Yao Ji sat in the carriage, taking in the sights. The city was densely packed and incredibly prosperous, its wealth deserving of its reputation as the greatest city in the land. In her eleven years in this life, she had never stepped foot outside Green Abyss Valley. 

While she possessed memories of her past life, she had been whisked away to the Northern Lands immediately after her arrival in this world. This was the first time she had witnessed such a flourishing scene in the Central Plains. Captivated, she arrived at the main Pei estate before she knew it.

A sudden wave of nervousness washed over her. Would she be able to stay at the Pei estate?

The Song family had no prior connection to the Tiandu Pei Clan. Master Song's eldest son, while traveling, had inadvertently offended a notoriously ruthless sect. The sect demanded the son's life, threatening to annihilate the entire Song family if refused. Master Song, in his fifties, couldn't bear such a loss. Desperate, he reached out to the Pei Clan through a friend, pleading for their intervention. Pei Yan, seeing the Song family's innocence, wrote a letter mediating the conflict and brought the matter to a close.

The sect was an insurmountable foe for the Song family, but against the Pei Clan, they dared not utter a word of defiance. Furthermore, the conflict stemmed from a mere exchange of words, so the matter was easily dropped.

For Pei Yan, it was a simple act of writing a letter. For the Song family, it was a life-saving grace. Master Song prepared gifts and offered his youngest daughter as a gesture of gratitude to repay Pei Yan's kindness.

Of course, what remained unknown was that after the Song family was targeted by the Sea Pavilion, they were forced to replace the daughter originally intended for the Pei Clan with Yao Ji.

As the head steward of the Pei estate, Pei An met countless people like Master Song every day. The Song family's claim of repaying kindness, coupled with the offer of their daughter, was likely a veiled attempt to forge a connection with the Tiandu Pei Clan and secure their protection. It was common practice at the time for young masters of prominent families to have concubines offered by lesser families. This explained how the Sea Pavilion could repeatedly offer such beauties.

After instructing someone to inform his master, Pei An returned to Master Song. “Master Song, Young Master Pei is aware of your intentions. This matter wasn't the Song family's fault, and there's nothing to repay. The Young Master says he doesn't deserve such gratitude and asks that you take your gifts back.”

Master Song couldn't accept this, pleading repeatedly, insisting that the Song family didn't seek to impose, but failing to repay a kindness was not the way of the martial world. Pei An considered this. If he refused the gifts entirely, the Song family would likely remain uneasy. Gold and jewels were acceptable, but the daughter was not. “Master Song, you may not be aware, but Young Master Pei leads a simple life and has no concubines.”

Master Song was taken aback. Pei Yan was an enigmatic figure. Everyone knew of his mastery of divination and strategic thinking, but little was known about his personal life. The Song family had inquired extensively and learned that Pei Yan was unmarried, but they hadn't expected him to be without concubines.

Master Song suspected this was a mere pretext. If he couldn't deliver his false daughter to the Pei estate, the Sea Pavilion wouldn't spare him. Refusing to give up, he finally declared, “This old man offers my daughter not to climb the social ladder. Even if Young Master Pei accepts her only as a servant girl, it would be enough!”

Pei An was forced to send word to Pei Yan again. After a while, he returned. “Since Master Song insists, we will accept Miss Song. However, from this day forward, she will have no further ties to the Song family.”

And so, through a series of twists and turns, Yao Ji became a servant girl in the Pei estate.

She harbored no resentment. While she knew Pei Yan was Zong Jun's reincarnation, the thought of becoming his concubine from the outset felt inappropriate. This arrangement was preferable. To see Pei Yan, to be near him daily, was enough.

Unfortunately, Pei Yan disliked servants hovering around him. Those who served in his courtyard remained in the outer areas, attending to tasks other than his personal care. Yao Ji had only glimpsed him from afar. Once, he returned from outside, his dark fox cloak billowing around him as he swept past. Another time, he sat alone in the pavilion playing Go, and Yao Ji, trailing behind the head maid, Bai Lu, served him tea.

During this time, Yao Ji learned much about Pei Yan. He was known for his gentle nature and kind demeanor. His unparalleled Go skills earned him the title of "Go Saint," and his mastery of divination and the I Ching led people to call him "Sky Calculator." He was utterly different from Zong Jun. Yao Ji found this both intriguing and melancholic. She remembered her past life vividly, but he had forgotten everything.

She had been feeling listless lately. Coincidentally, Bai Lu fell ill, and since Pei Yan played Go daily in the pavilion, the task of serving tea fell to Yao Ji. She stood at a respectful distance. Hearing Pei Yan tap the Go board, signaling for tea, she quickly approached with the celadon teacup, pouring the steaming tea. A delicate fragrance filled the air.

Distracted, Yao Ji failed to notice the cup filling. Pei Yan, engrossed in the game, heard the changing sound of the pouring tea. His brow twitched, and with a click, he dropped a white stone into the bowl. Startled, Yao Ji snapped back to attention and quickly withdrew the teacup.

The tea was level with the brim, on the verge of overflowing.

“Forgive me, Young Master,” Yao Ji apologized, lowering her head, aware of her blunder.

“It’s alright,” Pei Yan said gently. Yao Ji had rarely interacted with him and now heard his voice for the first time. His smooth, jade-like voice was like a gentle spring breeze, captivating. Always kind to his servants, he wasn't angry, instead teasing, “You are at fault, though. My game was at a crucial point. I can’t have it disrupted by spilled tea.”

Hearing his playful tone, Yao Ji lifted her head. Seeing the complex, almost violent state of the game, she couldn't help but suggest, “Young Master, perhaps placing a stone at seven-three, a large knight's move to protect the corner…”

Pei Yan mentally played out the move. It would indeed resolve the situation. He clapped his hands. “An excellent move! Wonderful!” He finally took notice of the young servant girl beside him, though he didn’t turn to look at her. “You know how to play Go? Your voice is new to my courtyard. What is your name?”

Yao Ji found his question odd, but answered truthfully, “My name is Nian Yao. I entered the estate last month. Steward Pei assigned me to serve in your courtyard. I learned a few Go techniques at home. I was careless just now. You are generous, Young Master, to overlook my mistake.”

Pei Yan paused. When did such trivial matters as assigning maids require Pei An's personal attention? Last month… He recalled something Pei An had mentioned then and smiled. “You’re the Song girl?” Though phrased as a question, his tone was certain.

“Having entered the estate, I am no longer a Song girl,” Yao Ji replied, even more respectfully.

Her answer pleased Pei Yan. He considered for a moment. “When Bai Lu recovers, tell her that you will attend to me during my Go games from now on.”

Yao Ji suppressed her joy, thanking him for his favor. Pei Yan assumed her happiness stemmed from gaining his approval. He didn't know her true joy came from the prospect of spending more time with him.

“Your Go skills must be quite good,” Pei Yan continued. “It’s no fun playing alone. Let’s play a game.”

Yao Ji quickly reset the board. She remained standing, facing Pei Yan. He gestured for her to choose her stones. She picked up a white one.

Pei Yan smiled. “Today, we’ll speak only of Go, not master and servant. Sit down.” He waited for her to comply, then asked, “Will you play black or white?”

Yao Ji was puzzled. She already held a white stone. Why did he ask? Before she could answer, Pei Yan sensed her confusion. “What’s wrong? You don’t know?”

Know what? Yao Ji grew more perplexed. Hesitantly, she replied, “I don’t understand, Young Master.”

She watched as Pei Yan’s lips curved into a gentle smile. Softly, he said, “I am blind. I cannot see.”