Chu Yuan seemed to suddenly become livelier.

Those who were entering and those who were leaving all noticed it. Of course, Chu Yuan had always been lively, but it was a kind of languid liveliness. The initial novelty had already passed, and people had figured out the abilities of this girl, Chu Zhao. She indeed had genuine talent and learning, but not enough to impress everyone in the world.

How could impressing everyone be so easy? None of them could achieve such a feat either.

So, they thought, this little woman Chu Zhao was arrogant to compete with everyone, which was simply asking for humiliation. The little woman could win a few times, but mostly she lost. Humiliating this little woman had also become tiresome to watch. Now they were just waiting to see when this little woman would give up and admit defeat, ending the matter.

But at this moment, Chu Yuan was like a stone thrown into water, causing ripples to splash up again.

“What’s happening?” “Who lost this time?”

People asked one after another—because many had already stopped watching the competitions out of boredom, preferring instead to enjoy the scenery of Chu Yuan.

The servants at Chu Yuan were very efficient; whatever one needed was delivered immediately. Sitting here was much more comfortable than going to a restaurant or teahouse.

Hearing the inquiries, a Chu Yuan servant immediately answered: “Just now, Young Master Bei Cheng defeated Miss Chu, and then a young lady challenged Young Master Bei Cheng to a game of chess.”

Oh? So another girl also wanted to compete?

Everyone was surprised and curious. Those who were about to leave turned back, and those who had just entered quickened their steps.

The servants of Chu Yuan also reacted quickly: “Quickly tell Miss A-Tang that sales won’t decrease, but will increase.”

When Miss Zhou ran out and shouted those words, Chu Tang, who was focused on calculating accounts, was also startled. She put down her counting tokens and stood on the second floor looking down.

“Has A-Jiang gone mad?” she said in surprise.

The maids standing nearby were somewhat uneasy, as this was an unexpected situation, and they didn’t know what to do: “Should we pull Miss A-Jiang away?”

This competition was specifically targeting Miss Chu Zhao, and she alone had borne all the troubles.

But with another young lady suddenly jumping in, what would happen now?

Chu Tang looked downstairs. She couldn’t quite understand either. This Zhou Jiang was just an ordinary daughter from a noble family, docile and obedient, with at most a little temper that all girls had. What had gotten into her?

Was she standing up for Chu Zhao?

“Miss A-Tang, Miss A-Tang.” A servant came running up the stairs, relaying the news of increased customers.

Chu Tang slapped the window railing: “Go, tell Zui Xian Lou that we need to adjust the price of tea snacks, and also Xiemo Xuan, we need to increase prices too. In the future, our anthology won’t just feature one girl, A-Zhao.”

After saying this, she glanced downstairs once more, then withdrew her gaze and walked back to the table, picking up the counting tokens and having the maids count, busying herself attentively.

Whether Chu Zhao went crazy or other young ladies went crazy, it was their own business. She wouldn’t concern herself with it. She would just mind her affairs.

…

…

The girls in the pavilion had all stood up, anxiously watching this side. They didn’t dare to walk over.

Chu Zhao stood behind Miss Zhou, watching as Miss Zhou placed her chess pieces one by one.

“So that’s how it should be played,” she couldn’t help saying. “I made a mistake with this move earlier.”

Miss Zhou placed a chess piece with a snap and scolded: “No talking while observing a game.”

How fierce. Chu Zhao smiled and said nothing more. Across from them, Young Master Bei Cheng frowned, sweat visibly beading on his forehead in the sunlight. This girl who had suddenly appeared was indeed fierce—her chess style was aggressive.

This girl seemed to play chess without thinking, immediately using killing moves, pressing forward with each step.

A mere woman!

Bei Cheng was very annoyed, but he simply couldn’t counter her moves and could only retreat step by step, again and again, until he had nowhere to retreat.

He held a chess piece for a long time, unable to place it. The people surrounding them were also silent, each deep in thought, but ultimately shaking their heads.

Bei Cheng wasn’t a sore loser. He conceded, stood up, and left.

“Don’t worry, Young Master, this doesn’t count as losing to me,” Chu Zhao hurriedly said from behind. “You can still say that I am inferior to you.”

How could he have the face to say that! Besides, he had won against Chu Zhao but lost to another woman—what was the difference? Young Master Bei Cheng swept his sleeves and strode away quickly.

But this girl who played such fierce chess was as bold as Chu Zhao, standing up and pointing at Young Master Bei Cheng’s back, shouting:

“You win against one woman and dare to boast arrogantly, looking down on everyone. Do you think all women in the world are inferior to you?”

She had turned the words Bei Cheng had used to scold Chu Zhao back against him.

How audacious!

A wave of commotion rose from the surrounding crowd.

The expressions of the girls in the corridors and pavilions changed from shock to confusion.

“A-Jiang,” one girl murmured. “I never knew she was so fierce.”

It hadn’t been apparent at all before.

They had all grown up together and knew each other very well. Miss Zhou had always been a quiet, well-behaved girl who spoke little. Her family was known for their chess skills, so naturally she also knew how to play. She often played with her sisters, sometimes winning and sometimes losing, never showing exceptional skill, and even when she won, she was never so aggressive.

Some were confused by Miss Zhou’s unfamiliar temperament, while others were puzzled by her behavior.

“Is A-Jiang helping Chu Zhao?” Qi Leyun asked. “Since when did she become so close with Chu Zhao?”

Rushing out on such an occasion and teaching a lesson to the person who had defeated Chu Zhao—wasn’t that defending Chu Zhao?

This kind of behavior was what books described as “risking one’s life for a friend,” wasn’t it?

A girl beside her laughed softly: “You’re overthinking it. It’s not for that reason.”

Then what was it for? Qi Leyun looked at her.

The girl said: “It’s for herself.”

How would stepping forward at this time, inviting everyone’s anger, benefit her? Qi Leyun was even more confused.

The girl said no more and looked toward Miss Zhou, who had taken Chu Zhao’s place at the competition seat.

Miss Zhou was surrounded by a radiance never seen before.

…

…

Chu Zhao looked at the girl who had taken her place and coughed lightly: “Miss, what is your surname?”

The thirteen-year-old Chu Zhao might have known this young lady, but she truly had no impression of her.

Was this young lady’s chess skill invincible? How had she never heard her name in her past life?

When A-Jiang couldn’t yet speak, her grandfather had held her in his arms to watch chess games.

By the time she could speak, she was already able to play against her grandfather.

At first, it was naturally a child’s play, but after she made a move that caused her grandfather to think for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he began to see her differently.

She started learning chess from her grandfather, and by the time she was ten, few people in the family could play against her.

“If you were a boy, Grandfather could recommend you to the Hanlin Academy now,” her grandfather had once said with a smile.

She asked her grandfather, somewhat puzzled: “Is it not allowed because I am a girl?”

Her grandfather laughed heartily, as did the others in the family.

“Of course, a girl cannot,” her grandfather said, somewhat helpless and regretful. “A boy who learns chess can make a living, but a girl who learns chess can only use it for amusement.”

However, her mother had a different view.

“A girl who learns chess can also make a living, but this livelihood depends on her future husband.” Her mother held her hand and said, “A-Jiang, you must remember that your chess playing is to please your husband. You can win against him, but you can’t always win. Whether you win or lose, your goal is to make your husband happy.”

She followed her mother’s words, hiding her edge and deliberately losing when playing chess. Sure enough, those who had previously lost to her and didn’t like her, both inside and outside the family, began to like her again.

But every deep night, she sat alone under the lamp, battling against herself, fiercely, feeling both elation and anger.

Her chess skills were superb, yet because she was a girl, she had to hide them.

Others’ affection for her was bought with her repeated concessions. What meaning did such affection have?

These days, watching Chu Zhao lose again and again, and challenge again and again, whether winning or losing, it was all under her control. Even if people hated her, what could they do? She lost with satisfaction and won with abandon.

Mere woman, mere woman, so what!

She also wanted to experience such freedom once!

Zhou Jiang turned to look at Chu Zhao and said: “After I defeat these people, you will know my name.”

Chu Zhao was startled, then smiled: “Then I congratulate the young lady on becoming famous in Chu Yuan.”

After saying this, she stepped back.

Zhou Jiang’s hand, hidden in her sleeve, trembled slightly. She stepped forward and looked at everyone, asking loudly: “Who else? Who dares to compete with me!”