When Jiang Shi arrived with a grim expression, accompanied by her maidservants, the young ladies were preparing to depart.
They appeared somewhat pale but showed no signs of disarray from any altercation.
Upon seeing Jiang Shi, the girls politely curtsied to bid farewell. A few hesitated before saying, "We've been frequent visitors, disturbing you often. My mother insists we must invite you for a meal."
Jiang Shi was surprised. Their Chu Garden had hosted many nobles—both from the capital and from other regions—but she was rarely invited to their homes. Though she received a few invitations each year, they always felt perfunctory.
The young people who associated with Chu Tang and Chu Ke were always courteous toward her, yet maintained a distinct aloofness.
Jiang Shi understood well enough—these connections with the Chu family were largely pretexts for accessing their renowned garden. Still, she didn't mind. As long as social connections were forged and the family maintained standing in the capital, the benefits would ultimately reach her.
So why were these young girls suddenly extending invitations on their mothers' behalf?
What had happened?
With concern, Jiang Shi asked them, "Did you enjoy yourselves?" then glanced around. "Has A Zhao been here? Did she cause any trouble?"
The girls looked uncomfortable. They didn't answer her questions directly, only stating, "A Zhao has returned," before taking their leave without further explanation.
Jiang Shi instructed the housekeeper to personally escort them out, then turned to Chu Tang. "What happened? Did A Zhao bully them?"
Chu Tang sat in the pavilion, gazing absently at the lake. Only when her mother spoke did she turn her head.
"Mother," she began, ignoring the question, "our garden is so magnificent—has anyone ever tried to buy it?"
What a strange thought. Jiang Shi chuckled. "Of course. There have been inquiries from the very beginning."
"Not our ancestors' time," Chu Tang clarified. "I mean in recent years—has anyone wanted to purchase it?"
Jiang Shi's expression grew proud and pleased. "Every year without fail. Who wouldn't desire our garden after seeing it? Plenty of people want it. Even when your father is at the academy, people approach him to inquire."
Chu Tang pressed, "Then why hasn't it been sold?"
Jiang Shi laughed lightly. "Because we're unwilling to part with it, of course. How could we sell such a splendid garden?"
Chu Tang murmured, "Just because we're unwilling... that alone wouldn't stop someone from buying it."
What else could? The child was speaking strangely. Jiang Shi reached to feel her forehead—had she encountered something unsettling in the garden?
Chu Tang gently pulled her mother's hand away. Though her mother hadn't yet grasped her meaning, Chu Tang's own thoughts were already racing.
She might be young, but she was a child raised in the capital. She had witnessed and heard enough of worldly affairs—especially how the powerful seized properties and lands through force, coveted rare antiques and even unique peonies. Without power or influence, one could only wait to be coerced into unfair sales, or worse, schemed against until family ruin—
"Mother," she said softly, "what if we're unwilling, but someone insists on forcing a sale? What would we do?"
Jiang Shi immediately grew anxious. "Who? What's happened? Has some family mentioned this to you?"
Had some young girl been sent to test the waters for her family?
"Pay them no mind," Jiang Shi soothed, stroking her daughter's shoulder. Had she been frightened? Ah, her daughter truly had it difficult, navigating among these wealthy young ladies. Her heart ached with pity. "Don't be afraid. No matter who it is, pay them no heed."
Chu Tang asked quietly, "What if... it's the Zhao family who wants our garden?"Jiang Shi was taken aback. The Zhao Family—her daughter must be referring specifically to Imperial Concubine Zhao—
Could it be?
Before she could ask, Chu Tang began counting on her fingers.
"What if the Yang Family wants it?"
"What about the Crown Prince? And the Third Prince? The Third Prince loves gardens the most—he even monopolized His Majesty's Spring Gazing Garden."
Jiang Shi, who had been holding her breath, relaxed at this and laughed. "What's gotten into you? Spouting such nonsense—how could those people resort to plunder?"
Chu Tang looked up at her. "Mother, don't joke. Why wouldn't they seize things by force? Never mind them—just a few years ago, when Father was at the academy, he tried to monopolize the mountain spring too. He just failed to outcompete the landlord downhill—"
Even a scholar like Chu Lan would covet good things, let alone those people.
Jiang Shi's face stiffened, visibly embarrassed. "What nonsense are you talking? How did your father seize by force? That was... a negotiation. Besides, that mountain spring rightfully belonged to the academy."
Chu Tang ignored her mother's excuses. She didn't just stay confined to inner chambers in the capital socializing with gentlewomen—she spent over half the year at the academy and had witnessed plenty of local customs in small towns outside the capital.
Her father could have taken that mountain spring, but the landlord ultimately invoked distant relatives connected to the Zhao Family, forcing her father to back down. Back then, her father and brother had complained, blaming Second Uncle for failing to uphold the family's dignity and making them live submissively.
As her mother continued chattering by her ear, Chu Tang stopped listening. Propping her chin in her hand, she gazed at the lake. This garden was truly beautiful—encircled by water, adorned with exquisite pavilions, lush with flowers and trees, concealing seasonal splendors.
If no one came to seize it by force, it wasn't because they were virtuous, but because they couldn't.
So who in the Chu Family made it impossible for others to seize it?
It certainly wasn't her father, a mere teacher.
She slapped her own face. All these years, how had she never realized?
If she had figured it out earlier, she would have made Chu Zhao treat her as a full sister and Second Uncle regard her as his legitimate eldest daughter long ago!
"Oh, my child!" Jiang Shi grabbed her hand. "You must be possessed! Quick, fetch Granny Liu the Taoist nun!"
......
......
That day, many girls were chattering about old grievances at home.
"Mother, mother, isn't it true? That Chu Zhao's father, Chu Ling—wasn't he a convicted official?" Qi Leyun tugged at her mother's sleeve.
Mother Qi laughed and agreed, handing her a plate of pastries. "Have some more. Why won't you eat? Did someone call you fat again?"
"Never mind that." Qi Leyun pushed the pastries away indignantly. "Why didn't His Majesty convict him back then? Otherwise, that Chu Zhao wouldn't be so arrogant now. Mother, do you know what she said? She claimed her father wasn't guilty, and that since His Majesty didn't convict him, anyone who says otherwise is defying the Emperor!"
Mother Qi sighed helplessly, smiling at a maidservant nearby. "Since when does my daughter comment on court affairs?"
Amid the laughter, Qi the Archivist strolled in leisurely. "What is A-Yun discussing? Let your father learn something too."
Qi Leyun eagerly pulled her father over and repeated her earlier rant. All Qi Father heard was "Chu Ling, Chu Ling"—his expression shifting from surprise to thoughtful contemplation.
"What's going on?" he murmured. "Why is everyone mentioning Chu Ling lately? That name had been forgotten for over a decade.""Because his daughter hit Miss Liang," Qi Leyun said.
Madam Qi smiled and handed a cup of tea to her husband, saying, "Because Your Majesty splashed tea all over Minister Liang."
It sounded like two separate matters, but Father Qi, a seasoned official, immediately understood: "I've heard about this matter too."
"Father, look—Chu Ling not only failed to discipline his daughter but instead went to Your Majesty to accuse Minister Liang. Isn't that arrogant and unreasonable?" Qi Leyun said, then added resentfully, "Today, Chu Zhao even said something like whether their family's garden is good or not, why no one dares to seize it—all because of her father. How ridiculous!"
As she spoke, the smiling Qi Historian suddenly let out a thoughtful "Hmm," his expression turning contemplative: "Speaking of this, I seem to recall something."
Interrupted, Qi Leyun asked, "What is it?"
Qi Historian stroked his beard, as if straining to recall: "It was a long time ago, shortly after Chu Ling submitted a memorial criticizing Your Majesty. Your Majesty was furious and reprimanded him. Not long after, Wang Zhuang, the Director of Weaving and Dyeing in the Imperial Treasury, was suddenly exiled because a chest full of evidence of his crimes was placed on Your Majesty's desk."
Qi Leyun stamped her foot: "Father, we're talking about Chu Ling! Why bring up the Weaving and Dyeing Office?"
Qi Historian gestured for her to be patient and continued: "At the time, it was very sudden, and no one paid much attention. Officials rise and fall like this all the time. But later, I heard an official cursing that Weaving and Dyeing Director, saying he deserved it—he was black-hearted and greedy, always scheming to seize others' properties. Before he was arrested, he even boasted about turning the Chu Garden into the Wang Garden, claiming that since Chu Ling had fallen from favor, he could divide up his family estate—"
Qi Leyun stared at her father and stamped her foot again: "We're talking about Chu Ling—"
Qi Historian looked at her thoughtfully: "Yes, because you mentioned Chu Ling, it suddenly occurred to me—was Director Wang convicted and exiled precisely because he schemed against Chu Ling's family property?"
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