Xiao Xun could hear the clamor outside. This was Chu Garden—the rooms were built for viewing scenery and listening to rain, so the doors and windows all let in drafts.
Chu Zhao hadn’t sent him to the family residence, but instead, using the reason of needing immediate medical examination as quickly as possible, still kept him in Chu Garden.
“How could this happen?” Tie Ying frowned and said in a low voice. “Is Old Master Chu this stupid?”
He couldn’t even handle this small matter properly?
It was clearly said that the young lady would fall into the water—how did it become a maidservant?
Xiao Xun smiled: “It has nothing to do with Old Master Chu. Both he and I were outmaneuvered.”
Otherwise, how could that maidservant be wearing the same dress as Chu Zhao?
He was a very careful person. Before rescuing someone, he had confirmed—confirmed that Chu Zhao had walked over, confirmed what Chu Zhao was wearing—
Clearly the other party had also made sure he could see clearly and take the bait.
“Who?” Tie Ying frowned. “Could it be the Crown Prince?”
This matter required borrowing the Third Prince’s name, so was the Crown Prince dissatisfied? This was a serious matter—
Xiao Xun smiled and stood up from the bathtub: “Don’t think so much. This matter is very simple, and it wasn’t done by any important figure—just a young lady—”
A young lady? Tie Ying frowned, taking a cloth to dry Xiao Xun, then helping him dress in robes.
These robes had also just been sent over, but—
Tie Ying looked at the robes. Why did they look the same as what His Highness had worn before?
Not exactly identical—the fabric was somewhat inferior, but the style, color, and pattern looked no different at first glance from before.
Even the size fit properly.
The clothes sent over couldn’t be the servants’. Tie Ying had seen the Chu family’s master and young master—their builds were completely different from His Highness’s. His Highness was taller and larger than them.
Could these have been newly made immediately?
“Yes,” Xiao Xun said. He looked down at himself. “Specially made new for me.”
Then sent to him clearly and plainly, letting him see clearly.
Young ladies were formidable indeed.
“This time I was careless,” he said to Tie Ying. “It turns out that from the moment I arrived, they knew what I wanted to do and had prepared accordingly.”
Tie Ying was even more confused. He was about to ask when footsteps sounded outside the door, accompanied by a woman’s inquiry.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
It was Chu Zhao’s voice.
Xiao Xun had declined the physician’s offer to come in for examination, only requesting hot water to wash and change clothes.
“I’ve sent someone to invite a renowned physician again,” Chu Zhao said loudly from outside. “Your Highness, please rest assured.”
So loud—this wasn’t to reassure him, nor was it said for him to hear. It was said for those outside to hear. Xiao Xun smiled: “Miss Chu need not worry. Whether I need a physician after entering the water to save someone, Miss Chu should know very well. After all, you witnessed it yourself.”
He also raised his voice, as if wanting everyone else to hear.
The woman’s voice outside stopped.
Then light footsteps walked away.
Then the voice came from far away, low: “Your Highness is fine, everyone can rest assured.” “Your Highness says his swimming skills are excellent.”
Hearing Chu Zhao say this, the girls all breathed sighs of relief, their expressions becoming even more excited and curious.
“I didn’t expect His Highness to come.” “I knew he entered the capital, but His Highness never sees anyone—no one has seen him yet.” “He actually came to Chu Garden.” “Has he been watching for a long time? He must have seen me then, right?” “His Highness is truly good. Even though his swimming skills are excellent, many people wouldn’t react so quickly to rescue someone. He’s truly a heroic gentleman.”
The girls chattered and laughed.
Hearing this, Chu Zhao asked with a smile: “Qi Leyun, do you think Third Young Master Xie is better, or His Highness is better?”
Qi Leyun was startled, then snorted: “Both are good.”
Chu Zhao smiled: “Then in the future, talk more about His Highness. Don’t only remember Third Young Master Xie, or you’ll bury this heroic gentleman’s reputation.”
These two young masters would compete for the realm in the future, but compared to Third Young Master Xie, Xiao Xun only received everyone’s attention after ascending the throne. No one had thought that besides the imperial princes, there was actually a prince who could sit on the throne.
Xiao Xun and his father stayed far from the capital and kept a low profile—no one ever paid attention to them. Presumably the Crown Prince and Third Prince also didn’t take him seriously.
If Xiao Xun became famous now and was constantly talked about, the Crown Prince, Third Prince, and that Third Young Master Xie who would rebel in the future would inevitably keep their eyes on him—
As Chu Zhao reached this point in her thoughts, the tightly closed door opened. The girls’ voices and the gazes of everyone gathered nearby all flew over at once, landing on His Highness who walked out with measured steps.
Before anyone could speak, Xiao Xun spoke directly.
“I came to observe the literary gathering and didn’t want to disturb everyone,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the assembled people. “Therefore, I ask that everyone act as if I never came.”
This—
In just one short sentence, there seemed to be many implications.
Came to observe—on whose orders did he come?
And he directly said he didn’t want to disturb everyone, so act as if he never came.
Though curious, this involved the imperial family, especially in the current situation. One careless word could invite fatal disaster.