Although Xiao Xun had come in disguise, as Chu Lan's guests hastily took their leave, the women on Jiang Shi's side soon learned of it and immediately began making excuses to depart as well.
Jiang Shi hurriedly rushed to find Chu Lan, entering the study to see him sitting alone inside, motionless with a dazed expression.
"Husband, are we going to be raided?" Jiang Shi asked with a choked voice.
Startled awake, Chu Lan glared at her: "What nonsense are you talking?"
Then he suddenly burst into laughter.
"What raid? Our Chu family's fortune has arrived."
Jiang Shi grew even more frightened - had her husband gone mad from fear?
"What wild thoughts are you having? Those outsiders don't know about our connection with the Heir Apparent, but you should know," Chu Lan said with a smile, personally helping Jiang Shi sit down.
She truly didn't know what connection they had with the Crown Prince of Zhongshan... Jiang Shi looked at Chu Lan with concern: "Husband, you mustn't come to harm."
Chu Lan sat down opposite her: "The Heir Apparent came to help us resolve our troubles." Stroking his short beard, he said calmly, "We've already discussed it."
Only then did Jiang Shi believe him, though still incredulous: "Really? How?"
"This matter requires your involvement," Chu Lan said, moving to sit beside Jiang Shi. "This must be kept secret - no one else can know."
Jiang Shi quickly leaned close to listen to Chu Lan's whisper, the last trace of worry fading from her face, replaced by full-eyed delight.
......
......
Chu Zhao walked through the garden, lost in thought, unaware of several people approaching angrily from ahead.
"—it's that fellow, Xie Yanlai—"
"He's actually Xie Yanfang's younger brother? A Qiang, are you sure you heard correctly?"
Liang Qiang, walking at the front, stopped and glared fiercely at the young man behind him: "What? Are you scared now that you hear he's Xie Yanfang's brother?"
The young man looked embarrassed: "I mean, Young Master Xie the Third will certainly discipline him—"
"Sending him away from the capital is discipline? This is helping him avoid trouble! That scoundrel mocked my sister like that, mocked our Liang family - we can't just let this go," Liang Qiang said bitterly.
As he spoke, he suddenly noticed someone standing before them. Liang Qiang and the others were startled, then looked closer—
"Miss Azhao," Liang Qiang quickly greeted.
Chu Zhao smiled and returned the courtesy, asking curiously: "What were you discussing?"
Liang Qiang said angrily: "It's nothing but that Xie family—ahem, Miss Azhao, what brings you here?"
Was she deliberately waiting for him here?
Chu Zhao smiled and said: "There are many more talented than I. Now that I'm free, I'm just taking a stroll."
What a coincidence to meet while casually strolling. Liang Qiang smiled slightly: "Miss Azhao, don't be modest. Without you, where would they have the opportunity to display their talents?"
Chu Zhao didn't know what this young man was thinking, nor did she wish to associate with the Liang family. She said politely: "Thank you, young master."
Then the young master should take his leave.
But the young master opposite remained standing motionless, as if lost in thought?
The other young men nearby looked puzzled too. Someone gently nudged Liang Qiang: "Shall we go?"
Liang Qiang snapped out of it, looking at Chu Zhao: "I'll take my leave now." He smiled again, "I've been watching - Miss Azhao was quite heroic too."
Chu Zhao was taken aback. She harbored full resentment toward the Liang family, keeping her distance guardedly. Since the incident with Miss Liang, the two families had no contact. Although she knew young men from the Liang family came to play in the Chu garden, she hadn't paid it any mind. She never expected this Liang Qiang would praise her—
"Thank you, young master," she returned the courtesy.The sentiment should have been conveyed, right? Liang Qiang nodded. "Then I'll take my leave first."
Chu Zhao said, "Farewell, Young Master."
Only then did Liang Qiang walk away with his companions.
His companions had long been unable to hold back, chattering questions like "Didn't she also bully your sister? Why are you grinning like a blooming flower—" and "When did you become so familiar with Miss Chu?"
"Girls' squabbles are nothing," Liang Qiang said, gritting his teeth fiercely at this point, "unlike that Xie family boy—and that kid isn't even a proper young master, just a bastard born to a concubine."
His companions recalled the earlier conversation and asked curiously, "Really?" "He actually has such origins?" "Young Master Xie the Third actually has such a disgraceful younger brother." "In that case, we can't let him off easily!" "A Qiang, tell us, how should we teach him a lesson!"
Their indignation flared up instantly.
People are best at judging others by their background—sure enough, once this was mentioned, no one was afraid anymore. Liang Qiang smiled with satisfaction and couldn't help glancing back. Indeed, he saw the girl also looking back in their direction—truly reluctant to see him go.
He had visited Chu Garden several times recently but couldn't openly speak with Chu Zhao to avoid causing trouble for his family. However, his mere presence was the greatest comfort to this girl.
"A Zhao."
A voice from ahead interrupted Chu Zhao's distraction.
Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze and saw two girls standing not far away. Nowadays, many girls not only didn't avoid her but would actively greet her.
"What are you looking at?" the two girls asked, also turning to look back, spotting the retreating figures of several young men.
Chu Zhao said, "It's Young Master Liang Qiang. Given how things ended between me and Miss Liang, I didn't expect him to still come to Chu Garden."
The two girls laughed, "Perhaps he came to watch you become a laughingstock."
Chu Zhao smiled, "Well, that still counts as showing support."
Both girls laughed—where was Chu Zhao's ferocity? She was clearly quite humorous.
"Actually, Miss Liang has also become a laughingstock, though not because of what happened with you," one girl whispered. "You know about her rejected marriage proposal, right?"
Chu Zhao didn't know about Liang Qin's marriage proposal being rejected, nor did she particularly care.
The other girl nodded, "You've heard about it too? Initially, people thought the Xie family looked down on the Liang family's status, but it turns out the other party actually disliked Miss Liang herself, saying her looks weren't even as good as their own."
Chu Zhao understood now and frowned, "Even if they weren't interested, there was no need to humiliate her like that."
The two girls exchanged surprised glances—they had expected Chu Zhao to gloat.
"Miss Liang is a girl. What happened to her could happen to any of us women," Chu Zhao said. "Putting ourselves in her position, we should empathize. Our bodies, hair, and appearances are inherited from our parents—not something we can choose. This isn't our fault. We shouldn't feel inferior because of it, nor should we be mocked for it."
The two girls nodded, "You're right, A Zhao."
Chu Zhao said, "That person is truly vile. I hope none of us ever encounter someone like that."
The Xie family really were no good sort. But since she wouldn't become Empress again in this lifetime, the Xie family's rebellion had nothing to do with her anymore.
"Enjoy yourselves," Chu Zhao said. "I'm going to have a word with A Tang."
The girls laughed, "Go ahead with your business."
Chu Tang sat on the second floor leisurely drinking tea while four maids organized account books nearby. Seeing her enter, they all hurried to greet her.
"Would you like to take a look—" Chu Tang proactively asked.Chu Zhao waved his hand, signaling the maids to withdraw first.
Chu Tang felt slightly nervous. She had just seen Chu Zhao approaching with several young ladies, and the girls nearby had all greeted him one after another. Chu Zhao had already built good relationships with them, unlike before when he was looked down upon. He had even subtly become their pillar of support—was he now planning to discard her after crossing the river?
Chu Zhao looked at her, hesitating to speak: "Elder Sister, do you know who came today?"
Seeing his peculiar expression, Chu Tang was somewhat puzzled: "Who?"
Chu Zhao lowered his head and glanced at his fingers: "Do you know the Crown Prince of Zhongshan?"
Chu Tang stared at him. She knew of the Crown Prince of Zhongshan, but Chu Zhao’s demeanor left her bewildered—was this shyness?
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