Chapter 14: Love and Affection Are Universal; Master and Servant Visit Shanyang City Together

Previously, we recounted how Young Master Shen Wei and Miss Xu from the Xu family met across the chessboard. In the first round, Young Master Shen turned the tide with a beautiful double life in the corner, laying the foundation for victory.

In the second game, with the air of a scholar and a fan in hand, Shen Wei laughed and joked as he swept his opponent’s defenses aside. He opened with a brilliant three-star formation, while the white stones responded with a two-star alignment. When the battle reached the center, Young Master Shen placed a black stone with a crisp tap right at the heart of the board, leaving Miss Xu astonished. Her admiring gaze fell upon the man opposite her—so full of feeling, so gentle.

Shen Wei was no block of wood; when two young people lock eyes, time itself seems to pause. As every reader knows, the greatest happiness in life is to encounter a love that leaves its mark upon the soul and to possess a beloved companion. In that moment, the silent understanding between Shen Wei and Miss Xu was clear as day, and the two attendants, Xiao Long and Xiao Ling, shared in their masters’ joy.

Miss Xu dropped a white stone into the black ranks, as ethereal as a fairy in white descending into a world of darkness—so pure and otherworldly, flawless as jade.

What followed was a dazzling exchange of attacks and defenses, with this handsome pair pitting their wits against each other—white stones shifting, connecting, twisting, extending, probing, standing tall...

When the game finally ended, Xiao Ling, who had learned much simply by being in the Xu household, gleefully acted as referee. Upon counting the stones, she discovered that the match was a draw.

Unaware of how time had slipped by, dusk was falling when two men entered the courtyard. The four young people looked up to see none other than Master Shen, smiling broadly, and Master Xu, glowing with vigor.

“Master,” Xiao Ling and Xiao Long hurried forward to greet them.

“I told you, dear friend, they’d be playing chess,” Master Shen said, glancing at the board.

“You truly have foresight—I am impressed,” replied Master Xu, clasping his hands in salute. “Daughter, let us go home.”

“Yes, Father. Uncle, we take our leave,” Miss Xu said politely.

“No need to rush—stay for dinner before you go,” Master Shen insisted, pulling at his friend’s sleeve.

“There are countless days for drinking together, but today I truly have pressing matters to attend to,” replied Master Xu sincerely.

“In that case, I won’t keep you. Let us remain frequent visitors in the future.”

“Most certainly.”

The Shen father and son escorted them to the gate, bidding many heartfelt farewells as Master Xu and his daughter climbed into their sedan. The fathers and daughters waved their goodbyes. Miss Xu’s cheeks were rosy as peach blossoms—she was overjoyed, for not only had she met her ideal match, but she had also played two games with him. Through their silent contest, she realized Young Master Shen was indeed the man she had always longed for.

Xiao Ling habitually followed behind, while Xiao Long, for the first time, felt a pang of reluctance; he wished to see her again soon, just as Shen Wei longed for Miss Xu. The only difference was that Shen’s beloved was the young lady, while Xiao Long’s thoughts were for Xiao Ling.

Young Master Shen watched Miss Xu leave, reluctant to see her go. Today, both families had agreed on the sixth day of the fifth month as the auspicious date for their engagement—the time was drawing near, and he sincerely wished to meet the refined and talented Miss Xu again, as soon as possible.

After dinner, Shen Wei returned to his study, where the four treasures of the scholar’s studio were already prepared. Clever Xiao Long was grinding ink, knowing his master’s habit of practicing calligraphy every evening, and made sure everything was ready.

Shen Wei casually pushed open the window to let in the moonlight. He glanced up—the soft glow fell across the window and the courtyard, but in his mind, a graceful figure lingered, impossible to dispel. Though the distance between him and Miss Xu was not far, it now seemed like a thousand mountains and rivers apart.

Suddenly, he took up his brush and wrote swiftly on the rice paper: “May we live long and share the moonlight, even if we are a thousand miles apart.”

“Young Master, you miss Miss Xu, don’t you?” Xiao Long blurted out. “She’s so beautiful—the perfect match for you.”

“You little rascal, what do you know?” Shen Wei set down his brush and suddenly said to Xiao Long, “Shall we go for a walk?”

“Sure!” Xiao Long replied with great enthusiasm.

“Mother, I’m going out for a bit.”

“Don’t stay out too late,” Master Shen reminded him.

“I know.”

The night gradually fell quiet. Young Master Shen left his home, and indeed, the sky outside seemed even vaster. The moonlight was like water, but his restless heart had already flown in the direction of the Xu residence...

Meanwhile, Master Xu was all smiles as he rode home in his sedan chair. Now that his daughter’s future was settled, how could he not be happy?

“Daughter, how is Young Master Shen’s chess?” Master Xu asked with a grin.

“His skill is unmatched, his vision is broad. He sees the whole board and fights fiercely,” replied Miss Xu, her eyes as clear as water, sparkling with delight.

“My daughter praises my future son-in-law so highly—I am truly gratified.”

In the distance, countless lights illuminated the night sky over Shanyang County. Moonlight washed over the uneven, winding embankments of the Inner Canal. Wisps of smoke curled up from boats, the water shimmered in the moonlight, fiery red lanterns cast their reflections on the rippling surface, and the canal murmured along, now and then slapping softly against the shore—a warm and peaceful scene.

Miss Xu, whose full name was Xu Yujiao, gentle and virtuous, had already pledged her heart. She looked forward to her next meeting with Young Master Shen.

Suddenly, the rapid sound of galloping hooves broke the silence—thud, thud, thud. Master Xu lifted the curtain at the back of the sedan and glimpsed, faintly, a white horse racing toward them...

What happens next? Let us wait for the next installment.