Chu Lan found it utterly baffling.
He was lying in his study reading as usual. Without official position, authority, or prospects, what else could he do but read?
Jiang Shi refused to go with him to the academy, disdaining that desolate mountain wilderness. He found it distasteful too, but what choice did he have?
However, from now on it would be different. The dead were paramount—this would earn the Emperor’s consideration of old affections, give the Chu family a proper official position. When a person died, all matters ended; the offense against the Emperor and crime of defiance would be swept aside—
Chu Lan took a sip of tea and let out a long, stifled breath.
A servant came to report: “Master, many people have arrived outside.”
Chu Lan was momentarily stunned. Although he held no official position, he was after all learned and talented, not without reputation. He had many acquaintances. Were these new friends or old coming to drink wine, have tea, and chat with him?
The servant had thought the same at first, but—
“They’re all strangers, and moreover, they said—” The servant glanced timidly at Chu Lan. “They’re looking for a daughter of the Chu family.”
Chu Lan was baffled. He knew his daughter A’Tang was intelligent, learned, and talented, with quite a reputation in the capital, but that was only fame among young ladies.
Jiang Shi, who had come upon hearing the news, was also puzzled. She thought they were Chu Lan’s guests and came to demand why he hadn’t informed her beforehand and was recklessly inviting people. She hadn’t expected they weren’t looking for Chu Lan, but for a daughter of the Chu family.
There had never been a crowd of people coming to the door looking for a family’s daughter. Except for marriage proposals, of course.
But for marriage proposals, a group of men wouldn’t all come to the door together either.
“It’s not about marriage.” Another servant ran in. Compared to the previous servant’s timidity, his expression was now alarmed. “Master, Madam, they say they want to compete with a daughter of the Chu family.”
Jiang Shi was even more confused. What did “compete” mean?
But Chu Lan instantly thought of something. He had felt something was wrong earlier, always sensing he’d provoked some trouble. So this was it!
The book he was holding dropped to the floor with a thud.
“The elder hasn’t left and now the younger comes again,” he shouted. “What calamity!”
……
……
“We’re here, we’re here,” Qi Leyun said, lifting the carriage curtain to look outside. “Hope Spring Garden really is crowded now.”
She glanced back at Chu Tang, who was huddled in the carriage, holding up a fan to hide her face.
“It’s not that serious, is it?” Qi Leyun said with amusement. “How could you be so unable to show your face?”
She was about to get out of the carriage, but Chu Tang pulled her back.
“There are too many people,” Chu Tang said. “Don’t go.”
Hope Spring Garden was originally an imperial villa where miscellaneous people weren’t allowed to approach, but the literary gathering had attracted countless scholars. At this moment, except for the palace gates guarded by the Imperial Guards, everywhere else was packed with people. There were even small merchants and vendors—people everywhere, a chaotic mix. If the two of them got out of the carriage, they would certainly be noticed.
Chu Tang sent a maid to get out instead.
Qi Leyun asked Chu Tang, “Are you overthinking this? How could something have gone wrong?”
Earlier at the wine shop, after being interrupted by that man, Chu Tang had said it was a case of mistaken identity. The young ladies hadn’t paid it much mind. They were beautiful and of noble birth—plenty of people made up various excuses to approach them. But with their family status and rank, accompanied by many maids and servants, they didn’t need to worry about anyone with ill intentions.
But Chu Tang had remained distracted. After the gathering ended and the other young ladies left, she pulled Qi Leyun aside.
“Something may have happened at my home,” she said in a low voice. “Please help me with a favor.”
Qi Leyun didn’t like Chu Tang, because Chu Tang always had that look of disdaining her.
But seeing Chu Tang clutching her sleeve with such an uneasy expression, she couldn’t help feeling smug. You look down on me but still have to ask for my help! She immediately agreed.
She had assumed Chu Tang was frightened by the man who suddenly appeared at the wine shop. Although Chu Tang played with them, her status and position weren’t as good as theirs, and she didn’t have luxurious carriages or servants for protection.
But instead of going home, Chu Tang got in her carriage to come to Hope Spring Garden. Along the way, Chu Tang didn’t speak, her expression grave, sighing from time to time, looking as if the sky were falling. This made Qi Leyun involuntarily nervous too.
“What enemy did you provoke?” Qi Leyun asked again.
Chu Tang looked at her. “Me? I provoked fate—fate gave me a sister.”
What nonsense was this? Qi Leyun glared, about to ask more when the maid came rushing back, her voice trembling: “Miss, Miss, this is terrible—”
The maid was scolded by Chu Tang to get in the carriage. The curtains and windows were all drawn, making the interior dim. The maid’s small face was pale.
“Miss A’Zhao’s name is at the entrance to Hope Spring Garden,” the maid said in a trembling voice. “It says that to enter Hope Spring Garden, one must defeat the daughter of the Chu family, Chu Zhao.”
Qi Leyun turned her head in shock and asked Chu Tang, “Chu Zhao is actually so talented? Even the Third Prince knows about her?”
“What talent?” Chu Tang covered her face with the fan. “This is revenge.”
As she had guessed.
“The Third Prince learned about Chu Zhao competing with my brother at the wine shop. She snatched my brother’s invitation, but that invitation was given to my brother by the Third Prince. By saying mediocrity doesn’t deserve it, she was calling the Third Prince unable to judge people properly.”
“The Third Prince got angry and wants revenge on her. She won against my brother through competition, so the Third Prince is making everyone compete with her!”
“Chu Zhao might have beaten my brother, but can she beat everyone?”
Qi Leyun recovered from her shock. After hearing this, she was even more dumbstruck. This really was—
Chu Tang grabbed her hand. “A’Yun, I can’t go home for now. Let me stay at your place.”
Who told her she was also surnamed Chu?
When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer!