Chapter 102 Playing the Chess
In a teahouse in the West Market, a storyteller was recounting this story with great intonation.
Although they used aliases to avoid offending important people, anyone with a discerning eye could easily find out who they were talking about.
"This young nobleman is incredibly handsome and dashing, with unparalleled charm. He has achieved academic success at a young age and has a bright future ahead of him."
"It's a pity that he ruined his future because of love. Do you know who that girl is who made this young master so infatuated that he insisted on breaking off the engagement?"
The storyteller slammed his gavel, and the tea-drinking crowd all turned to look.
"Stop talking nonsense. I've heard several versions already, so it's clear that what you're saying is just hearsay and shouldn't be taken seriously."
A man chuckled, looking confident that he couldn't be fooled.
"Brother, you're mistaken. This news of mine only came out half an hour ago; it's still very fresh!"
The storyteller, seeing that some people didn't believe him, wasn't angry. He shook his head and said this.
"It is said that this noble young master has a younger sister who is as beautiful as an angel. The two are not related by blood, and they live under the same roof. Over time, they have fallen in love and become inseparable. How could they allow his fiancée, whom he has never met, to interfere?!"
"oh--"
The onlookers naturally knew that the news was half true and half false and should not be taken at face value, but their lives were spent listening to the entertainment of the wealthy and powerful, so they didn't care whether it was true or false and immediately started to make a fuss.
"I knew it! This is just like my husband. He's full at home, so he can't eat anything outside, no matter how delicious it is."
A woman muttered a few bawdy remarks, and the teahouse was filled with laughter and chatter.
Under the eaves of the teahouse, a ragged beggar with filthy hair carefully held a spoiled steamed bun, eating it quickly as if afraid someone would snatch it away. In just a few bites, she stuffed the fist-sized bun into her mouth.
The beggar's face was covered in dirt, making it impossible to see his features clearly, except for his bright, clear eyes.
"Aru, why are you out again!"
A little girl carrying a basket saw her on the street and hurriedly ran over.
"Aru, come back inside with me! Oh dear, you're all dirty..."
"Hehe..." The beggar girl called Aru gave a silly smile.
The young girl sighed helplessly, grabbed her sleeve with some disdain, and left the teahouse.
"Aru, you're going to get a beating from Mom when you get back. If you keep running away like this every few days, I'm not going to take care of you anymore!"
The little girl's voice gradually faded into the distance, and on the third floor of the restaurant across the street, a window suddenly closed quietly.
"Master, the Xiahou family has become unusually vigilant, and Prince Duan has requested that we act ahead of schedule."
The man wearing an ivory mask was dressed in a long black robe with silver threads. His dark hair was loose and his chest was wide open, revealing a corner of a winding and rugged scar.
He propped his head up with his hand, black and white pieces beside him, playing against himself.
On the chessboard, the black and white pieces were locked in a fierce battle, but the player, bored out of his mind, closed his eyes.
"Can't you wait even a few months? Fine, I'll agree to his request."
"How's the investigation going?"
At the foot of the couch, a person dressed in black, whose gender was indistinguishable, knelt humbly, speaking in a hoarse voice:
"Your subordinate is incompetent; that purse has already been stored in the Princess's warehouse and cannot be examined."
"Yeah?"
The man asked softly, his tone normal, but the person kneeling seemed to be under immense pressure, cold sweat beading on their forehead.
"I have another matter to report. The young lady has bribed Xiao Yuyao's former maid to keep an eye on Lane 22 of Elm Tree Lane... However, Gu Linyan just moved there today."
The man loosened his grip, and the black piece, no longer under his control, crashed onto the chessboard with a "thud."
In an instant, the entire chessboard was thrown into chaos.
"So that's how it is..."
The woodshed of the Xiao residence.
When Chunwen learned that she actually had a chance to return to Lanting Pavilion, and that the Fifth Sister was willing to take her to Jiangnan despite past grievances, she was so happy that she didn't know what to say.
"The most important thing for you right now is to take good care of your health. Otherwise, if you're still lying in bed when the young lady sets off, how can you possibly serve her?"
Bihui lovingly fed her porridge, and seeing Chunwen's grateful and excited expression, her smile grew even gentler.
"Yes, you're right, dear sister. I was wrong all along, and I did so many wrong things. Luckily, Fifth Sister was alert and didn't fall for my tricks..."
Bihui paused in her grip on the spoon. If it weren't for the Fifth Sister's safety, Chunwen wouldn't even have had the chance to survive until now.
She put down her bowl and smiled:
"Let's not talk about these discouraging things. You haven't seen your family in a long time, have you? Why don't you find an opportunity to say goodbye to them first? After all, who knows how long your trip to Jiangnan will last?"
"I... I can still see my family? Waaah..."
Chunwen was not born into a family; her parents worked as laborers in the suburbs of Beijing.
She has two younger sisters and a younger brother. Although she was favored by her parents who preferred boys to girls when she was young, she still misses them very much after not seeing them for half a year.
"It's all thanks to Fifth Miss's mercy. Otherwise, you outsiders, once you've signed the indenture, you're born and die as members of the Xiao family. How could you possibly have a chance to go out and see your families?"
Chunwen was once again overwhelmed with gratitude, tears streaming down her face.
“I’ve asked Miss Pei Xing’er about your injury. You can still move around even while lying in the sedan chair. The sooner the better. Why don’t I accompany you to the outskirts of the capital today?”
Bi Sui reported to Xiao Yuxuan and received her approval. Only then did she pack her things and quietly lead Chunwen out of the back gate of the Xiao residence.
She thoughtfully hired a cheap covered carriage and helped the person into it.
After reporting Chunwen's address, the driver cracked his whip and muttered:
"Someone died in that area not long ago, it's really bad luck to go there now."
"What did you say, driver?"
Bi Sui slightly lifted the curtain and asked.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. Ladies, please sit tight!"
Chunwen hadn't heard clearly before, and now, lying in the carriage with the wheels jolting, she felt a sudden unease rising in her heart.
I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen to her later. What could it be?
As high-ranking officials of the second rank, the Xiao family's residence was located in the city center, and it only took a little over two hours by carriage to get to the suburbs.
The driver stopped at the entrance to the town.
It wasn't that the road was too narrow to get in, but rather that people inside were carrying a coffin out, with white banners leading the way and paper money flying everywhere, so it was really too much to ask.
"Waaaaah, big brother and sister-in-law... how could you just leave with the two little ones like this? Waaaaah..."
The familiar sound of wailing reached the carriage. Chunwen was startled. She struggled to get up and lifted the carriage curtain.
Two large and two small coffins came into view outside.
Chunwen's second uncle's family, dressed in mourning clothes, followed beside her. Chunwen's second aunt was lying on the coffin, crying sadly. Chunwen's second uncle's youngest son was standing at the front, holding a ceramic basin, ready to throw it down with force.
"What are you doing?!"
Chunwen cried out in surprise, and the entire funeral procession turned to look.
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