Frost-condensing paper had a texture like frost, pure white and flawless. Though not as precious as clear-heart paper, it was still a rare treasure.

Su Luoyi couldn’t help but take a deep look at Qiao Zhao, thinking to herself: Just from this gift alone, this Third Miss Li was quite perceptive.

For a young lady from the Minister’s residence, sending ordinary jewelry, rouge, or face powder would seem vulgar. A gift too light would invite contempt, while one too heavy would seem like currying favor and equally invite contempt. Qiao Zhao’s box of frost-condensing paper was just right.

Meeting someone who understood the proper way, Su Luoyi, though unaware of it herself, unconsciously softened her expression. She gestured for a maid to put away the gift and pointed at the chessboard with a bright smile: “Third Sister Li, shall we have a game of chess?”

She asked directly, and Qiao Zhao replied readily: “Good.”

This Miss Su from the Minister of Rites’ residence was famous in noble circles for her obsession with chess, which was precisely why she had chosen Su Luoyi as her pathway into Fushan Society.

With her current reputation, the ladies and misses of the capital were unwilling to associate much with her. Only someone obsessed with a particular pursuit wouldn’t care too much about worldly concerns.

As they each picked up chess pieces and placed them on the board, Su Luoyi suddenly asked: “Third Sister Li, I heard from grandfather that you played three consecutive drawn games with him. I find it quite curious.”

Qiao Zhao looked quietly at Su Luoyi.

Su Luoyi placed down a black piece, her smile deepening as she playfully winked: “Let’s try it too. I haven’t encountered a draw in a long time.”

She would play as she normally did anyway. If Third Miss Li could achieve a draw, then she would be impressed.

Qiao Zhao curved her lips: “Good, let’s try.”

She couldn’t quite figure out what style this young lady had. If she lost badly and started crying, refusing to recommend her to the Fushan Society, wouldn’t all her efforts be wasted?

Chess requires a calm and peaceful mind. Neither were not flighty personalities, so they played back and forth. A maid silently served tea and placed it aside, but neither paid any attention.

Su Luoyi gradually became alarmed.

This Third Miss Li indeed had excellent chess skills. Regardless of whether they could achieve a draw in the end, just looking at the present moment, every time she made a move, her opponent’s piece would swiftly follow without any hesitation, displaying complete confidence. This alone demonstrated her superior chess ability.

And for someone obsessed with chess, playing against such a master was undoubtedly exhilarating.

Su Luoyi was just getting into the thick of the game when a maid in a duck-green vest approached: “Miss, Lady Huang has come. The Old Madam requests you to go meet her.”

Su Luoyi was suddenly interrupted, her willow-leaf eyebrows immediately furrowing. Hearing it was Lady Huang, she had no choice but to reluctantly stand up and apologetically say to Qiao Zhao: “Third Sister Li, I’m sorry, my aunt has come.”

Qiao Zhao rose accordingly: “Then I won’t impose any longer—”

She felt somewhat regretful: man proposes, but heaven disposes. With the other party’s aunt visiting, today could only end hastily. It seemed getting Miss Su to voluntarily recommend her to the Fushan Society would have to be postponed.

Just as she was thinking this, unexpectedly Su Luoyi waved her hands repeatedly, saying urgently: “That’s not what I meant! Third Sister Li, please sit quickly. When I return, we’ll continue playing!”

Su Luoyi walked to the door but couldn’t help turning back to emphasize: “Third Sister Li, please wait. I’ll go and return immediately!”

After Miss Su finished speaking and turned her head, her mind was full of frustration about being interrupted. In her distraction, her forehead knocked right into the door frame.

A dull thud echoed as Su Luoyi covered her forehead and let out a low cry. Too embarrassed to turn back, her figure hurriedly disappeared from the doorway.

Qiao Zhao smiled in speechless amusement and casually picked up the teacup from the high table beside her to drink, but was stopped by a nearby maid: “Miss Li, the tea has gone cold. This servant will replace it with a fresh cup.”

Qiao Zhao nodded: “Thank you for the trouble.”

Meanwhile, Su Luoyi had just left her room when a maid led her to a pavilion in the back courtyard.

Seeing Lady Zhang sitting in the pavilion, Su Luoyi was startled: “Grandmother, didn’t they say my aunt had come? Why are you here?”

Lady Zhang smiled and gestured for Su Luoyi to sit down: “Your aunt didn’t come—”

Before she could finish, Su Luoyi hastily stood up: “If she didn’t come, then I’ll return to my room. The chess game is only half finished—”

“Sit down!”

“Grandmother?” Su Luoyi was quite obedient before her elders. Hearing this, she sat down with a face full of confusion.

Lady Zhang smiled helplessly.

Her granddaughter was fine in all respects, except she became foolish whenever chess was involved.

“Grandmother specifically called you over.”

“Hm?”

Lady Zhang reached out to stroke her granddaughter’s soft hair, chuckling lightly: “What better reveals a person’s character than when guests are left alone while the host is away? Let’s wait and see.”

“Grandmother, this doesn’t seem quite right—” Su Luoyi felt somewhat uneasy upon hearing this.

For some reason, thinking of that girl with peaceful eyes and brows, she felt this was quite unfair to her.

Lady Zhang glanced at her granddaughter sideways, completely unmoved: “Only this way can grandmother feel at ease about you associating with her.”

At this point, Lady Zhang sighed: “Your parents have been stationed away for years, leaving only you to keep this old woman company. Grandmother cannot let someone of poor character lead you astray.”

“Grandmother, don’t say that. Being able to keep you company is a blessing for your granddaughter.” Hearing Lady Zhang say this, Su Luoyi quickly responded.

Meanwhile, the maid in green outfit brought in fresh tea, saying politely: “Miss Li, please have some tea.”

Qiao Zhao reached out to take it when the maid in green suddenly slipped, staggering as the tea flew toward Qiao Zhao.

At this critical moment, Qiao Zhao’s expression didn’t change as she leaned sideways and smoothly reached out to steady the maid in green.

At this time, A’Zhu, who had been standing beside Qiao Zhao, happened to rush forward to block, and all the tea splashed onto A’Zhu’s dress.

Amidst the consecutive incidents, the maid in green was flustered and instinctively reached for support. While being steadied by Qiao Zhao, her hand pressed onto the chessboard.

A moment later, the maid in green was horrified, her face turning deathly pale as she begged forgiveness: “Miss Li, please forgive me—”

Qiao Zhao waved her hand as if nothing had happened, smiling lightly: “As long as no one is hurt, that’s good. Please trouble yourself to take my maid to change clothes.”

The maid in green still looked pale, clearly quite frightened.

Qiao Zhao observed coldly. She had originally thought this incident was likely deliberate, but now she was somewhat uncertain. However, seeing the maid in green’s expression as she stared directly at the disrupted chessboard, she understood and smiled: “Go quickly. Fortunately, the tea was warm, otherwise, I would have had to trouble the residence to examine my maid.”

The maid in green finally came to her senses. After repeatedly begging forgiveness, she directed the maids in the room to clean up the mess and took A’Zhu to change clothes.

The maid in green took the opportunity to go to the pavilion.

“How was it?”

The maid in green timidly glanced at Su Luoyi, then lowered her head: “Reporting to Old Madam, this servant pretended to accidentally spill tea toward Third Miss Li, but unexpectedly Third Miss Li nimbly avoided it. Instead, her maid loyally protected her master, rushing over to block, and all the tea splashed on her maid.”

“Oh? What did Miss Li say?”

The maid in green, still shaken with pale lips: “Miss Li helped this servant up and said as long as no one was hurt, that was good.”

Lady Zhang nodded: “She seems quite magnanimous.”

She looked puzzled at the trembling maid in green: “Then why are you so panicked?”

This was originally just a test of Third Miss Li, and she naturally wouldn’t punish this maid for it. Why did this maid look as if she had committed some grave error?

Hearing the Old Madam ask this, the maid in green finally couldn’t help but fall to her knees with a thud, begging forgiveness: “This servant deserves death! This servant didn’t expect Third Miss Li would help her, and in her nervousness, accidentally pressed her hand on the chess board—”

“What?” Su Luoyi was shocked. “You disrupted the chess game we were halfway through?”

During the chess game, she had been racking her brains to pose difficult problems for Third Miss Li, with no attention to spare. Now, having her recreate the game was almost impossible!

“Grandmother, I need to go look!”

Su Luoyi dropped this statement, lifted her skirts, and hurried away. Reaching the doorway, she stopped and quietly peered inside, only to see Qiao Zhao sitting properly, slowly drinking tea, while the maid she had brought was silently placing chess pieces on the board.