At Shen Xi’s words, Yuan Jingxian’s footsteps halted abruptly, her profile taut as cold jade. She did not turn around, only letting out a sharp huff through her nose—the anger she had barely suppressed flaring up again, mixed with the humiliation of losing face, burning tight in her throat.
How could she fail to catch the implication behind Shen Xi’s words? “Having no love for flower-viewing” was clearly an excuse—plain and simple, she refused to give Yuan Jingxian an out, intent on letting her leave with this bitter resentment.
Just then, Lin Wan’er spoke up: “Oh—I’m actually allergic to pollen, so I shouldn’t be joining in that crowd anyway. Since Miss Shen doesn’t care for flower-viewing, she can keep me company here and let me rest my feet. Saves me from being bored alone.”
Gu Qianqian paused for a moment before smiling in turn: “Come to think of it, I’ve had a cough these past few days. The physician told me to avoid strong floral scents—I was worried about missing the rare peonies, but this works out perfectly. I’ll sit here with Wan’er and Miss Shen—it’ll be nice and quiet.”
Her words were perfectly natural, offering Yuan Jingxian a graceful way out while sounding entirely reasonable.
“Very well—you young ladies rest well. We’ll go view the flowers first.” The tension in Yuan Jingxian’s jade-like profile seemed to ease slightly, though she still did not turn back. Guided by Su Yao, she walked forward—her steps were quick, but carried less of the earlier sharpness.
Once they had gone far enough, Gu Qianqian let out a long breath, patting her chest: “Thank goodness that smoothed things over. Miss Yuan’s face looked like it was about to freeze solid just then.”
Lin Wan’er watched their retreating figures, nudging Gu Qianqian’s arm: “You’re so good with words—you defused that standoff in just a few sentences.”
Looking at Lin Wan’er and Gu Qianqian, who had come to her aid, Shen Xi’s eyes crinkled with laughter, her tone playful: “You two are quite in sync—one with allergies, one with a cough. It’s almost like you planned it beforehand.”
Lin Wan’er pouted, leaning closer: “We just didn’t want you to completely offend her! Her father is the Grand Tutor, and half the noble ladies in the capital fawn over her. You’d better watch out—they might try to trip you up later.”
Gu Qianqian covered her mouth with a giggle: “Don’t mind Wan’er’s nagging, Miss Shen. The Yuan family really is hard to cross, but honestly—I just couldn’t stand Su Yao calling everyone ‘sister’! We only just met! And if I remember correctly, she’s actually older than me!”
Shen Xi was momentarily startled before laughing even harder: “She is older than you—and older than me too.”
Lin Wan’er nodded vigorously: “Exactly! When she was talking to Yuan Jingxian just now, she was all demure and submissive—completely different from how she was gushing over you as ‘sister’!”
Listening to Lin Wan’er, Shen Xi’s smile remained as she tapped lightly on the stone table with her fingertips: “Being demure with Yuan Jingxian is what’s expected of her; being warm with us is her way of being polite. After all, at events like this, who doesn’t want to be seen as agreeable?”
No wonder the Su family had risen from minor officials to Grand Councilors in her past life. Su Yao had been by her side for so long, yet Shen Xi had never realized she had started plotting against her this early…
Gu Qianqian huffed indignantly: “I hate people like that! At least Miss Shen is straightforward.”
Lin Wan’er chimed in: “Of course—Miss Shen is from a military family. She wouldn’t stoop to playing those games!”
Shen Xi lowered her eyes, the steam from her teacup blurring the cold resolve in her gaze.
Stoop to it? Not at all—she would not only play the game, but play it more fiercely than anyone else.
In her past life, her straightforward nature had given those people ammunition against her. If they preferred underhanded tactics, then this time, she would repay them in their own coin.
In a pavilion atop the villa’s tower, three elegant men sat together at a table.
A game board of red sandalwood lay before them, black and white stones scattered across its surface—but no one was making a move.
A man in dark cyan robes stood by the window, his eyes fixed on the group in the courtyard below. He tapped his fingertips against the window frame: “This is the first time I’ve seen the Grand Tutor’s eldest daughter look like that—she seemed completely at a loss against Miss Shen.”
Across from him, a man in purple robes leaned back in his chair, idly turning a jade pendant over in his hands as he smiled: “The Grand Tutor raises his daughters to prioritize propriety over all else. When faced with someone like Shen Xi, who plays by no rules, she was bound to come off second best.” He looked at the third man. “Yun Zhao—do you think this Miss Shen is simply being true to herself, or putting on an act?”
At this, Yun Zhao lifted his eyes, his gaze passing over Shen Xi’s calm profile below before he spoke quietly: “Most noble ladies in the capital are like hothouse flowers. It’s not bad to encounter one with thorns for a change.”
Crown Prince Yunxiao turned around, tapping a finger lightly on the edge of the game board: “Thorns? I’d say she hides claws instead.”
Fourth Prince Yun Zilan looked at the board with a pained expression: “You two have been playing this game forever.”
Yun Zhao was using a bamboo whisk to stir the froth in his teacup. He looked up: “Then why don’t you help me play, Fourth Highness?”
“Hey!” Yun Zilan slapped his folding fan on the table. “I try to get you two to stop, and now I’m roped in instead?” He leaned closer to examine the board—the black and white stones were tangled so tightly they resembled the intricate web of power in the capital. “Besides, your playing styles are so tricky—I don’t dare make a move for you. Who would take the blame if we lose?”
Yun Zhao set down the whisk, tapping his fingertips on the board’s edge: “Losing is just losing—it’s only for amusement anyway.” His eyes drifted down to the courtyard, where Shen Xi was laughing with Lin Wan’er and Gu Qianqian, lacking the sharp edge she had shown with Yuan Jingxian.
“Besides,” he said, pulling his gaze back to pick up a black stone, “when you meet your match, even losing feels satisfying.” His wrist lowered steadily, placing the stone at a star point on the board—forcing the Crown Prince’s white stones back half a step precisely.
Crown Prince Yunxiao raised an eyebrow: “So the Prince isn’t ready to concede?”
“Concede?” Yun Zhao’s lips curved slightly. “I haven’t yet seen a strategy worth conceding to.” His words seemed to refer to the game, yet carried another meaning.
Yun Zilan found it amusing, tapping his palm with his fan: “I see now—you two aren’t really playing go. You’re using the board to size each other up.”
As he spoke, his eyes drifted down to the courtyard, where Gu Qianqian was pulling Shen Xi to look at the koi fish by the pond. The hem of her dress brushed against the bluestones, leaving a trail of light, cheerful sounds. “Speaking of which, when Shen Xi was facing off against Yuan Jingxian earlier, her unyielding spirit was rather like the Prince’s fierce moves just now.”
Yun Zhao’s hand paused mid-move as he looked at Yun Zilan, a faint smile in his eyes: “Fourth Highness is mixing unrelated people and matters.”
Even so, his fingertips placed the black stone firmly, cutting off another escape route for the Crown Prince’s white stones.
Yunxiao chuckled, picking up a white stone as he mused: “Unrelated? I think Zilan has a point.” He placed the white stone beside Yun Zhao’s black one. “Both have natures that refuse to back down easily. It would be interesting to see them face off properly—to see whose edge is sharper.”
Yun Zhao did not respond, only lowering his eyes to the board. Sunlight streamed through the window onto the back of his hand, making his knuckles stand out clearly.
“Your Highness should focus on your own position first,” he said. “If you don’t retreat now, you’ll lose this entire section.”
Yunxiao raised an eyebrow, tapping the board’s edge: “Is the Prince in such a hurry to win?” His eyes scanned the trapped white stones before he suddenly smiled. “Very well—I’ll concede three points for now.”
Yun Zilan laughed aloud: “I think you two should stop competing over go. If you really want to test your skills, why not invite those young ladies to the polo field outside the city later? I hear Miss Shen is quite skilled at riding—she might just make you both concede willingly.”
Yunxiao looked at Yun Zhao with a raised eyebrow: “What does the Prince think?”
Yun Zhao ran his fingertips over a stone, his voice calm: “I will follow Your Highness’s arrangement.”
No sooner had he spoken than a cry of surprise from Gu Qianqian rose from below, followed by Shen Xi’s reassuring laughter.
All three turned to look out the window—Shen Xi was reaching to catch a jade pendant Gu Qianqian had dropped. Her fingertips had just touched the stone when her foot slipped on the moss, sending her stumbling forward.