Chapter Fifty-Nine: Rejecting Gifts from the Prince of Hanyang (1)

Min Fengshan asked with a surprised expression, "Does Miss Huang happen to know my nephew?"
Huang Lan blushed from ear to ear, lowered her head, and replied, "We became acquainted two years ago while touring Moshui Lake, through Master Min Luan."
"Ah," Min Fengshan said, as if a sudden realization dawned upon him. "So that is how it is. You young people are far more open-minded than we old fellows."

Standing to the side, Huang Yan was secretly astonished. *No wonder this girl was egging me on every which way back at the Yellow Crane Tower earlier! It turns out she had her own agenda, and it was all tied to Min Fengshan's nephew. She kept it hidden without leaving a single trace.*

At this moment, Huang Chengyi chimed in, "My sister and I used to study and drink with Master Min Luan, and we got along famously. To avoid unnecessary trouble, we simply chose not to let our elders know."
Min Fengshan laughed and sighed, "So all you youngsters have already paired off, while we old fogies were still putting on stern faces and locking horns with each other. How utterly foolish of us!" Everyone burst into laughter at his words.

From then on, Jian Liang's chess challenges at the Yellow Crane Tower became an increasingly daily affair. Most of those who came to challenge him were lured by the two thousand taels of chess stakes, hoping to win by sheer luck, but every single one of them left defeated after losing their silver. The accumulated stakes grew day by day, eventually surpassing three thousand taels. To weed out the rogues and scoundrels from the chess matches, Jian Liang raised the minimum stake for challengers from nothing to no less than one hundred taels of silver, effectively keeping out greedy opportunists who hoped to net thousands of taels using a mere few dozen. Only seasoned masters with genuine skill dared to step forward after that. Half a month passed, and Jian Liang's reputation as a Go master grew ever more illustrious.

After Huang Yan of Baizhao Mountain and the Min brothers of Lotus Pavilion made peace, both parties felt deeply grateful to Jian Liang. Upon returning to Baizhao Mountain, Huang Yan had once again dispatched his brother and sister, Huang Chengyi and Huang Lan, bearing numerous gifts to be presented to Jian Liang and Min Fengshan respectively. Seeing that Jian Liang's chess reputation was soaring higher by the day without a single defeat, Min Fengshan was filled with astonishment and regarded him with even greater reverence, treating Xie Guyan with the utmost awe, almost as if he were a divinity.

With his peerless skill, Jian Liang defeated master after master, causing the number of challengers to dwindle day by day—evidently, those without true ability no longer dared to show their faces. Xie Guyan suggested to Jian Liang, "Master Jian, your chess strength is far too out of class compared to ours. Why not alter the rules to offer handicap matches, conceding three to five stones to your opponents? That might draw a larger crowd of challengers."

Jian Liang smiled and replied, "My true intention in playing chess is to draw out the Grandmaster Eunuch Li Ruchuan. I have no real desire to play for wagers against ordinary mediocrities. Though offering handicap games might bring in more people and increase the silver pool, it would also be exceedingly tedious, which goes against my original purpose in setting up this board. Now that my reputation has spread and the momentum has been built, I need only wait for that grandmaster eunuch to appear. If a few rare masters happen to be drawn here for a few rounds, I shall treat it merely as a way to limber up my fingers; it holds little real meaning otherwise." Hearing this, Xie Guyan could only nod respectfully, not daring to bring up the subject of handicap matches again.

That day, Min Fengshan brought a young man to formally greet Jian Liang. This newcomer was none other than Min Fengshan's nephew, Min Luan. Having just returned from Guiyuan Zen Temple and discovering the upheaval that had taken place at home, he deeply regretted ever leaving in the first place. Upon hearing the rumors that the legendary "Chess God" Jian Liang was acquainted with his second uncle, his curiosity was naturally piqued, and he pestered Min Fengshan to rush over to the Yellow Crane Tower that very day to meet Jian Liang.

Min Luan possessed a fair understanding of Go himself. During his idle moments every day, he sought instruction from Jian Liang, who generously imparted teachings on the strategies of attack and defense to both Min Luan and Xie Guyan simultaneously. Their chess abilities increased vastly, to the great delight of them both. A few days later, the Huang siblings came to visit Jian Liang once again, and Huang Lan was particularly overjoyed to see that Min Luan had returned. From then on, Min Luan's visits to the Yellow Crane Tower to watch and study chess grew somewhat less frequent. When Jian Liang noticed this, he merely smiled and let it be.

Another day, a torrential downpour lasted the entire day, driving away most of the wine-drinkers and tourists and leaving the spacious Yellow Crane Tower looking desolate and forlorn. Min Fengshan took it upon himself to invite Jian Liang upstairs to drink wine and admire the rain. The downpour was fierce, shrouding everything in a thick, watery mist that blotted out the trees and vegetation while concealing the mountains and rivers in the distance. Gazing into the distance from beside the window, Jian Liang was lost in thought. He reflected that nearly a month had passed since he set up his chess challenge at the Yellow Crane Tower, and countless masters had been defeated, yet there was still no sign of the Grandmaster Eunuch Li Ruchuan showing up to answer the challenge. He could not help but feel a growing sense of anxiety. Staring at the heavy rain outside the window, Jian Liang clasped his hands behind his back and sighed deeply, remaining silent for a long time.

Seeing this and understanding Jian Liang's state of mind, Min Fengshan walked over to his side to comfort him, saying, "Master Jian's title of 'Chess God' is already known throughout the land. That grandmaster eunuch will surely come upon hearing the news, for he too must be seeking a true adversary in the game of Go. In my view, there will likely be a resolution within these past few days."

Jian Liang sighed, "I certainly hope so!" Then he mused inwardly, *Could it be that Li Ruchuan has been checked by Brother Fang on the chessboard elsewhere? If that were the case, word should have reached us by now. Perhaps that grandmaster eunuch has already left the Central Plains and traveled far to foreign lands? If so, all this arduous effort of mine will have been in vain.* At this thought, a wave of melancholy washed over him.

Not knowing how best to offer comfort, Min Fengshan hesitated for a moment before drawing a large, gold-embossed crimson invitation card from his chest pocket. Handing it to Jian Liang, he said, "Your chess reputation has spread throughout the realm, and it has already startled the Hanyang Prince's Estate. The Prince of Hanyang has sent an invitation here, requesting the honor of Master Jian's presence at the estate."

Upon hearing this, Jian Liang frowned. He took the invitation, glanced at it casually, and tossed it aside, saying, "High officials and powerful nobles are people Jian does not wish to associate with. I must trouble the Second Master to kindly decline on my behalf." Hearing this, Min Fengshan assumed a somewhat awkward expression and said, "This Prince of Hanyang is not someone you can simply refuse and ignore like ordinary figures. He is the reigning emperor's paternal uncle, commanding the military forces of three provinces and holding administrative authority over the two lakes. His power and pageantry are akin to those of the imperial household itself; he is someone who must on no account be offended. I hope Master Jian will think this over carefully."

Unimpressed, Jian Liang replied, "I have never had any dealings with the Prince of Hanyang. What could possibly happen if I refuse to see him?"
Panic-stricken, Min Fengshan hurried to say, "Please keep your voice down, Master Jian! This matter is extraordinary and calls for caution. In truth, the Prince of Hanyang has merely heard of your legendary chess reputation and invites you out of admiration, simply wishing to display the demeanor of a virtuous lord who honors men of talent."

Jian Liang shook his head. "It would be one thing if the Prince of Hanyang were an accomplished Go player himself, but I have never heard of any such 'Chess Prince.' He undoubtedly wishes to invite me simply to embellish his facade and lend an air of refinement to his household. Does he expect me to become nothing more than a chess-playing retainer kept around to amuse a prince in his idle hours? That is a form of patronage Jian has no desire to stoop to."

With mounting anxiety, Min Fengshan urged, "You would do well to reconsider, Master Jian. Among all the princes across the realm, the Prince of Hanyang wields the greatest power; he can even rival the imperial court on equal terms. If you bruise his royal pride, disaster is bound to follow. The Kunwu saber unearthed at Snake Mountain earlier was fortunately acquired by a lama of the Western Regions' Red Sect; had it been even slightly later, it would have been requisitioned by the Prince of Hanyang's estate, and my elder brother would have had no choice but to part with it, no matter his reluctance. Now that my brother has lost the treasure and is physically incapacitated, the Prince of Hanyang has undoubtedly caught wind of it, yet the matter has simply fizzled out, and the Lotus Pavilion has thus escaped disaster as a blessing in disguise. While I greatly admire Master Jian's lofty temperament and refusal to mingle with the vulgar herd, if you defy the Prince of Hanyang's will this time and slight his dignity, he could easily fabricate a charge against you, and that is a crime you could never bear."

Unperturbed, Jian Liang retorted, "He sends an invitation, and I choose not to go—that is entirely natural. Why must you paint it in such grave terms as the Second Master suggests?"
Realizing that despite his peerless martial attainments, Jian Liang still lacked worldly experience, Min Fengshan advised him further, "Wuchang is under the jurisdiction of the Prince of Hanyang. For humble commoners like us to receive an invitation from the prince is already a supreme honor. If you act with such disdain, Master Jian, in the eyes of others it will appear ungrateful and unappreciative of favors. I implore you to handle this matter with prudence."
Hearing this, Jian Liang laughed and said, "Why should the Second Master hold such dread for the Prince of Hanyang? Rest assured, the invitation is addressed to me; if any trouble arises, I shall bear the consequences alone, and it will have nothing to do with anyone else."

Shaking his head, Min Fengshan said, "Please do not speak in such a manner, Master Jian. I am only looking out for your best interests. As the saying goes, the poor do not fight with the rich, and the rich do not contend with officials—to say nothing of humble folk like us. You must not let the Prince of Hanyang's estate ruin the tremendous chess momentum you have worked so hard to build at the Yellow Crane Tower."

With a hearty laugh, Jian Liang replied, "The Second Master worries too much. I set up my chess matches at the Yellow Crane Tower of my own accord; it has nothing to do with the Prince of Hanyang's estate, and they have no right to meddle in my affairs."
Min Fengshan argued, "This place is very close to Hanyang—separated only by the river. If you wish to avoid stirring up extraneous trouble, just make the trip over; it will not cost you anything. The Prince of Hanyang merely enjoys mingling with famous and refined scholars; you need only go and play your part to appease the occasion."
Seeing Min Fengshan's anxious demeanor, Jian Liang fell silent in contemplation for a moment before shaking his head. "I was born with a repugnance for officials. If not for the grandmaster eunuch creating chaos in the world of Go with his murderous ghost chess, I would have retired to the seclusion of the mountains and forests, remaining unknown to the world. The Prince of Hanyang is simply meddlesome—why on earth should he invite me? I simply will not go, and the Second Master need not worry; it is nothing of any great consequence."

Min Fengshan shook his head and said, "Such is the way of the world; it will not allow for your stubborn defiance. Yesterday, before leaving, the messenger from the Prince of Hanyang specifically instructed me to inform you that you are limited to arriving at the Hanyang Prince's Estate within three days." He then pleaded earnestly, "I beg of you, Master Jian, cross the river tomorrow and pay a visit to the Hanyang Prince's Estate just to go through the motions. Let the prince witness your divine splendor; it will only prove beneficial to your future chess games at the Yellow Crane Tower."

Shaking his head with a smile, Jian Liang replied, "The Second Master is far too worldly-wise. Why be terrified to such a degree over a mere slip of paper? Let alone three days, Jian would not go even if given thirty days—what can that Prince of Hanyang possibly do to me?" With those words, he picked up the invitation card, gave it a flick of his hand, and tossed it straight out into the heavy rain outside the tower. Taken aback, Min Fengshan cried out in shock, but it was already too late to stop him.

By the time Min Fengshan rushed down to the exterior of the tower to search for the invitation, the missive from the Hanyang Prince's Estate had long since been washed away to goodness knows where by the cascading rain. After searching fruitlessly for a while, drenched to the skin by the downpour, Min Fengshan could only nurse his silent misery as he helplessly trudged back upstairs.

Seeing Min Fengshan's thoroughly soaked and bedraggled state, Jian Liang let out a silent exclamation of remorse. Hurrying forward to greet him, he apologized contritely, "Jian truly acted without intention; I beg the Second Master to forgive me. Please go change into some dry clothes immediately to avoid catching a chill."

With a long sigh, Min Fengshan said, "Master Jian, it is not that I am a coward, but the Prince of Hanyang is genuinely not someone the likes of us can afford to offend. The loss of the invitation itself matters little, so long as you are willing to make the trip to the Hanyang Prince's Estate within the three days."

Looking solemn, Jian Liang replied, "Second Master, it is not that Jian is putting on airs or viewing himself with lofty superiority, but once you step foot inside the mansions of princes and nobles, it is nearly impossible to ever extricate yourself. Whether one becomes a chess retainer or a political strategist in their household, one ultimately ends up at their beck and call. Since my Go reputation now spans thousands of miles, the Prince of Hanyang may well refuse to let me leave once I am there. To sit within the grim confines of a royal estate, playing chess solely to amuse him and pander to his leisure—would that not be an utter degradation of my spirit? From my youth I have loved the path of Go, believing that it granted me a free and untethered existence, yet I never imagined I would face such a dilemma today. We are merely mortals in this mortal world—are we truly denied even the right to choose our own path?" Jian Liang's words left Min Fengshan completely speechless.