Ning Kun’s carriage emerged from the small alley onto the main street.

Today the street had few vehicles and people, so the driver let loose and sped along. But when passing through an intersection, a child about ten years old suddenly ran out.

The driver was caught off guard and reined in the horse, but the child had already rolled under the carriage.

“What happened!” Ning Kun jumped directly out of the carriage, his first instinct to scan the surroundings.

If the Prince’s people caused trouble here, they might not escape unscathed!

Was someone deliberately framing them?

Who was making a move? The Crown Prince? The Third Prince? Or the Emperor?

Countless thoughts flashed through Ning Kun’s mind in an instant. The guards hidden in front, behind, left, and right also converged toward this spot. But at that same moment, the child under the carriage whooshed out again and dashed toward the opposite side—

Agile as a rabbit.

Clearly completely unharmed.

Ning Kun stood there dumbfounded while the driver came to his senses.

“Whose child is this!” He raised his whip and shouted, “How can you run wild in the street!”

No one answered him. The child even turned back to make a face at him before disappearing into an alley.

Ning Kun looked around. The guards who had converged shook their heads at him, indicating nothing unusual in the surroundings.

It was just an accident.

All this happened very quickly. Few people around noticed, and those who did hadn’t had time to be alarmed before being startled by the child running away. They now joined the driver in complaining.

“Whose child is this!” “Outrageous!” “Don’t the adults at home supervise him!”

Ning Kun breathed a sigh of relief and shook his head: “Good that no one was hurt.”

With that, he got back in the carriage and signaled the driver to continue. However, he couldn’t help glancing back at that alley.

That child moved way too nimbly, didn’t he?

He had definitely felt the carriage strike something with a thud, yet the child was completely unharmed.

The carriage creaked away. The child in the alley also poked his head out, sticking his tongue out toward the street: “Consider yourself lucky, otherwise this young master—”

Before he could finish, someone behind him reached out and grabbed his ear: “Little Rabbit, why are you running around?”

The boy called Little Rabbit turned around and smiled ingratiatingly: “Sister Xiao Man, I wasn’t running around. I was helping everyone scout the terrain and familiarize ourselves with the environment.”

The girl behind him wore beautiful clothes and jewelry, just like the young ladies of wealthy families in the capital. But when she spoke, her tone was fierce: “There are soldiers everywhere here. If you sneak around causing trouble for everyone, I won’t forgive you.”

Little Rabbit was somewhat unconvinced: “I’m very capable. That carriage couldn’t even hit me.”

Better not to have mentioned it. Xiao Man raised her hand and tapped his forehead again: “What normal child wouldn’t get hit?!”

Would they? Little Rabbit blinked: “Even A’Bao at home who just learned to walk wouldn’t get hit, right?”

Xiao Man couldn’t be bothered arguing with him. She dragged him into the alley: “No need to scout. We only need to watch one person. The house has already been rented, right across from the Chu residence. We don’t need to go anywhere else.”

Little Rabbit’s expression grew excited again: “Sister Xiao Man, has Chu Zhao already gone to that garden place to fight? Can we go watch?”

Xiao Man rolled her eyes: “No. There are even more soldiers there, surrounded so tightly not even water can leak through. Stop causing trouble.”

Little Rabbit was very disappointed: “I wonder when we’ll get to see Chu Zhao fight.”

……

……

Ning Kun put aside the small street incident and returned to the post station to see Xiao Xun.

Xiao Xun was reading various manuscripts from the望Spring Garden literary gathering that Tie Ying had handed him. Of course, he only looked at those related to Chu Zhao.

Unfortunately, there were very few about that girl—almost none.

“The Prince should have gone to see in person,” Tie Ying said, then sneered coldly. “See how Miss Chu at望Spring Garden was like a completely different person—gentle and obedient like a little lamb. You wouldn’t recognize her, Prince.”

Xiao Xun smiled: “I would. As soon as she sees me, she becomes fierce. I didn’t go to the venue precisely to avoid conflict with her—not that I’m afraid of her, but to prevent being exploited by others.”

Like the Third Prince, or Xie Yanfang.

Especially Xie Yanfang, who had deliberately gone to Chu Garden and was waiting for him too.

Ning Kun entered and nodded upon hearing this: “The Prince is right. If Xie Yanfang clashed with the Prince, it would confirm that the Prince is allied with the Third Prince.”

He frowned as he spoke.

“I wonder if Xie Yanfang told the Crown Prince that you were the one who spread that rumor about the Xie family?”

“He won’t,” Xiao Xun said. “He knows that even if he told the Crown Prince, I have an explanation.”

A slight smile crossed his face.

“I’ll just say that when I rescued her from drowning, I fell for Miss Chu at first sight, couldn’t forget her after seeing her again, and hatred was born from jealousy—”

“What? Only the Xie family can care about that girl, but I can’t have emotions and desires?”

Romantic entanglements that blew up never looked good, and moreover, matters between men and women spread extremely easily. The Xie family was intent on secretly growing stronger under Yang’s illustrious shadow and definitely wouldn’t want public attention.

Ning Kun praised: “The Prince’s actions put people at ease.”

Xiao Xun glanced at him: “Since I put people at ease, why does Father still need to go give people money?”

Ning Kun laughed heartily: “This is called reinforcement. The Prince considers all aspects—only this way can we live up to the Prince’s wisdom and prevent his past tragedy from repeating.”

Father Prince had been so wise back then, but those around him hadn’t paid enough attention, resulting in the Empress Dowager easily moving to harm him.

Xiao Xun fell silent for a moment. When he was young in the capital, Father Prince had toiled in Zhongshan Commandery, scheming for him and ensuring he had protectors by his side—

During those years, all the money from Prince Zhongshan’s estate was spent on him. Only after he finally returned home did he discover that his younger brothers and sisters dressed and ate like commoners—

“Is this person Deng Yi worth spending so much on?” he asked.

Ning Kun said: “We can’t approach important people, and important people don’t care about our money. Only such minor figures both love money and can play a crucial role at key moments. Isn’t there that saying—a thousand-mile dike collapses from an ant hole. So yes, worth it.”

Xiao Xun pressed no further and said: “Then let Father Prince continue spending money while I sit leisurely at the post station.”

Ning Kun nodded, his expression grave as he said in a low voice: “The Capital Guard Camp is indeed not quite right.”

Xiao Xun spoke with some anticipation: “I wonder what kind of good show will unfold.”

……

……

The first day of the望Spring Garden literary gathering passed both lively and peacefully.

Lively because many people participated; peaceful because the scene wasn’t as intensely confrontational as the Chu Garden literary gathering had been at the start.

Chu Zhao also didn’t become a target of public criticism as predicted, nor did she fight back due to others’ contempt. All day she smiled, grinning at everyone she met—making people turn and walk away when they saw her—

“So happy because Master Xie Three is here,” Qi Leyun said with a curl of her lip, then rolled her eyes and leaned in to whisper, “We’re good sisters—tell me, do you really like Master Xie Three or Xie Yanlai?”

Chu Zhao laughed and pushed the young girl’s head away with her finger: “Qi Leyun, since when are we good sisters?”

With that, she walked away laughing.

Qi Leyun stamped her foot in frustration.

……

……

People, carriages, and horses streamed out of望Spring Garden.

But quite a few people stayed behind. Today’s outstanding participants were invited by the Third Prince to lodge at望Spring Garden and attend the evening banquet.

Of course, the young ladies were still not included.

However, the young ladies no longer minded.

Chu Zhao and Chu Tang walked out together with the other girls.

“Elder Sister,” Chu Zhao said, “take Qi Leyun’s carriage home.”

Before Chu Tang could respond, Qi Leyun huffed: “I’m not your good sister. Why should I take your orders?”

Chu Tang smiled and took her arm: “Then pity me for being abandoned by my good sister and take me home.” Without waiting for an answer, she pulled her away, not asking what Chu Zhao was going to do.

Chu Zhao wasn’t worried that Qi Leyun would kick Chu Tang out of the carriage. She took A’Le to their own carriage and instructed the driver: “To the Capital Guard Camp.”

The driver didn’t dare ask questions and drove toward the Capital Guard Camp as instructed.

“Miss, is it really Uncle Zhong who’s come?” A’Le asked excitedly for the umpteenth time while sitting in the carriage.

“Yes,” Chu Zhao said with a smile. “Unbelievable, right?”

A’Le cupped her face and squeezed hard, making a funny face: “Unbelievable—”

The carriage raced along quickly. As the curtain fluttered, A’Le’s peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a figure. She quickly stuck her head out the window and called: “A’Jiu!”

A’Jiu?

Chu Zhao hurriedly looked out and indeed saw a troop of Imperial Guards passing on the main road, among them a young man staring straight ahead.

The other Imperial Guards heard the shout and looked over, curiously examining the two girls in the carriage.

“It’s Chu Zhao,” someone said quietly.

Among them were several who had gone to watch the commotion at Chu Garden and recognized this girl.

When Chu Zhao’s name was called out, everyone’s eyes immediately turned to Xie Yanlai, their expressions meaningful—

The young man in dark Imperial Guard uniform with a bright red sash and long sword still stared straight ahead.

“A’Jiu,” Chu Zhao asked with a smile from the window, “your injury still hasn’t healed—why are you running around?”

Xie Yanlai didn’t even glance at her but looked at the sky instead: “Some people are truly arrogant. After fighting with people all day, they still won’t go home. Are they looking to cause more trouble?”

A’Le huffed: “A’Jiu, be nicer. We won’t bring you medicine anymore.”

Xie Yanlai laughed sharply and finally looked over: “That would be wonderful—my injury would heal faster.”

With that, he spurred his horse and galloped ahead, leaving behind his Imperial Guard companions and Chu Zhao’s carriage.

Chu Zhao didn’t mind. She withdrew her gaze and nodded with a smile at the other Imperial Guards.

The Imperial Guards also smiled and nodded at her without saying much, then carriages and horses crossed paths and went their separate ways.

The Imperial Guards caught up with the young man, and things became noisy. “Yanlai, so that’s Miss Chu.” “Miss Chu brings you medicine?” “Of course—Miss Chu publicly scolded Master Three in the street for Yanlai.”

No matter what they joked about, Xie Yanlai ignored it all, eyes forward, turning a deaf ear—until someone said, “Yanlai, you and Miss Chu really have a good relationship.”

Xie Yanlai’s head whipped toward that person: “Are you blind? Where do you see that she and I have a good relationship?”

The man said blankly: “Well, it seems quite good—chatting and laughing—”

“I chat and laugh with everyone I meet!” Xie Yanlai raised his eyebrows. “I joke around even more with Commandant Qi—do I have a good relationship with him?”

The Imperial Guard went “oh” at this. That was true—Xie Yanlai was rather unlikeable and didn’t have particularly good relationships with anyone. But unfortunately, his family background was impressive, his elder brother Master Xie Three had a great reputation, and Xie Yanlai himself was extremely sharp and slippery. Though people resented him, they couldn’t catch him in wrongdoing, so the superior officers could only tolerate him.

This guard was momentarily stumped, but the other Imperial Guards remained clear-headed and laughed: “How can men and women be the same? Yanlai, you treat Miss Liang and Miss Chu differently.”

Xie Yanlai scoffed: “How are they different? She’s also not as good-looking as me.”

The Imperial Guards roared with laughter.

Xie Yanlai galloped ahead amid the laughter. But there was something more different—if that girl heard him say she wasn’t as good-looking as him, what would she do?

She wouldn’t cry or feel ashamed and hide from people. She would only run over with a smile and say, “So what? Didn’t you still fall for my trick?”

Xie Yanlai couldn’t help looking back. The girl’s carriage had become a black dot on the main road, with the glow of sunset beyond.

So late—why was she still running around outside the city?

Didn’t she know how unpopular she was?

……

……

“This A’Jiu is really annoying!”

A’Le huffed, then shook her head smugly.

“From now on, we don’t need him anymore. We don’t have to curry favor with him.”

Chu Zhao smiled: “What are you saying? When we needed him, we never curried favor with him either.”

“But Miss, you protected him from getting beaten and made medicine for him,” A’Le said with raised eyebrows.

“That was encouragement,” Chu Zhao said.

A’Le laughed heartily.

Just as the last rays of sunset disappeared, they arrived at the Capital Guard Camp. Perhaps because of Master Xie Three, after giving their names, the heavily guarded Capital Guard Camp quickly made arrangements for her to meet her father’s men.

Unfortunately, she didn’t get to see Uncle Zhong.

The four soldiers weren’t strangers—both Chu Zhao and A’Le could call them by name.

“Vice Commander Zhong took people into the city to the Ministry of War,” they explained. “He’ll also visit some old friends and stay in the capital tonight, which will be more convenient for visiting you tomorrow, Miss.”

So that was it. Vice Commander Zhong wanted to see her as soon as possible, and she wanted to see Uncle Zhong too, but they had missed each other.

“Good, I’ll wait for him at home,” Chu Zhao said, then signaled A’Le. “Quick, bring out the things for the uncles.”

A’Le hurriedly brought bundles from the carriage: “We heard the news so suddenly, there wasn’t time to choose properly. We just bought some things by the roadside.”

The soldiers smiled as they accepted, thanking the young miss for her thoughtfulness: “We don’t lack anything. At the Capital Guard Camp—no, actually all along this journey, thanks to Miss’s blessings, we haven’t suffered the slightest grievance.”

What? Chu Zhao laughed heartily: “Uncles really know how to talk.”

“It’s not that we know how to talk—Miss A’Zhao, you truly are remarkable,” the soldiers said with expressions both touched and proud. “Miss A’Zhao is indeed the General’s daughter. Coming to the capital alone, you still carved out your own domain.”

Chu Zhao smiled but nearly shed tears. How was she remarkable? She had lost one life, lost everyone’s lives, to get to today—

“Uncles,” she said with a tearful smile, “I will become even more remarkable.”

A’Le nodded along: “Following Miss from now on, everyone will eat well, drink well, and not be bullied.”

The soldiers all smiled and said in unison: “Thank you, Miss.”

Since Vice Commander Zhong wasn’t there and it was getting late, the soldiers urged Chu Zhao to head back quickly to avoid being delayed entering the city and getting locked outside.

“Tomorrow Commander Zhong has important matters to discuss with Miss,” they said with smiles.

Chu Zhao didn’t linger and said: “Uncles come to the house too. I’ll host everyone at Chu Garden.”

The soldiers again responded in unison, watching as Chu Zhao and A’Le got in the carriage, seeing off the girl’s carriage.

Chu Zhao held up the curtain to look back. The figures standing in farewell disappeared into the night. She withdrew her gaze to look ahead, without the slightest sadness, only anticipation.

Tomorrow, she could see Uncle Zhong.

The day after tomorrow, she could go home with Uncle Zhong.

The day after that, she could see Father.

Expectation, hope—they truly made one happy. She raised her hand and called out loudly into the night.

A’Le laughed heartily and also howled a couple times.

Clear laughter from the girls rang out on the main road shrouded in night.

……

……

The hunting ground shrouded in night was even livelier than during the day.

Xiao Yu held a bamboo tube, blocked at the outer edge of the noisiest area.

Inside, burly strongmen wrestled while the Crown Prince sat among them, joining everyone in cheering. Beside them, countless singing and dancing girls sat in attendance.

Such a scene wasn’t suitable for children to approach.

“How much longer until Father finishes the banquet?” he could only ask longingly.

Eunuch Zhu said respectfully: “Soon, soon.”