Because he had beaten the young lady of Finesteed Hamlet, Qi Sheng, at chess, Yan Ying was set to marry her. O…
Because he had beaten the young lady of Finesteed Hamlet, Qi Sheng, at chess, Yan Ying was set to marry her. On the eve of the wedding, his soon-to-be brother-in-law, Qi Yutang, called him out to the stables for a private chat. After a "friendly" exchange that involved a few punches, Qi Yutang finally got down to business, launching into a long-winded rant. He said Yan Ying had gotten the deal of a lifetime. Ever since Qi Sheng had declared she'd marry the man who could beat her at chess, everyone at Finesteed Hamlet had kept a tight watch, testing every challenger. Better she stay unmarried than end up with someone unworthy. Somehow, this rough soldier had slipped through. Qi Yutang warned him that Qi Sheng hated losing at chess. Even if she smiled on the surface, a loss would sit with her for days. "So listen up, from now on, you let her win. Keep her smiling. If you ever make her cry, I'll beat you so bad you won't even find your teeth." Qi Yutang went on like that for a good while.
Yan Ying listened quietly, promising to take good care of his future wife and to make her happy. He loved her smile. When she smiled, it was as if the whole world shone.