Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 129 Playing Chess with Miss 2

Therefore, in the past few days, Aunt Mei has not restricted the maids under her too much. Ruizhu and Mingyue were overjoyed. When the two young ladies and their maids returned to Yunyi Courtyard, the two of them were chattering and arranging things in the courtyard.

Donggua made a lot of milk tea in the small kitchen, some iced and some warm with various kinds of fried dough balls.

Besides those made with glutinous rice flour, winter melon has also been used to make taro balls.

To put it simply, she tried everything that could be steamed, mixed with syrup and honey to bind it together, and rolled into balls that wouldn't fall apart easily. Taro was just one of the most popular options; there were also pumpkin balls, winter melon balls, balls made from chestnut powder, and various mung bean, red bean, and winter melon balls.

Each tiny, colorful dumpling, about the size of a fingernail, floats in the milk tea, bobbing up and down in the glass cup. It captivated the men, women, and children of the Tang family from the moment it appeared. The small kitchen had to make many of them every few days, and the name of the winter melon dumplings was second to none among the servants of the Tang family.

Given that the situation was getting worse, the Zhen family physician had to advise Madam Yun and the old lady: Although milk tea is good, it should not be drunk in excess.

But Ruizhu whispered to Huayan in private, "Xiangru (a female physician apprentice in the Tang family) said that Doctor Zhen no longer drinks tea, but drinks three cups of milk tea every day..."

The second young lady instructed that some be sent to the masters of each courtyard. As is customary during festivals, the mansion held a reunion banquet at Fu'an Residence, where Madam Yun and the old lady would discuss matters. At noon, the masters of each courtyard would have their own lunch.

This was a rare moment of leisure in Yunyi Courtyard after arriving in the capital. The second young lady changed into her everyday clothes and instructed Mengzhu to set up a chessboard.

Seeing this, Hua Yan inwardly groaned. Ever since Mr. Lin stopped teaching and the eldest young lady married far away in Jinan, she had become the second young lady's designated new 'chess partner.' After all, she would rather use an abacus than play chess with the fifth young lady. The third and fourth young ladies rarely came to Yunyi Courtyard, while the sixth young lady would talk to the second young lady while playing chess about how sandalwood chessboards were actually best for grinding into powder and making which kind of incense...

Usually at this time, Mengzhu would quickly set up the chessboard, Ruizhu would brew a cup of Jin Jun Mei tea, prepare the snacks that the young lady liked, and then the two of them would stand behind Huayan and the second young lady respectively.

This time, however, the second young lady waved her hand, telling them to leave.

Inside the elegant room, the second young lady, dressed in a light and elegant silk robe with the hem of her skirt draped gently to the ground, sat opposite Hua Yan. The midday sun shone through the carved window, casting its light on the chessboard and seemingly shrouding the black and white pieces of the battlefield in a thin layer of gold.

Hua Yan noticed that the second young lady seemed more serious than usual, carefully considering how to play this game.

Without speaking, the second young lady gently raised her hand, her slender fingers picking up a white chess piece. With her eyes focused on the chessboard, she placed the piece at the center.

White represents Yang, and black represents Yin. Yang precedes Yin, so white moves first. However, the Second Miss's first move abandons the gold corner, silver edge, and grass belly, placing it in the center of the board, which is not in line with her usual habits.

Anyone who has played Go knows that the center point (tengen) is easily compromised and can waste the initial advantage.

Hua Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, pondered for a moment, picked up a black piece, and placed it steadily in a corner of the board. It seemed like a defensive move, but it also concealed a sharp edge.

Seeing this, the second young lady remained calm and composed. She then placed her white piece, and in an instant, the white and black pieces intertwined and crisscrossed.

However, whenever the second young lady deliberately made reckless moves on the chessboard, Hua Yan would turn a blind eye, playing steadily while giving the second young lady enough breathing room.

As the game progressed, Hua Yan gradually relaxed, while the second young lady remained smiling, picking up two black and white pieces to play with, and suddenly said:

"The capital city is like a chessboard, and we are both on it. Hua Yan, I am far inferior to you."

Hua Yan suddenly looked up, a strange emotion swirling in her heart, so much so that her fingertips felt slightly cold, and she didn't know how to respond.

“Back in Lin’an, your eyes never failed Mr. Lin after each chess lesson. It wasn’t until I played against you recently that I realized Mr. Lin was right, and I also underestimated you.”

Hua Yan rose in alarm, and the second young lady grasped her fingers across the chessboard. "From chess skills to needlework, and even strategizing and foresight, Mother and the old lady know that you are a man of great wisdom, and I admire you as well."

Today's game of chess with you is an opportunity. You have served me for many years, so you should know that your mistress is not one to tolerate others. Therefore, you don't need to hide your abilities from me or be so cautious at all times.

Hua Yan lowered her head, her face flushed, and only then did she hear the second young lady say one last thing.

"There is a distinction between master and servant, but affection does not discriminate based on rank."

These were the Second Miss's heartfelt words, and Hua Yan's heart trembled slightly, her nose tingled, and she felt somewhat ashamed. In fact, after taking over the Yunshang Pendant personally handed over by Madam Yun and setting up the Disi Pavilion, she had been wholeheartedly planning for the Second Miss, and there was no question of her hiding her talents.

However, whenever she was in the presence of the Second Miss, a maidservant had to fulfill her duties and not overstep her mistress's bounds. Therefore, when learning makeup from Hua Ying, she would deliberately conceal her appearance. When playing chess with the Second Miss, she would also carefully consider how to help her mistress win gracefully. Even when she was occasionally with Rui Zhu and the others, she would intentionally act silly to get closer to them.

It turns out that the second young lady could see through all these disguises.

She never imagined that the second young lady would say such a thing to her, a high and mighty master speaking to her so gently.

You don't need to hide your talents; you can be yourself.

You are Hua Yan, and you are also Meng Shu.