Earlier, when reorganizing the Capital Garrison, Zhong Changrong couldn’t be in multiple places at once. The young miss had said not to worry—there was A’Jiu. This side could be left to A’Jiu.
That had been fine. He was only dividing his attention outside the capital. If anything happened in the imperial city or capital, he could return with a quick turn of his heel.
But now he had to return to the border commandery, which was not a distance that could be covered with a quick turn of his heel from the capital.
How could the young miss trust this boy so much!
“Young miss,” he said in a low voice. “He’s from the Xie family.”
Earlier, when the imperial city was in danger, the young prince and Chu Zhao had been one entity. The Xie family members, to protect the young prince, naturally gave their utmost effort, and naturally were also wholehearted toward Chu Zhao.
But now the young prince had been proclaimed Emperor to the world. He had civil and military officials, Grand Tutor Deng Yi overseeing state affairs, and Xie Yanfang had also entered the court as an official. As the Emperor’s maternal uncle, his status would certainly be extraordinary. The Xie clan of Dongyang was even more vast in family and fortune—
An Empress was no longer that important.
They wouldn’t give their utmost effort for the Empress.
The only thing that could intimidate them was the Dragon Might Army. Now the young miss actually wanted to hand over the Dragon Might Army to a Xie family member.
“Not handing it over to him,” Chu Zhao said with a smile. “Just letting him lead the troops. The Dragon Might Army is still ours. The Dragon Might Army only recognizes us.”
Zhong Changrong understood this principle, but still—he was a Xie family member—
“Uncle Zhong, even family members don’t necessarily share one heart,” Chu Zhao said. “Do you think my father, my uncle, and I are of one heart?”
Of course not. Zhong Changrong didn’t hesitate.
Chu Zhao said softly: “So no matter what his surname is, he is first and foremost a person, not someone’s appendage.”
Zhong Changrong frowned. Xie Yanlai, who had been walking slowly, finally approached.
“I greet Your Highness.” He bowed respectfully. “All is well in the imperial city. Personnel enter and exit in order. This humble general performs his duty diligently and dares not slack.”
It seemed proper enough, but these words were really saying: I’m very busy, don’t bother me. Chu Zhao pressed her lips in a smile.
“Xie Yanlai, Vice General Zhong has something to tell you,” she said. After speaking, she winked at Zhong Changrong and turned to leave.
Zhong Changrong was startled, wanting to call the young miss back but not wanting to make things difficult for her. In the end, he said nothing and turned to look at Xie Yanlai.
Xie Yanlai didn’t mind his fierce gaze, straightening up and asking lazily: “Lord Zhong, what instructions do you have now?”
Looking at this boy’s lazy manner—not reliable at all! Though there had been no mishaps these past days—Vice General Zhong reached out and grabbed his arm: “Come with me.”
Xie Yanlai was reluctantly dragged away.
Seventh Master Xie, kneeling among the hundred officials, saw this scene and couldn’t help pushing Xie Yanfang, saying in a low voice: “Look, what are they saying now?”
Xie Yanfang sat with his head bowed and eyes closed, resting. The officials didn’t have to stay up all night—they took turns—but no matter how they divided the time, keeping vigil in the palace meant poor rest.
Xie Yanfang didn’t deliberately exhaust himself to appear grief-stricken and haggard. When he could rest, he rested. Since he could sit here, he didn’t need to use his outward appearance to please the world.
Now, pushed by Seventh Master Xie, he didn’t open his eyes: “Whatever they’re saying, it’s for Yu’er’s benefit. As long as Yu’er is well, all is well.”
That was true. Seventh Master Xie glanced in the direction Vice General Zhong and Xie Yanlai had left, then looked toward the hall. The young girl had already gone in, faintly visible kneeling behind the curtain. For this Chu daughter to sit firmly in the Empress’s position, she must rely on Yu’er, rely on their Xie clan. She couldn’t and wouldn’t dare do anything detrimental to the Xie clan.
Seventh Master Xie glanced once more at the figure in the hall, withdrew his gaze, and also closed his eyes to rest.
In the latter half of the night, Chu Zhao napped briefly. Upon waking, she saw Xiao Yu kneeling beside her.
Seeing her wake, Xiao Yu moved closer and said softly: “Sister, sleep a bit more. I’m keeping watch.”
Chu Zhao reached out and gently pinched his nose: “I’ve slept enough. It’s your turn now.”
Xiao Yu seemed about to shake his head but stopped and nodded instead, making an acknowledging sound. He would listen to Sister.
But Chu Zhao didn’t let him lie down immediately. She asked if he’d drunk hot tea, eaten anything, and touched his forehead to check if everything was normal.
Xiao Yu obediently let her examine him, nodding to each question—he’d eaten, he’d drunk.
Only then did Chu Zhao feel at ease letting him lie down to rest, not forgetting to place the bamboo tube hidden at the side in his arms—even during mourning, Xiao Yu carried the bamboo tube at all times.
Chu Zhao never objected, never asked, and even had Eunuch Qi instruct the palace maids and eunuchs to turn a blind eye.
Xiao Yu was slightly embarrassed but more so reassured. He clutched the bamboo tube tightly and closed his eyes.
After all, he was a six-year-old child. Although doing nothing, just kneeling here had exhausted him, and he soon fell asleep.
Only after he slept did Eunuch Qi enter from outside the curtain.
“Your Highness,” he said in a low voice. “Go have some midnight refreshments. This old servant will keep watch.”
Chu Zhao didn’t decline. To sit firmly in the Empress’s position, she didn’t need to rely on an appearance of pure filial devotion and grief to please the world.
Watching Chu Zhao leave, the other eunuchs entered. Someone handed Eunuch Qi hot tea—as the meritorious hero who saved the young prince, among the palace servants, Eunuch Qi would henceforth be the undisputed authority.
The eunuchs all vied to show him their loyalty.
“Eunuch Qi,” someone said in a low voice. “When Miss Chu is present, why do you always withdraw?”
Eunuch Qi said: “The young prince can live, can have today, all because of Miss Chu. The young prince should be close to Miss Chu. I cannot interfere.”
“But what about you?” the eunuch asked with concerned worry.
The implication was: the young prince can live, can have today, also because of your merit, Eunuch Qi. You should also strive for a more important position in the young prince’s heart.
Eunuch Qi naturally understood his meaning. He smiled and said: “If I went to compete for the young prince’s affection, that would be harming the young prince.”
He looked down at the sleeping child, his eyes full of loving kindness, then raised his eyes to look at the eunuch, his gaze turning cold.
“Miss Chu is the Empress. Don’t let me hear you address her incorrectly again.”
The eunuch quickly knelt and acknowledged yes, not daring to say another word.
Chu Zhao had already left and didn’t know, nor did she care what the eunuchs whispered behind her. She passed before the court officials keeping vigil with Xiao Man and headed toward the side hall.
The side hall had prepared food for those keeping vigil. They couldn’t really be expected to exhaust everyone to an unseemly state.
But just as Chu Zhao passed through the corridor, someone stepped out from the side and grabbed her arm—
At the same time, Xiao Man’s hand also grabbed the person’s arm, and a blade slid from Xiao Man’s hand—
It struck the person’s arm with a clang.
This was armor—
“Xiao Man,” Chu Zhao had already recognized the person and quickly said, “No harm. He’s one of ours.”
Xiao Man withdrew her blade without hesitation and stepped back, as if she had never moved.
“What ‘one of ours,'” Xie Yanlai said in a low voice, pulling her along. “Come with me.”
If not one of ours, why would you go with him? Xiao Man watched as Chu Zhao indeed followed, even signaling her not to come along. She curled her lip but didn’t follow.
Xie Yanlai pulled Chu Zhao to the shadows at a palace wall corner. The light couldn’t reach here, and though guards were nearby, they turned a blind eye to them.
“What do you want to say?” Chu Zhao said with a soft laugh. “Something so unseemly?”
Xie Yanlai scoffed: “It’s because of you. What do you mean by having me take over Vice General Zhong’s command of the Dragon Might Army?”
He wasn’t stupid. Did she think that just because Vice General Zhong spoke to him, he’d assume it had nothing to do with her?
Without her permission, Vice General Zhong wouldn’t have told him this—he’d only cut him with his eyes knife by knife.
Chu Zhao smiled: “It’s exactly what Vice General Zhong said. He has another task, so he’s assigning you a mission. What, as an imperial guard, will you not follow military orders?”
Xie Yanlai spat: “There’s no one else here. Stop your nonsense. Is this a military order?”
Chu Zhao looked at him, her dark eyes bright, seemingly puzzled: “If not, then what?”
Xie Yanlai looked down at this girl from his height, as if back at the post station again, that pitiful girl kneeling and begging good people to please save my life—
She hadn’t truly been asking others to save her life, but making others lose theirs.
He braced one hand against the wall, leaning close to her ear, and said: “You want me and Xie Yanfang to destroy each other.”