Chu Ke refused to admit defeat!
What kind of world is this, what kind of world!
He buried his head in the table, pounding it resentfully.
"Comparing talents, comparing talents," he said. "I've been busy studying the Book of Documents and had no time to practice calligraphy, so I've neglected it."
Before Chu Zhao could speak, a bystander chimed in, holding one of the calligraphy pieces she had written earlier.
"Young Master Chu," he said, "I don't think there's any need to compare talents further. Your younger sister is clearly well-versed in the Book of Documents too."
He gazed at the paper in his hand, murmuring a few lines with admiration in his eyes.
"As expected of someone taught by the renowned Ouyang scholar of the Book of Documents. Master Chu lives up to his reputation."
Chu Ke jerked his head up. What?
"Mine is excellent as well," another young man said, holding another piece of paper, his expression one of sudden enlightenment. "So this is how that passage should be interpreted!"
Chu Ke leaped to his feet. His father was the renowned Ouyang scholar of the Book of Documents, but Chu Zhao's father wasn't!
What did she know about the Book of Documents!
"Give that to me!" He snatched the paper from the young man's hand and looked down at it.
It turned out Chu Zhao had written four calligraphy pieces, each containing a short essay on four passages from the Book of Documents.
At first, everyone had admired the calligraphy—the young girl's handwriting was excellent. But upon closer reading, they found the essays were also masterfully written. While many women studied the classics, few could analyze and expound on them in such detail—after all, women didn't need literary achievements to make their way in the world or seek official positions.
"Truly, a master produces outstanding disciples. As expected of children from a scholarly family," several older guests praised.
What scholarly family? Chu Zhao was taught by her second uncle, and he was a rough military man! He was the true child of a scholarly family! Chu Ke snatched all the essays and read them, wanting to refute them but finding he couldn't dispute a single word—
"You!" He stared at Chu Zhao in disbelief. "My father never taught you! When did you steal this knowledge?"
Steal? Chu Zhao scoffed softly, then sighed. She hadn't stolen it—she had indeed been taught by her uncle.
After marrying Xiao Xun and becoming Empress, the dynasty was unstable. Unable to help and only holding Xiao Xun back, she wanted to improve herself to be worthy of her position as Empress. She diligently practiced qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The palace had many skilled teachers, and court officials appreciated her humble requests for guidance. Her uncle had particularly devoted himself to teaching her the Book of Documents, saying it was the foundation of the Chu family's standing—
What foundation? None of what she learned had pleased Xiao Xun, made her a virtuous empress, or saved her life.
Chu Zhao glanced around and only then noticed the large crowd that had gathered.
Well, it wasn't entirely useless. Today, these skills had pleased these men. They no longer saw her as worthless and unreasonable but instead believed she was justified in teaching Chu Ke a lesson.
"Do you think you're the only one who studied?" Chu Zhao rebuked Chu Ke. "Many work harder than you, yet dare not boast of their achievements. But you? Flaunting everywhere, even proudly waving Third Prince's literary gathering invitation!"
She took the invitation from the table and placed it in A Le's basket.
"If you can't even surpass me, what right do you have to attend Third Prince's literary gathering? This invitation no longer belongs to you."
Chu Ke shouted, "Chu Zhao—I'll fight you!"
The young man lunged forward, but this time Chu Zhao didn't get a chance to act—Chu Ke was restrained by the other young men present.
"A Ke, don't be like this." "Young Master A Ke, let's talk this through calmly."This way, if they fought again, they wouldn’t be in the wrong—and besides, they couldn’t win anyway. Getting beaten up for nothing would only bring shame to all of them.
Chu Ke, held tightly by so many people, struggled in vain, utterly exhausted. For that wretched girl, he had traveled such a long distance in the freezing cold, enduring countless hardships without shedding a tear. Even when she publicly humiliated him with a beating, he hadn’t cried. But now, with his pride stripped away, the young man could no longer hold back. He lifted his sleeve to cover his face and wept.
Ignoring the sobbing Chu Ke, Chu Zhao turned and walked away, with A Le following closely behind, carrying the basket.
The crowd made way for them. The girls standing further back were a bit slower to react and suddenly found themselves face-to-face with Chu Zhao. Flustered, they scrambled to say something to ease the awkwardness or at least not lose their composure—
Qi Leyun pointed at her accusingly, “You actually deceived us!”
Chu Zhao had deliberately hidden her abilities, pretending to know nothing. What was she planning? Did she intend to humiliate them like this as well?
“How despicable!” “Cunning and deceitful!” “Shameless!”
The girls muttered curses under their breaths, but Chu Zhao paid them no mind. Accompanied by the girls’ discontent and Chu Ke’s weeping, she walked away with an air of calm composure.
It was almost laughable. Even when she was the Empress, she had never been surrounded by so many people in such a manner.
As she reached the staircase, a young man descended from the third floor, also surrounded by a crowd.
Chu Zhao instinctively looked up. He was a young noble, speaking to someone behind him, revealing only his profile.
But that profile was enough. He was strikingly handsome, and Chu Zhao’s only thought was how radiant and ethereal he appeared.
Moreover, the people around him gazed at him with admiration, their eyes bright and faces joyful. Unlike her, who was followed by weeping, cursing, and meaningful stares.
He seemed to have descended from the heavens on a cloud of splendor, while she felt as though she had emerged from mud and decay, stepping on withered branches and rotting leaves.
At this contrast, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but smile.
At that moment, the young man turned his head and caught sight of the girl’s smile.
They were now close enough to see the delicate smoothness of each other’s cheeks.
In response to her smile, he smiled back, like a night-blooming cereus.
Was he smiling at her? Chu Zhao was taken aback. It must be a misunderstanding—she hadn’t meant to greet him. But faced with such beauty, of course, she should respond with warmth and courtesy—
Before she could return the smile, the commotion behind her suddenly intensified, accompanied by hurried footsteps and the jingling of ornaments.
“Young Master Xie the Third!”
“Young Master Xie!”
The girls at the back rushed forward, shoving her aside. Qi Leyun, who was the fastest, even stepped on her foot.
That wretched girl! Chu Zhao bent her knee and lifted her foot while A Le hurriedly supported her. When she looked ahead again, the handsome young man descending the stairs was completely obscured by the crowd. She could see nothing but a mass of people crammed onto the staircase.
What is this chaos! Chu Zhao rubbed her foot, steadied herself, and thought, With so many people, they’d better be careful not to collapse the staircase!
She led A Le further inside, avoiding the staircase, and returned to her seat.
The seat was empty. Deng Yi had already left.
Half of the food on the plate had been eaten, and two wine jugs still sat on the table.
“Miss Chu.” The shop assistant stood nearby, beaming at her as she returned. “Congratulations on your victory.”
His attitude was much warmer than before. He even remembered her surname and offered congratulations. Chu Zhao smiled faintly in response."Official Deng has already finished his meal and said he had matters to attend to, so he left," the shop assistant said, then tentatively asked, "Miss Chu, would you like to order anything else? Official Deng had quite an appetite and ate a considerable amount."
Chu Zhao understood his meaning - he was hinting that the meal hadn't been paid for.
So Deng Yi had indeed left without paying the bill. But this was actually better - having Deng Yi owe her a meal was far more advantageous than her owing him one.
"Bring me a pot of wine as well," she said. She was in good spirits today, but—not particularly ecstatic either.
The shop assistant noticed the girl's smiling face cloud over with melancholy and quickly acknowledged before leaving, afraid she might start crying over not wanting to pay—
Chu Zhao leaned against the backrest and let out a soft sigh.
"You're so impressive, miss," A Le looked at Chu Zhao with full admiration.
Chu Zhao shook her head: "Not impressive at all. If I were truly impressive, I wouldn't need to be like this."
Then she wouldn't have died, wouldn't have been reborn, and wouldn't need to compete with Chu Ke here.
What was there to be proud or pleased about? Ah.
She looked across where Chu Ke was surrounded by companions, no longer showing the previous arrogance but looking dejected.
With this lesson, Chu Ke would be too ashamed to go out, thus avoiding having his legs broken. He should be content with that.
Her gaze drifted downward, seeing that Qi Leyun and the other girls had already followed that young man to the first floor. The crowd in the main hall had grown larger, with everyone gathering around that man.
Who was this person, to receive such admiration? How come she didn't know? What had Qi Leyun called out earlier? Xie, Young Master Xie the Third—
Xie!
Young Master Xie!
The thought flashed through her mind. Chu Zhao sprang up from her seat, threw herself against the railing to look down at the first floor, leaning so far out that half her body hung over the edge.
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