Green willows swayed gracefully on both banks as a light boat traveled south along the Spring Flower River.

On deck, Chi Can and the blue-robed man sat opposite each other playing chess, while the green-robed man leaned lazily against the ship’s railing, staring in a daze at the rushing river water being left behind.

After the boat had sailed for some time, a youth in green robes emerged from the cabin carrying a tray with four cups of tea.

He placed two cups beside the two men playing chess, then carried one cup to the railing and handed it to the green-robed man.

The green-robed man accepted the teacup and took a sip, laughing: “Li San is still the best. Unlike those two, once they start playing chess, they go on forever, often making me go hungry waiting with them.”

This youth in disguise was Qiao Zhao.

Through soft pleading—or perhaps it could be explained as persistent pestering—she had finally worn down Chi Can’s resistance and gotten him to take her along, on the condition that she dress as a man for convenience.

The boat had now been traveling for two days.

“Big Brother Yang, how much longer until we reach Jiafeng?”

After traveling together for two days, Qiao Zhao had learned that the blue-robed man was called Zhu Wu and the green-robed man Yang Er. The three didn’t want to tell her their real identities, which she didn’t mind.

“We should arrive sometime after noon. But we’re not going into the city—we’ll switch to horses and go visit the master of an estate,” Yang Er said.

Qiao Zhao’s heart stirred.

Three years ago, Chi Can had gone to the estate where her grandfather lived in seclusion, seeking his guidance in painting.

Her grandfather had politely declined.

Chi Can hadn’t given up and had shamelessly stayed for three days. Her grandfather, left with no choice, had given him one of his early paintings to finally get rid of him.

She had met Chi Can at that time, though of course they had only exchanged a couple of glances.

Chi Can’s group was going to visit the master of an estate near Jiafeng. Could it be—

Thinking of this, Qiao Zhao’s breathing quickened somewhat.

Could it be that Chi Can was going to her home?

Was there such a coincidence in this world, or was her awakening as Li Zhao somehow destined by fate?

Qiao Zhao looked down at her hands.

The little girl’s hands were soft and slender like spring onions, different from her own hands, which, though beautiful, had calluses on the fingertips.

Even now, despite having Li Zhao’s memories, she still couldn’t think of herself as another person.

But staring at these hands now, Qiao Zhao felt somewhat confused.

How could she stay at her own home as Li Zhao?

Qiao Zhao returned to sit down, holding her teacup and silently pondering.

Her mind was in turmoil, feeling this was an unsolvable problem. In her distraction, she heard the three men bickering.

“Shixi, Zizhe, how long are you going to play? Aren’t we eating?”

Qiao Zhao looked up to find that the ship’s cook had already brought over the food, its aroma penetrating straight to one’s stomach.

Zhu Wu held a black piece with a helpless expression: “It’s not that I don’t want to finish—Shixi has been thinking for a quarter-hour and still won’t make his move.”

Yang Er glanced at the chessboard and shook his head: “Shixi, this is already a dead game. Just admit defeat and stop wasting everyone’s time.”

Chi Can held a crystal-clear white piece between his slender fingers, looking displeased: “How can I admit defeat? I’ve never lost at chess!”

Yang Er snorted with laughter and mercilessly exposed him in front of Qiao Zhao: “Of course you’ve never lost. The time it takes you to place one piece is enough for others to finish an entire game. In the end, everyone gets so frustrated they refuse to play with you.”

Chi Can snorted coldly: “What do you know? This is called careful deliberation!”

Yang Er turned away indignantly.

What careful deliberation—this was shameless persistence!

Today, the cook had made an iron pot braised fish, and its aroma was so tantalizing it made one’s heart itch. Zhu Wu finally couldn’t stand it and raised his hand: “Fine, I admit defeat. Let’s eat.”

Chi Can held him back: “You can’t do that—we’ve always settled things by skill.”

Zhu Wu and Yang Er both held their heads in their hands.

Yang Er muttered quietly: “I want those young ladies and wives in the capital who are infatuated with you to see your true face!”

“Ahem!” Chi Can coughed heavily and glanced at Qiao Zhao.

It was indeed inappropriate to say such things in front of a little girl. Yang Er knew he had misspoken and smiled sheepishly.

“No talking while observing! Zizhe, let’s continue playing. The white pieces must still have a way out—I just can’t think of it right now.”

“Looks like we won’t be eating anytime soon,” Yang Er said to Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao pressed her stomach.

Perhaps because Li Zhao’s body was delicate, after being delayed this short while, her stomach was already aching faintly.

On the walls of Yan City in the northern lands, she had experienced the pain of an arrow through the heart. Now, as long as conditions permitted, she didn’t want to suffer even the slightest hardship.

In this life she was living over, she wanted to be as good to herself as possible.

“Once the game ends, can we eat?”

“Of course—” Before Yang Er could finish speaking, he saw Qiao Zhao pick up a white piece from the piece holder and place it on the board.

He hurried to stop her, but it was too late, thinking this was bad. Chi Can usually had a good temperament, but he had several taboos, one of which was hating when others interfered with his chess games.

Chi Can’s face had already turned cold: “Li San, chess pieces aren’t for playing with.”

Zhu Wu, who had been watching the board, spoke in a changed voice: “Shixi, look—”

Chi Can ignored Zhu Wu’s words and looked askance at Qiao Zhao with a brilliant smile: “Li San, you’ve disrupted my game. What should we do about that?”

“Shixi—”

Chi Can interrupted Zhu Wu: “I know you two want to speak well of this girl, but in my opinion, the little girl is quite clever. Hiring a carriage for her to return to the capital alone wouldn’t be a problem.”

Hmph, disrupting his chess game, being rescued without the good sense to repay with her body, and most importantly, calling him uncle!

This kind of little girl was not cute at all!

“Shixi, I’m saying… white has won.” When Zhu Wu uttered these words with a dry voice, even he found it bizarre.

His black pieces had held the advantage with victory in hand, but Li San’s casual placement of one piece had turned the tide, reversing the situation and forcing the black pieces into a hopeless position with no chance of recovery.

Chi Can was stunned and hurriedly looked at the chessboard.

Yang Er leaned over to look and stared at Qiao Zhao in disbelief.

“How did you do that?” Chi Can asked in amazement.

The girl pursed her lips and said softly, “I played randomly—probably just got lucky.”

“I want to hear the truth.” Chi Can curved his fingers and tapped the chessboard.

Playing randomly could defeat what he had been pondering so hard for so long? Moreover, he understood Zhu Yàn’s level—there weren’t many young people in the capital who could beat him.

This little girl’s words might fool ghosts, but not him.

“Oh, then perhaps my level is a bit higher.”

Chi Can and Zhu Yàn exchanged glances, then suddenly both reached out to scatter the pieces on the board, saying in unison: “Come, let’s have a proper game.”

“I’m hungry,” Qiao Zhao said very honestly.

After the meal.

Zhu Yàn stared at the chessboard for a long time, then tossed his pieces into the holder with a sigh: “My skills are inferior. I lose.”

He got up and made way for Chi Can to sit down.

The sun gradually moved west, and Jiafeng’s dock was already faintly visible in the distance. Chi Can still hold his chess piece, deep in thought.

The girl across from him sat with lowered eyes in silence, waiting quietly.

“To be able to resist urging Shixi—just this composure alone shows this little girl is extraordinary,” Zhu Yàn said quietly to Yang Er, feeling inferior.

Yang Er greatly admired this girl who could both defeat Zhu Yàn and tolerate Chi Can. He looked deeply at Qiao Zhao, then paused and said in a strange tone: “Why do I feel like… she’s fallen asleep?”