Surprising Swan.

Summary

In the Eastern Courtyard of the Taixue Palace, Emperor Shang Huang meets Confucian Sage Kong Qiu for a chess game, symbolizing the tension between imperial authority and Confucian wisdom. Shang Huang's choice of white pieces signals his ambition to assert dominance over the Confucian Academy, while Kong Qiu emphasizes patience and the importance of a successor. They discuss potential successors and the looming threat of a scholar from the Western Regions seeking the Heavenly Books. Kong Qiu reveals that Tai Yuan, a Daoist leader, is still alive and mentions the Underworld's sealed lands, hinting at a deeper calamity involving Tai Yin, a key figure in the Daoist sect. The conversation reflects the intricate balance of power and knowledge in their world.

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