This wine house was called Yaqu Pavilion. Chu Zhao still had some impression of it—it could be considered famous in the capital.

In that previous life, after Xiao Xun had saved her, she had harbored feelings for him. Using gratitude as an excuse to see Xiao Xun, she had spent several days inquiring about wine houses, staying up nights researching which place would be better. Yaqu Pavilion had been listed as her first choice.

Of course, in the end they hadn’t gone—her uncle had taken the initiative to arrange a banquet at home instead.

In this life, having the opportunity to come here, Chu Zhao looked the wine house up and down. It was indeed a good place for meetings.

This wine house was built in a square shape with an open courtyard in the center. All three floors had spacious open seating areas, with a beautiful central hall that could be used for playing instruments, singing, dancing, and storytelling.

Because it had open seating, it particularly emphasized refined elegance. So why was it as noisy as a marketplace today?

Every floor was packed full, and people kept streaming in from outside. The shop assistants were all stationed at the entrance—not to welcome guests, but more like they were screening them.

A’Le was also very surprised: “There weren’t this many people a few days ago.”

A shop assistant came over at this moment, glanced them over, and waved his hand: “Go on, go on. No peddling with baskets in our wine house.”

What? A’Le glared: “I’m a maid sent out from home to shop.”

Why did he say her outfit was that of a street peddler!

What nonsense! The shop assistant also glared. Today he was too busy to bother arguing with this girl: “We’re not a market either. Out, out.”

“Young man,” Chu Zhao said with a smile, “we’re here to eat.”

Although this girl was dressed plainly, her bearing was definitely not that of a street peddler or a shopping maid. The shop assistant restrained his temper: “Do you have a reservation? Or are you with someone?”

Although she could directly give Chu Ke’s name, there was no need. She was just casually taking a look to see what kind of people Chu Ke associated with. She could see that from outside as well—going inside might actually make it harder to observe.

“No,” Chu Zhao said.

“Then I’m very sorry,” the shop assistant said. “We’re full today.”

Chu Zhao was about to say something when the sound of coughing came from behind her. She turned around and saw Qi Leyun, whom she’d met that day, along with two other girls walking in.

Seeing them, the shop assistant hurriedly greeted them with a smile: “Miss Qi, you’ve arrived.”

Qi Leyun didn’t look at Chu Zhao. Looking around, she said loudly: “There are so many people today. Good thing we reserved seats in advance.”

The other two girls also laughed and said, “Even if we hadn’t reserved seats in advance, when Miss Qi comes, how could there be no place to sit?”

A’Le glared at them. Chu Zhao said nothing. The three—Qi Leyun and her companions—passed by her with haughty expressions on their faces. They walked very slowly, as if to let Chu Zhao see them thoroughly.

But suddenly there was some commotion on the third floor. The three looked up, and their originally dignified, elegant, and aloof postures immediately changed.

“Look, look, look at that.”

“That sleeve—it must be! The young master favors dark brocade robes.”

“Let’s hurry, hurry.”

The three became excited and giggling, abandoning Chu Zhao to cheerfully go upstairs.

What were they looking at? Chu Zhao was somewhat curious and glanced up. The seats near the central hall were all filled with people, gauze curtains hanging down, revealing fragrant clothes and shadowy figures.

The shop assistant stepped over to block her view: “Miss, we’re truly full. Please come earlier next time.”

Chu Zhao made a sound of acknowledgment, not minding, and was about to turn away when a voice sounded behind her.

“Miss Chu?”

Chu Zhao turned her head and saw Deng Yi wearing a somewhat worn blue robe, coming in alone. She was first startled, then delighted, and hurriedly bowed: “Lord Deng.”

Did this girl fear him or was she happy to see him? Her instinctive step back was real, but the smile all over her face was also real. Deng Yi nodded: “What brings you here?”

Chu Zhao said, “My brother is drinking here.” She pointed upward. “I was worried he’d drink too much, so I came to check.”

She would be this concerned about this brother? It was because he might drink too much, so she came to beat him up, right? Deng Yi asked: “Do you need to go in quietly?”

This was why talking with intelligent people required honesty. Chu Zhao nodded, her eyes blinking as she looked at him without speaking.

Deng Yi smiled: “Come with me.” He walked to the shop assistant. “Deng Yi. I reserved second floor, seat Ding-17. Miss Chu is with me.”

The shop assistant hurriedly bowed and led the way: “Lord Deng, Miss Chu, this way please.”

……

……

The three—Qi Leyun and her companions—had already taken their seats on the highest third floor. This entire side was almost all young ladies. Though they kept their voices low, their chirping was still chattering away.

And almost all of them were looking in one direction across the way.

Qi Leyun’s seat wasn’t good—it was blocked by a corridor pillar. Very unhappy, she was craning her neck to look up, down, left and right when she suddenly saw the staircase and hurriedly patted the girl beside her: “Look, look.”

That girl was also annoyed: “Look at what? Can’t see anything.”

“Look, Chu Zhao,” Qi Leyun said.

Chu Zhao again! The two girls looked over and indeed saw Chu Zhao following behind a man in blue robes going upstairs.

The man had a tall build, was in his thirties, and had a bearing that was definitely not a servant’s, though his clothing and appearance were quite ordinary.

“Won’t play with us,” one girl pouted, “but look at the kind of people she associates with.”

The other girl exclaimed: “Don’t look at her anymore. Quick, look—Third Young Master Xie is toasting someone!”

Qi Leyun and the girl immediately stood up. They saw that across the way, in the area blocked by the corridor pillar, several people had walked over from other places to speak with the person behind the pillar. That person stood up but didn’t step out into Qi Leyun and her companions’ view. They only saw him extend his hand, holding a wine cup.

That hand was slender, fair-skinned, the dark sleeve gently swaying.

The wine cup was raised, then brought back to his lips. His head tilted back, and a fair chin appeared in their view.

The three gripped their hands tightly, nearly crying out in delight.

They saw it, they saw it, they saw it!

……

……

Another sudden commotion arose in the wine house. Chu Zhao was startled—the staircase seemed to be shaking, as if many people were stamping their feet together.

She looked around somewhat puzzled. Nothing was happening—there were no strange people or objects, no storytellers or musicians, no acrobats either—

She looked toward the third floor. There were especially many people here, men and women sitting on the left and right respectively, all seats full, with many people wandering about, talking and laughing, raising cups. It looked like someone was holding a great feast.

Deng Yi paid no attention to this commotion and led Chu Zhao to a seat by the railing on the second floor. He even proactively asked the shop assistant leading the way: “Do you know where Young Master Chu Ke is sitting? He also came today. Where is he? I’ll—”

Before he could explain what he wanted to do with Chu Ke, the shop assistant was already smiling and answering: “I know, I know. Young Master Chu Ke—the disciple of Minister Ouyang, learned and talented, accomplished at a young age. He’s already passed all the tests and obtained an invitation to the Third Prince’s Wangchun Garden. Today he’s treating guests—”

Listening to the shop assistant’s words, Deng Yi looked at Chu Zhao sitting across from him and saw her raise her hand to her forehead, looking like she couldn’t bear to listen anymore—

She really should come beat him up.

Deng Yi smiled and nodded: “I also heard this news and came specially to pay my respects to Young Master Chu Ke, hoping to toast him.”

The shop assistant pointed across the way: “There, your seat is perfect. Young Master Chu Ke is right across from you.”

Both Deng Yi and Chu Zhao looked over. Sure enough, they saw seven or eight young men seated at a table across the way, and one speaking with great animation was indeed Chu Ke.

Deng Yi thanked the shop assistant, then joked: “No wonder the wine house is so lively today.”

The shop assistant laughed heartily, his expression somewhat excited: “Yes, yes, but, also not quite. It’s so lively today because there’s—ahem, recently with the literary gathering, there are just more people in the capital.”

He seemed about to mention someone else, but then remembering that Deng Yi had said he came for Chu Ke, mentioning others wouldn’t be quite appropriate. The shop assistant said no more and took his leave.

Deng Yi didn’t mind. He looked at Chu Zhao: “Miss Chu can sit here first. It’s more convenient for watching Young Master Chu.”

Chu Zhao thanked him: “Thank you, Lord Deng.” Then thinking of something, she asked, “Lord Deng has an appointment with someone, right?”

So her sitting here would be intrusive, wouldn’t it?

Though she also very much wanted to see who Deng Yi had an appointment with. Was it Xiao Xun? Someone from Prince Zhongshan?

The girl’s expression seemed somewhat anxious. Deng Yi poured tea: “I came to give a gift. When the others finish eating, I’ll rush over to grab the bill and settle the account.”

Ah? Chu Zhao looked at Deng Yi.

Deng Yi pushed a cup of tea toward her and smiled: “So, Miss Chu, sit as you please. I have no one here.”