"Why are you kicking down my door? We have no enmity," Liang Xiao said indignantly.
"I can tell with one look that you're here for Miss Zhuo Er. Stop pretending!" Yue Wenxin snorted, walking directly to the round table by the door and sitting down, crossing her legs in an overbearing manner.
Liang Xiao's heart sank. He had disguised himself. Could this young girl see through him?
"I'm telling you, even if she wants a man, it can only be the consort of the Marquis of An. You're just a toad wanting to eat swan meat. Forget it!"
Liang Xiao nearly stumbled.
He Zizhang feigned nervousness and asked, "General Yue, what do you mean?"
"This is a matter of state between two countries. You Xuanwei just do your jobs, no need to ask further!" Yue Wenxin huffed, then stared at Liang Xiao, grinning. "Do you dare to take a piss and look at yourself? You look like a beggar, and you have a lump of dung on your head. Is that appropriate?"
Liang Xiao fell silent. He was indeed here for Zhuo Yun, but she had misunderstood. She seemed to greatly respect his "Marquis of An" persona. However, this Yue Wenxin was notoriously gossipy and dared to blurt out anything. He absolutely could not reveal his identity. Moreover, he had styled his hair as Hong Jie did, yet this girl mistook it for "dung hair"?
"Are you guilty because I've exposed you?" Yue Wenxin's eyes lit up. She looked at Liang Xiao, puckering her lips. "You calculating scumbag, don't talk about chess. Seeing how strong you are, you should be a male concubine for the local landlord in the south of the city. That would be putting your talents to good use."
Yue Wenxin said, then furrowed her brow. "Oh, right, I almost forgot. You're ugly!"
Hearing this, Liang Xiao was at a loss for words, amused and exasperated. He looked at the self-important Yue Wenxin and retorted, "Little darling, are your lips smeared with aconite?"
"Little darling? I haven't wronged you, have I!" Yue Wenxin froze, then suddenly stood up, ready to charge at Liang Xiao.
"General Yue, please calm down..." He Zizhang and the others quickly blocked the way, trying to pacify her.
"You all saw it. He just molested me! Throw this lecherous scoundrel out!" Yue Wenxin urged.
"General Yue, why are you so certain I'm here for Miss Zhuo Er?" Liang Xiao asked.
"My sixth sense. You don't need to ask! Before I draw my sword, I advise you to be sensible and leave quickly, lest you cuckold the Marquis of An," Yue Wenxin said disdainfully.
Liang Xiao felt depressed and was about to reply when shouts came from outside: "General Yue, you've gone too far!"
Everyone turned to see Zhuo Yun and Li Xin rushing over, looking anxious. Li Xin quickly pleaded, "Wenxin, this is a chess academy. Please don't cause trouble."
"Men are cunning. I see the sharpness in his eyes; he's no ordinary person. He could abduct Miss Zhuo Er at any moment, so we must be vigilant! Your so-called chess philosophy is insignificant compared to matters of state!" Yue Wenxin explained earnestly, then added, "He also called me 'little darling' just now. All you Xuanwei heard it!"
"We didn't hear anything! We know nothing!" He Zizhang and the others turned away, feigning ignorance.
Zhuo Yun said angrily, "He's a chess prodigy recognized even by my master. His understanding of Fang Yuan Dong Jing is even greater than mine. How can you slander him like this?"
Yue Wenxin huffed, "Isn't flowery language common for men? They say one thing and mean another. Look at you, the Marquis of An is so lenient with you. Since you intend to dedicate yourself to chess, you shouldn't have any entanglements with unclear men!"
Li Xin had a sudden inspiration and sighed, "Wenxin, you've truly misunderstood. The Master of Yunxiu Studio already has a wife and children in Da Gan, living harmoniously. I can guarantee he's a gentleman."
"What guarantee do you have?" Yue Wenxin asked.
"Then look at how he looked at us today. Was there any desire?" Li Xin countered.
Yue Wenxin paused, then snorted, "You can know a person's face but not their heart. You only know music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I've met more hypocritical villains than him, so hypocritical that..." Yue Wenxin quickly covered her mouth mid-sentence, apparently realizing she had slipped up again.
Zhuo Yun's face finally darkened. She stared at Yue Wenxin and said, "Even if his chess skills and understanding surpass my master, you yourself know men are not to be approached. If you want to live a solitary life, why do you assume I would be attracted to men?"
Yue Wenxin was both angry and anxious. "But he's here for you!"
Zhuo Yun then looked at Liang Xiao. "Master of Yunxiu Studio, are you truly not sent by the Marquis of An?"
Liang Xiao replied without hesitation, "It's impossible for us to have no connection. But please rest assured, I've heard about your situation. I will absolutely not persuade you to return home, nor will I urge you to marry, nor will I have any improper thoughts about you. I merely wish to see what the chess scene in Da Liang is like."
Yue Wenxin laughed, "A gentleman's word is his bond. If you dare to go back on your word, I'll castrate you in front of all the people in this chess academy!"
Everyone shivered. How could she, a young girl, say such a thing with a smile?
Liang Xiao knew Yue Wenxin was trying to protect his identity as the "Marquis of An," so he simply nodded with a smile. "Alright."
Zhuo Yun said angrily, "General Yue, are you satisfied now? Can you stop causing trouble for me from now on? Haven't I had enough trouble lately!"
Yue Wenxin merely shot Zhuo Yun a glare and walked back to her own residence in the chess academy. Zhuo Yun also had no time to pay attention to Liang Xiao and returned to her room to rest. Li Xin then whispered an explanation, "Normally, she would thank you. But as the Master of Yunxiu Studio, you are from Da Gan and are connected to the Marquis of An. She naturally doesn't want to get too entangled with you."
Liang Xiao just nodded, not offended. He also wanted to pretend to be from Da Liang, but he had never been there and wasn't good at the dialect, which would only expose him more.
The turmoil of the night finally subsided. Liang Xiao had He Zizhang and others find out Yue Wenxin's residence, then climbed to a high floor and looked towards her courtyard. He saw Yue Wenxin in her courtyard, wielding a bamboo pole and swinging it with all her might.
"Blind! Blind!!" With his incredible hearing, Liang Xiao finally made out Yue Wenxin's mumbling and couldn't help but smile bitterly. She only used a bamboo pole when practicing swordplay, indicating she didn't dare to touch her own sword casually, fearing she might lose control. Regardless, she was his aunt-in-law and respected "Marquis of An," which was rare.
In her room, Zhuo Yun was filled with worry. She didn't want the Master of Yunxiu Studio, who was connected to Liang Xiao, to stay, but driving him away would make her seem jealous of his talent!
The next morning, the chess academy was still bustling. The chess players, having heard that Liang Xiao's "Fang Yuan Dong Jing" theory had convinced the Chess Saint, also sought him out for discussion. Zhuo Yun occasionally glanced at Liang Xiao, wanting to see if there was anything unusual about him playing chess with others.
"Huh... Didn't you have the upper hand against the Chess Demon? How did you lose all three games against us!" The chess players' disappointed sighs caught Zhuo Yun's attention. Zhuo Yun noticed Li Xin's grim expression and quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
"Miss Zhuo Er, this Master of Yunxiu Studio isn't very skilled at chess. He surrenders after just a few moves each time, admitting defeat!"