Chapter 41

Nan Yan calmed her mind.

No matter what, she needed to win this round and gained back her reputation.

Fortunately, she often played with her elder brother in the past, her chess skills were excellent.

With a sort of grim and calm posture, she single-handedly reached the final round.

Nan Baoyi sat beside the chess table, supporting her chin with one hand and played with two chess pieces while smiling lightly, “I’ve waited for sister for a long time.”

Nan Yan put away her contempt and sat down coldly.

Looking at the platform.

Madam Cheng was impatient, “Madam Chang, you ask me to bet on Nan Yan, but she has already lost three rounds in a row. This last round is probably not going to be good too!”

Madam Chang was also anxious, “This couldn’t be… I always heard people saying that Nan Yan was the most outstanding young girl in Jinguan City. Madam Liu, what’s wrong with your daughter?”

Madam Liu stood up and said respectfully, “Yan’er is still young, it’s normal to underperform sometimes. But playing chess is Yan’er’s forte. She started early, learning from her elder brother and practicing since she was six years old. All these years in the clan academy, she was never defeated in chess. Madams, please rest assure, Yan’er would not let you both down.”

In the chess event.

Nan Baoyi rested her chin in one hand and twirled a white chess piece with another, not making a move for a long time.

Nan Yan’s style of playing chess was meticulous just like her forte in manipulating people. Every piece she played had an unexpected effect, fully controlled by her.

The black chess pieces on the chessboard were crisscrossed like a darknet, quietly devouring the white chess pieces.

In Nan Baoyi’s eyes, those black chess pieces gradually turned into the dignitaries in Shu County.

They envied the Nan family’s wealth and secretly weaved an airtight scheme in an attempt to finish off the Nan family in one move…

Businessmen did not fight with officials, how should she break up the situation?

Her eyes gazed upon a distance.

The women from the families of Military Officer Zhang and Governor Cheng were here.

Needless to say, Madam Cheng, Huang Yueli as her mother-in-law in the past life, tortured her constantly after she married into the Cheng family, making her kneel on snow, kneel on the ancestral hall and asked her to serve all day and night, living worse off than a maid.

But the Cheng family was deeply entrenched in Shu County and it was difficult to remove their influence!

Military Officer Zhang, Madam Chang was Big Cousin Sister’s mother-in-law.

Big Cousin Sister Nan Baorong was always sick and frail. Before she was married over, Madam Chang was warm and friendly towards her. After she was married, she only found out that Zhang Yuanwang already had a favored maid, that maid even had a son with him, just that it was not publicly announced.

The most infuriating of all was that after taking away Big Cousin Sister’s dowry, Madam Chang immediately asked Zhang Yuanwang to divorce her and get married again!

After Big Cousin Sister was divorced, she married her own cousin brother who was a man who really loved her, Song Shining.

Nan Baoyi thought that her Big Cousin Sister would live happily from then on, but Zhang Yuanwang was a fickle-minded affectionate man.

He was good at poetry. After divorcing Big Cousin Sister, he intentionally wrote a lot of poetry to show his longing for her, expressing that he divorced her under his mother’s coercion and not his intention.

Big Cousin Sister had a weak personality. They were married and she was once in love with him before. He often provoked her and finally, she died of depression. She was not even eighteen years old when she died.

Cousin Brother was heartbroken. He donated all his assets, went to a military expedition, and died on the battlefield in the end.

Everyone did not know of Cousin Brother’s deep affection but praised Zhang Yuanwang’s devotion instead.

Nobody knew that man was a fake person, saying things but behaved differently. He wrote many lovesick poetries but that did not stop him from marrying many different concubines.

The Zhang family was absolutely hateful!

“Nan Baoyi, if you still don’t make a move you might as well admit defeat!”

Nan Yan’s impatient voice sounded, pulling Nan Baoyi back from her reverie.

She looked at the edge of the chessboard.

Next year, Cousin Sister would marry into the Zhang family.

Therefore in this chess game, shouldn’t it attack the Zhang family first?

She smiled slightly and calmly make her move, “Checkmate.”

The state of the chess game reversed instantly.

Nan Yan was dumbstruck.

Looking at the platform.

Someone was praising Nan Baoyi’s clever move.

“Such a young age and still a sheltered girl, but her style of playing chess was decisive and brilliant, so rare!”

The man who said this was over forty years old and looked powerful.

Old Madam Nan motioned for Xiao Yi to help her get up.

She saluted towards the man, “General Situ.”

Situ Lin cupped his hands in greeting, “Old Madam Nan is still energetic as always.”

“In the past few years, I have always wanted to invite General Situ to our residence as a guest but worried that would disturb your official duties.” Old Madam smiled politely, “General, have a seat here. I specially invited you to come and watch today’s Spring Flower Festival.”

Situ Lin looked at Xiao Yi, “This person is…”

Xiao Yi lowered his head and saluted him.

Old Madam introduced with a smile, “This is my grandson, Xiao Yi, he is talented in both literary and martial arts. I don’t know if he would gain General’s favor?”

Situ Lin immediately understood her meaning.

More than ten years ago, he was still an insignificant soldier.

That year, there was a famine in Shu County. He was in a military expedition and could not take care of his wife and mother. It was the Nan residence that opened a food distribution place and saved his entire family’s life.

He assumed, Old Madam Nan wanted him to repay this grace.

Only the Nan residence was a rich target that attracted many dignitaries in Shu County.

If he hastily offered help, he was afraid the gains do not make up for the losses.

He sized up Xiao Yi, “I do not use mediocre people. Since you want to be my subordinate, you must show me your skills.”

Xiao Yi said lightly, “Archery, horse riding, carbine, sword fighting, anything the General wants to test.”

He was so calm that Situ Lin could not help but admire him a little more.

He tested, “What about breaking up an enemy formation?”

Xiao Yi’s face was still, “Yes.”

On the platform.

Nan Baoyi got up cooly, “You lost.”

Nan Yan stared at the chessboard, the chess pieces that she held on her hand fell to the ground weakly.

She lost, she actually lost to Nan Baoyi in a game she had the most confidence in!

But how could it be, how could she have lost?!

“You are cheating!” She suddenly overturned the chessboard, “Nan Baoyi, let’s compete again!”

Nan Baoyi looked back, “No matter how many times we play, you will still lose to me.”

“You ―”

“This is too unsightly!” The examiner scolded unhappily, “Nan Yan, leave!”

Nan Yan teared up. She was so humiliated that she could not lift her head up and ran down the platform crying.

The laurel crown belonged to Nan Baoyi in this year’s Spring Flower Festival competition.

She happily accepted the award.

She stood on the high platform, her blue-green dress swayed elegantly, her beautiful face was like the first blossoming of a hibiscus, vaguely reflecting a glimpse of her future prosperity.

Some people praised her for being charming, some people praised her for being unrivaled in her time.

Only Xiao Yi could clearly see the little girl’s decisiveness and endless hatred perfectly hidden beneath her eyes, like an assassinator hiding a sharp sword.

Today’s glory was only a beautiful beginning. The young girl’s outstanding years were just about to start.

He thought to himself when she was out there unsheathing her sword, the entire Shu County would be overshadowed by it.