Xie Yanlai knew exactly how unhinged this girl could be—from beating people and stealing money to disguising herself and putting on acts, and later provoking the Third Prince with that Chu Garden Literary Gathering.
But she was no reckless brute; she was cunning and knew how to gauge the situation.
If she had spotted him earlier at the Elegant Interest Pavilion, Xie Yanlai was certain she would have leaped out, seized him, and shouted his name at the top of her lungs.
Because she believed she could continue to blackmail him, forcing him to run errands like delivering letters to her father.
But now, he was no longer that polished, glamorous Young Master Xie surrounded by admirers in a tavern. Though he remained a scion of the Xie family, he was being publicly denounced on the streets, his reputation in tatters, disgraced beyond redemption.
At a time like this, not even a madman or a fool would want to be associated with him.
Had this wretched girl lost her mind?!
Even if she still intended to use him, wouldn’t it be better to watch the spectacle from upstairs and wait for another opportunity?
Xie Yanlai glared fiercely at the girl standing before him, and she met his gaze squarely.
"So you’re from the Xie family," she said, a faint, mocking smile playing on her lips. "No wonder you were so secretive."
Is this really the time for that? he thought.
"Chu—" Xie Yanlai lowered his voice, gritting his teeth. "Did you rush out here just to say that to me?"
He looked at her, his phoenix eyes filled with scorn.
"Has all that competing addled your brain?"
This brat—still as sharp-tongued as ever! Chu Zhao raised an eyebrow.
……
……
The clamor on the street died down, countless eyes fixed on the young man and the girl, bewildered by the scene.
"Who is she?" "The young master’s sister?" "His wife?"
Whispers of inquiry rippled through the crowd.
The girl was no longer unknown, and soon, someone recognized her.
"It’s Miss Chu." "The Miss Chu from the Chu Garden Literary Gathering." "Who is that?" "She’s quite remarkable."
Many immediately began explaining to those unfamiliar with her.
"Her father is Chu Ling. You know of Chu Ling, right?"
"No, does that mean she’s also from a powerful family?"
"Not exactly. Miss Chu is impressive in her own right, unrelated to her father." "She’s done some remarkable things herself, though her father is also extraordinary—but that’s a long story—"
"Keep it short."
Xin Ding, clutching Zhang Gu and swaying left and right, listened eagerly to the chatter, his eyes sparkling. Incredible! Even a random girl running out onto the streets of the capital has so many stories.
He had initially assumed she was the young man’s lover.
"So she’s a daughter of the Chu family." "But why did Miss Chu rush out?" "Couldn’t bear to witness such a bloody scene?" "The more talented and learned a girl is, the less she can stomach such things."
Xin Ding nodded in vigorous agreement, but when he glanced at Zhang Gu beside him, his expression grew even stranger—a mix of relief and heightened tension, hands clenched tightly together, eyes even glistening faintly—
Zhang Gu didn’t know how to describe his own emotions—a rollercoaster of highs and lows, a tumult of feelings.
He never expected Miss Chu to be here too.
Lovers finally reunited.
But under such circumstances, how heartbroken the girl must be.
As the crowd on the street buzzed with discussion, the girls upstairs in the tavern were equally stunned.
"She didn’t go down just to get a clearer view from the street?" Qi Leyun gripped the railing, leaning forward and straining her eyes to make sure she wasn’t seeing things.She kept staring, watching as Chu Zhao dashed down, pushed through the crowd, and rushed in front of the young man, spreading her arms to shield him. Then, the young man turned around and placed himself protectively in front of her.
The girls instantly fell silent.
Qi Leyun turned to Chu Tang and voiced everyone’s question: “Does she know this Xie Yanlai?”
Chu Tang covered her face with her hand and said, “What? I didn’t see anything, and I don’t know anything either. She hasn’t been in the capital long, and I’m not really familiar with her.”
What? The girls erupted in disbelief.
What’s going on?
If they weren’t acquainted, what was Chu Zhao doing?
The young gentlemen by the window were also stunned. Liang Qiang, holding his teacup, remained motionless, staring incredulously at the girl on the street—though he could barely see her, as the young man was too tall and blocked the view.
At first, he hadn’t even recognized Chu Zhao. When he saw a girl suddenly rush out and shield the young man, he had sneered at what lovestruck maiden had gone mad—
Everything happened too fast. Before he could get a clear look at the girl, the young man had already placed himself protectively in front of her.
It wasn’t until murmurs spread and Chu Zhao’s name was mentioned that he realized.
“This can’t be!” he gritted his teeth, glaring intently at the two on the street.
How could Chu Zhao protect that scum, that degenerate from the Xie family, known for murder and arson?
Chu Zhao admired refined gentlemen like him—men of upright character, skilled in both literary and martial arts, diligent and humble!
That girl couldn’t be Chu Zhao. She must just look like her, or perhaps she was another young lady from the Chu family—the one named Chu Tang or something!
The surrounding murmurs and shifting emotions seemed to stretch on endlessly, but in reality, it was only a moment.
In that instant, the middle-aged man holding the whip was first shocked, then immediately informed by an attendant behind him: “Chu Ling’s daughter.”
Chu Ling’s daughter!
The middle-aged man stared at the girl shielded by the young man.
“Miss Chu,” he asked sternly, “what are you doing?”
……
……
Chu Zhao withdrew her glare from Xie Yanlai, pushed him aside, and stepped forward to face the middle-aged man.
“I think what you’re doing is wrong,” she said.
Wrong?
The middle-aged man scoffed: “What does Miss Chu mean? Do you think it’s wrong for us to punish a scion who has harmed so many lives, or—” he added with a meaningful smile, “do you think committing heinous acts is no big deal?”
The surrounding crowd erupted in uproar. Qi Leyun and the other girls stopped interrogating Chu Tang, and Liang Qiang, standing by the window, clenched his fists—
Xie Yanlai sneered from behind the girl: “Serves you right, asking for trouble.”
His voice was low enough that only the two of them could hear.
Chu Zhao ignored him, paid no mind to the surrounding commotion, and showed no anger at the middle-aged man’s provocation.
Ridiculous. She, Chu Zhao, had already died once and had just endured the Chu Garden Literary Gathering. This was nothing but a minor scene.
“What I mean is, your Xie family is wrong to handle it this way,” she said. “If you want to punish a wayward scion, confine and discipline him privately. Why put on a show for the world?”
The middle-aged man frowned: “This scoundrel has committed evil deeds, tarnishing the Xie family’s reputation. Of course, we must announce it to the world and parade him through the streets as a warning. The Xie family will never tolerate such behavior. How is that putting on a show? According to Miss Chu, are the people unworthy of witnessing it? Should the Xie family simply close its doors and punish itself in secret?”
With that, he cracked his long whip.
“The Xie family owns up to its actions. We do not conceal our misdeeds.”The surrounding crowd nodded in agreement. Indeed, keeping family shame private was a common practice, especially among noble and powerful families. Just imagine if a member of the Zhao or Yang families had committed such an act—wait, no need to imagine! The misdeeds of the Zhao and Yang families were too numerous to record.
Who had ever witnessed such families punishing their own? When victims sought justice, they were instead driven away or imprisoned.
And how many victims never even had a chance to speak out, silenced outright, eradicated like weeds, with evidence destroyed?
The people’s expressions grew sorrowful and indignant. Thinking this way and then looking at the Xie family, the contrast was truly like heaven and earth.
And yet, this Miss Chu actually dared to say the Xie family was in the wrong!
The crowd’s expressions turned complicated, their gazes toward Chu Zhao shifting to mockery. They recalled past incidents—this Miss Chu had also committed wrongs, beating others without facing punishment, even going to their homes to insult their elders.
Did she think that all noble descendants in the world could do wrong without consequence?
Thankfully, there was still the Xie family in this world!
Seeing the sudden surge of public anger, Xie Yanlai let out an even louder sneer behind Chu Zhao, yet she remained calm and composed.
“Since the Xie family isn’t covering this up, then send the culprit to the authorities. If guilty, punish accordingly; if a killer, demand life for a life. What is the purpose of your Xie family parading him through the streets for all to see?”
She glanced back at Xie Yanlai, reached out, and pushed him.
Caught off guard, Xie Yanlai was shoved by the girl, spinning around to reveal his bloody back.
Seen up close, the gory back was truly horrifying.
Chu Zhao dipped her finger into the blood on the cane, staining it red, then raised it to examine it closely.
“So, after showing this to the world, a beating like this settles the matter?”
“After showing this to the world, your punishment means the dead died in vain?”
“After showing this to the world, the Xie family’s reputation remains intact?”
At this, she smiled at the middle-aged man.
“I’ve long heard that Young Master Xie the Third is renowned for his integrity and strict discipline of his family’s younger generation. So this is his method, is it?”
The surrounding clamor abruptly ceased, and the middle-aged man’s mocking expression instantly stiffened.
Was this woman targeting Young Master Xie the Third?!
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