Chapter 62: Mischief in Wuchang Prefecture (Part 2)

Lu Fang broke out in a cold sweat and said, "It is my dereliction of duty, my dereliction of duty. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."

Princess Lanling said impatiently, "Forget it, forget it. Fortunately, I am unharmed. It was thanks to Master Jian who saved me and drove away the villains. Now that he has rendered a great service, Lord Lu will release Master Jian without charges tomorrow."

Lu Fang hastily replied, "Everything shall be according to Your Highness's will," while secretly wondering what kind of affair this actually was.

Tai Xiben then stepped forward to release the acupuncture points of Niu Jiang and Tang Qiang. As soon as the two woke up and saw so many people in the prison, they were each struck with astonishment. Tai Xiben asked, "How were both of you subdued by acupoint-sealing? Do you know what just happened?"

Tang Qiang stammered in bewilderment, "As I was making my rounds, a masked man suddenly broke in, struck me once, and everything went black before my eyes. I knew nothing more. Has there been a prison break?"

Tai Xiben cast a skeptical glance at Jian Liang in the cell, then suddenly caught sight of the iron chain on the cell door that Huang Yan had snapped. He hurried forward to pick it up and exclaimed in shock, "The Great Strength Vajra Palm!" Turning immediately to Jian Liang, he demanded, "Who broke this iron chain?"

Jian Liang replied, "It was that masked man."

Tai Xiben pressed on, suspecting, "Was that masked man an accomplice of yours coming to break you out?"

"This..." For a moment, Jian Liang did not know how to answer properly.

Princess Lanling quickly stepped in to rescue Jian Liang from the predicament. "That masked man wanted to lock me inside Master Jian's cell, and Master Jian took advantage of his lack of preparedness to punch him away. What? Do you disbelieve my words?"

Tai Xiben hastily said, "This subordinate wouldn't dare, but..."

"But what?" Princess Lanling rebuked angrily, "I have yet to hold you accountable for your dereliction of duty, and yet you concern yourselves with unnecessary matters instead? Do you wish for me to report this to my father the Prince and have you investigated and punished?"

Seeing that Princess Lanling's words clearly intended to shield Jian Liang, and despite his lingering doubts, Tai Xiben dared not press further upon seeing her anger, and retreated to stand silently to one side.

Relieved beyond measure to see Princess Lanling safe and sound, Lu Fang had no mind to care about anything else. He hurried forward and bowed, "Please return to your quarters to rest, Your Highness. This subordinate will certainly dispatch more guards to ensure your safety."

Feeling the onset of exhaustion, Princess Lanling said, "Very well. However, since Jian Liang has saved me, I shall personally escort him back to the Yellow Crane Tower tomorrow. Make the necessary preparations."

Lu Fang thought to himself, *Arrest and release are entirely at your whim; who would dare make the decisions here?* Aloud, he quickly answered, "This subordinate understands. Everything shall follow Your Highness's wishes."

At this, Princess Lanling turned back, cast a winking smile at Jian Liang, and allowed herself to be escorted away by the crowd. Left behind, Jian Liang shook his head and sighed inwardly, *What a peculiar and eccentric princess you are! I suppose I have been played by you once.*

Early the next morning, Princess Lanling personally escorted Jian Liang back to the Yellow Crane Tower. Lu Fang, the Magistrate of Wuchang Prefecture, led a retinue of local officials to accompany them, and the five thousand taels of chess stakes were returned in full.

When the news spread, the entire city of Wuchang was stirred into a commotion. Citizens vied with one another to come and catch a glimpse, all marveling deeply at the turn of events—knowing full well that the Chess God Jian Liang had run afoul of the law just yesterday, only to return today in such a triumphant and ostentatious manner.

As the grand procession arrived before the Yellow Crane Tower, Huang Yan smiled and came out to welcome them alongside Min Fengshan and the others. Upon seeing Huang Yan, Tai Xiben frowned slightly, as if a sudden realization had dawned upon him. Jian Liang and Huang Yan exchanged a warm smile, while the astonishment and joy of Min Fengshan, Xie Guyan, and the others went without saying.

Noticing that Lu Fang and the other officials were still respectfully waiting nearby, Princess Lanling commanded, "Lord Lu, you were prompt enough in repenting for arresting the wrong person, but you must now redeem your faults through meritorious service. Master Jian is hosting chess matches at the Yellow Crane Tower. Your Wuchang Prefecture shall be fully responsible for his security from now on. If any further incidents arise, you alone will be held accountable."

Having thus shifted the responsibility onto Lu Fang in public, Princess Lanling left the magistrate murmuring assent while groaning inwardly in bitter agony, daring not utter a word of defense. Jian Liang could only shake his head secretly at the sight.

Waving her hand dismissively at Lu Fang and his subordinates, Princess Lanling instructed, "You may all withdraw. I still have chess skills to learn from Master Jian."

Knowing that no one dared provoke this chess-obsessed princess and that the further one stayed from her the better, Lu Fang eagerly seized the chance to escape. He hastily led the officials in a bow and retired from the scene.

Because Princess Lanling's arrival at the Yellow Crane Tower had upended the usual routine, idle visitors were barred from entering the chess arena on the second floor. Princess Lanling ordered Dong Shouyi and Tai Xiben to keep watch below, taking only her personal maid Cui'er to accompany Jian Liang, Huang Yan, and the others upstairs, where they took their seats in the chess hall.

Seeing Jian Liang return safely, Min Fengshan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, rejoicing in the realization that with Princess Lanling of the Hanyang Prince's Estate behind them, the chess matches at the Yellow Crane Tower would likely be safe and peaceful from this day forward.

Princess Lanling sidled up to Huang Yan with uncharacteristic friendliness and asked, "Old Senior, did I do well?"

Huang Yan nodded with a smile and said, "Well enough! Though I wonder if Grandmaster Jian is satisfied."

Turning to Jian Liang, Princess Lanling looked abashed and said, "Elder Brother Jian, I..."

With a wave of his hand, Jian Liang replied indifferently, "Forget it. What is past is past; do not speak of it again."

Princess Lanling instantly beamed with joy. "Thank you, Elder Brother Jian, for not holding my offense against me!"

Min Fengshan, Xie Guyan, Huang Chengyi, Huang Lan, and the others could not help exchanging smiles of quiet gratification at the overnight transformation in Princess Lanling's attitude and manner of address toward Jian Liang, which had grown vastly more gentle and intimate.

Two days later, Princess Lanling returned to the Hanyang Prince's Estate to pay her respects to the Prince. Upon hearing that Jian Liang was indeed unrivaled in chess—not only defeating Princess Lanling but winning her utmost admiration—the Prince of Hanyang was filled with amazement, recognizing that Jian Liang was no ordinary mortal.

To please his beloved daughter and acting upon her request, the Prince of Hanyang bestowed a gift of a hundred liang of gold, dispatching men to deliver it directly to the Yellow Crane Tower. Combined with the previous five thousand taels of chess stakes, the total now vastly exceeded ten thousand taels, lending the chess matches at the Yellow Crane Tower an even greater aura of prestige.

From then on, Princess Lanling visited the Yellow Crane Tower every single day, spending her leisure time seeking instruction in chess from Jian Liang. Observing that she kept her promises, greatly enhanced his reputation, and possessed a consuming passion for the game, Jian Liang grew to respect her and spared no effort in his guidance, challenging her to develop her own intuitive mastery. Gifted with native intelligence and no mean foundation in chess, Princess Lanling progressed with astonishing speed, eventually reaching a level where she could contend evenly with Jian Liang—a feat that left him marveling.

Radiant with joy, Princess Lanling became utterly inseparable from Jian Liang, striving to please him in every way both on and off the board. Jian Liang merely accommodated her within the bounds of the game, taking care not to cross her wishes unduly.

After half a month of this, Princess Lanling had thoroughly shed her former arrogance and overbearing pride, blossoming into a gentle, refined, and graceful woman. This dramatic change left her two bodyguards, Tai Xiben and Dong Shouyi, in a state of perpetual astonishment. While marveling at Jian Liang's extraordinary ability to transform people through the medium of chess, they held him in deep awe and treated him with redoubled reverence.

When the Prince of Hanyang saw how docile and sweet-tempered his daughter had become, completely purged of her willful and capricious ways, he exclaimed in wonder, "To be able to reform the princess of my Hanyang Prince's Estate to such a degree through the art of chess, the Chess God Jian Liang must truly be a divine being!"

Curious idlers from the Prince's household frequently slipped away to the Yellow Crane Tower to catch a glimpse of what manner of man Jian Liang was. Upon returning, they would describe him to the Prince in glowing terms, claiming that he was surrounded by an aura of colored light, resembling an immortal sent specifically to reform the princess.

Delighted by these accounts, the Prince of Hanyang sent a message urging Jian Liang to instruct the princess with all his heart, promising a lavish reward should she achieve great mastery. Upon hearing this, Jian Liang merely responded with a smile.

Thus, Jian Liang continued his residency at the Yellow Crane Tower, awaiting the appearance of the imperial eunuch grandmaster Li Ruchuan in the company of Princess Lanling. During this period, he defeated several more chess masters.

Hearing the widespread renown, Tian Yangwu, the Chess King of Jiangnan, also hurried to the scene. Introduced by Princess Lanling, he played a match against Jian Liang atop the Yellow Crane Tower. The contest left Tian Yangwu deeply awed, realizing that there existed yet another person whose mastery of chess had reached the realm of ultimate transformation, akin to Fang Guohuan. Overwhelmed and humbled, Tian Yangwu took his leave in profound admiration. In a very short time, Jian Liang's fame in the world of chess shook the realm.

Meanwhile, after parting ways with Jian Liang, Fang Guohuan rejoiced in the knowledge that he had found a true match and a kindred spirit in the art of chess, often feeling deeply moved by the encounter.

One day, his journey brought him to the borders of Xuzhou. Since ancient times, Xuzhou had been a contested battleground of strategists. Before the Three Kingdoms were established, when Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, had nowhere to settle, he had repeatedly declined and accepted the governorship of Xuzhou out of righteousness—this was that very place.

As dusk fell, the four city gates were bolted and barred, making entry impossible. Fang Guohuan sought out a pancake stall outside the walls, intending to rest there, get something to eat, and consider his plans thereafter.

An old man running the stall welcomed him with a bowl of tea. Fang Guohuan inquired, "Old sir, is there any place to lodge outside the city?"

The old man replied, "This is outside the North Gate, and we do have a small inn, but it is already fully occupied at this hour. Although there is a large tavern outside the East Gate, it is growing dark now, and walking there would take too much time. If the honorable guest does not mind, my humble shop has a few rooms in the back where you can spend the night for just a few small copper coins."

Delighted, Fang Guohuan said, "Splendid! Many thanks, old sir."

The old man smiled. "Think nothing of it, traveler. My humble pancake shop exists precisely to offer convenience to travelers passing by. I wonder what Your Honor would like to eat? Aside from pancakes, we also have wine and meat."

Fang Guohuan said, "Bring me two pancakes and two side dishes to go with them."

"Two pancakes?" The old man laughed. "It seems Your Honor is a stranger here and does not know. The pancakes of our shop are the famous large baked griddle cakes of the North Gate. Each cake is as large as a wagon wheel, weighing twenty to thirty catties, enough to feed a hearty appetite for several days. We usually divide them into smaller portions to sell to hungry travelers; it is rare indeed for anyone to buy a whole cake at once."

Smiling, Fang Guohuan said, "So that is how it is. Then just bring me two small pieces."

The old man acknowledged the order and turned away.

Perhaps because it was late, business at the pancake shop was sparse, leaving Fang Guohuan as the sole customer. Presently, a young woman emerged from the inner quarters bearing a bowl of bean curd, a plate of beef, and a dish stacked with two triangular pieces of pancake. The pastries were over an inch thick, golden-brown in color, and baked to absolute perfection.

Fang Guohuan picked up a piece of the pancake and took a bite. A rich, savory aroma filled his mouth, and the texture was exceptionally chewy and firm. He could not help praising, "Fine bread!"

The young woman stood nearby and smiled. "Please partake freely, honorable guest, and see if you can manage to finish two whole cakes."

Hearing this, Fang Guohuan burst into amused laughter, realizing that the old man must have repeated his remark as a joke to the young woman. He smiled and said, "It is a pity that my stomach is somewhat small, otherwise I truly ought to eat two giant cakes of such fragrant bread."

The young woman laughed softly at his words. Seeing that the teapot on the table was mostly empty, she picked it up, went back to the kitchen to fetch a fresh pot of hot tea, and withdrew.