The Second of the Three Corpses

Capital City · Drizzle

Drizzle struck the leaves at a slant, making them rustle. Sitting by the window, drinking tea and chatting with her guest, Ye Buhui could not help glancing outside.

"The Capital Ladies' Chess Society is actually quite nice. You might consider joining."

Zhou Yao sat opposite her, smiling and speaking softly. She lightly smoothed the edge of her skirt as she finished explaining why she had come. When Ye Buhui did not answer immediately, she followed her gaze toward the rain.

She had come this time to recruit members for the Capital Ladies' Chess Society.

Though called a chess society, it was more a social gathering place for officials' daughters and young married ladies, who made friends over chess. Since Zhou Yao was only passably interested in the game, she had merely lent her name to its membership and seldom attended.

Zhou Yao knew that Ye Buhui loved chess. But with people in Capital City once again stressing strict separation between men and women, a woman like Ye Buhui who enjoyed the game could hardly visit places where men gathered. At least for now, she had to keep her head down until the storm passed.

Joining this ladies' chess society would at least be better than nothing, giving Ye Buhui somewhere to relieve her boredom in her spare time.

Of course, after explaining all this, Zhou Yao added considerately, "But you needn't force yourself. If you don't want to go, then don't."

"Although the affair with Lin Yuqing made it more troublesome for women in Capital City to go out, things have eased again now. I imagine that in a few more months, everything may return to normal. It won't be like this, when even meeting each other is rather difficult."

As she spoke, the faint smile