Because she was hard-won, pampered and cherished, Miss Tan rarely went out. In her daily life, she only associated with peers from family and friends—a narrow and limited circle. Yet even so, news still leaked out: Miss Tan had a bad temper.

She didn’t like to smile or joke, always keeping a cold expression.

Mischievous girls even gave her a nickname: the Cold-faced Jade Maiden—this “jade maiden” referring to the golden boy and jade maiden attendants beside Buddhist statues.

Because her mother had vowed to become a nun in exchange for her from the Buddha.

Chu Tang hadn’t been confident she would come. She had discussed with Chu Zhao that even if she didn’t come, they could use the pretext of delivering literary collections to find her afterwards, then enter the Tan family’s great residence and seek an opportunity to meet Master Tan.

Unexpectedly, she had actually come in person on this day. This was even better. As long as Miss Tan participated, whether she won or lost, it would be recorded in the literary collection. Then Chu Zhao could take the collection directly to meet Master Tan, praise his daughter, and wouldn’t even need to meet Miss Tan herself.

But who would have thought that her coming was the same as not coming at all.

Moreover, her words clearly showed she disliked this whole affair.

So if they went to deliver the literary collection next, would Miss Tan order them not to be admitted? Chu Zhao looked across. The commotion here had already drawn everyone in the hall’s attention. Chu Tang used her eyes to express concern to Chu Zhao.

“How dare you speak like that!”

“You have no ability yourself, yet you laugh at others?”

The girls who had come to participate in today’s literary gathering were all pampered daughters of their families—each had their own temper. Immediately many stood up, their brows raised in rebuke.

“Jade Maiden Tan, your family hired many teachers and praised you as learned, talented, well-read and reasonable,” someone even called her by her nickname directly. “Today, let us all see just how learned and talented you really are.”

Miss Tan had kept her eyes lowered, ignoring the previous questions, until she heard this last statement—

“What the hell are you!” She grabbed the teacup and threw it.

Because of the distance, the teacup didn’t hit the girl, falling to the ground with a sharp cracking sound, mixed with the girls’ screams.

Was a fight about to break out? Chu Zhao moved back a bit. Chu Tang also silently moved closer.

“Quite reminiscent of your style back in the day,” she said in a low voice.

Chu Zhao smiled with pursed lips, saying softly: “I was very timid at first. I only rose up to resist when you all bullied me beyond endurance.”

“It was just verbal sparring between girls—how can you call it bullying? Don’t keep bringing it up,” Chu Tang said in a low voice.

Indeed, compared to what she had experienced later, the girls’ quarrels really weren’t much. Her rising up wasn’t truly because of this. Chu Zhao said nothing, watching the girls in the hall with daggers drawn.

Neither she nor Chu Tang made any move to stop them. A fight would be fine too—it would give even more reason to go see Master Tan.

Chu Tang even used her eyes to ask Chu Zhao if she should add fuel to the fire.

“—What the hell am I? I, Zhang Jiao, may not be as learned and talented as you, Jade Maiden Tan, but I dare to compete with others on equal terms.”

Although Miss Tan had thrown the teacup looking like she would fight, the girl from before wasn’t frightened either. Her temper flaring, she didn’t back down.

Miss Tan laughed coldly. Her two maids protected her closely on either side, but she didn’t charge over to grapple with this young lady, nor did she have her maids charge over to fight. Instead, she sat down.

“So yes, I came to see just how capable you all are,” she said, raising her hand in a gesture. “You’d better not let me see a joke.”

The other girls all urged Miss Zhang: “Don’t pay attention to her.” “We came to have fun for ourselves.” “I heard that back then, Chu… um, someone even calmly wrote an admission of defeat, so what’s there to fear? Lose and you lose—don’t be arrogant in victory or discouraged in defeat.” “Come, come, A’Jiao, channel your energy into these characters and display your brilliance.”

The girls all sat down, and the tense atmosphere dissipated.

Chu Tang said to Chu Zhao in a low voice: “I was wrong. Not everyone can have Miss A’Zhao’s bearing.”

Chu Zhao suppressed her laughter, turned to fetch a new teacup, and walked over to Miss Tan’s side.

“Miss Tan,” she said softly. “Your tea.”

Miss Tan didn’t even lift her eyelids. She was about to say she wouldn’t drink it, but then saw the cup was empty. She paused, couldn’t help but lift her eyes, and saw a maid with delicate features and slightly dark skin.

The maid said nothing more and quietly withdrew.

Miss Tan withdrew her gaze, her lips pressing together slightly, grasping the teacup and slowly turning it in her hands.

…

…

Miss Tan indeed stayed until the very end. When the gathering dispersed in the evening and everyone walked out, the blue flags outside the shop representing the men’s victories far outnumbered the women’s red banners. However, the spectators outside didn’t jeer. Quite a few stopped to look carefully at the women’s works.

“This young lady’s calligraphy is really quite good—she’s practiced hard.”

“I didn’t expect women could also write essays.”

Hearing more praise than mockery, the gloom on the women’s faces dispersed. They smiled at each other. Of course, when they saw Miss Tan, everyone turned their eyes away.

“I suppose Miss Tan is quite satisfied watching our jokes,” one young lady snorted.

Miss Tan said: “Satisfied indeed. It was quite funny.” With that, she boarded her carriage surrounded by maids and servants.

The girls couldn’t help but whisper among themselves: “So that’s what kind of person she is.” “How can someone be so unlikeable?” “What does it matter if we like her or not? That great lady has everything she wants.” “I hope she doesn’t come next time. She really spoiled the mood.”

Sitting in her carriage, Miss Tan paid no heed. The carriage soon departed, leaving everything here behind.

…

…

In the night, the Tan family’s great residence was gently knocked upon.

Outside the gate stood a woman and two maids.

“I am the proprietor of Ximo Pavilion. Today Miss Tan participated in the literary gathering and left in a hurry. We need to compile everything into a volume and need the young lady to sign her work. We’ve come to trouble you once more,” the woman said respectfully. The maid beside her held up the collection for the gatekeeper to see.

Matters involving the young miss were not to be taken lightly, so the gatekeeper hurriedly informed the steward of the front courtyard.

The young miss going out required the master’s permission, so the steward knew she had indeed attended Ximo Pavilion’s literary gathering today. Since the young lady was willing to go to this gathering, it showed she cared about it. So he called over a maid and gave her a token: “Take them to see the young lady.”

The three followed this maid inside. The Tan family’s gate closed. Shadows flickered and danced. Around the entire residence, many figures seemed to emerge, enveloping the Tan household together with the night.

…

…

Miss Tan’s courtyard was very quiet. Apart from two maids standing attendance in the corridor, hardly anyone else could be seen.

Miss Tan wasn’t in the room either.

Xiao Man noiselessly flipped down from the roof, coming before Chu Zhao and the Ximo Pavilion proprietor at the side corner of the building.

By the jumping lamplight from the corridor, one could see that Xiao Man had already changed into the outfit of the Tan family maid who had led them in.

“She’s crying in the study in the back,” she said in a low voice.

The proprietor woman said in a low voice: “Leave this to me. You go see Master Tan.”

But Chu Zhao didn’t leave immediately. She hesitated and asked: “Why is she crying?”

Because she was bullied at the literary gathering? Not really—if anything, she had bullied others.

Xiao Man frowned: “Who cares about her?”

They hadn’t come for Miss Tan anyway. They were just using the pretext of finding Miss Tan to enter, then using Miss Tan’s name as an excuse to deliver the collection to her father. Then, if negotiations broke down, they could hint to Master Tan that Miss Tan was in their hands—

Whether Miss Tan was crying or laughing was irrelevant.

But Chu Zhao still didn’t move, saying: “Let’s go take a look.”

…

…

This study was both luxurious and spacious. It was almost impossible to see through the window cracks. Several rows of bookshelves were filled with volumes.

Chu Zhao recalled what that young lady at the literary gathering had said—Miss Tan had hired many teachers and was learned and talented. It seemed it wasn’t a joke.

At this moment, Miss Tan sat on the floor, hugging her knees and sobbing. A maid knelt beside her, trying to comfort her.

“Jade Maiden, Jade Maiden—I’d rather they call me Ghost Maiden,” Miss Tan wept and murmured.

The maid said: “Miss, don’t say such things. They’re jealous of you. You were bestowed by the Buddha.”

“If the Buddha was truly moved by my parents, why didn’t he bestow a golden boy? Why did he bestow me, a daughter?” Miss Tan raised her head, her eyes red and swollen. “What my parents wanted wasn’t a daughter, but a son. What use is this jade maiden!”

The maid didn’t dare answer this, hurriedly changing the subject: “Miss, don’t be upset. This servant knows you’re truly very capable. None of the poetry, calligraphy, or paintings done today by anyone present could compare to yours. Miss, you just disdained to show off.”

Tears rolled down Miss Tan’s face: “Capable? So what if I’m capable? I’m learned and talented, and I can also—” She reached behind herself, pulling out a small wooden boat. With tears streaming, she looked at the boat. “I can also build ships, but so what? I’m a daughter. I can’t continue the family line, so I’m nothing—”

“My greatest use is to make a good marriage for the Tan family, to win over a son-in-law.”

“This doesn’t require me to be learned or talented, nor does it require me to master the Tan family’s secret techniques. No matter how learned, talented, or capable I am, what use is it—”

She gripped the wooden boat and smashed it hard against the ground. The boat shattered, wooden splinters piercing her hand.

The maid screamed, grabbing her arm: “Miss, don’t hurt yourself.”

Miss Tan shook her off, not protecting her injured hand, but hurriedly gathering up the shattered wooden boat.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken my temper out on you. You’re innocent.”

She held the shattered wooden boat up before her eyes.

“Though I’m not the world’s treasure, you are my treasures. I will cherish you.”

She pulled out a chest from under the bookshelf and dumped out a pile of tools—rope, knives, chisels, rulers, and more scattered across the floor.

Miss Tan began carefully repairing the broken wooden boat, completely ignoring the blood on her hands, her eyes shining bright.

The maid beside her covered her mouth, not daring to advise or disturb her.

This was the young lady’s happiest moment. Let her immerse herself in this brief joy.

…

…

Xiao Man gently poked Chu Zhao from behind.

Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze to look at her.

Xiao Man jerked her head, her brow tightly furrowed, her eyes urging: “Let’s go! If we delay any longer, it’ll be too late.”

“I’ve changed my mind,” Chu Zhao said to her in a low voice. “I’m not going to see Master Tan. I want to see Miss Tan.”

Xiao Man’s eyes widened. This wasn’t what everyone had discussed earlier!

Could it be, as Chu Tang had joked, that A’Zhao actually wanted to seduce Miss Tan?

So what if she seduced Miss Tan? Miss Tan didn’t make decisions for family matters. Besides, although Miss Tan was the only daughter, when it involved the family’s future, her life and safety might not even be enough to threaten Master Tan.

Before she could speak, Chu Zhao had already turned and in two or three steps reached the study door, reaching out to push it open.

The maid inside the study was startled and raised her head, while Miss Tan hadn’t even heard, focused intently on working on the wooden boat.

Chu Zhao stepped inside and casually closed the door behind her.

“Who are you!” the maid finally came to her senses and shouted.

Because of this shout, Miss Tan’s gaze also shifted over.

“You are—” she said. “That maid from Ximo Pavilion.”

Chu Zhao smiled: “Miss Tan still remembers me.”

Miss Tan said: “I have a good memory. I never forget what I see.” With that, she no longer looked at her and continued looking at her boat.

“What do you want?” The maid blocked Miss Tan, her expression guarded.

“Miss Tan,” Chu Zhao took a step forward, getting straight to the point. “I want to discuss a transaction with you.”

Miss Tan didn’t raise her head: “I know your purpose. Go find my father.” She added as a reminder: “But don’t ask for too much. I can’t exchange for everything with my father.”

What an intelligent and interesting girl. Chu Zhao smiled. Before the maid could make a desperate move, she sat down on the floor.

“I originally thought the same, but now I believe that to complete this transaction with the Tan family, persuading you, Miss Tan, is the key,” she said. “Only you can make your family go all out. Even your father might not be able to do it.”

Miss Tan still didn’t look at her: “You overestimate me. Though I’m surnamed Tan, I cannot make decisions for the Tan family.”

“I know, which is why I said your family,” Chu Zhao said. “Making the Tan family truly become your home.”

Miss Tan’s hands paused. She raised her eyes to look at her.

Chu Zhao looked at her and continued.

“A home where you’re in charge.”

“A home where you can be in charge like a man.”

“Where you can establish yourself and make your own way, holding it in your own hands.”

“Only such a home that belongs to you can go all out together with me.”

…

…

The study fell quiet for a moment.

The maid stood dumbly to the side, even forgetting to call for help.

Miss Tan gripped the wooden boat. Blood from her hand dripped down, staining a corner of her clothing red. She suddenly laughed softly.

When the cold-faced girl smiled, she became bright and lovely.

“Young lady, you clearly understand my pain,” she said, her voice seeming to soften. “Your words are very tempting, but you can’t seduce me.”

At this, she looked Chu Zhao up and down, some regret in her eyes.

“If you were a man, brave, resourceful, bold and knowledgeable, and we formed a marriage bond, borrowing your male name to let me establish myself in the Tan family, I would be willing to try.”

“But you’re a woman like me. How can I trust you?”

Chu Zhao reached up to touch her face: “Probably because what I want to do is actually the same as what I’m promising you.”

Miss Tan seemed somewhat puzzled.

“I am Chu Zhao,” Chu Zhao said.

Miss Tan froze. The wooden boat in her hand fell to the ground with a clatter, but this time, Miss Tan didn’t lovingly pick it up.

“You are Chu Zhao?” she asked, her voice failing. “That Chu Zhao, Empress Chu?”

Chu Zhao rubbed her face twice with her hands: “I’m disguised now. You may have seen portraits, but actually I’m even better looking than in the portraits—”

Both Miss Tan and the maid were stunned.

This wasn’t important. Chu Zhao herself laughed. What was important was that Empress Chu might not be able to seduce this young lady—it might frighten her even more instead.

“I’m denouncing the Xie clan to return to court, which means to control Da Xia, so that in Da Xia, this household, I as Empress can be in charge. Miss Tan, if I can achieve this, then I can certainly enable you—”

Before she could finish, Miss Tan had already stood up.

“Your Majesty, you need say nothing more,” she said. “I’ll go see my father right now. I can definitely persuade him to follow your orders.”

It was Chu Zhao’s turn to be stunned: “You don’t need to hear me say more? Let me introduce myself a bit more—”

Miss Tan shook her head: “No need, Your Majesty. I’ve long understood you very well. The poems you’ve written, the paintings, the chess games—I can recite them all from memory. Everything you’ve done, I’ve had news delivered promptly. I have all your collected works. Every word you’ve said at palace banquets, I’ve also copied down. Though I’m in Pingyang Prefecture, you, Empress, have always been as if before my eyes—”

This, this—Chu Zhao asked in surprise: “But weren’t you—didn’t you dislike the kind of literary gathering I hold? You thought competing with men on equal terms was laughable.”

Miss Tan looked at Chu Zhao, flames dancing in her eyes: “But, Your Majesty, what you’ve done is far more than just competing with men on equal terms at literary gatherings.”

“Your Majesty, I’ve long admired you. I never imagined I would truly be able to meet you.”

“Your Majesty, to work together with you, I, Tan Qi’er, would die without regret in this lifetime.”

The girl’s voice became exhilarated. Chu Zhao felt somewhat dazed and couldn’t help touching her face again.

“I especially want to tell Deng Yi right now that he was right—I was too modest,” she murmured, not caring whether Miss Tan could understand or not. “It turns out that even though I’m not as good-looking as Xie Yanfang, I can still accomplish what he accomplished.”

She was completely different from Chu Zhao in that previous lifetime.

She too could shine brilliantly.