Xiao Qingyun was calm and composed, and said to Lingzhi, "I just wanted to see your chess skills, not to compete with you."
"Master Xiao is afraid of losing and looking bad, right?"
Lingzhi didn't take it seriously: "How is this different from judging the level of chess skills and deciding the winner?"
"Of course it's different. A gentleman's dispute is to stop at a certain point, not to kill everyone. One should always leave room for maneuver."
Well, it turns out you’re here to give me a lecture.
He thinks she is too cruel, right?
Lingzhi was instantly furious, and since she was an expert in chess, she quickly defeated Xiao Qingyun without leaving a single piece of armor.
Then, she casually pushed the chessboard aside and stood up, saying lazily, "It turns out that not caring about winning or losing doesn't make you a winner."
After saying this, she turned and left.
Only Xiao Qingyun was left holding the chess piece, looking at the chessboard with a wry smile.
…
…
Today is the day when Mr. and Mrs. Shen return home from visiting relatives.
Everyone got up early.
Lingzhi stood aside with two panda eyes, watching Aunt Zhang and Chunmei wash and change the young lady's clothes.
In the past, they would not let her intervene at such critical moments, fearing that the more she helped, the more chaos would arise.
Nanny Zhang muttered, "Just now, Steward Qin sent someone to tell me that the master and his wife have already entered the city gate and will be back home in less than a quarter of an hour."
Miss Shen Furong let the two men bully her. "Didn't your last letter say it would take a few days? Why are you back today?"
Nanny Zhang replied, "I heard that the cousin who was fostered at my uncle's house is going back to Beijing, and Madam wants to keep her in our house for a while."
"What? Xia Qinghe is coming?!"
Shen Furong suddenly felt a headache, "Every time she comes, my mother scolds me until I am covered in dust."
"Isn't it like this: Look at Qinghe, she can recite thousands of poems by heart, and you are like a wild man, you just go crazy all day long."
"Or rather, look at Qinghe, she wrote a beautiful plum blossom calligraphy poem. Do you think you look like a girl? Look at how your clothes have been scratched by the branches..."
"She said it wasn't annoying, but I got tired of hearing it."
"Oh, my dear lady."
Nanny Zhang coaxed, "Don't say that anymore. Madam Moti is doing this for your own good. Just look at your cousin's father. He's a high-ranking official in the capital. If the two families are closer, he'll be able to help the Shen family in the future."
"My Shen family is wealthy and powerful, why do we need his help?"
Shen Furong said this, but gradually lost her voice.
She must have known in her heart that although the Shen family was the richest family in the county, they were at best just an insignificant merchant.
If he hadn't been related to a high-ranking official in Beijing, he wouldn't have been able to call the shots in the local area.
Lingzhi took in the whole scene and felt deeply moved.
Speaking of this cousin's father, Xia Hongsheng, he can be considered a Chen Shimei.
The cousin's mother was Xia Hongsheng's childhood sweetheart. They made a solemn vow and performed the Zhougong ceremony to become husband and wife.
Afterwards, Xia Hongsheng went to Beijing to take the imperial examination and passed. However, he turned around and married a wealthy noble lady as his wife, and was promoted at a lightning speed.
The original wife was abandoned in her hometown and demoted to a concubine. She became depressed and died soon after.
However, the cousin's mother was very protective of her son and did not want her own flesh and blood to be in an awkward situation, so before she died, she forgave Xia Hongsheng, and the Chen and Xia families reconciled.
When my cousin was a child, she lived with her uncle in the neighboring county until she grew up and was taken back to the Shangshu Mansion in the capital. However, she would come to the neighboring county every summer to escape the summer heat.
After Shen Furong had packed up, she immediately took Lingzhi and Chunmei to the gate of the mansion to pick someone up.
"Rong'er, come here quickly! Daddy and Mommy will be back soon!"
When the eldest son Shen Yuchao saw Shen Furong, he immediately started waving his hands manually.
A group of servants stood by his side, even forming a formation.
Shen Furong walked up to him and went out together, and Lingzhi followed the crowd obediently.
They waited at the door for a long time. Finally, a servant came up and shouted, "The master and his wife are here!"
Immediately, the servants lit firecrackers, and the place became very lively for a while.
The sound of horse hooves could be heard not far away. A group of servants were riding horses to guard in front and behind, and a gorgeous carriage was in the middle, coming towards them in a mighty manner.
The convoy slowly stopped outside the gate of the Shen Mansion. The next second, a slender hand slowly stretched out. As the curtain of the car opened, a young woman in purple clothes stepped on a stool and got out of the car first.
The woman had a pretty face and was about the same age as Shen Furong. Her every move was elegant. She was her cousin Xia Qinghe.
The next people to get off the car were Mr. Shen and Mrs. Shen.
Shen Yuchao and Shen Furong hurried forward to greet them: "Daddy, Mommy, thank you for your hard work along the way."
Lingzhi and other servants followed suit and came forward to pay their respects.
Everyone was asking about each other's well-being for a while. Xia Qinghe stepped forward and took Shen Furong's arm affectionately: "It's been many years since we last met. How are you, cousin?"
Shen Furong and Xia Qinghe have never been close. Now seeing Xia Qinghe's changed attitude, she couldn't help but be stunned, but she quickly reacted and took Xia Qinghe's arm.
The two of them were talking and laughing as they were surrounded by people and walked inside.
A rich banquet was prepared in the mansion.
A welcoming banquet, both guests and hosts had a great time.
In the evening, Miss Shen Furong pointed at Lingzhi and said to Xia Qinghe: "Cousin, you only brought a maid to serve you when you went out, why not let Lingzhi stay and serve you together!"
Upon hearing this, Xia Qinghe followed Shen Furong's gaze and when her eyes fell on Lingzhi, her brows furrowed tightly.
This little maid is so pretty!
There was a hint of displeasure in Xia Qinghe's eyes.
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