The Double-Chapter 678 - 209: Looking at Each Other_4

Within her words, there seemed to be other implications. Yin Zhili looked at Jiang Li, who maintained a calm expression. After pondering for a moment and saying nothing more, they arrived at the courtyard’s stone table during this timing. A chessboard and pieces were laid out on the stone table, and Yin Zhili asked, "Second Miss, would you like to play a game of chess?"

"Sure," Jiang Li said.

They sat down at the stone table. The table was under a tree, and between the leaves, fine sunlight scattered on the board, turning into a random pattern of gold.

Yin Zhili gestured for Jiang Li to go first. She chose the black pieces. So, Yin Zhili took the white ones.

The black pieces had the first move.

Jiang Li, in fact, might not have played chess with anyone for a long time. Xue Zhao didn’t enjoy it, but Xue Huaiyuan loved it. In their youth, Xue Huaiyuan would drag Xue Fangfei to accompany her in chess, turning a complete novice into an expert. In the first few years after marrying into the Shen family, Shen Yurong also liked to play chess with her. There had been times of gentle grace, like "Gambling books to dispel the aroma of spilt tea", but these were worn away by more and more trivial matters over time.

Latterly, she became Jiang Li, focused solely on revenge, with no one to match wits with her in chess. Ji Heng seemed not to like chess, at least she never played with Jiang Li. Thus, Yin Zhili could be considered the first since she became Jiang Li to engage in a game of chess with her during her leisure time.

Yin Zhili’s style of chess was very gentle, but he played each piece with firm resolution. In contrast, Jiang Li’s chess moves appeared somewhat disorganized, as if she were unskilled. However, the person who excelled in the Six Arts couldn’t possibly be utterly clueless about chess. Yin Zhili sighed, "Second Miss’s way of playing chess is indeed quite unique."

"It’s just a little cleverness," while speaking, Jiang Li quickly placed another piece casually, saying, "The Princely Heir surely knows that Prince Cheng’s soldiers have recently arrived outside the city, getting ready to rebel?"

Yin Zhili paused, seemingly taken aback by Jiang Li’s sudden mention of this matter, but still responded warmly, "I am aware of this; my father has returned to the capital to capture the traitorous forces by imperial command."

"Can General Zhaode suppress the rebels?" Jiang Li asked.

Her question sounded exceedingly naive, as if she had no clue about the number of Prince Cheng’s soldiers or how many troops were under General Zhaode’s command. To her, warfare was simply a matter of "victory or defeat"; she understood nothing else.

Yin Zhili smiled and said, "Rest assured, Second Miss, with my father here, the rebels won’t enter the city."

"So General Zhaode seems to be stronger than Prince Cheng?" Jiang Li inquired.

Yin Zhili had just placed a white piece when he heard this, he lifted his head to look at Jiang Li.

The girl seemed not to notice the change in the man’s expression. Holding a black piece, she appeared to be seriously contemplating where to place it. She casually said, "General Zhaode must not only protect the city; he also has to eradicate the rebels. Otherwise, with Prince Cheng’s men circling outside the city, this prolonged standoff would mean that people from outside can’t come in, and those inside can’t leave. It’s inconvenient for everyone. What if Prince Cheng simply attacks other cities? Haven’t there been records in history of rebels taking over half the kingdom and proclaiming themselves rulers?"

"Your thoughts aren’t wrong, Second Miss," Yin Zhili looked down again, following each of Jiang Li’s moves with his own. His moves were quick, unlike Jiang Li, who still had to think, as if he had already calculated every subsequent step. He said, "The rebel forces eventually have to be annihilated, but once the war begins, it is the commoners who suffer." He had a shadow of grief in his eyes as he spoke.

Jiang Li captured this trace of sorrow in full view and was surprised. Rumor had it that the Crown Prince was a person with a kind and compassionate heart. Now it seemed that this wasn’t false. Those of high status, even those with a slightly higher rank, often failed to empathize deeply with the public or to understand the sufferings of the world. Yet Yin Zhili considered the people affected by war, which showed he was different from others.

Jiang Li said, "Wars are sometimes fought to protect more people. This has nothing to do with the Princely Heir; you needn’t be too hard on yourself."

Yin Zhili smiled as well: "My father often says that I have the compassion of a woman, which is not a good thing. Second Miss is amused by this."

"Having a kind heart is nothing to be ashamed of. The Princely Heir needn’t be so modest," Jiang Li said with a smile. "The Princely Heir is very good."

"You always address me as Princely Heir, which seems overly formal. We’ve met on the streets before and have played chess together; we should at least be considered friends," Yin Zhili spoke in a gentle voice. "In the future, please don’t call me Princely Heir."