Qiao Chu

When she was suddenly confronted at her door, Chu Zhao had wondered who informed the Third Prince.

After all, she and Chu Ke were like specks of dust in the capital—how could the Third Prince have noticed them?

Someone must have set them up.

However, she suspected Xiao Xun might be the one behind it and never once considered Young Master Xie the Third.

There was no reason at all—they had no connection whatsoever.

"I did this not because of any grudge against Miss Chu or General Chu," Xie Yanfang said. "It was merely to embarrass the Third Prince. At the time, I went to visit the Crown Prince and mentioned the Third Prince's literary gathering. Coincidentally, the princess came to complain that the Third Prince forbade women from participating. So I told the Crown Prince that there was a Miss Chu Zhao who had defeated her brother, who was qualified to attend the Third Prince's literary gathering. With women being so capable, how could the Third Prince arrogantly forbid them from participating?"

So that was it. Chu Zhao felt a bit distracted, not paying much attention to the earlier part about the Third Prince and the princess. In that other lifetime, things had unfolded similarly, but she and Chu Ke hadn't been involved, so in that lifetime, no women ended up participating in the Third Prince's Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering.

In this lifetime, this was how things had changed.

She looked at Xie Yanfang and suddenly smiled.

She never expected that a single competition with Chu Ke would draw the attention of Xie Yanfang, who was in the tavern at the time.

In that other lifetime, she had been an empress, but even if she died, Xie the Wolf probably wouldn't have cared.

Perhaps surprised by the girl's smile, Xie Yanfang paused slightly before smiling in return. "However, Miss Chu, I didn't do this out of sympathy for women or admiration for your talents. I simply wanted to make things difficult for the Third Prince."

After saying this, he straightened up and bowed once more.

"Just as Miss Chu inquired about my views on the Third Prince, our respective statuses destined such events to occur."

"Miss Chu came to warn me about the Third Prince—this shows your trust and regard for me, Xie Yanfang. Therefore, I cannot hide the truth from you. The harsh treatment you suffered today at the hands of the Third Prince was entirely because of me."

Chu Zhao understood now. Xie Yanfang thought that because of her conflict with the Third Prince and her hostility toward him, she had come to curry favor with the Crown Prince's faction.

This Xie Yanfang was quite interesting—frankly telling her that it was all his doing and that he was no benefactor to her.

But so what? She had never considered Xie the Wolf a good person in the first place.

"So that's how it is," Chu Zhao nodded, looking at Xie Yanfang. "I was wondering how the Third Prince found out about this, and why the rumors were so exaggerated. So it was Young Master Xie the Third's doing."

She smiled faintly.

"Young Master is truly formidable. Now the Third Prince's literary gathering is causing him great distress, and half the spotlight has been stolen from him."

Xie Yanfang looked at the smile on the girl's face and smiled back. "No, I should say Miss Chu is the formidable one. When I used you to provoke the Third Prince, I never imagined it would lead to this. Miss Chu's capabilities have exceeded my expectations."

Chu Zhao picked up the teacup in front of her and said, "Since I'm so formidable, Young Master must take to heart what I said earlier. Scholars are not limited to scholarly pursuits, and the Crown Prince's bravery does not necessarily mean he is without fear."

The rivalry between the two princes was clear to everyone, but most assumed the Crown Prince would be the one to take the Third Prince's life, given his ferocity and the many warriors under his command. No one expected the Third Prince to strike first, nor did they anticipate that the Crown Prince, known for his love of martial arts and archery, would be the one killed.She emphasized her tone on that sentence.

Xie Yanfang picked up his teacup and gently clinked it against Chu Zhao's.

"Please rest assured, Miss Chu," he said solemnly. "I will certainly keep this in mind."

Chu Zhao smiled and drained her tea in one gulp.

Xie Yanfang likewise drank his tea in one go. He refilled the cups, raised his again, and said, "Miss Chu holds no grudge over past matters, but I cannot pretend nothing happened. An apology would be meaningless, so what I owe you, I will certainly repay in the future."

Having said this, he drank it all.

Chu Zhao looked at him and smiled. "Young Master Xie, there's no need to be so formal. It's not really about past grievances either. I didn't come because of the dispute between the Third Prince and me. Young Master Xie, you were there at the restaurant and saw it yourself—if I truly respected the Third Prince, I wouldn't have publicly quarreled with my brother."

After speaking, she raised her teacup and drank it all.

This made it clear that she had been hostile toward the Third Prince from the start. Xie Yanfang understood, refilled both their cups, and raised his once more.

"Then let's say no more. I'm very pleased to have met you, Miss Chu," he said with a smile.

Chu Zhao looked at the elegant young man before her. She hadn't expected to sit and drink with Xie the Wolf in this lifetime. She raised her teacup, lightly clinked it with his, and both drank their tea.

After three cups of tea and having said what needed to be said, Chu Zhao stood up to take her leave.

Xie Yanfang didn't press her to stay but rose to see her out.

"Young Master Xie, there's no need to see me off," Chu Zhao said, blinking and smiling. "After all, I just publicly questioned your reputation on the street."

Xie Yanfang laughed heartily. "Precisely because of that, I must see you off—to show that I've taken your questioning to heart, humbly accepted your criticism, and admitted my faults. That way, my reputation will be restored immediately."

...

...

Just as Chu Zhao had said, many people had followed the carriage to the Xie residence's gate. Seeing her enter the home instead of going to the government office, they whispered among themselves.

But just as Cai Bo had said, the commoners were merely discussing, curious and speculating, without any outrage or stepping forward to question.

During this time, quite a few people grew bored and dispersed.

Qi Leyun and the other girls, however, never left. They sat in their carriages in small groups, lifting the curtains to watch and chat.

"I don't believe she'd dare hit Young Master Xie," Qi Leyun said.

Another girl laughed. "She'd have to be able to beat him first. Young Master Xie isn't like Liang Qin, nor is he a weakling like Chu Ke."

That was true, but it wasn't just about whether she could win or not. The very thought of Chu Zhao tussling with Young Master Xie the Third was something they simply couldn't accept!

As they were discussing, the Xie residence's gate opened. Some girls crowded toward the carriage windows, others lifted the curtains higher, and a few even jumped down, watching as Chu Zhao emerged from the house. She then turned around, bowed, and smiled toward the inside.

The Xie residence's gate was too small! The girls could barely make out a figure inside, who slowly returned the bow.

Even with just a glimpse of the shadow, they could tell it was Young Master Xie the Third.

Unable to restrain themselves any longer, the girls surged forward. Unfortunately, Chu Zhao also turned and walked toward them, and the courtyard gate slowly closed behind her, leaving nothing more to see.

"Why are you walking so fast!" Qi Leyun stamped her foot and grabbed Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao smiled. "I'm not walking fast at all."

The girls surrounded her, firing off questions in a clamor: "Did Young Master Xie see you out?" "You met Young Master Xie?" "Did you fight with Young Master Xie?""What are you talking about," Chu Zhao laughed. "How could I possibly fight with someone as refined as Young Master Xie the Third?"

Qi Leyun snorted: "I get it now—you're just making excuses to see Young Master Xie the Third!"

This was reverse psychology—using insults to gain an opportunity to meet Young Master Xie the Third.

"I even had tea with Young Master Xie the Third," Chu Zhao teased her with a grin. "Brewed by his own hands, no less."

The girls erupted in a chorus of lamentations.

"How infuriating." "So envious." "Chu Zhao, you're just awful!"

Should they follow Chu Zhao's example and insult Young Master Xie the Third too?

But how could they bear to!

Facing someone like Young Master Xie the Third, how could they possibly open their mouths to speak harshly!

Only a reckless brute like Chu Zhao! Such a heartless person!

The girls crowded around this reckless brute, this heartless person, vying to share a carriage with her as they departed noisily together.

Watching this scene, the onlookers in the crowd quickly dispersed.

These girls really know how to stir up trouble!

They'd dare any commotion just to catch a glimpse of Young Master Xie the Third!

Young Master Xie the Third could be considered burdened by his own reputation.

As for that Xie family member who had been whipped, no one gave him a thought for the moment.

Not entirely forgotten though—two figures remained at the street corner.

Xin Ding squatted at the intersection, his legs completely numb.

"I never expected you, a Beijinger like yourself, Zhang-tou, to be so fond of watching spectacles," he remarked.