Chu Zhao had no idea what was happening. The courtyard gate was locked, and although she could climb over it, there was no need to go out. She was in her room writing a letter to her father, and considering the chaos that was about to unfold, staying at home was the safest option.

During that unrest, many people in the capital suffered. Some households were deliberately eliminated for being the Crown Prince’s confidants, but most were simply unfortunate victims—collateral damage as the Third Prince created the illusion of bandit rebellion to escalate the situation.

At that time, she had just married Xiao Xun and was living in the imperial villa outside the capital, waiting to depart for Zhongshan Prefecture. When the incident occurred, she was very worried about her uncle’s family in the city. Fortunately, although Chu Garden was well-known, its location was remote, away from where the Crown Prince stayed. There were also no confidants of the Crown Prince nearby, so they escaped disaster.

So in this life, as long as she stayed home properly, nothing would happen to her.

Chu Zhao paused with her brush, feeling uneasy as she recalled that chaos. Although she hadn’t witnessed the tragic scenes firsthand, when her uncle’s family came to find her two weeks later, the descriptions from her aunt and Chu Tang were terrifying.

She had her own experiences too. When she became Empress and hosted her first banquet, few people attended, and many of the girls she had previously known were nowhere to be seen. They had either died in the chaos or their families had suffered misfortune, forcing them to leave the capital.

These were people protected by high walls and deep courtyards. The common folk with their modest homes suffered even greater casualties.

“Miss?” A-Le entered from outside and noticed her mistress’s complex expression—seemingly both angry and sorrowful—her pen squeaking as she gripped it tightly.

Startled, A-Le called out softly.

Chu Zhao came back to herself, saw A-Le’s concerned look, and quickly reassured her: “I’m fine, just thinking about some things.”

Considering all these events, it was normal for her mistress to be upset, A-Le thought, nodding.

“Young Master Ke hasn’t gone out again, not through the courtyard gate or his room door,” she reported on the family’s movements. “The master and the madam argued, but it was just arguing; they didn’t say anything about doing anything to you. Oh, and Miss A-Tang did go out.”

She must have gone to gather information, Chu Zhao thought indifferently. Hearing only from family members wasn’t comprehensive enough; Chu Tang naturally would go to her sisters to gather intelligence.

“Also, Commander Zhang didn’t come looking for me,” A-Le added.

She had even walked around the street outside the house several times, fearing Zhang Gu might not remember or find his way.

Chu Zhao wasn’t surprised by this either. A-Jiu had delivered the secret message with his identity protected and wouldn’t be easily found.

“A-Le,” she called, “go to the streets and inquire about someone else for me.”

A-Le quickly asked, “Who, Miss?”

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

Hmm? A-Le was somewhat surprised, remembering how her mistress had almost thrown herself down from the restaurant upon seeing Third Young Master Xie. Could it be that her mistress was also interested in him?

Third Young Master Xie was so famous and admired by so many young ladies, it would be natural for her mistress to like him too.

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

Chu Zhao didn’t know exactly, as she only knew the name in both her past and present lives: “Anything related to him will do, the more detailed the better.”

A-Le didn’t ask further, just answered affirmatively and turned to leave.

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

Not just too few, she had virtually no one to use except A-Le. The number of things and people she needed to investigate was growing, as were the tasks she needed to accomplish—

Initially, she had only thought about escaping the capital, escaping the fate of marrying Xiao Xun. As for other matters, she hadn’t considered them, nor could she manage them.

But now that she had been pushed back to the capital, she couldn’t help thinking more, such as not being able to watch so many innocent people suffer in that chaos.

Moreover, if the Crown Prince didn’t die, Xiao Xun wouldn’t become Emperor, which would truly sever the fate of her previous life.

How to prevent the Crown Prince’s death?

She could rush over and tell the Crown Prince that the Third Prince would kill his entire family, but setting aside whether the Crown Prince would consider her crazy and have her beheaded, she had no way to even see the Crown Prince.

But there was someone easier to meet than the Crown Prince, someone who could most change the Crown Prince’s fate: Xie Yanfang.

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

In terms of fate, he would dare to oppose Xiao Xun as Emperor and lead a rebellion.

In terms of capability, there was no need to elaborate—this man had a reputation and strength. Even by the time she died as Empress, Xiao Xun and the court had still not successfully suppressed the rebellion.

If she leaked some information to him, hinted at the Third Prince’s scheme, Xie Yanfang would certainly do something.

If the Crown Prince’s fate changed, then the fates of Xiao Xun, Xie Yanfang, herself, and many others could all change.

Chu Zhao took a deep breath to focus and carefully recalled the details of the Third Prince’s plot against the Crown Prince.

…

…

Chu Tang was also recalling carefully, but faced with the expectant gazes of the girls, she could only shake her head.

“I didn’t know she was capable of so much,” she said helplessly. “Even from me, my sister kept secrets.”

The girls looked dissatisfied.

Qi Leyun even asked, “You two aren’t in this together, are you? Playing us for fools? One pretending to be an ignorant country girl, letting us mock and tease her, and then when we’re feeling smug, revealing her true abilities, leaving us gaping, pitiful and ridiculous.”

That’s how it always happened in storybooks.

They would laugh when reading such stories, but it wasn’t funny when they became the characters in the story.

Chu Tang smiled bitterly, “How would that benefit me? Would I do something without benefit?”

Indeed, she wouldn’t, the girls nodded again.

“I’m just like you all, someone she finds amusing,” Chu Tang said. “I came out to ask around, to get clarity, to avoid our whole family being played for fools by her. Poor my brother, he won’t be able to show his face anymore.”

Thinking of Chu Ke, the girls felt sympathetic, amused, and annoyed all at once.

“What’s wrong with your brother?” “She is treating your family like fools.” “Speaking of which, between her and you, who’s more skilled?” “Looking at her calligraphy, A-Tang, you seem somewhat inferior.”

Chu Tang sat among the girls, allowing them to tease her, only saying helplessly, “Just in terms of cunning, I’m no match for her.”

Qi Leyun snorted, “Both surnamed Chu, yet so different.”

Previously, such words were used to mock Chu Zhao and flatter Chu Tang. Now reversed, Qi Leyun found them quite useful. She disliked Chu Zhao, but she also didn’t like Chu Tang’s attitude.

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

This person, specifically referring to her, Qi Leyun.

She didn’t speak of it daily, but that didn’t mean she was unaware. Today, she finally had a chance for revenge.

Chu Tang smiled somewhat forcedly. This, she thought, was the downside of having a formidable sister. Just as she was about to speak, a young man suddenly approached.

“Excuse me,” he bowed, looking up at Chu Tang. “Are you Miss Chu? I overheard your conversation.”

What does he mean? Chu Tang was startled. Looking at this man’s expression, he was hardly a refined young gentleman, and his eyes carried a hint of ferocity—

“No,” her instinct made her shake her head immediately. “I am not.”

The man didn’t belabor the point. Hearing her answer, he bowed again, said “Pardon the intrusion,” and turned to leave.

The other girls hadn’t yet recovered their senses.

“What happened?” “What did he ask?” “Does he know A-Tang?”

But Chu Tang remained silent, turning to look downstairs. The man had already gone down, and there were many other young men below, talking with him. Although they weren’t speaking loudly, with so many people, their voices carried upstairs.

“The Chu girl.” “That’s what was written outside Wangchun Garden.” “Then let’s go there.” “Let’s see what kind of girl she is.”

Then someone else ran in, waving and shouting, “I found out where the Chu girl lives!” “Follow me!”

All those young men instantly rushed out.

Chu Tang placed her hand over her heart, which was pounding heavily. She had an extremely bad feeling about this!