After seeing off her cousin, the Crown Princess did not get a moment of rest as two princesses came running to her.
The Emperor did not have many children—only two princes and three princesses. One princess was already married, while the remaining two had yet to be betrothed.
The Emperor could not be bothered to interfere, and the two princesses were quite content with their carefree lives. After all, what could be more enjoyable than being a princess?
The Crown Princess came from a noble family and adhered to strict etiquette and manners. The two princesses rarely sought her out unless they needed something.
Sure enough, they had been offended by the Third Prince.
"Spring Gazing Garden belongs to Father. Why won’t Third Brother let us go and have fun at the literary gathering he’s hosting there?"
"He says it’s for scholars from all over the world. Are we illiterate or something?"
The Crown Princess asked, "Is he only forbidding princesses from attending?"
The two princesses' temperaments were quite similar to the Third Prince’s, and the siblings often clashed. If it were merely a quarrel among brothers, it had nothing to do with the Eastern Palace.
The princesses clearly anticipated this question. Pouting, one of them thought to herself that the Crown Prince was hardly an amiable elder brother either. Since she dared to come, she had her reasons.
She shook her head and sighed, "If it were just that he dislikes us, that would be one thing. But Third Brother said he won’t allow any women to attend."
The Crown Princess tied a knot in her embroidery thread and said, "Perhaps he’s worried it would be dull for you. After all, it’s an event for scholars."
"That’s not it at all! Third Brother said something truly awful," the other princess chimed in. "He actually claimed that women only study with ulterior motives and that attending literary gatherings is just an excuse to secretly meet men."
As she spoke, she began to sob softly.
"How humiliating! How can a prince say such things? What will people think? How can women across the land continue their studies?"
Women from noble families were all educated—it was expected that they be cultured and well-mannered.
If the Third Prince’s words spread, wouldn’t he offend the noble families?
Wouldn’t the Crown Prince be interested in this?
Such remarks were indeed inappropriate. The Crown Princess frowned. The Third Prince’s behavior was becoming increasingly outrageous, but what could she do? As his sister-in-law, could she reprimand him?
It was best for the Crown Prince not to get involved.
"What’s all this crying?" the Crown Prince’s voice boomed from outside. "As princesses, carrying on like this is disgraceful! If someone has offended you, fight back!"
The two princesses were so frightened they stopped crying immediately. While the Third Prince was merely unpleasant, the Crown Prince was known to resort to physical force.
"Brother Crown Prince, if it were anyone else, we might dare, but we wouldn’t dare lay a hand on Third Brother," they pleaded, flattering and begging. "Only you can confront him."
The Crown Prince laughed heartily. "No need for me to step in."
The two princesses exchanged glances, about to stoke the flames further, when the Crown Prince added, "Someone has already confronted him."
Who in the world would dare strike the Third Prince besides the Crown Prince? Even the Emperor wouldn’t lay a finger on him. The two princesses were astonished, and the Crown Princess also looked over in confusion.
"Chu Ling’s daughter just defeated her brother and took the invitation to the Spring Gazing Garden Literary Gathering," the Crown Prince said, his expression full of mockery as he laughed heartily. "Third Brother’s so-called gathering of talents can’t even outmatch a woman. How dare he mock women and forbid them from attending?"
He pointed a finger.
"Go and tell him that such a gathering isn’t even worth your attendance!"
……
……
Two eunuchs respectfully escorted Xie Yanfang to the door when a palace maid hurried after him.
"Third Young Master, Third Young Master," she called out urgently.
Xie Yanfang turned around."Young Master Xie the Third," the palace maid approached, panting slightly. "Why are you leaving already? The Crown Princess has brought Little Highness back and is waiting for you to see them."
Little Highness... First, he had genuinely forgotten, and second, it was better not to meet. Xie Yanfang said apologetically, "I have matters to attend to and won't be able to see him this time."
The palace maid gasped in surprise and urged, "Young Master, you haven't met Little Highness yet! Our lady often speaks of you to him, and Little Highness greatly admires you."
This maid had entered the palace with the Crown Princess from the Xie family. Seeing a family member, she reverted to her old way of addressing him.
Xie Yanfang smiled and said, "His Highness the Crown Prince has tasked me with duties that I must fulfill properly. I cannot let Little Highness down. Once I've completed my tasks, I will come to pay my respects to Little Highness."
By invoking the Crown Prince, he made it clear he wouldn't be persuaded. The maid felt somewhat helpless. Glancing at the eunuchs who had stepped back, she lowered her voice and said, "Young Master, you're being too cautious. Being closer to Little Highness wouldn't incur His Highness's displeasure. By avoiding him like this, our lady has become isolated in the palace. It's so sad for her."
Xie Yanfang shook his head. "It's not for that reason. Please reassure my sister—I've prepared many gifts for Little Highness."
But gifts could never replace a person's presence. However, once Young Master Xie made a decision, he never changed his mind. The maid reluctantly acknowledged this and pleaded, "Then when you're done, please don't leave in a hurry. Come back to see our lady and meet Little Highness."
Xie Yanfang agreed and turned to board his carriage. Just then, an ornate carriage emerged from the palace gates, accompanied by a large entourage of imperial guards, eunuchs, and palace maids.
It was a princess.
Xie Yanfang immediately lowered the carriage curtain.
One princess inside the carriage caught a glimpse of the handsome face before the curtain fell and exclaimed, "It's Young Master Xie the Third!"
Another princess immediately squeezed toward the window, leaning out to look.
They had seen him once at the wedding of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess—that dazzlingly handsome youth standing radiant in the splendid palace hall. Even they, accustomed to beautiful people, had never forgotten him.
"Xie San is actually here."
"The Crown Princess didn't mention it earlier."
One princess wished she could drag Xie San into the palace right then, but the other restrained her: "No rush. Since he's come to the capital, he'll surely visit the Crown Prince and Crown Princess again. We'll have plenty of chances to see him. Let's go settle scores with Third Brother first."
...
...
The Third Prince was studying and did not wish to be disturbed, but the carriages of two princesses could not easily be stopped—especially when they returned triumphantly, with one princess personally wielding a whip to strike the obstructing palace attendants.
Soon after, the princesses' carriages drove out of Spring Gazing Garden again. The palace attendants who had stepped aside could hear the two princesses laughing joyfully inside.
Several scholars entered the hall and saw the Third Prince sitting on the floor, his expression dark and his eyes filled with malice.
"The princesses have gone too far," one scholar cautiously remarked. "How dare they come and quarrel with Your Highness?"
They had expected the princesses, after being scolded, to go complain to the Crown Prince, who would then seize the opportunity to reprimand the Third Prince. That would have set the stage for a confrontation at the Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering.
But instead, the princesses had returned to pick a fight with the Third Prince himself.
Arguing with princesses was pointless.
And it seemed the Third Prince had lost the argument.The Third Prince patted his knee. "I never intended to do anything to that nephew of Chu Ling's. He just happened to be in front of me, so I made use of him to add some excitement during the Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering."
"Who would have thought they'd slap me in the face before I even did anything!"
"Fine, fine. What a remarkable daughter of Chu Ling! What a worthless invitation from this prince!"
He kicked over the table with his foot.
"Attendants!"
A scholar immediately stepped forward to receive the Third Prince's instructions.
"Add another challenge to the literary gathering—" The Third Prince smiled faintly yet sinisterly. "One must surpass the Chu family girl—"
He paused here, realizing he didn't even know the girl's name.
Most people in the room had no idea—who would care about such a minor figure?
Fortunately, a eunuch had overheard and remembered when the princess came making a fuss earlier. He stepped forward to report: "Chu Zhao."
The Third Prince picked up a brush and swiftly wrote:
"One must surpass the Chu family girl, Chu Zhao."
After writing, he flung the paper aside.
"Take this and post it outside the gate. Since this Chu girl is so formidable, I'll help her become famous throughout the land!"
The scholar received the notice with both hands and acknowledged the order.
This was far from making the Chu girl famous—it was using her as a sacrificial lamb!
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