"Second Brother, what did you want to tell me?"
In the back courtyard of the Prince's Residence.
Chen Cuo and Chen Jiao sat in a pavilion.
Half curious and half impatient, Chen Jiao asked, "Are you going to let me come to the Literary Gathering and bask in your glory? Oh, right! I heard from Chen He that the eminent monks admire you. Why not speak to them and let me bring my closest friends along to have a look?"
Chen Cuo smiled. "You can go if you like. Think of it as an outing. But don't cause them trouble. We'll be on someone else's turf, after all. When you decide to go, send someone to tell me, and I'll have Chen Hai deliver a calling card first."
"I'll remember, I'll remember! Second Brother is the best!" Chen Jiao brightened at once, then remembered something else. "Oh, there's something I wanted to tell you."
"Go on."
"My personal Lady's Maid is close to your Cui Ju. She went to your residence a few days ago and never came back. I sent someone to look for her, but they reported that even Cui Ju had disappeared. I haven't told Mother yet. You know what her temper is like..."
Chen Cuo frowned. He knew that no matter how they tried to hide it, Chen Cuo's Mother had surely found out already. "Leave this to me," he said. "You needn't ask any more questions. Let's get to the point. There are two things I wanted to discuss with you."
"Yes, Second Brother. I'm listening." Chen Jiao sat up straight, though a smile remained on her face.
"First, that Old Beggar from before the New Year." Chen Cuo noticed a flicker in Chen Jiao's eyes. "Could you let me take a look at the