Chapter 223: Three Games
Zhu Bowen suddenly felt a pang of envy toward Hua Yizheng, though he could only envy. Scanning all the prominent families in the capital, only Hua Yizheng could have raised such a daughter.
Thinking of his old friend far away in the northern borderlands, Zhu Bowen sighed. That man, who had once changed clothes five or six times a day and lived a life of splendor, now had to endure such hardship in his old age. He wondered how his friend was faring now.
Hua Zhi lowered her head and took a sip of tea. "Around July, I plan to make another trip to the northern borderlands. If you have anything you’d like me to bring to Grandfather, you can give it to me in advance."
Zhu Bowen looked surprised. "Going again this year? Jingzhou is not close. The round trip alone would likely take over two months. If you go to the northern borderlands in July as well, will your health hold up?"
"Traveling by horseback won’t take that long. Besides, the weather is favorable now, so there shouldn’t be any delays on the road. I should be able to return within a month or so."
"I recall you just went to the northern borderlands late last year."
"Yes, it mainly depends on when I return from Jingzhou. If I return early, I’ll set off sooner. Then I’ll make another trip at the end of the year."
Zhu Bowen had not expected her to have such a plan. He couldn’t help but sit up straighter, leaning slightly forward. "Going twice every six months? Will it always be like this from now on?"
"Yes."
"Why put yourself through such hardship? Safeguarding the Hua family is already a great achievement on your part."
"Achievements are judged by others; what does it have to do with me? I’ve enjoyed the wealth and privilege of the Hua family for many years. Now, I’m merely fulfilling my duty as a daughter of the Hua family." Hua Zhi looked at her energetic maternal grandfather and thought of her paternal grandfather, whose hair had turned half-white in just a few months. She understood that stubborn old man—he surely had no regrets about his actions, but he must blame himself for dragging the Hua family into such a predicament.
"Nowadays, others look at me as if watching a spectacle, but I, too, grew from a tiny infant to a sixteen-year-old. If not for Grandfather’s indulgence, how could I have secluded myself in peace and lived the life I desired? The knowledge I possess wasn’t born in my mind; my words and actions were taught to me by Grandfather. If he had treated me well with ulterior motives for the family, I could have repaid him in due measure. But he didn’t. He had no idea the Hua family would face such a calamity. He simply indulged me, allowing me to live the life I wanted."
Hua Zhi’s eyes grew warm with emotion. If Grandfather’s kindness had been calculated, she might not have felt so deeply moved. But he had truly doted on her and spoiled her, albeit in subtle ways.
"If the Daqing Dynasty allowed women to serve as officials, I would spare no effort to secure a future for the Hua family. If women were permitted to become generals, I would willingly go to the battlefield to earn military merits and do everything in my power to bring them back. But I don’t have that opportunity. I can only proceed gradually. Before that, I must reassure Grandfather. I don’t want the most important person to be missing when they finally return home."
By the end, Hua Zhi’s voice trembled. This was her greatest fear. That was why she would rather exhaust herself to appear before Grandfather, to tell him that the family was well, to share what she had accomplished, and to assure him that they would soon return home.
She could bear Grandfather’s illness and aging, but she absolutely could not accept his loss—especially in a way he himself would surely resent.
This was the first time Zhu Bowen had seen his granddaughter so emotionally vulnerable. He understood what she meant to convey. As her maternal grandfather, he had been unaware of her existence for many years, which spoke volumes about how much care Hua Yizheng had devoted to her.Putting oneself in another's shoes, if he were exiled thousands of miles away, the greatest comfort would be knowing that everything at home was safe and sound. For Hua Yizheng, Zhi Er's actions were the best consolation.
"I understand. You may go with peace of mind."
Hua Zhi rose and performed a curtsy. This was exactly the assurance she needed. The Hua family was too weak; if someone were to kick them while they were down, the younger members of the household might not be able to handle it.
She could leave without a second thought, but she still had to build a protective net for them.
"What are you discussing? So serious?" Zhu Haocheng's heart sank as soon as he entered and saw the scene. He knew his second brother had been displeased lately due to a business matter, and with Zhi Er here today, he wondered if something had gone awry in his absence.
Hua Zhi stood up and greeted him as "Uncle," then exchanged polite greetings with Zhu Ziwen, who stood behind him.
Seeing his eldest grandson, Old Master Zhu suddenly had an idea. "Zhi Er, why not let Ziwen accompany you on your journey south?"
"That would be inappropriate," Hua Zhi refused without hesitation. In this place, there was no taboo against marriage within five degrees of kinship; marrying relatives to strengthen family ties was the norm. But even without Yan Xi in the picture, she had no desire to act out a drama of a cousin marrying her cousin.
"Zhi Er is going south?" Uncle Zhu felt relieved upon hearing it had nothing to do with business and sat down to ask.
"Yes, Grandfather. This matter is not suitable."
Seeing her firm stance, Old Master Zhu did not press further. He had indeed harbored a small hope—if these two took a liking to each other, such a remarkable girl would become part of the Zhu family.
What a pity.
Zhu Ziwen hadn't even had a chance to speak before being pushed out and then back in. Unfazed, he smiled and said, "Didn't Cousin say she wanted to play a game of chess with Grandfather? This is a perfect opportunity for me to learn something."
Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow. This was one challenge she did not fear.
With everything ready, they moved to the chessboard, almost as if forming opposing camps. Zhu Haocheng and his son stood behind the old master, while Uncle Zhu stood beside Hua Zhi.
Laymen watch for the spectacle; experts watch for the skill. Those from prestigious families all had some understanding of chess, differing only in their level of mastery. Coincidentally, the Zhu sons were quite skilled.
The old master was known for his steady playing style, but to their surprise, Hua Zhi also adopted a solid, methodical approach. Moreover, she moved her pieces extremely quickly, as if without needing to think, and it seemed she was holding her own against the old master.
Zhu Bowen's initial casual demeanor faded as he began to truly regard his granddaughter as a worthy opponent.
In the first game, Zhu Bowen won by half a point.
In the second game, Hua Zhi took black and moved first. She finished the tea in her cup, her eyes sparkling with what seemed like a fighting spirit.
By the seventh move, everyone noticed that Hua Zhi's style had changed. While it remained as upright as in the first game, this round was built on a series of intricate traps. In the end, Zhu Bowen lost by half a point.
In the third game, Zhu Bowen took black. He hadn't felt so exhilarated in a long time, his excitement making his beard tremble.
This time, Hua Zhi altered her strategy again. She employed deceptive tactics, with all her setups blending truth and falsehood. Just when one thought her formation was real, she revealed it as a decoy; when everyone dismissed a particular setup, it ultimately became the key to victory. In this game, Zhu Bowen resigned.
The old master had actually lost—an outcome no one had ever anticipated!The old man laughed heartily towards the sky, genuinely overjoyed. For the Hua family to produce such a girl was their blessing, but was it not also a blessing for his Zhu Family!
"Have you read military strategy books?"
"The Hua family's Book Collection Pavilion has all kinds of books, and I read every kind of book there is."
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