Chu Garden suddenly seemed to become lively.
Both those entering and those leaving noticed it.
Of course, Chu Garden had always been lively, but it had become a somewhat lazy sort of liveliness. The initial novelty had passed. They had figured out this girl Chu Zhao’s abilities—she did indeed have real talent and learning, but not enough to awe everyone under heaven.
How could awing everyone under heaven be so easy? None of them could achieve such a feat either.
So when this little woman Chu Zhao arrogantly challenged everyone under heaven to compete, it was simply inviting humiliation.
A little woman could win a few times, but most of the time she would lose. They had grown tired of watching her be humiliated. Now they were just waiting for when this little woman could no longer endure it and would admit defeat to end the matter.
But at this moment, Chu Garden was like a stone thrown into water, splashing up waves again.
“What’s happening?” “Did someone else lose?”
People inquired one after another—because of the lazy boredom, many had stopped watching the matches. It was better to admire Chu Garden’s scenery instead.
The servants in Chu Garden were very efficient. Whatever was needed could be delivered immediately. Sitting here was much more comfortable than going to wine houses or teahouses.
Hearing the inquiries, Chu Garden’s servants immediately answered: “Just now, Young Master Pengcheng defeated Miss Chu, and then a young lady asked Young Master Pengcheng for instruction in chess.”
Oh my! Another girl wanted to compete too?
Everyone was very surprised and curious. Those who were leaving turned around one after another, while those who had just entered quickened their pace.
Chu Garden’s servants also reacted alertly: “Quick, go tell Miss A’Tang that sales won’t decrease—there will be more.”
When Miss Zhou ran out shouting those words, Chu Tang, who was concentrating on calculating accounts, was also startled. She put down her counting rods and stood on the second floor looking down.
“Has A’Jiang gone mad?” she said in surprise.
The maids stood to one side somewhat uneasy. This was an unexpected situation, and they didn’t know what to do either. “Should we pull Miss A’Jiang away?”
This competition was targeted at Miss Chu Zhao. All the trouble was being borne by Chu Zhao alone.
But if another young lady suddenly jumped in, what would things become?
Chu Tang looked downstairs. She also couldn’t quite understand it. This Zhou Jiang was just a very ordinary aristocratic family’s young lady—well-behaved and gentle, at most with the little temper that all girls have. What madness had seized her?
Standing up for Chu Zhao?
“Miss A’Tang, Miss A’Tang.” A servant came thumping up the stairs from below, relaying the news that the number of guests had increased.
Chu Tang slapped the window railing: “Go tell Drunken Immortal House that we’re adjusting the price of tea and snacks. Also tell Cherish Ink Pavilion that we’re raising prices too. From now on, the anthology won’t feature only A’Zhao as the sole woman.”
Having said this, she glanced downstairs again, then withdrew her gaze and walked back to her desk. She picked up the counting rods and had the maids keep count, focusing intently on her work.
Whether Chu Zhao was going mad or other young ladies were going mad, it was their own business. She wouldn’t interfere anymore. She would just manage her own affairs properly.
……
……
The girls in the pavilion had all stood up, nervously watching this side. They didn’t dare come over.
Chu Zhao stood behind Miss Zhou, watching her place stones one by one.
“So this is how it should be played,” she couldn’t help but say. “I made a mistake with this move earlier.”
Miss Zhou slapped down a chess piece and shouted: “Observers should remain silent!”
How fierce! Chu Zhao smiled and stopped talking. Across from her, Young Master Pengcheng frowned. In the sunlight, sweat could faintly be seen emerging on his forehead. This girl who had just appeared was indeed very fierce—her chess style was very aggressive.
This girl seemed to play chess without thinking. She came out with killing moves right from the start, pressing forward step by step.
A woman!
Young Master Pengcheng was extremely annoyed, but he couldn’t respond and could only retreat step by step, retreating again and again until there was nowhere left to retreat.
He held a chess piece for a long time without being able to place it. The people surrounding them were also silent, each one thinking hard, but ultimately shaking their heads.
Young Master Pengcheng wasn’t someone who couldn’t accept defeat. He abandoned his pieces, admitted defeat, got up and left.
“Young Master, don’t worry. This doesn’t count as losing to me,” Chu Zhao hastily said from behind. “You can still say that I’m not as good as you.”
Where would he have the face to say that! Besides, he had won against Chu Zhao but still lost to a woman—what was the difference! Young Master Pengcheng flicked his sleeves and left in quick steps.
But this girl with the fierce chess style was just as arrogant as Chu Zhao. She stood up and pointed at Young Master Pengcheng’s retreating back, shouting:
“You won against one woman and dare to boast shamelessly, looking down on everyone, thinking all women under heaven are inferior to you?”
These were the very words Young Master Pengcheng had used to scold Chu Zhao, now thrown back at him.
How arrogant!
The surrounding crowd erupted in commotion.
The expressions of the girls in the corridors and pavilions also changed from shock to confusion.
“A’Jiang,” one girl murmured. “She’s actually this fierce.”
It was completely unnoticeable before.
They had all played together since childhood and knew each other thoroughly. Miss Zhou had clearly been a girl of few words, quiet and well-behaved. Her family were masters of chess, so naturally she could play too. She often played with her sisters, winning some and losing some, never showing that her skills were much superior to others. And even when she won, she had never been this aggressive.
Some were confused by Miss Zhou’s unfamiliar temperament, while others were confused by her behavior.
“Is A’Jiang helping Chu Zhao?” Qi Leyun asked. “When did she become so close with Chu Zhao?”