Chu Zhao had said those things in the garden to make those girls calm down.

Even if they didn’t calm down, she wanted them to ask their families.

Their family members were more experienced and knowledgeable about old matters. Combined with how she had paraded through the streets earlier and scolded Court Gentleman Liang at his doorstep, with Court Gentleman Liang showing no reaction and closing his doors to put the matter to rest without further mention—thinking about this, their families should calm down somewhat and realize that her father, Guard General Chu Ling, though his reputation was poor, was not someone who could be casually bullied.

As for what effect this would have on those girls outside, Chu Zhao couldn’t experience it for now, but she experienced the effect at home that very evening.

Dinner had several extra dishes.

Chu Tang’s maid Lingling personally came to serve the food: “This is Miss Atang’s favorite dish, but the kitchen is lazy and only makes it once every three or four days. Tonight Miss Atang specially ordered it to be made for you to try, Miss Azhao.”

Chu Zhao said nothing and took a bite as suggested.

“Miss Atang wanted to come personally, but thinking of the things done in the past, she worried it would make you uncomfortable,” Lingling said candidly. “So she sent this servant instead to express her apology.”

Chu Zhao admired Chu Tang for this. Normally, people said apologies should be made in person to show sincerity, but in reality, this often became a form of coercion, as if one must accept the apology, making the other party more alarmed and angry.

This indirect approach was more suitable for young ladies.

That Chu Tang could associate and get along with these girls whose status and family background were higher than hers in the capital—she was indeed a clever girl.

And also an extremely cold-hearted girl.

Chu Zhao looked at the dishes sent over. When there was no advantage to be gained, Chu Tang didn’t treat her as a sister. But once she discovered a significant stake in the matter, she immediately bowed her head in submission.

Yet in her previous life, when she had become Empress, Chu Tang hadn’t been particularly close to her. When they met, she maintained a cold and disdainful attitude. Later, when the family became like that, instead of coming to cry pitifully and beg for help, she had tried to kill her—

Clearly, in that life, Chu Tang hadn’t believed she held any real power or influence.

That’s why when assassinating her, Chu Tang had said, “If not for my father, how could you have become Empress?”

Did she marry Xiao Xun because of Father, or because of Uncle? Chu Zhao couldn’t help spacing out.

“Miss Azhao.” Seeing her silent, Lingling became even more cautious. “If you have anything to say, Miss Atang says you should speak freely. If you want to see her, she’ll come immediately.”

Chu Zhao shook her head: “No need. Tell her I understand her sentiment, and now that she understands, I’m at ease.”

Lingling breathed a sigh of relief and said yes repeatedly with a smile: “Miss Atang said Miss Azhao is pure and natural, open and generous, and indeed you are.”

Oh really? From an ignorant, foolish country bumpkin to pure and natural—Chu Zhao smiled and picked up her chopsticks to eat: “These dishes are indeed delicious. Thank you to Atang for me. I appreciate her sentiment.”

Lingling said happily that was wonderful: “Miss Azhao, if there’s anything you want to eat or need, just say so.” She didn’t linger further and tactfully took her leave.

Walking out of the small courtyard, the smile-covered Lingling finally let out a breath, relaxing her shoulders and back.

The little maid lighting the way giggled: “Sister, why were you really nervous?”

Wasn’t this just putting on an act to humor this country girl?

Lingling had originally thought the same, but as she spoke, both her own feelings and the country girl’s reactions were different from what she had imagined.

It was as if she were facing an adult who could see through her thoughts at a glance.

Perhaps it was psychological, but Miss Chu Zhao’s recent behavior and speech seemed as if she had a great mountain backing her, full of imposing presence.

Chu Tang also didn’t eat dinner with her parents. Having had words with Jiang Shi that didn’t align, they had parted on bad terms, and she was too lazy to say more to her mother. As for her father—

Chu Tang pouted. Did Father truly not know, or was he playing dumb? Maintaining his image of being dragged down by Chu Ling for all his misfortunes.

When Lingling returned, Chu Tang had already finished eating. She was lounging by the window, holding a book and reading it intermittently, listening to a little maid beside her whisper and chatter.

“—Following Miss’s instructions, I didn’t speak up, deliberately letting Qi Leyun’s maid speak first, then following with shocked exclamations repeating it all in disbelief—”

“—That way no one will think it was me who said it—”

Seeing Lingling enter, the little maid stopped talking, smiled sweetly calling “Sister,” and attentively poured tea for Lingling.

They all wanted to climb to the position of head maid, seizing every opportunity to get close to the young miss. Lingling pursed her lips, chased the little maid out, and said to Chu Tang: “Everything is done.”

After hearing Lingling’s report, Chu Tang held her book and smiled: “Miss Azhao really is different from before. I thought she was a simple-minded silly girl, but she’s actually wise while appearing foolish.”

Lingling asked: “What should we do next?”

Chu Tang shifted position, leaning against the cushion, and continued reading: “We don’t need to do anything. Just following her lead is enough.”

……

……

Chu Tang didn’t come looking for her again, nor did those girls come calling. Jiang Shi and Uncle wanted to deliberately give her the cold shoulder, but Chu Zhao lived comfortably behind closed doors.

However, her information wasn’t cut off.

She knew Miss Atang read and practiced calligraphy every day, while Young Master Chu Ke went out every day.

A’Le said: “Young Master Ake has been spending days at wine houses and teahouses with a group of young masters. Today he went to Wangchun Garden and obtained entry qualifications—he can participate in the Third Prince’s literary gathering.”

The Third Prince’s literary gathering—Chu Zhao remembered now. There had been such a gathering in her previous life.

It was very grand, with scholars from all directions flocking to the capital, wanting to enter Wangchun Garden.

At that time, the girls had discussed it for a long time, but the Third Prince only allowed men to participate.

A few noble ladies persuaded the princesses, and two princesses went to ask the Third Prince to let women participate as well. As a result, the Third Prince scolded them for having ulterior motives, mocking that women coming to the literary gathering were there to look at men, ruining the purity of his gathering.

The two princesses ran to the Emperor crying in anger. The Emperor of course didn’t intervene, so they ran to the Crown Prince crying, and the Crown Prince gave the Third Prince a thorough scolding.

After this scene, even if the Third Prince had allowed women to participate, they would have avoided the gathering like the plague, privately cursing the Third Prince.

But the Third Prince became even more adored by scholars, who said this was the integrity of true scholars.

In reality, the Third Prince wasn’t a scholar at all, but a brute.

This Third Prince who always styled himself as a scholar had committed the evil deed of ambushing and killing the Crown Prince, setting fire to the Eastern Palace, not sparing even a cat or bird.

That ambush and slaughter destroyed the Crown Prince, destroyed the Third Prince himself, and also destroyed Great Xia’s false prosperity and peace, beginning an era of turmoil and fragmentation.

Chu Zhao looked out the window. The Wangchun Garden literary gathering was the prelude to that conspiracy.

And also the prelude to her being drawn into the conspiracy.

It was while the entire capital was focused on the literary gathering that she had met Xiao Xun, fallen in love, and then, mixed in with the celebration of the Third Prince’s successful hosting of the gathering as another joyous occasion for the imperial family, married Xiao Xun.

Chu Zhao clenched her hands.

“After Young Master Ake obtained entry to Wangchun Garden, he even went to the postal station to visit the Crown Prince of Zhongshan,” A’Le continued. “But he didn’t see him—don’t know if the Crown Prince of Zhongshan wasn’t there or refused to see him.”

In that previous life, she hadn’t hit anyone or run away. Chu Ke had been guarding the academy gate and hadn’t returned to the capital, nor had he had the opportunity to participate in this literary gathering.

In this life, because of her, Chu Ke was idling about in the capital—

Chu Zhao slammed her clenched fist on the table. Should she break his legs and confine him at home?