The Duke's Mansion was located in the most prosperous area of ​​the capital, while Mr. Yuan's family home was probably in the suburbs.

Pei Zhi got off the carriage and glanced around.

There were plenty of fertile fields around, and there was even a pond outside the courtyard with a boat in it and a small pavilion outside.

Pei Zhi lifted her skirt and entered the inner courtyard, where maids and servants stood guard outside.

Pei Zhi turned around and looked at the maids waiting outside the courtyard.

“Miss, have you forgotten? Mr. Yuan doesn’t like unauthorized people entering the inner courtyard.”

How could Pei Zhi possibly remember such trivial details?

Pei Zhi weighed the box in her hand. "What's inside?"

“It was delivered by Granny Wang from the Madam’s courtyard. She said to have Miss give it to Mr. Yuan.”

Pei Zhi nodded slightly and followed her memory, walking inside.

Mr. Yuan's courtyard was not as large as the Duke's mansion, but it was not small either.

Pei Zhi was afraid of getting lost, and she didn't see a single servant sweeping the courtyard. Fortunately, she made it to Mr. Yuan's study without any trouble.

When the page saw Pei Zhi arrive, he quickly came forward and said, "The master has guests in his room, so he invited Miss Pei to come. Please go to the bedroom and rest for a while."

Pei Zhizai has a guest room in Mr. Yuan's residence.

Pei Zhi sometimes comes over in the morning and doesn't leave until evening. After lunch, she rests in her bedroom for a while.

Pei Zhi handed the box to the pageboy, "I'll take a stroll in the garden for a while. When the master finishes, just let me know."

If she were to rest at this time, Pei Zhi was afraid that she might sleep until dinner time.

Mr. Yuan is a contemporary chess master, and he also has many friends.

Pei Zhi was able to become a disciple of Master Yuan, and the Duke's mansion must have pulled a lot of strings.

When outsiders hear that the second young lady of the Duke's mansion is a disciple of the chess master, they can only marvel.

It's unlikely that anyone would be so free as to come up with a chessboard and ask for advice.

Pei Zhi was passing by the artificial hill and was about to find a place to rest when suddenly someone covered her mouth.

Pei Zhi instinctively retaliated with her elbow, but someone grabbed her arm and forcibly dragged her into the artificial hill.

Could there be thieves inside Mr. Yuan's residence?

Pei Zhi was thinking about how to save herself when she was released.

"You came in the afternoon? I waited for nothing."

Pei Zhi was stunned for a moment, then realized that this should be either Shang Huai or Xiao Chengci.

Pei Zhi replied, "The master said to come this afternoon."

"I'm so bored without you."

Pei Zhi pondered her relationship with the man. Since he could directly reach out and grab her, covering her mouth, their relationship must be intimate.

This was in ancient times. If someone just reached out their hand in the garden, had they even slept with someone?

For some reason, Pei Zhi's memories of men were particularly vague; she couldn't remember anything at all.

I suspect it's due to a corrupted system memory.

Pei Zhi changed the subject, and said coquettishly, "You just scared me."

The man released Pei Zhi and gently stroked her head. "Puff, puff, don't be scared, sweetie."

Looking at the man's tall figure and slightly dark skin, Pei Zhi tentatively asked, "Shang Huai?"

Shang Huai responded, "Yes, what's wrong?"

Pei Zhi breathed a sigh of relief; at least she hadn't guessed wrong.

"Aren't you afraid of being caught neglecting your duties by running around in the courtyard?" Pei Zhi remembered that Shang Huai had said he was a guard.

Shang Huai was taken aback for a moment, then explained, "I'm a guard, so I should be taking a stroll around the yard when I have nothing to do. Don't worry."

"You don't have class tomorrow, how about I take you hunting in another forest?"

Shang Huai said he was a guard, but can a guard go out to play whenever he wants?

Moreover, Shang Huai had no jade pendants, sachets, or ornaments on his body.

But when Pei Zhi touched the material of Shang Huai's clothes, she knew that Shang Huai was definitely not a guard.

Pei Zhi replied calmly, "Okay."

"Then tomorrow, as usual, you can quietly come out through the back door, and I'll come to pick you up."

Pei Zhi lowered her head and smiled faintly, which was considered an agreement.

Shang Huai gently tapped Pei Zhi's head again, said "See you there," and then left.

After Shang Huai disappeared, Pei Zhi's face immediately turned cold.

If Shang Huai were truly a bodyguard, he wouldn't have remained so calm after learning she was a young lady from the Duke's mansion.

You can also invite her to go horseback riding and hunting in the countryside. Putting everything else aside, where do you get the horses?

Pei Zhi held the handkerchief in her hand, pondering to herself that she wouldn't have been so foolish as to be deceived by Shang Huai last time.

She still keeps in touch with Shang Huai, and even dares to go out with him secretly, which means she trusts him.

As Pei Zhi was pondering, her page suddenly called her name.

"Miss Pei, the master has finished with his business."

Pei Zhi responded and followed the pageboy into the study.

As I passed by, I encountered a man with an extraordinary air about him.

Pei Zhi stopped and curtsied slightly in greeting.

The man said to the page, "Mr. Yuan wants you to go in and serve him."

Upon hearing this, the page quickened his pace and headed towards the study.

After the page left, Pei Zhi raised her head, intending to secretly observe the man, but her eyes met his.

In an instant, Pei Zhi confirmed the other party's identity; this must be Xiao Chengci.

Xiao Chengci smiled, "It's only been a few days, and you don't recognize me?"

Pei Zhi thought to herself, "As expected of me."

If you come to Mr. Yuan to learn chess, you can talk about two things.

It's like, in a class, she dated two boys.

For example, in an office, she flirted with two male colleagues.

Those who are daring really get to enjoy themselves first.

Pei Zhi explained, "There were outsiders there just now, and I was worried about being discovered."

Xiao Chengci took two steps forward, but did not have any physical contact with Pei Zhi.

"Go find Mr. Yuan first, I'll wait for you to finish your class."

Pei Zhi nodded in agreement: "Okay."

Xiao Chengci left first with his servant, and Pei Zhi forgot to ask how she would find Xiao Chengci after her class.

Never mind, class is the priority.

Upon entering the study, Pei Zhi first greeted Mr. Yuan.

Mr. Yuan raised his hand, gesturing for Pei Zhi to come and sit down.

"Have you looked at the chess game record I gave you last time?"

“I’ve seen it,” Pei Zhi added, “but there are many parts I don’t quite understand.”

Mr. Yuan beckoned: "Come here, let's play a game of chess."

Pei Zhi sat down opposite Mr. Yuan, and Mr. Yuan moved the black chess piece to Pei Zhi's side.

Pei Zhi then handed the white chess piece to Mr. Yuan.

Just now, Xiao Chengci played chess with Mr. Yuan, and Mr. Yuan was actually playing black?

In Go, Black moves first.

Black moving first signifies taking the initiative, while white moving second signifies a defensive stance.

Generally, elders will take the white pieces to take care of the younger generation, even if the difference isn't too great.

When Xiao Chengci played chess with Mr. Yuan, he dared to let Mr. Yuan take the black pieces, which means that Xiao Chengci's skill level was at least on par with Mr. Yuan's.

Xiao Chengci's identity should not be as simple as just being a distant relative of Mr. Yuan.