Qiao Chu

The Chu Garden suddenly seemed to come alive with excitement.

Both those entering and those leaving noticed it.

Of course, the Chu Garden had always been lively, but it had become a somewhat languid kind of liveliness. The initial novelty had worn off, and they had already figured out the capabilities of this girl Chu Zhao. She certainly had genuine talent and learning, but not enough to awe the world.

How could it be so easy to awe the world? None of them could achieve such a feat either.

So, this little girl Chu Zhao, arrogant enough to challenge the world, was only bringing humiliation upon herself.

The little girl might win a few times, but she lost most of the time. Humiliating her had grown tiresome, and now they were just waiting for her to admit defeat and bring the whole affair to an end.

But at this moment, the Chu Garden was like a stone thrown into still water, sending ripples across the surface.

"What's going on?" "Did someone else lose?"

People asked one another—many had grown too lazy and bored to watch the contests, preferring instead to enjoy the scenery of the Chu Garden.

The servants in the Chu Garden were exceptionally efficient, delivering whatever was needed immediately. Sitting here was far more comfortable than going to a restaurant or teahouse.

Hearing the inquiries, the servants of the Chu Garden promptly replied, "Just now, Young Master Pengcheng defeated Miss Chu, and then another young lady asked Young Master Pengcheng for guidance in the art of chess."

Oh? Another girl was joining the contest?

Everyone was surprised and curious. Those about to leave turned back, and those who had just entered quickened their steps.

The servants of the Chu Garden reacted swiftly: "Quick, inform Miss A-Tang—sales won't decrease; they'll increase."

When Miss Zhou ran out and shouted those words, even Chu Tang, who had been focused on her accounts, was startled. She set down her counting rods and stood on the second floor, looking down.

"Is A Jiang crazy?" she exclaimed in surprise.

The maids stood nearby, uneasy. This was an unexpected situation, and they didn't know what to do: "Should we pull Miss A Jiang away?"

This contest was aimed solely at Miss Chu Zhao. All the troubles were borne by Chu Zhao alone.

But if another young lady suddenly jumped in, what would happen?

Chu Tang looked downstairs, puzzled. This Zhou Jiang was just an ordinary young lady from a noble family—well-behaved, gentle, and at most possessing the small temper common to all girls. What madness had seized her?

Was she standing up for Chu Zhao?

"Miss A-Tang, Miss A-Tang." A servant hurried upstairs and relayed the news of the increased number of guests.

Chu Tang slapped the windowsill: "Go, inform the Drunken Immortal Restaurant that we're adjusting the price of tea and snacks. And tell Ximo Pavilion we're raising our prices too. From now on, it won't just be A Zhao as the only woman in the collected works."

With that, she took one last glance downstairs, withdrew her gaze, returned to her desk, picked up her counting rods, and had the maids record the numbers, focusing intently on her work.

Whether Chu Zhao went mad or other young ladies went mad, it was their own business. She wouldn't interfere anymore. She would just focus on managing her own affairs properly.

...

...

The girls in the pavilion had all stood up, nervously watching from a distance, not daring to approach.

Chu Zhao stood behind Miss Zhou, watching her place each piece step by step.

"So that's how it should be played," she couldn't help but say. "I made a mistake with that move earlier."

Miss Zhou slapped a piece onto the board and snapped, "No talking during the game."

So fierce. Chu Zhao smiled and fell silent. Across from them, Young Master Pengcheng frowned, sweat visibly beading on his forehead under the sunlight. This girl who had suddenly appeared was indeed fierce—her chess style was aggressive.The girl seemed to play chess without thinking, opening with lethal moves and pressing forward relentlessly.

A woman!

The Young Master of Pengcheng was furious, yet he found himself unable to counter her attacks, forced to retreat step by step until there was nowhere left to go.

He held a chess piece for a long time, unable to make a move. The surrounding crowd fell silent, each person lost in thought, but eventually, they all shook their heads.

The Young Master of Pengcheng was not a sore loser. He conceded defeat by abandoning his pieces, stood up, and prepared to leave.

"Young Master, don’t worry—this doesn’t count as losing to me," Chu Zhao quickly called out from behind. "You can still say that I am no match for you."

How could he have the face to say such a thing now? Besides, even if he had beaten Chu Zhao, losing to a woman—what difference did it make? The Young Master of Pengcheng flicked his sleeve and strode away angrily.

But this fierce chess-playing girl turned out to be just as arrogant as Chu Zhao. She stood up and shouted at the retreating figure of the Young Master of Pengcheng.

"Just because you defeated a woman, you dare to boast arrogantly and look down on everyone? Do you think all women in the world are beneath you?"

She was throwing back the very words the Young Master of Pengcheng had used to insult Chu Zhao earlier.

How audacious!

A wave of unrest swept through the crowd.

The expressions of the young women in the pavilions and corridors shifted from shock to confusion.

"A Jiang," one girl murmured, "so this is how fierce she can be."

No one had seen it coming.

They had all grown up together and knew each other well. Miss Zhou had always been quiet, gentle, and well-behaved. Her family was renowned for their chess skills, so naturally, she knew how to play. She often played with her sisters, winning some and losing some, but she had never shown such exceptional skill. And even when she won, she had never been so aggressive.

Some were puzzled by Miss Zhou’s unfamiliar demeanor, while others were confused by her actions.

"Is A Jiang helping Chu Zhao?" Qi Leyun asked. "Since when have she and Chu Zhao become so close?"

To step forward in such a situation and reprimand the person who had defeated Chu Zhao—wasn’t that standing up for him?

Wasn’t this the kind of loyalty described in books—taking a blade for a friend?

A girl nearby chuckled softly. "You’re overthinking it. It’s not for that reason."

Then why? Qi Leyun looked at her.

The girl said, "For herself."

What good would it do to draw attention and provoke public anger at a time like this? Qi Leyun was even more puzzled.

The girl said nothing more and turned her gaze to Miss Zhou, who had taken Chu Zhao’s place at the competition table.

Miss Zhou was radiating a brilliance no one had ever seen before.

……

……

Chu Zhao looked at the girl who had taken his spot and cleared his throat lightly. "Miss, may I ask your name?"

The thirteen-year-old Chu Zhao might have known this young lady, but he truly had no recollection of her.

Was this young lady truly invincible in chess? How had he never heard of her name in his previous life?

Before A Jiang could even speak, her grandfather had held her in his arms to watch chess games.

By the time she learned to talk, she was already playing against her grandfather.

At first, it was just child’s play, but one day, she made a move that left her grandfather pondering for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. From then on, her grandfather began to see her in a new light.

She started learning chess under his guidance, and by the time she was ten, few in the family could match her skills.

"If you were a boy, I could recommend you for the Hanlin Academy right now," her grandfather once said with a laugh.

She asked him, puzzled, "Can’t I do it as a girl?"

Her grandfather laughed heartily, and the rest of the family joined in the laughter."Of course not for a daughter." Her grandfather spoke with both resignation and regret. "A son studying chess can secure his livelihood and establish himself, while a daughter learning chess can only use it for amusement."

However, her mother had a different perspective.

"A daughter studying chess can also secure her livelihood, though this 'livelihood' refers to her future husband." Her mother held her hand and said, "A Jiang, you must remember that you play chess to please your husband. You may win against him, but not always. Whether winning or losing, your goal is to make your husband happy."

Following her mother's advice, she concealed her sharpness and deliberately lost games. Sure enough, those both inside and outside the family whom she had previously defeated in chess—and who had been displeased with her—began to like her again.

But every late night, sitting alone under the lamp, she battled fiercely against herself, feeling both exhilaration and anger.

Her chess skills were clearly exceptional, yet because she was a girl, she had to hide them.

The affection others showed her was actually bought with her repeated concessions—what meaning did such affection hold?

These past few days, watching Chu Zhao concede again and again, then challenge again and again—whether winning or losing, she controlled it all herself. Even if those people hated her, so what? She lost with exhilaration and won with abandon.

So what if she was just a woman, just a woman!

She too would experience such exhilaration just once!

Zhou Jiang turned to look at Chu Zhao and said, "Once I defeat these people, you will know my name."

Chu Zhao was momentarily stunned, then smiled. "Then I wish the young lady fame that shakes Chu Garden."

After speaking, she stepped back.

Zhou Jiang's hands trembled slightly within her sleeves. She stepped forward, looking at the crowd and raising her voice to ask, "Who else? Who dares to face me in battle!"