When he received Prince Zhongshan’s secret letter, Xiao Xun was just leaving the Crown Prince’s residence in his carriage. After contemplating for a moment, he redirected the carriage to visit the Third Prince outside the city.

Given his status, whoever he associated with, he couldn’t do so directly. There had to be cause and effect, a progression from first acquaintance to familiarity—only this way would it be reasonable and would not attract attention or suspicion.

Cause and effect meant fortuitous encounters, and currently the place in the capital with the most opportunities was the Third Prince’s literary gathering.

Sure enough, at the Third Prince’s place, he saw the submission from the Chu family’s young master, Chu Ke.

No matter how suspicious the Third Prince was at his side, he only needed to let his gaze linger on this name for a moment, and it created an opportunity.

Doing things was never difficult, as long as one had the intention.

However, although he had done as his father instructed, he still didn’t quite understand. Thinking back to his father’s earlier attitude toward the Chu family’s young daughter, it seemed that at the time it wasn’t merely to give him an excuse to enter the capital.

“Does Father truly want to befriend Chu Ling?” He looked at the scholar in blue and asked, “I know Father holds Chu Ling in high regard, but why not befriend him ten years ago when his reputation was illustrious? Is it necessary now when he’s just an ordinary commoner?”

The scholar in blue sighed softly: “Actually, at this time Chu Ling is not only ordinary—he’s also close to death.”

Xiao Xun was somewhat surprised. A thought flashed through his mind—so was that why the girl had been so anxious to rush to the border commandery?

No wonder she had resented him so deeply.

Xiao Xun shook his head again. This had nothing to do with him. If Chu Ling wanted to see his daughter, who could stop him? This was a matter between father and daughter.

The scholar in blue continued speaking about Chu Ling: “This Military Commander Chu Ling, who governs the Daqing Mountain Pass in the border commandery—his status and position are comparable to a Great General.”

But only comparable. Besides, so what even if he were a Great General? Xiao Xun smiled slightly: “Both the Crown Prince’s and Third Prince’s people are eyeing military power right now. Even though the border commandery is remote, they won’t give us an opportunity to get involved. Moreover, this person Chu Ling—even if Father gave him an immortal pill to extend his life, he still wouldn’t submit to Father.”

The scholar in blue said: “The Prince doesn’t want to befriend Chu Ling—he needs Your Highness to make a show of befriending Chu Ling.”

So it wasn’t for Chu Ling’s sake, but for others to see? Xiao Xun was even more confused: “Why is this? What’s the necessity?”

But the scholar in blue didn’t know. Prince Zhongshan was not someone who liked to explain.

“He’s quite ordinary now and close to death. The heir apparent befriending him won’t arouse the court’s suspicion,” the scholar only said. “These are also the only people we can befriend and associate with at present.”

They couldn’t touch those others who held real power.

Better than nothing? Accumulating little by little? Xiao Xun smiled slightly, knowing that if Father didn’t want to say, no amount of asking would reveal his intentions—ever since he broke his leg in childhood, Prince Zhongshan had never opened his heart to anyone again.

Xiao Xun picked up his brush and wrote a small note, handing it to the scholar in blue.

“Send this to Father,” he said. “When I handle matters, Father can rest assured.”

……

……

Chu Ke didn’t listen to Chu Lan’s words to obediently stay home reading and prepare for the literary gathering.

What a joke! People all over the city still didn’t know he’d gotten an invitation to the literary gathering.

When he was very young, Chu Lan had taken him to Qiaoshan Academy. After so many years at that desolate mountain academy, he could finally return to the capital, and had immediately obtained such an opportunity—of course he wanted to show off everywhere.

The young Chu Ke was now like a great roc spreading its wings, soaring into the sky.

Watching Chu Ke walk out of the alley and board a carriage, laughing and chatting with the person inside as they left, A’Le, who was standing behind a corner wall disguised as a little maid buying vegetables, lifted the basket on her arm and asked Chu Zhao standing beside her: “The young master has gone out drinking again. When he’s drunk, should we just put a sack over his head and beat him?”

Chu Zhao frowned: “If we beat him now, he’ll be healed in a month.”

A’Le nodded: “Good point. Then we’ll beat him the day before the literary gathering, so he can’t leave the house or see anyone.”

Chu Zhao smiled and hummed in agreement: “First let’s see what kind of people he associates with.”

In her previous life, she had no idea what kind of people her uncle’s family associated with, didn’t know who arranged for Xiao Xun to come calling, didn’t know who persuaded her uncle to send Chu Ke to an outside posting, didn’t know with whom Jiang Shi spoke such arrogant and disrespectful words that spread everywhere—

Sigh. Chu Zhao sighed inwardly. To be so blind and muddled as a person—if she didn’t die, who would?

However, if they were going to a wine house, Chu Zhao patted herself down and asked A’Le: “Did you bring money?”

A’Le pulled out a coin purse from her basket and shook it: “Of course.”

Chu Zhao asked with a smile: “Did you take it yourself again?”

“Not this time,” A’Le said. “I asked Madam for this. Miss, we have monthly allowances—you have one, I have one too. And since I’m your head maid, I get quite a lot.”

Chu Zhao laughed, pinching her nose: “Who says our A’Le is a country bumpkin who doesn’t understand anything? You’re completely like a first-class maid, knowing about monthly allowances and the difference between head maids and junior maids.”

A’Le giggled, taking Chu Zhao’s arm: “Let’s go, let’s go. Come with me. This country bumpkin is very familiar with the capital now and knows where Young Master Ah Ke often goes.”

Chu Zhao smiled and tightened her grip on her arm. The two of them walked briskly along the street.

The street was crowded with people coming and going, many carriages and horses. One carriage sped along with three girls sitting inside. Two were squeezed together holding a small mirror and applying decorative flower ornaments, while one leaned against the window absentmindedly, her gaze casually sweeping over the crowds and street scenes. Suddenly she exclaimed, sat up straight, turned around and slapped her companion.

“Look, look,” she said.

Her companion’s hand shook and the flower ornament was applied crookedly. Annoyed, she shouted: “Qi Leyun, are you jealous of my beauty?”

Qi Leyun glanced back at her: “Where are you more beautiful than me?”

That girl became even more annoyed.

Qi Leyun didn’t argue with her and pointed outside: “Chu Zhao—Chu Zhao is out there.”

Chu Zhao? The two girls couldn’t care about who was more beautiful anymore and hurriedly squeezed over to look outside. Following Qi Leyun’s pointing finger, they indeed saw two girls walking hand in hand through the crowd on the street. One was dressed like a poor girl hawking goods along the street, the other was dressed less comically but quite plainly—it was indeed Chu Zhao.

“What’s she doing?” Qi Leyun said.

The two girls pursed their lips: “Who cares about her? She already said she won’t play with us anymore—from now on we have nothing to do with each other.”

Qi Leyun still leaned against the window wanting to watch.

“Don’t bother with her. What’s so interesting about her?” One girl sat back down to continue applying her flower ornament. “Let’s hurry to see Third Young Master Xie. I don’t know if he’s still at the wine house. If we go late, there might not be any seats left—the others left earlier than us.”

Hearing about Third Young Master Xie, Qi Leyun immediately abandoned Chu Zhao outside the window and quickly squeezed in front of the small mirror to examine her own makeup.

“Is my makeup too heavy? I heard the women in Dongyang all wear light makeup.”

“Heavy is good! Third Young Master Xie is used to seeing light makeup, so if he sees your face looking like a monkey’s bottom, he’ll definitely remember you.”

“Zhang Qing, do you want a beating!”

“Oh my, Qi Leyun, do you think you’re Chu Zhao? Try hitting me and see.”

……

……

The street was bustling and lively, full of noise. Walking through it, Chu Zhao felt somewhat dazed.

She hadn’t seen this kind of liveliness in a very long time. Shortly after getting married she had entered the palace, and then there were many years of unstable circumstances. Even in the palace she was anxious and uneasy, much less daring to go out.

“Miss, Miss.” A’Le shook her hand. “We’re here, we’re here.”

Chu Zhao came back to her senses and found she had walked into a wine house, but this wine house was even more lively than the street.

Why were there so many people!