The sea voyage in ancient times was hot and boring.
After only two days, the excitement of seeing the ocean faded quickly, replaced by the misery of being cooped up in the cabin all day long. After all, no matter how many times you look at the sea, it always looks the same.
Zi Su had stopped gazing out the window every few moments and instead focused on stitching shoe soles.
There was no help for it – although the ship was not small, it still rocked constantly at sea, making it impossible to read or do fine needlework. All one could do was chat.
Zi Su’s mother was Lady Huang’s dowry maid and had married the Chen family’s steward. Having grown up in the inner household, she was, needless to say, thoroughly familiar with a maid’s duties.
She worried about Cheng Danruo’s prospects. Having nothing to do, she made a pair of shoe soles to present to Nanny Zhang as a token of respect, hoping to curry favor with her and pry out whatever information she could.
As for Nanny Zhang, though she would not reveal her innermost secrets, sitting around idly was dull, so chatting about things everyone already knew was as good a way as any to pass the time.
“I’m not just saying this – our young master is one of a kind, even in Great Xia,” Nanny Zhang said, opening up the conversation as she drank her tea, her tone unable to hide her pride. “He was taken into the palace to be raised by the Empress herself when he was little. Even the current Emperor often praises him, and he has taken a teacher like Master Zizhen… Last year, when I went to the capital on behalf of the madam to visit the wife of the Marquis of Jinghai, in just three short months, I saw imperial envoys bestow gifts on behalf of the Emperor five or six times. With such imperial favor, who could compare?”
Zi Su drew in a sharp breath.
In her eyes, Master Chen was already a very high official, prominent enough to be ranked in Songjiang Prefecture. But a fourth-rank official in the capital was merely middling – just barely enough to attend court.
The Marquis of Jinghai, the Empress, the Emperor… these were such distant things.
Her tone could not help but carry respect and awe. “That really is incredible.”
A trace of smugness appeared at the corners of Nanny Zhang’s lips, as though a sliver of Xie Xuanying’s glory had radiated onto her. She took a sip of tea and said, “That your young lady gets to serve Madam Yan is also good fortune.”
Zi Su ingratiatingly began peeling peanuts for her and probed, “I wonder what kind of person Madam Yan is…”
Nanny Zhang had never met Madam Yan, but that did not stop her from speaking as if she had. “The wife of Master Zizhen is, of course, an extraordinary woman too.” Having said something mystifying, she feared exposing her ignorance, so she changed tack and put on airs, offering guidance. “As for Miss Cheng, working in a household like that, she ought to be careful in every way.”
Old ginger is the spiciest.
Zi Su, overawed by Xie Xuanying’s background, could not help but become somewhat obedient to Nanny Zhang. She said hurriedly, “You have seen so much, and you serve at Madam Gu’s side. Your judgment and abilities are beyond question. To be honest, I have no confidence in my heart, and I must ask you to spare no effort in advising me.”
Nanny Zhang, flattered until she was comfortable, put on a show of demurring for a while before saying, “When working in a great household, keeping to one’s proper place is the most important thing.”
She swept her eyes over Zi Su’s face without betraying any emotion, hiding a needle in cotton. “One must not, just because the masters are lenient and kind, think too highly of oneself and boss others around. Wouldn’t you say that’s the truth of it?”
Zi Su nodded hurriedly.
“Still, you needn’t worry too much,” Nanny Zhang said suddenly. “I can see that Miss Cheng is quite valued by Master Zizhen. She must have struck a chord with him?”
Zi Su blinked.
She was not stupid, after all, and quickly realized that Nanny Zhang was fishing for information about Cheng Danruo.
And as a maid, one could gossip about other families’ masters to pass the time, but one must never reveal a single detail about one’s own masters to outsiders – otherwise, one could expect to be sent to do the laundry.
“I couldn’t say for sure,” Zi Su said cleverly. “From what I can tell, it’s that Master Yan is good-natured.”
Having failed to pry anything out, Nanny Zhang was in no hurry. She said nonchalantly, “After looking at the sea scenery for so long, I actually find it less lively than the canal banks.”
“Isn’t that so,” Zi Su said with deep agreement, seizing the chance to probe, “Why not take the river route instead of going to sea?”
How would Nanny Zhang know? But that did not stop her from putting on the air of someone who understood it all. “The sea route is steadier.”
It was hard to say whether that was an answer or just agreement, but in any case she did not betray her ignorance, nor did she speak nonsense.
The professional caliber of an old family servant was evident from this alone.
On the other side, Cheng Danruo was playing chess with Yan Hongzhi.
Today was cloudy, and the sunlight was not harsh. After the meal, she opened a parasol, thinking to go to the deck and get some wind. Passing by Yan Hongzhi’s cabin, she saw that their window was open, and the teacher and student were playing chess.
Seeing her watching, Yan Hongzhi asked casually, “Would you like to play a game?”
“I don’t know how to play chess,” Cheng Danruo habitually declined, but after a pause, she felt unwilling to accept it. She had already retreated again and again – why should she retreat where she did not have to?
It was only chess!
So she asked, “If I learn a game now, would you mind, sir?”
Yan Hongzhi was immediately surprised, and even Xie Xuanying could not help but glance over covertly.
After all, a fifteen-year-old girl had already reached the age of coming-of-age. In the eyes of the world, she counted as a grown young lady. In an ordinary family, even if she had not yet married, she would already have been betrothed – certainly not some ignorant little girl.
Hearing such words, those who did not know the circumstances would inevitably find the posture of currying favor too ugly.
But from her tone, the teacher and student both detected a more subtle emotion.
After a brief moment of thought, Yan Hongzhi smiled. “I couldn’t ask for better. Playing old San-lang here, I’ve grown tired of it.”
Xie Xuanying withdrew his gaze, rose, and instructed the servant to move the chessboard to the shaded area outside. It was neither sunny there, and one could still catch threads of sea breeze.
“Please,” he said politely, yielding the seat.
“Thank you.” Cheng Danruo sat down in his original seat, her gaze lingering on the chessboard. “I only know that black goes first and white after.”
Yan Hongzhi, however, said, “No rush. Let’s first play two rounds of five-eye chess.” He glanced at his student, suppressing a smile. “That last game took over an hour. Do allow me to relax a little.”
Cheng Danruo asked, “Five-eye chess?”
“Five stars in a row.” Yan Hongzhi briefly explained the rules, then said with a smile, “Isn’t it simple?”
“…Yes.” Cheng Danruo had not expected that she would actually be taught Gomoku by an ancient person, and could not help but laugh. “Then let’s try.”
Gomoku had a brisk rhythm, and victory or defeat was easily decided. Compared with the long, brain-taxing game of Go, it was much easier to pick up.
This was Yan Hongzhi’s thoughtfulness and consideration, and also his wisdom in life -playing chess with a hopeless player was hardly a pleasant thing.
But unexpectedly, Cheng Danruo placed her pieces very quickly, seemingly without deliberation, yet with a trace of eagerness. She was entirely a beginner, yet she played with a certain air.
Even so, to Yan Hongzhi’s eyes, it was not much different from being completely transparent.
He saw through the intent of every piece she placed, then smilingly blocked it and waited for her reaction.
After three failed attempts at setting up a position, Cheng Danruo understood.
She smiled quickly, like dew on a branch, crystalline for an instant before melting away. Then she wiped the smile from her face and threw herself in with full concentration.
Xie Xuanying watched from the side and thought: Too painful to watch.
Yan Hongzhi had not only blocked all her arrangements but also left himself at least three paths. In just two moves, he could win immediately.
Yet he stubbornly refused to end the game, slowly spreading out the board. Anyone who did not understand chess would think it was a fiercely contested battle.
Old child, old child – sometimes the teacher was rather mischievous too.
As Xie Xuanying thought this, he glanced again at Cheng Danruo.
Her black pieces were in utter rout, yet she continued the game with great seriousness. It was clear she was thinking of ways to link up her earlier moves, trying to form a counterattack. But all her previous connected pieces had been cut off by Yan Hongzhi. No matter what, there were always hateful white pieces blocking the way, making it impossible to form five in a row.
Even so, her spirits remained high.
She did not cheat, did not become discouraged, and still cautiously placed every piece, until – “I’ve lost.” Setting down the last black stone, Cheng Danruo felt a long-absent pleasure. “You are truly formidable, sir.”
Yan Hongzhi nodded with reserve. “My chess skill is mediocre. I hardly deserve ‘formidable.'”
“If your chess can be called mediocre, then everyone in all of Great Xia is no more than ordinary,” Xie Xuanying said, undermining him.
Cheng Danruo smiled and said, “Then if I say ‘one more game,’ you would have no interest in playing me either, right?”
“Tired.” Yan Hongzhi rose and gestured for his student to come over. “San-lang, you play.”
Xie Xuanying said, “A victory without honor.”
Cheng Danruo could not help but laugh. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not afraid of losing.” As she spoke, she had already picked up the pieces and was putting them back into the chess box one by one. “As long as you don’t find winning all the time boring, Young Master Xie.”
Since she had said that, Xie Xuanying naturally could not decline. He picked up a piece.
Cheng Danruo’s gaze fell on his hands.
Many people had handsome faces, but when they extended their hands, there was more or less something regrettable. This, however, was a pair of hands like jade – long fingers, joints clearly defined just to the right degree, slender and elegant, yet full of strength.
Truly beautiful.
She thought so, and placed her first piece.
Xie Xuanying hesitated slightly, then offset it by a few spaces and set it down lightly with a crisp “pa.”
Cheng Danruo had already thought out her second move and placed it swiftly.
He also played very quickly.
Cheng Danruo placed her third piece.
Xie Xuanying followed.
Her movement paused slightly; she already sensed something was wrong. But after a brief moment of thought, she still placed her piece where she had just intended.
Xie Xuanying sealed off her position.
She placed a piece far away.
Xie Xuanying felt that giving her this much leeway was already enough, so he ignored her and turned back to building up his own position.
This time, Cheng Danruo pondered for a long while, then placed an extremely clever piece – she copied Xie Xuanying’s earlier method and cut off the paths by which he was developing both sides.
She’s learning from me. Xie Xuanying immediately realized what she was doing. He pressed his lips together, and a competitive spirit surged up in him.
He quickened the pace of his moves.
Cheng Danruo glanced at him, and with a slip of the hand, did not copy his second move.
Xie Xuanying placed another piece. By now, he already had four pieces connected in a row.
She had lost.
But Cheng Danruo did not throw down the pieces and surrender. She kept pondering how to make the next move, as if this were the key to deciding victory.
The game was not yet over, so it was not easy for Xie Xuanying to get up and leave. His gaze turned in the distance, then fell on her hands.
She was holding a black piece, and the piece turned and wandered unconsciously between her fingers – now appearing on the back of her hand, now hidden between her fingers, as if it had come alive.
After several back-and-forths, the piece landed on her fingertips and was placed steadily on the board.
There, too, were four connected pieces.
But being one move short still meant defeat – not to mention that in Gomoku, one step was already a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers.
“Well played,” Xie Xuanying said with a nod, perfectly courteous.
“I lost.” Cheng Danruo looked at the board a few more times, did not linger over the battle, and began clearing the pieces.
Gomoku ended quickly; from beginning to end, it had taken no more than fifteen minutes. Xie Xuanying hesitated, feeling that leaving now would seem somewhat neglectful. But on second thought, he found it strange – playing one game of chess with a woman was already barely acceptable, so why would he feel it was rude?
As he wavered, he heard Yan Hongzhi say, “The wind has picked up.”
The sky, which had just moments ago still held a few threads of sunlight, was now completely covered by thick clouds. The waves surged, and the ship rose and fell along with them, rocking unsteadily.
The pieces clattered noisily in the chess box, like a torrential rain.
Cheng Danruo said, “The waves are a bit large. It would be better for you to return to your cabin and rest, sir.”
Yan Hongzhi was old and naturally would not force himself. He smiled and went back. “Once it rains, perhaps it will feel more relaxed.”
Cheng Danruo, however, was somewhat worried.
Along the southeast coast at the end of summer and beginning of autumn, it would be best not to run into a typhoon.
