When the morning sunlight spilled into the small courtyard, Chu Zhao and A Le returned from the garden carrying bows and arrows, their faces glistening with sweat.
The maids and serving women standing in the yard hurriedly bowed and greeted them: "Miss Azhao is back." "Hot water is ready." "When would Miss Azhao like to eat?" Their previous disdain and indifference had completely vanished.
Servants must know how to read the situation. This country girl Chu Zhao had beaten Miss Liang without facing any consequences, freely taken household money without repercussions, and now she casually took vegetables and even dared to play tricks by putting salt in them—
If she could put salt in the vegetables today, she might put rats in your bed tomorrow!
She has the status of a young lady but doesn’t follow a young lady’s rules—such a person is truly not to be provoked.
Chu Zhao paid no mind to their sudden change in attitude and gave instructions one by one, while the maids and serving women busied themselves attending to her.
"This garden really isn’t suitable for horseback riding and archery," A Le, who was also being attended to, shook her head. "It should be torn down."
The maid combing her hair twitched her lips but didn’t dare to laugh mockingly.
What could she do? This country maid who mistook bath beans for snacks was protected by Miss Azhao—even her foolish remarks didn’t matter.
Chu Zhao didn’t actually indulge her maid by tearing down the garden and said with a laugh, "This garden wasn’t built for horseback riding or archery. Tearing it down would be pointless. We’re just practicing casually to keep our skills sharp. When we return—"
Her voice trailed off slightly at this point.
A Le, watching her expression, clenched her fist. "Miss, we will definitely go back."
Chu Zhao nodded. "Yes, we will go back."
Although they had been intercepted and brought back, she had never given up on returning to the Border Commandery.
Her father had sent her to the capital to enjoy peace and stability, but in reality, the capital was the most unstable place. It would soon face great turmoil that would last for a long time.
She still needed to write to her father, continuously. The biggest problem, however, was that her letters might not be delivered.
Her uncle would certainly not deliver them for her and might even intentionally intercept and hide them.
How could she send them? Should she seek out Deng Yi, or perhaps a Courier?
Chu Zhao lost herself in thought. Just then, A Le, who had stepped out, rushed back in, fuming. "The master just sent word that you are not allowed to leave the house again."
It must have been because of what she said yesterday that angered her uncle.
Over the years, he had grown increasingly presumptuous, truly believing he was being dragged down by her father, when in fact, it was his own cowardice and incompetence.
Though her words wouldn’t make him see reason, at least they would let him know not to play the victim in front of her anymore. Her father owed him nothing!
If anything, she was the one who owed her father. In her previous life, she had not only failed to protect him but had joined others in blaming and resenting him.
Fortunately, this time she could make amends.
Chu Zhao waved her hand dismissively. "I wasn’t planning to go out anyway. Pay it no mind."
If she truly wanted to leave, how could a mere household gate stop her?
...
...
Though Chu Zhao had no intention of going out, a visitor came to her door.
A group of girls walked in cheerfully. Chu Tang, who had been sitting by the window, put down her book and stood up to greet them.
"A Tang, it’s only been a few days, and you’ve already forgotten your manners," Qi Leyun pointed at her and said. "You didn’t even come out to greet us."
Chu Tang smiled brightly. "Because I guessed you weren’t here for me."
The girls all laughed, appreciating Chu Tang’s frankness. It was this openness that made it easy to talk about anything."How is A Zhao?" "What exactly happened with that matter?" "Why haven't you been going out these past few days?" Everyone surrounded Chu Tang, all talking at once.
Chu Tang gestured for them to sit down: "I know what you all want to know. Don't rush, let's sit down, have some tea and snacks, and I'll tell you everything I know."
The girls laughed again. Chu Tang came from an ordinary background, had ordinary looks, and an ordinary family status, but she excelled in her studies, was proficient in all the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, could converse with anyone, and spoke in an amusing manner.
As usual, everyone sat down. The maids brought tea and snacks before withdrawing, leaving the girls to chat and laugh freely.
"My younger sister A Zhao is fine, but she can't come to see everyone. She's been grounded by my father."
"As for the matter with Miss Liang, that's the end of it. Both families have agreed not to mention it again, but I'm still too embarrassed to go out, so I'm staying home for a few days."
"As for what exactly happened, I'm not sure either. A Zhao insisted that A Qin insulted her, and she wanted to teach A Qin a lesson."
This matched what everyone had speculated.
Qi Leyun asked anxiously: "Then does she want to teach us a lesson too? We've all done the same things A Qin did."
One girl coughed lightly: "Qi Leyun, what do you mean 'we'? How can you say everyone has done it? Can't sisters just joke around with each other?"
"Exactly," another girl said discontentedly, looking at Chu Tang. "For example, I often say I'm honored to play with A Tang, and A Tang has never hit me, right?"
Chu Tang smiled, reached out to pinch the girl's pink cheek, and said: "Because I'm also honored to invite you to play with me."
The girl giggled. That's right, if you're going to play together, you have to be able to take it.
Qi Leyun pursed her lips: "That's probably because A Tang doesn't dare hit you."
As soon as these words were spoken, Chu Tang's smile stiffened slightly. That sounded rather strange.
After speaking, Qi Leyun looked Chu Tang up and down.
Chu Tang felt annoyed by her gaze and was about to say something when Qi Leyun's eyes darted around and she looked at the others.
"Why don't we go see Chu Zhao," she suggested. "Let's see if she'll try to hit or scold us too."
Really? What if she actually does hit or scold us? The girls instinctively had this thought.
"What are you afraid of!" Qi Leyun said angrily, seeing everyone's reactions. "Even if we fight or argue, there are so many of us - are we afraid of her?"
What happened with Miss Liang last time was an accident. This time they were prepared and wouldn't end up as embarrassed as Liang Qin!
"This is a matter that concerns our dignity," Qi Leyun said, getting more and more worked up. "These days, it's A Qin who's being mocked outside, but we all feel disgraced. A noble young lady from the capital actually got beaten and scolded by a country girl over a few jokes."
The girls looked at her, hesitant yet thoughtful.
"We can't let her break the rules and indulge her habit of resorting to violence at the slightest disagreement," Qi Leyun said, clenching her hands. "Otherwise, we'll all lose face."
Looking at her like this, she seemed like she couldn't wait to rush over and fight Chu Zhao immediately.
Chu Tang burst out laughing.
"Don't laugh," Qi Leyun said, snorting. "With a sister like that, you're the one who should be most ashamed."
This was something Chu Tang had never been afraid of. She was quite happy to have a shameful sister - a person can only disgrace themselves, which makes others appear even more honorable by contrast."Alright then, don't charge over there so aggressively. With so many of you, it's clearly bullying," she said with a laugh. "Then she'll have even more reason to scold or hit you all later."
That made sense. Qi Leyun's aggressive momentum faltered.
"How about this instead," Chu Tang said leisurely. "Let's go to the garden as we used to, playing the qin and painting. I'll send someone to inform A Zhao."
Qi Leyun looked at her and asked, "What if she doesn't come?"
Wasn't she under house arrest?
"If she doesn't come, it means she's guilty and in the wrong," Chu Tang said with a dismissive wave and a laugh. "Miss Qi, you'll win without a fight."
The girls all laughed. Qi Leyun spat out, "And what if she does come?"
"If she comes, everyone can reason with her. If she then starts making a scene—" Chu Tang said with a smile, "—it'll be her causing trouble and picking a fight. No one can blame the rest of you."
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