Chapter 166

I deliberately handed over the chess and Go sets to the Crown Prince, along with promises of those rewards—which I made sure to frame as inevitable, provided they were promoted vigorously. My intent was simply to occupy them with these trivial pursuits, draining their energy on things of no consequence. I spent my days playing chess with the Crown Prince. After two or three days of my coaching, he had mastered the game, playing back and forth with me. After all, it wasn’t particularly difficult, and anyone capable of serving as a Crown Prince is no fool. Soon, I couldn’t gain much of an advantage, so I simply stopped playing. Seeing that the time was drawing near, the Crown Prince began to chat with me about daily life, asking about the situation back in my homeland. I gave him a vague, rambling explanation, the gist of which was that we are all refined people who favor literature and the arts. I told him that every time they manage to take first place in these games, they not only receive a reward but can also present small requests to the City Lord, which are almost always granted. That, I explained, is why everyone is so keen on playing.