The sky grew dark as dusk settled in, casting an ethereal glow in the ancestral hall of the Duke Shun Mansion, where the candlelight flickered softly against the cold, somber lacquer of the tablets.
Ning Suxuan methodically tore apart the pages of the scripture in her hand, tossing them into the copper basin.
The flames leapt up, licking the pages hungrily.
"I forgot to tell you, the legitimate son of Duke Zhongyong got married recently."
"They have only this one son, so they held a grand event. Half of Shangjing's officials went to celebrate. That night, Duke Zhongyong drank heavily and mentioned you in his drunkenness."
"Ever since your accident, he has devised countless solutions for those remaining chess pieces you left behind, but every move felt as if he were personally severing the last thread of hope."
Fingers hesitated in the air, unable to descend.
"They say life is like chess. He once believed there was no way out of this endgame."
