These words went a bit too far.

The men around frowned. Chu Zhao had just improved a little, and now she didn’t know propriety again. More than not knowing propriety—was she trying to curry favor with Prince Zhongshan?

Was she saying that she, as the host, would also repay Prince Zhongshan’s kindness by personally serving him?

A young lady! What words to speak!

However, though the girls around felt somewhat uncomfortable because of these words, not all showed contempt and shame. Someone giggled.

“Chu Zhao, did you learn this from those young masters with impure thoughts?” Qi Leyun asked loudly. “Not learning the good things, but learning the bad.”

Hearing her say this, the other girls and the frowning men all paused, then remembered something.

Chu Garden was where women and men competed, but after all, many were of youthful age, and inevitably some had other thoughts. There was a Young Master Zhu who, after winning a competition against a young lady, actually sent a matchmaker to the lady’s home to express his admiration.

That young lady didn’t panic or become angry and ashamed. She told the matchmaker: “The young master only won against my talents, yet wants me to pledge myself to him. If that’s the case, countless people in this world could also marry the young master.”

When these words spread, naturally they became a joke.

However, soon after, another young master competed with a young lady and also had his family go to the lady’s home to propose marriage. This time he had lost to that young lady, but this didn’t prevent his devotion to her.

This young master’s family background was very good, and the young lady’s family was tempted.

But the girl was unmoved and told her parents: “I only came to compete, not to seek marriage.”

The young master wouldn’t give up, repeatedly stating that it was precisely because of the competition that he understood better—the young lady was his ideal companion, and he wished to spend their lives together.

The young lady smiled: “What you understand is only my talents. What the young master finds ideal is only my painting skills. If that’s the case, why not take me as your teacher? Once a teacher, always a teacher—that way we can also spend our lives together.”

This again became a joke.

Many women sneered coldly, saying Chu Garden was a place for competition, not a place to seek marriage—throwing back the words the Third Prince had used to scold the princesses.

The men also couldn’t stand it anymore and privately issued orders—no spring feelings allowed at Chu Garden’s literary gatherings. Literary gatherings were literary gatherings, competitions were competitions. In the past when men competed and exchanged skills with each other, did spring feelings ever ripple through their hearts?

If anyone else lacked restraint and embarrassed themselves, they shouldn’t expect to participate in any literary gatherings in the future. No one would compete or exchange skills with them.

Being ostracized by scholars would affect one’s prospects. Thus such incidents no longer occurred.

Even if someone encountered a young lady they admired at Chu Garden, they didn’t dare speak carelessly or tell others, only waiting until after the literary gathering to seek an opportunity.

When Qi Leyun shouted this at Chu Zhao, the meaning was that literary gatherings were literary gatherings, expressing gratitude was expressing gratitude. Having other thoughts beyond that was base.

Exchanging maidservants was an elegant affair—women could also do this for men. But if a woman also wanted to give herself—

The person who spoke such words was base, and wouldn’t the person who dared accept such words also be base?

Then it would no longer be a small effort, a life-saving grace, or gentlemanly conduct!

Xiao Xun of course understood this meaning. Looking at the girl across from him, his smile deepened, his dimples grew deeper: “Miss Chu jokes. Since that’s the case, it would be discourteous to refuse.” He raised his hand in salute. “I take my leave.”

Chu Zhao didn’t obstruct him further. She smiled in acknowledgment and bowed respectfully to see him off.

Linlong still knelt on the ground in a daze, not yet reacting. The verbal exchange between Miss Chu Zhao and His Highness just now—what did it mean? It seemed she had become Prince Zhongshan’s maidservant?

A’Le had already reached out and pulled her up again.

“Miss,” she called out loudly. “Should Linlong go with His Highness now, or shall we send her over later?”

Chu Zhao looked at Linlong and smiled slightly: “Linlong, I think you should go now. Familiarize yourself there. Your belongings will be sent over with the gift of thanks. By then you’ll be at His Highness’s side and can help receive and organize things.”

Linlong’s heart pounded. She couldn’t help but look at Xiao Xun. The young master was so beautiful and heroic, and moreover, he was a prince, an imperial family member, a person from heaven—

What Miss had schemed to achieve by falling into the water—wasn’t it precisely this very moment?

Now it had fallen to her.

As for how it fell to her—what did it matter! To hell with inquiring and pondering! To hell with explaining to Miss!

She, Linlong, was ascending to heaven!

“Yes.” Linlong also spoke loudly like A’Le, wanting everyone to hear. “This servant will go serve His Highness right away.”

After speaking, she didn’t need A’Le’s support but walked to Xiao Xun’s side on her own.

From beginning to end, Xiao Xun never looked at her once. He only glanced at Chu Zhao, and at Chu Tang standing behind Chu Zhao—half a glance. Was this round orchestrated by one, or two girls from the Chu family together?

Even if it was two girls, it was really still because of one girl. It must have been this girl who convinced the other.

Xiao Xun looked at Chu Zhao again. This was the first time he seriously looked at this girl. This time, besides her appearance and surname, he remembered other things as well.

“I take my leave,” he said. “Miss Chu.”

Not giving Chu Zhao another chance to speak, he strode away.

Linlong no longer showed the weakness of just having fallen into the water. She ran in small steps, following closely, without even glancing back at her mistress.

Chu Zhao also didn’t speak or obstruct them, bowing respectfully with everyone to see them off.

With this episode, everyone afterward had no mood for competitions. Many people knew about Prince Zhongshan coming to the capital, but because Prince Zhongshan had left the capital for decades, the capital’s people were very unfamiliar with the father and son.

After His Highness came to the capital, he lived in seclusion, not associating with anyone. Though he was in the capital, it was as if he didn’t exist.

Until today, when everyone finally saw him.

“His Highness is even more handsome than Prince Zhongshan,” some older people sighed, recalling the few times that young imperial prince had appeared.

Others didn’t reminisce about the past but discussed: “How long will His Highness stay in the capital this time?”

“His Highness hasn’t married yet,” others speculated in low voices. “Could it be His Majesty will arrange a marriage for him?”

In any case, there were more new topics. Some sat idly talking, others strolled and whispered. Chu Zhao made an even grander gesture of making all tea and refreshments free as a celebration of His Highness’s great presence.

Chu Zhao didn’t participate in these discussions. Using the excuse of preparing the gift of thanks and reporting to family elders among other matters, she left.

Chu Tang followed behind her the whole time. Chu Zhao didn’t drive her away, nor did she speak to her, until they entered the room and sat down.

“Do you have anything to say?” Chu Zhao said, looking at Chu Tang.

Chu Tang looked at the girl sitting at the desk and shook her head obediently: “I have nothing to say. What I would say, Ah Zhao, you already know.”

Things like admitting fault, making excuses—doing such things before clever people was extremely boring and laughable.

Chu Zhao smiled: “Then, Sister Ah Tang, do you have anything to ask?”

For instance, why was she pressed into the crevice in the artificial mountain? Why was Linlong kicked into the water? For instance, how did she know about all their arrangements?

Chu Tang was indeed curious about these things, but the events had already occurred—there was no need to ask anymore.

“No.” Chu Tang shook her head again, her expression more sincere than ever before. “Ah Zhao, I have nothing to ask. You don’t need to explain anything to me. From now on, whatever you say, I’ll listen to you.”

The cousin from that life who had beaten, scolded, and tried to assassinate her, who like a madwoman wouldn’t deign to speak a clear sentence—was completely different from the girl before her eyes.

How calm, how frank, how intelligent.

This was right. Cousin had always been a clever person. Getting along with such clever people was simplest—just let them know they couldn’t provoke you.

This blow would be enough to wake Chu Tang up.

Chu Zhao smiled.

“Since that’s the case, I won’t say much more about this matter. I’ll only tell you my purpose. Our Chu clan will absolutely never have any association or relationship with Prince Zhongshan.” She looked at Chu Tang and said gently, “If someone insists on doing so, I will certainly ensure that person no longer bears the Chu surname.”