Special Agent Rebirth: The Omnipotent Goddess of Quick Transmigration
Chapter 665 - 656 Female Veneration: The Great God Above (11) More 3

Chapter 665: 656 Female Veneration: The Great God Above (11) More 3

What heir apparent?

Given the Empress’s fondness for the Second Princess, as long as the Second Princess was around, what business was there for her, the First Princess?

Second Princess Ye Shaohua had Ren Shaonian tie the sash for her, during which she noticed the slight change in the youth’s expression.

Her heart swelled with pleasure.

That’s right, this was how it should be.

From now on, these people would slowly start to realize that she was the daughter the Empress valued most.

"I heard from the Manager that you were very keen on coming to my palace?" asked the Second Princess with a smile teasing her lips as the youth tied her sash.

The youth’s face flushed, and he immediately seized the opportunity to kneel and express his loyalty, "My homeland is where the flood happened. It was your strategy paper to the Prime Minister that saved our entire family. You are my second parents!"

So that was it.

The Second Princess smiled, "It was merely my duty."

Having said that, she had also changed into her clothes. The previous palace attire had overly long sleeves which weren’t suitable for playing Go, so she had changed into another outfit.

After changing, she arrived at the Great Hall, receiving countless scrutinizing gazes.

Today, the Empress was showing off the might of the great nation to instill courage in the people of the Barbarian Country.

Officials of all ranks were present.

Whether they were the governors from small places or the high-ranking ministers from the Imperial Capital.

Some ministers were well aware of the Second Princess’s profound knowledge, so they weren’t worried at all; in fact, they were quite pleased. Seeing those Barbarians’ self-important demeanor, they felt very indignant.

Some officials from smaller locales weren’t familiar with the reputation of the Second Princess, but they recognized Wen Jin, the Prime Minister’s son from the Imperial City.

However, at this moment, their eyes were also filled with expectation as they gazed at the Second Princess.

A few chess cognoscenti had already recognized the Barbarian Prince.

Sitting behind the Prime Minister was Li Shangshu, who looked at the Barbarian Prince and suddenly frowned, "Him?"

"Minister Li, you know him?" the Prime Minister asked.

"Three years ago when I was still serving at the Dali Temple, I went to the Borderland area on assignment and heard of this man’s name. I believe Mr. Wen is also familiar with him?" said Li Shangshu, not answering directly but turning his gaze toward Wen Jin.

Upon hearing this, Wen Jin’s eyes shifted from the Second Princess, and he nodded gravely, "My teacher once told me during my chess training that there was a genius in the Barbarian Country who understood the intricate chess game at the age of seven, and that is this Prince."

"Understood the intricate chess game at seven?" The Prime Minister was stunned for a moment, turning to look at Wen Jin seriously, "Are you certain about this?"

"Yes, my teacher mentioned he is a chess prodigy," Wen Jin said. "I didn’t expect him to be sent as a marriage envoy and now competing in chess with our people. Go, originally, is a game of our dynasty. If we lose it to someone from the Barbarian Country in our own court..."

Wen Jin left the rest unsaid.

But both Li Shangshu and the Prime Minister understood the gravity of the situation.

If our imposing Wang Dynasty, with land dozens of times larger than the Barbarian Country and with a population several times that of the tiny Island Country, were to lose our own game of chess in the Imperial Palace to a foreigner...

It would be a disgrace to our Wang Dynasty!

If they did not win, the people of the Barbarian Country, even if defeated, would not truly submit.

On the contrary, our matriarchal Wang Dynasty would be scorned as though we were the barbarians.

"How likely do you think it is that the Second Princess can win against this Prince?" the Prime Minister murmured.

Even Wen Jin, who had immense trust in the Second Princess, hesitated, "The Empress must know the Second Princess’s ability, otherwise, she wouldn’t have appointed her. Their chances are fifty-fifty."

Hearing this verdict, both Li Shangshu and the Prime Minister exchanged a grave look.

"I’ll suggest to His Majesty that you should replace her," the Prime Minister said with a furrowed brow.

"No need," Wen Jin stopped the Prime Minister, and seeing the puzzled look on his face, Wen Jin chuckled and shook his head, "Mother, you probably don’t realize that I have played against the Second Princess in chess. Out of three games, I’ve lost two. You always thought of her as being extremely talented, but you didn’t know she has a slightly better grasp of chess than me! The Empress’s choice may seem random, but in fact, she has chosen the best chess player here. If the Second Princess cannot win against that Prince, no one else here will be able to."

This was something the Prime Minister and the other officials truly did not know.

The Prime Minister finally came to a realization at this point, "No wonder you’ve been playing games of Go against the Second Princess; it turns out her skills in chess are so advanced."

Li Shangshu’s eyes turned to the Second Princess with a newfound admiration.

She had been biding her time, but now making such a move in this moment was certainly not easy.

Wen Jin’s voice wasn’t very quiet, and some people around the Prime Minister heard quite clearly.

Especially when they compared the relaxed, unconcerned demeanor of Ye Shaohua with the growing support among the majority of the officials leaning toward the Second Princess.

Palace maids in between had already brought over chairs and a table.

The Second Princess and the Prince were seated opposite each other.

"Our guests have arrived, please." The Second Princess gestured elegantly, her face showing not the slightest fear.

The Barbarian Prince didn’t hesitate and immediately placed a piece on the board.

The Second Princess made a very aggressive move in response.

In ancient times, following the principle of yin and yang, white pieces represented yang and were played first, unlike in modern times.

Thus, the Second Princess had the black pieces, and on the board, it was apparent that her black "qi" was more abundant.

In Go, each stone’s potential lines of extension represent "qi." If a stone has no qi, it becomes "dead," and that stone can be captured by the opponent.

The outcome of the game is determined by who controls more territory on the board.

It’s like a simulated battlefield.

Now, those who understood Go could see clearly that the board state favored the Second Princess with more "qi" pathways.

She had been pressuring the Prince from the start.

And that Prince, with one of his stones left with only a single qi left, if that qi were blocked, the Barbarian Prince would lose the first stone to the Second Princess.

At that moment, the atmosphere throughout the Palace Banquet was very positive.

Even Wen Jin, who had been anxious all along, breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the Second Princess with even more admiration.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ye Shaohua looking at the Second Princess with a seemingly amused gaze, and even shaking her head slightly. Irritation and disgust rose unbidden on Wen Jin’s face.

If the First Princess didn’t understand, then she didn’t. Why put on such a posture during the Palace Banquet, to disgust whom?