To be precise, this matter was initiated by him, but Xie Yanfang didn’t take it seriously.
It was merely a casual attempt to tarnish the Third Prince’s reputation.
As for Miss Chu—
Life is full of hardships, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing for a young girl to learn some lessons early on.
“She admitted defeat,” the old servant said. “But only after the competition.”
The old servant, Du Qi, entered carrying a large box. The old servant stepped forward to open it, pointing to the stacks of booklets inside.
“These are the calligraphy, debate topics, and chess records from Miss Chu’s competitions.”
At first, no one paid much attention. Occasionally, idlers would record the content of Chu Zhao’s competitions to make their storytelling more vivid.
But soon, publishing houses began selling compiled booklets, releasing a new volume every three days.
“I’ve looked through them,” the old servant said. “Miss Chu’s calligraphy shows diligent practice and a high level of skill. She has also studied seriously, and her tutors must have been exceptional.”
This girl was far from the rumored good-for-nothing.
Xie Yanfang remarked, “She was never a good-for-nothing. Otherwise, how would she dare to compete with her brother in front of a crowd at the tavern?”
He knew what had happened that day but hadn’t bothered to watch. Such a spectacle was beneath his notice.
However, as he was leaving, he caught sight of the girl.
Though he had never met Miss Chu before, the moment she walked by, he knew it was her.
“I’ve never seen Chu Ling,” he said, “but I imagine Chu Ling must have been like this—unremarkable at first glance, yet cloaked in solitary courage.”
The old servant watched him, waiting for him to say more—perhaps to examine the booklets or discuss Miss Chu further. But Xie Yanfang averted his gaze and returned to the letters on the table.
“Wei Shan is quite amusing,” he said. “He’s asking me for ten acres of land at the foot of Que Mountain.”
Wei Shan was the eldest son of the prominent Wei family in Han County. Xie Yanfang had asked him what he wanted for his birthday, and the young master had not held back, making his request outright.
The old servant thought for a moment. “I know about this. The Wei family has claimed Que Mountain as private property, planning to turn it into a hunting ground and barring others from approaching. But there have always been villagers living at the foot of the mountain, and those fields belong to them. Since they’ve already seized the mountain, what’s stopping them from taking the fields too?”
“Reputation,” Xie Yanfang replied. “The mountain is official property—seizing it is one thing. But the fields are civilian-owned. Taking them would look terrible.”
The old servant muttered helplessly, “Why bother? The Wei family’s splendid robes are already crawling with lice—one more won’t make a difference.”
Xie Yanfang set the letter aside and said, “Send Yan Lai.”
The old servant asked, “What reason should we give?”
Sending a family member out casually might arouse suspicion.
Xie Yanfang smiled. “Tell the Liang family that the reason for rejecting the marriage proposal is that Yan Lai finds Miss Liang unattractive.”
The old servant chuckled. “That’s the truth.” Then he sighed resignedly. “The Liang family has many sons. They won’t stand by and watch their sister humiliated. Young Master Yan Lai’s behavior warrants leaving to avoid trouble. But the Third Prince will have to smooth things over with the Liang family again.”
Xie Yanfang said, “As the eldest brother, it’s his duty. Besides, this trip isn’t for leisure. There’s a shipment passing through Han County—let him take charge of escorting it. Consider it his punishment to atone for his mistakes.”The old servant acknowledged with a "yes" and said, "The weather is dry and flammable. I will remind Young Master Yan Lai not to indulge in reckless fun, lest a fire break out. Burning goods is one thing, but if people are injured or villages destroyed, it would be a sin upon our Xie family."
Xie Yanfang hummed in agreement, tossing the letter from Young Master Wei Shan into a nearby incense burner, where it turned to ashes.
"Young Master, you should rest early," the old servant urged with concern.
Xie Yanfang nodded. "I will rest after reading one more letter. Cai Bo, you go and rest. Du Qi can handle tasks like serving tea—he's still young and can endure late nights."
The old servant feigned offense. "Young Master, are you saying I'm old and useless?"
Du Qi stepped forward, pulling him toward the door. "Cai Bo, don’t act so pleased with yourself. The Young Master cherishes you and wants you to live a long life, always by his side."
The old servant, Cai Bo, laughed heartily. He knew well that the Third Young Master was compassionate and caring toward those around him—a gentle soul.
As for others, the Young Master was no immortal deity; he bore no responsibility to pity all living beings.
After Cai Bo and Du Qi left, Xie Yanfang remained alone in the room. Under the glow of the desk lamp, he seemed as solitary as one sitting in the Moon Palace. He focused on his work, never once glancing at the chest placed in the room—
That girl had indeed surprised him, but that was all. She still wasn’t worthy of a second glance from the esteemed Xie Lang.
...
Late at night, with the moon high, Xiao Xun was also awake. He had nearly drifted off to sleep, but a few words from his scholar had jolted him alert.
"You want me to go to Chu Garden?" he asked.
The scholar stroked his beard. "Heir Apparent, it’s now being called the Little Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering."
Xiao Xun was somewhat surprised. "This matter has escalated so much?"
Though, to be precise, he had been the one to instigate it.
If he hadn’t deliberately drawn attention to Chu Ke in front of the Third Prince, the Third Prince would never have noticed him.
His original plan was to step in and protect Chu Ke when he faced harassment at the Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering, thereby smoothly forming a connection.
But after the uproar caused by Chu Zhao at the tavern, Xiao Xun knew Chu Ke would not attend the Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering, so he dropped the matter.
He hadn’t expected the situation to grow so significant.
Of course, he knew about the girl’s confrontation with Chu Ke at the tavern and that the Third Prince would be provoked—after all, the Third Prince was known for holding grudges.
Yet, he hadn’t paid much attention to the matter. What did it matter to him if the girl was humiliated?
In his view, her humiliation was inevitable.
Just think of her attitude toward him—not everyone in this world had a temper as forgiving as his.
"What does this mean?" Xiao Xun asked the scholar. "Do you want me to help that girl?"
Before the scholar could respond, he laughed to himself.
"Helping this girl is not the same as helping Chu Ke."
Chu Zhao was now despised by the Third Prince, whereas if Chu Ke attended the Hope Spring Garden and faced the Third Prince’s harassment, it would merely be seen as teasing.
Aiding someone the Third Prince is teasing is vastly different from aiding someone he despises.
"Does Father go so far as to risk offending and angering the Third Prince just to befriend Chu Ling?"
Xiao Xun sighed softly, gazing out at the deep night beyond the door.
"Although there is already a Crown Prince, the title is just that—today it rests on the Second Prince, tomorrow it could fall to the Third Prince."
After listening to his words, the scholar nodded. "Everything you say is correct, Your Highness. However, your visit to Chu Garden need not offend only one side. It can bring joy to all—allowing you to befriend Chu Ling while also pleasing the Third Prince."Xiao Xun was puzzled. After a moment of thought, he smiled. Despite being clever and obedient, his father still preferred to convey commands through others.
The scholar’s sudden request tonight must have been on his father’s orders.
He asked the scholar, “What brilliant idea has my father come up with? Why didn’t he tell me first?”
The scholar did not answer but continued, “Third Prince’s original intention was to humiliate Miss Chu, but now the nickname ‘Little Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering’ has emerged. Third Prince is cornered and furious. Therefore, stopping Miss Chu would be helping Third Prince, and he would not hold a grudge against the Heir Apparent.”
The girl’s refusal to concede and her defiant stance had indeed infuriated Third Prince. Though raised on the teachings of gentlemen, Third Prince possessed not an ounce of a gentleman’s heart.
Xiao Xun glanced to the side, where a large box delivered by the scholar stood. It contained compiled records of the Chu Garden competitions. Due to their affordability and novelty, they were selling like hotcakes in the market.
Even the literary collections were so popular.
That girl would not stop until Third Prince’s literary gathering began. By then, the entire city would be talking not about Third Prince’s Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering, but about the Chu family daughter’s Chu Garden Literary Gathering.
By now, Third Prince must have already smashed a room to pieces.
“Miss Chu is young and stubborn, which is not surprising. Raised single-handedly by General Chu, she grew up doing as she pleased in the Border Commandery. New to the capital, she doesn’t know her limits. Moreover, with Chu Ling backing her, she even dared to shout insults at Minister Liang’s doorstep. This young girl is at the peak of her arrogance, looking down even on Third Prince. However, the rest of the Chu family must be suffering immensely right now.”
Xiao Xun nodded, thinking of Chu Lan. Though they had only met once at the city gate, he could see through this person—timid, cowardly, and overly concerned with face.
“The Chu family is now hoping for someone to rescue them from their dire situation,” the scholar continued. “So, Heir Apparent—”
Xiao Xun interrupted him with a smile, “Uncle Kun, I’m not a child anymore. Just tell me directly what my father wants me to do.”
The scholar’s name was Ning Kun, one of the tutors Prince Zhongshan had found for the Heir Apparent. The Heir Apparent always addressed him respectfully as “Uncle.”
Though of the noblest birth, the Heir Apparent was a gentle person who treated those around him sincerely. As for others, the Heir Apparent was not the Son of Heaven—he could not pity all living beings.
Ning Kun said, “Propose marriage to the Chu family daughter.”
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