However, the carriage did not proceed smoothly to Spring Gazing Garden after leaving the gate.
The capital was under martial law.
Pedestrians, horses, and carriages on the main streets were being forcibly cleared, particularly along the road leading to Spring Gazing Garden.
Chu Zhao and Chu Tang’s carriage was pushed into an alley, where the narrow lane was jam-packed with people, horses, and vehicles.
"What’s going on?" Chu Tang’s new personal maid anxiously asked from the front of the carriage.
A Le jumped down and squeezed her way through the crowd before returning.
"It’s the Crown Prince’s procession," she said. "The Crown Prince has brought a large entourage—the Crown Princess and the Little Highness are also with him."
Chu Zhao quickly asked, "Where are they heading? To Spring Gazing Garden?"
In that previous life, the Crown Prince had not gone there.
If they were going to Spring Gazing Garden, would the Third Prince shut the gates and carry out a massacre? With the Crown Princess and the Little Highness present, it would be the perfect opportunity to eliminate them all at once. But that seemed impossible—Spring Gazing Garden was chaotic and crowded with people—
A Le shook her head. "No, they’re going hunting or perhaps for a martial contest. There are many troops and numerous mounted archery officials."
A helpful bystander nearby added, "Not only that, but they’re also announcing along the way that those with great strength or skilled in mounted archery can come to the hunting grounds to compete. The winner may receive an official post from the Crown Prince."
Winning a contest to become an official—this was far more impressive than the Third Prince’s literary gathering.
Scholars attended literary gatherings hoping to make a name for themselves, but ultimately, most sought official positions and promotions.
The Crown Prince’s move was truly a nuisance to the Third Prince—blocking the road and unsettling his plans.
Such an event had not occurred in that previous life, nor had the Crown Prince displayed such imposing momentum. Perhaps it had gone unnoticed back then.
If they were going hunting, would it be safe?
But—Chu Zhao smiled wryly—was staying at home any safer? In that previous life, the Crown Prince had been slaughtered right in the Eastern Palace.
"A Zhao, what are you thinking about?" Chu Tang asked.
Chu Zhao’s thoughts were interrupted as she turned to look at Chu Tang sitting beside her.
Chu Tang stared intently at her face. "Is something wrong? Maybe I shouldn’t go after all."
Chu Zhao chuckled. "In broad daylight, under the clear sky, at such a grand event, the Third Prince is more worried about things going wrong than you are." With that, she linked arms with Chu Tang and instructed the coachman, "Set off immediately once the road clears."
After the Crown Prince’s magnificent procession passed, those who had been blocked were finally able to move. However, due to the overwhelming number of people, horses, and carriages, they encountered another long delay outside Spring Gazing Garden.
Qi Leyun, in a nearby carriage, lifted the curtain and fanned herself, her hair ornaments jingling as she moved. "Could this be considered an unlucky start for the Third Prince?"
A girl in the adjacent carriage reminded her, "Don’t speak carelessly."
But Qi Leyun was unafraid. "It’s not my fault the start is unlucky."
Amid the banter, the road finally cleared. Imperial guards and eunuchs came to guide and arrange the carriages. No one dared to chatter freely anymore, and they entered Spring Gazing Garden in a disorderly yet organized manner.
Once inside, they realized that the opening atmosphere of the literary gathering had not been affected by the Crown Prince’s procession blocking the road. The Third Prince had opened the shelves of an entire hall, allowing everyone to enter and browse the books.
These were imperial collections, including many rare editions. Whether scholars or mere spectators, no one could resist such temptation. They flooded into the hall, immersing themselves in the sea of books. Any anxiety over the delayed opening vanished; in fact, they almost wished the road had been blocked longer so that fewer people would have arrived early.
The books soothed the impatience of those who had arrived first and heightened the worries of those who came later. The atmosphere in Spring Gazing Garden was joyful and serene.
"The Third Prince is quite impressive," Qi Leyun whispered to the other girls.The Third Prince is indeed formidable, capable of even causing the Crown Prince's death, Chu Zhao thought, but she refrained from discussing this with the other girls—such prowess was detestable!
Chu Zhao's gaze swept around until she suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
"Young Master Xie the Third," she called out eagerly.
The young master in brocade robes turned on the flower-lined path, smiled at the girl, and his radiance instantly dimmed the summer blossoms blooming by the roadside.
Qi Leyun and the other girls stared in a daze. By the time they regained their senses, Chu Zhao had already run over. They watched as Xie Yanfang bowed apologetically to the people beside him and then led Chu Zhao away—
Qi Leyun stamped her foot in frustration. "Chu Zhao is so selfish! We're all good sisters, yet she doesn't think of us at all."
Another girl nodded in agreement. "If she marries into the Xie Family in the future, we won't benefit at all. We won't even get to see Young Master Xie the Third regularly."
The other girls were puzzled by the latter remark. Why would she marry into the Xie Family?
"Did Young Master Xie the Third take a liking to her?" "How could that be! It's that, that other one—" "Xie Yanlai." "You actually remember his name?" "Could the rumors be true?" "Impossible. She must be using this as an excuse to get close to Young Master Xie the Third."
The girls chattered incessantly, while Qi Leyun and two others remained silent, their expressions tinged with a hint of mystery.
If this had happened before, they would have thought the same. But after seeing Xie Yanlai dressed in proper attire—no, in the attire of a respectable young master from a noble family—their views had changed.
Now, it could also be said that Chu Zhao's approach to Young Master Xie the Third might be for Xie Yanlai's sake.
……
……
"Is Xie Yanlai not here?"
Chu Zhao glanced around and asked Xie Yanfang.
"I saw him wandering the streets yesterday."
Xie Yanfang shook his head. "He didn't come, but he's on duty at the Imperial Guard Camp."
After saying this, he noticed the girl's eyes widen in surprise.
He smiled and explained proactively, "I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn't listen. He said lying idle at home was unbearable, and he wanted to show himself in public to see who would dare mock him."
Who would dare mock him to his face? Regardless, he was still a member of the Xie Family. Thinking of those who had intended to gossip and ridicule him behind his back but now had to suppress their words and even feign concern for Xie Yanlai's injuries—
Making others uncomfortable was precisely what he enjoyed.
Chu Zhao chuckled and set aside thoughts of Xie Yanlai. "Young Master Xie, why are you here?"
Xie Yanfang smiled faintly. She had asked about someone else first before turning to him—
The girl's expression was serious, filled with worry and anxiety.
"You should be guarding the Crown Prince right now. It's too dangerous for him to go out alone."
Xie Yanfang, of course, knew that the Crown Prince was not truly alone. The Crown Prince had many people around him—guards, tutors, officials, members of the Yang Family, and even the Emperor had sent escorts—
What she meant was that, in her eyes, he alone was truly capable of protecting the Crown Prince.
He had grown up surrounded by praise and admiration, but at this moment, seeing the girl's earnest gaze, he couldn't help but break into a genuine smile.
He suppressed his smile, leaned closer, and whispered, "The Crown Prince has enough guards on alert. I came here specifically to keep a close watch on the Third Prince. With me monitoring him, any unusual move he makes will be detected. Not just him—I have people watching the entire Spring Gazing Garden and the Zhao Family as well."
He looked directly at Chu Zhao.
"Please rest assured, Miss Azhao."With Xie Lang keeping an eye on the Third Prince, that wild beast, she could indeed rest easy. Chu Zhao smiled and nodded.
The girl seemed to have a heavy burden lifted from her, her joy overflowing. Xie Yanfang couldn't help but smile along with her. Since she was this happy, he might as well make her even happier.
"Miss Azhao," he said, "Your father's men have already arrived in the capital."
Father's men? Chu Zhao was stunned, then alarmed, asking anxiously, "Who? Has something happened?"
"Don't worry, your father is fine. It's not about him," Xie Yanfang quickly reassured her. The Crown Prince had said that Chu Ling didn't have long to live, and this girl must know that too—
Better not frighten her.
Just now, the girl's face had turned pale in an instant, and she had murmured, "It's not time yet"—he didn't know what she meant by that.
"It's a deputy general named Zhong, who came to the capital to submit a memorial on your father's behalf," Xie Yanfang continued to soothe her. "And then, to take you home."
For a moment, Chu Zhao stopped breathing. She could feel her eyes light up as if fireworks were exploding, then as if rivers were bursting their banks.
"Really?" she asked loudly, her eyes fixed on Xie Yanfang as if his words could determine her life or death.
Xie Yanfang's voice softened, afraid of shattering the girl before him.
"It's true. They're currently staying at the Capital Garrison. My men personally received them, and they know you're attending the literary gathering. They even said they wanted to come see you."
As he said this, he gently called the girl by her name.
"A Zhao, if you want to see them right now, immediately, I'll have them brought in at once."
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