Qiao Chu

Chu Ke slammed the invitation to the Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering heavily onto the table.

"Father, Mother, look—I've obtained it," he declared triumphantly.

Chu Lan and Jiang Shi leaned in to examine the invitation, while a round-faced maid served tea to Chu Ke. Instead of taking the cup, he drank directly from her hands. The maid stood on tiptoe to feed him the tea, their eyes meeting in a sweet exchange of smiles. Chu Lan noticed this, dropped the invitation, and coughed sharply.

Chu Ke choked mid-sip, coughing violently as the maid hastily bowed her head and retreated. Jiang Shi shot Chu Lan a glare, reproaching him for startling their son.

Suppressing further reprimand, Chu Lan asked, "How did you obtain this?"

He was well aware of the Spring Gazing Garden event—some friends had even remarked that as a distinguished scholar under Minister Ouyang, he ought to attend. Of course, he had refused. Had he been invited, he might have considered it, but the gathering was hosted by the esteemed Third Prince, who not only issued no invitations but also set a barrier: only those who passed three entrance challenges could participate.

Naturally, it wasn’t that he couldn’t clear the hurdles—it simply felt beneath his dignity. He had secretly reviewed the challenges transcribed by friends and found them quite difficult. Given Chu Ke’s capabilities—

Hearing his father’s question and noticing his scrutinizing gaze, Chu Ke grew flushed with irritation. "I earned it by answering the questions, of course."

Chu Lan remained skeptical. "You performed that well?"

This provoked Jiang Shi’s displeasure. "How can you say that? A Ke has studied under you for over a decade!" If their son was lacking, did that imply the father was as well? Chu Lan frowned and cleared his throat lightly. "Since when is scholarly inquiry forbidden?"

Chu Tang, standing nearby, clapped for her brother. "Brother is amazing!" she cheered, then asked with a smile, "Can I go? I’ve also studied under Father for more than ten years."

Chu Ke quickly interjected, "I actually asked on your behalf, but they said it’s a scholars’ gathering—women aren’t allowed."

Chu Tang sighed. "Women read books too. Can’t we be scholars?"

"Don’t cause trouble," Chu Lan warned. "That’s the Third Prince’s event."

Chu Tang chuckled. "I won’t. I’m not like A Zhao."

Jiang Shi smiled, pulling her daughter to sit beside her. Gazing contentedly at both her children, she felt immense pride—her son and daughter were truly exceptional.

Chu Lan began advising Chu Ke to study even harder, emphasizing that he needn’t strive to outshine others at the gathering, but merely avoid disgracing himself.

Chu Ke murmured vague agreements, inwardly relieved. Truthfully, he had no idea how he’d secured the invitation—he had only completed two of the three challenges. He had merely been testing the waters, with a month still remaining. To his surprise, the invitation had been granted. Of course, he couldn’t reveal this to anyone. He could only claim innate talent and the Third Prince’s discernment.

"By the way, I visited the Crown Prince of Zhongshan," Chu Ke interrupted his father’s lecture, his face brightening. "But he wasn’t in. The attendants at the lodge said he was out. However, the Heir Apparent is sure to attend the literary gathering. Now that I have the invitation, I’ll meet him there."

He envisioned himself conversing with the Crown Prince of Zhongshan at the event, letting others witness their connection. Since the Heir Apparent would likely sit with the Third Prince, he might even exchange a few words with royalty—then Chu Ke would truly make a name for himself in the capital.

"Father, you should have let me return to the capital sooner. Qiao Mountain Academy was burying my potential."

As he spoke, he sneezed and rubbed his nose."Look, just by accepting the invitations, so many people are already thinking of me! I can't stop sneezing."

...

...

"Chu Ke."

Deep within the Spring Gazing Garden, in a small pavilion atop the hill formed from excavated lake soil, two fingers held a piece of paper, shaking it to reveal the name written upon it.

These fingers were pale to the point of grayishness, much like the Third Prince's face, displaying a frail appearance that seemed to result from years without sun exposure.

"A Xun." The Third Prince used his other hand to brush aside the hair falling over his eyes, looking at Xiao Xun seated beside him. "Do you know him?"

Earlier, when the eunuchs delivered today's submitted letters, Xiao Xun happened to be present and glanced through them. When he saw a paper bearing Chu Ke's name, he paused briefly, smiled faintly, then averted his gaze.

The Third Prince noticed this, reached out to set this particular submission aside, didn't even read it, and directly instructed a eunuch to send an invitation to this person.

"Your Highness." Xiao Xun said with a laugh, "You've misjudged this one. What this person wrote is complete nonsense. I was just laughing at that earlier."

The Third Prince pointed at him: "A Xun, you've been putting on acts since childhood. If you didn't know this person, you wouldn't have given it a second glance even if he'd drawn a giant turtle." Leaning closer, he lowered his voice, "Don't worry, there are no Crown Prince's people here. Speak up - who have you been secretly associating with in the capital?"

Xiao Xun put an arm around his shoulder, whispering: "This person is no simple matter - surnamed Chu, named Ke, young and ignorant."

The Third Prince was taken aback. Not simple? Yet young and ignorant?

Xiao Xun laughed heartily: "I'm just teasing you. This is Chu Ling's nephew." He pointed at the name on the paper. "I came to the capital with him. You're always cooped up in the palace studying, so you might not know - the reason why I came to the capital."

The Third Prince smiled: "Though I'm always confined at home, there's nothing I don't know. So it's Chu Ling's nephew. How could someone like that even catch your eye?"

Xiao Xun said helplessly: "It's precisely because even someone like him dared to submit a letter that I took an extra look. Your Highness, this isn't my fault - you sent out the invitations yourself, you should take them back yourself."

As he said this, his laughter carried a hint of schadenfreude.

Seeing his gloating smile, the Third Prince wasn't angered.

"What does it matter what kind of person he is? If he dares to submit a letter, I dare to invite him." He leaned back lazily. "If he disgraces himself with uncouth behavior, I'll make sure he loses all dignity."

"You, why must you be like this?" Xiao Xun said quietly. "You're intelligent and sharp-witted. If you were less eccentric, you'd surely be more beloved."

The Third Prince pointed at him: "Xiao Xun, how bold of you to say that! Actually suggesting I seek more public adoration - if the Crown Prince heard this—"

He burst into loud laughter.

Xiao Xun showed no fear, smiling as he said: "If Elder Brother the Crown Prince hears this and gets angry, he'll just give me a beating. It's not like he hasn't beaten me before."

The Third Prince's laughter faded, his expression becoming casual: "Whether I'm eccentric or not, he's never pleased anyway. Since that's the case, I might as well make myself happier."

Xiao Xun stood up with a laugh to take his leave: "Then during the literary gathering, I'll invite Elder Brother the Crown Prince to come along, to make you happier."

The Third Prince roared with laughter, grabbing his shoe and throwing it at him: "Don't you believe I'd refuse the Crown Prince entry?"

Xiao Xun caught the shoe: "I believe it. Is there anything you wouldn't dare?" He threw it back, then turned and left with a laugh.

The Third Prince watched Xiao Xun's retreating figure, a smile curling at his lips as he murmured to himself: "That's right. There's nothing I wouldn't dare do."

...

...Tie Ying drove the carriage back to the courier station with Xiao Xun. The officials there greeted him with smiles, preparing to recount the list of visitors for the day.

Xiao Xun stopped them.

"I came to the capital to report my duties and plead for forgiveness. Unless summoned by His Majesty or invited by the Crown Prince, I will not socialize with others," he said. "So I must trouble you gentlemen to decline on my behalf. There’s no need for me to know who they are."

The officials smiled helplessly. "The Heir Apparent is being overly cautious."

Xiao Xun lifted his sleeve, leaned in, and whispered, "To be honest, I don’t enjoy socializing either. This is just making the best of the situation."

The officials burst into laughter and indeed stopped reporting the visitors. Watching Xiao Xun enter, they looked pleased. Good—this was the self-awareness expected of an Heir Apparent. Only with such awareness could one maintain dignity.

Leaving the officials behind, Xiao Xun entered the inner courtyard, where a scholar in a blue robe was already waiting. Tie Ying scanned the area and nodded to Xiao Xun. "We can speak freely now."

With that, he stepped outside and stood guard by the door.

"Chu Ke visited the Heir Apparent today," the blue-robed scholar said. "Your Highness should find an opportunity to meet him."

Xiao Xun replied, "I’ve already made arrangements. I will see him—and," he smiled, "rescue him—at the Third Prince’s literary gathering."

The scholar smiled and nodded in satisfaction. "Even better. As expected, the Heir Apparent’s actions are reassuring."

Xiao Xun pressed the golden clasp on his sleeve, pulling out a slip of paper to read its contents. "Why does my father want me to draw closer to the Chu family?"