As morning sunlight spilled into the small courtyard, Chu Zhao and A-Le returned from the garden carrying bows and arrows, their faces glistening with sweat.

The maids and servants standing in the courtyard hurriedly bowed and greeted them. “Young Lady Zhao has returned.” “The hot water is ready.” “When would Young Lady Zhao like to eat?” Gone was their previous contempt and coldness.

Being a servant meant having good judgment. This country girl, Chu Zhao, had struck the Liang young lady and suffered no consequences. She stole money from the household without repercussions. Now she was taking food as she pleased and even daring to play tricks by adding salt to dishes—

If today she could put salt in food, tomorrow she might put rats in your bedding!

She had the status of a young lady but didn’t follow a young lady’s rules. Such a person was truly not one to be offended.

Chu Zhao paid no attention to their shift from disrespect to deference, giving instructions one by one as the maids and servants busied themselves with their duties.

“This garden is inconvenient for horseback riding and archery,” said A-Le, who was also being attended to. She shook her head. “It should be torn down.”

The maid who was undoing her hair twitched at the corners of her mouth but didn’t dare mock her openly.

What could be done? This country maid who ate bean soup as snacks was protected by Young Lady Zhao, so it didn’t matter if she said foolish things.

Chu Zhao didn’t protect her maid by having the garden demolished. She smiled and said, “This garden wasn’t designed for horseback riding and archery in the first place, so tearing it down would be pointless. We’re just practicing casually to maintain our skills. When we return in the future—”

At this point, her voice faltered slightly.

A-Le observed her expression and clenched her fist. “Young Lady, we will be able to return.”

Chu Zhao nodded. “Yes, we will return.”

Although she had been intercepted and brought back, she had never abandoned the idea of returning to the border prefecture.

Her father had sent her back to the capital to enjoy peace and security, but the capital was the most insecure place. Great turmoil would occur here and last for a long time.

She still needed to write to her father, continuously. The most troublesome part was that the letters might not be delivered.

Her uncle would certainly not send them for her and might even deliberately intercept and hide them.

How could she send them? Find Deng Yi, or perhaps postal soldiers?

Chu Zhao was deep in thought when A-Le, who had gone out, ran back in with an annoyed expression. “Just now, the master had someone come to say you’re not allowed to go out anymore.”

Her uncle must have been angered by what she said yesterday.

Over the years, he had become increasingly unreasonable, truly believing he had been dragged down by her father, when in fact he was simply timid, afraid of trouble, and incompetent.

Although what she said couldn’t make her uncle come to his senses, at least it let him know that he shouldn’t pretend to be a victim around her. Her father didn’t owe him anything!

She did owe her father, though. In her previous life, not only had she failed to protect him, but she had joined others in criticizing and blaming him.

Fortunately, this time she could make amends.

Chu Zhao waved her hand dismissively. “I wasn’t planning to go out anyway. Don’t worry about it.”

When she truly wanted to leave, how could the family gate contain her?

…

…

Although Chu Zhao didn’t want to go out, visitors came to call.

A group of girls entered with smiles. Chu Tang, seated by the window, only put down her book and rose to greet them when they walked in.

“Tang, you’ve lost your manners after not seeing us for a few days,” Qi Leyun said, pointing at her. “You didn’t even come out to welcome us.”

Chu Tang smiled. “Because I guessed you didn’t come for me.”

The girls all laughed, appreciating Chu Tang’s frankness. Frankness was good—it meant everything could be said.

“How is Zhao?” “What exactly happened with that incident?” “Why haven’t you gone out these past few days?” Everyone surrounded Chu Tang, asking questions from all sides.

Chu Tang gestured for them to sit down. “I know what you want to know. Don’t rush. Let’s sit down, have some tea and snacks, and I’ll tell you everything I know.”

The girls laughed again. Chu Tang came from an ordinary background, had an ordinary appearance, and an ordinary family status. However, she was well-read, accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and could converse with anyone. Her speech was also witty.

Everyone sat down as usual. Maids brought tea and snacks before withdrawing, allowing the girls to chat freely.

“My sister Zhao is doing well, but she can’t come to see everyone because my father has confined her to the house.”

“The matter with Miss Liang has been settled. The adults from both families have agreed not to mention it again, but I’m still too embarrassed to go out, so I’m staying home for a few days.”

“I’m not clear on what exactly happened with that incident. Zhao insists that Qin humiliated her, and she wanted to teach Qin a lesson.”

This matched what everyone had speculated.

Qi Leyun asked anxiously, “Then will she give us a lesson too? We’ve all done what Qin did.”

A girl coughed lightly. “Leyun, what do you mean by ‘we’? How can you say everyone has done it? Can’t we sisters joke around a bit?”

“That’s right,” another girl said with displeasure, looking at Chu Tang. “For instance, I often say I’m honoring Tang with my company, but Tang hasn’t hit me, has she?”

Chu Tang smiled and reached out to pinch the girl’s rosy cheek. “That’s because I’m also honoring you by inviting you to play with me.”

The girl giggled. That’s right—if they were going to play together, they should be able to take a joke.

Qi Leyun pursed her lips. “That’s probably because Tang wouldn’t dare hit you.”

After these words, Chu Tang’s smile became somewhat stiff. Something about that comment sounded strange.

Qi Leyun then looked Chu Tang up and down.

Chu Tang was irritated by this scrutiny and was about to say something when Qi Leyun’s eyes darted around to look at the others.

“Why don’t we go see Chu Zhao?” she suggested. “Let’s see if she’ll hit and scold us too.”

Was that the plan? What if she did hit and scold them? The girls instinctively had this thought.

“What are you afraid of?” Qi Leyun saw their reactions and said angrily. “Even if she starts hitting and scolding, there are so many of us. Are we afraid of her?”

What happened with Miss Liang was an accident. This time they were prepared and wouldn’t be as embarrassed as Liang Qin!

“This is a matter of our dignity,” Qi Leyun became increasingly agitated. “These days, people outside are mocking Qin, but all of us have lost face. A noble young lady of the capital was beaten and scolded by a country girl just because of a few jokes.”

The girls looked at her, hesitant yet contemplative.

“We can’t let her ruin the rules and indulge her habit of hitting people at the slightest disagreement,” Qi Leyun said, clenching her fists. “Otherwise, all of us will lose face.”

Seeing her like this, it seemed she wanted to rush over and fight with Chu Zhao immediately.

Chu Tang burst into laughter.

“Don’t laugh,” Qi Leyun said with a snort. “Having such a sister, you’re the one who loses the most face.”

Chu Tang was never afraid of such comments. She was quite happy to have a sister who made her lose face. People could only lose face, and it made others look better by comparison.

“Let’s do this. Don’t charge over there so aggressively. There are so many of you—that’s bullying,” she said with a smile. “That would only give her more justification to hit and scold you.”

That was true. Qi Leyun’s momentum faltered.

“How about this?” Chu Tang said languidly. “Let’s go to the garden as before to play music and paint. I’ll have someone inform Zhao.”

Qi Leyun looked at her and asked, “What if she doesn’t come?”

Wasn’t she confined to the house?

“If she doesn’t come, it means she feels guilty and knows she’s in the wrong,” Chu Tang said with a dismissive wave and a smile. “Then you win without a fight, Miss Qi.”

The girls all laughed. Qi Leyun spat, “What if she does come?”

“If she comes, everyone can reason with her. If she makes a scene, then—” Chu Tang said with a smile, “it means she’s looking for trouble, and no one can blame all of you.”