The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

"Chessboard?" Cen Jiexiao walked forward in confusion. At first glance, the chessboard didn't seem to have anything special about it. It just had a few more signs of age than ordinary chessboards, but for some reason it caught Chen Zigui's attention.

Chen Zigui said nothing, simply extending two fingers and gently moving a few chess pieces. The seemingly chaotic chess game instantly transformed into a complete endgame, with the black and white pieces arranged in an orderly fashion, forming a peculiar layout that seemed to hold some profound meaning.

"This is..." Cen Jiexiao carefully identified the situation on the chessboard. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "This is 'Sparse Stars Crossing the River' from the 'Ten Games of Danghu'! This game is so unpredictable. Could it be..."

"Li Yusheng loves Go and has expressed his admiration for the 'Ten Games of Danghu' on many occasions in public." Chen Zigui explained, "I suspect that this chessboard may be the key he used for encryption." There was a certainty in his tone, and it was obvious that he had found some connection.

Cen Jiexiao immediately understood what Chen Zigui meant. She carefully observed the position, color, and angle of each chess piece on the chessboard, trying to find a pattern.

"Big Brother, look," Cen Jiexiao pointed at several chess pieces of unique colors on the chessboard, "Could these chess pieces represent different numbers or symbols?" The color of these chess pieces is slightly darker than the other pieces, and it is difficult to detect without careful observation.

Chen Zigui looked in the direction of Cen Jiexiao's finger, and after careful observation, he found that these chess pieces were not simply of different shades of color, but the surface of the black chess pieces was faintly tinted with a hint of red, like some special mark.

Chen Zigui nodded, his eyes fixed on a thin booklet beside the chessboard. It was tucked carelessly beneath a pile of scrolls, hardly noticeable unless one deliberately searched for it. He picked it up and flipped it open. He saw a dense record of numbers and symbols, corresponding to the pieces on the chessboard. It seemed like some kind of code book.

Cen Jiexiao's fingers gently brushed the dark red-marked pieces on the chessboard. A heavy rock weighed down her heart, making it hard to breathe. Li Yusheng, supreme commander of the Zhenxi Army, commanded 150,000 elite troops. What more could he want?

"Big Brother, this password looks very complicated. Let's take it back and show it to Wu Cheng and the students." Cen Jiexiao lowered her voice.

"Yes." Chen Zigui's face was solemn as he carefully placed the code book in his arms. "This matter is of great importance. We must find out Li Yusheng's intentions as soon as possible."

The two exchanged glances, and Cen Jiexiao saw the same worry and uneasiness in Chen Zigui's deep eyes. It was a premonition of impending doom, like the calm before a storm, oppressive and suffocating. The fleeting worry in Chen Zigui's eyes made her heart tighten slightly. It seemed that the worry wasn't just about Li Yusheng's plot, but more like... worry about her? Cen Jiexiao shook her head, dismissing the absurd thought. They had always been close as brothers and sisters, so it was only natural for them to worry about each other.

The two of them were silent on the way back to the palace. The only sound was the clatter of horse hooves hitting the bluestone slabs, remarkably clear in the still night. It felt like it was striking at Cen Jiexiao's heart, and every sound sent a shiver down her spine. She stole a sidelong glance at Chen Zigui, who stood beside her. The moonlight outlined his stern profile. His lips, usually brimming with a gentle smile, were now tightly pursed, adding a touch of sternness.

They reached a secluded corner, with high walls on either side. Only the mottled moonlight filtered through the shadows of the trees on the tops of the walls, casting a patchy pattern of light and shadow on the ground. Chen Zigui suddenly reined in his horse, and Cen Jiexiao, caught off guard, nearly bumped into his back.

"What's wrong, Senior Brother?" Cen Jiexiao asked in confusion, with a hint of nervousness in her voice. She felt that something was wrong with Chen Zigui, but she didn't understand what was going on.

Chen Zigui said nothing, simply dismounting with a quick, decisive movement. In the moonlight, his towering figure loomed over Cen Jiexiao, like a silent mountain, leaving her feeling an inexplicable sense of oppression. He walked over to Cen Jiexiao's horse and reached out to lift her off, his movements gentle but unyielding. When his hand touched her waist, Cen Jiexiao felt his body stiffen for a moment, then regain its composure.

"I can walk on my own." Cen Jiexiao struggled a little uncomfortably, but he held her tighter. His embrace was warm and strong, giving her a sense of peace of mind, yet also a sense of unease. This excessive closeness made her feel a little uncomfortable, yet she couldn't help but indulge in it.

"Don't move." Chen Zigui's voice was low and hoarse, as if he had thousands of words to say but didn't know where to start.

Cen Jiexiao's heart trembled. Under the moonlight, Chen Zigui's profile was sharply defined, his usual gentle elegance now tinged with a palpitating sense of oppression. She knew he had something on his mind, and it was something about her. His eyes, his movements, told her that his next words might change everything between them. Could it be that he had discovered the unwelcome feelings she harbored deep within her heart?

"Big Brother, do you have something to say to me?" Cen Jiexiao asked softly, her voice as soft as a feather, but with a hint of worry that was hard to conceal. She was afraid to hear the answer, but couldn't help wanting to know the truth.

Chen Zigui didn't say anything, simply hugging her tighter, as if to rub her into his flesh and blood. His heartbeat was clearly audible beside her, each beat like a hammer hammering against her heart. After a long moment, he slowly spoke, his voice deep and deep, like a call from hell, "Sister Cen, promise me that no matter what happens, you must protect yourself."

Cen Jiexiao's heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, and her breathing became rapid. A chill rose from the soles of her feet and quickly spread throughout her body, causing her to shiver uncontrollably.

"Big Brother, what do you mean by that?" Cen Jiexiao's voice trembled slightly, her tone filled with unease and worry. She tried to find a glimmer of comfort in Chen Zigui's face, but saw only a deep shadow, like the calm sea on the eve of a storm, foreshadowing the coming storm.

Chen Zigui didn't answer her question, but silently loosened his hand around her waist. His movements were gentle and slow, as if he was handling a precious piece of porcelain, afraid of breaking it by mistake.

Cen Jiexiao felt his hand leave her body, and suddenly she felt an inexplicable sense of loss, as if she had lost something important. She raised her head and looked at Chen Zigui, only to find that he was also looking down at her.

His eyes were deep and complex, like the stars in the night sky, twinkling with an elusive light. Cen Jiexiao read a hint of pain, a hint of worry, and a hint of... determination in his eyes?

Before she could think about it, Chen Zigui had already turned and walked towards his horse. He climbed onto the horse smoothly and looked down at Cen Jiexiao. The moonlight cast a shadow on his face, making it difficult to see his expression.

"Go back and rest early. Tomorrow I'll have to trouble Sister Cen to come to the palace." Chen Zigui's voice was low and hoarse, as if it contained a thousand words, but he didn't know where to begin. After he finished speaking, he shook the reins and rode away, leaving only Sister Cen Xiao with a resolute back.