Chu Lan found it utterly baffling.
He was lying in his study reading as usual. Without official position, authority, or prospects, what else could he do but read?
Jiang Shi refused to go with him to the academy, disdaining that desolate mountain wilderness. He found it distasteful too, but what choice did he have?
However, from now on it would be different. The dead were paramount—this would earn the Emperor’s consideration of old affections, give the Chu family a proper official position. When a person died, all matters ended; the offense against the Emperor and crime of defiance would be swept aside—
Chu Lan took a sip of tea and let out a long, stifled breath.
A servant came to report: “Master, many people have arrived outside.”
Chu Lan was momentarily stunned. Although he held no official position, he was after all learned and talented, not without reputation. He had many acquaintances. Were these new friends or old coming to drink wine, have tea, and chat with him?
The servant had thought the same at first, but—
“They’re all strangers, and moreover, they said—” The servant glanced timidly at Chu Lan. “They’re looking for a daughter of the Chu family.”
Chu Lan was baffled. He knew his daughter A’Tang was intelligent, learned, and talented, with quite a reputation in the capital, but that was only fame among young ladies.
Jiang Shi, who had come upon hearing the news, was also puzzled. She thought they were Chu Lan’s guests and came to demand why he hadn’t informed her beforehand and was recklessly inviting people. She hadn’t expected they weren’t looking for Chu Lan, but for a daughter of the Chu family.
There had never been a crowd of people coming to the door looking for a family’s daughter. Except for marriage proposals, of course.
But for marriage proposals, a group of men wouldn’t all come to the door together either.
“It’s not about marriage.” Another servant ran in. Compared to the previous servant’s timidity, his expression was now alarmed. “Master, Madam, they say they want to compete with a daughter of the Chu family.”
Jiang Shi was even more confused. What did “compete” mean?
But Chu Lan instantly thought of something. He had felt something was wrong earlier, always sensing he’d provoked some trouble. So this was it!
The book he was holding dropped to the floor with a thud.
“The elder hasn’t left and now the younger comes again,” he shouted. “What calamity!”
……
……
“We’re here, we’re here,” Qi Leyun said, lifting the carriage curtain to look outside. “Hope Spring Garden really is crowded now.”
She glanced back at Chu Tang, who was huddled in the carriage, holding up a fan to hide her face.
“It’s not that serious, is it?” Qi Leyun said with amusement. “How could you be so unable to show your face?”
She was about to get out of the carriage, but Chu Tang pulled her back.
“There are too many people,” Chu Tang said. “Don’t go.”
Hope Spring Garden was originally an imperial villa where miscellaneous people weren’t allowed to approach, but the literary gathering had attracted countless scholars. At this moment, except for the palace gates guarded by the Imperial Guards, everywhere else was packed with people. There were even small merchants and vendors—people everywhere, a chaotic mix. If the two of them got out of the carriage, they would certainly be noticed.
Chu Tang sent a maid to get out instead.
Qi Leyun asked Chu Tang, “Are you overthinking this? How could something have gone wrong?”
Earlier at the wine shop, after being interrupted by that man, Chu Tang had said it was a case of mistaken identity. The young ladies hadn’t paid it much mind. They were beautiful and of noble birth—plenty of people made up various excuses to approach them. But with their family status and rank, accompanied by many maids and servants, they didn’t need to worry about anyone with ill intentions.
But Chu Tang had remained distracted. After the gathering ended and the other young ladies left, she pulled Qi Leyun aside.
“Something may have happened at my home,” she said in a low voice. “Please help me with a favor.”
Qi Leyun didn’t like Chu Tang, because Chu Tang always had that look of disdaining her.
But seeing Chu Tang clutching her sleeve with such an uneasy expression, she couldn’t help feeling smug. You look down on me but still have to ask for my help! She immediately agreed.
She had assumed Chu Tang was frightened by the man who suddenly appeared at the wine shop. Although Chu Tang played with them, her status and position weren’t as good as theirs, and she didn’t have luxurious carriages or servants for protection.
But instead of going home, Chu Tang got in her carriage to come to Hope Spring Garden. Along the way, Chu Tang didn’t speak, her expression grave, sighing from time to time, looking as if the sky were falling. This made Qi Leyun involuntarily nervous too.
“What enemy did you provoke?” Qi Leyun asked again.
Chu Tang looked at her. “Me? I provoked fate—fate gave me a sister.”
What nonsense was this? Qi Leyun glared, about to ask more when the maid came rushing back, her voice trembling: “Miss, Miss, this is terrible—”
The maid was scolded by Chu Tang to get in the carriage. The curtains and windows were all drawn, making the interior dim. The maid’s small face was pale.
“Miss A’Zhao’s name is at the entrance to Hope Spring Garden,” the maid said in a trembling voice. “It says that to enter Hope Spring Garden, one must defeat the daughter of the Chu family, Chu Zhao.”
Qi Leyun turned her head in shock and asked Chu Tang, “Chu Zhao is actually so talented? Even the Third Prince knows about her?”
“What talent?” Chu Tang covered her face with the fan. “This is revenge.”
As she had guessed.
“The Third Prince learned about Chu Zhao competing with my brother at the wine shop. She snatched my brother’s invitation, but that invitation was given to my brother by the Third Prince. By saying mediocrity doesn’t deserve it, she was calling the Third Prince unable to judge people properly.”
“The Third Prince got angry and wants revenge on her. She won against my brother through competition, so the Third Prince is making everyone compete with her!”
“Chu Zhao might have beaten my brother, but can she beat everyone?”
Qi Leyun recovered from her shock. After hearing this, she was even more dumbstruck. This really was—
Chu Tang grabbed her hand. “A’Yun, I can’t go home for now. Let me stay at your place.”
Who told her she was also surnamed Chu?
When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer!
……
……
“Daughter of the Chu family, come out!”
“Daughter of the Chu family, come out!”
“The Chu family is truly too discourteous!”
The people gathered in front of the Chu residence had already begun shouting. They had announced their names and stated their purpose, but the Chu family was extremely discourteous—not only did they not open the door, they locked it from the inside.
“Since you questioned the Third Prince’s inability to select people and styled yourself as learned and talented, now that the Third Prince has granted your wish, why don’t you dare come out?” Several scholars shouted angrily.
Then more voices of inquiry arose: “What’s going on?” “What’s the background of this daughter of the Chu family?” “I’ve never heard of such a person—why does the Third Prince esteem her so highly?”
The incident between Chu Zhao and Chu Ke at the wine shop that day was just a minor matter, like the countless fights and street quarrels that happened in the capital every day. Moreover, Third Young Master Xie had been at the wine shop that day, so the quarrel between these two siblings, Chu Ke and Chu Zhao, was laughed off and forgotten by those present.
Outside the gates of Hope Spring Garden, besides the original three challenges, another question had suddenly been posted, saying one must compete with a daughter of the Chu family named Chu Zhao and defeat her to pass. Most people didn’t know what had happened.
So the few who knew embellished that day’s events. The content was no longer about Chu Zhao arguing with her brother because her father had been humiliated. It became a story of her being jealous that her brother obtained the literary invitation, resenting the Third Prince’s lack of discernment, publicly defeating her brother and snatching the invitation, claiming she was the one qualified to attend the Third Prince’s literary gathering.
So arrogant!
Hearing the tumult outside growing louder wave after wave, Jiang Shi’s face turned pale. Chu Lan was both furious and desperate.
“What a fine mess you’ve caused,” he said, looking at Chu Zhao who had been summoned, as if seeing his second brother. “You—you father and daughter truly are calamities for the Chu family!”
Chu Zhao’s expression was calm, though the development of events had surprised her too.
The Third Prince had actually noticed this small matter? Who had told the Third Prince? Who had provoked and angered the Third Prince?
However, it wasn’t really unexpected. The incident with Chu Ke at Elegant Interest Pavilion could indeed easily be embellished into disrespect toward the Third Prince.
She had indeed been disrespectful to the Third Prince!
This villain had caused the deaths of so many people in the capital and plunged the Great Xia into complete chaos. He still had the face to call himself a scholar, to pride himself on his noble bloodline—he was nothing but a shameless scoundrel!
This scoundrel wouldn’t have a good end.
But that was for later. Right now, having offended this scoundrel, he could ensure she didn’t have a good end.
Chu Zhao clenched her hands tightly in front of her.
“I’ll go beat them away!” A’Le shouted.
The Master was truly useless, actually allowing those people to be discourteous outside. With so many servants in the household, they should just go out and drive them away.
It didn’t matter—even if she was alone, she could beat them.
“Insolent maid, be quiet!” Chu Lan scolded. “Those are all scholars of our Great Xia.”
He looked at Chu Zhao again.
“You—go apologize to them, hand over that invitation, and put an end to this matter.”
Chu Zhao said, “Alright.” She lifted her feet and walked out.
Chu Lan’s remaining words were left unfinished, stuck in his throat, nearly choking him. Watching the girl’s retreating back, he angrily slammed the table. “You’ve completely lost all face for the Chu family.”
What calamity! How could he ever face people again!