Chu Ke had no desire to revisit the past. After traveling with Chu Zhao, he understood perfectly well—this wretched girl truly dared to beat him half to death.
If he dared speak ill of Second Uncle again, Chu Zhao would continue to strike him publicly.
He had already lost all face today!
"Let's not mention the past," he said bitterly. "Our family long ago gave up hope. Now, I rely on myself to restore the Chu family and cleanse its tarnished name."
Chu Zhao bent down to pick up the invitation that had fallen during their scuffle, letting out a mocking laugh. "This?"
Chu Ke was startled. "Chu Zhao, don’t you dare tear it up in a fit of madness! This is the Third Prince’s invitation to the literary gathering."
Though Liang Qiang enjoyed watching others’ misfortunes, he couldn’t help but feel a little sympathy for the girl who admired him. Clearing his throat, he interjected, "Miss Chu, the Third Prince is obsessed with literature and despises anything uncouth. Don’t act recklessly."
He emphasized the word "obsessed."
The Third Prince was known for his erratic temperament. In his fits of madness, he would even curse the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Yet, the Emperor doted on his youngest son and paid no mind. Everyone in the capital knew better than to provoke him.
The Liang family’s younger generation was truly sharp and perceptive. Chu Zhao glanced at Liang Qiang, sighing inwardly with envy, then turned her cold gaze to Chu Ke. "Do you really think you received the Third Prince’s invitation because of your own merit?"
Chu Ke sneered, a hint of arrogance in his tone. "Of course. Talent and learning cannot be stolen."
Chu Zhao scoffed. "What talent do you possess? You can’t even surpass me."
Her words were another public humiliation. Chu Ke erupted in anger. "Chu Zhao, what nonsense are you spouting? If I can’t even surpass you, what kind of scholar am I?"
"Fine," Chu Zhao said. "Then let’s compete. Let everyone see whether you truly qualify as a scholar."
She shook the invitation in her hand.
"Let everyone judge whether you earned this invitation through your own ability or... through someone else."
What did she mean by "someone else"? Was she referring to Chu Ling?
How could it be because of Chu Ling? Why would the Third Prince grant him an invitation or show him favor? Chu Ling—the one they constantly complained about for dragging the family name through the mud—what influence could he possibly have?
Chu Ke leaped up in fury. "Let’s compete!"
…
…
Though a crowd had gathered on the second floor, the commotion had died down. The spectators on the first floor grew impatient.
"Are they fighting or not?"
"Hurry up and fight!"
The restaurant staff rushed up and down the stairs, torn between amusement and exasperation as they urged everyone to return to their seats. "There’s no fight. It’s a scholarly debate among the youngsters. They’re about to start a competition to settle the matter."
Sure enough, servers began carrying brushes, ink, paper, zithers, chess sets, and other scholarly implements to the second floor.
A competition? How dull! The crowd on the first floor dispersed in disappointment.
"What a waste of waiting."
"No fight after all!"
"My food has gone cold."
The young men seated at the innermost table laughed uproariously as the grumbling crowd returned, slapping the phoenix-eyed youth on the shoulder. "You were right, as always."
The phoenix-eyed youth lazily raised his wine pot. "Of course. Listening to me is never wrong."
Spectators on other floors also drifted away. They hadn’t spent good money to watch two youngsters—one of them a girl—engage in some pointless contest.
"What a farce," Qi Leyun burst out laughing. "Chu Zhao competing with someone? What does she even know? Her handwriting is a mess."
"Exactly. She hasn’t read many books either," another girl sneered. "Once, I deliberately wrote a character wrong, and she pretended to understand and even praised me for it.""She doesn't play with us, so she doesn't embarrass herself in front of us," a girl at another table said indifferently. "Turns out she wants to embarrass herself in public instead."
Another girl opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, and said something different from the others: "Maybe she's been studying hard these days and wants to show off."
The others laughed even harder upon hearing this.
"What could she possibly study? Learn what?" "Learn how to hit people."
Hearing everyone's laughter, that girl laughed along too, but still muttered, "Maybe she learned the qin?"
She couldn't help but recall the tune Chu Zhao had hummed proudly as she strode away that day.
But never mind, knowing one tune doesn't mean she can compare with Chu Ke. Though Chu Ke's talents are average, he has still studied for over a decade.
How could Chu Zhao, who spent over a decade in the Border Commandery military camp, compare with him?
"Look, Young Master Xie the Third is standing up," a girl suddenly called out.
Is he leaving?
The girls all hurriedly looked over, with Qi Leyun even standing up first. She caught sight of a corner of his robe, then a young gentleman emerged from behind the pillar, his hair tied with a jade hairpin. Several other young men stood up with him, but among them, he stood out like a crane—radiant and transcendent.
The next moment, he bowed to these few people, watching them leave before turning back to sit down again. Meanwhile, several others came over from elsewhere, instantly surrounding him and blocking everyone's view.
Complaints arose all around.
"How annoying," Qi Leyun said, though she soon cheered up. "But at least Young Master the Third wasn't disturbed by Chu Zhao's nonsense and didn't leave. Otherwise, I'd have beaten Chu Zhao up for sure!"
"Young Master the Third wouldn't bother with such trivial matters," another girl said with a laugh.
From beginning to end, Young Master Xie the Third never once glanced downstairs.
Everyone stopped paying attention to Chu Zhao's ridiculous behavior, chatting quietly among themselves while stealing glances at Young Master Xie the Third. Even though they couldn't see him, just sitting here made the atmosphere feel different.
The third floor remained quiet, while the second floor was slightly livelier. Since they were seated closer, they occasionally glanced at where Chu Zhao and Chu Ke, the siblings, were sitting and exchanged a few comments.
Deng Yi had already returned to his seat without going over to check. The food Chu Zhao had ordered had been delivered, and he began eating with ease.
......
"I won't bully you either," Chu Zhao said as she sat down, looking at Chu Ke. "I'll compete with you in whatever was tested for the Third Prince's Spring Gazing Garden Literary Gathering admission."
Chu Ke straightened his clothes and hair, though the marks from being hit on his face couldn't be erased. No matter how he looked, he no longer appeared the elegant young gentleman.
"Chu Zhao, I don't know why you insist on humiliating yourself," he sneered. "Do you want to be so disgraced that you can't stay in the capital, so you can use that as an excuse to throw a tantrum and return to the Border Commandery?"
He slapped the table.
"Let me tell you, even if you're utterly disgraced, you'll have to stay in the capital. From now on, you'll not only embarrass yourself but also humiliate your father even more!"
Chu Zhao didn't get up to hit him again, instead saying calmly, "Enough nonsense. Who ends up disgraced remains to be seen. Let's begin—the first round is chess."
The admission test for the Third Prince's Spring Gazing Garden Literary Gathering consisted of chess, calligraphy, and talent.
The staff of the Elegant Interest Pavilion brought over the chess set, laid out brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and even considerately provided a new table—as long as no fighting was involved, the establishment welcomed such refined activities.
Chu Ke looked at the chessboard and couldn't resist quipping, "Speaking of which, aren't you more familiar with sand tables?"Chu Zhao paid him no mind, reaching out to pick up a piece and place it on the board with a soft click, taking the white stones for the opening move.
Seeing the placement, Chu Ke gave a scornful smile—it was utterly ordinary, clearly the move of a novice.
He brushed his sleeve and calmly made his own move.
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