Although Xiao Xun had come with his identity concealed, as the guests on Chu Lan’s side hurriedly took their leave, the female relatives on Jiang Shi’s side immediately learned of it as well, and instantly found excuses to depart one after another.

Jiang Shi rushed urgently to find Chu Lan. Running into the study, she saw only Chu Lan sitting inside, motionless, his expression blank.

“Master, are we going to have our household confiscated?” Jiang Shi asked with a choked voice.

Chu Lan was startled awake and glared at her: “What nonsense are you talking?”

Then he laughed heartily.

“What household confiscation? Our Chu family’s fortune has arrived.”

Jiang Shi was even more terrified. Had the master already been frightened mad?

“What wild thoughts are you having? Those outsiders don’t know our relationship with the Prince, but don’t you?” Chu Lan said with a smile, personally helping Jiang Shi to sit down.

She truly didn’t know what relationship they had with Prince Zhongshan’s heir… Jiang Shi looked at Chu Lan worriedly: “Master, you mustn’t have anything happen to you.”

Chu Lan sat down on the other side: “The Prince came to help us resolve our troubles.” He stroked his short beard, his expression calm. “We’ve already discussed it thoroughly.”

Only then did Jiang Shi believe him, yet still found it incredible: “Really? How will it be done?”

“This matter requires you to do it,” Chu Lan said, moving to sit beside Jiang Shi. “This must be kept secret—no one else can know.”

Jiang Shi quickly leaned in her ear. Listening to Chu Lan’s whispers, the last trace of worry faded from her face, her eyes full of smiles.

……

……

Chu Zhao walked through the garden, lost in thought, not noticing several people walking toward her huffing with anger.

“—It’s that brat, Xie Yanlai—”

“He’s actually Xie Yanfang’s own brother? Qiang, you didn’t mishear, did you?”

Liang Qiang, walking in front, stopped and glared fiercely at the young man behind her: “What? Afraid now that you’ve heard he’s Xie Yanfang’s brother?”

The young man said awkwardly: “I mean, Third Master Xie will surely discipline him—”

“Third Master Xie’s discipline is just sending him out of the capital. Is that discipline? That’s letting him avoid disaster. This scoundrel mocked my sister so, mocked my Liang family—we absolutely cannot let him off like this,” Liang Qiang said with hatred.

At this point in the conversation, she suddenly saw someone standing before them. Liang Qiang and the others were startled, then looked again—

“Miss Zhao,” Liang Qiang called out hurriedly.

Chu Zhao smiled and returned the courtesy, asking curiously: “What are you talking about?”

Liang Qiang said with resentment: “Still about that Xie family—ahem, Miss Zhao, what are you doing here?”

Had she come here specially to wait for him?

Chu Zhao said with a smile: “There are many more talented than me. I’m idle now and just walking around.”

What a coincidence—just walking around and they met. Liang Qiang smiled slightly: “Miss Zhao, don’t be modest. If not for you, how could they have the opportunity to display their talents?”

Chu Zhao didn’t know what this young man was thinking and didn’t particularly want to associate with the Liang family people. She said politely: “Thank you, young master.”

Then the young master should take his leave.

But the young master across from her still stood unmoving, as if in a daze?

The young men beside him were also somewhat puzzled. Someone gently pushed Liang Qiang: “Are we leaving?”

Liang Qiang came back to his senses and looked at Chu Zhao: “I’ll leave first.” He smiled again, “I’ve been watching—Miss Zhao is also very brave.”

Chu Zhao was stunned for a moment. She harbored deep resentment toward the Liang family, wary and distant. After the incident with Miss Liang, the two families had no contact. Though she knew young people from the Liang family came to play at Chu Garden, she didn’t care about it. She never expected this Liang Qiang would praise her—

“Thank you, young master.” She returned the courtesy.

His intention should have been conveyed, shouldn’t it? Liang Qiang nodded: “Then I’ll leave first.”

Chu Zhao said: “Farewell, young master.”

Only then did Liang Qiang walk past with his companions.

The companions had long been unable to hold back, chattering away: “Didn’t she also bully your sister? How can you smile like a blooming flower at her—” “When did you become so familiar with Miss Chu?”

“What does a quarrel between girls count for? It’s not like that Xie family brat—” Liang Qiang said, and at this point gritted his teeth fiercely, “Besides, that brat isn’t any proper young master at all—a bastard born to a concubine.”

The companions recalled earlier words and asked curiously: “Really?” “He actually has such origins?” “Third Master Xie actually has such a disgraceful brother.” “If that’s the case, we can’t easily let him off!” “Qiang, tell us, how should we teach him a lesson!”

The companions’ spirits surged.

People were best at judging by birth. Sure enough, once this was mentioned, no one was afraid anymore. Liang Qiang smiled with satisfaction, then couldn’t help but look back—and indeed saw that girl also looking back in this direction—truly reluctant to part with him.

These past days he had come to Chu Garden several times, but it wasn’t appropriate to appear and speak with Chu Zhao, lest he bring trouble to his family. However, his coming itself was the greatest comfort to this girl.

“Zhao.”

A voice came from ahead, interrupting Chu Zhao’s distraction.

Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze and saw two girls standing not far away. Now many girls, upon seeing her, not only wouldn’t avoid her but would actively greet her.

“What are you looking at?” the two girls asked, also looking back to see the backs of several young men.

Chu Zhao said: “That’s Young Master Qiang from the Liang family. Given how things turned out between Miss Liang and me, I didn’t expect he would still come to Chu Garden.”

The two girls laughed and said: “Perhaps he came to watch you make a fool of yourself.”

Chu Zhao smiled: “That’s still adding to the crowd.”

Both girls laughed. Where was Chu Zhao fierce? She was clearly very good at joking.

“Actually, Miss Liang is also being laughed at, not because of the matter with you,” one girl said in a low voice. “You know about her rejected marriage proposal, right?”

Chu Zhao didn’t actually know about Liang Qin’s marriage proposal being rejected, nor did she particularly care.

The other girl nodded: “You heard about it too? Originally we thought the Xie family looked down on the Liang family’s status, but it turns out the other party looked down on Miss Liang, saying her appearance wasn’t even as good as his own.”

Chu Zhao understood and frowned: “Even if he didn’t approve, there was no need to humiliate someone like that.”

The two girls exchanged glances, somewhat surprised—they had thought Chu Zhao would gloat.

“Miss Liang is a girl, and what happened to her could happen to any of us women,” Chu Zhao said. “Putting ourselves in her place, our bodies, skin, hair, and appearance are all received from our parents—it’s not something we can decide. This isn’t our fault. We shouldn’t feel inferior because of it, nor should we be mocked for it.”

The two girls nodded: “Zhao, you’re right.”

Chu Zhao said: “That person was too despicable. I hope none of us encounter him.”

The Xie family people were indeed not good sorts. However, since she wouldn’t become Empress in this life, even if the Xie clan rebelled, it had nothing to do with her.

“You two have fun,” Chu Zhao said. “I’m going to speak a few words with Tang.”

The girls smiled: “Go quickly and attend to your business.”

Chu Tang sat on the second floor leisurely drinking tea, with four maids organizing account books at the side. Seeing her enter, they all hurried to greet her.

“Do you want to look—” Chu Tang volunteered to ask.

But Chu Zhao waved her hand, having the maids withdraw first.

Chu Tang was somewhat nervous. She had just seen Chu Zhao walking over with several girls, and the girls here had also greeted Chu Zhao one after another. Chu Zhao’s relationship with the girls was already very good now, unlike before when she was disliked. She had even faintly become the girls’ backbone—was she about to cross the river and demolish the bridge, casting her aside?

Chu Zhao looked at her, hesitating to speak: “Elder Sister, do you know who came today?”

Looking at Chu Zhao’s strange expression, Chu Tang was somewhat puzzled: “Who?”

Chu Zhao looked down at her own fingers: “Do you know Prince Zhongshan’s heir?”

Chu Tang looked at Chu Zhao. She knew of Prince Zhongshan’s heir, but with Chu Zhao looking like this, she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Was this bashfulness?