Gift-giving. Hearing such words from Deng Yi's mouth, it was no wonder Chu Zhao was astonished. From the moment she met Deng Yi, he had been the Grand Tutor wielding immense power, not to mention later when he even dared to slap the Emperor.
Who could possibly make Deng Yi give gifts?
Although the current Deng Yi was not the future Deng Yi, his rise to prominence wasn't far off. She had assumed he was already in a high position, commanding respect.
"Why would Lord Deng need to give gifts?" Chu Zhao asked curiously and cautiously. "Lord Deng is so formidable—"
If someone else had said this, it might have sounded sarcastic—how could someone who had to give gifts to others, and even resort to pretending to run into them to pay for a meal, be considered formidable?
But this girl genuinely believed he was formidable.
Her eyes didn't lie.
Coincidentally, he also believed he was formidable.
Deng Yi smiled and said, "Because I offended someone and was demoted, so I need to curry favor to secure my future."
Offending someone? Well, that person must be in for a rough time. In less than a year—no, by this winter—Deng Yi would become a powerful figure. The person who accepted his gift today might not even live to repay it. Chu Zhao raised an eyebrow and nodded. "My lord will surely secure your future."
Then she added cheerfully, "In that case, I'll treat you to this meal."
Deng Yi glanced at her and said frankly, "Very well. I truly don't have extra money. I was planning to endure the shopkeeper's disdain and order a plate of beans with a pot of tea."
Chu Zhao said happily, "That's perfect."
If Deng Yi accepted this meal from her, he would have to repay her in the future, right?
Being unable to afford a meal should have been embarrassing, but this girl acted as if she had stumbled upon a great bargain. Deng Yi found it somewhat amusing.
Chu Zhao called over the shop assistant, first asking Deng Yi what he liked to eat. When Deng Yi said he would eat anything as long as it filled his stomach, she stopped being polite and began discussing and selecting dishes with A Le—they were genuinely preparing to eat.
Ignoring the two girls' chattering, Deng Yi drank his tea and looked in a certain direction. After Chu Zhao finished ordering, he stood up.
He said, "I need to greet someone."
Chu Zhao nodded. "Lord Deng, feel free." She pointed to the table. "Come back to eat when you're done."
Deng Yi smiled and left.
A Le, staring across the room, also stood up. "I'm going to see what Young Master A Ke is saying. There are more and more people around him."
Chu Zhao nodded and reminded A Le, "Check if there are any of Xiao Xun's people around the young master."
The young lady was really concerned about Xiao Xun. Even though they were no longer on the road, she was still so cautious. A Le acknowledged and left.
Sitting alone, Chu Zhao sipped her tea and casually glanced downstairs. In the main hall, the shop assistant was still blocking the door, and a few people who had entered were arguing about something. From her elevated position, she could see several young men, their dark-haired heads visible, all dressed in fine silk robes—
Another commotion erupted on the third floor.
"It's a painting!"
"A painting by Young Master Xie!"
Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze and looked up toward the third floor.
What was happening up there? The third floor was the most expensive level, supposed to be the most elegant. Why had it become as noisy as the main hall today?
The young men standing on the first floor also looked up.
One of them, with slightly raised phoenix eyes and thin lips curled in a sneer, remarked, "What's so good about such a noisy place?"If Chu Zhao had been looking down at that moment, she might have recognized him—it was the courier A Jiu.
But this courier A Jiu was no longer clad in a dusty robe with his head and face wrapped in scarves and a hat. Instead, he wore a brocade gown, a slender waist cinched by a jade belt, adorned with a gold-threaded jade ring. His posture was upright, and his face shone like the morning stars.
A young man beside him patted his shoulder: "Yan Lai, stop being so picky. If we delay any longer, where else can we go? Do you really want to treat us or not?"
A steward hurried over at that moment, his face wreathed in smiles: "Young Master Yan Lai, we’ve reserved a spot for you. Please come in quickly."
As he spoke, he glanced at the young man with phoenix eyes, his smile growing even more respectful.
"Third Prince is here as well."
Hearing this, the other young men looked pleasantly surprised, but A Jiu immediately turned to leave—
Fortunately, the others acted quickly, grabbing and holding him back.
"You can’t leave."
"How can you leave now!"
"He’s here—why would you leave?"
They dragged A Jiu inside by force. The commotion faded away, only to be replaced by new noise at the entrance.
On the third floor, the atmosphere rose and fell, soon settling back into calm. Apart from more people moving about, nothing else seemed out of the ordinary. Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze.
"Miss," A Le came running back at that moment, her expression furious. "Young Master A Ke is speaking ill of the General again."
Chu Zhao frowned and looked across the room. She saw Chu Ke looking agitated, even somewhat grief-stricken—
This posture was all too familiar to her. Her uncle’s family always put on this victimized act.
"And," A Le whispered, pointing in that direction, "I just heard Young Master A Ke address a young man as Young Master Liang. It seems he’s the brother of that Miss Liang. They were walking arm in arm, talking and cursing you and the General together."
Truly ignorant of friend and foe, of kinship and enmity. Chu Zhao slammed her chopsticks on the table and stood up, walking toward them. A Le hurriedly followed, not forgetting to carry her basket.
……
……
Chu Ke looked at the invitation in his hand. It wasn’t particularly elegant, but the Third Prince’s seal on it was the most valuable mark.
"I never thought I’d catch the Third Prince’s eye one day," he said, his voice choked with emotion.
A young man leaning against the railing nearby, seemingly drunk, raised his hand and declared loudly: "Young Master A Ke, you’re too modest. Your talent is extraordinary. I, Liang Qiang, admire you the most."
Chu Ke nodded and smiled at him, then let out a long sigh. "I may have some talent, but it’s not just me—my father had it too. And what was the result? Our family fell into disgrace, too ashamed to face others, forced to live in seclusion."
As he spoke, his expression turned angry again.
"I have talent and ambition, but all of it is hindered by my second uncle’s burden. I can’t achieve anything!"
The young men around him had clearly heard this many times before. Some laughed, some nodded, and others chimed in: "Isn’t that the truth? That second uncle of yours has really dragged you down. Otherwise, A Ke, you’d have achieved fame and success long ago."
Chu Ke sneered. "I originally wanted to atone for my mistakes and make a fresh start, to abandon this brush and join the military. But who would have thought he’d drive me back—"
Before he could finish, a cold laugh cut him off.
"What utter nonsense!"
Along with the voice came a buzzing sound as a wine pot was hurled at him.
Caught off guard, Chu Ke was struck on the head. He let out a cry and stumbled backward.
The young men around him were stunned. Only then did they notice a girl standing nearby. Her attire was plain, but her appearance and aura were striking. Behind her stood a maid carrying a basket and a shop assistant.
The shop assistant stood frozen, holding a tray from which the wine pot had disappeared.
Who was this?Could it be that Chu Ke had gotten himself into some romantic trouble before even making a name for himself?
Their thoughts raced wildly, but before they could ask, the girl rushed over in a few quick strides, grabbed the books and scrolls piled on the table, and began beating Chu Ke on the ground with them indiscriminately.
"How dare you spout such nonsense!"
"Try insulting my father again!"
"Today, I’ll show you how I break your legs!"
Chu Ke let out a pained scream, and the young people around him erupted into chaos, trying to step in and pull her away. But the maid carrying the basket was just as fierce, grabbing a wooden club from her basket and swinging it wildly at the young men.
They were scholars, after all, and had been drinking, so for a moment, they couldn’t dodge in time. Struck left and right, they stumbled and cried out in disarray.
The scene was like a stone thrown into a lake—the commotion rippled out in all directions.
Countless eyes turned toward them.
"A fight! There’s a fight—"
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