Dongyang looked up at the sky silently. Now thatâs some ambition, inviting someone over specifically to lose so you can satisfy the desire to win. Unbelievable.
"Whatâs a mahjong partner? Is it difficult?" The Deputy Commander admitted his limited knowledge, unable to understand.
"Not difficult, not at all." Mu Shaoling patted his shoulder.
Ye Ziâan was coming down from upstairs with a letter in his hand.
"Here, take it back to your master."
"Lord Marquis, my master instructed me to bring someone back, but youâre only giving me a letter. I wonât be able to fulfill my duty. Please donât make it difficult for me." The Deputy Commander was almost ready to kneel; he knew this person would be hard to invite. Otherwise, his colleagues wouldnât have given him such eerie smiles when he left the capital.
"Take the letter back; once he reads it, he wonât blame you."
"Really?" The Deputy Commander was still doubtful.
"Of course. Hurry up and go with the letter." Mu Shaoling kicked him, "If you donât leave now, you wonât even have a letter, and then you really will have to go home and fend for yourself."
Upon hearing this, the Deputy Commander quickly grabbed the letter and turned to leave. Yet halfway through he still turned back and said, "Mu Lord Marquis, if Iâm truly blamed by the Emperor, you must keep a seat for me at the mahjong table."
Mu Shaoling couldnât help but twitch his lips, "Got it, hurry up and leave."
If he doesnât leave now, there wonât be enough time for a game.
Rattle, rattle, the four people at the mahjong table picked up the tiles again.
Mu Shaoling laughed cheerfully, "That kid is easy to deceive, one letter and heâs gone."
"Heâs smartâknows I wonât go back. With the letter, he can complete his task; what else would he do if not leave?"
"Right, you havenât returned to court for twenty years, naturally not going back now." Mu Shaoling threw out a tile and asked, "Why did he come looking for you?"
"Situ Residence wants him to depose the Empress and appoint another. The Empress Dowager likely wants to meddle in court too; naturally, this makes them anxious."
"Then what did you tell him?"
Dongyang, annoyed by his endless questioning, slapped him on the shoulder, "Why are you so annoying? So many questions! Hurry up and play, why ask about court matters if youâre not in it?"
"Hey, you old hag, the older you get, the bolder you become. Believe it or not, Iâll hit you?" Mu Shaoling glared and threw a nine wan tile.
Yang Chuxia scoffed and said, "Would you really dare to hit her?"
Ye Ziâan calmly pushed his tiles, "Iâve won again."
"You idiot, you let him win again!!" Dongyang was practically spitting blood.
"..."
Mu Shaoling stared dumbly at the center, suddenly reached out to snatch back the nine wan, "I made a mistake, I meant to play a seven wan." He promptly threw down a seven wan.
Yang Chuxia giggled and nudged her tiles, "I want the seven wan!"
"Oh my..." Mu Shaoling covered his face with one hand and said, "Nobodyâs going to take the seven tong, right?"
"Who said thatâs unclaimed?" Dongyang pushed his tiles and laughed heartily, "I have four seven tongs, ha ha!"
"So who does this game consider the winner then?" Mu Shaoling was speechless, regretting multiple times, yet each tile he played was wanted; not a single one he played wasnât needed, so he hadnât qualified to win yet.
"Ha ha, itâs easy, you might as well lose to us three together."
Dongyang clapped her hands, laughing, "Yes, yes, a loss to all three."
Mu Shaoling irritably glared, "You troublesome woman, whose side are you on?"
"Iâm on Xiaxiaâs side." Dongyang waved her hand, "Iâve already decided; tomorrow Iâll team up with Xiaxia. If I keep playing with you, Iâm afraid Iâll never win."
(ps: In ten minutes, the ending will be sent together.)