She shouldn’t have been laughing at a time like this.

The reason she laughed was that she recalled the scene from before.

A-Jiu had been suspicious of her identity, and they’d confronted each other by the riverside where she fell into the water. Then Xiao Xun rescued her, and to avoid being associated with Xiao Xun, she had grabbed A-Jiu and uttered those words about being together in life and death.

What expression had A-Jiu worn when she said those words? Was he as shocked as the girls in this room now?

Unfortunately, she had been buried in his arms then and couldn’t see his face.

However, if A-Jiu were present at this moment, his expression would certainly be one of schadenfreude. His phoenix eyes would be dancing, his lips curled in a punch-worthy smile, and he would laugh at her, saying, “Serves you right, you brought this on yourself.”

“A-Zhao,” Qi Leyun glared, “What are you laughing at? How can you laugh?”

A girl beside her whispered, “Maybe because it’s ridiculous.”

Is that so? Is it ridiculous? Is it false? The girls’ gazes remained fixed on Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao looked at Liang Qin with a smile, seeing through her intentions.

This rumor was aimed directly at her and deliberately delivered to Liang Qin, who needed it most.

Liang Qin didn’t want any explanation—

“Who said this?” Chu Zhao asked with a smile, neither denying nor explaining, but questioning.

Qi Leyun immediately followed up: “Yes, who did you hear it from? Making up lies to tarnish someone’s reputation is unacceptable.”

The girl standing beside Chu Tang, having received guidance, spoke again. Unlike Qi Leyun’s aggressive tone, hers carried a hint of sympathy: “A-Qin, I know you feel wronged, but don’t let others provoke you. As many people who gloated over your rejection by the Xie family son, there are just as many who envy and hate seeing Chu Zhao being honored as a distinguished guest by the Third Young Master Xie.”

That was a powerful statement.

The girls in the room showed looks of sudden realization—yes, that was exactly it.

After the Third Young Master Xie arrived in the capital, there were no female members in the Xie residence, leaving the city’s young ladies with no way to pay a visit. They could hardly be introduced to Third Young Master Xie through the Crown Princess, who had only met him once herself.

Chu Zhao was the first to be invited, or rather to barge in. Regardless of how, she had entered the Xie residence. Most crucially, Chu Zhao had been personally escorted out by Third Young Master Xie.

How many people would envy her for that?

Girls understood other girls’ tactics best—when they hate someone, they stir up trouble.

“A-Qin, who exactly told you this?”

“Tell us quickly, I want to see who could have heard such intimate words between others.”

The girls all pressed for answers.

Liang Qin was suddenly besieged. Her maids and servants couldn’t help but hold her tighter—perhaps they should take their young mistress home first? When they saw their young mistress rush out of the house, the madam had not allowed them to stop her. Was this acceptable?

What if another fight broke out?

Had all the family servants followed? Were the young masters also present?

Liang Qin grew so angry she could spit blood, furious that these girls still surrounded and protected Chu Zhao after hearing her words. She pushed away her maids and servants and stood up: “Everyone on the streets is saying it! Everyone is talking about it! Go and ask them! Go ask!”

Qi Leyun snorted: “I don’t believe the Xie family’s threshold has become a public street where anyone can hear what people say inside their home.”

“I never said they were talking at home,” Liang Qin shouted, glaring hatefully at Chu Zhao. “Who knows where these two hid to do such shameless things? There are no walls that don’t let wind through.”

Chu Zhao laughed coldly: “Such shameless things would certainly be done in secret. Besides us two, how could others easily overhear? If I didn’t spread this rumor, then the Xie family must have. I’ll go ask the Xie family right now what this is all about!”

With that, she strode toward the exit.

Liang Qin hadn’t expected her to leave so abruptly. Go question the Xie family?

“Don’t you dare run away!” Liang Qin shouted, lunging forward to grab Chu Zhao.

How could Chu Zhao let herself be caught? With a flick of her hand, the frail Liang Qin cried out as she fell backward, fortunately caught by her servants and maids. Chu Zhao continued walking away without looking back.

“Catch her,” Liang Qin shrieked, urging her maids and servants.

Before her attendants could move forward, a Liang family maid standing by the door was kicked away by A-Le.

“Don’t block my young mistress’s path,” she commanded.

All the maids crowding the doorway, regardless of which household they belonged to, immediately made way, watching as the mistress and servant pair strutted past.

Outside the door, many people had gathered—shop assistants hesitating whether to mediate the quarrel—oh my, Miss Chu had already competed in literary contests, yet still hadn’t forgotten to fight!

There were also many customers, pointing and whispering. Some were inquiring about what had happened, while others already knew something and were discussing it in hushed tones.

When they saw the girl striding out, the commotion momentarily froze.

A-Le raised her eyebrows and shouted: “Make way!”

Whether shop assistants or customers, everyone immediately stepped back.

Chu Zhao walked calmly with a composed expression.

“A-Le,” she said, “pay the bill. Our outing was ruined because of me, I can’t let everyone else pay.”

A-Le responded affirmatively. The shopkeeper, who was watching nearby, blurted out: “No rush, Miss, we can open an account for you—”

At Yaquige, only men could open accounts; women could only be added under their husbands’ or fathers’ names.

This was probably the first time Yaquige had opened an account for a woman.

Chu Zhao showed no nervousness, simply nodding: “Thank you. Put all of today’s expenses from the private room on my account.”

The shopkeeper, having finished his sentence, became even more efficient. He escorted Chu Zhao, whispering: “Miss Chu, whenever Chu Garden holds another literary gathering, Yaquige can provide tea and refreshments.”

Chu Zhao nodded: “Good, I’ll remember that.”

Accompanied by the shopkeeper and A-Le, she passed through the crowd and left, leaving behind many following gazes and shrieks from the girl inside.

“Chu Zhao—don’t run—you shameless creature—you slut—”

The shop assistants and customers couldn’t help but look inside again, seeing the girl throwing a tantrum and crying. Comparing the two, this one truly lacked dignity.

The Liang family servants hurriedly closed the door.

“Why are you closing the door? Let everyone know about Chu Zhao’s shamelessness!” Liang Qin cried.

“That’s enough,” Qi Leyun said. “Liang Qin, reason doesn’t lie in shouting. Speak properly if you have something to say.”

How could she make a big scene by speaking properly? She came to make a scene! Liang Qin covered her face and cried: “Who isn’t speaking properly? She had nothing to say and ran away.”

“How is A-Zhao running away? She said she was going to the Xie family to ask,” a girl said disapprovingly.

Where had these people’s minds gone? Liang Qin stopped pretending to cry, lowering her sleeve angrily: “What’s the use of going to the Xie family? She and the Xie family are in collusion; whatever they say goes!”

“A-Qin, if they’re already in agreement with the Xie family, why are you making such a fuss?” a girl said softly. “Initially, you and the Xie family were just discussing marriage, right? It wasn’t a formal engagement, much less a betrothal with gifts exchanged. Why couldn’t they change their minds?”

The reasoning made sense, but something was off. Liang Qin came to her senses and recognized this girl as the one who had been twisting words all along!

She spotted Chu Tang standing beside the girl.

“Chu Tang!” Liang Qin jumped up in anger. “You sisters are of one mind. Why not speak for yourself instead of borrowing others’ mouths?”

Having been pointed out, Chu Tang didn’t deny it. Instead, she retreated a bit and said timidly: “It’s precisely because Chu Zhao and I are sisters that if I spoke, it would seem like I was bullying you.”

What nonsense was this? You sisters were already bullying her!

This Chu Tang, who had once been so close to her as sisters, now treated her this way.

Chu Zhao had run off, but she wouldn’t let Chu Tang escape.

Liang Qin lunged at her: “You sisters are both no good!”

This time, all the girls rushed over: “A-Qin, you’ve truly gone mad.” “Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” “Is this the upbringing of the Liang family?”

Chaos erupted in the private room. The Liang family servants and maids hesitated no longer and took Liang Qin away.

The girls looked at the mess and felt both angry and annoyed.

“But did A-Zhao go to the Xie family?” a girl leaned out the window to look. Chu Zhao’s carriage was no longer visible on the street.

Or had she used this as an excuse to flee?

“Of course she went,” Qi Leyun said decisively. “How could she miss such a good opportunity? She might even force Third Young Master Xie into marriage.”

The previously annoyed girls burst into laughter at this remark.

“Qi Leyun, what nonsense are you talking?”

“How am I talking nonsense? A-Zhao’s reputation has been tarnished by rumors of impropriety with the Xie family son. Third Young Master Xie should take responsibility.”

“That’s hilarious! What does this have to do with Third Young Master Xie? You really can make things up.”

“Qi Leyun, I think you wish you were the one in the rumor!”

…

…

Chu Zhao truly went directly to the Xie residence. Upon arriving, she gave her name, asked to see Third Young Master Xie, and was successfully admitted. Without delay, a servant led her toward the back courtyard.

However, she didn’t immediately meet Xie Yanfang. The servant said the Third Young Master was busy with something and would come later. They settled her in a waterside pavilion, where maids brought tea and snacks.

“Would Miss like to hear music?” a maid asked with a smile. “We can play for Miss.”

Chu Zhao thanked her: “No need.” She looked toward the pond, where many colorful fish were swimming, quite a pretty sight. “I’ll just watch the fish.”

The maid smiled and brought over fish food: “This is special fish food prepared by our Third Young Master. The fish love it most.”

Chu Zhao accepted it, and the maids withdrew, leaving her alone in the pavilion.

Chu Zhao fed the fish, and sure enough, they quickly gathered around, swaying in the water like blooming flowers.

…

…

When Xie Yanfang arrived, he saw the scene of a girl playing with fish in the waterside pavilion.

The girl wore an apricot-colored dress with her black hair pinned up, revealing her slender neck. She sat at the water’s edge, her feet dangling close to the water surface, gently swaying. The reflection of her dress rippled in the water, attracting the fish to swim along.

She smiled softly, revealing fine white teeth.

Xie Yanfang had seen many scenes of women at play—some he chanced upon, others deliberately shown to him—but what he saw now was different from anything before.

The girl wore a faint smile, her eyes distant, as if she existed alone between heaven and earth, both uninhibited and solitary.

“Miss Chu,” Xie Yanfang broke the tableau with his voice.

Chu Zhao turned to look at him and smiled: “Third Young Master Xie.”

She lifted her feet from the water, turned lightly, and returned to the pavilion.

Xie Yanfang walked in and stated: “This matter was not our doing.”

He already knew why Chu Zhao had come.

Chu Zhao said: “I know it wasn’t you.” She smiled again, “I also know who did it.”