Qiao Chu

Her words were pleasant to hear, yet they were sincere.

Xie Yanfang could clearly sense that she was very relaxed in his presence.

In fact, it had been like this since their first meeting, as if she were very familiar with him.

Very few people, whether men or women, could feel so at ease upon first meeting him.

Was it because this girl was innocent and carefree? Not at all. Innocent children may be carefree, but they would inevitably feel nervous and restrained around strangers. Instead, it was those who had experienced the world and observed all kinds of people who could achieve such composure.

Xie Yanfang looked at Chu Zhao, smiled, and nodded. "Then I won’t stand on ceremony, Miss Azhao—" he called her by her name, "I will take care of this matter."

Chu Zhao nodded happily. "Good. With Third Young Master here, I feel at ease."

Xie Yanfang smiled and said, "I also thank Miss Azhao for not jumping to conclusions. As soon as you heard the news, you came directly to ask, openly and generously. Getting to know such a Miss Azhao also puts me at ease."

Chu Zhao smiled and took her leave. Xie Yanfang stood up to see her off, but Chu Zhao declined.

"I’d like to go see A—Xie Yanlai," Chu Zhao asked. "No matter what, these matters were caused by the two of us. I should speak with him."

Xie Yanfang smiled. "Miss Azhao, there’s no need to worry." He called for a servant, "Take Miss Azhao to see Yanlai."

A servant, who had been keeping out of sight, immediately stepped forward to guide Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao walked ahead, and Xie Yanfang did not follow further. He stood where he was, watching her leave.

A Le happily greeted her at the door and said urgently, "Miss, I just saw A Jiu."

Had he been here? Chu Zhao was surprised. Why hadn’t she seen him?

"Probably he came looking for Third Young Master, but when he saw you speaking with him, he ran off to avoid trouble," A Le said. "I wanted to talk to him about this matter, to tell him not to talk nonsense, but I didn’t get the chance."

Chu Zhao laughed and said, "It’s fine. I’ll go see him and speak to him myself."

A Le nodded and followed Chu Zhao as they trailed the servant toward another courtyard in a different direction.

As the girl disappeared from sight, Xie Yanfang withdrew his gaze and returned to the Water Pavilion. Cai Bo also approached.

"So it really was the Crown Prince of Zhongshan who did this?" he frowned and said. "What madness has come over the Crown Prince of Zhongshan? Did we provoke him?"

"Zhongshan Wang sent his son to the capital—it would be strange if he weren’t going mad," Xie Yanfang said, glancing at the empty seat and teacup opposite him with a smile. "However, we didn’t provoke him, but we did provoke Miss Chu."

Cai Bo was taken aback. "The Crown Prince of Zhongshan is targeting Miss Chu? Not the Crown Prince?"

"When you went to investigate this matter, you should have learned how Yanlai and Miss Chu were separated, right?" Xie Yanfang asked with a smile.

Cai Bo nodded. "They encountered the Crown Prince of Zhongshan. The Crown Prince of Zhongshan was entrusted with finding Miss Chu, so she had no choice but to return."

"Therefore, it’s easy to imagine that there must have been some conflict between the Crown Prince of Zhongshan and Miss Chu," Xie Yanfang said with a smile. "And the reason Miss Chu spoke those words about being inseparable from Yanlai, even in life and death, was precisely because of the Crown Prince of Zhongshan."

"We know that too. When we were investigating, some of Deng Yi’s attendants mentioned that Miss Chu was disrespectful toward the Heir Apparent," Cai Bo said. "But—"

But surely the Heir Apparent wouldn’t hold a grudge against a young girl?

"Of course he doesn’t hold a grudge," Xie Yanfang said. "Moreover, since arriving in the capital, he has interacted with Miss Chu the most. He has already visited the Chu Garden twice. And, coincidentally, he even saved a drowning maid of the Chu family at the Chu Garden."Coincidentally, this phrase held a different meaning in Cai Bo's eyes.

There was something going on between the Crown Prince of Zhongshan and Miss Chu.

He frowned. "Miss Chu actually concealed her relationship with the Heir Apparent. She's deliberately using us as a shield!"

Xie Yanfang said, "Miss Azhao didn't exactly hide it. When she first arrived, she frankly told me that the reason she said those words to Yan Lai was because of the Heir Apparent."

It's just that after saying this, she didn't elaborate on how others might interpret it or whether their interpretations were correct.

Seeing him lost in thought, the girl had been quite pleased at that moment.

Xie Yanfang smiled faintly.

"This Miss Chu," Cai Bo said displeased. "Young Master, you didn't even question her and just went along with her wishes."

"This is unimportant," Xie Yanfang said calmly. "The Heir Apparent's actions are indeed unfavorable towards our Xie family. As long as he acts against us, we naturally must respond. As for his relationship with Miss Chu, that has nothing to do with us."

Cai Bo shook his head helplessly. "As you wish, Young Master." Then he asked, "So what's going on between Miss Chu and Yan Lai?"

When she stopped the punishment in the street earlier, was it really just to see Young Master Xie the Third? Now he had some doubts.

Xie Yanfang laughed heartily. "Rumors can make the unbelievable seem true. Cai Bo, you've been misled by gossip too. Those words really shouldn't be taken seriously. Miss Azhao has already explained everything clearly."

"I know those words shouldn't be taken seriously," Cai Bo said with a stern face. "But why didn't Yan Lai even mention such insignificant words to the family? Yan Lai treats this Miss Chu differently."

Xie Yanfang moved the tea set aside and took out thick stacks of letters and records, casually saying, "Because in his eyes, it was just like strangers passing by - no need to talk about it everywhere."

He paused at this point.

However, when he mentioned earlier that Yan Lai had never told the family about this matter, Miss Azhao immediately said that Yan Lai had never revealed his identity to her either. After their brief encounter like strangers passing by, she didn't know who he was until she saw him being punished on the street.

Thinking of this, he smiled.

These strangers were both kind-hearted strangers.

He didn't share this thought with Cai Bo.

Cai Bo continued: "Look, Miss Chu is still concerned about visiting Yan Lai."

Xie Yanfang looked at the slightly agitated old man and asked, "Cai Bo, even if Yan Lai and Miss Chu have an unusual relationship, so what?"

Cai Bo was taken aback. Indeed, so what?

"It's not like I have an unusual relationship with Miss Chu," Xie Yanfang said, smiling at his old servant.

The Third Young Master having an unusual relationship with Miss Chu? What a joke!

Cai Bo glared at Xie Yanfang, then affectionately brought out another stack of letters and documents. "These need to be sent out today. Young Master must handle them before sunset."

......

......

Chu Zhao stood in the room, looking at the young man lying face down and motionless, who showed her only the back of his head - even more concealed than when he was wrapped in scarves and hats during their journey.

"Miss Chu," a maid offered tea. "Would you like some tea?"

Chu Zhao smiled at her. "No need, I've already had some."

Another maid brought a round stool. "Miss Chu, please have a seat."

Chu Zhao shook her head. "No need, I'll stand." She looked toward the bed. "I can see better standing."

Then one maid walked to the bedside and said enthusiastically, "Then let me pull back the blanket for you, Miss, so you can see—"

Hearing this, Xie Yanlai, who had been pretending to sleep, could no longer contain himself.

"Who is the master here?" he asked. "Am I still in my own home?"

The maids covered their smiles and stepped back."Young master, Miss Chu has brought medicine, she can tend to your wounds," the maid attempting to lift the quilt explained.

Xie Yanlai let out a light laugh: "Are you implying Third Brother won't allow anyone to treat my injuries?"

The maid's face turned pale as she lowered her head.

"You're this harsh even at home? And to women too," Chu Zhao remarked. "But at least you're consistent."

Xie Yanlai shot her a cold glare: "Miss Chu must be quite popular on the streets these days, drawing everyone's attention. I suppose you're quite satisfied?"

He followed this with a loud laugh.

Chu Zhao hummed in acknowledgment, staring back at him before breaking into a smile: "What a pity you can neither walk the streets nor leave your home. That's precisely why I came - to see this gloating expression of yours."

The maids who had already retreated exchanged glances. What were these two talking about? Sarcasm?

Yet they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their mutual mockery. The maids lowered their heads and withdrew further.