Xie Yanlai leaned against the couch with his eyes closed. No one in the room rebuked him for breach of decorum before the sovereign, and the conversation didn’t stop.

“As soon as I heard Yanlai would be the military envoy, I had the foresight to immediately request leave.”

“Ha! Lord Xie, you knew Yanlai would cause trouble?”

“Yanlai causing trouble is a small matter. I didn’t want the Grand Tutor using it to make difficulties for me. Once we start arguing, with just a few words, small matters become big matters.”

Xiao Yu invited Xie Yanfang to sit.

Xie Yanfang glanced at the couch where the two sat together, then at Xie Yanlai leaning against the couch beside it. Of course there were many other places to sit in the room, but there was no need.

“Your Majesty,” Xie Yanfang waved the document册 in his hand. “I encountered the eunuch fetching the casualty list from the Grand Tutor and took it to look over.”

He opened it as he spoke and sighed lightly.

“They’re all still quite young.”

Xiao Yu nodded. “Young people can also be heroes.” He looked at Chu Zhao. “Elder Sister is like that too.”

Chu Zhao shook her head. “I can’t compare with them—they’re far braver than me.”

“The Empress had the list fetched for His Majesty to see, right?” Xie Yanfang asked.

Chu Zhao nodded. “Matters of death and injury aren’t convenient to discuss much in the court hall, lest they affect morale.”

After all, this war had gone on for quite some time. Maintaining momentum until now was somewhat exhausting.

“But precisely at this exhausting time, we cannot lose heart even more,” Xie Yanfang said, looking at Xie Yanlai leaning against the couch. “Yanlai, is there anything you want to say about the border army?”

Xie Yanlai, eyes closed as if asleep, didn’t open them when asked. He said, “Nothing to say. Being in the midst of war, we don’t feel exhausted. Our thinking is different from you people sitting safely in the distance.”

Xie Yanfang said, “Precisely because thinking is different, eloquence is needed. Coming here like this and saying nothing—isn’t it a wasted trip?”

Xie Yanlai opened his eyes to look at him. “What I say doesn’t matter. Third Brother, you people whose words carry weight—you talk more.”

Chu Zhao coughed lightly. “That’s actually quite a lot said right there.”

Xie Yanlai immediately turned to look at her, his eyes showing irritation.

Before he could speak, Chu Zhao smiled again. “Yes, yes—you don’t talk, you just do things. Leave the talking to me and Third Young Master.” She looked at Xie Yanfang again.

Don’t quarrel, okay?

Xie Yanfang would naturally go along with the girl’s goodwill. He smiled and nodded, then looked at Xiao Yu. “Your Majesty, let’s look at this casualty list together. To understand warfare, start by understanding people.”

Xiao Yu agreed.

Xie Yanfang beckoned to him. “Let’s go to the side hall and let the Empress continue asking about border army matters here.”

Xiao Yu immediately stood and walked to Xie Yanfang’s side.

Chu Zhao remained seated, smiling without refusing. “Lord Xie, don’t make His Majesty cry.”

Xiao Yu protested. “Elder Sister, I never cry.”

Xie Yanfang smiled without speaking and led Xiao Yu by the hand to the side hall.

This was deliberately allowing Chu Zhao and Xie Yanlai to talk.

Xie Yanlai seemed oblivious and once again closed his eyes and leaned against the couch, until Chu Zhao threw melon seeds at his face.

“What?” he said irritably.

“Lord Xie avoids the Grand Tutor at court, doesn’t argue with him, and now he even has to avoid you,” Chu Zhao said.

“Oh yes,” Xie Yanlai drawled. “Lord Xie conducts himself so refreshingly in his dealings with people—knowing when to advance and retreat, with great foresight in his heart. Having Lord Xie at court, the Empress can rest easy.”

Chu Zhao threw more melon seeds at him and laughed. “I was just saying he’s skilled at handling matters, not saying anything about myself. Why are you being sarcastic?”

So she was saying Xie Yanfang did well and it had nothing to do with her? She didn’t trust him either?

Xie Yanlai opened his eyes and first looked toward the side hall, frowning. “You really dare to speak—aren’t you afraid your loyal minister and beloved subject will hear and feel disappointed?”

Chu Zhao smiled. “A loyal minister and beloved subject wouldn’t eavesdrop on this subject’s words. Rest assured, beloved subject Xie.”

Rest assured about what? Rest assured in speaking ill of others with her? Xie Yanlai snorted.

“Whether I speak or not isn’t important,” he said after a moment of silence. “These loyal ministers and beloved subjects all have their own ideas. I’m merely a catalyst. My appearance is enough. As for what they do—it has nothing to do with me.”

Chu Zhao said, “School Captain Xie, don’t say that. How things turn out next actually still depends on you.”

Xie Yanlai glanced at her.

The girl peeled an almond with her hands. Seeing him look over, she pointed at the fruit plate. “Want some? These roasted almonds are delicious.”

Xie Yanlai glared.

“I’m not flattering you. Regardless of what anyone says, whether this war is won or lost still depends on you soldiers in the border regions,” Chu Zhao said, ignoring his glare as she carefully cracked almond shells while talking. “Regardless of what others say or do, this trip of yours—you need to strengthen your own conviction and take that conviction back to everyone.”

She looked up at Xie Yanlai again.

“How is the situation on your side now? Uncle Zhong always reports good news but not bad.”

Xie Yanlai leaned against the couch. “The border army’s current situation isn’t particularly good. Just like the court hall, the generals also have different thoughts. But rest assured—though Zhong Changrong reports good news but not bad, he still handles matters very properly and can control the situation.”

Chu Zhao naturally trusted Uncle Zhong too. She asked again, “To win this battle and achieve the goals you mentioned—how long will it take?”

Xie Yanlai, eyes closed, tapped his knee and said, “Five words: haste makes waste.”

Chu Zhao smiled with pursed lips, peeled an almond, and said, “Back when Xi Liang took advantage of our unpreparedness during the national chaos to raise troops, we were anxious. Now that we’ve fought this long, we’re not anxious anymore.”

Xie Yanlai said nothing.

“Hey, what happened at the military camp?” Chu Zhao asked again. “Did you run your mouth and offend people again?”

Xie Yanlai’s voice snorted.

Chu Zhao smiled. “As soon as I heard about the commotion at the capital garrison, I knew it involved you. However—” She picked up a small hammer to crack open a difficult almond shell. “Knowing it involved you, I was also relieved—you can definitely handle it.”

She laughed at this point.

“And I’m clever too. Xiao Man only told me how impressive you were fighting people, but I had to press her about your condition before she remembered to describe your wounds all over. I immediately thought of how to help you resolve the situation.”

She said all this in a string, and especially after saying the words “resolve the situation,” she surprisingly didn’t hear Xie Yanlai snort in refutation. Peeking over, she saw Xie Yanlai leaning against the couch with his eyes closed.

“Hey,” she said. “The almonds are peeled. Want to eat them?”

Xie Yanlai didn’t decline Her Majesty’s grace either.

The young man’s hand rested on his bent long legs, leaning against the couch, his head tilted slightly back. Sunlight from the window lattice danced on his long eyelashes.

Chu Zhao grabbed an almond shell and threw it at the young man’s face.

The young man didn’t move.

He’s fallen asleep again. Chu Zhao smiled—but it wasn’t strange. At the capital garrison he’d first fought over a dozen people alone, then had three matches, then rode into the capital city, then walked from the main street to the Imperial City. He must be exhausted.

Earlier in the court hall he’d maintained his energy, but now here he could relax and rest.

Chu Zhao lowered her head and continued peeling almonds. The sound of tapping occasionally rang out in the room.

Xiao Man glanced at A’Le. A’Le looked back questioningly.

This girl was too dull-witted. Xiao Man could only ask in a low voice, “Just let School Captain Xie sleep like this?”

Grant him a bed, or drape a blanket over him or something. Also, sleeping so brazenly before the Empress—did this count as breach of decorum before the sovereign?

A’Le smiled. “No need to worry about it. We’re used to it.”

Used to it? Xiao Man was confused.

Xie Yanfang emerged from the side hall and, standing at the hall entrance, saw at a glance the girl sitting relaxed and at ease on the couch peeling almonds, while the young man leaned against the couch beside it, head tilted back, sleeping deeply.

He watched quietly for a moment, then withdrew his gaze and walked back into the side hall.

“Uncle,” Xiao Yu said, holding the document. “I’ve finished reading. Shall we go tell Elder Sister about it?”

Xie Yanfang said, “No rush. You’ve seen the tragedy of war—now let me tell you about war’s cruelty.”

Xiao Yu made a sound of acknowledgment, not saying whether he could or couldn’t, and glanced toward the main hall, wondering what Elder Sister was doing. Just now he’d won at shelling melon seeds, and Elder Sister had said she’d peel almonds for him—

Actually, whether war was tragic or cruel, he wasn’t very interested.

He’d seen it with his own eyes already.

He was willing to listen to Xie Yanfang speak because Sister Chu wanted him to listen.

“Let the Empress say a few words with your Uncle Yanlai,” Xie Yanfang, seeing through the child’s thoughts, simply spoke plainly. “Your Majesty, you still cannot speak in the court hall. The Empress is a few years older than you—she’ll have opportunities to speak. Before then, let her prepare well. This is good for the Empress.”

Things good for Sister Chu—he certainly wouldn’t oppose. Xiao Yu nodded and sat properly again.

However, Xiao Yu’s hands on his knees clenched slightly. Even with him present, he wouldn’t disturb Elder Sister talking with Uncle.

……

……

After the court audience dispersed, Deng Yi didn’t remain at the Imperial City as usual. A minor official whispered a few words in his ear, and Deng Yi left the Imperial City to return home.

Seeing him return, the visitors waiting in the gatehouse were tremendously excited.

The stream of people before the Grand Tutor’s gate never ceased, but most of the time everyone just came to express their sentiments. Very few could actually see the Grand Tutor.

Though the Grand Tutor accepted all gifts, there weren’t many people he wanted to see.

Surrounded by servants and Imperial Guards, Deng Yi entered through the gate. The visitors in the gatehouse excitedly crowded to the entrance.

“Is the Grand Tutor resting today?”

“Does the Grand Tutor have time to see me?”

“Who do you think you are? You’re just a prefect from out of town—”

The gatehouse was filled with clamor, mockery, and banter. Suddenly a steward walked over and the noise instantly ceased. Even the Grand Tutor’s servants had higher status than these officials.

Especially this steward—everyone called him Steward Li. He was in charge of the Grand Tutor’s visitor reception.

“Steward Li, is the Grand Tutor really seeing people?” “Steward Li, I sent in my card three days ago.” “Three days is nothing—I sent mine in a month ago—”

Steward Li frowned and waved his hand. The clamor ceased.

He paid no attention to these eager gazes and simply said, “Young Master Liang, the Grand Tutor will see you.”

Young Master Liang? The people in the gatehouse were stunned, instinctively looking around wildly until they saw a young man stand up from a bench in the very back.

Actually him?

When this young man entered, he was dusty from travel and wearing only undergarments. Everyone had thought he’d been robbed and was coming to beg for charity. He was strange and peculiar, so they’d paid no attention.

He also didn’t speak, just sat in the very back, leaning against the wall with eyes closed, dozing.

They figured he was some household servant delivering a card, sitting here for show, knowing there was no hope of actually seeing the Grand Tutor.

Who would have thought the Grand Tutor actually wanted to see him?

What kind of person was he?

Someone else had a thought—the Grand Tutor had returned so suddenly. Could it be to see him?

The young man still didn’t say much, just acknowledged and followed Steward Li out.

The gatehouse erupted in discussion again. Suddenly someone exclaimed.

“Liang! Could he be from Minister Liang’s family back then!” he shouted. “I was wondering why that young man looked somewhat familiar just now. I should have seen him at Minister Liang’s household before.”

But which young master was this?

The Liang family had been absent from the capital for too long. He couldn’t remember.

This remark immediately caused an uproar among the others.

“Minister Liang?” “There are still Liang family members alive?” “They can actually come to the capital?”

Hearing the buzzing behind him, Liang Qiang, following Steward Li inside, glanced back.

Don’t worry—not only was the Liang family not dead, not only could they come to the capital, but before long their name would resound throughout the capital.