Chu Zhao didn’t know what had happened.

The courtyard gate had been locked. Although she could climb over it, there was no real need to go out.

She stayed in her room writing letters to her father. Moreover, given the chaos that was about to unfold, staying home was the safest option.

That incident would bring disaster to many people in the capital. Some households, being the Crown Prince’s trusted confidants, would be deliberately eliminated. But most would simply be unlucky—casualties of the Third Prince’s scheme to create the illusion of bandit rebellion, randomly victimized as he sought to escalate the situation.

At that time, she and Xiao Xun had just married and were living in the imperial villa the Emperor had granted them outside the capital, waiting to depart for Zhongshan Commandery. When it happened, she had worried terribly about her uncle’s family in the city. Fortunately, though the Chu Garden was famous, its remote location kept it away from the Crown Prince’s residence, and there were no households of the Crown Prince’s confidants nearby, so they escaped calamity.

So in this life, as long as she stayed safely at home, nothing would happen.

Chu Zhao paused mid-stroke, her brush suspended. Thinking of that chaos made her heart feel heavy. Although she hadn’t witnessed the horrors firsthand, when her uncle’s family came to find her over ten days later, her aunt and Chu Tang’s accounts had been terrifying.

She had her own experience too. When she became Empress and held her first banquet, few people attended the palace feast. Many of the young ladies she had previously befriended were nowhere to be seen—some had died in the chaos, others had been forced to leave the capital after their households suffered misfortune.

And these were people protected by high gates and deep walls. The common people in smaller households suffered far greater casualties.

“Miss?”

A’Le entered from outside. Seeing the complex expression on her mistress’s face—anger mixed with sorrow—and hearing the brush creak in her tightly clenched hand, she called out softly in alarm.

Chu Zhao came back to herself. Seeing A’Le’s worried expression, she quickly reassured her, “I’m fine. Just thinking about some things.”

Considering all the events Miss had encountered, it was perfectly normal for her to be angry. A’Le nodded.

“Young Master A’Ke hasn’t left again—hasn’t gone beyond either the courtyard or house doors.” She reported on everyone’s movements one by one. “The Master and Madam quarreled, but it was only a quarrel. They didn’t say anything about doing anything to you, Miss. Oh, Miss A’Tang did go out though.”

Probably to gather information, Chu Zhao thought unconcerned. Hearing only from household members wouldn’t give the full picture; Chu Tang would naturally go to her circle of young ladies to investigate.

“Also, Officer Zhang hasn’t come looking for me,” A’Le added.

She had deliberately walked several rounds on the street outside the house, worried that Zhang Gu might not remember or be unable to find his way.

Chu Zhao wasn’t surprised either. A’Jiu delivered secret letters with protected identity—he wouldn’t be easily found by others.

“A’Le,” she called. “Go to the street and help me inquire about another person.”

A’Le quickly asked, “Please tell me, Miss.”

Chu Zhao said, “Third Young Master Xie, Xie Yanfang.”

Oh? A’Le was somewhat surprised. Remembering how Miss had nearly lunged down from the upper floor when she saw Third Young Master Xie at the wine shop, could Miss also be interested in Third Young Master Xie?

Third Young Master Xie was so famous, so many young ladies liked him—it was only natural for Miss to like him too.

“Miss,” she asked, “what should I inquire about?”

Chu Zhao didn’t know either. In both her past and present life, she only knew him by reputation. “Anything—as long as it’s related to him. The more and the more detailed, the better.”

A’Le asked no more questions, acknowledged the order, and turned to leave.

Chu Zhao watched as A’Le nimbly climbed over the courtyard wall and sighed, her brow furrowing slightly. She had too few people at hand.

It wasn’t just that she had few people—she had no one available except A’Le alone. The matters and people she needed to investigate were growing, and the things she needed to do were multiplying.

At first, she had only thought about escaping the capital, escaping the fate of marrying Xiao Xun. As for other matters, she hadn’t considered them and couldn’t manage them.

But now that she had been pushed back to the capital again, she couldn’t help thinking more deeply. For instance, she couldn’t just stand by and watch that chaos devastate so many innocent people.

Moreover, if the Crown Prince didn’t die, Xiao Xun wouldn’t become Emperor—that would be the complete severing of her past life’s fate.

How to prevent the Crown Prince’s death?

If she rushed over to tell the Crown Prince that the Third Prince would kill his entire family, never mind whether the Crown Prince would think her mad and have her dragged out and beheaded—she simply couldn’t even get an audience with the Crown Prince.

But there was one person easier to meet than the Crown Prince, who was also best positioned to change the Crown Prince’s fate: Xie Yanfang.

In terms of relationship, he was the Crown Prince’s brother-in-law.

In terms of fate, he could and dared to refuse to accept Xiao Xun as Emperor, leading troops in rebellion.

As for capability, that went without saying. This man had reputation and power. Even after she, the Empress, had died, Xiao Xun and the court still hadn’t succeeded in suppressing his rebellion.

If she revealed some information to him, hinted at the Third Prince’s schemes, Xie Yanfang would surely be able to do something.

Once the Crown Prince’s fate changed, the fates of Xiao Xun, Xie Yanfang, herself, and many others could all be altered.

Chu Zhao took a deep breath and focused, carefully recalling everything about the Third Prince’s plot to harm the Crown Prince.

……

……

Chu Tang was also carefully recalling, but facing the expectant gazes of the young ladies, she could only shake her head.

“I truly didn’t know she knew so much,” she said helplessly. “This sister of mine has been deceiving even me.”

The young ladies looked displeased.

Qi Leyun pressed further: “You didn’t conspire together, did you? Playing us for fools—one pretending to be an ignorant country girl for us to mock and ridicule, then when we’re feeling smug and satisfied, revealing her true abilities to leave us dumbstruck, pitiful and laughable?”

That’s how the storybooks wrote it.

When they read such stories, they laughed heartily. But when they themselves became the characters in the story, it wasn’t funny at all.

Chu Tang smiled bitterly. “What benefit would that be to me? Would I do something with no benefit?”

True, she really wouldn’t. The young ladies nodded again.

“I’m the same as all of you—equally laughable in her eyes,” Chu Tang said. “I came out to ask around, to get clear answers, so I’ll know what’s what. Otherwise our whole family is being played for fools. Poor my brother—he’ll never be able to show his face again.”

Thinking of Chu Ke, the young ladies felt sympathy mixed with amusement and resentment.

“What’s wrong with your brother?” “I think she really is playing your whole family for fools.” “Speaking of which, who’s more capable—you or her?” “Looking at her calligraphy, A’Tang, you’re somewhat inferior too.”

Chu Tang sat among the young ladies, letting them tease her, only saying helplessly, “In cunning alone, I’m no match for her.”

Qi Leyun snorted. “You’re both surnamed Chu—how can the difference be so great?”

Previously this phrase had been used to mock Chu Zhao while praising Chu Tang. Now reversed, Qi Leyun found it worked quite well too. She disliked Chu Zhao, but she didn’t like Chu Tang’s manner either.

If Chu Zhao looked down on people openly, then Chu Tang looked down on people secretly.

“People” specifically meant her, Qi Leyun.

Just because she didn’t speak of it daily didn’t mean she was unaware. Today she’d finally caught an opportunity for revenge.

Chu Tang’s smile was somewhat forced. This was exactly the downside of having a more capable sister in the family. Just as she was about to say something, a young man suddenly approached.

“Excuse me,” he said with a bow, then raised his head to look at Chu Tang. “Are you a daughter of the Chu family? I heard what you all were saying.”

What did he mean? Chu Tang froze, then looked at the man’s expression more carefully. He wasn’t exactly a refined nobleman, and his eyes carried a certain fierceness—

“No,” she said. Her instinct made her immediately shake her head. “I’m not.”

The man didn’t press the matter. Hearing this, he bowed again. “My apologies for the intrusion.” He turned and left.

The other young ladies hadn’t yet recovered their wits.

“What was that about?” “What did he ask?” “Does he know A’Tang?”

But Chu Tang didn’t speak. She turned to look down at the lower floor. The man from before had already descended the stairs. Below there were quite a few other young men talking with him. Though they weren’t speaking loudly, with so many people their voices carried upward.

“A daughter of the Chu family.” “That’s what was written outside Hope Spring Garden.” “Then let’s go there.” “We must see what manner of lady this is.”

Then more people rushed in, waving and shouting, “Found out where the Chu family daughter lives!” “Follow me!”

The young men from before immediately surged out together.

Chu Tang pressed her hand to her chest, her heart pounding. She had an extremely ominous feeling!