"Youāll find out soon." Yang Chuxia called for someone to bring out the mahjong set and then had a table brought in, spilling the jade-carved mahjong tiles onto it. "Play this. Iāll teach you. Itās way more fun than chess."
After a while, Dongyang arrived, and Yang Chuxia explained the rules. It was clear that both Mu Shaoling and Ye Ziāan were interested.
After playing a few rounds, Dongyang got the hang of it and couldnāt stop.
"We played the first few rounds with copper coins, now letās play with silver."
"Sure, Iām fine with that," Yang Chuxia laughed heartily. "Letās win all the silver these two men have."
When the Emperorās messengers arrived with letters, they were greeted by a cacophony in the courtyard.
"One circle..."
"Bam..."
"Three bamboo..."
"I win!"
"How did you win again? I was just one tile away!" Yang Chuxia exclaimed and leaned over to check the tiles. "I need to see if you cheated!"
Over on Dongyangās side, the table was already being smacked. "Mu Shaoling, do you even know how to play? Youāre hopeless! Why do you keep discarding winning tiles?"
"Itās not my fault, alright?" Mu Shaoling shrugged helplessly. "This old guy can read the tiles. How can I be blamed? He was just waiting for me to slip up."
Dongyang glared at him. "Pay more attention next time, will you? Weāve been losing all morning. At least let me win one round."
Yang Chuxia chuckled, "Alright, alright, Iāll discard the tile so you can win next time."
"Haha, thatās more like it," Dongyang laughed as he rearranged his tiles.
At that moment, a servant came forward, "Old Master, someone from the palace is here."
"What? Whoās here?"
"They say itās on His Majestyās orders."
Hearing this, the group stopped playing.
"This humble servant greets the two Marquises. By the Emperorās command, we respectfully request Marquis Ye to return to the Capital City."
Ye Ziāan frowned, "Why should I return to the Capital City? No way, Iām not going back."
As if anticipating Ye Ziāanās refusal, the messenger pulled out a letter from their coat. "Lord Marquis, this is a letter from the Emperor for you."
Ye Ziāan took the letter and quickly scanned it, his brow furrowing deeply.
"Whatās it say?" Mu Shaoling asked curiously.
"It says I need to go back to the Capital."
Mu Shaoling pouted at this. He thought to himself that it was lucky he wasnāt into politics or a part of the court; otherwise, heād never have peace in his old age.
"So, are you going back?"
"Of course not," Ye Ziāan snorted. "I was just thinking of going out to sea in a few days."
"Lord Marquis!" The messenger from the Capital was panicking upon hearing this. "His Majesty has ordered me to ensure your return to the Capital. If not, Iāll have to go back and fend for myself."
"Then just go back and fend for yourself."
Ye Ziāan turned away and went back inside, ignoring him.
"Lord Marquis, please, have a heart!"
"Heh heh heh," Mu Shaoling hurried over to stop him. "Where do you think youāre going? That building is the living quarters of Marquis Changning and his wife. Do you think you can just walk in there?"
"Marquis Mu, could you think of a way, please?" The messenger, who was the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army, was now bawling his eyes out. "I have elderly parents and young children to care for. If I canāt bring the Marquis back with me, Iāll have to go home and fend for myself. I come from a poor family, and to let me take the civil and military exams in the Capital City, we sold our land. But if I have to go back and fend for myself, I wonāt even have anything to eat."
"Alright, alright." Mu Shaoling dismissed him impatiently. "A grown man crying like this, what do you think you look like? If you really have nowhere else to go, come be my mahjong partner. Iāll cover your food and drink, as long as you can discard tiles for me to win."