The competition at Chu Garden suddenly became different.

When Chu Zhao lost once in calligraphy, the young master opposite prepared to lecture this little woman a few words as usual. He took the certificate of surrender and had just opened his mouth: “You—”

A girl walked out from the corridor: “Don’t get too proud yet. I’ll compete with you. Just because you beat Chu Zhao doesn’t mean you’ve beaten all little women!”

The young master was stunned: “Actually—”

“What? You don’t dare?” the girl immediately said.

Under everyone’s gaze, saying he didn’t dare to a little girl was something the young master absolutely couldn’t bring himself to say. He could only cup his hands in embarrassed annoyance: “Miss, please.”

Chu Zhao’s position was seized again. She looked at the girl: “You—”

“No need to ask. After I win, you’ll know my name,” the girl said with her chin slightly raised.

Chu Zhao laughed in spite of herself and deliberately said: “Then what if you lose?”

The girl said in embarrassed annoyance: “Then I’ll also tell everyone under heaven my name.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily and called to her maid behind her: “Serve this young lady with brush and ink.”

Hearing the news from this side, people in Chu Garden gathered around again. Seeing that the girl in the field had changed again, they all discussed amongst themselves.

……

……

The girls in the corridors, flower halls and other places also discussed animatedly, but this time few people said anything about this young lady being close with Chu Zhao or standing up for Chu Zhao’s injustice.

Qi Leyun’s expression was astonished, murmuring a few words.

Chu Zhao walked over at this moment.

Since coming to Chu Garden, Chu Zhao had never paid attention to them. At first they thought Chu Zhao would sneer mockingly and drive them out. Later they thought Chu Zhao would be tearfully grateful, thanking them for coming to show support, help out, and bolster the momentum—neither happened.

Chu Zhao looked at everyone—there were more girls than before, and more unfamiliar faces too.

Clearly, although the unexpected incident with Miss Zhou Jiang had occurred, families hadn’t forbidden girls from coming to Chu Garden because of it.

“Everyone, how is my game?” she asked with a beaming smile. “Isn’t it more fun than what you used to have? Playing with me is very enjoyable, isn’t it?”

She had actually come to show off. The girls were astonished and somewhat at a loss.

Qi Leyun said huffily: “We didn’t come to play. We came to watch how you lose to others.”

These words had actually been said often before without anyone thinking much of it, but this time many girls felt uneasy, and some reached out to tug at Qi Leyun’s sleeve—don’t say that.

Chu Zhao wasn’t angry, and even less did she hit her. She still smiled cheerfully: “I’m not afraid of losing to others. Now it seems many people aren’t afraid either, like Miss Zhou, and this young lady.”

She pointed at the girl in the field. The girl was concentrating on writing, and moreover using both hands with dual brushes. This skill attracted even more onlookers.

Qi Leyun had actually felt a bit guilty after saying those words earlier. Seeing now that Chu Zhao didn’t pursue it, she relaxed slightly, clenched her hands, and said: “Miss Zhou and this young lady won’t lose.”

“I know. They’re more skilled than me,” Chu Zhao nodded. “But before they entered the field, they actually didn’t think they definitely wouldn’t lose. No one can completely say ‘I won’t lose.’ After all, there are always people better than oneself, the sky beyond the sky.”

These words weren’t wrong. The girls nodded. Qi Leyun opened her mouth but said nothing.

“I’m different,” Chu Zhao said with a smile. “Before I took the field, I already knew I would definitely lose.”

Many girls couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Qi Leyun muttered: “So you knew all along.”

“Yes, of course I knew. I know my own capabilities best,” Chu Zhao spread her hands and said. Without waiting for anyone to ask, she continued: “But knowing I’ll lose doesn’t mean I can’t compete. Losing after competing is different from admitting defeat without competing at all. I’ve always been at the border. Although Xiliang has now submitted and surrendered, all these years there have actually still been many Xiliang military troubles at the border. They either scattered or operated under the banner of bandits, making sudden raids and plundering at the border. A’Le and I have witnessed combat several times—”

She pointed at A’Le beside her.

“The young lady and I both rode horses with the army,” A’Le said loudly. “We carried arrows and bore swords. We also drew bows and shot arrows at Xiliang thieves—”

Speaking to this point, she made a sound and seemed slightly embarrassed.

“It’s just that our archery wasn’t good. We didn’t hit them.”

The girls all laughed, but it wasn’t mockery this time. Some girls even said softly: “You were so young, it’s not surprising.”

A’Le nodded: “Yes, we were too young. But the young lady and I never stopped practicing archery. We haven’t stopped even after coming to the capital. Next time we face Xiliang soldiers in combat, we’ll definitely be able to shoot and kill a few.”

The girls laughed and looked at this maid. Though she was still rustic, she seemed quite adorable.

Chu Zhao smiled and waited for A’Le to finish before continuing: “Why, when both mean surrender, did I choose to lose after competing? Because my father taught me that a warrior would rather die in battle than flee without fighting. The former is a hero, the latter a coward. Compared to a real battlefield, when I lose I’m merely humiliated with a few words. If I don’t even dare face that, forget being a hero—I’d simply be unworthy of being human.”

The girls said nothing, each with their own thoughts.

Chu Zhao suddenly bowed to them: “However, my skills are inadequate, and I’ve implicated everyone.”

The girls were somewhat surprised—this Chu Zhao’s behavior always surprised people. Some waved their hands and said instinctively: “No, no, why would you say that?”

“I’m a little woman,” Chu Zhao straightened and said. “When I lost, people mocked me as ‘little woman’ this and ‘little woman’ that, as if all little women had lost, disgracing women’s dignity.”

She sighed softly.

“That’s why Miss Zhou and this young lady were unwilling to accept it and wanted to win back dignity for little women.”

Win back dignity for little women—the girls looked toward the field. At this moment, that young lady had already finished writing. The maids unfolded it for everyone to see. The surrounding crowd erupted in a buzzing sound mixed with rising and falling cheers.

“My skills are inadequate, but that doesn’t mean all little women are like this. For example Miss Zhou, for example this young lady, for example all of you.”

Chu Zhao’s gaze swept over everyone.

“Each of you has exceptional qualities. Just because I lost doesn’t mean little women have lost.”

“Even if Miss Zhou and this young lady lose, it doesn’t mean you’ve also lost.”

Qi Leyun could no longer hold back and stood out: “That’s right. To tell the truth, my calligraphy is also very good.”

The girls beside her laughed: “Qi Leyun, you’re boasting.” “I’ve never even seen you write.” “You’re always dozing off during gatherings.”

Qi Leyun retorted in annoyance: “I just couldn’t be bothered to write for you to see.” “My parents won’t let me write.” “I doze off because your music playing, talking and games are too boring!”

The girls were clamorous, but the atmosphere was joyful.

Chu Tang emerged from the side, smiling broadly: “Whichever young lady wins back dignity for little women, I’ll give her tea and snacks free today.”

The girls’ laughter grew even louder.

“A’Tang, you’re so generous!” “If I win, I’ll treat everyone to refreshments—will you make it free too?”

……

……

When that young lady finished writing three pieces of calligraphy in succession and victoriously withdrew with satisfaction, the young masters wiped their sweat thinking it had finally ended and the next round could begin. But at the start, it wasn’t Chu Zhao who stood out, but several unfamiliar girls.

“We wonder if anyone is willing to compete with us?” they said. “Let us little women also witness everyone’s distinguished talents?”

The onlookers were both astonished and helpless.

“It’s chaos, complete chaos!”

“Absurd! These women!”

“This is all that Chu Zhao’s doing, corrupting the atmosphere!”

“They must be taught a lesson!”

Although there was much discussion, even more men also stood out, and the competition continued even more fervently.

The onlookers watched more attentively. The girls also watched more seriously. Chu Tang was also busier than ever, while Chu Zhao instead became the most leisurely.

She withdrew with A’Le, quietly observing all of this.

“Miss,” A’Le said in a low voice. “I really didn’t expect things would turn out like this.”

Things had now become not just a dispute between Chu Zhao and the Third Prince, but little women competing with men.

This had become an interesting matter, an elegant affair.

Of course, the Third Prince would still hold a grudge against Chu Zhao, but openly Chu Zhao would no longer be solely mocked and humiliated.

“I didn’t expect it either,” Chu Zhao said. She hadn’t expected that Miss Zhou would stand out, hadn’t expected that more and more girls would stand out.

In her previous life, she had always believed herself looked down upon by girls. Before becoming Empress she felt inferior, after becoming Empress she felt arrogant. She didn’t want to and wouldn’t associate with women.

A’Le squeezed Chu Zhao’s hand: “Miss, this is because you yourself stood firm first. If you had been defeated and withdrawn at the beginning, there wouldn’t be this now.”

Chu Zhao smiled wistfully and said: “Yes, one must first invite humiliation before others can humiliate them. Those who respect themselves are respected by others.”

A’Le exclaimed: “Miss, your learning is really advancing more and more. You speak in refined phrases—I can’t even understand them.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily.