“Master Chen, virtuous nephew, please take a seat.”
Early the next morning, Han Shizhong invited Chen Qian and Lin Ce to the dining room, where a steaming breakfast had just been laid out.
“I wouldn’t dare take the main seat. Duke, you’re being far too courteous.” Chen Qian quickly waved his hand and turned to Lin Ce. “It should be Young Master Lin who sits at the head.”
The way he looked at Lin Ce was quite peculiar—admiring, confused, but mostly filled with curiosity.
“In front of two elders, how could I possibly be qualified to take the seat of honor?” Lin Ce also shook his head firmly and suggested, “Uncle should sit at the head.”
Han Shizhong didn’t insist and simply sat at the main seat, while Chen Qian and Lin Ce sat on either side.
“Last night, I instructed the servants to prepare special breakfast dishes from Yuzhou and Jiexian for this morning,” Han Shizhong explained, being thoughtful enough to ensure both guests had food they were familiar with.
Bianjing was located at the center of the Great Zhou Empire, Yuzhou in the northwest, and Jiexian in the southeast. The three regions were separated by thousands of kilometers, and their cuisines differed greatly.
On the table, there were sesame flatbreads and lamb soup from Bianjing, bean porridge and fried cakes from Yuzhou, and wontons and soup dumplings from Jiexian.
In addition to these, there were four types of freshly prepared side dishes, making for a diverse and aromatic spread.
Chen Qian and Lin Ce both thanked Han Shizhong for his hospitality, and the three began to eat.
Chen Qian didn’t have much of an appetite. After eating a few tasteless bites, he couldn’t help but ask, “Young Master Lin, were you already familiar with the Star River Dream chess situation before?”
Upon hearing this, Han Shizhong also put down his chopsticks, watching Lin Ce with interest.
Everyone knew how skilled Chen Qian was at chess. And yet Lin Ce had cracked the so-called dead-end situation that even Chen Qian had declared unsolvable.
It was truly baffling and astonishing.
In their eyes, there could only be two explanations for Lin Ce’s success.
The first was that Lin Ce’s chess skills were already so high that he far surpassed Chen Qian. What Chen Qian considered a dead end, Lin Ce could solve with ease. But that possibility seemed almost impossible—after all, Lin Ce was just a young man who had barely reached adulthood. Even if he had started learning chess in the womb, it would’ve only been less than twenty years. How could he surpass someone like Chen Qian, who had studied the game for over sixty years and held the title of Chess Sage for more than thirty?
Sure, geniuses existed, but someone that monstrously talented was still extremely rare in this world.
So if they dismissed that possibility, only one explanation remained—Lin Ce had come across the Star River Dream situation before and had already learned the solution.
These endgame situations had been passed down for ages. They weren’t necessarily unique. There could easily be hand-copied versions passed around, with notes from past chess masters that included solutions.
From the perspective of two worldly and experienced elders like Chen Qian and Han Shizhong, it was easier to believe in coincidence than to accept that Lin Ce was an unparalleled prodigy in chess.
Facing their curious gazes, Lin Ce set down his chopsticks and replied with a smile, “I don’t actually understand chess very well. Solving the Star River Dream was a stroke of luck. I happened to have seen it when I was younger. That book not only illustrated the setup but also recorded the solution.”
“As expected,” Chen Qian let out a long breath, feeling inexplicably relieved.
Last night, he had stayed in the pavilion verifying the solution for half the night and found Lin Ce’s answer nothing short of a stroke of divine insight. His own level paled in comparison.
Chen Qian’s state of mind had been shaken. It wasn’t that he resented the talented—he simply couldn’t accept that a youth not even twenty years old could be leagues beyond him in chess.
Now, with Lin Ce’s explanation, he felt he had saved face. Though he still couldn’t measure up to the ancient masters, at least he hadn’t been surpassed by a junior.
“Looks like I’ve become complacent these past few years. In the path of chess, there’s no end. Compared to the ancients, I’m still just a fool,” Chen Qian sighed. “Last night, had Young Master Lin not arrived in time, the Young Lord would’ve been harmed by my foolish judgment.”
“Master Chen, there’s no need to blame yourself,” Han Shizhong waved it off, signaling Chen Qian not to take it to heart. Qin Xuan was safe now, and that was what mattered.
Lin Ce also offered some comforting words. After all, only he knew the truth—the method to solve the puzzle didn’t come from the ancients but was originally from Chen Qian himself.
After a while, Han Shizhong shifted the conversation back to Lin Ce. “Nephew, you were still a child when Prime Minister Lin retired to the countryside. This must be your first time entering the capital in all these years?”
He smiled as he added, “I remember you have a marriage contract with Su Zhang’s daughter. Is that the reason for your visit?”
Lin Ce smiled slightly, “I’ve come to the capital for two things. One is to visit the Su residence to discuss the marriage with my future father-in-law. The second is to visit my second uncle and ask him to help arrange a government post for me.”
“Your second uncle? You mean Li Jingchun?” Han Shizhong paused, then called out the name.
“Yes, the current Grand Academician of the Wen Yuan Pavilion, Li Jingchun,” Lin Ce nodded.
Han Shizhong frowned slightly. “Do you have an official title yet?”
“I passed the provincial examination in Yuzhou. I currently hold the rank of Juren,” Lin Ce replied.
“In that case, what do you need Li Jingchun for? He’s just a fifth-rank official who plays with words and ink. What kind of position could he possibly arrange for you?” Han Shizhong scoffed and patted his chest, “Leave it to me. Aside from the Grand Secretariat, there’s not a single office in this entire capital I can’t get you into. Just say the word.”
Li Jingchun was merely a fifth-rank civil official responsible for drafting imperial edicts and helping the Grand Secretariat review documents. He held little real power. Han Shizhong, on the other hand, was the hereditary Duke of the Empire and the Grand Guardian of the current Emperor—second only to one man, above ten thousand. Naturally, he looked down on Li Jingchun.
Since Lin Ce had saved Qin Xuan’s life, Han Shizhong already considered him family and saw it as his duty to secure an official post for him.
Lin Ce stood up and bowed. “I appreciate Uncle’s kind offer, but before I left home, Grandfather had already instructed me, and I have my own plans.”
Han Shizhong was briefly taken aback, then nodded thoughtfully. “Alright, then I’ll stay out of it for now.”
Just as he finished speaking, a young voice called from outside, “Yay! You’re finally done eating!”
Lin Ce turned to look and saw a girl just over ten years old with rosy cheeks, cute and doll-like. She was staring at the food on the table, practically drooling.
Lin Ce smiled.
He recognized her—Han Shizhong’s youngest daughter, Qin Yu.
Though the Qin residence was a household of high status, they lived frugally and didn’t indulge in extravagance. The ladies of the house had to wait until Han Shizhong and his guests finished breakfast before they could eat. Qin Yu was a little foodie who had been waiting impatiently for ages.
Han Shizhong felt embarrassed. He glared and said, “Who told you we’re done? Go back to your mother.”
“Uncle, Master Chen, I still need to make an early visit to the Su residence. I’m full, so I’ll take my leave now,” Lin Ce said with a smile and a bow, not returning to his seat.
Chen Qian laughed and stood up. “My old bones are full as well. I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I’d better go catch up on some rest.”
Han Shizhong stood up to escort them both out.
But before the three of them could leave, Qin Yu darted in, grabbed a sesame flatbread, and started munching away.
Han Shizhong’s face darkened. “This child must’ve been reincarnated from a starving ghost. Anyone who sees her like this would think our Qin residence can’t even afford a meal!”
Qin Yu pouted at her father, then looked at Lin Ce with sparkling eyes. “Big Brother, are you getting married? Can I come to the banquet?”
Han Shizhong rolled his eyes in exasperation at his daughter.
Lin Ce laughed and walked over to Qin Yu. “Yes, Big Brother will be getting married soon. When the time comes, you can eat as much as you want. Whatever dishes you like, I’ll have the chefs make them just for you.”
“Really?” Qin Yu had never heard a promise that suited her tastes so well. Her eyes lit up, and she extended her greasy little pinky. “Then pinky swear!”
“Pinky swear.” Lin Ce didn’t mind her greasy hand and hooked his finger with hers.
Watching from behind, Han Shizhong smiled like a proud aunt, though he still turned to Chen Qian and said, “She’s just a child, Master Chen, please don’t laugh at her.”
“Haha…” Chen Qian stroked his beard and laughed. “Your daughter is so pure and adorable, and Young Master Lin has such a youthful spirit! When the day comes that he marries the Su family’s daughter, I might just attend the banquet myself to join in the celebration!”