Chu Zhao pushed open the window, and brilliant morning light poured in.

She raised her hand to shield herself, squinting as she looked at the scenery of Chu Garden.

Though it was still early, many servants in Chu Garden were already busy. After yesterday’s event had concluded, everything had been swept and tidied, but this morning, the servants were sweeping and wiping down everything again.

The servants in charge of the banquet had already received today’s menu from the Drunken Immortal House and were reviewing it item by item, estimating how much would be needed.

The male servants and maidservants in charge of receiving guests were laughing as they tidied their clothes, guessing how much reward money they might earn today.

“Ah Zhao.”

A woman’s voice came from downstairs.

Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze and looked down to see Chu Tang standing below with a smile, waving at her and asking: “Why did you come so early today?”

Ever since the young ladies had entered the arena to compete, Chu Zhao was no longer the main attraction of Chu Garden’s literary gatherings. She spent more time studying and generally only came to observe after the opening competition had begun.

“Today Qi Leyun and the others split into two teams to compete against the people brought by the young masters from Quancheng. I’m also participating in one match,” Chu Zhao said with a smile. “So I came early.”

Chu Tang said: “You might as well compete yourself. If they lose, they’ll blame you again. I know best how petty they are.”

Chu Zhao leaned against the window and laughed heartily: “I’m not afraid of them at all.”

True enough. Chu Tang smiled: “If their words get too annoying, just give them a beating.”

The two smiled at each other from upstairs and downstairs. The surrounding maidservants and servants who saw this all sighed in wonder—these two sisters had actually become so close.

When the young lady from the border commandery first entered the household, though they appeared to be one family, these observers could see clearly that everyone in the household, high and low, disliked this young lady.

How strange—Miss Ah Zhao, who was initially unlikeable, had done so many more unlikeable things: fighting, stealing money and running away, even hitting Young Master Chu Ke, and provoking the Third Prince—

But now it seemed the Master and Madam weren’t any more displeased, and Miss Chu Tang had actually become close with Miss Ah Zhao.

“Your words aren’t right. If Miss Ah Tang wants to become close with someone, there’s nothing she can’t accomplish,” a maidservant said with slight pride.

She was a maidservant from the inner residence and knew best the methods women used among themselves.

A servant smiled: “Your words aren’t right either. If Miss Ah Zhao doesn’t want to, no one can become close with her.”

He was a rough laborer from the outer courtyard and had seen plenty of such unruly people—even though Miss Ah Zhao was a woman.

As the servants busied themselves while arguing and gossiping, Chu Zhao and Chu Tang paid them no mind.

“Then read for a while first,” Chu Tang said. “I need to get busy. I’ll wait to hear your good news in a bit.”

Chu Zhao smiled and nodded: “I won’t disappoint everyone’s expectations.”

Chu Tang walked away with her maidservant Linlong. Chu Zhao stood on the second floor watching them go, but her gaze didn’t follow Chu Tang and her servant. Instead, it passed over them to look at A’Le among the rocks and flowers.

A’Le stood there, clenching his fist toward Chu Zhao from afar, then turned and left, following closely behind Chu Tang and her servant.

Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze. Finally, the critical moment from her past life had arrived. When she had first been reborn and awakened, she had actually been somewhat afraid, anxious and uneasy, wanting only to escape. But since fate had pushed her back to this point, when actually facing this moment, she suddenly felt it was nothing.

Wasn’t it just about being a good person?

Good people had saved her. Good people had made things go smoothly and as she wished.

Then she would just be a good person too.

Being a good person was truly the simplest thing in the world.

……

……

When the sunlight grew bright, Chu Garden was filled with voices, but this didn’t make the garden seem noisy—instead, it made it more vibrant.

This was the wonder of this garden. When there were few people, it was tranquil. When there were many, it was lively. Movement and stillness were both appropriate.

“To have such a garden, one’s life would be without regret,” someone walking through couldn’t help but sigh.

Someone nearby laughed quietly: “Minister Wang Zhi thought the same in his day.”

No one knew exactly when, but the capital frequently mentioned Chu Ling’s name. Though thinking about it, it wasn’t strange—Chu Ling’s daughter had caused so many incidents in such a short time that everyone naturally talked about the daughter’s father.

Many old matters were dug up.

Those that everyone knew, and those hidden beneath the surface that most people didn’t know—Qi Leyun’s father wasn’t the only one who could see these things.

After Chu Ling angered the Emperor, inevitably some people either curried favor with the Emperor or took the opportunity to seize Chu Ling’s family property. This was something that always happened—when someone fell from grace, not only could they barely protect themselves, but their family property was also difficult to preserve.

But more than ten years had passed. Though Chu Ling had been exiled to the border commandery and never promoted, though his elder brother Chu Lan was merely a scholar, the Chu family remained as before, never suffering any harassment. Their fields and property hadn’t decreased by half. They were modestly prosperous and secure.

How could this be like a family that had offended the Emperor and was resented by him?

From this, one could see that the affection between the Emperor and Chu Ling ran deep. The Emperor’s displeasure with Chu Ling was real, but his regard for their old friendship was also real. At least he wouldn’t let Chu Ling’s family be destroyed.

There were even stranger rumors circulating, saying the Emperor and Chu Ling could still secretly exchange letters, and that if Chu Ling wanted to see the Emperor, there would be no obstruction whatsoever.

The evidence was that those who had acted against the Chu clan back then—evidence of their crimes had been collected and placed directly on the Emperor’s desk.

But Chu Ling was thousands of miles away—how could he accomplish this? Everyone felt it was unreliable.

In any case, these half-true, half-false matters instead sparked even more discussion. Some families even sought out elderly members who had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs to focus on retirement, asking them about matters concerning Chu Ling.

The elders were all somewhat surprised when suddenly asked—why was Chu Ling being mentioned again? Some confused ones couldn’t distinguish past from present and insisted on wearing official robes to attend court to reprimand this arrogant youth, lest His Majesty wage war recklessly—

Their children and grandchildren hastily restrained them. What court was there to attend now? The Emperor had long since ceased managing state affairs. The Crown Prince sat in the hall, but those accompanying him were all powerful officials who could lift stones, ride horses, and shoot arrows. If grandfather went there, he could be frightened to death by just one loud shout from them.

In any case, Chu Ling, who had been silent for many years, had once again become a frequently mentioned figure in the capital. And when mentioned, it wasn’t just laughing and cursing about a military student’s arrogance and self-destruction of his prospects.

“Like father, like daughter,” people sighed, pointing at the water pavilion in the garden. “Look at what Chu Zhao has done. If she weren’t female, she’d probably have run to have an audience with the Emperor and caused a commotion too.”

As the conversation reached this point, a servant approached with a smile to greet them: “Young masters, the competition is about to begin. Would you like to serve as judges?”

The several speakers smiled and deferred to each other, then walked slowly toward the water pavilion.

Many people in the garden headed that way, but some weren’t interested. Xiao Xun emerged from the artificial mountain above, his expression thoughtful.

“I didn’t expect Chu Ling to be talked about by everyone again,” he said to Tie Ying.

Tie Ying was indifferent: “So what? It’s just adding to the jokes. His reputation in life and after death cannot be changed.”

Times were different from the past now. Even if Chu Ling were in good health, there was no enlightened ruler to recognize him.

Was the Prince feeling sorry for Chu Ling?

Xiao Xun smiled: “Don’t pity others lightly. In this world, the most fearful thing is being sentimental and presumptuous.” As he spoke, he looked ahead.

Clamor came from the water pavilion, mixed with women’s voices that seemed both provocative and laughing.

Tie Ying asked: “Does Your Highness want to go watch?”

From the beginning, he hadn’t liked Chu Zhao, and knew the Prince didn’t like her either. But since the Prince had been told by the King to interact more with the Chu family, they had to maintain appearances.

Xiao Xun shook his head: “No need to watch.”

He hadn’t come here to watch the excitement, nor did he particularly want to know everything about that woman. There was no need.

He only needed to do what he came to do.

At this moment, the Chu family’s steward approached nervously yet excitedly, bowing respectfully: “The Master says everything has been arranged. Please, Your Highness, move to sit and observe from the side.”