Qiao Chu

The tightly shut mansion door suddenly swung open, startling the clamoring crowd outside.

They assumed servants were coming out to chase them away.

But there were no servants—only two young girls emerged. One who had been jostling at the front was pushed aside by the girl behind her after crossing the threshold.

That girl stepped forward, her face small, eyes large, expression calm.

"I am Chu Zhao," she said. "What business do you have with me?"

So this was Chu Zhao? Much younger than imagined! They had assumed she would be an old spinster!

Someone couldn't resist confirming: "Are you the Chu woman mentioned by the Third Prince?"

Chu Zhao replied: "I don't know what the Third Prince said. But if you're looking for Chu Zhao, that would be me."

So it really was her. Another person stepped forward: "Miss Chu, was it you who claimed the attendees of His Highness's Spring Gazing Garden Literary Gathering were all show without substance, inferior even to you?"

Chu Zhao smiled: "I said that about my brother. However—" her gaze swept over the crowd, "if any of you wish to prove you're not all show, I'd be happy to compete with you."

What?

Before the crowd outside could react, the servant Chu Lan had sent to eavesdrop inside turned pale.

What was happening? Wasn't she supposed to be here to apologize?

Miss Chu Zhao was clearly issuing a challenge!

This is bad, bad, bad—the servant turned and stumbled back inside, hearing renewed uproar erupt behind the door.

"Everyone quiet down," Chu Zhao raised her voice.

A Le shouted even louder: "All of you shut up!"

The noise subsided as people turned to look at the girl in the doorway.

A faint smile touched the girl's lips: "Isn't this exactly what you came for? Why so surprised when I say it?"

The crowd outside wore complicated expressions, because none had expected her to actually propose a competition.

Though the Third Prince had posted such a notice, most understood the truth after learning the background—this wasn't about the Chu girl being so learned that the Third Prince regarded her as a teacher qualified to examine scholars.

The Third Prince meant to teach her a lesson.

Of course, His Highness wasn't being petty—he was standing up for scholars, warning this young woman not to be so insolent.

They never thought the girl would dare be insolent either. They came to confront her, expecting her to bow her head in apology, admit she was inferior, confess her previous behavior had been rash, then produce and return that notice—thus ending the matter.

Who would actually compete with a girl? It would be undignified.

Never did they imagine this girl would truly challenge them. Such childish fearlessness!

"Miss Chu, are you serious about competing?" a man asked.

The child's face held a smile, her eyes dark and bright: "Of course. Since His Highness has proclaimed it to the world, how could we treat it as child's play? However," she clasped her hands thoughtfully, "since you've come to compete with me, you must follow my arrangements. Otherwise, this chaos would be unseemly."

She's actually serious! Someone hesitated before asking: "That's reasonable. How would you arrange it, Miss Chu?"

Chu Zhao smiled: "His Highness has his Spring Gazing Garden, but my humble home also has a garden. I invite you all inside where we may sit and compete properly."

......

......

"She wants to compete with these people!"

Chu Lan, hiding in his study, grew even more panicked upon hearing the servant's report.

Jiang Shi came rushing in with maids and servants: "Husband, all those people are coming inside! They're heading toward the Chu Garden! What should we do?"What should they do? The people had already entered; only the head of the household could drive them out. Wouldn't that mean he'd be the one offending these people?

Chu Lan slammed the table again: "Just like his father! All he knows how to do is bring trouble to the family! Trouble!"

Jiang Shi, equally frantic, slapped the table as well: "Just tell us what to do! There are so many of them—should we stop them? Drive them out? Or perhaps... entertain them?"

How could they stop them? How could they drive them out? How could they entertain them? Chu Lan smacked the table once more: "Let her face the consequences herself and suffer the humiliation she brought upon herself!"

So they were going to do nothing? Jiang Shi felt both helpless and uneasy, a headache beginning to throb. When they had brought Chu Zhao back, they never expected so much trouble.

But really, they should have anticipated it, given who her father was.

"Madam," a maidservant cautiously reported, "Miss A-Tang sent word that she will be staying at Miss Qi's house for the next few days to keep her company."

Jiang Shi felt both relieved and sorrowful: "Good, good. At least A-Tang reacted quickly. Tell her not to come back, and have A-Ke go out and avoid this as well. Ah, what a mess! Your second uncle ruined your life, and now his daughter is going to ruin your children’s lives too."

Chu Lan’s face turned as dark as a burnt pot. He lay down on the couch, facing the wall, and said nothing.

He could only blame his ill fate.

...

...

Jiang Shi and Chu Lan acted as if they weren’t home. Chu Zhao wasn’t surprised by this outcome.

Over the past few days, she had come to understand her uncle and aunt’s temperament—timid and afraid of trouble. It was a pity that in her previous life, she had been so foolish, never seeing them clearly. She had revered and feared them, believing everything they said, striving to please them in every way and obeying their every word.

In truth, she could very well be the one calling the shots in this Chu family.

Chu Zhao instructed A Le to arrange for the servants to guide everyone to the Chu Garden and then summon the household servants to prepare tea, snacks, and writing desks.

With Jiang Shi and Chu Lan avoiding the situation, the servants were at a loss. The master and mistress could hide, but they couldn’t. So when A Le came to direct them, they had no choice but to obey.

The Chu family was well-practiced and efficient at hosting guests in their garden, and the visitors saw nothing amiss. They didn’t even give a thought to the master of the house.

Well, that Miss Chu was already seated in front of one of the halls.

"My brother and I competed in the three challenges outside the Spring Gazing Garden," she said. "Let’s follow the same rules for our competition today."

In addition to tea and snacks, writing desks with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were set up in front of the hall.

Although they were already inside the house, everyone once again marveled inwardly—this girl was serious.

"My brother and I had the onlookers at the tavern act as judges last time, so let’s do the same today. Everyone present will serve as the judges."

The crowd exchanged glances.

Chu Zhao looked at them: "Well, who will go first?"

Since things had come to this, if they continued to hesitate, it would only make them seem unsure and lacking conviction. A young man strode forward confidently.

"I, Liu Yang of Ancheng, seek to learn from Miss Chu."

Chu Zhao bowed slightly while seated and gestured: "Young Master Liu, please."

...

...

Just because Chu Ke was useless didn’t mean others were. There was no need to write four pieces. The moment Young Master Liu’s brush touched the paper and he wrote a single character, Chu Zhao knew she had lost.

Even so, Chu Zhao meticulously finished her own piece. A Le proactively picked up both papers and displayed them to the crowd.

Everyone exclaimed in unison: "Young Master Liu’s writing is superior."Chu Zhao offered no rebuttal, nor did she show any signs of embarrassment or unease. She rose and approached the chessboard, repeating, "Young Master Liu, please."

The game did not require three rounds. After fifty moves, Chu Zhao conceded by setting down her piece: "Young Master Liu, you have won."

Young Master Liu gave a faint smile.

For the final talent display, Chu Zhao posed a question, which Young Master Liu answered eloquently. The listeners nodded in approval as he spoke. When it was his turn to pose a question, Chu Zhao recognized the topic but found articulating her thoughts difficult—though she had studied diligently after entering the palace, she had abandoned these pursuits many years ago after growing disillusioned with Xiao Xun.

The outcome was clear.

Chu Zhao bowed her head respectfully to Young Master Liu. "I am no match for you, Young Master Liu."

Young Master Liu smiled, a hint of malice in his expression, and produced a sheet of paper. "Though many have witnessed this, words alone are no proof. I ask Miss Chu to write it down on this paper."

This was unnecessary. A Le clenched her fists, itching to punch the young master.

Chu Zhao remained calm and reached out to take the paper. "A wager must be honored. I will comply with your request."

She indeed bent over the desk, wrote earnestly, and handed the paper to Liu Yang.

Liu Yang took it and saw that, in addition to the statement that Chu Zhao’s calligraphy and chess skills were inferior to those of Liu Yang of Ancheng, her seal was stamped on it. He burst into loud laughter.

"Thank you. I have passed all four challenges and will now go to the Spring Gazing Garden to claim my admission slip."

With that, he held the paper aloft and strode away leisurely.

So this was how the game was played. How amusing, how amusing! The others snapped out of their astonishment and surged forward in a clamor.

"Let me compete with Miss Chu!"

"Miss Chu, quickly write a certificate of defeat for me too!"

Some shouted, some laughed—the noise was grating. A Le clenched her hands tighter, torn between fury and sorrow. These grown men were bullying her mistress alone.

Chu Zhao’s expression remained unperturbed as she sat back down at the desk and extended her hand. "Please, let the next one step forward and state your name."