Xiao Xun could hear the clamor outside. This was Chu Garden—the rooms were built for viewing scenery and listening to rain, so the doors and windows all let in drafts.

Chu Zhao hadn’t sent him to the family residence, but instead, using the reason of needing immediate medical examination as quickly as possible, still kept him in Chu Garden.

“How could this happen?” Tie Ying frowned and said in a low voice. “Is Old Master Chu this stupid?”

He couldn’t even handle this small matter properly?

It was clearly said that the young lady would fall into the water—how did it become a maidservant?

Xiao Xun smiled: “It has nothing to do with Old Master Chu. Both he and I were outmaneuvered.”

Otherwise, how could that maidservant be wearing the same dress as Chu Zhao?

He was a very careful person. Before rescuing someone, he had confirmed—confirmed that Chu Zhao had walked over, confirmed what Chu Zhao was wearing—

Clearly the other party had also made sure he could see clearly and take the bait.

“Who?” Tie Ying frowned. “Could it be the Crown Prince?”

This matter required borrowing the Third Prince’s name, so was the Crown Prince dissatisfied? This was a serious matter—

Xiao Xun smiled and stood up from the bathtub: “Don’t think so much. This matter is very simple, and it wasn’t done by any important figure—just a young lady—”

A young lady? Tie Ying frowned, taking a cloth to dry Xiao Xun, then helping him dress in robes.

These robes had also just been sent over, but—

Tie Ying looked at the robes. Why did they look the same as what His Highness had worn before?

Not exactly identical—the fabric was somewhat inferior, but the style, color, and pattern looked no different at first glance from before.

Even the size fit properly.

The clothes sent over couldn’t be the servants’. Tie Ying had seen the Chu family’s master and young master—their builds were completely different from His Highness’s. His Highness was taller and larger than them.

Could these have been newly made immediately?

“Yes,” Xiao Xun said. He looked down at himself. “Specially made new for me.”

Then sent to him clearly and plainly, letting him see clearly.

Young ladies were formidable indeed.

“This time I was careless,” he said to Tie Ying. “It turns out that from the moment I arrived, they knew what I wanted to do and had prepared accordingly.”

Tie Ying was even more confused. He was about to ask when footsteps sounded outside the door, accompanied by a woman’s inquiry.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

It was Chu Zhao’s voice.

Xiao Xun had declined the physician’s offer to come in for examination, only requesting hot water to wash and change clothes.

“I’ve sent someone to invite a renowned physician again,” Chu Zhao said loudly from outside. “Your Highness, please rest assured.”

So loud—this wasn’t to reassure him, nor was it said for him to hear. It was said for those outside to hear. Xiao Xun smiled: “Miss Chu need not worry. Whether I need a physician after entering the water to save someone, Miss Chu should know very well. After all, you witnessed it yourself.”

He also raised his voice, as if wanting everyone else to hear.

The woman’s voice outside stopped.

Then light footsteps walked away.

Then the voice came from far away, low: “Your Highness is fine, everyone can rest assured.” “Your Highness says his swimming skills are excellent.”

Hearing Chu Zhao say this, the girls all breathed sighs of relief, their expressions becoming even more excited and curious.

“I didn’t expect His Highness to come.” “I knew he entered the capital, but His Highness never sees anyone—no one has seen him yet.” “He actually came to Chu Garden.” “Has he been watching for a long time? He must have seen me then, right?” “His Highness is truly good. Even though his swimming skills are excellent, many people wouldn’t react so quickly to rescue someone. He’s truly a heroic gentleman.”

The girls chattered and laughed.

Hearing this, Chu Zhao asked with a smile: “Qi Leyun, do you think Third Young Master Xie is better, or His Highness is better?”

Qi Leyun was startled, then snorted: “Both are good.”

Chu Zhao smiled: “Then in the future, talk more about His Highness. Don’t only remember Third Young Master Xie, or you’ll bury this heroic gentleman’s reputation.”

These two young masters would compete for the realm in the future, but compared to Third Young Master Xie, Xiao Xun only received everyone’s attention after ascending the throne. No one had thought that besides the imperial princes, there was actually a prince who could sit on the throne.

Xiao Xun and his father stayed far from the capital and kept a low profile—no one ever paid attention to them. Presumably the Crown Prince and Third Prince also didn’t take him seriously.

If Xiao Xun became famous now and was constantly talked about, the Crown Prince, Third Prince, and that Third Young Master Xie who would rebel in the future would inevitably keep their eyes on him—

As Chu Zhao reached this point in her thoughts, the tightly closed door opened. The girls’ voices and the gazes of everyone gathered nearby all flew over at once, landing on His Highness who walked out with measured steps.

Before anyone could speak, Xiao Xun spoke directly.

“I came to observe the literary gathering and didn’t want to disturb everyone,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the assembled people. “Therefore, I ask that everyone act as if I never came.”

This—

In just one short sentence, there seemed to be many implications.

Came to observe—on whose orders did he come?

And he directly said he didn’t want to disturb everyone, so act as if he never came.

Though curious, this involved the imperial family, especially in the current situation. One careless word could invite fatal disaster.

For a moment, those who wanted to ask didn’t dare ask, those who wanted to speak didn’t dare speak, fearing that opening their mouths carelessly would bring calamity upon themselves. The girls who had originally wanted to enthusiastically crowd around all stopped in their tracks.

Xiao Xun was indeed Xiao Xun—one sentence and he controlled the scene. No one dared ask half a question, and then he could leisurely depart, leaving behind countless speculations.

These speculations were unfavorable to the Chu family. Chu Zhao wasn’t afraid of that—she was afraid they would be favorable to the Chu family.

She couldn’t let Xiao Xun have an excuse to entangle the Chu family.

“Your Highness,” she stepped forward and said, curtsying. “Though we dare not disturb Your Highness in your duties, we cannot ignore Your Highness’s life-saving grace.”

After speaking, without waiting for Xiao Xun to respond, she turned her head and called out, “Linlong.”

……

……

Hearing Chu Zhao call for Linlong, everyone looked at this maidservant. The maidservant’s body trembled, her face pale. She had already washed and changed clothes and stood beside Chu Tang—and A’Le, who was even reaching out to support her.

“His Highness rescued her so timely,” A’Le had praised loudly earlier. “Linlong hasn’t suffered the slightest injury.”

Indeed she looked able to stand and walk. Just a maidservant—everyone didn’t pay much attention.

“How did you fall into the water for no reason?” a girl asked curiously.

Linlong was even more frightened, looking at Chu Tang, tears flowing uncontrollably: “Miss—”

What should she do? What should she say?

Chu Tang’s expression was helpless: “How could you be so careless? I told you not to rush, not to rush. You could have gone slowly to look for it.”

Though these words didn’t say much specifically, everyone seemed to understand—Chu Tang had assigned the maidservant a task, and the maidservant panicked and fell into the water—as for what task Chu Tang had assigned, it was unimportant.

Hearing these words, Linlong’s heart grew more panicked and she cried out her grievance inwardly. Of course she hadn’t panicked and lost her footing—she had been pushed down by A’Le.

According to Miss’s instructions, she had lured A’Le away to prevent her from ruining things. But A’Le had stepped on her skirt hem, tearing her dress—

“I’m truly sorry.” A’Le had stepped on her skirt with an arrogant attitude of apology.

In her heart, Linlong had slapped this country maidservant several times, but forced a smile on her face: “No matter, no matter.” She grabbed A’Le. “Just right—you come with me to change clothes.”

But A’Le untied a skirt from her own body—this country maidservant was actually wearing two skirts!

“I’ve made a fortune recently. Miss made many new clothes and gave me one too,” she said boastfully. “I can’t wear them all—I’ll lend you this one.”

Lend, not give. Linlong felt contempt in her heart. Stingy country people. Of course she knew Chu Zhao had made a fortune—all that money had passed through Miss Ah Tang’s hands—Miss Ah Tang was truly generous, giving it all to Chu Zhao without keeping a penny.

Though Chu Zhao had then given half back to Miss.

But in her opinion, there was no need for this. Miss did the accounts—whatever she gave Chu Zhao was what it was. It was Miss who worked hard anyway.

If Miss had made a fortune, she would also make many skirts and give them to her. So this skirt should have been hers by rights. Linlong didn’t stand on ceremony, saying “wonderful” with a smile, taking it and putting it on, determined not to return this skirt.

Miss Chu Zhao was about to have bad luck, and naturally this maidservant A’Le would too.

But just as she put on the skirt and hadn’t yet raised her head, A’Le grabbed her and kicked her into the lake.

She had been stunned at the time and was still stunned now. Earlier she was afraid because she fell into the water; now it was because the one who fell into the water shouldn’t have been her—

Miss—

But Miss had been following beside Chu Zhao the whole time, and A’Le beside them was still watching her like a hawk. She had been brought here under everyone’s gaze, with people everywhere—there was no way to explain to Miss.

Linlong knelt down crying: “This servant was at fault.”

Chu Zhao smiled: “Linlong, you shouldn’t kneel to Ah Tang.”

After she said this, A’Le reached out and pulled Linlong up.

“You should kneel to His Highness,” Chu Zhao said.

A’Le pressed Linlong back to the ground, facing Xiao Xun’s direction.

Linlong was completely dazed from being pulled around, but she did know that kneeling to Prince Zhongshan was proper. She prostrated herself on the ground, crying and kowtowing repeatedly in thanks.

Xiao Xun nodded, his gaze not looking at the maidservant but only at Chu Zhao: “It was merely a small effort—”

“Though it was a small effort for Your Highness, for us, especially for this maidservant, it is the grace of giving life anew,” Chu Zhao said. “We should express our gratitude. Sister Ah Tang, prepare a gift of thanks.”

Chu Tang responded from behind: “Naturally so. I’ll go prepare it right away.”

Xiao Xun didn’t refuse: “Since it’s the young lady’s kind intention, I’ll accept it.”

“Moreover, a life-saving grace should be repaid like a gushing spring,” Chu Zhao said.

Xiao Xun almost laughed. This girl actually knew about repaying life-saving grace like a gushing spring.

However—

The next moment, Xiao Xun thought of something, but had no chance to speak. That girl had already spoken first.

“Linlong,” she called. “You need not wait for the next life to repay this debt with grass and ring. Go serve His Highness now. Your life was saved by His Highness, so dedicate the rest of your life to His Highness.”

What? Linlong’s head shot up, disbelief on her face.

Xiao Xun shook his head: “That’s not necessary.” He looked at the girl with a slight smile, deep dimples showing. “Your family’s servant—having the master express thanks is sufficient.”

Chu Zhao bowed again: “Your Highness, please don’t be polite. This is our sincere intention. If Your Highness won’t accept—” She smiled with pursed lips, looking at Xiao Xun. “Is it because one servant to repay the debt isn’t enough?”

These words were somewhat—

Murmurs of discussion arose from the surrounding people.