The competitions at Chu Yuan suddenly changed.
When Chu Zhao lost in a calligraphy contest, the young master across from her prepared to lecture this little woman as usual. Taking the certificate of defeat, he had just opened his mouth: “You—”
A girl walked out from the corridor: “Don’t be so pleased with yourself. I’ll compete with you. Beating Chu Zhao doesn’t mean you’ve beaten all young women!”
The young master was stunned: “Actually, I—”
“What? Are you afraid?” the girl immediately said.
Under everyone’s gaze, to say he was afraid of a young girl was something the young master could never bring himself to say. He could only bow with embarrassment and frustration: “Please proceed, Miss.”
Chu Zhao’s position was taken again. She looked at the girl: “You—”
“No need to ask. After I win, you’ll know my name,” the girl said, slightly raising her chin.
Chu Zhao couldn’t help but smile and deliberately asked: “What if you lose?”
The girl responded with indignation: “Then I will also tell everyone my name.”
Chu Zhao laughed heartily and called to her maid behind her: “Prepare the brush and ink for this young lady.”
Hearing the news from this side, people in Chu Yuan gathered once more, watching as another girl had taken the stage, all discussing among themselves.
…
…
The girls in the corridors and reception halls were also buzzing with discussion, but this time, few people suggested that this young lady was close to Chu Zhao or standing up for her.
Qi Leyun’s face showed shock as she murmured something.
At this moment, Chu Zhao walked over.
Since coming to Chu Yuan, Chu Zhao had never acknowledged them. At first, they thought Chu Zhao would mock them with cold laughter and drive them away. Later, they imagined Chu Zhao would tearfully thank them for coming to support her, help her, and boost her reputation—but neither happened.
Chu Zhao looked at everyone—there were more girls than before, and more unfamiliar faces too.
Evidently, despite the unexpected appearance of Miss Zhou Jiang, families had not forbidden their daughters from coming to Chu Yuan.
“Everyone, how do you like my game?” she asked with a smile. “Isn’t it more fun than what you had before? Aren’t you enjoying playing with me?”
She was boasting! The girls were shocked and somewhat at a loss.
Qi Leyun said angrily, “We didn’t come to play. We came to see how you lose to others.”
This was something often said before, and no one thought much of it, but this time, many girls felt uncomfortable. Someone even pulled at Qi Leyun’s sleeve—don’t say that.
Chu Zhao wasn’t angry, nor did she hit her. She continued smiling: “I’m not afraid of losing to others, and it seems many people aren’t afraid either, like Miss Zhou, and this young lady.”
She pointed to the girl in the arena who was focused on writing, using two brushes in both hands simultaneously. This skill attracted even more onlookers.
Qi Leyun had felt a bit guilty after saying those words earlier. Now, seeing that Chu Zhao wasn’t pursuing the matter, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, clenched her hands, and said: “Miss Zhou and this young lady won’t lose.”
“I know, they’re better than me,” Chu Zhao nodded. “But before they took the stage, they didn’t necessarily believe they would never lose. No one can say with absolute certainty, ‘I won’t lose,’ after all, there’s always someone better, and the sky has no limit.”
This was undeniably true. The girls nodded, and Qi Leyun opened her mouth but said nothing.
“I’m different,” Chu Zhao said with a smile. “Before I took the stage, I already knew I would lose.”
Many girls couldn’t help but giggle.
Qi Leyun muttered: “So you knew all along.”
“Yes, of course I knew. I know my capabilities better than anyone,” Chu Zhao said, spreading her hands. Without waiting for questions, she continued, “But knowing I would lose doesn’t mean I shouldn’t compete. Losing after a competition is different from admitting defeat without even trying. I’ve always lived in the border region, and although Western Liang has now surrendered, for many years there were still many Western Liang soldiers causing trouble in the border areas. They either scattered or raised the banner of bandits, raiding and plundering in the border regions. A-Le and I have witnessed several battles—”
She pointed to A-Le beside her.
“My mistress and I both rode horses with the army,” A-Le said loudly. “We carried arrows and knives on our backs, and we also drew bows and shot arrows at the Western Liang bandits—”
At this point, she hesitated and added somewhat embarrassedly:
“It’s just that our archery wasn’t good, and we didn’t hit anyone.”
The girls all laughed, but it wasn’t mockery. Some girls said softly: “You were so young, it’s not surprising.”
A-Le nodded: “Yes, we were too small, but my mistress and I never stopped practicing archery, even after coming to the capital. The next time we face the Western Liang soldiers, we’ll shoot a few of them dead.”
The girls giggled, looking at this maid who, though still rustic, seemed quite endearing.
Chu Zhao smiled and waited for A-Le to finish before continuing: “Why do I choose to lose after competing rather than conceding immediately? 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, my loss means only suffering a few insults. If I can’t even face that, forget about being a hero—I’d hardly qualify as a human being.”
The girls didn’t speak, each lost in her thoughts.
Chu Zhao suddenly bowed to them: “But my skills are inadequate, and I’ve implicated all of you.”
The girls were somewhat surprised—Chu Zhao’s actions were constantly surprising. Some waved their hands and reflexively said: “No, no, how can you say that?”
“I am a young woman,” Chu Zhao said, rising. “When I lose and am mocked as a ‘little woman,’ it’s as if all young women have lost, bringing shame to all women.”
She let out a light sigh.
“That’s why Miss Zhou and this young lady weren’t content and wanted to reclaim honor for young women.”
Fighting for the honor of young women—the girls looked toward the arena. By now, the young lady had finished writing. The maids displayed their work for everyone to see, and the crowd that gathered around buzzed with admiration, interspersed with cries of praise.
“My skills may be lacking, but that doesn’t mean all young women are the same. Take Miss Zhou, this young lady, and all of you for example.”
Chu Zhao’s gaze swept over everyone.
“Each of you has exceptional qualities. My defeat doesn’t mean young women as a whole are defeated.”
“Even if Miss Zhou and this young lady were to lose, it doesn’t mean you all lose.”
Qi Leyun could no longer contain herself and stepped forward: “That’s right! To be honest, my calligraphy is quite good too.”
The girls beside her laughed. “Qi Leyun, you’re boasting.” “I’ve never seen you write.” “You always doze off during gatherings.”
Qi Leyun angrily retorted: “I just don’t feel like showing you.” “My parents don’t let me write.” “I doze off because your music, talking, and games are too boring!”
The girls clamored, but the atmosphere was joyful.
Chu Tang emerged from the side, saying with a smile: “Whichever young lady wins honor for young women today will receive complimentary refreshments from me.”
The girls’ laughter grew even louder.
“A-Tang, you’re so generous!” “If I win, will you also provide free refreshments for everyone I treat?”
…
…
After the young lady had written three pieces to her satisfaction and left the stage victorious, the young masters wiped their sweat, thinking it was finally over and they could start the next match. But when the competition began again, it wasn’t Chu Zhao who stood up, but several unfamiliar girls.
“Is anyone willing to compete with us?” they asked. “Let us young women also witness your excellence?”
The onlookers were shocked and helpless.
“This is chaos, utter chaos!”
“Outrageous! These women!”
“It all started with that Chu Zhao, corrupting proper conduct!”
“They must be taught a lesson!”
Despite the various discussions, even more men stood up, and the competitions continued with greater fervor.
The spectators watched more intently, the girls observed more seriously, and Chu Tang became even busier, while Chu Zhao became the most leisurely of all.
She retreated with A-Le, quietly observing everything.
“Young Mistress,” A-Le said softly, “I never expected things to turn out this way.”
By now, the matter was no longer a dispute between Chu Zhao and the Third Prince, but rather young women and men testing their skills against each other.
It had become an interesting event, 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 step forward, nor that more and more girls would stand up.
In her previous life, she had always believed that other girls looked down on her. Before becoming Empress, she was insecure; after becoming Empress, she was arrogant, neither wanting nor willing to associate with other women.
A-Le squeezed Chu Zhao’s hand: “Young Mistress, this is because you stood your ground first. If you had retreated after initial defeats, this wouldn’t be happening now.”
Chu Zhao smiled wistfully and said: “Yes, one must respect oneself before others will respect them.”
A-Le exclaimed: “Young Mistress, your learning is truly advancing. You speak in verses now; I can’t even understand you anymore.”
Chu Zhao laughed heartily.