When Chu Zhao returned home, Chu Ke had already arrived. Seeing her son in such a state, Madam Jiang was terrified. Chu Ke initially didn’t want to say anything, but the more he was questioned, the more aggrieved he felt. Tearfully, he recounted what had happened.

Being beaten by Chu Zhao in public and having the Third Prince’s literary gathering invitation snatched away, Madam Jiang nearly fainted from anger. Chu Tang was shocked, and Chu Lan flew into a rage.

“Wasn’t Chu Zhao confined to the house? When did she go out?”

The maidservants on Chu Zhao’s side were both aggrieved and helpless: “Miss A-Zhao closed her door and wouldn’t let us in. We didn’t dare enter, so we didn’t know she wasn’t home.”

Madam Jiang was burning with anger: “Whose house is this? You listen to her? What do you mean you didn’t dare? Do you still recognize me as your mistress?”

The maids and servants immediately begged for forgiveness.

Chu Tang quietly left and waited near the wall of Chu Zhao’s small courtyard. Sure enough, before long, she saw Chu Zhao and A-Le climbing over the wall.

“You’re back,” Chu Tang greeted them.

A-Le was somewhat wary, but Chu Zhao responded casually with a simple “Mm.”

“Big Brother has returned. Father and Mother are furious,” Chu Tang said.

Was this tattling or a warning? A-Le looked at Chu Tang with some surprise, but Chu Zhao took it in stride, nodding, “Not surprising.”

Chu Tang asked curiously, “Did you hit Big Brother?”

“I did. He insulted my father in public, so of course I had to teach him a lesson,” Chu Zhao said, looking at Chu Tang. “I’ve said it before: whoever dares to humiliate my father in front of me, I won’t spare them.”

Chu Tang smiled and said, “Don’t look at me like that. I remember.” She then asked, “Did you snatch Big Brother’s invitation?”

Chu Zhao took out the invitation and waved it: “He’s not even as good as you or me, yet the Third Prince gave him the invitation. Don’t you think there’s something strange about that?”

These words made Chu Tang happy, but also made her feel that she shouldn’t be happy. Of course, Chu Ke wasn’t as good as her, but was Chu Zhao also comparing herself to her?

She also found it odd that her brother had received the literary invitation.

“You mean, it’s because of Uncle,” she said.

Was Uncle so formidable? Why had no one mentioned it before, or if they did, it was with disdain? Chu Zhao makes one trip and returns, and suddenly Uncle becomes so valuable?

Even the Third Prince values his face?

Chu Tang gave a half-smile.

Chu Zhao saw through Chu Tang’s thoughts but didn’t bother to explain. She wasn’t showing off. If her father were truly valued by the Third Prince, it wouldn’t be a good thing at all.

That’s why she had to prevent Chu Ke from attending the literary gathering.

Who knew what traps awaited Chu Ke at the gathering? To frame Chu Ke was to frame the Chu family, surely targeting her father.

As she pondered this, she heard chaotic footsteps accompanied by Chu Lan’s reprimand: “Chu Zhao! How dare you!”

Chu Tang gave Chu Zhao a sympathetic look, then turned and called out, “Father, she’s back. I was just about to tell you.”

…

…

In the past, she had been especially afraid of her uncle and aunt’s blame. If they showed the slightest sign of displeasure, she would become anxious.

Now she realized that her uncle and aunt’s anger and scolding weren’t anything to fear.

The scolding continued for half a day. Chu Zhao sat inside, washed her hands, drank tea, and even managed to eat a few snacks.

No matter what her uncle and aunt said, she only repeated two points:

“Chu Ke insulted my father first. If he dares to insult my father, I dare to beat him. Even if my father were here, beating him would still be justified.”

“The invitation to the literary gathering—he lost it to me. He should accept the loss. A gentleman’s word is worth gold.”

Her uncle and aunt had much to say, going back and forth, either shouting in anger or weeping tears. Beyond that, they couldn’t beat her—and she wouldn’t meekly stand there to be beaten.

Whenever Chu Lan raised his voice or appeared more threatening, Chu Zhao would eye him warily, while A-Le would stare at him vigilantly. The two presented a united front: if you dare to hit us, we dare to hit back.

Chu Lan was a refined man who couldn’t bring himself to brawl with his niece.

He considered having servants bind her—but that didn’t seem feasible either. That maid was gripping a wooden club, looking ready to strike. Who knew what chaos would ensue?

“Lock the door!” Chu Lan finally ordered. “She is not to step outside again.”

The courtyard gate was secured with several locks, and the maidservants were ordered to watch day and night.

“If you lose sight of her again, you’ll no longer eat in my household—you’ll be sold off.”

However, he wasn’t able to retrieve the invitation to the Wangchun Garden literary gathering.

“Big Brother can’t even beat me, what face does he have to attend the Third Prince’s literary gathering?” Chu Zhao said coldly from inside, slapping the invitation on the table. “If he wants it back, let him come and compete with me again. If he defeats me, I’ll naturally return it to him. Uncle, you’ve fulfilled your duties as a father and teacher by giving birth to him, raising him, and educating him—do you also need to do his scholarly work for him?”

What nonsense! Chu Lan flicked his sleeves and stormed off in anger.

Quiet returned to the small courtyard. A-Le shook the door, hearing the lock rattle and the servants outside trembling: “Miss A-Zhao, please don’t make things difficult for us.”

A-Le didn’t cause trouble for these servants by trying to break down the door or climb the wall. She only asked, “You’ll still bring food, right?”

The servants sighed with relief and hurriedly replied, “Of course.” They even asked solicitously, “What would Miss A-Zhao like to eat?” They even asked A-Le, “Miss, what would you like to eat?”

A-Le happily returned inside to find Chu Zhao had already removed her hairpins and ornaments, let down her hair, and was resting in a rocking chair. Whenever she wasn’t expressing joy or anger, the young lady’s face always carried a trace of sadness.

It must be because she was scolded. The master and mistress were too harsh on the young lady.

If the General knew how the master and mistress treated the young lady, he would never have sent her back.

“Young Miss, don’t be sad,” she consoled softly.

Chu Zhao opened her eyes and smiled. “I’m not sad.” She reached out and gently caressed A-Le’s cheek. “I was just thinking that many things become issues only if you care about them. If you don’t care, they’re nothing at all.”

What things? A-Le blinked in confusion but didn’t ask, simply nodding vigorously. “That’s right.”

Yes, that’s right. In this lifetime, she would no longer be troubled or constrained by others’ greed, anger, delusion, resentment, or hatred.

Some people break free from constraints only after dying once; others are born free from constraints.

Xie Yanfang walked slowly into the Eastern Palace.

This was his second visit to the Eastern Palace. The first time was when the Crown Princess was married, and he had escorted his elder sister as her brother.

But he had been even more shy than the bride, hiding behind others the entire time without engaging anyone in conversation.

Nevertheless, his fleeting appearance had been unforgettable to many who saw him.

As he walked, the people of the Eastern Palace, whether officials, palace maids, or eunuchs, all stopped in their tracks. Some greeted him warmly, others watched quietly, while Xie Yanfang passed through without either nervousness or arrogance.

The Crown Princess wore a palace dress neither new nor old, sitting on a brocade couch in the waterside pavilion of the Eastern Palace garden, carefully drying the half-bloomed spring flowers that her palace maids had gathered.

“Elder Sister, are you making flower preserves?” Xie Yanfang asked, reaching out to help arrange the spring flowers. “Since Elder Sister isn’t at home, I can’t eat your delicious flower cakes anymore.”

The Crown Princess looked up. She had features similar to Xie Yanfang’s but not as fine as his.

She smiled gently. “You’re just picky. Which of our sisters doesn’t know how to make them?”

“Elder Sister is unique,” Xie Yanfang said. “Each sister’s flower preserves are different.”

The Crown Princess sighed lightly. “All sisters must eventually marry.” Then she looked at him with a half-smile and said, “If you want to eat flower preserves that never change in taste, find a wife and have her learn to make them.”

Xie Yanfang smiled, picking up a flower petal and placing it in his mouth. “Why go to such trouble? I’ll learn from Elder Sister and make them myself.”

The Crown Princess made a dismissive sound but didn’t continue the topic.

“Uncle can’t control you, and I won’t control you. I know you have your ideas,” she said, instructing the palace maids to take away the spring flower frames. She asked, “Are you determined to decline the task the Crown Prince gave you?”

Xie Yanfang nodded. “To show my sincerity, I’ve come personally.”

The Crown Princess frowned. “I selected this task specifically. It won’t hinder the Yang clan’s interests; rather, it would help them. Is that still unacceptable?”

Xie Yanfang shook his head. “It’s not acceptable. Anyone in the world can help the Yang clan, except for us.” He looked at the Crown Princess and said softly, “The Yang clan is the Crown Prince’s relatives, not ours.”

The Crown Princess understood. They couldn’t offend the Yang clan, but they also couldn’t get close to them. Either would displease the Crown Prince.

She clasped her hands and murmured, “Because I became the Crown Princess, our Xie clan has lost its chance to rise?”

Xie Yanfang smiled and said, “Elder Sister, why does the Xie clan need official positions or titles to rise?”