That day when he came to Chu Garden, naturally it wasn’t truly at the Third Prince’s command, but the day he left Chu Garden, he immediately went to see the Third Prince.
“The Chu Garden literary gathering should end,” he told the Third Prince. “I went to see for myself, and if it continues like this, it will be disadvantageous to Third Imperial Brother.”
The Third Prince sneered coldly at the time: “I’m afraid of her? What do I have to fear? The Crown Prince is already disadvantageous to me—should I be so afraid that I immediately commit suicide?”
Xiao Xun smiled bitterly: “Third Imperial Brother, please don’t joke. What I mean is that making this bigger can be both good and bad—Third Imperial Brother should turn it into something good.”
The Third Prince glanced at him: “You’ve always been full of ideas since childhood. Tell me, how do we turn it into something good?”
“Of course, by rejoicing together with them, celebrating with all under heaven,” Xiao Xun said earnestly. “Third Imperial Brother is tolerant and magnanimous, accommodating a young lady’s actions.”
The Third Prince looked at him coldly: “I am neither tolerant nor magnanimous.”
“Then first handle the matter, then teach the young lady a lesson afterward,” Xiao Xun said with a smile, kneeling forward and shuffling a few steps closer to the Third Prince. “Third Imperial Brother, His Majesty is still waiting to see your literary gathering. You must hold it lively and joyfully, so His Majesty can also be happy.”
The Third Prince looked at him, his gaze sinister: “And you’re working so hard for me like this, is it also to be happy?”
Xiao Xun smiled bitterly: “Third Imperial Brother, this matter started because of me. If I hadn’t given that extra glance at the Chu family young master’s submission that day, none of this would have happened now. I came to the capital and caused such great trouble—I won’t be able to be happy for the rest of my life. So yes, I’m working this hard, and it truly is to be happy.”
The Third Prince laughed heartily.
He said: “This matter isn’t your fault—it was the Crown Prince who instigated it. He incited the imperial princesses to use that young lady to humiliate me.”
Xiao Xun said earnestly: “That’s why Third Imperial Brother mustn’t fall into the trap.”
The Third Prince glanced at him: “Fine, I understand. You came to the capital with such difficulty—we can’t let you suffer this fright.” With that, he summoned people. “Bring the invitations.”
Eunuchs carried in invitations and handed them to Xiao Xun.
At this moment, Xiao Xun stepped through the door again, his hands empty—the matter was already settled.
The Third Prince still had not the slightest bit of joy. A perfectly good literary gathering, stirred up into this mess.
“Just wait,” he said coldly. “I won’t let any of these people off!”
He raised an arrow in his hand, and the pot in the distance shattered on impact.
“Your Highness, since you can accommodate all under heaven, please also invite Young Master Xie San, the Crown Prince’s maternal cousin, to attend,” Xiao Xun suggested.
The Third Prince naturally knew of Xie Yanfang’s reputation and knew he had entered the capital, but the Third Prince hadn’t planned to invite him to the Wangchun Garden literary gathering.
The Crown Prince disdained his literary gathering, and he disdained the Crown Prince’s people coming.
But now—he couldn’t vent his anger on the Crown Prince, so the Crown Prince’s followers could bear it instead.
“Someone, go deliver my invitation to him,” the Third Prince said, full of malicious energy, sneering coldly. “If he doesn’t come, it means he has no regard for me, and I’ll have him driven from the capital, never to set foot in it again for life.”
Xiao Xun smiled: “Young Master Xie San surely won’t be so ignorant.”
A eunuch immediately took the invitation and left. In less than half an hour, the person returned, still holding the invitation—
The Third Prince’s face turned cold: “He’s just the Crown Prince’s maternal cousin, not the Crown Prince himself. If I killed him now, the Crown Prince wouldn’t make me pay with my life.”
The eunuch hastily said: “Your Highness, Young Master Xie San said something happened in his family, and he has no face to attend Your Highness’s literary gathering.”
Something happened?
Both the Third Prince and Xiao Xun were stunned. What happened to the Xie family?
……
……
The Chu Garden literary gathering had ended. Chu Garden returned to quiet, no longer with people coming and going, voices filling the air.
Chu Tang leaned against the railing and sighed softly: “It’s oddly deserted.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she heard footsteps and laughter from behind, girls calling out “Where’s Ah Zhao?” “Chu Zhao, hurry over.”
It was better when it was deserted. Chu Tang turned to look at the approaching girls: “Why are you at my house so early? To eat breakfast?”
“Are they still delivering treats from Zuixian Tower?” Qi Leyun rubbed her stomach. “I got used to eating them—it feels strange now that they’ve suddenly stopped.”
Chu Tang spat: “If they only deliver to you alone, it’ll be expensive.”
Qi Leyun grabbed her: “You miser, don’t think I don’t know how much money you made. Hurry up and treat me.”
The other girls also came forward laughing and joking.
“Sister Ah Tang is treating us,” Chu Zhao’s voice came from behind.
Chu Tang struggled out from among the girls: “In all the time we’ve known each other, who’s ever seen me treat anyone? I always eat and drink for free off others.”
The girls all laughed heartily.
“Then I’ll treat everyone,” Chu Zhao said with a smile. “We’re tired of Zuixian Tower—I’ll treat everyone to Yaqu Pavilion again.”
The girls immediately called out in delight. Chu Tang stared at Chu Zhao.
Chu Zhao glanced at her and said: “The money comes from my share.”
Chu Tang immediately beamed: “Great, great, I want to go too.”
The girls laughed again. Everyone knew that thanks to the Chu Garden literary gathering, Chu Zhao and Chu Tang had made quite a bit of money, so they didn’t stand on ceremony, clustering around Chu Zhao as they headed out.
Today’s Yaqu Pavilion wasn’t as lively as the last time they came.
Because Young Master Xie San wasn’t there.
However, with Miss Chu Zhao present, it stirred up new liveliness.
The shop attendants warmly welcomed them. Miss Chu Zhao reserved half the third floor. Hearing that Chu Zhao was hosting a banquet, other girls who were originally in the restaurant also ran up to take the opportunity to make her acquaintance.
On the third floor there was talking and laughing. The girls played music and composed poetry, wielding brushes with splashing ink, and even sent their works to customers on the first and second floors for appreciation.
The customers on the second and first floors all received fine wine that Chu Zhao gave as thanks for their appreciation. They didn’t find the girls’ actions annoying at all, and praised them one after another.
“One can imagine how lively the Wangchun Garden literary gathering will be.”
“Unfortunately, we can’t participate.”
“However, I heard that even if you don’t compete, you can still go to observe.”
“Really? Then I can’t miss this excitement.”
“Then let me also go toast this Miss Chu right now.”
Yaqu Pavilion became even livelier. The street also suddenly became very lively, with citizens all running in one direction, and people from shops along the street also looking in one direction.
Although now when they played together it wasn’t just listening to boring music and boring flattery, Qi Leyun would still occasionally get distracted looking at the street scenery. Leaning by the window, she was the first to notice the commotion on the street.
“Everyone look, what kind of person is coming?” she called to everyone.
Could it be Young Master Xie San?
Young Master Xie San rarely went out. In all his time in the capital, they’d only seen him once—truly only hearing his name without seeing the person.
Hearing Young Master Xie San’s name, the other girls also looked outside. Chu Zhao was no exception. These past days, A’Le had been constantly inquiring about Young Master Xie San’s affairs, but unfortunately, although she’d learned much, listening carefully revealed she’d learned nothing at all—
This Young Master Xie San was famous throughout the world, yet no one knew the slightest personal information about him—what he liked, what he did daily, what he excelled at, who his friends were—absolutely nothing was known.
This was a very cautious person. Chu Zhao was also more determined in her intention to make his acquaintance.
“Will Young Master San also participate in the Wangchun Garden literary gathering?”
“Then we’ll be able to compete on the same stage.”
The girls chattered and laughed, while looking at the street, seeing many people walking from afar.
Was it really Young Master Xie San going out?
“No, no,” maids who had gone to inquire returned, their expressions agitated.
Hearing it wasn’t him, more than half the girls withdrew their gazes, but were puzzled—if it wasn’t Young Master Xie San, why so agitated?
“But it’s people from Young Master Xie San’s household,” the maids said excitedly, then knitted their brows, pressing their hands to their chests, their expressions worried. “Young Master Xie San’s family members have caused great trouble. How anxious he must be right now.”