Dark Star Field [Interstellar]

On the floating screen, a chess game is coming to an end.

Xue Yelai's index finger hit a white elephant, and it moved forward two squares obliquely.

He had plaster on his right shoulder and a brace around his neck, so he couldn't move freely.Besides sleeping, I had to play chess with the computer to pass the time.His internal organs were not seriously injured in the accident, and he recovered quickly after the operation.As long as the shoulders and neck are well maintained, you can be discharged from the hospital.

In front of the cooking counter beside him, Bai Yang cut the washed fruits and vegetables into pieces and put them into the juicer.

Bai Yang lived with him in this ward, and was actually confined.If Xue Yelai died before rescinding the contract, Bai Yang would be "recycled by humanitarianism" - no one would dare to casually take over a dark warrior with an unstable mental state.Bai Yang's ending was either to be killed, or to become an undead warrior.

That day, after he proposed to terminate the contract, Bai Yang only responded: "Don't say stupid things."

Then, the two never talked about the subject again.

Xue Yelai focused on the chess game in front of him.The score between him and the computer is 0:19, he has never won a game, and it is impossible to win.In the field of chess and cards, artificial intelligence has completely surpassed humans a long time ago.Unless the computer's intelligence level is set to "low", no one can beat them at all.

But Xue Yelai didn't care about winning or losing. He was fascinated by the process of playing against the computer—since the opponent was a program that would never be affected by emotions, human weaknesses were magnified to the extreme.Any slight mood swing can quickly lead to a catastrophic situation.

Xue Yelai likes to train himself in this way, forcing himself to think coldly like a machine.But it's not easy, especially for a man with such a naturally emotional nature.

This round ended with the victory of AI without any suspense.Xue Yelai turned off the floating screen, and stretched as little as possible.He lasted five more steps than the previous round, and he was quite satisfied with the result.

A glass of algae-green vegetable juice appeared in front of him in due time.

"Thank you." Xue Yelai bit the straw, his eyes still staring at the void, as if thinking hard about the way to take a step.

"Isn't it already over? What are you still thinking about?" A hand was placed on his head, and he pressed it lightly.

"I am reflecting. I have to reflect after every game of chess, so that I can improve."

Bai Yang leaned down towards him, "You have thought about a lot these two days, I don't want to pretend not to feel it. If there is something related to me, I hope you can let me know."

"..." Xue Yelai felt slightly bitter.He did think about many things, but he couldn't tell Bai Yang, at least not now.

After that life-and-death accident, his body suffered a lot, but his mind became calm because of it.He tried to let himself get rid of all subjective emotions and think about a question: why the Su family was beaten to pieces while the Xue family was not injured for the same charge of defection.

He thought of Xue Ruheng's words, and suddenly had the answer.

There must not be a single reason for the emperor to be lenient towards Xue Jiawang, but the most important point is that the emperor needs checks and balances.

According to the information Xue Yelai investigated, the Su family back then was stronger than the current Xue family.The remaining three major families may not have the wealth and power to match them when they are united.

Things are very different today.If the power struggle in the empire is compared to a balance, the Xue family and the Cao family are the two ends of the balance, always in a delicate balance.Although there is still a Lin family in the Senate, their power is too weak to compete with Xue Cao.

For a long time, the emperor has achieved a balance through the two families of Xue and Cao to check each other, so as to ensure that the imperial power is at the same center.If the Xue family is destroyed, the Cao family will become the biggest threat that can challenge the imperial power.Neither the emperor nor the Cao family would want to see such a situation.

No wonder since the Hundred Flowers Temple incident, the Cao family has become cautious, probably the so-called "the rabbit dies and the fox is sad, and things hurt the same kind".

After thinking about these things, Xue Yelai felt a little relieved.As long as this balance is not completely broken, the Xue family is generally safe.

He deliberately let his thoughts stop here, and he didn't dare to continue to think deeply - if the emperor himself was the biggest beneficiary of the Hundred Flowers Temple incident, then who would be the one who planned all this?

If the Xue family was the biggest beneficiary of the Su family's genocide, then what role did the Xue family play back then?

Xue Yelai couldn't help but tremble from the bottom of his heart.When I first paid my respects to the Great Elder, what the other party said, when I think about it today, I especially feel that there is no deep meaning: "...some words, even if you know you should say it, you have to let it rot in your stomach. Less than a day Don't speak when you have one foot in the grave."

The mood swings at this moment did not escape Bai Yang's perception.He concentrated his eyes and looked at Xue Yelai with concern: "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm afraid of what happened that day." Xue Yelai calmly lifted a lock of long hair and twirled it between his fingers, "If it wasn't the shoulders but the hair that hung on that day, the scalp would probably be torn, and maybe it would still be broken." It will be disfigured, which is terrible to think about. Otherwise, you can help me cut my hair short."

Bai Yang frowned silently, held up his hair, and let his palm slide through the hair cherishingly. "It's so beautiful, it's a pity to cut it."

"It doesn't matter, my hair grows fast, and it can grow back to its current length in a year." Xue Yelai pulled Bai Yang's forehead hair, "Besides, I think your short hair is very handsome. I have always had long hair since I was a child. , it’s time to make some changes.”