"Are you good at chess, A'ran?" Xiao Man asked abruptly.
Yue Ran was stunned for a moment, then patted his chest and said, "I know a little."
"Play a game with me."
Yue Ran nodded, fetched a chessboard from the house, and set it up on the pavilion in the courtyard. He also worried that Xiao Man had just recovered from her illness and might catch a chill again, so he draped a cloak over her.
Xiao Man looked at the cloak draped over her shoulders and couldn't help but smile, "A'ran, you're so thoughtful. Whoever becomes my sister-in-law in the future will surely be very happy."
Yue Ran raised an eyebrow noncommittally, "Naturally. My wife, I will naturally pamper her, protect her, and cherish her. Otherwise, why would she choose me as her husband?"
Xiao Man couldn't help but laugh, "You're quite insightful. Do you play black or white?"
"Black. You go first."
"You go first. As an elder brother, I shouldn't bully you." Su Dan Novel Network
"Alright!" Yue Ran immediately placed a piece, right in the center. Xiao Man looked at the piece, then at Yue Ran, "Do you really know how to play chess?"
"Yes!" Yue Ran said with certainty, "I know how to play chess."
"Alright." Xiao Man placed a piece, and Yue Ran immediately followed with her own, mirroring her moves. When Yue Ran found himself with no place to put his pieces, he smiled at Xiao Man and scattered all the pieces on the board, "Let's play another round. I'll definitely win this one."
Yue Ran looked at the blocked path, "I was careless this time. One more round, and I'll definitely win."
Yang Wei and Liu Han couldn't bear to watch. Having seen Yue Ran's brilliant moments so many times, seeing him completely outmatched by Xiao Man's offense, losing repeatedly yet fighting on, made them feel pity.
"Enough, let's stop playing," Xiao Man took out a chess manual and handed it to Yue Ran, "Knowing you are intelligent, learn all the chess games in here, and then you can redeem yourself."
"Okay." Yue Ran took it. "Second Brother, if I win against you in chess, will you grant me one request, okay?"
"Within my capabilities, and without violating my principles, yes."
"I knew Second Brother loved me the most!" Yue Ran said happily. "Second Brother, you must celebrate my birthday with me. We have the same birthday."
Xiao Man smiled and nodded. She decided to find Chen An's soul before Yue Ran's birthday banquet and leave as soon as possible. The longer she stayed at the Heavenly Sword Sect, the more variables there would be. She hoped things were going smoothly on Lu Qing's end as well.
For the past two days, Madam Yue had been distracted, especially after seeing the birthmark on Xiao Man's body. Her thoughts became even more scattered.
"Madam." Jing Shu saw Madam Yue lost in thought and put down her teacup, "I just brewed some spiritual tea. It's invigorating."
Madam Yue put down the book in her hands, not even noticing she was holding it upside down. She picked up the teacup, took a sip, wiped her mouth, and stopped drinking.
"Jing Shu, what kind of situation would cause two people to have the exact same birthmark?" Madam Yue looked at Jing Shu and asked.
"Exact same birthmark? It would likely be hereditary. Twins or siblings might have such a situation," Jing Shu thought for a moment and said, "Why do you ask, Madam?"
"Just idle curiosity," Madam Yue replied perfunctorily. Xiao Man was around Yue Ran's age, so she couldn't be the daughter of the old patriarch of the Huo family, nor could she be her sister... "Besides siblings, are there any other possibilities?"
"If it's hereditary within a family, it might be passed down from the mother."
Madam Yue's eyelids twitched. Recently, she had been having strange dreams. In her dreams, a little girl chased after her, calling her "mother" and crying, asking why she had abandoned her. Could she really have a daughter?
But where did this daughter come from? And who was the father? Madam Yue rubbed her temples, looking very weary.
"Madam, are you having a headache?" Jing Shu walked to Madam Yue's side and massaged her temples, "You haven't been sleeping well lately. Should I call a physician to see you?"
"Ah, it's an old ailment. No need to trouble the physician, lest the Sect Master worry." Madam Yue said softly, "The Sect Master said he wants to find a suitable fiancée for Ran'er at his birthday banquet. I am worried about this matter."
"Our Young Master has excellent talent, high cultivation, and a family background that few can match. The young ladies who wish to marry our Young Master would probably stretch from the mountain top down to the foot of the mountain. Madam need not worry about not finding a suitable match; rather, she might worry about having too many excellent choices and not knowing whom to pick."
"You talk too much."
"I'm stating facts. Who wouldn't want such an outstanding young man as their son-in-law?"
Madam Yue patted Jing Shu's hand, signaling her to stop. "How is Ran'er doing? Has Xiao Qin woken up?"
"Yang Wei came with a message earlier, saying that Young Master Xiao Qin has woken up," Jing Shu quickly replied. "Our Young Master is truly loyal and righteous. Even though Young Master Xiao Qin comes from a lawless land, he treats him like a brother, even better than he treats the Eldest Young Master and the others."
"It's rare to find a soulmate. Xiao Qin understands Ran'er." Madam Yue's voice was gentle. The image of Xiao Man appeared in her mind, and she felt a sense of familiarity. Her gaze fell on the bronze mirror beside her. The eyebrows and eyes reflected in the mirror were incredibly familiar, yet these were her own!
Madam Yue suddenly sat up straight, staring blankly at her reflection in the mirror. No wonder it felt familiar. Xiao Man's eyebrows and eyes bore a seven-tenths resemblance to hers. It was just that she was disguised as a young man now, and her features were carved a bit more rugged. If she were to wear women's clothing, wouldn't she be another version of herself?
"Madam, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just that I haven't looked at my own appearance carefully in a long time, and suddenly I feel I've gotten old."
"How could Madam be old? Madam is as young as ever," Jing Shu praised. "Even those young ladies from noble families can't compare to Madam's elegance and nobility. It's as if you were born a noble."
Madam Yue laughed and chided, "You're the only one who knows how to talk, warming my heart."
"I'm just speaking the truth."
"Yes, you are speaking the truth," Madam Yue teased. "Last time, who was it that kept staring at Elder Ping?"
"Madam, you're teasing me!"
"If I allow you to tease me, then I should be allowed to tease you back."
Jing Shu stomped her foot and ran out blushing. Elder Ping held a significant position in the sect and was not very old, yet quite accomplished. It was not surprising that Jing Shu had feelings for Elder Ping.
Madam Yue watched Jing Shu run away, her smile gradually fading. She had too many questions. What was the memory she had lost? Was she truly the daughter of the Huo family? Why did she feel no connection to the Huo family? And who was the little girl she often dreamed of?
Madam Yue felt that perhaps she should meet Xiao Man alone again. Maybe she could find answers from Xiao Man.