up the chess piece and followed suit, saying, "Do you have other brothers and sisters at home? You dared to come to the capital from Shuozhou alone at the age of fifteen. Aren't your family members worried?"

"I have an elder brother in my family who joined the army."

After making a wish, he continued, "In the capital, a fifteen-year-old is indeed a young master, but in my family, many people have already gone to work in the fields at the age of fifteen to support the whole family. Besides, I came here to study. The county examination in Sishui County has been suspended. If I don't go to the capital, I will have to study hard for another three years. Which family can bear these three years?"

Hearing Xu Yuan's words, Qi Chengen was also somewhat moved and said, "You are a sensible person, but it is not so easy to go to school in Beijing. The competition here should be much greater than that in your hometown."

“But this is the only way I have.”

"What if I don't pass the exam?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan looked up at Qi Chengen.

Qi Chengen did not make any move and just looked at Xu Yuan.

He had an elder's smile on his face, but it didn't look real.

He made a wish: "If I fail to make the list, I will return home early, marry and have children, and continue the family line."

Qi Chengen smiled, "You see things clearly."

"Children from poor families have to grow up early."

After making a wish, continue making moves.

The study also fell silent until footsteps were heard outside the door. Qi Shengzhu trotted in. After seeing Qi Chengen, he knelt down and said, "Zhu'er greets father."

After saying that, Qi Shengzhu looked at Xu Yuan who was standing beside him and said, "Hello, Mr. Xu."

Xu Yuan nodded slightly as a greeting.

Qi Chengen said, "You are almost 15 years old, but you are still so reckless. You don't look like your sister at all. Sooner or later, you will be laughed at when you go to your husband's house."

"With my father backing me up, who dares to bully Zhu'er?"

After Qi Shengzhu finished speaking, he sat next to Qi Chengen, hugged Qi Chengen's arm affectionately, but his eyes were looking at the chessboard.

Then, she said, "Daddy, Master Xu has always been giving in to you, don't you see?"

Hearing Qi Shengzhu's words, Xu Yuan was slightly surprised.

Qi Chengen said, "Zhu'er, don't think that you can figure out the tricks of chess just because you learned it for a few days. You are making fun of yourself for no reason."

Qi Shengzhu heard this and muttered, "If Daddy doesn't believe it, wait for brother to come back and show it to him."

Xu Yuan lowered his eyes slightly and said nothing.

Qi Chengen, on the other hand, looked at Xu Yuan and couldn't help but said, "I didn't realize that you are such a master."

Xu Yuan said, "I just learned a thing or two by chance."

She was not very good at chess, and before going to Beijing, she could even be said to know nothing about it.

So, after entering Wenhua Palace, when she saw that other people knew how to play chess, she became determined to learn it and learn it well.

Until now, Xu Yuan still feels that the time when she studied at Wenhua Palace in her previous life was the time when she made the fastest progress in her life.

If she hadn't made that wish back then, she wouldn't be who she is today.

"It doesn't look like he has learned anything."

Qi Chengen grabbed the chess piece, and then put it down, thinking of Qi Shengzhu's previous words, and said, "Forget it, forget it. I won't play chess today. If I really lose, I can't afford to lose face."

Xu Yuan nodded and said, "You are too polite, Prime Minister."

"I've heard you call me Prime Minister for a day, but it feels a bit strange. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle Qi." Qi Chengen finished speaking, picked up the hot tea beside him, and said, "You came to the capital to study, have you ever thought about entering Wenhua Palace?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan said, "I am of humble origin, so I naturally don't dare to dream of the Wenhua Palace."

"You are smart and talented. You behave like this and do things like this. I think you are also smart in learning."

Qi Chengen smiled slightly, looked at Xu Yuan, and said, "You saved my daughter, so I will recommend you to Wenhua Palace as a reward."