Chu Ke refused to admit defeat!

What kind of world was this, what kind of world!

He buried his head on the table, pounding it resentfully.

“Compete in artistic talents, compete in artistic talents,” he said. “I’ve been busy studying the Book of Documents and haven’t had time to practice calligraphy. I’ve neglected it.”

This time, before Chu Zhao could speak, an observer nearby spoke up. He was still holding one of the sheets Chu Zhao had written earlier.

“Young Master Chu,” he said. “I think there’s no need to compete in artistic talents either. Your younger sister is clearly also very proficient in the Book of Documents.”

He looked at the paper in his hand, reading a few lines, his eyes full of admiration.

“Truly worthy of being taught by the renowned Ouyang family scholars. Master Chu lives up to his reputation.”

Chu Ke’s head shot up. What?

“I have one here too. It’s written extremely well.” Another young man was also holding a sheet, his expression suddenly enlightened. “So this is how this passage should be analyzed!”

Chu Ke jumped up. His father was from the renowned Ouyang Book of Documents scholarly family, but Chu Zhao’s father was not!

She understood jack shit about the Book of Documents!

“Give it to me!” He snatched it from that gentleman’s hand and looked down at it.

It turned out Chu Zhao had written four sheets. The content consisted of four short essays on the Book of Documents.

At first, everyone had looked at the calligraphy. The young lady’s writing was good. Reading more carefully, the short essays were also written brilliantly. When women studied, most just memorized and knew the sources. This kind of detailed analysis and essay writing with exposition was rare—women didn’t need to rely on studying to establish themselves in the world or seek official positions after all.

“Truly a case of a renowned teacher producing outstanding students. Worthy of being children from a family of poetry and books,” several older customers also praised.

What family of poetry and books! Chu Zhao was taught by Second Uncle, and Second Uncle was a boor! He was the true child of a family of poetry and books! Chu Ke snatched over all the short essays and read them. He wanted to refute but couldn’t find a single word to dispute—

“You!” He stared at Chu Zhao in disbelief. “My father never taught you. When did you secretly learn this?”

Secretly learn. Chu Zhao scoffed, then sighed lightly. She hadn’t secretly learned it. It truly was Uncle who had taught her.

She had married Xiao Xun and immediately after became Empress. The country was unstable, she couldn’t help with anything and only dragged Xiao Xun down. She wanted to become better, to be worthy of the Empress’s position. She had diligently practiced music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and various other talents. The palace had many masters, and the famous ministers at court were also very pleased with her humble requests for instruction. Uncle had especially carefully taught her the Book of Documents, saying it was the Chu family’s foundation for establishing themselves—

What foundation for establishing themselves? What she had learned couldn’t please Xiao Xun, couldn’t make her a virtuous empress, and couldn’t even preserve her life.

Chu Zhao glanced around and only now noticed so many people were watching.

It wasn’t entirely useless. Today these skills had pleased these men. They no longer thought her completely worthless, overbearing and unreasonable. Instead, they would think it perfectly justified for her to discipline Chu Ke.

“You think only you studied?” Chu Zhao berated Chu Ke. “Who hasn’t worked harder than you? So many people have studied and don’t dare say how good they are, but you have the nerve to show off everywhere and still have the face to be so proud of the Third Prince’s literary gathering invitation card!”

She took the literary gathering invitation card from the table and put it into A’Le’s basket.

“You can’t even compare to me. What qualifications do you have to attend the Third Prince’s literary gathering? This invitation card doesn’t belong to you anymore.”

Chu Ke let out a great cry: “Chu Zhao—I’ll fight you to the death!”

The youth was about to lunge forward, but this time Chu Zhao didn’t have a chance to act. Chu Ke was blocked by the other young men.

“Ke, don’t do this.” “Young Master Ke, let’s talk nicely.”

If they fought again like this, he would be completely in the wrong—and besides, he couldn’t win anyway. He’d just get beaten again for nothing, and all of them would lose face along with him.

With so many people restraining him, Chu Ke couldn’t break free. Mentally and physically exhausted—for this damned girl, walking such a long way in such cold weather, suffering so much—he hadn’t shed tears. When this damned girl beat him thoroughly in public, he hadn’t shed tears. Now with his pride stripped away, the youth could no longer hold back. He raised his sleeve to cover his face and began to cry.

Chu Zhao paid no attention to the weeping Chu Ke. She turned and left, with A’Le carrying the basket following behind.

The crowd made way. The girls standing in the back were a bit slower and suddenly came face to face with Chu Zhao. The group somewhat frantically tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t be so awkward, or at least wouldn’t lose momentum—

Qi Leyun pointed at her: “You actually deceived us!”

Chu Zhao had actually hidden her abilities from them, pretending she knew nothing. What did she want to do? Was she trying to humiliate them like this too?

“How despicable!” “Cunning and treacherous!” “Shameless!”

The girls cursed in low voices one after another. Chu Zhao paid them no mind and walked calmly forward, accompanied by the girls’ discontent and Chu Ke’s crying.

Speaking of it, it was somewhat laughable. When she was Empress, she had never been surrounded by so many people like this.

When she reached the stairway, from the third floor someone else was also being surrounded as they walked down.

Chu Zhao instinctively looked up. It was a young gentleman talking with the people behind him, showing only his profile.

Just this one profile was enough. How good-looking he was! Chu Zhao had only one instant thought—bright and radiant yet unworldly.

Moreover, this gentleman was surrounded by admiring gazes, bright glances, and cheerful expressions. Unlike her, with crying, cursing, and meaningful stares behind her.

He was stepping on auspicious five-colored clouds descending from heaven, while she was treading on dead branches and rotten leaves emerging from muddy filth.

Thinking of this comparison, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but laugh.

The gentleman happened to turn his head at this moment and saw the girl’s smile.

By now they had walked quite close and could see each other’s delicate, smooth faces.

Meeting this girl’s smile, he also smiled slightly, like an epiphyllum blooming at night.

Was he smiling at her? Chu Zhao was momentarily stunned. Was it a misunderstanding? She wasn’t greeting him, but of course, for such a beautiful person, she should return the courtesy with enthusiasm—

But before she could smile again, the commotion behind her suddenly grew louder, accompanied by thumping footsteps and tinkling of ornaments and pendants.

“Third Young Master Xie!”

“Young Master Xie!”

The girls who had been standing in the back instantly rushed forward, knocking her aside. Qi Leyun, running the fastest, even stepped on her foot.

This damned girl! Chu Zhao bent her knee and lifted her foot. A’Le hurriedly supported her. Looking forward again, that handsome gentleman descending the stairs was even more engulfed, and she couldn’t see anything anymore—only a crowd of people all squeezed on the stairway.

What was going on! Chu Zhao rubbed her foot, set it down, and stood steady. With so many people, be careful the stairs don’t collapse!

She took A’Le and walked inward a bit, circling around the stairway area to walk back to her own seat.

The seat was empty. Deng Yi had already disappeared.

The food and drink on the plates had been half-eaten, and two wine pots were set out.

“Miss Chu.” A shop attendant was standing to the side. Seeing her return, he greeted her with a beaming smile. “Congratulations on your victorious return.”

His attitude was much more enthusiastic than before. He even remembered her surname and could offer congratulations. Chu Zhao smiled slightly.

“Lord Deng has already eaten and said he had business and left first,” the shop attendant said, then asked tentatively, “Miss Chu, see if there’s anything else you’d like to add? Lord Deng has quite an appetite—he ate quite a lot.”

Chu Zhao understood his meaning. This was hinting that the meal hadn’t been paid for yet.

Deng Yi had indeed left without paying the bill. However, this was fine. Deng Yi owing her a meal was much more advantageous than her owing Deng Yi a meal.

“Bring me a pot of wine too,” she said. She was happy today, but—there wasn’t really much to be happy about either.

The shop attendant saw the smiling girl’s face become veiled with a layer of melancholy and hurriedly answered and left, lest she start crying and refuse to pay—

Chu Zhao leaned against the backrest and let out a soft breath.

“Miss, you’re so amazing,” A’Le looked at Chu Zhao, her face full of admiration.

Chu Zhao shook her head: “Not amazing. If I were truly amazing, I wouldn’t need to do this.”

She wouldn’t have had to die, wouldn’t have been reborn, wouldn’t have to compete with Chu Ke here.

What was there to be proud and pleased about in this? Alas.

She looked across the way. Chu Ke was surrounded by his companions, no longer showing his earlier smugness but dejected and dispirited.

With this lesson, Chu Ke would be too ashamed to go out, which would also spare him from having his legs broken. Be content with that.

Her gaze shifted downward and she saw Qi Leyun’s group of girls had already followed that gentleman to the first floor. The hall on the first floor had become even more crowded, with everyone surrounding that man.

Who was this person to be so sought after? How did she not know? What had Qi Leyun shouted earlier? Xie, Third Young Master Xie—

Xie!

Young Master Xie!

The thought flashed through her mind. Chu Zhao sprang up from her seat and threw herself against the railing to look at the first floor, half her body leaning out.