495: Empress Wins the Mahjong Record

Another month passed, half busy, half slacking off.

After Shang Wan Ning saw Ox-Head and Horse-Face off to the Ghost Realm and took over most of the training for the nine nether annihilation pagoda, she also began to feel like relaxing.

AQi handled the state affairs, and the various departments managed external affairs. Her Majesty the Empress occasionally needed to take a vacation.

Hehe ( 罒ω 罒).

After noon that day, she changed into a light, smoke-blue casual dress, her long hair loosely tied with a jade hairpin. Leading a few close maidservants, she strolled towards Chenfeng Palace.

Among the temporary palaces, Chenfeng Palace occupied the largest area; its pavilions and terraces were hidden within the perpetually lingering nether mist, creating a serene and secluded landscape.

Since its renovation, Shang Wan Ning had only visited a few times. Most of the time, she was like an experienced shut-in, holed up in Jiaotai Palace, reviewing memorials, teasing the system, and occasionally getting a headache from the White-Haired Loli's antics.

Today, however, she was in a rare leisurely mood.

"Your Majesty is in good spirits today." The leading maidservant, named Qing Dai, was lively. As she led the way, she couldn't help but rub her hands together.

"The warm pavilion by the water in the back hall of Chenfeng Palace has the best view. Your servant specially arranged soft cushions and burned cold plum incense according to Your Majesty's preferences. Even the tea prepared is your favorite Snowtop Sweet Dew."

"Mm."

Shang Wan Ning responded, her gaze sweeping over the dark gauze curtains hanging from the corridor, faintly visible in the nether mist.

"Set up a mahjong table. My hands are itching terribly today; it's a good chance to relax."

The warm pavilion was already tidied up.

All the windows facing the water were pushed open, allowing a moist breeze to waft in, dispelling the cold plum incense burning inside the hall. Mixed with the fresh scent of the lotus pond outside the window, it was exceptionally refreshing.

A Huanghuali wood mahjong table was placed in the center, with four armchairs cushioned with soft pads. On the table, white jade mahjong tiles were neatly stacked, smooth to the touch, with small cloud patterns carved along their edges.

Shang Wan Ning sat in the main seat. Qing Dai and the other two senior maidservants, Su Bi and Shen Yan, exchanged glances, then sat down on the other three sides with suppressed smiles.

A younger one named Lin Zhu stood behind Shang Wan Ning, holding a carved wooden tray with a teapot and teacups. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the mahjong tiles, ready to pour tea and water, and also wanting to join the fun of watching the game.

"Same old rules," Shang Wan Ning said with a playful smile. "Fifty incense points per round, capped at one thousand. No crying if you lose everything, and no complaining to AQi."

Qing Dai immediately raised her hand as if swearing, giggling, "Your Majesty, don't worry, how would your servants dare! But you must be lenient; your servant was planning to save up these two months' wages to summon succubus ladies."

Su Bi, steady by nature, tidied her sleeves and merely said gently, "As long as Your Majesty is happy, winning or losing are minor matters." Despite her words, she quietly divided her chips, clearly intending to play a serious game.

Shen Yan spoke the least, simply stacking her chips into a neat pile and gently tapping the table with her fingertips, as if in response.

The game officially began.

The dice made a crisp sound. Qing Dai was quick, picking up tiles first, muttering softly as she arranged them, "Good tiles, good tiles, come to me..."

Su Bi, on the other hand, was unhurried, arranging the tiles one by one, her gaze sweeping over them as she carefully calculated. Shen Yan moved swiftly, quickly arranged her tiles, and placed her hands on the edge of the table, quietly awaiting the next turn.

The first two rounds were back and forth.

Shang Wan Ning's luck was average, drawing and discarding tiles unhurriedly; Qing Dai, however, had good luck, winning a small hand and some chips, her eyes curving into smiles.

Su Bi accidentally played a discard that allowed another player to win, but she wasn't annoyed, merely smiling gently and pushing out the corresponding chips.

The atmosphere in the warm pavilion was relaxed, with occasional low conversations, crisp sounds of tiles clashing, and Lin Zhu's irrepressible soft gasps from behind. When Shang Wan Ning turned to glare at her, she immediately covered her mouth, only daring to express her excitement with her eyes.

But by the third round, the tide had turned.

Shang Wan Ning drew a tile, her fingertips pausing as she felt the texture of its surface.

She laid down the tile, her voice unhurried: "Self-drawn, All One Suit, Concealed Hand, Win on Kong." With that, she pushed down her tiles, revealing a spread of green dragon-like bamboo tiles on the table.

"Let's see, how many points is that?"

Qing Dai leaned over to look and immediately let out a wail, slapping her thigh: "Your Majesty! Your luck is too bizarre! You actually managed to complete this?" With that, she regretfully counted out a large stack of chips and pushed them over, her smile instantly crumbling.

Su Bi carefully counted the points and silently pushed over a stack of chips. "Your Majesty's mahjong skills are truly getting more formidable!"

Shen Yan's mouth twitched. She dared not speak, only tightened her fingers around the chips, placing them one by one in front of Shang Wan Ning, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.

Next, it became a solo performance by Her Majesty the Empress.

All One Suit, All Pungs, Seven Pairs, Thirteen Orphans... big hands and small hands came one after another, as if the white jade mahjong tiles truly recognized their owner, vying to leap into her hands.

Qing Dai was sweating profusely, her hands trembling as she drew tiles. Just as she finally got a listening hand and was about to call out, she was interrupted by Shang Wan Ning's self-draw, which made her stomp her feet in frustration. Yet, she dared not act out, only muttering under her breath, "Your Majesty, did you turn on cheats?"

Su Bi also gradually lost her initial composure, frequently making mistakes while calculating tiles. Occasionally, she would play a discard that allowed another player to win a small hand, and seeing her dwindling stack of chips, a worried expression appeared on her face.

Shen Yan, even more so, kept her lips tightly pressed throughout, staring at the mahjong table as if she wanted to burn a hole through it. Several times, she drew good tiles, only for Shang Wan Ning to win the hand one step ahead.

[ (ಥ﹏ಥ) ]

Lin Zhu watched from behind, sometimes exclaiming at Shang Wan Ning's good tiles, other times stifling laughter at the three maidservants' predicament. Her shoulders subtly shook. When Qing Dai turned to glare at her, she quickly composed herself, obediently refilling Shang Wan Ning's tea.

"Another self-draw, Mixed One Suit, All Pungs." Shang Wan Ning gently placed the last tile on the table.

She looked up at Qing Dai, her eyes full of smiles. "Hmm, Qing Dai, your chips seem to be running out?"

Qing Dai looked at the few lonely chips in front of her, wanting to cry but unable to. She slumped on the table and wailed, "Your Majesty... your servant... your servant's wages for these two months are almost all gone... I knew I shouldn't have been greedy and tried to win your incense points!"

Su Bi was no better off, her usually composed face almost splitting in two.

"Next month, I still need to bring some incense pastries for my wife; it seems there won't be enough now."

Shen Yan added faintly, "My rouge money is gone too."

Lin Zhu finally couldn't hold back, letting out a "puchi" of laughter. She hastily grabbed the teapot to cover up, lowering her gaze and pretending to be well-behaved.