The top gossip in the capital recently is that the Cui Mansion, the Minister of Rites, has taken back the daughter-in-law who was betrayed by a country woman sixteen years ago.
However, this real lady lacked discipline for sixteen years. Not only did she have a weird temperament, but her talents, knowledge, etiquette and conduct were far different from that of the fake lady Cui Yaoyi.
From top to bottom in the Shangshu Mansion, although they recognized this true daughter, they still loved Cui Yaoyi even more in their hearts.
Xie Ling didn't care about this because she had a secret——
In fact, she is not the real daughter of the Cui family.
***
Qin Yanxi, a well-known dandy in the capital, proposed to the Cui Mansion.
This little Marquis of Qin was cynical, arrogant and frivolous by nature. However, the late Marquis had many military exploits and the Holy Emperor loved him very much. In addition to his handsome appearance, many noble ladies in the capital yearned for him - Cui Yaoyi among them.
However, the person he proposed to marry this time was actually Xie Ling, an embarrassing person whom Cui Mansion was planning to find a match for and send away as soon as possible.
Xie Ling was very casual: That's okay.
***
Nowadays, people like to play chess, and the style of talking with each other is popular both inside and outside the court.
At the flower viewing banquet, a group of noble ladies also learned to talk about the black and white of the square and the circle.
Cui Yaoyi pulled Xie Ling, who was watching in rapt attention, and smiled softly, "Can my sister know how to play chess?"
Xie Ling nodded.
There were soft jeers and whispers all around.
Cui Yaoyi said: "How about we play against each other?"
Xie Ling hesitated. She had two more secrets——
For one thing, her temperament would change dramatically every time she played chess, so her adoptive father never let her play chess with others.
Secondly, she was afraid that she would confuse the most important chess game in her mind - this chess game, she would one day want to bring it to light.
Intention: self-reliance
