Poison Physician Consort

Seeing that the master of the residence had already agreed, the three others had no reason to refuse.

But this arrangement didn’t seem to conform with everyone’s original intention. If three women were enough to act out drama, then the three men, Pei Rumo, Pei Qingfeng, Lu Wenshu, with the addition of a single woman, Bai Luochu, would make this place a lively asura battleground.

When Pei Qingfeng and Bai Luochu were playing chess...

Pei Qingfeng was as noisy as a frog and would constantly call Bai Luochu by his pet name for her, ‘Luoluo’, causing her frustration to rise. Just as she knitted her brows tightly and lifted her head to say something, a chess piece flew over from the table at the side. It smacked directly into Pei Qingfeng’s hand.

Pei Qingfeng wanted to say something after getting hit but he saw Lu Wenshu gazing at him with a composed expression. “Apologies, my hand slipped.” Lu Wenshu apologized in a calm manner and there was a slight smile on his face.

Bai Luochu laughed with a ‘pfft’ and Pei Qingfeng who wanted to say something didn’t bother to argue. He placed his attention back on the board and since Bai Luochu’s chess skills was inferior to Pei Qingfeng, she lost in a short while. They then waited for Pei Rumo and Lu Wenshu to end their game before switching places.

Right now, Bai Luochu was playing against Lu Wenshu while Pei Qingfeng played against Pei Rumo.

“Has Divine Physician Bai been busy recently? I don’t usually see you around…”

Bai Luochu didn’t reply.

“This chess move is rather brilliant and it has the style of an old friend of mine.” 

Bai Luochu’s hand paused for a moment but she remained silent.

Pei Qingfeng might be playing chess with Pei Rumo, but his mind was focused on the chess game on the other side. When he saw Lu Wenshu constantly trying to get close to Bai Luochu, he sent a chess piece flying over similar to what Lu Wenshu did. As soon as Lu Wenshu turned over, he smiled and said to Lu Wenshu, “Apologies, my hand slipped.”

As Lu Wenshu was speaking earlier, Bai Luochu’s moves became more aggressive and domineering. It wasn’t long before Lu Wenshu lost the game.

“Why did you have to push me to such desperate straits?” Lu Wenshu shook his head while speaking with a helpless tone.

Pei Qingfeng wasn’t paying any attention to this game of chess and he lost to Pei Rumo before he even sent the piece flying at Lu Wenshu.

The most exciting match had to be saved till the last.

“You can use the black stones.” Pei Rumo placed the bowl of black pieces before Bai Luochu.

Bai Luochu didn’t receive it and refused, “There is no need to be so polite. I am Divine Physician Bai and Your First Highness’s name has the word ‘mo’. It is appropriate for you to use the black stones. I am fine with the white ones.Your First Highness, please start.” Bai Luochu finished her statement and gestured for Pei Rumo to start the game.

Pei Rumo knew that he wouldn’t be able to refuse and didn’t waste time quarreling over the color of their pieces. 

The chess game was getting increasingly complicated and the moment Pei Rumo started to lay down the pieces, Bai Luochu realized that she was being suppressed at every move. It seemed like he wasn’t going to go easy on Bai Luochu as he blocked off all her routes of retreat.

“Look. Because the player using the black stones gets to go first, you are at a disadvantage. Right now, you should take a step back and declare your loss.” Pei Rumo’s meaning was clear. He wanted her to swear her allegiance while she still could.

Bai Luochu kept silent as she continued to play the game.

The chess game between Lu Wenshu and Pei Qingfeng was rather heated as well. In order not to lose to Lu Wenshu, Pei Qingfeng started with strong aggression. However, Lu Wenshu played defensively the entire time and didn’t seem to be at a disadvantage.

“Isn’t Your Second Highness overly intimate with the way you address Divine Physician Bai? This isn’t good, right?” Lu Wenshu was still brooding over how Pei Qingfeng was addressing Bai Luochu.

Pei Qingfeng sneered in response, "I wonder if Young Master Lu is in a position to criticize me. I have a good relationship with Luoluo and it is natural for me to address her affectionately. If you interfere with this, aren’t you acting like a dog trying to catch mice?" Without completing the rest of the idiom, Pei Qingfeng’s meaning was clear. He was trying to tell Lu Wenshu to mind his own business.

Lu Wenshu and Pei Qingfeng's chess game ultimately ended with a full board and no victor was decided. They immediately turned over to look at the chess game between Bai Luochu and Pei Rumo.

Pei Rumo was getting rather anxious. Even though the white pieces seemed to be on the verge of defeat, he seemed to be lacking when it came to the final move. He wasn’t able to win the game.

Bai Luochu placed down another white stone and didn't continue reaching for another one. Instead, she looked at Pei Rumo.

Pei Rumo's hand was filled with cold sweat.

How can this be? Luo Chu has always been on the losing side. It seems like I’m the one making a mistake.

Bai Luochu noticed that Pei Rumo was hesitating and she didn’t want to make things difficult for him. She said something for Pei Rumo to step down from this embarrassing situation. "Your First Highness. It is best to stop playing. The Zhenlong chess play is fixed. Even if you continue to play, we will end up in a stalemate. Why don't we call it a draw?” 

Pei Rumo naturally knew that Bai Luochu was giving him a chance to step down and he quickly agreed.

"I have something else to do and shall take my leave. After so many games, we all have a record of one loss, one win, and one draw. It seems like our chess skills are on par with one another.” Bai Luochu analyzed as she walked.

As though she recalled something, she turned around and asked Pei Rumo, "Does Your First Highness know what is so exquisite about this Zhenlong chess play?"

"Will Divine Physician Bai enlighten me?" Pei Rumo bowed to Bai Luochu politely.

"The exquisite part of this Zhenlong chess play is in the equilibrium. The black stones look aggressive but will never be able to win. The white stones might be one move behind, but will be able to survive as long as no mistakes are made. The black and white stones are building their foundations and guarding their own territory. They are probing each other out at the same time but both of them can’t gain the upper hand no matter what. If the word 'zhen' portrays how difficult it is for this sequence to be carried out, then the word 'long' describes the exquisite chess play.”