As long as it didn't involve serving tea or accompanying the young lady in refined arts like music and chess, A Le handled tasks with remarkable efficiency.
Selecting two fine steeds, she and Chu Zhao mounted separately, carrying their bundles as they urged the horses into a gallop along the street.
The streets were bustling with carriages and pedestrians, including women, but female riders were a rare sight, instantly drawing public attention.
"Who are they?"
"Country folk, judging by their rustic attire."
"These two girls are quite young, yet their riding skills are decent—probably from an acrobatic troupe."
Amidst laughter and pointing, the onlookers watched as the two girls on horseback flashed past.
In a teahouse overlooking the street, a girl leaned against the window. Inside, the crisp notes of a zither played, and with each chord, her eyes would narrow, her head would nod, and then she'd jolt awake—
This cycle repeated until, this time, she opened her eyes wide before being startled awake.
"Hey," she called out.
The sound disrupted the zither music inside, causing the performer to nearly miss a note and startling the other girls enjoying the melody.
"Qi Leyun, what are you doing?" "If you don't want to listen, go back first." "You don't even know how to play the zither—why did you insist on coming?"
Complaints erupted from all sides.
The girl named Qi Leyun offered no apology but pointed outside, raising her voice even louder: "Look, it's Chu Zhao!"
Chu Zhao?
The complaining girls fell silent, and the zither player stopped as well, all crowding toward the window.
"Impossible, right?" "Didn't she run away?" "Was she captured and brought back?" "Is she in a prison cart?"
Squeezing by the window, the girls watched the figures already galloping past on the street. Though they could only see their backs, they all recognized her.
"It really is Chu Zhao."
"She actually came back."
"Huh, it seems she wasn't captured."
"Look, she seems to be heading to the Liang residence."
"Is she going to confess her crime?"
Pressing against the window, the girls nearly leaned out entirely, while Qi Leyun, who had called out first, squeezed her way out from the crowd.
"Let's hurry to the Liang residence to see," she said, her face brimming with excitement. "Let's watch Chu Zhao kowtow and admit her mistakes."
This was far more entertaining than listening to the zither.
After Chu Zhao ran away, life had lost much of its amusement. Now that this country girl was back, it was wonderful.
"Young lady, are we going to the Liang residence?"
A Le wasn't familiar with the capital. She had barely settled into the Chu household after arriving in the city when Chu Zhao abandoned her, and the matriarch disliked her so much that she was handed over to low-ranking servants and confined to the backyard, endlessly washing clothes.
She had assumed Chu Zhao would return directly to the Chu residence, but Chu Zhao said they were going to the Liang residence.
Why was the young lady going to the Liang residence?
Was it to apologize?
Yesterday, the elder lord had tried to make her go to the Liang residence outside the city, but she'd rather follow Deng Yi to prison than comply. Now that she didn't have to go to prison, why was she still heading to the Liang residence?
Chu Zhao gazed at the road ahead, recalling the location of the Liang residence. "Precisely because I don't have to go to prison, I'm going to the Liang residence."
A Le only half-understood but didn't press further. Whatever the young lady said, she would follow. Still, she tightened her grip on the reins, thinking that if the young lady were insulted or beaten by the Liang family while apologizing, she would never stand by idly. Even if she were tied up and sent to the authorities, she would fight back.
The Liang family knew Chu Zhao had returned, but they had no idea she was heading straight for their home.
In the inner quarters, a maid carried a freshly brewed medicinal decoction and walked gracefully to the door, where a girl of about fourteen or fifteen with willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes came forward to meet her.
"Let me take it," she said softly.The girl was dressed in a pale yellow dress and wore only pearl earrings. Though not a stunning beauty, she carried herself with refined elegance and dignified grace.
Despite her attentive demeanor resembling that of a maid, she was no servant of the Liang family—she was a young lady of the Chu household.
Though this Miss Chu had struck their own young lady, the maid showed no trace of resentment. Instead, she amiably stepped aside and said, "Miss A-Tang, please rest. I'll take care of this."
Chu Tang smiled. "I've been resting all morning. Carrying medicine isn't tiring." With that, she took the bowl.
The maid didn't stop her but followed her into the room, where they saw a girl sitting on the bed with tightly knitted brows—this was the young lady of the Liang family whom Chu Zhao had kicked into the lake, left unconscious and nearly dead.
Apart from her slightly pallid complexion and a shadow of melancholy between her brows, she showed no signs of being at death's door.
"A-Tang," she said upon seeing Chu Tang bring the medicine, sitting up straighter and reaching out. "Don't trouble yourself. I can manage."
Chu Tang sat by the bedside. "This medicine is bitter. You won't be able to take it yourself."
Miss Liang smiled. "No wonder my mother can't bear to let you leave. Only you can keep me in line."
True to her words, Chu Tang personally fed her the medicine, alternating between bitter sips and sweet preserved fruit with patience and care.
"Don't say that," Chu Tang sighed. "If it weren't for my sister harming you, you wouldn't need to suffer this bitter medicine."
Miss Liang quickly reassured her, "A-Tang, you are you, and Chu Zhao is Chu Zhao. I don't blame you, and neither does my family." She took Chu Tang's hand. "If anything, we feel more sympathy for you—having such a sister must be terribly difficult."
"Difficult or not, there's no helping it," Chu Tang said, withdrawing her hand to feed Miss Liang another sip. "Holding my hand won't excuse you from taking the medicine."
Miss Liang laughed, but despite her smile, the melancholy between her brows remained.
"A-Qin, don't be sad," Chu Tang said earnestly, noticing her expression. "My father has promised she won't go unpunished. Even my uncle can't ignore reason—she committed a wrong and must face the consequences. I assure you, if she isn't punished, I'll—"
Liang Qin hurriedly stopped her from making a vow. "Dear A-Tang, we've known each other for so many years. I know your heart is in the right place. This matter has nothing to do with you." She sighed softly. "Truthfully, my low spirits have another cause."
Chu Tang asked curiously, "A-Qin, with your talent, beauty, and fine family background, what could possibly trouble you?"
Liang Qin chuckled wryly, though she was pleased by the admiration in Chu Tang's eyes and her flattering words.
"Everyone has their disappointments," she said, hesitating slightly. "My family has arranged a marriage for me."
Chu Tang reacted with surprise, delight, and envy. "It must be a well-matched union!"
Liang Qin nodded. "Yes, the family is quite respectable, but..." She bit her lower lip, torn between shame and the need to vent her frustration. Finally, she whispered through gritted teeth, "That person... refused and ran away."
Chu Tang nearly laughed aloud but masked it with indignation. "Then he isn't worthy of you!" She clasped Liang Qin's hand. "Heaven has shown mercy, sparing you a mistaken marriage."
Liang Qin felt much comforted and explained, "It's truly infuriating. Our family hadn't even agreed to the match yet—it's not as if I'm unmarriageable."Chu Tang didn't believe this at all. If they truly didn't want to agree, why would they be angry? No wonder Liang Qin had been listless and distracted that day, which was why Chu Zhao managed to kick her into the water—she could have easily avoided it otherwise.
All these days of watching over her, seeing her languid state, Chu Tang had genuinely thought she was severely injured. Turns out the injury was over a man.
Pursing her lips into a smile, she grasped Liang Qin's hand: "Don't think about it anymore. Your good marriage is yet to come."
Liang Qin nodded and urged: "Good sister, you mustn't tell anyone."
Chu Tang nodded: "Of course." Of course—there were many ways to spread the news without her having to say it personally.
As the two were speaking intimately, a maid rushed in frantically from outside the door: "Miss, Miss! That Chu Zhao is here!"
Chu Tang and Liang Qin exchanged glances—a mix of surprise, delight, and unease.
"She returned yesterday," Chu Tang quickly said. "Father directly locked her in the dungeon to reflect, and now she's here to apologize and admit her mistakes."
Liang Qin lay back on the bed, snorting: "I don't want to see her."
......
Chu Zhao stood outside the Liang residence, where two maids who had heard the news eyed her with cold expressions.
"What an honor for our household that Miss Chu would grace us with her presence," they said icily.
Chu Zhao nodded: "I think so too."
The two maids wondered if they had misheard—what did she just say?
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