Zuo Jing simply sat beside the female general, saying nothing.
This female general bore a four to five part resemblance to Zuo Jing, possessing unparalleled beauty and an imposing aura.
The elder chided the female general with a glare, "Call me Uncle, not Aunt!"
"Aunt is Aunt. You've held onto this resentment for so long because Liang Anguo eloped," the female general spoke at a measured pace.
"Yue Wenxin!!" the elder finally roared.
The female general, Yue Wenxin, completely ignored her aunt and turned her gaze to Zhuo Yun.
"Miss Zhuo the Second, your Marquis of Anguo is a peerless genius. I, this general, am quite fond of him. Why is it that you don't fancy him?"
Zhuo Yun huffed, "Didn't General Yue used to fancy General Tian?"
"Yes! I fancy all extraordinary men! Like the King of Donghai of Great Heng, the Marquis of Dingguo of Great Qian, General Tian of Great Qian, the King of Bei of Great Liang, and the Marquis of Anguo of Great Qian. These are all peerless generals, and I fancy them all!" Yue Wenxin declared frankly, as if talking to herself.
A brief silence fell over the room. Li Xin, Zhuo Yun, and Zuo Jing simultaneously cast admiring glances at Yue Wenxin.
Only Zuo Jing, beneath her veil, was struggling to suppress a smile.
"Who would have thought that a sixteen-year-old female general, decisive and ruthless on the battlefield, would be so bold and loving to all," the elder couldn't help but tease.
Yue Wenxin appeared calm and patted Zuo Jing's shoulder. "My feelings for them are not the same romantic love as between an aunt and Liang Anguo. I know, like Li Xin, that there is no possibility with the people of Great Qian. But I have better judgment than Miss Zhuo the Second and more courage than my sister."
"I truly lack courage..." Zuo Jing felt a pang of disappointment.
"What if I lack judgment..." Zhuo Yun looked displeased.
"There truly is no possibility with him..." Li Xin appeared distressed.
The elder trembled with anger, "Can you please stop mentioning Liang Anguo?!"
Yue Wenxin's words simultaneously struck a sore spot in four people, filling the room with four invisible currents of resentment.
Li Xin couldn't bear it any longer and quickly looked at Zuo Jing, changing the subject. "Who is this?"
Zuo Jing then chuckled charmingly, "Sister Li Xin, you don't recognize Lin Xin? I've come to the chess academy to learn to play chess..."
"Yue Linxin?" Li Xin was startled, then her eyes widened in realization. "So it's Little Lin. We haven't seen each other for five years. Why are you not showing your true face now..."
"It's not convenient..." Zuo Jing replied weakly.
"Alas, it's my father who likes to play mysterious games, insisting on keeping his illegitimate daughter heavily veiled. Is it really necessary!" Yue Wenxin shook her head.
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.
In front of familiar faces, this female general seemed to have no secrets, daring to reveal anything.
The elder snorted, "You kill like a butcher on the battlefield and slander countless people in daily life. No wonder you can't get married."
"Bang!!"
As soon as the elder finished speaking, the table beside Yue Wenxin was smashed with a single punch.
"Who says I can't get married! I simply have too high standards!"
"Tsk tsk, revealing your true colors and becoming temperamental," the elder felt a sense of satisfaction, having finally hit a nerve with Yue Wenxin.
"Even the Marquis of Zhenguo doesn't meet Wenxin's standards?" Li Xin asked curiously.
Yue Wenxin shook her head. "He's too scholarly, and looks like a coward. I don't like him! Besides, he's fourteen years older than me. I don't want an old ox eating tender grass!"
Zhuo Yun, Zuo Jing, Li Xin: ...
"Look at that mouth! You won't find a second one as malicious in the world. Truly neglected in upbringing!" the elder lamented with deep concern.
At these words, the usually meek Zuo Jing inexplicably pictured Liang Xiao's shameless face in her mind.
Zhuo Yun and Li Xin looked at Yue Wenxin with awe.
In fact, this young female general dared to kill hooligans in the bustling marketplace at the age of twelve, possessing true hatred for evil and a ruthless disposition.
After turning fifteen, she defeated a southern rebel general in battle and was honored by the Emperor of Great Liang as "The Valiant Woman of Great Liang."
Yue Wenxin quickly changed the subject. "Aunt, less nonsense! I am ordered to persuade Miss Zhuo the Second to return home. If she agrees, I will personally escort her!"
Zhuo Yun said nervously, "I will not go back. You can give up on that!"
"So there's no room for negotiation?" Yue Wenxin looked disappointed and continued, "Then I am ordered to guard the chess academy. No scoundrels will be allowed in. I'll castrate any who dare to show up!"
"I don't want a man either," Zhuo Yun shook her head.
Yue Wenxin exclaimed in surprise, "You like women?"
Zhuo Yun's eyebrows twitched. She gave Yue Wenxin a fierce glare and simply ignored her.
The elder beside them was extremely enraged but utterly helpless.
"This chess academy is going to be in chaos," Li Xin said with a wry smile.
Late autumn, early winter.
In the capital, at the Liang Residence, Liang Xiao was in high spirits daily.
The court session was canceled. With Xiao Qing's arrangements and the concerted efforts of Wang Canghai and others, the impact was not significant.
However, the memorials from He Anding and Dugu Xiao's Ministry of Personnel, as well as other officials, were becoming increasingly complex and devoid of substance, clearly intended to wear Xiao Qing down.
But with Ning Xuejun and Ding Wuyi's assistance, the two shadow guard commanders could fully act as the Son of Heaven's eyes and ears, posing no real threat to Xiao Qing.
Yet, Xiao Qing remained angry and strictly ordered all officials: "Memorials must be concise and to the point, or you will face the consequences – either demotion or a beating!"
This move was also to signal to these officials that she indeed needed rest and could not afford to have her time consumed by complex memorial content.
Since their memorials were not allowed to be lengthy, Dugu Xiao and others changed their strategy, increasing the number of reasonable memorials.
This action, however, confirmed to Xiao Qing that the three great aristocratic families had no intention of repenting and were still covertly causing trouble.
Xiao Qing's belly had not yet visibly enlarged. With Liang Xiao stationed in the capital, Dugu Qun and others dared not be the first to stir up trouble.
Liang Xiao was waiting for Zhuo Zifang and Zhuo Wuliang to return to the capital.
One day, Liang Xiao's second mother, Lu Xue, couldn't help but come looking for him.
"Xiao'er, you promised the Son of Heaven of Great Liang that you would eventually be an envoy to Great Liang?"
After receiving Liang Xiao's affirmative reply, Lu Xue sighed, "My junior sister, her chess skills are profound. She can now contend with me evenly. If you want to bring her back to Great Gan, without understanding a bit of the way of chess, or finding a chess master who can defeat my master to assist, she might not be willing to return..."
Liang Xiao replied calmly, "It's alright. I know a little about the way of chess."
Lu Xiaojun, who was supporting Lu Xue, asked with confusion, "Know a little?"
She dared not have any improper thoughts about Liang Xiao, but she was considered a relative of his. She lived in the Liang Residence with her aunt Lu Xue, looking after her.
Lu Xue looked at the wives behind Liang Xiao and asked curiously, "I've never seen you play chess before?"
Liang Xiao pouted. "It's just a hobby. I don't make a living from Go. By the way, Second Mother, please give me some pointers."
Lu Xue thought it made sense and said, "Then shall we play a few rounds first?"
Three hours later...
Lu Xue and Lu Xiaojun were dumbfounded and returned to their room.
"From now on, don't tell people that your aunt is the Female Chess Immortal of Qiantang. We'd be too ashamed..." Lu Xue covered her flushed face and sighed.
Lu Xiaojun said weakly, "Aunt is already quite formidable..."
Zhuo Zifang, traveling day and night, finally arrived in the capital.