Her words were pleasing to hear, yet also sincere.

Xie Yanfang could sense that she was relaxed in his presence.

She had been this way since their first meeting, as if she had known him for a long time.

Few people, whether men or women, could be so at ease when first meeting him.

Was this girl naive and carefree? Not at all. Children are naive and carefree, but they’re certainly nervous and constrained around strangers. Only those who have experienced much of the world and observed many people can achieve such ease.

Xie Yanfang looked at Chu Zhao and nodded with a smile: “Then I won’t be formal, Miss A-Zhao—” he called her by name, “I’ll handle this matter.”

Chu Zhao nodded happily: “Good, with Third Young Master involved, I feel reassured.”

Xie Yanfang smiled and said: “I also thank Miss A-Zhao for not making wild speculations and coming straight to ask when you heard the news. So forthright and candid—knowing such a Miss A-Zhao makes me feel reassured as well.”

Chu Zhao smiled and took her leave. Xie Yanfang rose to see her off, but Chu Zhao declined.

“May I go see A… Xie Yanlai?” Chu Zhao asked. “Regardless, this trouble was caused by the two of us. I should speak with him.”

Xie Yanfang smiled: “Miss A-Zhao needn’t worry about it.” He called out, “Take Miss A-Zhao to see Yanlai.”

A servant who had been keeping out of sight immediately emerged to guide Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao walked forward, and Xie Yanfang didn’t follow, standing in place to see her off.

A-Le happily greeted her at the doorway, urgently saying: “Young Miss, I just saw A-Jiu.”

He came by just now? Chu Zhao was surprised—why hadn’t she seen him?

“He probably came to find the Third Young Master, but when he saw you talking with him, he ran off to avoid trouble,” A-Le said. “I was about to tell him about this matter, to tell him not to talk nonsense, but I didn’t get the chance.”

Chu Zhao smiled and said: “It’s fine. I’ll go see him and tell him myself.”

A-Le nodded and followed Chu Zhao and the servant as they walked toward another courtyard.

After the girl disappeared from view, Xie Yanfang withdrew his gaze and returned to the waterside pavilion. Steward Cai also approached.

“So it was indeed the Crown Prince of Zhongshan?” he frowned and said. “What madness has seized the Crown Prince of Zhongshan? Have we offended him?”

“The Zhongshan King has sent his son to the capital—it would be strange if he didn’t cause trouble,” Xie Yanfang said, looking at the empty seat and teacup across from him with a smile. “However, we haven’t offended him, but someone has offended Miss Chu.”

Steward Cai was startled: “The Crown Prince of Zhongshan is targeting Miss Chu? Not the Crown Prince?”

“When you were investigating this matter, you should have found out how Yanlai and Miss Chu parted ways, right?” Xie Yanfang asked with a smile.

Steward Cai nodded: “They encountered the Crown Prince of Zhongshan. The Crown Prince of Zhongshan had been entrusted to find Miss Chu, and she had no choice but to return.”

“So, it’s understandable that there must have been conflict between the Crown Prince of Zhongshan and Miss Chu,” Xie Yanfang smiled. “And the reason Miss Chu said those words about life and death with Yanlai was because of the Crown Prince of Zhongshan.”

“We know this too. When we were investigating, one of Deng Yi’s attendants mentioned that Miss Chu was disrespectful toward the Crown Prince,” Steward Cai said. “But—”

But surely the Crown Prince wouldn’t hold a grudge against a young girl.

“Of course he doesn’t hold a grudge,” Xie Yanfang said. “And since arriving in the capital, he has interacted with Miss Chu the most. He has already visited Chu Garden twice, and, coincidentally, even rescued a drowning maid from the Chu household at Chu Garden.”

“Coincidentally”—this word had a different meaning in Steward Cai’s eyes.

There was something between the Crown Prince of Zhongshan and Miss Chu.

He frowned: “Miss Chu concealed her relationship with the Crown Prince. She’s deliberately using us as a shield!”

Xie Yanfang said: “Miss A-Zhao didn’t conceal anything. As soon as she arrived, she frankly told me that she said those words to Yanlai because of the Crown Prince.”

But after explaining this, what others might think afterward, whether right or wrong, she said nothing more.

Seeing him deep in thought, how happy the girl had been.

Xie Yanfang smiled slightly.

“This Miss Chu,” Steward Cai said with displeasure. “Young Master didn’t even question her and is doing as she wishes.”

“This is inconsequential,” Xie Yanfang said calmly. “The Crown Prince’s actions were indeed unfriendly toward our Xie family. As long as he’s unfriendly to us, we’ll certainly take action. As for what’s between him and Miss Chu, it’s none of our concern.”

Steward Cai shook his head helplessly: “Young Master knows best.” Then he asked, “So what’s the issue between Miss Chu and Yanlai?”

Previously, when she had stopped the punishment in the street, was it just to meet the Third Young Master Xie? Now he had some doubts.

Xie Yanfang laughed heartily: “Three men make a tiger. Steward Cai, you’ve also been misled by rumors. Those words really shouldn’t be taken seriously—Miss A-Zhao has already explained everything clearly.”

“I know not to take those words seriously,” Steward Cai said with a stern face. “But why didn’t Yanlai tell his family even about these inconsequential words? Yanlai’s feelings toward this Miss Chu are unusual.”

Xie Yanfang moved the tea set aside and took out thick letters and notes, casually saying: “Because in his eyes, they were just strangers passing by—no need to tell everyone.”

He paused at this point.

However, earlier, when he had mentioned that Yanlai never told the family about this matter, Miss A-Zhao immediately said that Yanlai had also never revealed his identity to her. After they had passed by like strangers, she only found out who he was when she saw him being punished on the street.

Thinking of this, he smiled.

These “strangers” were both kind-hearted.

He didn’t share these thoughts with Steward Cai.

Steward Cai continued: “Look, Miss Chu is still concerned about seeing Yanlai.”

Xie Yanfang looked at the somewhat agitated old man and asked: “Steward Cai, even if Yanlai and Miss Chu have an unusual relationship, so what?”

Steward Cai was taken aback. Yes, so what?

“It’s not like I have an unusual relationship with Miss Chu,” Xie Yanfang said, smiling at the old servant.

The Third Young Master has an unusual relationship with Miss Chu? What a joke!

Steward Cai glared at Xie Yanfang affectionately and took out another stack of letters and documents: “These need to be sent out today. Young Master must handle them before sunset.”

…

…

Chu Zhao stood in the room, looking at the young man lying face-down and motionless on the bed, showing only the back of his head to her—even more concealed than when he had worn a scarf and hat during their journey.

“Miss Chu,” a maid presented tea, “please have some tea.”

Chu Zhao smiled at her: “No need, I’ve already had some.”

Another maid brought over a round stool: “Miss Chu, please sit.”

Chu Zhao shook her head: “No need, I’ll stand.” She looked at the bed, “I can see more clearly standing.”

A maid approached the bedside and enthusiastically said: “Then let me pull back the covers for Miss, so you can see—”

Hearing this, Xie Yanlai, who had been pretending to sleep, could no longer contain himself.

“Who is the master here?” he asked. “Am I still in my own home?”

The maids retreated with suppressed smiles.

“Young Master, Miss Chu has brought medicine. She can tend to your wounds,” explained the maid who had wanted to pull back the covers.

Xie Yanlai laughed: “Are you suggesting that Third Brother hasn’t allowed anyone to treat my wounds?”

The maid’s face paled, and she lowered her head.

“So you’re this fierce at home too, even with girls,” Chu Zhao said. “You’re certainly consistent inside and out.”

Xie Yanlai gave her a cold look: “Miss Chu must be very popular walking down the street now, with everyone’s eyes on you. Are you satisfied, Miss Chu?”

He laughed heartily.

Chu Zhao made a sound of agreement, staring at him, and also smiled: “It’s just a pity that you can’t go out on the streets or leave home, so I’ve come especially to see this schadenfreude look of yours.”

The maids who had already retreated looked at each other—what were these two saying? Were they mocking each other?

Yet they seemed quite happy, mocking each other. The maids lowered their heads and retreated further.