When the sky was fully bright, Chu Zhao walked to the courtyard where Chu Lan and his wife resided.

Chu Tang stood in the corridor, and seeing her was quite displeased: “Atang, you’re here so late again, making Father and Mother wait for you to eat.”

Chu Lan sat inside the room, slapping the book in his hand on the table to express his rebuke.

“Azhao.” Jiang Shi said with a half-smile, “Have you forgotten the time for breakfast at home again?”

In the few days since Chu Zhao had returned, she came late every day. Even when servants were sent to urge her, the reply was always “coming, coming,” but she still arrived late.

Chu Zhao walked in and saw that more than half the dishes had already been cleared from the table.

“Your uncle and brother both have matters to attend to, so they ate first,” Jiang Shi said, beckoning Chu Tang to sit down. “Your sister and I waited for you.”

Chu Zhao washed her hands in the basin brought by a servant and said, “When I was at home, I always ate very late. I had to ride horses and practice archery, and only ate after finishing practice. From now on, let’s eat breakfast separately. Uncle and Aunt don’t need to wait for me.”

Chu Lan frowned in displeasure: “Before, it was just you and your father, two people. Now that you’re back home, you can’t be so unruly.”

Jiang Shi took over: “What your uncle means is that three meals a day are among the most important matters and also very important rules. Azhao, it’s fine to do as you please in your own home, but when you get married in the future, will you also eat alone? Won’t you care about your husband, your father-in-law, or your mother-in-law?”

Uncle and Aunt always sang in harmony like this. In the past, she had been both nervous and reassured, deeply believing their words and obeying them without question.

At this moment, Chu Zhao’s expression was indifferent: “As for that, we’ll talk about it when the time comes.” She even smiled, “Maybe I won’t have parents-in-law.”

What kind of talk was this! Chu Lan and Jiang Shi were stunned, and Chu Tang’s eyes widened even more.

Actually, it had been like this in her previous life. She had no father-in-law or mother-in-law. When the Emperor made Xiao Xun Crown Prince, he also issued an edict ordering Prince Zhongshan to commit suicide.

Prince Zhongshan died, the Emperor died, the Empress had long passed away, Noble Consort Zhao was convicted and beheaded, and she was the only one left powerful in the harem. Xiao Xun was busy with government affairs, so she had always eaten alone.

Later, the palace had more and more concubines. Those concubines would come to pay their respects to her and accompany her at meals, but she didn’t want to see them—

Over all those years, she had grown accustomed to eating alone.

Why think about those things? Chu Zhao gripped her chopsticks and directly decided: “Starting tomorrow, I’ll eat by myself. That way everyone saves trouble.”

She was already an unruly wild girl, and after going out on this trip, she had become completely unbridled upon returning.

Chu Lan slapped the table again: “Forget about breakfast—from now on, eat all your meals by yourself, and don’t go out anymore. That way you won’t cause more trouble, and everyone saves trouble.” He then called to Chu Tang, “Assign her lessons and make her study behind closed doors.”

Chu Tang stood and answered yes. Chu Zhao was indifferent, finishing her meal in two or three bites and putting down her bowl and chopsticks: “I take my leave.” With that, she turned and walked away.

“Look at her attitude,” Chu Lan was still angry.

Jiang Shi was also angry: “Her attitude is all because Second Uncle backs her up. Now she’s triumphant, casually hitting Magistrate Liang’s daughter and casually scolding Magistrate Liang’s wife. Since Second Uncle is so capable, why doesn’t he recover the money she squandered?”

Thinking of the money Chu Zhao had stolen being squandered made her heart ache so much she couldn’t eat.

Chu Ke walked in from outside: “Father, Mother, I’m going out.” Seeing his parents’ expressions, he asked, “Who are you angry with?”

Chu Tang sat at the table slowly eating and said, “Who else but Chu Zhao?”

Chu Ke snorted: “Why be angry with her? Just ignore her.”

Jiang Shi pulled him over and asked, “You just got back and haven’t recovered yet. Don’t rush out.”

Chu Lan glanced at him: “Don’t fall behind in your studies.”

Jiang Shi didn’t like hearing this: “Falling behind in his studies is also because of Chu Zhao. For her sake, Ake traveled for so many days, delaying his studies and exhausting his energy. Ake, you said Azhao gave all the money to those swindlers? Since it’s been investigated, why not recover it?”

Chu Ke’s eyes flickered slightly with evasion. Indeed, as Chu Zhao had said, he didn’t mention that after the money was recovered, it was stolen again by Chu Zhao. He only said it had been squandered by Chu Zhao from the beginning. In any case, this matter couldn’t be connected to him.

“I don’t know about that. It was that Deng Yi who was responsible,” he said.

This wasn’t exactly a lie—the money had indeed been given to Deng Yi by Chu Zhao.

And Deng Yi, his father also knew, was very greedy for money.

“I knew it,” Jiang Shi immediately said. “It must have been pocketed by that Deng Yi.” She turned and urged Chu Lan, “Go demand it back from him.”

How could Chu Lan be willing to deal with a petty person like Deng Yi again!

“I’ll write a letter to Second Brother,” he said solemnly. “If he can have His Majesty punish Magistrate Liang, naturally he should also get our family’s money back from Deng Yi.”

Speaking of this matter, Jiang Shi became even angrier: “Ask him again whether he’s going to care about Ake’s future prospects or not. First, he ruined your prospects, and now Ake’s are going to be destroyed in his hands too. Ask him whether he still bears the surname Chu or not.”

Chu Lan was vexed and irritated: “I know, I know.”

“It’s all because you, as the elder brother, lack authority. What good is knowing?” Jiang Shi said angrily. “Even if you know, you can’t control him.”

Seeing his parents arguing again, Chu Ke looked at his sister, and Chu Tang made a helpless expression at him.

“Father, Mother, let’s not talk about Second Uncle anymore,” Chu Ke said. “He’s unreliable, and we won’t rely on him. I’m going out not to play—the Third Prince is holding a literary gathering at Wangchun Garden.”

Hearing about the Third Prince, Jiang Shi and Chu Lan stopped arguing, and Chu Tang also stopped eating and put down her chopsticks.

“I’m going to see how to participate. Displaying talent is one aspect, but also, at the Third Prince’s literary gathering, Prince Zhongshan’s heir will definitely be able to attend. I have no opportunity to speak with the Third Prince, but I’ll see if I can get a word with Prince Zhongshan’s heir,” Chu Ke said, sighing. “He helped us tremendously this time. He’s a great benefactor to our family. Because of Chu Zhao’s rudeness, we haven’t been able to properly express our gratitude.”

Though he sighed, the young man’s eyes sparkled, full of energy and spirit.

Whether it was the Third Prince or Prince Zhongshan’s heir, both were imperial clan members. Jiang Shi, Chu Lan, and even Chu Tang all nodded.

“This is appropriate and necessary. Go quickly.”

……

……

Chu Zhao walked slowly back to her quarters, and the servants who had been gathered together chatting quickly fell silent.

“You may all leave,” Chu Zhao said. “Don’t come before me without my orders.”

The servants pursed their lips and dispersed in a rush.

A’Le ran forward to lift the door curtain for Chu Zhao, but Chu Zhao shook her head at her: “A’Le, you don’t need to serve me here either.”

A’Le was shocked: “Miss, you don’t want me again?”

Chu Zhao laughed: “No, don’t be afraid. I’m giving you a task.”

A’Le breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest: “Miss, please instruct me.”

Chu Zhao said, “I want you to watch the Great Master and Ake, see who they associate with, and also watch the household gate to see who comes to visit.”

She sighed at this point.

“I have no one else, only you. It’s hard on you.”

A’Le smiled: “Just watching people—what hardship is that? It’s much easier than washing clothes and sweeping floors. Don’t worry, Miss. I alone can do the work of ten people.”

Chu Zhao reached out, cupped A’Le’s face, and gently rubbed it: “This time, I must trouble A’Le.”