“I heard the people at the front lines threw stones at him!”
“Why let him ride in a carriage? Make him get out so we can throw things at him too!”
“Get out!”
“Xiao Xun, get out here!”
But no matter how much clamor there was, the heavy hanging curtains didn’t move a thread. When some people tried to throw things, the surrounding guards all drew their blades—probably fearing they might accidentally injure His Majesty.
After all, His Majesty’s dragon carriage was in front.
Everyone put away their thoughts of throwing things and instead shouted curses at Xiao Xun even louder.
Even from the excellent position in the high private room, one couldn’t see Xiao Xun inside the carriage.
A girl said: “I remember the first time I saw Prince Zhongshan’s heir was at Chu Garden. He also came to watch Chu Zhao’s literary gathering and even rescued a maidservant.”
These words stirred the girls’ memories. Whether it was the heir walking out of the water or the heir having changed clothes, he had been an elegant young gentleman whose appearance and bearing were not inferior to Third Master Xie—
“I really never imagined he was such a person,” a girl said indignantly.
Another girl said: “I felt at the time that his exterior didn’t match his interior. Have you forgotten? He was mixing with the Third Prince then. Coming to the Chu Garden literary gathering—who knows what intentions he had?”
Qi Leyun clapped her hands: “Whatever intentions he had, in the Empress’s hands he can’t make waves.” She leaned out to look: “Has the Empress arrived?”
Compared to the people’s excited anticipation of the Emperor, they were waiting for Chu Zhao. Qi Leyun had even firmly predicted that Chu Zhao would appear riding a horse and holding a blade, but her guess fell through. Everyone then thought she would be sitting with the Emperor, but looking at the Emperor’s carriage, there was only one silhouette inside—
Was she escorting behind Xiao Xun’s carriage?
From their elevated position with an expansive view, they saw at a glance that there were indeed people on horseback behind Xiao Xun’s carriage. They were mixed among the guards—at first glance unremarkable, but looking again, different from the guards. These were ordinary people, not wearing armor, not carrying weapons, and there were women—
A woman wore an apricot-colored dress, like a spring flower blooming on a branch amid the sea of dark guards.
“It’s—” Qi Leyun’s eyes widened. “Chu Tang!”
……
……
“Chu Tang!”
Amid the clamor, countless shrill female voices exploded in the air above. The people on the street were startled and looked up.
Chu Tang also raised her head, looking at the cluster of girls blooming like flowers at the windows of the buildings beside the street. She could clearly see the shock on their faces.
Chu Tang pursed her lips in a smile and raised her hand to wave at the girls—
“Chu Tang!” Qi Leyun was already shouting loudly. “Were you captured and escorted back!”
What nonsense! Chu Tang’s raised hand froze.