Мadam Zhоu's ехрrеssion changеd. Аfter the figurе had walkеd fаr аwау, shе spat fiеrcely on the ground: "Whаt а thing! Just a disfаvorеd lоwlу wоman, уеt shе dаrеs to givе me looks!"
Nаnnу Li besidе her glancеd inside the rоom and sаid: "Тhis оld sеrvаnt sееs that Cоnсubine Wаn is аlsо onе who dоеsn't know what's gооd for hеr. Madam inviting hеr over to sit wаs аn hоnor, уet she turned оut tо bе so lасking in disсеrnmеnt. Тruly fооlish."
"Enоugh," Mаdam Zhou sаid impаtiеntlу. "Spеаk lеss. I sеe there isn't а single easy onе to deal with in this mаnsion. Let's rеturn to thе сourtуard first; some matters still need discussion."
Meanwhile, Han Yan walked to the flower garden in front of Wanxiang Pavilion. The early winter red plum blossoms were about to bloom but not yet open, adding even more to the beautiful scenery. A subtle fragrance drifted in the air, complementing the serene plants and trees, making it all the more fresh and elegant.
In the center of the stone table was set a game of chess. Han Yan looked at it and became interested, so she pulled Zhuang Qin along and said: "I've long heard that Third Sister's chess skills are exceptional. Why not play a game with me?"
Zhuang Qin whispered: "It's not that exaggerated; I've just learned a bit. Fourth Miss, please don't say such things."
Han Yan frowned slightly but immediately smiled: "Why say so much? Come, set up the board."
On the side, Zhuangshan was extremely frustrated. For some reason, Han Yan had always been very cold toward her. Although it was said on the surface that the three of them were strolling in the garden together, from beginning to end, Han Yan held Zhuang Qin's hand and talked, leaving her aside. Sometimes when she tried to interject, Han Yan would lightly brush it off or ignore it, as if deliberately keeping her distance.
Zhuangshan keenly sensed that Han Yan harbored hostility toward her. But why? She had always followed her mother's instructions, trying to please and get close to her, yet Han Yan, everywhere she went, put on the airs of a marquis's daughter, truly detestable. If not for Han Yan, all of this would be hers—no, all of this should have been hers from the start! Why was it occupied by Zhuang Hanyan? Mother said she clearly...
The more Zhuangshan thought about it, the more resentful she became, her pretty little face twisting with emotion. Meanwhile, Han Yan, playing chess, took all of this in without showing any expression, calmly placing a white piece on the board.
Yun'er, the maid serving Zhuangshan, said indignantly: "Miss, how can they treat you like this?"
Hearing this, Zhuangshan's heart skipped a beat, and she gradually calmed down. Turning her head, she saw Han Yan and the others absorbed in their chess game, not paying the slightest attention to her, which angered her again. Since childhood, she had excelled in everything and had always been the center of attention wherever she went. But ever since entering this mansion, she couldn't wear beautiful clothes, had to hide her talents, and even had to lower her head to please the girl before her. It was truly unbearable. She simply turned around and said to Yun'er: "They're amusing themselves; I don't want to wait here foolishly. Never mind them, I'll stroll around by myself." With that, she walked away, heading straight into the flower garden.
Yun'er hurriedly followed. Han Yan didn't even lift her eyes, but Shu Hong, who was serving on the side, handed the teapot to Ji Lan and left.
Han Yan seemed completely immersed in the chess game. After a long while, her right hand, holding a piece, hesitantly placed it in a spot, only to be immediately countered by a black piece.
"I've lost," Han Yan sighed, her face bitter. "This is the fifth game. Why do I always lose?"Zhuang Qin also smiled: "You're too eager for quick results. Though you think before placing each piece, you only consider the next few moves. But from the moment I placed my first piece, I began setting up the board. Every move you made after that, I already had a counter prepared."
Han Yan was taken aback. She looked up to see the girl opposite her holding a chess piece, seemingly remarking casually: "Life is like chess—once a piece is placed, there's no taking it back. So every game must be played sincerely, without relying on luck."
"Third Sister is truly a master," Han Yan said with a cheerful smile. "I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."
Zhuang Qin, however, shook her head. Perhaps because she had played a few games with Han Yan, the distance between them had unconsciously shortened, and her words became more open. "Let's stop here for today. Concubine Wan is waiting for me to go back and make osmanthus cakes together."
Han Yan chuckled. "Concubine Wan really still treats you like a child." Then she added softly, "Actually, I envy you..." At least your mother is still alive.
Zhuang Qin was startled. The girl before her wore her hair in two round buns, her face still bearing traces of childishness, yet her eyes held a maturity and sorrow that didn't match her age. Feeling a pang of tenderness, she patted Han Yan's head. "Things will get better."
This intimate gesture first left Han Yan stunned, then a wave of warmth washed over her heart. She smiled and said, "I hope so."
Zhuang Qin glanced around. "I wonder where that Miss Yu Shan has gone?"
The use of "Miss Yu Shan" naturally revealed that in Zhuang Qin's mind, Zhuangshan was merely the daughter of an outsider, an identity not acknowledged. Han Yan smiled. "No need to worry about her. If she wants to wander around, let her. Stopping her would only make her blame us."
Zhuang Qin said no more and left with her maid.
After Zhuang Qin left, Han Yan stood where she was, lowering her head in thought for a moment. She murmured to herself, "I never knew before that Third Sister was so clever."
Ji Lan draped a cloak over Han Yan's shoulders. "This servant remembers that when you were young, Miss, you loved following Third Miss around. But as you grew older, your interactions with Hibiscus Courtyard became less frequent."
There must be some hidden reason behind this, Han Yan thought, raising an eyebrow. Though her memories of childhood were already hazy, the wisdom Zhuang Qin displayed was vastly different from the ordinary, timid image of a concubine-born daughter she usually projected.
Why hadn't she concealed it in front of me? Han Yan rested her chin on her hand, pondering silently. And what was Zhuang Qin hinting at with those words about chess, spoken directly to her?
Still deep in thought, she saw Shu Hong enter from outside.
"Did something happen?" Han Yan asked.
Shu Hong shook her head. "Miss Yu Shan just took a stroll in the flower garden and returned to her own courtyard. But..."
Han Yan's eyes lit up. "But what?"
"But this servant saw Nanny Li from Concubine Zhou's side talking with Steward Lin for a long time. Nanny Li even slipped Steward Lin a gold hairpin. I was too far away to approach."
Ji Lan exclaimed in surprise, "Nanny Li just entered the manor. How is she already so familiar with Steward Lin?"
Han Yan's gaze turned cold. Steward Lin had worked in the manor for decades and was an old-timer here. When her mother was alive, she always relied on Steward Lin to assist with various matters. Madam Zhou came with ill intentions, and the people she brought with her were certainly no good. That gold hairpin was no ordinary item. For Nanny Li to give it to Steward Lin, it must have been on Madam Zhou's orders—a reward for currying favor.However, as Ji Lan had pointed out, Madam Zhou had just entered the household—how could she have become so familiar with Steward Lin so quickly? Even if Steward Lin was a fence-sitter who swayed with the wind, anyone with a bit of sense would have cautiously observed the situation for a few days. So, was Steward Lin already connected to Nanny Li before Madam Zhou entered the household, or was he bribed afterward?
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