The Crown Prince’s capture of a group of scholars did not cause panic in the capital. The Third Prince’s counterattack was to officially announce the beginning of the Wangchun Garden literary gathering, attracting even more people to flood into the capital.

The literary gathering will begin tomorrow.

Compared to her previous life, Chu Zhao thought for a moment but couldn’t recall whether it was the same or different.

In her previous life, the girls hadn’t participated, at most complaining a bit without further concern. She had cared even less, as she had been busy preparing for her engagement with Xiao Xun at the time. Her heart and eyes had been filled only with Xiao Xun; she wouldn’t have cared even if the sky fell.

Regarding the literary gathering, Chu Zhao hadn’t given it much consideration.

She had no choice in this matter. Although the Third Prince’s path to survival was nearly at its end, if she dared not attend now, the Third Prince would cut off her path to survival first.

The girls gathered daily, either at Chu Garden or at restaurants, reviewing records of previous competitions and improving their skills.

“Liang Siqing’s family has been sentenced, but they’ve all kept their lives,” Qi Leyun brought new information. “They’re being exiled to the border commandery.”

For the young girls, this was barely better than death. Some even murmured that if it were them, they would rather die quickly.

“Once gone, they probably won’t be able to return to the capital in this lifetime,” someone sighed.

Chu Zhao sat to the side, her face showing no reaction. Upon hearing these words, she glanced at the girl.

The other girls immediately noticed, and someone quickly nudged the speaking girl.

“What are you saying?” “Who’s to blame?” “It’s their fault for committing crimes.” “Although the women are pitiful, they enjoyed the glory before, so they must bear the calamity now.”

The girls spoke one after another.

They thought she was displeased at hearing sympathy for the Liang family, since one of the charges against the Liang family was spreading rumors for personal revenge, referring to the rumors about Chu Zhao and the Xie family’s son.

Chu Zhao smiled slightly, her feelings complex. She certainly didn’t pity the Liang family. What right did she have to pity others? In that lifetime, when she had met such a fate, she wondered if anyone had spared a word of pity for her.

The reason she glanced at that girl was because she recalled that in that lifetime, the Liang family, though disgraced and expelled from the capital, had still managed to return. Not only did they return, but they rose rapidly, even becoming imperial relatives.

As for this lifetime—

Chu Zhao’s fingers lightly stroked her teacup. Who could say?

“The Wangchun Garden literary gathering will begin tomorrow,” she told the girls. “But recently, many things have happened in the capital, and the situation is different from before. Everyone must be careful with their words and actions to avoid bringing trouble to their families.”

The girls nodded.

Qi Leyun snorted: “Chu Zhao, you’d better remember those words yourself. Aren’t you the one most likely to cause trouble?”

She sat down beside Chu Zhao.

“When the time comes, don’t get into a fight with the Third Prince.”

The girls all laughed, and Chu Zhao laughed too, poking Qi Leyun’s shoulder with her finger.

“I know,” she said with a smile. “A noble person knows when to advance and when to retreat, when not to back down, and when to yield. I’m well aware.”

Zhou Jiang, who excelled at chess—except when playing chess, Zhou Jiang remained as before, sitting inconspicuously in the crowd, rarely speaking and often overlooked—now unusually spoke up: “We’ve already proven ourselves at Chu Garden, showing the world not to underestimate us. That’s enough. We don’t need to compete in everything; doing so would be beneath us and would only invite ridicule for being just little girls.”

As she said this, the little girl thought for a moment, paused, then nodded again.

“However, if it’s chess, I absolutely must win.”

The girls who had been about to nod immediately collapsed with laughter.

“A-Jiang! Are you guiding us or corrupting us?”

But these two bursts of laughter dispersed the earlier somber atmosphere.

“Tomorrow we’ll go to Wangchun Garden,” Chu Zhao said. “Everyone should go home early to rest today.”

Qi Leyun laughed again: “What rest? We need to prepare clothes and accessories. The jewelry my mother ordered for me has arrived, and I want to try it on.”

The other girls also laughed, saying their clothes were ready and new accessories had been made. It was lively—after all, they were girls in their teens.

“Is that so?” Chu Zhao said with a smile. “Then I’ll go shopping too and buy some nice things.”

The girls dispersed from the restaurant and went their separate ways. Chu Zhao indeed didn’t go straight home but took A-Le to go shopping.

A-Le said, “Miss Tang has prepared clothes and jewelry for you, but of course you can buy more if you wish.”

“I’m not buying clothes or jewelry,” Chu Zhao said. “Let’s visit some medicine shops.”

A-Le was stunned for a moment, then realized: “For A-Jiu? The medicine pills from last time aren’t finished yet. Taking too much medicine won’t help him recover faster.”

She wasn’t buying medicine for A-Jiu. She wanted to buy medicinal ingredients to keep at home as a precaution. After all, once the Wangchun Garden literary gathering ended, the major conflict between the princes would begin. Although she had warned Xie Yanfang, even if the Crown Prince struck first to eliminate the Third Prince, the conflict would inevitably be significant—

It was better to be prepared.

Just as Chu Zhao was about to explain, a familiar figure flashed before her eyes—

“A-Jiu!” she called out instinctively.

Before A-Le could react, Chu Zhao had already run off. She hurriedly followed.

…

…

Xie Yanlai was passing from one alley across the main street into another alley. In these few short steps, how could he have been spotted?

He frowned at the girl blocking his path.

“What are you doing?” he asked irritably.

Chu Zhao looked him over. The young man wore dark-colored clothes, black with hints of red, his belt adorned with gold threads—ordinary yet hiding luxury, the favorite attire of young men from noble families.

He looked completely different from when he was at the postal station.

This was the first time she had seen him in normal attire. The previous two times, once he had been beaten and in a sorry state, and once he had been lying in bed recovering, wearing loose plain clothes.

“You look quite different in proper clothes,” Chu Zhao said with a smile.

What kind of remark was that! Xie Yanlai sneered: “If Miss Chu can recognize me even in clothes, you must truly be unable to forget me.”

A-Le, who had just caught up, was stunned upon hearing this. What a thing to say!

“A-Jiu,” A-Le said angrily, “Our miss has been concerned about your injuries. She was specifically going to buy medicine for you.”

Chu Zhao smiled and didn’t deny it.

Xie Yanlai raised his phoenix eyes to look at the girl: “Is that so? Not bad, not bad. Buy plenty and take good care of your young master. There’ll be benefits for you.”

Chu Zhao immediately took out a letter: “Excellent! Then please do me the favor of delivering this letter to my father.”

Xie Yanlai was both annoyed and amused: “You carry a letter with you? Were you so certain you’d run into me anywhere, anytime?”

Chu Zhao smiled: “When I meet you, I don’t miss the opportunity.”

Xie Yanlai snorted, not taking the letter, waving his hand: “Move aside, move aside. I’m still injured and need to go back to recover.”

Chu Zhao didn’t stop him, stepping aside.

“Why have you come out?” she asked, looking at the young man’s back.

The young man’s shoulders and back were straight, and he didn’t look back: “I came out so Miss Chu could catch me.”

For someone like him, whether he could come out or not wasn’t his decision to make, was it? Chu Zhao didn’t tease him further.

“Does it hurt?” she asked softly.