The one who came to Chu Garden was Xiao Xun.

This time, he didn’t come secretly but openly and adequately.

Seeing his arrival and hearing that the Chu Garden literary gathering would be discontinued, everyone became somewhat nervous.

Was Chu Zhao going to be punished?

The young ladies couldn’t help but stand beside Chu Zhao, squeezing her backward—

“Qi Leyun,” Chu Zhao said helplessly, “you’re stepping on my foot.”

Qi Leyun glared at her irritably: “Can’t you move away? Must you stand still and let me step on you?”

The men, unlike their usual schadenfreude, frowned with concern and scolded in low voices, “Everyone be quiet.”

These girls weren’t reading the situation correctly—truly troublesome.

Several young men stepped forward, bowed to Xiao Xun, and asked: “Young Master, this literary gathering began with scholarly contention. The gathering may end, but the contention cannot. Truth cannot be understood without discussion, principles cannot be clarified without debate. Studying and learning require such questioning and challenging.”

They were defending Chu Zhao, framing her actions as scholarly debate, minimizing the issue, and even trying to turn it into something positive.

Everyone had already forgotten their initial indignation upon hearing about this matter, and no longer felt this girl was arrogant and deserving of punishment.

This was what the girl had fought for with her efforts. Xiao Xun looked at Chu Zhao, realizing that surrendering and begging for mercy wouldn’t earn these scholars’ sympathy. Only by persevering and defeating one’s opponent, being treated as a worthy adversary, could one be viewed as an equal and receive assistance when needed.

Wasn’t he the same?

Now he was willing to look at this girl properly, no longer treating her casually.

“Everyone need not worry,” he smiled slightly, “The Chu Garden gathering is ending, but that doesn’t mean literary gatherings will cease. We’re simply changing venues. The Third Prince’s Wangchun Garden gathering invites Miss Chu to participate, and all of you may continue to exchange scholarly knowledge there.”

The maidservant standing beside him—the one who had fallen into the water and been rescued, the Chu family’s maid Lingrong—stepped forward with an invitation card and approached Chu Zhao.

“Miss Chu, your invitation,” she said with a smile.

A-Le stood nearby, pouting. This wretched girl had only been gone a few days and was already calling her “Miss Chu.”

The maids beside Chu Tang were even more upset.

“Sister Lingrong,” Dingdong said, “we’re still sorting your things. There’s too much, and we haven’t finished yet. Since you’re here today, would you like to take some with you?”

Lingrong glanced at her with a half-smile and said, “No need. Young Master has provided everything for me. These things of mine—just leave them as mementos for you sisters to divide among yourselves.”

Dingdong gnashed her teeth hatefully. This ungrateful creature had cast aside her former masters like worn-out shoes.

The young ladies paid no attention to the undercurrents between the maids. They all gathered around to look at the invitation card in Chu Zhao’s hand—it truly was an invitation to the Third Prince’s Wangchun Garden literary gathering.

Chu Zhao was no stranger to it; she had already received one earlier.

“Miss Chu,” Xiao Xun asked, “are you willing to come?”

He asked about her willingness, not her daring. Daring meant advancing with solitary courage, being a hero even in defeat. Willingness meant mutual consent—if one lost, one couldn’t blame the other.

Chu Zhao smiled. Whether it was about daring or willingness, the result was the same—she would go. What did she have to fear?

“Chu Zhao is willing to try,” she said.

Qi Leyun couldn’t help but ask Xiao Xun: “What about us? Don’t we get invitations?”

All the young ladies looked at Xiao Xun. They no longer feared this might bring trouble. Those men had just said it—literary gatherings were competitions of skill, with winners and losers, all about scholarly learning.

Xiao Xun smiled: “As for the other young ladies, you may all go together with Miss Chu’s invitation.”

The young ladies became even more delighted, each asking Chu Zhao to bring them along.

“Of course you’ll all come,” Chu Zhao said, smiling at Qi Leyun. “Qi Leyun, work harder these next few days. Don’t lose and embarrass us when the time comes.”

Qi Leyun spat: “You’d better worry about yourself first.”

All the young ladies laughed.

A young man nearby called out in a drawn-out voice: “Wangchun Garden is much larger than Chu Garden. If you lose there, the whole world will know.”

The young ladies weren’t afraid. They smiled and reminded the young man, “Sir, you should first secure an invitation to Wangchun Garden’s gathering. Otherwise, whether you win or lose, the world won’t know.”

The young man was stunned—he truly hadn’t received an invitation. His face immediately flushed red, and he flicked his sleeves as he left.

This time, none of the men spoke up for him. They only disdainfully remarked, “Where did he come from, pretending to be so arrogant?”

Even arrogance required real ability.

Laughter and chatter filled Chu Garden. After observing for a while, Chu Lan and Madam Jiang came out to welcome their guest.

“Young Master, please come inside to talk,” they said with a bow.

Xiao Xun glanced at Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao’s expression remained calm.

“Thank you,” Xiao Xun smiled, his dimples deep, “I came to deliver the Third Prince’s invitation, and now I must return to report.”

Chu Lan and Madam Jiang wanted to explain and beg for his forgiveness, but Xiao Xun refused. They became even more anxious but dared not force him to stay, and could only watch as Xiao Xun departed.

“Lingrong, Lingrong,” Madam Jiang grabbed Lingrong’s arm and said in a low voice, “Remember to speak well of our family before the Young Master.”

Whose family? This wasn’t her family anymore, and their good or bad fortune had nothing to do with her. Lingrong smiled gently: “Madam Chu, I am but a maidservant. How dare I speak freely before the Young Master?”

With that, she pushed away Madam Jiang’s hand and hurried to catch up with Xiao Xun.

Madam Jiang was furious. That little cheap slave! But for this little slave to dare treat her this way, could it be that the Young Master’s attitude toward them was unfavorable?

Meanwhile, Chu Lan was surrounded by others.

“Congratulations, Master Chu!” “Miss Chu has surpassed the master!” “Master Chu, it feels like we haven’t seen you for a long time. We’ve missed you dearly.”

Both acquaintances and strangers were speaking to Chu Lan, who squeezed out smiles in response. At any other time, such praise and flattery would have pleased him greatly. But now, especially since it came because of Chu Zhao, there wasn’t a trace of joy in his heart—back then, he had received no small amount of admiration because of Chu Li, but what happened? A moment of adulation, followed by endless misfortune.

…

…

Xiao Xun entered Wangchun Garden and arrived at where the Third Prince was. He found the Third Prince sitting alone in the hall, throwing arrows into a jar.

His expression was cold, his face wooden. Holding a large handful of arrows, he raised his hand and threw one—with a clink, the long-eared jar cracked.

A eunuch immediately stepped forward to place a new jar, then hastily retreated. One step too slow, and his life would have been forfeit.

The eunuchs and palace maids in the corridor all kept their heads lowered, not daring to make the slightest sound.

Not far away, the corpses of two eunuchs lay sprawled, arrows protruding from their bodies.

Blood stains remained on the steps where something had been dragged.

Xiao Xun remembered how the Third Prince had enjoyed throwing things at people when they were children.

Back then, they were young with little strength, so being hit only hurt slightly—it was childish mischief, and anyone who saw would just laugh.

Now, however, he had reached the point where he could casually harm others. But this behavior was not something people could easily witness anymore, and those who did would no longer laugh.

Xiao Xun acted as if he didn’t see the corpses, stepping over the blood on the stairs as he entered.

“Third Brother,” he said, “the matter has been taken care of.”