"Don't be afraid, Sister Du. My brother is terrible at chess. I'll keep an eye on him for you, and I guarantee you'll win," Su Nan encouraged.

Du Yutong pressed her pounding heart, shook her head and said, "That won't do. Wouldn't that be an unfair victory? Observing a game without speaking, and not taking back a move once made, these rules still need to be followed."

Du Yutong didn't know what was wrong with her today. After making eye contact with Su Jin at close range, her heart started beating very fast.

She looked up at Su Jin again and saw that he was still the same as before, dressed in a light blue robe, with his black hair tied up high, elegant yet resolute.

However, there seemed to be an indescribable change in his overall demeanor.

In a daze, Su Jin put the black and white chess pieces on the chessboard into the chess jar.

"Girls first, Miss Du, take the black pieces." Su Jin pushed the porcelain jar containing the black pieces toward Du Yutong.

Du Yutong looked at Jiang Shuyue, who smiled and said, "You guys have fun, Su Nan and I promise we won't say a word."

Du Yutong had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "If I lose, I'll have Sui Sui help me win a game later."

"Don't worry, Sister Du, my brother can't win." Su Nan winked at her older brother from an angle where Du Yutong couldn't see.

Su Jin seemed not to notice, her gaze fixed on the slender fingers that had placed the chess pieces.

After a short while, Du Yutong narrowly defeated Su Jin in the first round.

"Sister Du has been learning the six arts since she was a child. Her chess skills are naturally better than my brother's. My father was dismissed and sent back to his hometown after being framed by his colleagues. After my brother returned to the countryside, he did not have the opportunity to learn the six arts. He only recently learned a little bit of chess."

Su Nan seemed to be explaining to Du Yutong, but also trying to save face for his older brother.

Du Yutong looked at Su Nan, "Was Uncle Su also a member of the imperial court before?"

Su Nan nodded, “My father served as a vice minister in the Ministry of Rites during the previous dynasty.”

"Su Nan, that's all in the past, don't bring it up again."

Su Jin spoke casually, as if all the hardships had vanished with the passage of time.

“I’m telling the truth. My father was very talented. Even while farming at home, he never stopped teaching us to read. My eldest brother worked in the fields during the day and studied by lamplight at night. It was only after my older sister was born that our lives improved.”

After hearing Su Nan's words, Du Yutong felt a pang of sadness.

She said indignantly, "I never imagined you had suffered so much. During the previous dynasty, the court was in a state of chaos. May I ask which year this happened? I'll go back and ask my father to investigate what is being used to frame Uncle Su."

"Thank you for your kind help, Miss Du. My father's re-entry into officialdom in Yannan is all a matter of the previous dynasty, so let's not investigate it." Su Jin said, picking up the teapot and pouring some hot tea into Jiang Shuyue and Du Yutong's teacups.

"How can we let this go? What if someone tries to frame you again? Young Master Su, don't underestimate the people in officialdom. There are plenty of treacherous and deceitful people out there!"

In Du Yutong's eyes, Su Jin was a novice in officialdom, who could easily be taken advantage of or used as a stepping stone if he wasn't careful.

Jiang Shuyue took a sip of hot tea and said unhurriedly, "I have already asked Cangyun to investigate this matter. Ajin's career is bright, and I will not allow anyone to have a single word to criticize our Ajin."

"Sister!"

Su Jin's eyes burned, and a layer of mist welled up in them.

My sister was originally a very simple person, but for her own sake and for Su Nan's, she became very shrewd and calculating, taking each step with great care.

Su Jin knew perfectly well that her father's return to officialdom was also the result of her elder sister's meticulous planning.

He quickly lowered his eyelids, not wanting his older sister and Du Yutong to see the expression in his eyes.

Du Yutong nodded in agreement, "Sister Yue'er is right. In the officialdom, how can one be perfect in every situation? If one's parents have a tainted past..."

If our rivals find out, they'll definitely use it against us. Sister Yue'er, go ahead and investigate. Once you have some leads, I'll have Father submit a memorial to the Emperor."

Although she was a young lady confined to her home, her father and brothers would often talk about people and things in officialdom when they were at home. Du Yutong was influenced by what she saw and heard and also became well-versed in the ways of being an official.

Su Jin looked on with gratitude, "Thank you very much, Miss Du."

"Sister Du, you have a chivalrous heart. If you were a man, the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review would be rightfully yours." Su Nan seized the opportunity to add a compliment.

Su Nan's words made everyone burst into laughter.

Jiang Shuyue smiled and said, "Alright, once I have the evidence, I'll have Su Jin go to see Lord Du in person."

Du Yutong was so embarrassed by the praise that she put down her chess piece and said, "You guys keep playing, I haven't even had a chance to talk to Sui Sui yet."

Sui Sui and Yao Zu were reading on the other side of the warm pavilion when they saw Du Yutong walk over. He put down his book and said, "Aunt Du, aren't you going to play with Uncle anymore?"

"no."

"Aunt Du just likes playing with Uncle Du."

"Yes, no, no, none of those." Du Yutong was swayed by Sui Sui's innocent words.

Sui Sui's words made her blush, and she looked out the window and said, "Look, the branches of the trees in the yard are bent over by the weight of the snow. Let's go out and play for a while."

"I'll go and call my uncle."

Du Yutong quickly covered Sui Sui's mouth with her hand, "Don't make a sound, your uncles and your mother are talking, let's go play."

"Young master, put on your cloak."

"Yaozu is so considerate." Du Yutong took the cloak and smiled at Yaozu. "Want to go out and play together?"

Yaozu shook his head, "I still need to read."

Du Yutong helped Sui Sui fasten her cloak and they left the warm pavilion. The two arrived in the middle of the garden, where thick snow was piled up on both sides of the stone path.

Du Yutong scooped up some snow from the ground, rubbed it in her hands, and then swung her arm, sending the snowball flying like a shooting star toward a pine tree.

"Whoosh..."

Snowflakes splashed everywhere, and the snow on the pine trees tumbled down.

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