Chess Player

"Difficult!" Doctor Zhao sighed. "This illness was difficult to treat to begin with, and now it has been dragged on for so long. Even if medicine keeps it at bay, it will only be a matter of one or two years."

"I did not dare say it in front of him. When you return, persuade the girl to make preparations early."

Those preparations naturally meant funeral arrangements. Su Ziji felt a pang in his chest and nodded. "I understand."

As they spoke, they had already reached Ye Bookshop. Suddenly, Su Ziji looked toward a more distant intersection and saw a constable pointing and talking. The distance made his features unclear, but Su Ziji could still tell it was Tan An, who was now looking their way.

"Damn it!"

Though he knew Ye Weihan's illness had nothing to do with Tan An, Su Ziji felt disgust toward him for the first time. He gave him a cold glance, led Doctor Zhao into the bookshop, and shut the door.

"Tan An, the patrol is over. It is time to go back and report." Seeing Tan An still staring dazedly, the constable traveling with him felt disdain. With a smile on his face, he advised, "What, still thinking about that Ye Family girl? Not that I should say it, but she clearly has no interest in you. Why keep pestering her?"

"Besides, she is only the daughter of a down-and-out bookshop owner. You are now a proper salaried constable. What girl could you not find in the neighborhood? Why hang yourself from this one tree?"

Great Wei's Shizu had restored the former dynasty's system that treated officials and clerks as one. Though Great Zheng separated officials from clerks and the status of clerks had fallen, they still did not count as 'base laborers.' It was still a respectable profession with prospects.

Tan An's father had rendered meritorious service, allowing him to squeeze into public employment while still young. Others envied him to death.

Yet Tan An was unwilling to accept it. Stroking his iron ruler, he said, "Her refusal now does not mean she will refuse forever. Just wait and see. I will definitely marry her!"

"Pah! You truly cannot tell good intentions from bad! She has plainly taken a fancy to that Examination Student. Perhaps she is waiting to become a Cultivated Talent's wife someday. Why would she be willing to marry you?" The two parted at the intersection. Watching Tan An's retreating back, the constable, who had always found Tan An somewhat unpleasant, spat on the ground and sneered.

There were only so many positions in the constabulary. Since Tan An had squeezed out one vacancy, naturally someone else had lost it.

Unaware that she had become the subject of others' gossip, Ye Buhui's heart hung in her throat. Her eyes red, she stood beside the bed and watched Doctor Zhao take Ye Weihan's pulse.

The moment Doctor Zhao stood up, she immediately asked, "Uncle Zhao, how is my father?"

"I will prescribe a formula. Let him take it for a few days, then I will come back and have another look." Doctor Zhao sighed. Unwilling to speak too bluntly before the patient, he answered vaguely.

Yet his words had already made Ye Buhui realize something. Once they reached the outer room, Doctor Zhao wrote out a prescription, and Su Ziji took it to get the medicine. Ye Buhui then asked, "Uncle Zhao, tell me honestly. Has my father's illness worsened?"

"Mr. Ye has had this illness for several years. Perhaps he caught a chill in winter, and it has become somewhat severe now. The possibility of curing it completely is not great, but if he takes his medicine properly and pays attention to recuperation, there may be no great cause for concern."

Doctor Zhao only intended for Su Ziji to quietly give the girl a hint. He would not say it himself.

Ye Buhui's heart settled a little. She sniffed, wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, and said softly, "Thank you. I will have to trouble you greatly in the future."

"Think nothing of it. Do not be too anxious either. This illness needs careful recuperation." Doctor Zhao also felt some pity for the young yet strong girl, and his tone softened.

When Su Ziji returned, he found Ye Buhui back to normal, sitting with Ye Weihan and talking to him.

"Su Ziji, I am going to brew the medicine. Keep my father company!" Seeing him return, Ye Buhui stood, took the packet of medicine, and headed for the kitchen.

Su Ziji was thoughtful for a moment, then Ye Weihan's coughing brought him back to himself. He hurried over and urged, "Uncle Ye, why are you up? Lie down quickly."

"Ziji, I have you to thank for running around for me today." Ye Buhui had been comforted, but Ye Weihan's face remained calm, carrying a trace of gloom. He watched her go brew the medicine and said wistfully, "The doctor does not say it, but I know my own illness. Back before the household was confiscated, the old madam in the residence had the same illness. So many physicians attended her, yet none could cure it. That I have lasted these many years is already fortune stolen from Heaven."

Hearing about the confiscation of his household, Su Ziji was startled. Could the Ye Family have once been officials?

Yet he did not know how to ask, so he could only say, "Do not think wildly. The doctor said that with proper recuperation, there may be no serious problem."

"As for running around for you, when something happened to my family, you and Buhui took such good care of us. I never even thanked you. Now I have only run a small errand. How could it be worth your saying such things?"

He meant it sincerely. When something had happened to Su's father, even some relatives had not dared associate with the Su Family, fearing they would lose out by getting involved. Yet the Ye father and daughter, with no kinship between them and only the bond of neighbors, had often helped them. He had always engraved such kindness in his heart.

Though the original Su Ziji had been a fool, he was still himself—he simply had not awakened. The kindness he ought to repay still had to be repaid.

Hearing Su Ziji's sincerity, Ye Weihan smiled and changed the subject, speaking of lighter matters. When Ye Buhui came over carrying the medicine, Ye Weihan said, "Buhui is here to care for me. Go back and review your lessons. The Prefectural Examination comes only once every two years and concerns your future. It is more important."

After estimating the time, Su Ziji saw that it was getting late. Ye Weihan's condition had also stabilized somewhat, and there was nothing further he could help with, so he rose. "Then I will leave first. If anything comes up, I will definitely be at home, or at the inn in front of the County Academy. You can find me at any time."

"Enough, you are so long-winded!" Ye Buhui pushed Su Ziji out the door. Seeing him turn back, still looking as if he wanted to give more instructions, she planted her hands on her hips at the entrance. "Did you not say you had arranged to study with your classmates tonight? Go quickly. If you do not leave now, then do not leave at all—just stay here!"

Su Ziji gave a wry smile. Naturally, he could not agree. He watched the girl head straight back into the bookshop and shut the door again with a bang.

"This girl is clearly worried that I will be late for my appointment and be misunderstood by my classmates, yet she has to act like this. Truly..."

In modern times, that sort of personality would be called tsundere. Unfortunately, in this world, such a temperament was not well liked. If she met the wrong person, she would likely suffer greatly.

"Never mind. I happen to have things to ask Yu Lü. I must get to the bottom of this matter of ghosts and gods."

"Forget it. So long as I live, I will protect her!" With that thought, Su Ziji did not return home. Instead, he headed directly for the inn where Yu Lü was temporarily staying. "I heard Zhang Sheng has come as well. I wonder whether he brought any Provincial Graduate insights I have not read yet. I only need one or two more pieces to level up."

The distance was not far. Soon, he saw an inn with three street-facing storefronts. Seven tables had been set inside, candles burned, and guests sat eating, drinking, and discussing matters.

As Su Ziji passed by, he overheard something. By pure coincidence, it was about the chess competition.

"I heard this county's chess competition will be held on a painted pleasure boat. There will be even more people than last time. I wonder whether several masters will appear?"

"Not necessarily. It is only a chess competition in the prefectural city. Though some Cultivated Talents skilled in this art will attend, there will be even more young people. How could it compare to the Capital City, where masters gather like clouds?"

"Alas! That is the Capital City, after all. I have lived this long and never been there. Anyone able to come to the prefectural city to join the chess competition must possess no small skill. With chess skills like ours, even if we became Cultivated Talents, we might not be able to participate."

Su Ziji listened with a smile. Raising his head, he saw Yu Lü. Yu Lü had likely grown tired from studying and had come out for a stroll, yawning from time to time.

"Brother Yu, listen—will you take part in this prefectural chess examination?"

Chess competitions likewise had four levels: county, prefecture, province, and Capital City. They were held before the Imperial Examinations. Ordinary people had to fight their way through level by level, but students could register directly, a privilege extended to scholars. Quite a few scholars were skilled in this art and eagerly took part.

Yu Lü had also heard the conversation just now. He merely smiled. "My chess skill is only ordinary. It is enough to pass the time and cultivate my temperament. Rather than battle in chess competitions and waste my effort, I would rather focus on my studies."

"That makes sense." Su Ziji nodded repeatedly. For most people, specializing in one field and achieving something in it was already success.

For a girl like Ye Buhui, who could not take the Imperial Examinations, following the path of a chess player was the best road. It could satisfy her passion while allowing her to support herself.