The shopkeeper became even more efficient after saying this, personally accompanying Chu Zhao out and saying in a low voice: “Miss Chu, whenever Chu Garden holds another literary gathering, our Elegant Interest Pavilion 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 everyone’s gazes following her, with shrill screaming still coming from inside the door behind her.
“Chu Zhao—don’t run—you shameless wretch—you slut—”
The shop assistants and customers couldn’t help but look back inside, seeing that girl throwing a tantrum and wailing. Alas, comparing the two, what a contrast.
The Liang family’s servants hurriedly closed the door.
“Why close the door! Let everyone know about Chu Zhao’s shamelessness,” Liang Qin cried out.
“Enough,” Qi Leyun said. “Liang Qin, might doesn’t make right. If you have something to say, say it properly.”
How could she make this bigger if she spoke properly? She came here to cause a scene! Liang Qin covered her face and cried: “Who isn’t speaking properly? She has nothing to say—she even ran away.”
“A’Zhao didn’t run away. She said she was going to the Xie family to ask,” a girl said with dissatisfaction.
How had these people’s hearts become so twisted? Liang Qin couldn’t be bothered to pretend to cry. She lowered her sleeve and said angrily: “So what if she goes to the Xie family to ask? She and the Xie family have colluded—won’t they just say whatever they want?”
“A’Qin, since they’ve agreed with the Xie family, why do you need to make such a fuss?” a girl’s voice said softly. “Originally, you and the Xie family were only discussing marriage, right? It wasn’t even formally arranged, much less betrothed. How is it wrong for them not to be willing?”
The logic was sound, yet something was off. Liang Qin came to her senses and recognized that this was the same girl who had been using twisted logic all along!
She saw Chu Tang standing beside the girl at a glance.
“Chu Tang!” Liang Qin jumped up in fury. “You sisters are united in purpose. Why don’t you speak for yourself instead of borrowing others’ mouths?”
Called out by Liang Qin, Chu Tang didn’t deny it. Instead, she shrank back and said timidly: “It’s precisely because Chu Zhao and I are sisters that if I spoke up, it would look like I was bullying you.”
What kind of nonsense was this—you sisters were already bullying her!
This Chu Tang, who used to be so sisterly with her before, was now treating her like this.
Chu Zhao had run away, but she couldn’t let Chu Tang go.
Liang Qin lunged forward: “You sisters are both no good!”
This time all the girls surged forward. “A’Qin, you’ve really gone mad.” “Have you made enough of a scene!” “Is this how the Liang family raises their daughters!”
The private room descended into chaos. The Liang family’s servants and maids no longer hesitated and took Liang Qin away.
The girls looked at the mess everywhere, both angry and annoyed.
“But, did A’Zhao really go to the Xie family?” a girl leaned out the window to look outside. Chu Zhao’s carriage was no longer visible on the street.
Or had she actually just run away using this as an excuse?
“Of course she really went,” Qi Leyun said decisively. “With such a good opportunity, how could she not go? Maybe she can even force Third Master Xie into marriage.”
The girls who had been feeling gloomy couldn’t help but laugh at this remark.
“Qi Leyun, what nonsense are you spouting!”
“How is it nonsense? A’Zhao is rumored to be entangled with the Xie family’s son, her reputation sullied—shouldn’t Third Master Xie take responsibility?”
“That’s hilarious. What does this have to do with Third Master Xie? You really can fabricate anything.”
“Qi Leyun, I think you wish the rumors were about you instead, don’t you?”
……
……
Chu Zhao had indeed gone directly to the Xie family. Upon arriving at the gates, she announced her name and requested to see Third Master Xie. The doors opened smoothly, and without pause, she was led by servants toward the rear courtyard.
However, she didn’t see Xie Yanfang directly. The servant said the Third Master had some business and would come later. They settled her in the waterside pavilion, and maids brought tea and refreshments.
“Would Miss like to hear the qin?” a maid asked with a smile. “We can play for you.”
Chu Zhao thanked her: “That won’t be necessary.” She looked toward the pond water, where many fish were swimming about, colorful and quite beautiful. “I’ll just watch the fish.”
The maid then brought over fish food with a smile: “This is fish food specially prepared by our Third Master. The fish love it.”
Chu Zhao accepted it, and the maids withdrew, leaving her alone in the waterside pavilion.
Chu Zhao held the fish food and fed the fish. Sure enough, the fish quickly gathered around, swaying in the water like blooming flowers.
……
……
When Xie Yanfang arrived, he saw the scene of the girl playing with fish in the waterside pavilion.
The girl wore an apricot-colored dress with black hair gathered up, revealing her slender neck. She sat at the water’s edge with both feet dangling down, nearly touching the water’s surface, gently swaying. The shadow of her dress rippled in the water, drawing the fish to swim along.
She smiled faintly, revealing fine white teeth.
Xie Yanfang had seen many scenes of women at leisure—some glimpsed by chance, others deliberately arranged for him to see—but this moment was different from all the others.
The girl smiled slightly at the corners of her mouth, her eyes deep and distant, as if she were alone between heaven and earth, both unrestrained and solitary.
“Miss Chu,” Xie Yanfang spoke, breaking the scene.
Chu Zhao turned to look at him and smiled: “Third Master Xie.”
She lifted her feet from above the water, turned lightly, and returned to the interior of the pavilion.
Xie Yanfang walked in and spoke: “This matter wasn’t our doing.”
He knew Chu Zhao’s purpose for coming.
Chu Zhao said: “I know it wasn’t you.” She smiled again. “I also know who did it.”