An Autumn of Troubles

Capital City · Peach Blossom Alley

At the Su Residence, the master of the house was away, while the mistress kept her doors closed to visitors. Anyone she did not know well was refused.

Naturally, these outsiders did not include Zhou Yao, whom Ye Buhui had only recently come to know, nor Du Chenglin, who was nominally half her mentor.

Although Ye Buhui did not socialize much with the wives of officials in the Capital City, she had met and attended several gatherings with the female relatives of nearby gentry.

But after attending a few times, she realized she did not actually like such occasions. Ye Buhui stopped making things difficult for herself and devoted every day solely to matters related to chess.

Though she missed Su Ziji from time to time and worried herself sick over him, she often invited Zhou Yao, the Zhou Family's young lady, over for a small visit to ease her loneliness during the rest of her time.

Public opinion in the Capital City was still somewhat cautious about women making friends. With Su Ziji away from the capital, Father Zhou and Mother Zhou were much more at ease and no longer stopped her.

Whenever Zhou Yao came, she brought her qin. Though Ye Buhui neither enjoyed playing the qin nor knew how to play it, she could still tell good music from bad and greatly admired Zhou Yao's skill.

Strangely enough, one only liked playing chess while the other only liked playing the qin, yet they still often gathered together. Even Du Chenglin, who occasionally came by as well, found it somewhat puzzling.

But perhaps this was the wonder of close friends in the inner chambers. There was no need for them to be especially alike; so long as they felt comfortable together, one