Qiao Chu

Before the proclamation of war was issued, they had already fought this battle numerous times.

In their hearts, in their minds, on paper with drawn diagrams, in sand table confrontations, and in repeated demonstrations across the vast grasslands.

Beyond studying tactics, they also studied people—the prominent noble families in the towns along the route.

"If we want to achieve a swift victory, we must leverage human resources," Deng Yi said, pointing to the map hanging in the study. Unlike the battle map in Chu Zhao’s room, this one was marked with family names at every location.

"Earlier, when I sought official posts everywhere, I carefully studied many noble families to curry favor. Later, after becoming Grand Tutor, many scions of these families sought to attach themselves to me, offering their clan’s support and candidly recommending themselves. I came to understand them even better."

"These noble families are deeply rooted locally. If they are willing, they can even overshadow the government."

At this point, Deng Yi let out a cold snort.

"Your Majesty has personally experienced their assistance."

Chu Zhao couldn’t help but laugh, knowing he was referring to the Han County nobles’ sudden defection during the rebellion, which caused Xiao Xun’s forces to collapse like a landslide. But after laughing, she mocked herself.

That assistance had been brought by Xie Yanfang.

The Xie family had deep foundations, and Xie Yanfang had been cultivating connections for years. The interests among noble families were intricately intertwined, allowing Xie Yanfang to persuade them to lend their support.

Moreover, Deng Yi’s current proposal was something Xie Yanfang had done in that other lifetime. Back then, when Xie Yanfang was locked in a stalemate with the court, the defection of a powerful clan from a key stronghold severely weakened the court and allowed Xie Yanfang to firmly occupy half the empire.

Could she, Chu Zhao, do the same?

She still remembered the scornful and disdainful attitude of the Wei family in Han County toward her.

"Why has Your Majesty become so timid?" Deng Yi sneered beside her. "From our first meeting, you praised my prowess, yet you never hesitated to confront me."

Chu Zhao laughed again at his mockery. Fine, fine, she understood. She would just do it. She might have self-awareness, but she was also full of courage.

However, putting it into practice was not so smooth.

Before arriving in Pingyang Prefecture, they had already visited two other locations where noble families resided but failed to get close to the heads of the households. Just by observing the peripheral managers, they could gauge their attitudes and nearly exposed their identities and tracks.

The Tan family was their last hope.

The thirty thousand troops had dispersed and moved stealthily, and reaching this point had been extremely difficult. Any further delay would lead to discovery, forcing them to directly launch attacks and seize territories. In that case, even if they could hold their ground, they would inevitably become mired in hardship, unable to approach the capital for one, two, or even three years.

If that happened, this confrontation would truly drag on for a decade, just as it had in that other lifetime, with no certainty of victory. In the end, it might still be Xie Yanfang sitting before her coffin, lamenting the past.

At this thought, Chu Zhao took a deep breath and reached up to touch her face again.

"Please buy me some of the best rouge from Pingyang Prefecture," she said to Chu Tang.

……

……

Empress Chu’s campaign against the Xie family had caused a great stir, but the actual fighting had so far been confined to the vicinity of Yunzhong Commandery. Thus, although the atmosphere was tense, daily life remained largely unaffected.

In wine shops and tea houses, the streets bustled with people as lively as ever.

Today, East Street was particularly crowded, with carriages and pedestrians converging from all directions, stopping in front of Ximo Pavilion. There were men and women, both young and old with white hair.The commotion drew the attention of idlers, especially when they noticed the soldiers—who had recently been searching every nook and cranny, even mouse holes—passing by. Instead of dispersing the crowd for inspection, they casually maintained order to ensure carriages and horses could still enter from outside.

The onlookers grew even more curious. What was happening? East Street wasn’t the busiest part of the city—it only had a few stationery shops and one or two teahouses with little foot traffic. Why the sudden crowd?

More and more people surged in from all directions, asking, “How’s it going?” or “Who’s winning?”

Before long, a shop assistant from one of the bookstores planted a blue brocade flag outside the door, causing an instant uproar among the spectators.

“The scholars have won!”

At the same time, the crowd pressed forward as the shop assistant hung a scroll on the rack outside the store, densely covered in writing.

“Quick, see what’s written on it!”

“Whose masterpiece is it?”

The idlers, jostled and shoved, had to steady themselves against the wall, muttering in confusion, “What in the world is going on here?”

Someone squeezed nearby overheard and explained, “Ximo Pavilion is hosting a Garden Gathering.”

The idlers stared blankly. “Garden? Ximo Pavilion doesn’t have a damn garden!” The place was tiny, just two stories high.

The person beside them laughed, a hint of pride in their voice. “You don’t get it. A Garden Gathering isn’t about strolling in a garden—it’s a type of literary competition from the capital where men and women compete together.”

But another bystander snorted, “What ‘from the capital’? It was Empress Chu who started it! Now people don’t dare mention Empress Chu, so they call it a capital tradition. Go on, say her name if you have the guts—”

Empress Chu.

Even Empress Chu was involved? The idlers widened their eyes.

Someone disliked the sarcastic tone and retorted coldly, “What if it was created by Empress Chu? Empress Chu may have committed crimes, but does that mean the literary gathering is guilty too? How long has Empress Chu existed? How long has this gathering been around? Are you suggesting that just because Empress Chu is guilty, the whole world should ban literary competitions?”

The sarcastic speaker flushed red, unable to bear such an accusation, and shouted, “You’re twisting my words! I never said that—”

An argument broke out, leaving the idlers stunned once more. Others around them chuckled, “What’s the big deal? Arguments are part of the Garden Gathering. Back in the early days in the capital, men and women would openly quarrel.”

Such a thing? Men were one thing, but women daring to trade insults? The idlers were shocked, while the crowd around them began to egg them on: “Debate it out!” “You two settle the score!”

The street outside Ximo Pavilion grew noisy and chaotic.

Inside Ximo Pavilion, it was just as loud.

Downstairs, the men were laughing; upstairs, the women were fuming.

“What’s there to be proud of! That Zhang Xuan is already thirty—it’s no surprise he beat us.”

“Exactly, Aru could still hold her own against him. Our Aru is amazing too.”

“That’s right, Aru, you were brilliant! Didn’t that white-bearded old man say earlier that your brushwork was just slightly less refined? With a bit more practice, you’ll be fine.”

“Hehe, Aqi, you dare call Master Wen ‘white-bearded old man’—watch out, your father might punish you when you get home. He’s your father’s mentor, after all.”

Though the women were indignant, they encouraged, praised, and teased one another, filling the air with youthful vitality.

Standing to the side, dressed as a maid, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but smile softly.

“It reminds me of our younger days,” she murmured.On the other side, Chu Tang, also dressed as a maid, glanced at her: "We're not in our seventies or eighties yet! That was only five or six years ago!"

Chu Zhao quickly lowered her head to avoid laughing and appearing improper.

Meanwhile, the female proprietor of Ximo Studio began announcing, "New topics are here—this time it's calligraphy."

Chu Tang nudged Chu Zhao with her elbow: "Stop reminiscing about the past—time to work."

Chu Zhao lifted her head and responded affirmatively, straightening her expression as she picked up the tray, her gaze directed toward the innermost table.

Chu Tang gave her a meaningful look and walked toward the other side first, asking the young ladies seated at the tables one by one: "Would you like to try calligraphy, miss?"

Each table typically seated four young ladies, with close friends sometimes squeezing five or six together. Upon hearing the inquiry, some nodded collectively, while only two or three responded at others. Chu Tang accordingly arranged the papers on her tray based on the number of participants.

Chu Zhao also approached the innermost area, stopping at a table where a single young lady sat alone. Unlike the others, whose maids waited in an adjacent room, this young lady had two maids standing behind her in attendance.

"Miss," Chu Zhao asked with a smile, "would you like to try calligraphy?"

The young lady appeared to be fifteen or sixteen, fair-skinned and delicate, but her expression was as cold and rigid as the jade earrings dangling by her ears. Resting her chin on one hand, she idly spun an empty teacup on the table with the other. Without even lifting her eyelids at the question, she replied, "No."

This wasn't the first time. Since this young lady had entered, every inquiry had been met with a single "no."

Without further comment, Chu Zhao acknowledged the response and prepared to step away. But this time, a girl at the adjacent table snorted.

"Miss Tan," she said, "you've been here for half a day without participating in anything or even drinking tea. Are you just here to watch us make fools of ourselves?"

Miss Tan continued to lower her eyelids, spinning the teacup round and round with her fingers. "Indeed," she replied, "to see how ridiculous you all look competing against men."

Her words not only made the questioning girl immediately bristle with anger but also drew the attention of the other young ladies, their expressions turning complex.