Xie Yanfang did not accompany Chu Zhao to see Xie Yanlai. Of course, events within the household, like flowing water, would eventually converge before him.
"They nearly came to blows," Cai Bo remarked. "What could they possibly be quarreling about?"
Xie Yanfang, busy with his work, replied casually, "They became acquainted through conflict in the first place."
Cai Bo said, "Since they've already schemed their way to you, why go through the trouble? Both brothers are calculating, and Miss Chu isn't afraid of biting off more than she can chew."
Xie Yanfang laughed. "Cai Bo, don't be so harsh on a young girl. With no parents by her side, she's been bullied and is finding ways to fight back. It's only natural and commendable. If I were in her place, I'd do the same."
"Why do you always compare a young girl to yourself?" Cai Bo sighed helplessly. "Do you really see your younger self in her?"
Xie Yanfang chuckled heartily. "She's just as amusing as I was in my youth. But if she were truly like me—"
He paused, lifting his brush to make a light stroke on a letter.
"I would kill her."
Only he knew how terrifying he could be.
……
……
The carriage rattled away from the Xie residence. Chu Zhao leaned against the compartment, eyes closed as if exhausted.
A Le let out a sudden exclamation beside her.
"What's wrong?" Chu Zhao opened her eyes quickly and saw A Le holding a small gourd, swaying it in her hand. It resembled both a gourd and a cricket cage—small, delicate, and gleaming with a vibrant green hue.
So it was—
"A cricket cage carved from a gourd," A Le explained with a smile. "It belongs to A Jiu. The maids showed it to me, and I forgot to put it back, so I brought it along."
After a moment's thought, she snorted lightly.
"Well, since I've taken it, let's consider it an apology to you, miss."
She handed the cricket cage to Chu Zhao.
Chu Zhao accepted it with a laugh, shaking it gently in her hand. "Then let's go back and catch a cricket to keep."
A Le nodded cheerfully but then sighed. "That A Jiu, his temper is still as bad as ever. I don't think he'll help."
Chu Zhao said, "I'm not sure if he will or not, but it's worth a try."
"Is a few pills too little?" A Le asked, patting her money pouch. "We have money now. What if we coat the pills in gold?"
Chu Zhao burst out laughing. "He wouldn't care about that."
A Le didn't laugh, instead frowning worriedly. "Then how do we persuade him?"
Chu Zhao replied, "With sincerity. Who knows, maybe he'll be moved."
What is sincerity? A Le was even more puzzled.
"There are many forms—the pills you made, my visit to see him, the words we say," Chu Zhao explained with a smile. "Everything counts. It just depends on what moves him."
This time, A Le laughed heartily. "Miss, your visit to see him doesn't count. You almost ended up fighting with him."
Chu Zhao joined in the laughter. "He really does invite a beating, doesn't he?"
The mistress and servant giggled together, leaning close in the carriage, until it jolted to a halt.
"Miss," the coachman said timidly, "there's someone—"
Was someone blocking the carriage? Was it Liang Qin again? A Le pushed aside the carriage curtain aggressively. "Who—huh?"
She cut off her shout as she saw the person standing in front of the carriage, startled by her fierce expression.
The person in front had already been frightened by A Le's menacing demeanor.
"Miss A Le, I—I came to, ah, this is all my fault," Zhang Gu stammered, his face flushed red. "Many people came to the Courier Soldier Camp asking questions. I've warned everyone not to gossip, but somehow the word got out—"
He bowed his head in apology.
"Words are useless now. I apologize to Miss Chu—"Chu Zhao had already jumped down from the carriage. "Officer Zhang, please rise quickly. This matter has nothing to do with you."
A Le followed her down and, hearing Chu Zhao's words, hurried to help Zhang Gu up.
"I know it wasn't any of you," Chu Zhao said sincerely. "This matter is—"
Zhang Gu, looking uneasy, interjected anxiously, "It couldn't be A Jiu."
Chu Zhao looked at him and stopped speaking.
"A Jiu isn't that kind of person," Zhang Gu said, then felt somewhat awkward. What kind of person was A Jiu anyway? The kind like Xie Yanlai.
What kind of person was Xie Yanlai? A scion of the Xie family, someone who killed, set fires, and roamed the countryside freely—
What right did he have to assure this girl it wasn't A Jiu?
"Miss Chu, I was just guessing blindly. It's just that back when A Jiu was with us," Zhang Gu lowered his head and whispered, "he never allowed us to joke about you and never mentioned you. After returning to the capital, he vanished without a trace."
"Yes," Chu Zhao said softly. "I know it wasn't him. If he had such intentions, why would he wait until now?"
Not only did he lack such intentions, but he also avoided her. As a member of the Xie family, he hadn't even mentioned her to Xie Yanfang.
He knew full well his family wanted to befriend the Chu family, yet he kept silent.
Then look at Xiao Xun—knowing she was retreating step by step, he pressed forward relentlessly, repeatedly using such underhanded tactics between men and women—
Zhang Gu watched as the girl's expression turned stern and involuntarily took a step back, shuddering.
Was she being sarcastic?
Chu Zhao realized she had lost her composure and quickly softened her expression, saying gently, "It really wasn't him. We've already met, and we know who did it."
We? Zhang Gu noticed the word and felt his heart settle completely. So the two had already met. That was good, very good. The worst thing between a man and a woman was misunderstanding; meeting and talking things through resolved everything.
Miss Chu had already visited the Xie family, which meant she had met the elders.
Since the elders knew, this matter was no longer an issue.
"How is A Jiu?" Zhang Gu couldn't help asking.
Chu Zhao smiled. "Not well. He was beaten badly and can't even get out of bed."
She seemed quite happy about it? Was this some kind of lovers' banter? Zhang Gu forced a smile, but then remembered why A Jiu had been beaten, and his smile faded.
"Did he really do it?" he asked.
The honest soldier's face was a mix of emotions—heartache, indignation, and confusion. Chu Zhao stopped smiling and said seriously, "I don't know. I asked him, but he didn't answer me, Officer Zhang. If he really did it, then he deserves what he got."
Zhang Gu nodded. "You're right, Miss Chu. If he committed evil, he's a villain and deserves retribution."
If he didn't, then he wouldn't suffer any consequences.
Chu Zhao smiled. "I knew you'd be worried. I should have sent someone to tell you first, but I truly don't have anyone I can trust, so I had to trouble you to come here personally, Officer Zhang."
Zhang Gu's heart trembled again, but unlike the earlier fear, this time it was a soft, warm flutter. This clever, approachable, and sincere girl was truly—a blessing for General Chu.
Who wouldn't want a daughter like this?
"Miss A Fu, if you put it that way, I really don't deserve it," he said.
The name "A Fu" made Chu Zhao's smile widen. "Yes, Officer Zhang. When I met all of you, I was A Fu. In your eyes, I'll always be A Fu. We started as adversaries but became friends who understand each other perfectly."Zhang Gu laughed heartily, the pent-up frustration in his chest swept away completely.
"Alright, A Fu," he said, cupping his hands in salute. "If you ever need anything in the future, just say the word."
Chu Zhao returned the salute: "Good, then I won't stand on ceremony when the time comes."
After seeing off Soldier Zhang, Chu Zhao returned home by carriage.
Chu Tang was waiting for her.
"You really went to see Young Master Xie the Third?" she asked.
Chu Zhao smiled: "This rumor about romantic affairs isn't just my problem alone. Of course I had to go see the man involved."
Chu Tang breathed a sigh of relief: "You can still joke about it, so I take it the matter is resolved?"
"I've handed it over to Young Master Xie the Third," Chu Zhao said. "He said he'll handle it, so as a weak woman, I won't interfere."
Chu Tang sat down, fanning herself: "This matter isn't easy to resolve. Even if Young Master Xie the Third comes out to clarify that nothing happened, it won't be very effective. After all, this involves you and the Xie family's son. No matter how the Xie family explains it, it will seem like they're trying to cover things up."
She placed the fan on the table and looked at Chu Zhao.
"Even if we say it was an arranged marriage between you and the Xie family's son, that won't work either - it would only confirm the rumors."
She picked up the fan again and continued fanning.
"This is really difficult to handle."
But the next day, the matter was resolved simply and neatly.
Minister Liang was convicted and thrown into prison, the Liang residence was surrounded, and all family members - young and old, men and women - were detained.
Among the common charges, there was one inconspicuous but particularly noticeable to the capital's residents:
Spreading rumors and causing trouble, using personal grudges for revenge.
Overnight, the rumors about Chu Zhao and the Xie family's son vanished without a trace.
"Incredible," Chu Tang said, sitting with Chu Zhao again while holding her fan.
Chu Zhao held her teacup and nodded: "Truly incredible."
She had also thought this was a difficult matter to handle, that there was no good way to dispel the rumors. She never expected Xie Yanfang would directly deal with the person behind them, making the rumors remain just rumors.
Incredible. Truly worthy of being called the Swallow Wolf.
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