When Chu Zhao returned home, Chu Ke had already arrived first. Seeing her son in such a state, Jiang Shi was terrified. Chu Ke originally didn’t want to say anything, but the more he was questioned, the more aggrieved he felt. In tears, he recounted what had happened.
To be beaten by Chu Zhao in broad daylight in front of everyone, and to have the invitation to the Third Prince’s literary gathering snatched away—Jiang Shi nearly fainted from anger. Chu Tang was shocked, and Chu Lan flew into a rage.
“Isn’t Chu Zhao confined to her quarters? When did she leave the house?”
The maids from Chu Zhao’s side felt wronged and helpless. “Miss Zhao closed her door and wouldn’t let us in. We didn’t dare enter. We didn’t know she wasn’t home.”
Jiang Shi burned with fury. “Whose house is this! You listen to her? What do you mean you didn’t dare? Do you have any regard for me at all?”
The maids and servants immediately pleaded for forgiveness.
Chu Tang quietly left and came to wait by the courtyard wall near Chu Zhao’s small courtyard. Sure enough, before long, she saw Chu Zhao and A’Le climbing over the wall.
“You’re back,” Chu Tang greeted them.
A’Le was somewhat wary, but Chu Zhao responded calmly with an acknowledgment.
“Big Brother is back. Father and Mother are furious,” Chu Tang said.
Was this informing on them or warning them? A’Le looked at Chu Tang with some surprise, but Chu Zhao was unfazed, nodding. “That’s not surprising.”
Chu Tang asked curiously, “Did you really hit Big Brother?”
“I did. He cursed my father in front of everyone. Of course I had to teach him a lesson,” Chu Zhao said, looking at Chu Tang. “I said before—if anyone dares to humiliate my father in front of me, I won’t let them off.”
Chu Tang smiled. “Don’t look at me like that. I remember.” She asked again, “You snatched Big Brother’s invitation?”
Chu Zhao pulled out the invitation and waved it. “He’s not even as good as you or me, yet the Third Prince gave him a literary invitation. Don’t you think there’s something wrong with that?”
These words made Chu Tang happy, yet she felt she shouldn’t be happy. Of course Chu Ke wasn’t as good as her, but was Chu Zhao also putting herself on the same level?
She also found it strange that her brother had received the literary invitation.
“You mean it’s because of Uncle,” she said.
Uncle was that impressive? Why had no one mentioned it before? Whenever he was mentioned, it was with disdain. Yet after Chu Zhao made this trip and returned, Uncle had suddenly become highly sought after?
Even the Third Prince gave him face?
Chu Tang’s expression was half-smiling.
Chu Zhao could tell what Chu Tang was thinking but didn’t feel like explaining. She wasn’t showing off. If Father was being valued by the Third Prince, it was absolutely not a good thing.
That’s why she had to prevent Chu Ke from attending the literary gathering.
Who knew what traps awaited Chu Ke at the gathering? Framing Chu Ke would mean framing the Chu family, and it would surely be aimed at Father.
As she pondered, she heard chaotic footsteps accompanied by Chu Lan’s rebuke: “Chu Zhao! How dare you!”
Chu Tang gave Chu Zhao a sympathetic look, then turned to call out toward the approaching group. “Father, she’s back. I was just about to tell you.”
…
…
In the past, she had been particularly afraid of Uncle and Aunt’s reproach. The slightest sign of displeasure from them would make her uneasy.
Looking at it now, Uncle and Aunt’s anger and scolding really wasn’t anything at all.
The scolding lasted half a day. Chu Zhao sat indoors, washed her hands, drank tea, and even found time to eat a few bites of snacks.
No matter what Uncle and Aunt said, she only said two things.
“Chu Ke insulted my father first. If he dares insult my father, I dare beat him. Even if my father were here, beating him would be perfectly justified.”
“The literary gathering invitation—he lost it to me in a wager. A bet must be honored. A gentleman’s word is his bond.”
Uncle and Aunt had many things to say, going back and forth, either scolding or crying. Beyond that, they couldn’t actually beat her—and she wouldn’t stand obediently to be beaten either.
Whenever Chu Lan raised his voice or became more aggressive, Chu Zhao’s eyes would become guarded, and A’Le would glare at him menacingly. The two looked as if to say, “If you dare hit us, we’ll dare hit back.”
Chu Lan was a refined scholar. He really couldn’t bring himself to brawl with his niece.
Have the servants tie her up? That didn’t seem easy to do either. That maid was actually clutching a wooden rod, looking ready to strike someone. Who knew what chaos would ensue?
“Lock the door!” Chu Lan finally gave the order. “Don’t let her take another step outside.”
The courtyard gate was locked with several layers of locks, and the servants and maids were ordered to watch day and night.
“If you can’t keep watch over her again, don’t eat at my house. You’ll be sold off.”
However, the invitation to the Longing for Spring Garden literary gathering could not be retrieved.
“Big Brother can’t even beat me. What face does he have to attend the Third Prince’s literary gathering?” Chu Zhao said coldly from inside the door, slapping the invitation on the table. “If you insist on getting it back, then let Big Brother compete with me again. If he beats me, naturally I’ll return it to him. Uncle has already done his duty as father and teacher by raising and educating him. Must he even do his scholarly work for him?”
What kind of talk was this? Chu Lan flicked his sleeves and left in fury.
The small courtyard returned to quiet. A’Le shook the door and heard the locks rattle, along with the trembling voices of the servants and maids outside: “Miss Zhao, please don’t make things difficult for us.”
A’Le didn’t smash the door or climb the wall to make things difficult for these servants and maids. She only asked, “You will still bring us food, won’t you?”
The servants and maids breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, “Of course.” They even asked solicitously, “What would Miss Zhao like to eat?” They even asked A’Le, “What would you like to eat, miss?”
A’Le cheerfully returned to the room to find that Chu Zhao had already removed her hairpins and let down her hair, lying on the rocking chair to rest. Whenever she wasn’t showing joy or anger, the young miss’s expression always carried some sorrow.
It must be because she was scolded. The Great Master and Great Madam had been too harsh with the young miss.
If the General knew how the Great Master and Great Madam treated the young miss, he would surely be reluctant to send her back.
“Miss, don’t be sad,” she consoled softly.
Chu Zhao opened her eyes and smiled. “I’m not sad.” She reached out to gently stroke A’Le’s cheek. “I was just thinking—it turns out many things are only important if you care about them. If you don’t care, they’re nothing at all.”
What things? A’Le blinked in confusion but didn’t ask, only nodding vigorously. “That’s right.”
Yes, that’s right. In this life, she would never again be troubled or bound by others’ greed, anger, foolishness, resentment, or hatred.
Some people only break free from their constraints after dying once. Others are born never bound at all.
Xie Yanfang walked slowly into the Eastern Palace.
This was his second time coming to the Eastern Palace. The first time was when the Crown Princess married, when he had escorted his elder sister as her brother.
But he had been even more bashful than the bride herself, hiding behind others the entire time without conversing with anyone.
However, his brief appearance had left many people with unforgettable impressions.
Along the way, the people of the Eastern Palace—whether officials, palace maids, or eunuchs—all stopped in their tracks. Some greeted him warmly, while others watched quietly. Xie Yanfang passed through calmly and fearlessly.
The Crown Princess wore a palace gown that was neither new nor old, sitting on a brocade couch in the Eastern Palace garden pavilion, laying out half-bloomed spring flowers that the palace maids had picked.
“Elder Sister, are you making flower preserves?” Xie Yanfang asked, reaching out to help arrange the spring flowers. “With Elder Sister not at home, I can’t eat delicious flower cakes anymore.”
The Crown Princess raised her head, revealing features similar to Xie Yanfang’s but not as fine as his.
She smiled gently. “That’s just you being picky. Which of our sisters at home can’t make them?”
“Elder Sister is unique,” Xie Yanfang said. “Each sister’s flower preserves are different.”
The Crown Princess sighed softly. “All our sisters will eventually marry.” She looked up at him again with a half-smile. “If you want to eat flower preserves that never change in flavor, then take a wife and have her learn to make them.”
Xie Yanfang smiled, picking up a flower petal and putting it in his mouth. “Why go through all that trouble? I’ll just learn from Elder Sister and make them myself.”
The Crown Princess made a sound of dismissal and didn’t continue this topic.
“Uncle can’t control you, and I won’t either. I know you have your own ideas,” she said, having the palace maids carry away the flower racks. She asked, “Are you determined to decline the assignment the Crown Prince gave you?”
Xie Yanfang nodded. “To express my sincerity, I came in person.”
The Crown Princess frowned. “I selected this assignment beforehand. It won’t interfere with the Yang clan’s interests and would actually help them. Even this won’t do?”
Xie Yanfang shook his head. “It won’t do. Anyone in the world can help the Yang clan, except us.” He looked at the Crown Princess and said softly, “The Yang clan are the Crown Prince’s relatives, not ours.”
The Crown Princess understood. They couldn’t offend the Yang clan, but they also couldn’t get close to them. Either would displease the Crown Prince.
She held her hands and murmured, “Because I became Crown Princess, our Xie clan has no prospects for advancement?”
Xie Yanfang smiled. “Elder Sister, when has the Xie clan ever needed official positions or noble titles to rise to prominence?”