Qiao Chu

At the break of dawn, Jiang Shi arrived at the Chu Garden and instructed the maidservants, "Reserve this pavilion for my use."

The maidservants, however, did not immediately comply. They exchanged hesitant glances.

Jiang Shi grew irritated. "What? Am I no longer allowed to make decisions in my own household? Has this place become Miss Azhao's domain?"

One maidservant hastily shook her head. "No, no."

Another quickly added, "We must seek Miss A-Tang's permission first. She is in charge of the garden."

Upon hearing it was A-Tang, Jiang Shi's irritation vanished entirely, replaced by delight. "My child has become so capable! Then there's no need for me to oversee anything. Let my daughter handle the arrangements." With that, she abandoned her inspection of the garden and went straight to find Chu Tang.

Since returning home, Chu Tang, like Chu Zhao, had stopped dining with her parents. No explanation was needed.

She had merely sighed and said, "I can't keep staying at others' homes indefinitely.Jiang Shi had painfully pulled her into an embrace. "Stay in your own courtyard. There's no need to come out. We'll set up a small kitchen for you, and you can decide what to eat and drink yourself."

Jiang Shi hadn't seen Chu Tang for several days and was unaware that her daughter now managed the garden. Delighted, she hurried to Chu Tang's quarters, where she found her having breakfast. Contrary to expectations of a quiet, solitary meal, Chu Tang was surrounded by seven or eight maidservants.

They weren't merely serving food—some held account books, others were reporting matters, creating a lively yet orderly chatter.

This was clearly the scene of someone managing household affairs. Jiang Shi chuckled, "Miss A-Tang is quite busy."

The room fell silent as the maidservants hurriedly bowed. Chu Tang rose with a smile to greet her. "Mother, come quickly."

She took Jiang Shi's hand and led her to sit at the table.

Jiang Shi noticed the table was mostly covered with thick account books of varying colors and labels, with only simple congee and dishes occupying a small space.

"What are these? Drunken Immortal Restaurant—" she said, reaching for one.

But Chu Tang spoke first, urging the maidservants, "Quick, put these away and bring out the food." She then asked Jiang Shi, "Mother, have you eaten?"

Jiang Shi was about to say she had, but Chu Tang already cooed, "It's been so long since I've eaten with you, Mother. Even if you've eaten, you must keep me company."

What mother could resist such pleading? Jiang Shi immediately agreed with a smile.

The maidservants swiftly cleared the account books and laid out more congee and dishes. Mother and daughter sat facing each other for the meal.

"Mother, I managed to get these from her," Chu Tang whispered, winking at Jiang Shi.

Jiang Shi understood instantly, her face lighting up with joy. "My child, you are truly remarkable."

"It took great effort to appease her," Chu Tang said, feigning exhaustion. "She's like an unbridled horse now. If she goes wild, none of us will have peace."

Jiang Shi nodded repeatedly. "I know, I know."She fed Chu Tang a bite of food, her eyes filled with heartache." "Having to humor her must be so hard on you."

Chu Tang took the bite eagerly.

"By the way, Mother, did you have something to discuss?" she asked.

Jiang Shi hesitated before saying, "Recently, many ladies from other families have sent invitations to visit the small Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering. I must host them and need to select a suitable spot—"

Seeing Chu Tang furrow her brow slightly, Jiang Shi felt a pang of sympathy and backtracked, "Of course, if it's not feasible, we can discuss alternatives. I wouldn't want to trouble you or provoke her into causing a scene that would distress you."Chu Tang held her chopsticks and thought for a moment. "How about this: when the ladies arrive, Mother can accompany them indoors while I have the maids in the garden relay the competition updates in real time. The moves from the chess games, the calligraphy pieces—they’ll all be brought in immediately for everyone to see."

Jiang Shi hesitated.

"These girls nowadays are just like her—utterly arrogant and reckless during competitions. Take Qi Leyun, you know her, right? Oh my, she cried after losing and nearly got into a fight with her opponent—" Chu Tang lowered her voice. "The scene was truly unseemly. If the ladies and elders were to attend, the girls would feel restrained. Not only would the competition stall, but if we offended those ladies and they blamed our Chu family for being permissive, that would be an entirely different matter."

If the competition couldn’t proceed, those thick account books would no longer appear. If the ladies were angered, she, as the head of the household, would be resented. These were matters that concerned them directly. Jiang Shi immediately nodded. "Good, good. You’ve thought this through thoroughly. Let’s do as you say."

Chu Tang smiled sweetly. "I’m so happy to be able to share your burdens, Mother, and help resolve household difficulties."

Jiang Shi reached out to stroke her head and sighed softly. "Facing challenges, my child has grown up."

Seeing this, Chu Zhao, standing at the courtyard gate, withdrew her gaze and turned away.

Chu Tang updated her daily on the income and expenses of Chu Garden. Coming here this morning, she had witnessed this scene.

"Miss Azhao," a maid who had been stopped from announcing her arrival asked nervously, "The Lady arrived unexpectedly."

Chu Zhao smiled at her. "A mother and daughter talking is only natural. I won’t disturb them. We can talk after A-Tang is finished." With that, she walked away.

A Le hurried to catch up, and the two strolled slowly.

"Now that more people are coming, she thinks everything’s fine, and the Lady is back to acting as the head of the household," A Le snorted.

Chu Zhao hummed in agreement. "It’s fine, no need to worry. A-Tang will handle it."

Noticing her distraction, A Le wondered—though she wasn’t worried, did that mean she wasn’t angry? She cautiously asked, "Miss, are you angry?"

Chu Zhao snapped out of her thoughts, saw A Le’s concerned expression, and smiled. "No, no." After a moment of silence, she glanced back at Chu Tang’s courtyard. "Is this what it’s like to be with a mother?"

A Le was taken aback and also looked back. So that was what was on Miss’s mind—

"I don’t know. I don’t have a mother either," A Le said. "The Lady treats Miss A-Tang completely differently from everyone else."

Chu Zhao hummed again. "That’s what a mother is like, I suppose. Indulging her own child endlessly, finding everything about them perfect."

The two girls stood on the path, gazing wistfully at the distant courtyard, as if they could still see and hear the intimate laughter between mother and daughter, feeling the overwhelming doting in Jiang Shi’s words and actions toward her child.

A Le grasped Chu Zhao’s hand. "Miss, don’t be sad."

Sensing the little maid’s concern, Chu Zhao said, "I’m not sad, truly. I was just thinking—" She squeezed A Le’s hand. "My mother would have treated me like that too."

A Le blinked, not quite understanding. Did Miss mean if her mother were still here, she would have treated her the same way?

"Yes," A Le nodded. "Definitely. If my mother were still here, she’d dote on me too. Even if I stole something, she wouldn’t beat me."

Chu Zhao burst out laughing and tapped A Le’s forehead. "Your mother gave you such a fitting name. You’re happy, and you bring happiness to others too."

A Le chuckled.Chu Zhao pulled her along as they strode forward without looking back. She felt a pang of sorrow, but not the kind one might expect—for she too had a mother, a mother who had done so much for her in her previous life...

Perhaps even sacrificed her life.

What grieved her was that mother and daughter had lived without meeting and died without knowing each other’s fate.

In this life, she would not allow such regrets to linger. She would see her mother, no matter what had kept husband and wife apart or torn mother and daughter asunder—she would demand answers, clear and unequivocal.

No sooner had the two returned to the courtyard than Linglong, Chu Tang’s maid, hurried over with account books in hand.

"Our young mistress knows Miss Azhao has come. Do not worry about Madam’s affairs—our mistress is handling them," Linglong said, then presented the account books. "These are yesterday’s records, already sorted. Please review them, Miss Azhao."

Chu Zhao smiled and pushed the books back. "There’s no need for me to see these. My heart lies elsewhere. I only wish to focus on my own tasks—other matters I leave to my cousin."

Linglong offered no further pleasantries, simply bowed. "Rest assured, Miss Azhao."

After seeing Linglong off, Chu Zhao was about to study the chess manual Qi Leyun had lost when a young maid peeked in from outside calling for A Le. A Le rushed out and returned moments later in equal haste.

"Young mistress," she whispered, "the Crown Prince of Zhongshan has arrived."

Chu Zhao’s hand, holding the chess manual, stilled.