Deng Yi withdrew his gaze and nodded to Xie Yanfang. “It should naturally be so. The Third Prince’s crimes are unforgivable.”
Xie Yanfang straightened and added, “I have already killed the Third Prince.”
Deng Yi was relatively unsurprised. Xie Yanfang had tried to save the Crown Prince—to save him, he would dare to do anything. The Third Prince was his mortal enemy in his eyes, so he naturally had to kill him.
Chu Zhao, however, was surprised again. In the previous life, the Third Prince hadn’t died—she hadn’t expected that in this life, Xie Yanfang had directly killed the Third Prince.
In that life, events had occurred suddenly and Xie Yanfang hadn’t had the opportunity. If he had, he certainly would have killed the Third Prince with his own hands.
“I ask the Grand Tutor to also help conceal this,” Xie Yanfang bowed again.
Though the Third Prince’s crimes warranted execution, he was still the Emperor’s son. Only the Emperor could execute him.
Even though Xie Yanfang’s killing of the Third Prince was justifiable, it would inevitably make the Emperor wary.
Chu Zhao quickly also looked at Deng Yi. “Grand Tutor, Third Young Master is right. For the Young Highness’s sake, this matter must be concealed!”
See? She also knew how to protect those whose hearts were entirely focused on the Young Highness’s safety and honor.
Deng Yi paid her no attention, only looking at Xie Yanfang and nodding, once again saying, “It should naturally be so.”
Xie Yanfang bowed respectfully. “Yanfang thanks the Grand Tutor on behalf of my brother-in-law and elder sister.”
He held no official position. The Grand Tutor’s decision was a great matter of state—he had no qualification to praise it, and praise would seem like meddling.
But he was the closest relative of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. For a family member to express thanks was appropriate and reasonable.
Third Young Master Xie was truly well-versed in human relations. Deng Yi smiled and nodded in return. “It is this subject’s duty.”
Xie Yanfang was no longer polite and said, “The Third Prince had bought off half the Capital Garrison. After fighting all night outside the city, I’ve mostly cleaned them up. From here on, I ask the Grand Tutor to take charge.”
Deng Yi said, “There are also quite a few remnants of the Third Prince and the Zhao family in the court. Manpower is insufficient. The matter of the Capital Garrison will still require Third Young Master Xie’s efforts.”
Xie Yanfang responded affirmatively, “Yanfang will spare no effort.”
Chu Zhao, listening to their conversation from the side, now said, “Third Young Master, we must also pursue and capture Prince Zhongshan’s heir.”
Xie Yanfang looked at her.
“My bringing the Young Highness to the imperial capital was actually a risky move,” Chu Zhao told him.
Xie Yanfang nodded. He could imagine how dangerous it was—after all, the entire city was full of the Third Prince’s people. However, for Miss Chu to dare take such a risk, she must have had confidence. What had Chu Ling left behind?
Of course, he wouldn’t actively ask this question.
“But at that time I had no other choice, not because of the Third Prince, but because Prince Zhongshan’s heir Xiao Xun came to surround and kill the Young Highness,” Chu Zhao said.
Xie Yanfang immediately understood and sighed softly. “Not surprising. With such a good opportunity, how could Prince Zhongshan’s heir miss it? Moreover, I believe the assassination of the Crown Prince was most likely Prince Zhongshan’s heir’s doing.” At this point, he bowed to Chu Zhao again. “If not for you, Miss Zhao, Yanfang doesn’t know how I would have faced this situation.”
Actually, it wouldn’t have mattered much—in the previous life, he’d handled it quite formidably, making Xiao Xun’s days very difficult. Chu Zhao smiled. Well then, in this life with her assistance, let’s make Xiao Xun’s days even more difficult.
“Just now when Yanlai and I went to the rear palace, we saw the Young Highness run out looking for you,” Xie Yanfang said. The guard was still standing by the door waiting for them to finish talking before approaching. Since he now knew who the sister the Young Highness spoke of was, he naturally took the initiative to mention it first.
Chu Zhao made a sound of understanding. “A’Yu woke up.”
He couldn’t sleep soundly.
“I’ll go check on him,” she said. She looked at Deng Yi, then at Xie Yanfang. With these two here, the court could be stable, and Xiao Xun could forget about having good days.
She curtsied to both men.
“The court’s affairs I leave to the Grand Tutor and Third Young Master.”
These words were spoken as if she already considered herself the head of the imperial household. Deng Yi thought to himself, but he said nothing. He glanced at Third Young Master Xie—
Third Young Master Xie didn’t yet know about Miss Chu becoming a member of the imperial family.
Miss Chu had been sincere and heartfelt upon seeing Xie Yanfang, protecting and relying on him in every way, yet she absolutely did not mention this matter—showing that she wasn’t truly being completely open-hearted.
The corners of Deng Yi’s mouth pressed together as he nodded slightly. “Miss Chu may go.”
Naturally, he wouldn’t mention it either.
This matter had nothing to do with him. This was a matter between Miss Chu and the Xie family.
Though Xie Yanfang felt Deng Yi’s half-smiling expression was somewhat strange, he didn’t pay much attention. Now everything had changed, but he, Xie Yanfang, was still here, and the Young Highness who carried Xie family blood was still here—then everything was still here.
“Thank you for looking after A’Yu, Miss Chu,” he said with a bow.
Chu Zhao sighed softly. “This is my honor.”
Being able to save Xiao Yu in this life was truly her good fortune.
…
…
Xie Yanfang watched Chu Zhao leave, seeing the guards around bow to her. She then beckoned a guard over, said something unknown, and that guard left to carry out orders—
These unfamiliar guards seemed very familiar with Chu Zhao—these must be the unknown troops that Chu Ling had left behind.
This palace, it seemed, was not only in Deng Yi’s control.
“Third Young Master Xie,” Deng Yi said.
Xie Yanfang withdrew his gaze.
Deng Yi raised his hand in invitation. “Please sit and talk.”
Xie Yanfang responded affirmatively and walked over to sit down as suggested.
…
…
Chu Zhao passed through layers of guards heading toward the rear palace. She wasn’t too worried about how things would go between Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang.
No matter how clever Xie Yanfang was, Deng Yi was someone who dared to slap the Emperor’s face.
And no matter how domineering Deng Yi was, Xie Yanfang was someone who dared to rebel—
Neither of these two were to be trifled with.
When the strong met the strong, for the current young monarch, this was a good thing.
Seeing Chu Zhao return, the eunuchs standing before the hall all breathed a sigh of relief and quickly gathered around. “Miss Chu, you’ve returned.”
No one dared question why she had left the Young Highness or why she’d been gone so long.
With Xie Yanlai’s words, Xiao Yu had been persuaded back to bed, but he hadn’t fallen asleep. Seeing Chu Zhao enter, he quickly jumped down from the bed.
“Don’t run, don’t run.” Chu Zhao reached out to catch Xiao Yu and gather him in her arms. Before he could speak, she took the initiative to say, “His Majesty summoned me to speak, and later I went to see Grand Tutor Deng. You were asleep then, so I didn’t wake you or tell you. Don’t be angry.”
Xiao Yu shook his head, then nodded, but said nothing.
Chu Zhao led him by the hand to the bedside. “You haven’t slept for a day and night. The imperial physician said you need rest—you must recuperate your energy and spirit.”
Xiao Yu nodded, but holding Chu Zhao’s hand without letting go, he said in a low voice, “You also haven’t slept. You also rode horses and killed people. You also need to rest and recuperate your energy and spirit.”
Chu Zhao laughed. “A’Yu is right.” She gestured to Xiao Yu. “Quick, get in bed. I’ll rest with you.”
Only then did the child’s tense little face relax. He obediently climbed onto the bed. As Chu Zhao covered him with the quilt, she was suddenly poked by something and saw a bamboo tube.
Chu Zhao wasn’t unfamiliar with this bamboo tube.
When she’d first held Xiao Yu at Chu Garden, she’d noticed it. The little child had clutched the bamboo tube tightly in his arms, never loosening his grip for a moment.
At that time, circumstances had been urgent and she hadn’t asked much, even thinking it might be some important national treasure or object he’d brought out.
It was still in Xiao Yu’s hands now—he even held it while sleeping.
“What is this?” she asked curiously.
Xiao Yu quickly hugged the bamboo tube to his chest, lowering his eyes. “It’s nothing.”
Chu Zhao made a sound of acknowledgment and didn’t ask further.
But Xiao Yu looked at her and said, “It’s—I cut it on the mountain.”
This child still gave her an explanation. Chu Zhao gently stroked his head, feeling somewhat heartbroken. For this child, what should have been happy play with his parents had, in the blink of an eye, become eternal separation between the living and the dead. Only this bamboo tube remained in his hands.
“Then we must keep it safe,” she said, lying down beside him and gently patting Xiao Yu and the bamboo tube. “Such a good thing cannot be lost.”
Xiao Yu said nothing more, and with Chu Zhao’s patting, slowly closed his eyes.
Chu Zhao watched the child’s fluttering eyelashes and felt the tense body beneath the quilt. She sighed inwardly but didn’t expose his pretend sleep.
In that previous life, she hadn’t been able to have her own child. Before, she’d thought it was because her body wasn’t well and had even blamed herself. Of course, now she knew—it was because Xiao Xun wouldn’t let her have children.
It was better not to have any.
Looking at Xiao Yu’s tender face, Chu Zhao thought that with her fate in that life, if she’d left a child in the world, how could the child have lived? It would have been too cruel, too pitiful.
Chu Zhao patted Xiao Yu and gradually fell asleep herself.
She too hadn’t closed her eyes for a day and night.
After she stopped moving, Xiao Yu, who had been pretending to sleep, opened his eyes. He stared blankly at the bed canopy, clutched the bamboo tube in his arms tightly, and curled up into a ball.
…
…
Night fell once more on the imperial capital. The palace was brightly lit with lamps and torches, imperial guards standing in dense rows.
Xie Yanlai dismounted his horse, removed his sword and blade, and strode into the palace with an expression carrying some displeasure. When stopped by someone, his brows relaxed instead.
“What are you doing?” Vice General Zhong said with a stern face. “Weren’t you told to guard the city gate? You’re running around—”
Before he could finish, he saw the young man clasp his fists and bow. “Very well. Please ask Vice General Zhong to inform Miss Chu that this subordinate takes his leave.”
After speaking, he turned to leave.
“You stop right there,” Vice General Zhong shouted angrily. Fortunately his ears were sharp and he’d heard the words “Miss.” Though reluctant, still— “Since Miss summoned you, why aren’t you running there quickly?”
Xie Yanlai said, “Vice General Zhong, why not go in and ask? Perhaps Miss Chu was worried you were busy and didn’t get around to telling you. After all, you’re the most reliable at getting things done.”
Vice General Zhong naturally knew he was the most reliable at getting things done, but since Miss wanted to find this brat—
“Cut the nonsense,” he scolded in a low voice. “Get in there quickly.”
Xie Yanlai raised his eyebrows and said in a low voice, “At this late hour, how inconvenient—”
Vice General Zhong’s scar twitched as he said in a low voice, “Your nephew is inside. Your nephew is looking for you. What’s inconvenient about that?” After speaking, he grabbed the young man’s arm and flung him inward.
He’d wanted to give him a kick too, but moved a step too slow—the brat had already jumped away and was striding off.
Vice General Zhong stared at the young man’s retreating back and snorted inwardly. Miss was only looking for him because of the Young Highness. This brat better not get any romantic ideas.