Aware of the sight on him, Taishi Yao looked as usual:
"Back then, due to changes in my wife and my beloved disciple, and because the court became different from the late emperor's ideals, I was so disappointed that I lived in seclusion in the mountains, sad and decadent. Although I live in seclusion, I have not lost all my teeth. I just don't cause trouble. That’s all, if something happens to me, I will still fight back.”
Taifu Lin: "You have such a temper that even if you have been practicing Taoism for many years, you can't get rid of it. How many people can match the late emperor's broad mind and great talents?"
Taishi Yao had sarcastic disappointment in his eyes:
"Today's Tianchu is like a ship floating on a sea that seems calm but is actually undercurrent. Although he seems to be in high spirits due to several victories, secretly there is already a depressed atmosphere. In the court, most people are full of food. People who are greedy for pleasure for their own money, and even worse, wear fine official attire and commit evil deeds that are outraged by both humans and gods."
Having said this, Taishi Yao's fingers tightened and turned white:
"The people at the helm only care about suspicions and checks and balances, while the princes are busy with party disputes, making friends and helping to suppress their opponents, and do everything they can. These worms that bring harm to the country and the people, whenever it is useful to them, not only turn a blind eye, but also harbor and condone them. In this way, they abandon the law, etiquette, and justice. How can there be any trace of the purity and integrity that the late Emperor had when he was still alive?"
Replacing the disappointed anger in his heart with hot breath, Taishi Yao relaxed his grip and placed a piece on the chessboard.
Pingyang Hou's face was also full of helpless nostalgia:
"The late Emperor is a rare wise king, and it is a blessing for us to be his ministers. Therefore, when my son passed away, although I was saddened, I did not have the slightest regret. Everyone knows that Pingyang Marquis Mansion is my son's life. The hereditary inheritance obtained by saving the Holy Emperor. As everyone knows, the person I sent my son to protect at that time was not the emperor, but the heir of the previous emperor."
Taishi Yao sighed: "If I hadn't met Mingjun, I would not have sat on the position of Taishi."
Mr. Tang Ge also sighed with nostalgia: "When the late Emperor was here, all appointments were based on virtue and ability, mistakes were never shielded, loyalty was never scrupulous, and party disputes were not allowed. The monarch and his ministers were united, the atmosphere in the court was pure, and the aristocratic family was never suppressed."
After the four people finished saying their thanks, they all fell into silence. An Zhixian also sat silently, with no intention of speaking.
It wasn't until the fire boiled the water that the silence in the house was broken.
Seeing that the chess game was hopeless, Marquis Pingyang glanced at Taishi Yao who was drinking tea, and asked while collecting his pieces:
"I heard that Siyuan's daughter has had a personal relationship with Princess Qin recently?"
Taifu Lin: "Yan'er told me that Princess Qin treated her warmly and kindly. She often asked Yan'er to meet her when she went out to meet her, such as rouge and jewelry, and other trivial matters at home."
Marquis Pingyang continued to accept the son: "Although the purpose is not revealed, the motive is definitely impure, so be careful."
Seeing that Taifu Lin knew what he was thinking, Marquis Pingyang said again:
"How is Huining's health?"
Master Yao: "Under the care of Divine Doctor Wu, he is gradually recovering."
Marquis Pingyang: "When she was young, Huining often came to the Marquis' Mansion with you. In the future, she will come to the Marquis' Mansion more often if she likes."
Grand Master Yao: "I will tell her when I get back. How come you, after losing a few games, are still prepared to wait and not change?"
After being exposed, Pingyang Hou took back the black piece in his hand and threw it back to the chessboard with an unhappy expression:
"Excuse me, who wants to bet with you all the time, just to help you collect your children? They don't know the heart of a good person!"
Seeing Pingyang Hou stand up with a stinking face, holding a tea cup and giving up his seat, everyone couldn't help laughing.
Master Yao: "The quality of chess is like the quality of one's character. Mr. Ge, are you interested in talking about a game?"
Mr. Tang Ge stood up slowly and said with a smile:
"I'm willing to play chess with you."
(End of chapter)
