The matter of the Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering had become the talk of the capital, with teahouses and taverns discussing daily who had won or lost against that young girl from the Chu family.
The Chu Garden Collection was sold everywhere, and many people would flip through it in their leisure time, commenting on the matches within.
At first, everyone laughed heartily.
The matches were far from brilliant; to scholars, they seemed like the stumbling steps of a toddler.
This was hardly surprising—a girl of only thirteen or fourteen, who studied reading, writing, music, chess, and painting for amusement and self-cultivation, could hardly compare to men who relied on scholarship for their livelihood.
But within a few days, the matches in the collection could no longer be skimmed over; they required careful reading. Though the girl still lost, the laughter was no longer as carefree.
Some even stopped laughing altogether.
"This young girl not only hasn’t lost her spirit from losing, but she’s learning and growing," an older man remarked with admiration.
She began to win more often, and her essays, calligraphy, and chess skills seemed to leap forward every three days.
The evidence was clear in the collection before them.
Though her arrogance and audacity were off-putting, her studious and adaptable attitude commanded respect. These two traits intertwined in her character, making her a valuable example for educating one’s children and grandchildren.
Thus, the Chu Garden Collection, once circulated only in taverns and teahouses, began to find its way into the inner courtyards of noble households. Dedicated scholars, secluded young ladies, and daughters-in-law serving their in-laws all started reading it, sparking even more debates.
"She’s studious, but a studious person should not be ashamed to ask for guidance. Instead, she provokes others."
"You’re mistaken. It wasn’t her who started the provocations—others challenged her first. I believe if someone challenges you, you should retaliate."
"Her knowledge isn’t even as good as mine. How can she become a master just from a few matches? Why does Grandfather want me to learn from her?"
"Her stubborn competitiveness has stirred up unrest among so many people. It only makes everyone dislike her."
But one day, the newly delivered collection gave its readers pause.
"Come look at this," the girl called to her sisters. "There’s a new name here."
The girls gathered around and indeed saw a new name.
"Zhou Jiang," the girls read aloud. "Does that sound familiar? Is she a young lady from the Zhou family?"
With so many families in the capital, not everyone knew each other.
"She must be from the Zhou family," their sister-in-law said, stepping closer to examine the chess records. "The Zhou family is renowned for chess. To win twenty matches undefeated, it must be someone from their house."
Her expression held a hint of surprise.
"However, it’s always the men in the Zhou family who excel at chess. I’ve never heard of any of their girls being skilled. It seems they are just as impressive."
The girls crowded around, both shocked and curious. Though they didn’t often socialize with the Zhou family’s young ladies, they had occasionally seen them in the capital. They seemed ordinary, with no outstanding qualities, and no one had ever mentioned their chess prowess.
……
……
At the Zhou residence, a middle-aged man with a short beard entered, covering his face with his sleeve, and called out to an elderly man feeding birds under the corridor, "Grandfather."
The old man glanced at him, but the middle-aged man kept his face hidden.
"I have failed you, Master. I lost," he said shamefully. "I’ve brought disgrace upon you."
The old man glared at him. "Look at how little courage you have!"
More people, mostly young men, rushed in, calling out, "Grandfather!""A Jiang has gone too far." "How could she do such a thing?" "This will bring disaster upon our Zhou family."
The commotion frightened even the birds under the corridor into huddling in their cages. The old master struck the corridor pillar with his hand and said angrily, "Enough! Enough! Bring A Jiang here."
When the message reached the inner residence, Zhou Jiang rose from where she sat among the old madam and her sisters.
She hadn't returned to Chu Garden since that day, nor had she mentioned the incident to her family, but she knew it couldn't remain hidden.
Back then, Chu Zhao had said all matches at Chu Garden would be transcribed and compiled into collections: "Of course, Miss Zhou, if you're uncomfortable with it, I can have them exclude yours."
Even if excluded, with so many witnesses at Chu Garden, secrecy was impossible. Zhou Jiang shook her head, "Since I've done it, I'm not afraid of others knowing. Please proceed as you see fit, Miss Chu."
Moreover, she had maids and attendants with her. Having acted so boldly outside, her servants wouldn't dare conceal it from the family.
Sure enough, her parents learned of it that very night. Furious, they confined her. Three days later, when the collection went on sale, her name spread far and wide.
Her parents, now hesitant to discipline her themselves, sent her to the old madam to decide her punishment. Before they could reach a decision, the old master—who usually devoted himself solely to chess study, detached from worldly affairs—summoned her.
"A Jiang, you've truly angered your grandfather this time," her grandmother said helplessly.
Zhou Jiang knew it well—the one who first taught her chess was her grandfather, and the one who later forbade her from playing was also her grandfather. She bowed to the assembled family members and turned to leave without another word.
Her sisters watched her departure with mixed emotions: "How did A Jiang become like this?" "She's been corrupted by that Chu Zhao." "How pitiful—will A Jiang be sent away from the capital to the countryside?"
......
When Zhou Jiang arrived, Old Master Zhou was examining the chess collection, surrounded by a group of young people in the corridor—both family brothers and his disciples.
"I told you back then to stop studying chess, but clearly you didn't listen," Old Master Zhou said.
Zhou Jiang bowed her head. "Yes, Granddaughter never gave it up. I continued learning and playing against myself."
The old master slammed the collection on the table. "I knew it! You learned on your own, and your perspective has become so narrow!"
Seeing the old master's anger, the surrounding young people quickly mirrored his expression with indignant glares. Zhou Jiang lowered her head, biting her lower lip.
"—Look at this move of yours! How poorly executed!"
Eh? The angry young people froze in surprise. Zhou Jiang also looked up.
"Which one?" she asked urgently, stepping forward to examine the game record beside her grandfather. "Impossible—I won this game."
Old Master Zhou grew even angrier. "You still refuse to acknowledge it? So what if you won? Look at how sloppily you played this game! You only won because your opponent was weak, not because your skills were superior."
He pointed at a specific position on the board.
"What if your opponent had moved here instead?"
Zhou Jiang studied the game diagram. With her grandfather's finger indicating the alternative move, the entire game situation transformed instantly. After frowning in thought for a moment, she finally conceded, "Then I wouldn't have been able to win."
Old Master Zhou snorted. "Don't be so self-righteous at such a young age."
Zhou Jiang bowed her head in acknowledgment, tears suddenly falling.
Though she had endured her family's reproaches these past days without shedding a single tear, at this moment, the old master's words broke her composure.
Was it because of the scolding? No, it was because—"Why did you step forward to play chess that day?" Old Master Zhou glanced at her, not asking why she was crying, but inquiring, "Are you very close with that Chu Zhao? Standing up for her?"
Zhou Jiang shook her head: "No, I'm not close with Chu Zhao. We've barely spoken."
Old Master Zhou smiled faintly and asked again: "Then were you trying to show off? Wanting to display your skills in front of others?"
Zhou Jiang shook her head again: "Why would I care about that? If I really wanted to show off, I'd do it at home." She glanced at the men standing under the corridor.
The men grew irritated under her gaze. What did she mean by that?!
Old Master Zhou laughed: "Then why?"
Zhou Jiang said: "That man spoke arrogantly at the time, repeatedly saying 'little girl,' claiming that just because a little girl won a few matches she became conceited. I couldn't stand such behavior. Hadn't he only beaten one little girl himself? How could he be so arrogant? There are always better players, and learning knows no bounds. If Chu Zhao was being arrogant, wasn't he just the same?"
Old Master Zhou laughed heartily: "Using chess to bully others - weren't you afraid you might lose?"
Zhou Jiang said: "If I lose, then I lose. I'll just study harder afterwards."
Old Master Zhou nodded: "Good. Daring to lose and daring to win - truly worthy of being my granddaughter." He raised his hand, "Go on. Let your grandfather see how many consecutive wins you can achieve before you lose."
Earlier, she had shed tears because of Old Master Zhou's words, which made her feel that her grandfather wasn't blaming her. This feeling turned out to be true, and not only that - her grandfather was even letting her continue—
Zhou Jiang looked at her grandfather, reached out and threw her arms around his neck—this was the first time she had hugged her grandfather since he had forbidden her from studying chess.
"Grandfather, just watch me," she said loudly, lifting her skirts as she happily ran off.
Old Master Zhou coughed several times: "That little girl is too strong—she nearly strangled me."
The others under the corridor stared in astonishment, then swarmed around him. "Grandfather, what are you doing?" "Grandfather, sending A Jiang to Chu Garden to mess around with that Chu Zhao—won't that anger the Third Prince?"
"What messing around!" Old Master Zhou slapped the table to quiet them. "Our Zhou family has always excelled at chess. How could my granddaughter playing chess anger the Third Prince? In chess, what matters are rulers and subjects? When I played chess with His Majesty back in the day, I never let him win once, and His Majesty didn't have my head chopped off!"
With that, he stood up, had the maid bring his birdcage, and strode away.
The remaining group looked at each other, then their gazes converged on a middle-aged man with a short beard.
"Elder Brother A Zhe, it seems you won't become grandfather's chief disciple after all."
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