Though the maid wore the clothing of a servant from the Minister’s residence, Su Luoyi recognized her at a glance.

She didn’t know why, but Su Luoyi felt that even Third Miss Li’s maid was like her mistress, possessing a distinctive tranquil quality that made her easily distinguishable from others.

She stood at the doorway quietly watching, becoming more and more alarmed the longer she looked.

What was that maid doing?

Cleaning up the chess game? No, her manner clearly showed she was recreating the game!

Su Luoyi started to step forward, but restrained herself. She stood until her legs went numb, watching the maid hold a black chess piece without moving for a long time. Then her mistress extended her slender, pale hand and lightly tapped a spot on the board. The maid, who had maintained a peaceful expression throughout, finally smiled at the corners of her mouth, placed the piece down, then stepped aside and stood properly.

Su Luoyi could no longer restrain herself and walked in.

Hearing the sound, Qiao Zhao looked up and stood: “Sister Su has returned.”

Su Luoyi nodded somewhat awkwardly: “I kept Third Sister Li waiting too long.”

As she spoke and approached, she glimpsed the chess board and was shocked: that maid had indeed been recreating the game!

Su Luoyi couldn’t help but look at A’Zhu.

The little maid appeared to be fifteen or sixteen years old, standing beside her mistress with hands hanging at her sides, quiet and composed. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she would never have imagined what this quiet maid had just been doing.

“What is Third Sister Li’s maid called?”

Qiao Zhao glanced at A’Zhu.

A’Zhu curtsied and respectfully replied: “In answer to Miss Su, this servant is called A’Zhu.”

“A’Zhu? What a lovely name. Do you know how to play chess?”

“This servant doesn’t dare claim to know much, only that Miss has taught some recently.” Facing Su Luoyi’s inquiry, A’Zhu answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Su Luoyi’s feelings toward Qiao Zhao were suddenly quite different from before.

If a maid who had learned chess from following her mistress could recreate their just-played game, then what level must her mistress be at?

She once again focused her gaze on the chess board and let out a soft exclamation, picking up a black piece and hesitating: “This piece…”

She seemed not to have made this move earlier!

That’s right—at that time she had been racking her brains in hesitation, not knowing how to place her piece, when grandmother sent someone to summon her. She hadn’t made this move yet. Now looking at it, placing the piece here was actually most appropriate.

Su Luoyi suddenly looked at Qiao Zhao: “Come, Third Sister Li, let’s continue!”

Half an hour later.

Su Luoyi stared blankly at the situation that had appeared on the chess board. After a long silence, she suddenly swept her hand across the board, scattering the pieces, then looked at A’Zhu and asked softly: “A’Zhu, could you recreate our game for us?”

A’Zhu looked toward Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao nodded lightly.

Having received her mistress’s indication, A’Zhu stepped forward. Holding black pieces in one hand and white in the other, she moved back and forth, placing crystalline chess pieces on the board. At first the pieces fell quickly, almost without hesitation, only slowing down after Su Luoyi had left and returned.

When the final piece was placed, fine beads of sweat had appeared on A’Zhu’s nose, but her expression remained calm. She bowed to both of them and returned to Qiao Zhao’s side.

After quite a while, Su Luoyi sighed deeply: “Third Sister Li, today I am truly convinced.”

This maid named A’Zhu might still lack some skill in chess, but given time she would surely make rapid progress.

Could it be that this was all the result of Third Miss Li’s guidance?

Thinking of this, Su Luoyi looked at Qiao Zhao with burning eyes and reached out with both hands to grasp hers: “Third Sister Li, you should know about Fushan Society, shouldn’t you?”

“Who doesn’t know about Fushan Society?” Qiao Zhao asked with a smile.

“Then would you be willing to join?”

“If it’s possible, naturally I would be willing.”

“Good, then Third Sister Li, please wait patiently for some time. I’ll first recommend your name. You might not know that since our president… passed away, to add new members, we several vice presidents must decide together or have two vice presidents jointly recommend.” Su Luoyi explained.

“Then I’ll trouble Sister Su. I very much look forward to joining Fushan Society to broaden my horizons.”

Su Luoyi covered her mouth and laughed: “Perhaps it’s they who will need to broaden their horizons.”

After Qiao Zhao took her leave, Su Luoyi went straight to the study. After thinking it over, she abandoned the idea of inviting several vice presidents to gather and instead wrote a letter to send to Marquis Taining’s residence.

Zhu Yán had always been on good terms with her. Surely after seeing her letter, she would be willing to jointly recommend Third Miss Li. That way, Third Miss Li would directly become a member of Fushan Society, and they could simply send her an invitation for the next gathering.

Qiao Zhao left Minister Su’s residence, accompanied by A’Zhu as they walked toward the carriage parked under a roadside tree. They brushed past a dark-faced man selling candied hawthorn, walked several zhang away, then stopped and turned back.

The dark-faced man raised an honest smile: “Young lady, would you like some candied hawthorn? Big and sweet!”

Qiao Zhao looked deeply at the dark-faced man and nodded confidently: “Big brother, we’ve met before.”

“Ah!” The dark-faced man was startled, secretly pinched his own thigh, and laughed heartily: “Young lady, you jest! How could we have met? Hehe, perhaps you bought my candied hawthorn before?”

The young lady decisively shook her head: “No, big brother’s memory is too poor. Didn’t we just meet yesterday? If big brother can’t remember, let me remind you—in front of Wuwei Tea House—”

Seeing the dark-faced man’s shocked expression, Qiao Zhao sneered inwardly: Confirmed, this person is following her!

Who was he? Why had he been following her yesterday and today?

She was just the daughter of a small Hanlin Academy scholar—what was there worth plotting about?

Qiao Zhao’s gaze moved downward, glancing at the dark-faced man’s shoes, and her heart stirred.

So that was it. She had seen someone wear such shoes before—it was Jiang Shisan, who had also appeared in front of Wuwei Tea House yesterday.

These shoes weren’t special, quite ordinary actually, but they had one great advantage: they didn’t easily make noise when walking.

If that was the case, this person was Jiang Shisan’s subordinate? Yesterday when Jiang Shisan appeared, it was because he had tipped him off?

Thinking this way, Qiao Zhao sorted it all out.

Aside from that involuntary southern journey, she, an ordinary girl, couldn’t possibly have attracted the attention of the Jinlin Guards. And the only connection between that southern journey and the Jinlin Guards was Jiang Shisan, who had also been in Jia Feng!

The young lady before him had a cold expression and appeared lost in thought. Jiang He watched with alarm and laughed dryly: “Young lady is really joking—”

Qiao Zhao ignored his words and kindly reminded: “Blackening your face to sell candied hawthorn isn’t good. People would be more willing to buy if you looked clean and neat.”

After Miss Qiao finished speaking, she lightly instructed A’Zhu: “Buy several sticks of candied hawthorn to take with us.”

Not until A’Zhu had taken the candied hawthorn and paid for it, and the master and servant had boarded their carriage, did the dumbfounded Jinlin Guard come to his senses and hurry off with a large string of candied hawthorn to find his superior.

Jiang Yuanchao saw his dejected subordinate at a glance and couldn’t help frowning: “Why have you returned in such a state?”