In the rear hall, Consort Yue and Emperor Chunjia sat apart, playing Chinese chess on the table.
Consort Yue was holding a chess piece, and her jade-like fingertips were more immaculate against the black piece. However, she wore an angry look on her face. After a while, she messed up the pieces, saying, "I don't want to play anymore!"
She dropped the black piece after she said that, stood up and walked to the round huanghuali-wood table inlaid with marble carved with a crane and a deer in the spring. Then she sat down at the round table and frowned slightly.
Emperor Chunjia followed, held the square silver teapot with a mandarin duck-shaped top on the table, poured two cups of tea, pushed one to her and said, "Then we won't play. Let's talk."
Consort Yue bit her lip, and said, "Could M
