“Each of you has exceptional qualities. Just because I lost doesn’t mean little women have lost.”
“Even if Miss Zhou and this young lady lose, it doesn’t mean you’ve also lost.”
Qi Leyun could no longer hold back and stood out: “That’s right. To tell the truth, my calligraphy is also very good.”
The girls beside her laughed: “Qi Leyun, you’re boasting.” “I’ve never even seen you write.” “You’re always dozing off during gatherings.”
Qi Leyun retorted in annoyance: “I just couldn’t be bothered to write for you to see.” “My parents won’t let me write.” “I doze off because your music playing, talking and games are too boring!”
The girls were clamorous, but the atmosphere was joyful.
Chu Tang emerged from the side, smiling broadly: “Whichever young lady wins back dignity for little women, I’ll give her tea and snacks free today.”
The girls’ laughter grew even louder.
“A’Tang, you’re so generous!” “If I win, I’ll treat everyone to refreshments—will you make it free too?”
……
……
When that young lady finished writing three pieces of calligraphy in succession and victoriously withdrew with satisfaction, the young masters wiped their sweat thinking it had finally ended and the next round could begin. But at the start, it wasn’t Chu Zhao who stood out, but several unfamiliar girls.
“We wonder if anyone is willing to compete with us?” they said. “Let us little women also witness everyone’s distinguished talents?”
The onlookers were both astonished and helpless.
“It’s chaos, complete chaos!”
“Absurd! These women!”
“This is all that Chu Zhao’s doing, corrupting the atmosphere!”
“They must be taught a lesson!”
Although there was much discussion, even more men also stood out, and the competition continued even more fervently.
The onlookers watched more attentively. The girls also watched more seriously. Chu Tang was also busier than ever, while Chu Zhao instead became the most leisurely.
She withdrew with A’Le, quietly observing all of this.
“Miss,” A’Le said in a low voice. “I really didn’t expect things would turn out like this.”
Things had now become not just a dispute between Chu Zhao and the Third Prince, but little women competing with men.
This had become an interesting matter, an elegant affair.
Of course, the Third Prince would still hold a grudge against Chu Zhao, but openly Chu Zhao would no longer be solely mocked and humiliated.
“I didn’t expect it either,” Chu Zhao said. She hadn’t expected that Miss Zhou would stand out, hadn’t expected that more and more girls would stand out.
In her previous life, she had always believed herself looked down upon by girls. Before becoming Empress she felt inferior, after becoming Empress she felt arrogant. She didn’t want to and wouldn’t associate with women.
A’Le squeezed Chu Zhao’s hand: “Miss, this is because you yourself stood firm first. If you had been defeated and withdrawn at the beginning, there wouldn’t be this now.”
Chu Zhao smiled wistfully and said: “Yes, one must first invite humiliation before others can humiliate them. Those who respect themselves are respected by others.”
A’Le exclaimed: “Miss, your learning is really advancing more and more. You speak in refined phrases—I can’t even understand them.”
Chu Zhao laughed heartily.