The poorest member of the Imperial Guard, the Empress begged me to embezzle.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Pei Guanyin smiled secretly, took out the exquisite white jade chessboard, and placed it in front of the imperial desk.

Jiang Wan'er was also secretly laughing to herself.

Ever since playing chess with Chu Xiu, Murong Si has disliked playing chess with them, feeling that playing chess with them is not as comfortable as playing chess with Chu Xiu.

They were happy to be free and easy.

"Fortunately, fortunately my chess skills are good enough, so I'll reluctantly play a game."

Chu Xiu took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and silently comforted himself.

"Minister Chu, your chess skills are inferior to mine. I will let you go first."

Murong Si looked at Chu Xiu calmly and said.

"..."

Chu Xiu was taken aback. No, Your Majesty, do you really have no sense of self-awareness at all?

If I act a little better, you'll really think I'm a terrible chess player!

Don't you have any idea who the terrible chess player is?

Jiang Wan'er and Pei Guanyin remained calm, as if Murong Si's chess skills were indeed much better than Chu Xiu's.

"Minister Chu, don't just stand there!"

"Get off quickly."

Murong Si glared at Chu Xiu and said in a deep voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I thank you for your great kindness."

With tears welling up in his eyes, Chu Xiu thanked Murong Si for her kindness, then picked up a white chess piece and placed it on the chessboard.

In ancient China, it was not Black who moved first, but always White.

The same was true in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"That's right. You are the champion marquis of our Great Zhou Dynasty. Even if your chess skills are a little lacking, don't dawdle. I'll just let you win."

Murong Si revealed an expression of admiration for Chu Xiu, glanced at him appreciatively, and picked up a black chess piece and placed it on the chessboard.

The two engaged in a thrilling and intense battle on the white jade chessboard. Chu Xiu displayed chess skills that were only slightly inferior to Murong Si's, and the two fought back and forth fiercely.

Jiang Wan'er and Pei Guanyin, who had been watching from the sidelines, showed admiration on their faces. As expected of the Marquis, no wonder he was favored by the Emperor. Look at the Marquis's skill level, there was no sign of him holding back at all, allowing His Majesty to display his chess skills.

After a while.

A palace maid entered the main hall of Taiji Palace and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, Abbot Jingkong has arrived and is waiting outside the main hall."

"Bring him in."

Murong Si said without looking up.

"Yes."

The palace maid responded and left the main hall.

Soon, a palace maid led in Abbot Jingkong of Daxiangguo Temple.

After entering, the palace maid quietly withdrew.

"This humble monk pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Abbot Jingkong clasped his hands together and bowed to Murong Si.

When he entered the main hall, he saw Murong Si playing chess with Chu Xiu, which made him feel uneasy.

As the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple, he had naturally played chess with Murong Si and knew very well just how bad her chess skills were.

Upon seeing Chu Xiu's appearance and the marquis's robes he was wearing, he guessed that this must be Chu Xiu, the newly nobleman of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Marquis of Champion and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Abbot Jingkong was also extremely curious about Chu Xiu and couldn't help but take a look at him.

"Abbot Jingkong, you may dispense with the formalities."

"Jiang Wan'er, offer Abbot Jingkong a seat."

Murong Si then raised her head with lingering interest, waved to Abbot Jingkong, and said.

"Yes."

Jiang Wan'er nodded gently and brought over a chair for Abbot Jingkong.

Chu Xiu breathed a sigh of relief and quietly moved his chair away a little.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Abbot Jingkong thanked Murong Si before sitting down in the chair.

Chu Xiu nodded to Abbot Jingkong as a greeting.

Chu Xiu naturally dared not underestimate Abbot Jingkong of the Great Xiangguo Temple.

Using his ability to observe qi, Chu Xiu could tell at a glance that Abbot Jingkong's cultivation level had reached the peak of the ninth level of the Earth Immortal Realm.

Moreover, its strength is second only to the Imperial Preceptor Qi Tianchen.

This person is clearly not simple either; he is by no means an easy opponent.

However, this is quite normal, considering that Abbot Jingkong is the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple.

The strength of Daxiangguo Temple is no less than that of the four great Buddhist holy sites; it is also a true Buddhist holy site.

As the master of a Buddhist holy land, he is naturally not just a simple peak ninth level Earth Immortal.

He even suspected that if it weren't for the suppression of heaven and earth required to reach the Celestial Immortal realm, this person, like Qi Tianchen, would have already reached the Celestial Immortal realm.

"Abbot Jingkong, do you know why I summoned you to the palace?"

Murong Si looked at Abbot Jingkong with a cold expression and spoke.

"This humble monk does not know."

Abbot Jingkong shook his head and said.

"Does Abbot Jingkong have any understanding of Abbot Jingwu of the Luohan Academy?"

Murong Si pondered for a moment, then looked at Abbot Jingkong and asked.

"Junior Brother Jingwu?"

"This humble monk naturally understands Junior Brother Jingwu."

“Junior Brother Jingwu entered our Great Xiangguo Temple only three years later than this humble monk.”

"I have been the abbot of the Luohan Academy of our Daxiangguo Temple for thirty years now."

Abbot Jingkong looked puzzled and asked, "Why would Your Majesty ask this?"

"So, do you know anything about what happened to Jingwu before he joined your Daxiangguo Temple?"

Murong Si asked Abbot Jingkong once again.

“Junior Brother Jingwu is an orphan. He was only sixteen years old before joining our Daxiangguo Temple.”

"Your Majesty, is there perhaps something wrong with Junior Brother Jingwu?"

Abbot Jingkong's eyes narrowed, his expression turned serious, and he stared intently at Murong Si as he asked.

Although he knew Master Jingwu extremely well, not only was he profound in Buddhism, but his martial arts talent was also extraordinary.

Otherwise, he would not have been able to become the abbot of the Luohan Academy of Daxiangguo Temple.

It should be noted that the entire Daxiangguo Temple has five courtyards and four pavilions.

The heads of the Five Courtyards and Four Pavilions are second only to the abbot in the entire Xiangguo Temple.

However, Murong Si's repeated inquiries suggest that Master Jingwu may have some issues.

As the abbot of the Great Xiangguo Temple, he naturally knew many secrets, such as the fact that Murong Si controlled a shadow guard.

The Shadow Guard's strength can be described as incredibly powerful.

The power that this group of shadow guards has truly displayed may only be the tip of the iceberg of their true strength; the power hidden in the shadows is even more terrifying.

"Minister Chu, you may speak."

Murong Si did not answer Abbot Jingkong's question, but looked at Chu Xiu and said calmly.

"Yes, I obey the order."

Chu Xiu nodded. He didn't mention the matter of the Yuan Shen Sword Seal. Instead, he said that he had subdued a true disciple of Wanfo Temple, the monk Jingxin, and planted a mole in Wanfo Temple. Through this true disciple, he learned that Master Zhikong, the disciple of Abbot Jingwu, was a spy of Wanfo Temple. Then, the Shadow Guards discovered that Abbot Jingwu had gone to Yangzhou City and told him in great detail.

"My lord, is what you say true?"

Abbot Jingkong's expression turned solemn, and he asked the question earnestly.

In fact, from the moment Murong Si summoned him to the palace, he already understood that Chu Xiu must have obtained evidence.

The fact that the Shadow Guard discovered that Master Jingwu had gone to Yangzhou was made by the Shadow Guard who was most loyal to Murong Si, so it is definitely true.

“Abbot Jingkong, please wait a moment. The Commander of the Shadow Guards and Monk Jingxin should be arriving soon.”

Chu Xiu did not answer Abbot Jingkong's question, but smiled slightly and said.