From cute to empress

Chapter 211 The Whirlpool of Temptation

As the clamor of the celebration faded, my heart felt remarkably peaceful. I love spending afternoons in the library, where I can feel the weight of history and find a moment of peace.

I wandered among the bookshelves, my eyes glancing over rows of ancient tomes, my fingertips lightly brushing over the yellowed pages, feeling the passage of time. Suddenly, an invisible force pulled me, bringing me to a dusty desk in the corner.

A scroll lay quietly, its pristine sheepskin exuding a timeworn scent. For some unknown reason, I lifted it and gently blew away the dust, revealing the pristine writing. I tried to decipher the words, but they were incomprehensible, as if from another world. Yet, I felt an inexplicable pull, as if this scroll held some earth-shattering secret, a desire to delve deeper.

"Mengmeng, what are you looking at?" A familiar voice sounded in my ears, and Zhen Youcai came to my side without me knowing when.

I looked up at his concerned eyes, hesitated for a moment, and decided to confess: "I found a very strange ancient book. I have never seen the words on it before, but I can feel that it seems very unusual."

Zhen Youcai took the scroll and examined it carefully, frowning slightly. "This writing is indeed very ancient. I seem to have seen it somewhere before, but I can't remember where it is at the moment."

"I have a hunch that this scroll may contain some secrets, and I must find out." My tone was firm, and the desire for knowledge deep in my heart was completely ignited.

Zhen Youcai looked at me, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes: "Mengmeng, I know you are always curious about unknown things, but there are some things that we should not easily get involved in. What if..."

"I know what you're worried about, but there are things I must do." I interrupted him, a determined glint in my eyes. "I believe that as long as we act cautiously, we can resolve any danger."

Zhen Youcai wanted to say something else, but he finally sighed, held my hand, and said softly, "Okay, since you've made up your mind, I will definitely support you. However, you must promise me that you will be cautious and not act rashly."

"I promise you." I nodded solemnly, my eyes full of gratitude.

I began to study this ancient book day and night, trying to decipher the text. Zhen Youcai also tried his best to help me, searching everywhere for relevant ancient books and documents, hoping to find some clues.

However, as my research deepened, my uneasiness grew stronger and stronger. I vaguely felt that an invisible shadow was approaching us...

"Your Majesty, be careful!" An old, hurried voice suddenly rang out in the silent library. I turned around and saw an old man in plain clothes, with white hair and a youthful face, standing at the door. His eyes were filled with anxiety and worry...

"Who are you? Why are you trespassing in the library?" I asked cautiously, hiding the ancient book in my hand behind my back. Zhen Youcai also stood in front of me cautiously, staring sharply at this uninvited guest.

The old man slowly approached, and I finally got a clear look at his features: his clothes were washed white but clean and tidy. Beneath his long brows, his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, as if they could see through everything. He smiled faintly, and an invisible pressure came over me. "I am Mo Yin, a man of leisure. I came here today because of this ancient book."

He pointed at the desk behind me, and I subconsciously hugged the ancient book tighter. "I found this ancient book by chance. What does it have to do with you, old man?"

Elder Mo Yin sighed, "Your Majesty, you may not know that this ancient book is not an ordinary thing. It records a forbidden technique from ancient times. If it is obtained by someone with evil intentions, it will bring catastrophic disaster to all people in the world!"

His words were filled with worry, but I was filled with doubt. Forbidden technique? Disaster? It all sounded too unbelievable. I turned to look at Zhen Youcai, who also had a frown on his face, clearly skeptical of the old man's words.

"Old sir, forgive me for being frank, but what you said is too exaggerated. I have never heard of any forbidden technique, and I don't believe it will bring any disaster." I tried to remain polite, but there was a hint of doubt in my tone.

"Seeing is believing, hearing is not," Old Man Mo Yin looked at me with stern eyes, "If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can open the ancient books and find out the truth."

His eyes seemed to hold a kind of magic, and I was compelled to open the ancient book, but reason told me not to do so. This ancient book was too mysterious, and the appearance of Elder Mo Yin was too strange. I had to figure it all out before I could make a decision.

I took a deep breath, suppressed my curiosity, and said to Elder Mo Yin, "Old sir, I appreciate your kindness. But I believe there are no forbidden techniques in this world, let alone disasters. Although this ancient book is old, it is only a witness to history. I will keep it safe and will never let it fall into the wrong hands."

Elder Mo Yin seemed to have anticipated what I would say. He wasn't angry, but simply smiled meaningfully. "Your Majesty, curiosity is a good thing, but you must also act within your capabilities. Some things, once started, cannot be turned back. Are you truly ready?"

His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. I stared at the ancient book in my hand, my curiosity and uneasiness intertwined, leaving me at a loss.

"Your Majesty," Elder Mo Yin suddenly changed his tone, "If you really want to know the truth, I can give you a chance." He paused, a sly look in his eyes, "I can use a special method to show you the secret of this ancient book. But," his tone became serious, "you must agree to one condition..."

Elder Mo Yin's words were like a feather, gently plucked at the curiosity deep within me. I stared at him intently, trying to discern something from his deep eyes, but ultimately failed. "What are the conditions?" I asked, my voice a little hoarse with nervousness.

Elder Mo Yin stroked his beard, a mysterious smile curling his lips. "It's simple. Let's have a contest of wits. If you win, I'll stop interfering with this ancient book. If you lose..." He paused, his gaze settling on the ancient book in my hands, "then hand it over to me."

Zhen Youcai took a step forward, trying to stop me, but I raised my hand to stop him. I knew what he was worried about, but the unyielding spirit in my heart was already burning fiercely. I wanted to see what this old man Mo Yin had in mind! "Okay, I promise you!" I said firmly, not backing down.

A flicker of admiration flashed in Old Man Mo Yin's eyes. He slowly walked to the desk and pulled out a neatly folded chessboard from his sleeve. With a gentle shake, the chessboard automatically unfolded and landed steadily on the desk. He made a "please" gesture, indicating that I should make the first move.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. The chessboard was clearly divided into black and white, crisscrossing horizontally, like a microcosm of fate. The chess piece in my hand was my weapon against fate. I pondered for a moment, then picked up a white piece and placed it in the center of the board.

"The position of Tianyuan is indeed courageous!" Old Man Mo Yin exclaimed in admiration, and then placed a black piece, facing my white piece from a distance.

A game of chess, like life, is always fraught with peril. As the game progressed, I gradually felt the pressure from Elder Mo Yin. He carefully considered each move, meticulously crafting every move, completely blocking my path. I dared not slack off, racking my brains, searching for a way out.

Time ticked by, the library silent except for the crisp sound of chess pieces dropping. Just as I was about to collapse, I suddenly discovered a flaw! Elder Mo Yin seemed too focused on defense and neglected offense, giving me an opportunity to exploit.

A gleam of light flashed in my eyes, and I placed a move without hesitation, going straight to Huanglong! Elder Mo Yin obviously didn't expect me to make such a risky move. He frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

I secretly rejoiced, knowing I had the upper hand. I pressed on, pressing harder and harder, until Elder Mo Yin's defenses gradually crumbled. The balance of victory seemed to be tilting in my favor...

"Your Majesty is indeed extremely intelligent," just when I thought victory was certain, Elder Mo Yin suddenly spoke, with a barely perceptible cunning in his tone, "However, this game of chess is far from over!"

As he spoke, he placed a black piece on the edge of the board, a seemingly insignificant spot. However, the moment it landed, I felt an inexplicable chill wash over me, a sense of foreboding. The black piece was like a drop of ink in water, rapidly spreading. The once clear chessboard blurred before my eyes. I felt dizzy, my chest tight, as if a huge rock were pressing down on my heart, choking me.

I forced myself to endure the discomfort and stared at the chessboard, trying to figure out the secret of the black piece. However, the more I looked, the more frightened I became. I had once thought victory was in my grasp, but now it felt like I was trapped in an invisible web, with every move fraught with danger.

"What...what's going on?" I couldn't help but ask, my voice trembling with nervousness.

Old Man Mo Yin did not answer my question. He just looked at the chessboard quietly. The mysterious smile on the corner of his mouth seemed full of sarcasm to me at this moment.

"Your Majesty," he began slowly, his voice low and hoarse, "Many things in this world are not as simple as they appear. This ancient book is more than just a record of history."

My heart trembled. Elder Mo Yin's words were like a flash of lightning, splitting the fog before my eyes. Could it be that this ancient book still has some secrets that I don't know?

"What...what do you want to say?" I suppressed the uneasiness in my heart and asked.

Elder Mo Yin didn't answer me directly. He reached out and picked up the black piece from the chessboard, placed it in front of me, and said in a deep voice, "This black piece represents a kind of power, a power that is enough to subvert the world."

I looked at that ordinary black piece, my heart filled with doubt and unease. How could such a small chess piece possibly possess the power to overturn the world?

"Your Majesty," Zhen Youcai, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke. He walked over to me, staring sharply at Elder Mo Yin, "Who are you? Why are you approaching Your Majesty?"

Elder Mo Yin glanced at Zhen Youcai, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes, but he didn't answer his question. Instead, he turned to me and said, "Your Majesty, the secret of this ancient book is far more complicated than you imagine. I came here today not to embarrass Your Majesty, but to help Your Majesty unlock the secrets of this ancient book."

"Help me?" I sneered, "That's not what you said before."

"Your Majesty has misunderstood," Elder Mo Yin explained calmly, "I simply wanted to take this opportunity to test your Majesty's abilities. Now it seems that your Majesty is indeed destined to be the one who can unlock the secrets of this ancient book."

I sneered inwardly. This old man Mo Yin was truly eloquent. He clearly wasn't as skilled as the other person, yet he insisted on saying he was deliberately testing me. However, since he said that, he must have something to ask of me.

"Tell me, what do you want?" I asked directly.

Elder Mo Yin smiled slightly, a gleam in his eyes, "I hope that Your Majesty can agree to one condition of mine..." He paused, and said word by word, "Join hands with me to prevent a catastrophe!"