Lessons from Books, Stories in the Little Courtyard!

Hua An's gaze fell on chess pieces scattered across the floor. Tea flowed freely, soaking his lapel, but he did not seem to notice.

"Young Master Guan, have you gotten yourself into trouble this time?"

Parasol Tree had stepped back just in time after her young master's warning. But at the sight of the mess, she said indignantly, "He lost at chess and still acted so overbearing!"

Hearing Hua An's words, she asked worriedly, "Young Master, won't this cause trouble?"

You smiled. "Don't worry. Sixth Brother isn't petty."

Only then did Parasol Tree relax.

Just then, Xie Hou'er, who had been attending Xie Yuan, entered the room.

He wore a golden headband and was dressed like Sun Wukong from the myths. Xie Yuan was especially fond of him.

He was also skilled at chess. Besides studying it on his own, he had learned largely to please Xie Yuan; otherwise, Xie Yuan would not have had him set up the board.

He naturally knew that the young master wearing black cloth over his eyes was far stronger at chess than his own master. What was more, he could draw three inferences from a single move. After three games in a row, Xie Hou'er could clearly sense that Xie Guan's skill had improved yet again. It was astonishing.

Perhaps what he had said earlier about "playing chess against myself" was true. He might genuinely have had few people to play with.

Xie Hou'er said, "Young Master Guan, you played brilliantly. I truly admire you."

His voice did not sound like a man's. It was as soft as a woman's, and his manner of speaking was exceedingly gentle. From his voice alone, no one would have taken him for a man.

"The Cloud-Reclining Young Master will honor his wager. He'll invite the Storyteller