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 angrily.

“Let’s compare talent, let’s compare talent,” he said. “I’ve been busy studying classic texts and haven’t had time to practice calligraphy, so I’m out of practice.”

This time, before Chu Zhao could speak, an onlooker who was still holding one of Chu Zhao’s previous writing samples spoke up.

“Young Master Chu,” he said, “I think there’s no need to compare talents either. Your sister is also well-versed in the Classic of Documents.”

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

“Truly worthy of being taught by Master Ouyang, a renowned scholar. Master Chu lives up to his reputation.”

Chu Ke jerked his head up. What?

“Mine is also excellent,” another young man said, also holding a sheet, his expression suddenly enlightened. “So this is how this passage should be interpreted.”

Chu Ke jumped up. His father was the renowned scholar Master Ouyang, but Chu Zhao’s father certainly was not!

What did she know about the Classic of Documents?

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

It turned out Chu Zhao had written four sheets, the content being four short essays on the Classic of Documents.

At first, everyone had been admiring the handwriting—the young lady wrote beautifully. Upon closer reading, they found the essays were also exquisitely composed. Most educated women were familiar with the classics and could identify sources, but few wrote such detailed interpretations and analyses—after all, women didn’t need to rely on scholarship for their livelihood or to seek official positions.

“Truly a worthy student of a great teacher. Indeed, the child of a family of poetry and learning,” several older guests also praised.

What family of poetry and learning? Chu Zhao was taught by Second Uncle, and Second Uncle was a brute! He was the true child of a scholarly family! Chu Ke snatched all the essays to read them, eager to refute them, but ironically couldn’t find a single word to criticize—

“You!” He glared at Chu Zhao in disbelief. “My father never taught you. When did you steal his teachings?”

Steal his teachings? Chu Zhao snorted and then let out a light sigh. She hadn’t stolen anything; it was indeed her uncle who had taught her.

She had married Xiao Xun and soon after became Empress. With the dynasty unstable, she could offer no help and only became a burden to Xiao Xun. She wanted to improve herself to be worthy of the title of Empress, so she diligently practiced various arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. There were many skilled masters in the palace, and the court officials were pleased with her humble requests for instruction. Her uncle had especially taken great care in teaching her the Classic of Documents, saying it was the foundation of the Chu family’s principles—

What foundation of principles? All those skills she had learned hadn’t pleased Xiao Xun, hadn’t made her a worthy Empress, and certainly hadn’t saved her life.

Chu Zhao glanced around, only now noticing how many people were watching.

But it wasn’t useless either. Today these skills impressed these men. They no longer considered her worthless and unreasonable, but instead felt her disciplining Chu Ke was justified.

“You think you’re the only one who has studied?” Chu Zhao berated Chu Ke. “Many people study harder than you but don’t dare claim to be superior. But you, you go around boasting, even having the audacity to flaunt the Third Prince’s literary gathering invitation!”

She took the invitation from the table and put it in A-Le’s basket.

“You can’t even surpass me. What qualifications do you have to attend the Third Prince’s literary gathering? This invitation no longer belongs to you.”

Chu Ke cried out: “Chu Zhao—I’ll fight you to the death!”

The young man was about to lunge at her, but this time Chu Zhao didn’t have a chance to act as Chu Ke was restrained by the other young men.

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

If they started fighting again, they would no longer be in the right—and besides, they couldn’t win anyway. It would just result in another beating and embarrassment for all of them.

Chu Ke was held by so many people that he couldn’t break free. Exhausted in body and spirit—for that damned girl, he had walked so far in such cold weather, suffered so much—he hadn’t shed tears then. When that damned girl had publicly beaten him, he hadn’t shed tears. But now that his pride had been stripped away, the young man could no longer hold back. He raised his sleeve to cover his face and began to cry.

Chu Zhao ignored the weeping Chu Ke and turned to leave, with A-Le following, carrying the basket.

The crowd made way, but the girls standing at the back were a bit slow, suddenly finding themselves face to face with Chu Zhao. The group tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t be too awkward, or at least wouldn’t put them at a disadvantage—

Qi Leyun pointed at her: “You’ve been deceiving us all along!”

Chu Zhao had concealed her abilities from them, pretending to know nothing. What was she planning? Did she want to humiliate them in the same way?

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

The girls berated her in low voices, but Chu Zhao paid no attention. She walked away gracefully amid the girls’ dissatisfaction and Chu Ke’s crying.

It was somewhat amusing when she thought about it. Even when she was Empress, she had never been surrounded by so many people.

As she approached the stairs, someone else came down from the third floor, also surrounded by admirers.

Chu Zhao instinctively looked up. It was a young gentleman who was talking to those behind him, showing only his profile.

Just that profile was enough—he was truly handsome. Chu Zhao’s only thought in that moment was how bright and otherworldly he appeared.

Moreover, this young gentleman was surrounded by admiring gazes, radiant looks, and cheerful faces, unlike her, who had crying, cursing, and meaningful stares behind her.

He was like someone descending from heaven on a five-colored auspicious cloud, while she was like someone emerging from mud and filth, treading on withered branches and rotten leaves.

Thinking of this contrast, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but smile.

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

By now, they had walked very close to each other and could see the smooth, delicate skin of each other’s faces.

Meeting this girl’s smile, he also smiled slightly, like a night-blooming cereus suddenly blossoming.

Was he smiling at her? Chu Zhao was momentarily stunned. Maybe she misunderstood? She wasn’t greeting him, but of course, for such a beautiful person, one should respond with enthusiastic courtesy—

But before she could smile again, the commotion behind her suddenly increased, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps and the tinkling of ornaments.

“Third Young Master Xie!”

“Young Master Xie!”

The girls standing behind her instantly rushed forward, pushing her aside. Qi Leyun, who ran the fastest, even stepped on her foot.

That wretched girl! Chu Zhao bent her knee and lifted her foot. A-Le hurriedly supported her. Looking ahead again, the handsome young gentleman coming down the stairs was now surrounded, and she could see nothing except a crowd of people all squeezed onto the staircase.

What was going on! Chu Zhao rubbed her foot and put it down firmly. With so many people, they should be careful not to collapse the stairs!

She took A-Le and walked around, bypassing the staircase area to return to her seat.

The seat was empty; Deng Yi was nowhere to be seen.

The dishes on the plates were half-eaten, and two wine pots remained.

“Miss Chu,” a shop assistant stood nearby and greeted her with a beaming smile when he saw her return. “Congratulations on your victory.”

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

“Master Deng has already eaten and said he had to leave for some business,” the shop assistant said, then tentatively asked, “Miss Chu, would you like to order anything more? Master Deng had quite an appetite and ate a lot.”

Chu Zhao understood his meaning—he was indicating that the bill hadn’t been paid.

Deng Yi had indeed left without paying. But this was fine; Deng Yi owing her a meal was much more advantageous than her owing him one.

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

The shop assistant saw the girl’s smiling face cloud over with melancholy and hurriedly acknowledged her order and left, lest she start crying and refuse to pay—

Chu Zhao leaned against the backrest and let out a light sigh.

“Young Miss, you were 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 have to go through all this.”

She wouldn’t have died, wouldn’t have been reborn, and wouldn’t have needed to compete with Chu Ke here.

What was there to be proud of or pleased about? Sigh.

She looked across to where Chu Ke was surrounded by his companions, no longer arrogant but dejected.

With this lesson, Chu Ke wouldn’t have the face to go out, which would spare him from having his legs broken. He should be content with that.

Her gaze then moved downward. She saw that Qi Leyun’s group of girls had already followed that gentleman to the first floor. The crowd in the main hall had grown even larger, with everyone gathering around that man.

Who was this person to receive such adoration? How did she not know? What had Qi Leyun called him earlier? Xie, Third Young Master Xie—

Xie!

Young Master Xie!

As the thought flashed through her mind, Chu Zhao sprang from her seat and leaned against the railing to look down at the first floor, her upper body practically hanging over the edge.