Zhou Xuan took a recliner under the shade of a pagoda tree, half-sitting and half-reclining to cool off, with a folding fan covering her face. She heard footsteps coming out of Miss Qins room. This wasnt Xiaodis footsteps; Xiaodi walked with a skip and a jump. Nor was it Xiao Huixiangs footsteps; Xiao Huixiangs steps were small and dense...

  The footsteps stopped in front of Zhou Xuan, and a faint breathing sound could be heard, along with the sweet scent of a young girls sweat, and the smell of "wei jiao" that was picked up in the backyard yesterday. On an autumn tiger day, even a lady from a deep boudoir would easily break out in sweat.

  Zhou Xuan waited for a while and saw no movement, so she suddenly pulled down the fan and saw that Miss Qin was standing in front of her with a mixture of anger and shyness.

  "Wow, Miss Qin, how could you, sneaking a peek at me while Im sleeping in the spring!" Zhou Xuan shouted exaggeratedly.

  Miss Qins face turned red for a moment, but she was not intimidated by Zhou Xuans shameless words. She said with a straight face, "Young Master Zhou, dont you think its inappropriate for an outsider like you to live in the inner courtyard?"

  Zhou Xuan knew what was going on and stood up saying: "Theres nothing wrong with it, I think its very warm and cozy, it makes me feel like Ive found home."

  At this time, Xiaohui led out Xiodi and stood on one side watching Zhou Xuan and Ms. Qin talking to each other.

  Miss Qin thought to herself, "This person really doesnt know whats good for them, and insists on having the ugly truth pointed out." She said, "Well, let me be frank. I think that Master Zhou living in the inner courtyard is seriously disrupting our daily lives at the Qin household. So, it would be best if Master Zhou moved to the outer courtyard instead."

  "Move to the outer courtyard?" Zhou Xuan raised his voice and asked: "Live with the household servants together?"

  Miss Qin was not afraid of Zhou Xuans gaze at all, and she said with a smile: "I will clean the room for Mr. Zhou to live in, after all, Mr. Zhou is only temporarily staying."

  Zhou Xuan was getting angry, he had put in so much effort to show off his skills and win peoples hearts, wasnt it all just to change Miss Qins impression of him? But instead of appreciating it, Miss Qin not only didnt acknowledge it but also wanted to kick him out and make him live with the servants. This was absolutely unacceptable! Just because you look like Lin Qingxia doesnt mean I, Zhou Xuan, have to be humble and submissive to you!

  Zhou Xuan raised an eyebrow and said, "Im not someone who comes and goes as I please. It was Dr. Qin who invited me here. I dont cheat people out of their money, but... uh, Im willing to stay here to help you get through a tough time - isnt that right? Or has Miss Qin changed her mind again and wants to be an imperial concubine or something?"

  "I dont!" Miss Qin had never seen anyone speak like this before, her pretty face turned bright red.

  The little brother-in-law stood up for his sisters husband and ran over to hug Zhou Xuans leg, saying: "Xiao Di wont let Brother-in-law move out, so he has to stay here."

  "Children, dont talk." Miss Qin struggled to control her emotions, not letting her chest heave too much. The eyes of the surname Zhou were staring at her, and she said: "Master Zhou is willing to take responsibility for Qin Que, and Qin Que is naturally grateful. However, its really inconvenient for Master Zhou to live in the inner courtyard. Lets talk about Xiaodai, since Master Zhou arrived, he has refused to focus on his studies, and every day he just wants to play. And, Master Zhou, why did you teach Xiaodai to win at chess using that method?"

  "Alright, lets ask Xiao Di about this. Watch me refute you until youre speechless." "Thats right, I taught Xiao Di two moves. Doesnt that count as cheating? It still relies on Xiao Dis real skills. Xiao Di is very clever. I just pointed out to him which problems Zi Qi should pay attention to. Whats wrong, Miss Qin lost and isnt convinced?"

  Qin Que is a renowned medical family, usually emphasizing the importance of regulating ones breath and cultivating energy. She has a good temperament and rarely gets angry, but Zhou Xuans arrogant attitude makes her uncomfortable. "Teaching Xiao Di to play chess is meant to develop his intelligence, tame his unruly heart, and cultivate his ability to analyze situations," she says. "But if Master Zhou teaches him to be cunning and avoid conflict, whats the point of winning? It will only harm Xiao Di without bringing any benefit."

  "Rubbish, rubbish, Miss Qin! Youre completely wrong! Playing chess is about winning, and if you forget that, all youll cultivate is a coward, someone who can talk but not act - Xiaodai, do you want to be a hero or are you willing to be a coward?"

  "Hero!" Xiao Di replied loudly.

  Zhou Xuan continued to instruct Qin Xiao: "On the chessboard, there is also a hero, that is the spirit of never giving up and fighting, every move is towards a goal, it is to defeat the opponent, it is to win. No matter how high your level is, no matter how precise you are in judging the situation, if you cant beat your opponent, if you lose as soon as you start, is this good for Xiao Di? I think this is what really harms Xiao Di. Playing chess, as long as its within the rules, no matter what means you use, as long as you win, thats all that matters. In my country, there was a wise man who said, No matter if its a black cat or a white cat, as long as it can catch mice, its a good cat. Chess is the same, no matter what methods are used, winning is everything, this is why I pointed out one thing to Xiao Di and he was able to win against you when receiving five pieces, while you, Qin Xiao, have been teaching and teaching, but Xiao Di hasnt made much progress."

  Qin Zhus head was a bit dizzy, Zhou Xuans aggressive gambler theory was completely different from the peaceful and neutral, yin-yang waxing and waning medical and chess theories she usually believed in. Zhou Xuan was also so pressing that Miss Qin could hardly defend herself, and she argued weakly: "But Xiaodi has become very playful now and doesnt like to do her homework, how can this be?"

  "Playing is a childs nature, you cant force him to learn this and that, it will only make the child uninterested in anything."

  Xiao Dis neck stiffened and she said: "Exactly, Xiao Di doesnt like to learn calligraphy or medicine, Xiao Di wants to learn how to raise fighting crickets from her brother-in-law."

  Zhou Xuan patted Xiao Dis head and said, "Interest needs to be cultivated and guided, not forced. I was also fond of playing since childhood, didnt I become talented too?"

  Miss Qin pursed her lips and didnt speak, thinking in her heart: "What have you become?"

  Zhou Xuan knew what Miss Qin was thinking and said, "If Miss Qin insists that I must become a high-ranking official now to be considered successful, then I have nothing to say. But I believe Miss Qins vision is not so mediocre. In the past when I was a prince... Ah, never mind. Now I am proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, shouldnt this be considered success? I havent been in Tang Country for long, but Ive found that the common people here live quite well, no longer struggling to make ends meet, no longer thinking that being full and content is the epitome of happiness. Many people are relatively leisurely, and art arises from leisure, not from labor. Playing with crickets, playing Go, these are all artistic aspects of life, theyre not idle pursuits, understand?"

  Miss Qin was confused by those unfamiliar new terms, but she felt that Xiao Huixiang was right, this Zhou Gongzi seemed to have some talent, however, he was a bit too glib, if she were to be persuaded by him just like that, it would be too humiliating.

  Madam Qin had been listening in the room all along, and now hearing her daughter being unreasonable to Zhou Xuan, she came out to mediate: "Jier, you cant be unreasonable to Young Master Zhou. Young Master Zhou is helping us. With his status and character, he wont bother us unreasonably. Once your brother-in-law arrives, he will naturally move out, right, Young Master Zhou?"

  Zhou Xuan thought to herself, "This mother-in-law is not being reasonable. I spent a lot of money buying an imported cat to show my respect for you, but youre using this to take advantage of me. Im not going to fall for that." She said, "Actually, if you want me to move out of the inner courtyard and live with the servants now, Qin Miss, Im a good gambler. Lets make a bet. If I win the next game of chess, Ill move out, and it will give me an excuse to save face, so I wont be too humiliated. How about it?"

  ——————————

  Next Wednesday Jiangs recommendation will be added, and the update speed will be accelerated. Please collect and support book friends, thank you!