But where should she place her stone?

Zhou Shaojin stared carefully at the board.

No matter where she placed her stone, there was no way to capture Cheng Chi’s stones.

Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi blankly, at a loss.

Cheng Chi barely restrained himself from rubbing his forehead.

When learning go, one usually started with capturing stones, so people who had just started learning go typically played without regard for strategy, single-mindedly focused on capturing stones.

For someone at Cheng Chi’s level to play chess with such a person was like a strong man arm-wrestling an infant—there was simply no contest to speak of.

Was he really going to have to teach this little girl how to play go?

Cheng Chi scoffed disdainfully to himself.

His second brother had asked several times for his son to study with him, which he’d found troublesome. How much more so to teach a little girl with no foundation whatsoever how to play chess!

But he never liked to back people into a corner. If he backed someone into a corner, it became a life-or-death situation.

Therefore Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Alright, let’s stop here for today…”

Had she already lost?

Zhou Shaojin knew her chess skills couldn’t possibly compare to Cheng Chi’s, but looking at the large empty area in the lower right corner of the board, she couldn’t understand how she had lost!

However, if Uncle Chi said so, he must have his reasons.

She said “Oh” and obediently began clearing the stones.

Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin.

Was she preparing to play another game with him?

Given the gap between their abilities, what difference was there between playing one game and playing ten? Unless he gave her a twenty-stone handicap. No, even with a twenty-stone handicap, she might not necessarily beat him.

Cheng Chi smiled, “After learning go from Grand Madam Shen for over ten days, you already know how to capture stones. You’re quite talented. Why don’t you study with Grand Madam Shen for some more time, then we can have another match. I can also see if you’ve made progress…” But before he could finish speaking, Old Madam Guo emerged from the inner chamber.

The old lady wore a very homely blue-lotus colored plain Hangzhou silk vest. Her graying hair was neatly coiled in a round bun at the back of her head, and she wore gold-set emerald earrings. She looked spirited and asked with great interest and a smile, “Well? Which of you won?”

Zhou Shaojin quickly rose to greet Old Madam Guo. Cheng Chi, however, smiled and said, “We were just playing for fun. Why worry about winning or losing!”

“From the looks of it, you won!” Old Madam Guo said with a smile upon hearing this. “You’re her uncle. Don’t you know to give Shaojin a handicap? How can you feel good about beating a junior like this?”

“Not good at all,” Cheng Chi laughed. “As the saying goes, ambition isn’t determined by age. Gan Luo became prime minister at twelve. How was I to know what Niece Zhou’s chess skills were like? You come up and immediately want me to give handicap stones. I think you just want to see me lose so you can laugh at me!”

Old Madam Guo laughed heartily.

This was the first time Zhou Shaojin had seen Old Madam Guo so happy. That laughter flowed from the bottom of her heart, infectious enough to share her joy.

What else could she say?

She could only look toward Cheng Chi.

But Cheng Chi didn’t even glance at her. While putting away the chess pieces, he chatted with Old Madam Guo: “…You shouldn’t trouble the little girl. She still needs to copy sutras for you!”

Zhou Shaojin understood the hint and quickly rose to take her leave.

But Old Madam Guo beckoned to her and instructed Zhenzhu, “Go get that ‘Magpies Announcing Good News’ jade pendant from my dressing table. A young girl has lost at chess—we can’t let her leave empty-handed. Take a jade pendant to wear.” This last sentence was directed at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed bright red. She quickly said, “No need, no need. I… I just played a few random moves with Uncle Chi…”

She knew Old Madam Guo had misunderstood, but Uncle Chi was trying to please Old Madam Guo. If she revealed the truth, Uncle Chi would surely be angry with her.

Zhou Shaojin looked toward Cheng Chi seeking help.

Cheng Chi didn’t think much of it.

Money was meant to be spent. If money could buy happiness, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

He said, “When an elder gives a gift, one cannot refuse. If she’s giving it to you, just accept it!”

“Exactly.” Old Madam Guo was in an excellent mood. Besides that jade pendant, she also spontaneously rewarded her with a pair of coral flower hairpins. Never mind that the jade pendant was flawless throughout, with two magpies frolicking on plum branches so lifelike they seemed about to break free from the jade and fly away. As for that pair of coral flower hairpins, they had petals of red coral and pistils of yellow amber, fashioned into pomegranate flowers the size of wine cups.

Coral, limited by its material, was precious even in lotus-seed-sized beads, let alone fingernail-sized petals.

Zhou Shaojin felt their weight heavily.

If she had truly played a game of chess with Uncle Chi it would be one thing, but she had merely gone through the motions. How could she accept such precious gifts from Old Madam Guo?

“Old Madam!” Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath, deciding to tell Old Madam Guo the truth. Even if it made Cheng Chi unhappy, it was better than deceiving Old Madam Guo like this—walls have ears, and it was better to tell Old Madam Guo herself than have her hear it from someone else.

But she had barely opened her mouth when Cheng Chi interrupted: “Mother, she’s still a child. Giving her such valuable things will only make her feel anxious. When she plays chess with me in the future, should she win or lose? If you want to reward her, better to give her some food, toys, calligraphy samples, or even writing materials—any of those would be better than this.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded gratefully.

“Look at me!” Old Madam Guo patted her forehead. “I’ve been socializing with various madams and ladies so much, I forgot Shaojin is still a young girl. Let it be this time. The main thing is these two items suit this little girl. Next time if you beat Uncle Chi, on the sixth day of the sixth month, I’ll take you to Jiming Temple to see the sutra sunning. How about that?”

Then she was destined never to go to Jiming Temple!

Zhou Shaojin’s heart wept, yet she had to put on a happy expression and agree with “Good.”

Old Madam Guo smiled and nodded, having Biyu attend her to copy sutras in the Buddhist hall, while she stayed to chat with Cheng Chi about family matters.

That whole afternoon, Zhou Shaojin only copied two pages.

That evening when she returned, she went to Grand Madam Shen for intensive study.

Grand Madam Shen said, “You’ve only just started learning. Trying to learn too much won’t help—building a solid foundation is most important.”

Zhou Shaojin pestered Grand Madam Shen: “Isn’t there a saying about commanding from the heights? If I know more, I’ll surely play better.”

Grand Madam Shen had taught three students in the Cheng family. Cheng Sheng was excellent in every way, but she had been taught by Old Madam Guo and only showed this teacher face-saving courtesy. Cheng Jia was very clever, but unfortunately too mischievous. Jiang Shi didn’t have high expectations for her daughter, so naturally she wouldn’t make herself unwelcome. Zhou Shaojin was talented at everything she did but didn’t really apply herself, and because of her awkward status, she didn’t even know which elder to approach to remind Zhou Shaojin. Over time, she had become perfunctory with these students.

It was the same now.

Though she felt it was too early for Zhou Shaojin to learn set patterns, and that complex patterns might even dampen her enthusiasm for learning chess, after brief consideration, she still brought out a chess manual and taught her various chess strategies.

Zhou Shaojin hadn’t even grasped capturing stones yet. Listening to this was like a beginner child hearing the Spring and Autumn Annals—naturally she became more and more confused the more she listened.

She frequently interrupted Grand Madam Shen’s explanations to ask about many things she didn’t understand.

After half a month of this, she rather admired her own courage in daring to play chess with Cheng Chi back then… And Cheng Chi, whether because he was busy or because he felt playing chess with her was simply a waste of time, hadn’t mentioned chess again for quite a few days, so naturally she hadn’t encountered him again either.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help asking Ji Ying about it.

Ji Ying had also heard about Zhou Shaojin playing chess with Cheng Chi. She said, “Why are you asking about him? Do you want to play another game with him? I advise you to quit while you’re ahead. I don’t know what got into him that time, letting you survive three rounds against him. Don’t think you can play chess with him every time!”

Survived three rounds against Uncle Chi?

Zhou Shaojin’s face burned. “Aren’t you mistaken? I just randomly played a few moves with Uncle Chi… How could I have the skill to play chess with him!”

“Oh?” Ji Ying asked curiously. “Didn’t everyone say you played chess with Uncle Chi and almost beat him, which is why Old Madam Guo rewarded you with so many things?”

Zhou Shaojin was badly startled. She quickly said, “Who said that? I only played a few moves with Uncle before being thoroughly defeated by Uncle Chi. How could anyone say I almost beat Uncle Chi? What would Uncle Chi think if he heard this?”

He might even think she was the one spreading such talk!

Ji Ying clearly also realized the seriousness of the problem. She grabbed Zhou Shaojin and headed straight for the main hall of Oriole Sound Pavilion: “You need to explain to Fourth Master. He’s rather petty. If he thinks you’re climbing up by stepping on his reputation, that would be terrible!”

Hearing Ji Ying put it this way, Zhou Shaojin became even more anxious. Caring nothing for being pulled along stumbling by Ji Ying, she followed her to the main hall.

Cheng Chi was talking with Huai Shan. Hearing that Zhou Shaojin and Ji Ying requested an audience, he had a young maid bring them in.

Standing in the book-lined study, looking at Cheng Chi seated in the grand armchair behind the large desk, Zhou Shaojin suddenly realized she had been somewhat rash.

She had run over after just hearing what Ji Ying said, without getting a detailed understanding of the situation. If Uncle Chi asked her about it, she would only be able to shake her head. Uncle Chi would probably think she believed every rumor she heard and had an impetuous temperament, and naturally wouldn’t take her words seriously.

Zhou Shaojin was very nervous. Her hands unconsciously clasped together.

And naturally and elegantly crossed in front of her abdomen.

A smile appeared in Cheng Chi’s eyes.

He said gently, “What brings you to see me?”

Zhou Shaojin could only look toward Ji Ying.

Since returning from Cangzhou, Ji Ying had been much more subdued. But old habits die hard. Seeing Cheng Chi’s pleasant expression, her courage grew again. She rattled off all the rumors she’d heard to Cheng Chi, adding, “Fourth Master, you must believe Second Cousin Miss. She’s not the kind of person who likes to take advantage of others…”

“I understand!” Cheng Chi lightly interrupted Ji Ying. “Rumors stop with the wise. Just ignore them. They’ll naturally fade away after some time.”

That was it!

The words Ji Ying hadn’t finished saying stuck in her throat.

Zhou Shaojin, however, let out a long breath of relief.

As long as Uncle Chi didn’t believe it!

The two of them pushed and shoved each other as they left.

Ji Ying found Qin Ziping and said, “Tell me, Fourth Master won’t resort to underhanded tactics, will he?”

Qin Ziping glanced at the delicate Zhou Shaojin and said, “Someone like her—would Fourth Master even need to use underhanded tactics?”

Ji Ying chuckled.

Zhou Shaojin was quite dissatisfied.

Someone like her!

What was wrong with someone like her?

Uncle Chi wasn’t at all the kind of person they were describing, alright!