Before dawn, the area in front of the imperial city was at its most crowded time of day.

As the sky began to lighten, court officials rushed in from all directions across the city. With some time still before the palace gates opened, everyone gathered outside for idle conversation.

“The Grand Tutor deliberated on matters quite late last night?”

“Indeed. He kept quite a few people in the palace for detailed discussions throughout the night.”

“The Six Ministries’ offices weren’t idle either. Those on night duty were summoned several times.”

“What important matters were being discussed?”

“Right now, the most pressing matter is the great affair with Xi Liang. The war has dragged on for two years—it can’t continue indefinitely.”

“That’s not something you can just decide by talking about it. In warfare, human plans are inferior to heaven’s calculations.”

“Minister Zhu, the Grand Tutor won’t be pleased if he hears you say that.”

“Minister Xie won’t be pleased either! His family’s brother paraded through with the status of Brave Cavalry Commander of the border army, with common people spontaneously paving the road with flowers. Yet you say his bravery doesn’t compare to heaven’s calculations.”

The previously speaking Minister Zhu was singled out, and the officials before the hall exchanged sarcastic remarks back and forth.

A friendly official pulled Minister Zhu aside, reproaching him in a low voice to speak less. “The current situation at court—it’s either the east wind or the west wind. Even if you don’t approve, you must sway along with the rest.”

Minister Zhu’s face paled. “Whatever wind they are, there’s still an Emperor sitting above.”

“The Emperor is still young,” his friend said helplessly.

Minister Zhu said, “There’s also the Empress.”

His friend didn’t refute this time, falling silent for a moment. Though that girl wasn’t very old either, observing what she had accomplished over these three years, she couldn’t be treated as a child anymore.

“The Empress relies heavily on the Grand Tutor and Minister Xie,” his friend said in a low voice.

Minister Zhu snorted, “There will come a time when she doesn’t rely on them.”

Such words were even more dangerous to speak. His friend glared at him, about to speak when several drum beats sounded. The palace gates slowly opened, and the chatting officials quickly stopped their conversation and laughter, filing into the palace city in order.

Deng Yi had also finished his breakfast. Attended by several junior clerks, he donned his official robes and walked out.

The officials who had been waiting outside the hall followed along.

“Grand Tutor, Minister Xie has again requested leave today.”

Deng Yi made a sound of acknowledgment. “What’s his reason today?”

“He said there was a family matter last night,” one official said.

Another official laughed. “I know about this—there truly was a matter. That Xie Yanlai returned home from the palace and quarreled with his brothers at home. He was also disrespectful to his elders. I heard they even came to blows, just as intense as those several battles at the capital garrison.”

Yet another official laughed loudly. “Then that Colonel Xie must surely have been victorious in every battle at home too!”

The officials all laughed. Some shook their heads. “How improper.”

Deng Yi said calmly, “If the family’s young men are improper, our Minister Xie maintains his own propriety.”

That was true. No matter how arrogant and domineering the Xie family’s young men were, Xie Yanfang’s reputation remained clear and untarnished, never implicated by them.

The officials felt both helpless and resentful.

One official said in a low voice, “However, this time it’s truly just an excuse.”

Everyone looked at him, and Deng Yi also turned his head slightly.

That official hurried forward a step. “Minister Xie is using family matters to avoid attending court because he wants to recuse himself. The Ministry of War has finished drafting a memorial requesting an appointment for Xie Yanlai. It will be brought up for discussion today.”

Requesting an appointment for Xie Yanlai? The officials exchanged glances. Logically, Xie Yanlai had military merit that could be rewarded.

“Requesting what appointment?” Deng Yi asked.

That official shook his head. “Those people are keeping it very secret. We couldn’t find out.”

The other officials all made sounds of scorn. “What shameful thing are they hiding?” “If they have the ability, they shouldn’t request discussion or let people know—just decide it themselves.”

Deng Yi smiled and said, “Good. Then we’ll just wait with eager ears to hear.”

As they spoke, they arrived at the outer hall. The court officials had already lined up in order. Seeing the Grand Tutor, they all performed courtesy greetings. Deng Yi nodded slightly and stood at the very front, waiting for the Emperor and Empress with the music announcing the court session.

The Empress and Emperor woke up a bit late. They had enjoyed the small banquet too much last night. Though they had originally said they would only drink one cup of sweet water, in the end Chu Zhao had drunk four cups. Finally, it was Xiao Yu who coaxed her and seized the wine cup away.

“I delayed Your Majesty’s morning court,” Chu Zhao said. “Next time if I oversleep, Your Majesty should go to court first. I can slip in when no one notices.”

Xiao Yu shook his head resolutely. “I must always be together with Sister. We won’t separate.”

Chu Zhao felt that over this past year and more, Xiao Yu had grown taller, but his courage didn’t seem to have grown yet. However, there was no rush. In another two years, at eleven or twelve, he would be a big child.

In two more years, he could rule personally.

Time actually passed quite quickly.

In that previous life, she hadn’t had her own biological child. If she had had children, if Xiao Xun had truly felt affection for her, could her child have also become Emperor?

Was this heaven taking pity on her, so in this life, it let her raise an Emperor?

Chu Zhao reached out to stroke Xiao Yu’s shoulder, amusing herself with the thought.

The court hall was ahead. Eunuch Qi signaled to the attending inner servants, and melodious music began to play. Chu Zhao put away her smile, composed her expression, and holding Xiao Yu’s hand, walked into the great hall.

Accompanied by the court ministers’ “Ten thousand years to Your Majesty, a thousand years to Your Majesty the Empress,” and their prostrations, Xiao Yu raised his hand to indicate “All ministers may rise.” Chu Zhao walked behind the curtain and sat down, conveniently first picking up the tea on the small table and taking a sip, then eating a bite of the imperial kitchen’s newest pastry.

Behind this curtain was her little world.

These actions wouldn’t affect her upright seated posture. The court ministers outside the curtain wouldn’t notice, or perhaps they simply didn’t look this way at all. Even the Emperor was now just a figurehead. Everyone addressed their words entirely toward the Grand Tutor.

Court affairs were simple if you called them simple, complex if you called them complex. After having her tea and refreshments, Chu Zhao listened to the gradually lively court hall, picking up paper and brush. When she encountered something important or something she heard unclearly, she would write it down to slowly think through with Xiao Yu when they returned.

However, today there were no particularly urgent matters. They were all things that had been discussed in the previous days. The officials had finally sorted through the pros and cons, and Deng Yi’s voice of approval continuously rang out.

It seemed today’s court session would end very quickly.

Chu Zhao put down paper and brush, preparing to take another sip of tea. Just as she picked it up, she heard officials from the Ministry of War step forward to speak about matters concerning the border commandery.

They spoke in detail and earnestly, from the very beginning to today. They had junior clerks bring out maps, displaying several crucial battles for the officials to see. The purpose was to demonstrate that although the war was at a stalemate, Da Xia held a position of certain victory.

The officials in the court hall also inquired from time to time, especially Deng Yi. For a moment, it was quite lively.

Chu Zhao couldn’t be bothered with drinking tea and listened attentively. She was both happy and pursed her lips. Yesterday when Xie Yanlai was in court, they hadn’t spoken so enthusiastically. So it wasn’t that they didn’t care—they just didn’t want to let Xie Yanlai steal the limelight.

Fortunately, Xie Yanlai had his moment of glory among the common people. Regardless of what surname or name he bore, everyone had seen this brave and skilled young man.

“—Therefore, the war has now reached a critical juncture. The urgent task is to finalize personnel assignments.”

“Currently in the border army, there are those with merit and those with faults, vacancies that should be filled. This is the appointment and reward roster drafted by our Ministry of War.”

“Three men should be promoted to General of the Guard. Xie Yanlai—”

Hearing the first name announced, behind the curtain Chu Zhao gripped her teacup tightly, her eyes delighted with surprise. General of the Guard! Yes, Uncle Zhong had said that this past year and more, what Xie Yanlai had actually been doing was the work of a General of the Guard.

Luocheng—had been entrusted to him.

Uncle Zhong had said reluctantly that he had done very well.

It was time to make his position official.

That was also why they had specifically summoned him to the capital this time.

Chu Zhao smiled as she listened to the official finish reading the names of the other two men. Then Deng Yi’s voice rang out.

“The other two are acceptable. Xie Yanlai—is not.”

Chu Zhao’s smile instantly froze. She nearly reached out to lift the curtain, but managed to restrain herself. The Grand Tutor really—don’t pay too much attention to status!

……

……

The expressions of the several officials making the recommendations were also displeased. They directly spoke the words Chu Zhao wanted to say.

“Is Your Excellency concerned about Colonel Xie’s status?”

“Does the Grand Tutor think we’re showing favoritism and flattery?”

“Grand Tutor, please look. These are Colonel Xie’s achievements over two years—repeatedly risking his life, covered in wounds, having slain thousands of Xi Liang bandits.”

“In recommending the worthy, one doesn’t avoid relatives; in recommending relatives, one doesn’t avoid suspicion. Just because Colonel Xie is a member of the Xie family, should he alone have merit without reward?”

While some officials questioned, others rebutted.

“Who exactly is showing favoritism and flattery?” “What’s Xie Yanlai’s status? He doesn’t cultivate private virtue!” “Merit? Does he only have merit?”

“Are the people in the Ministry of War blind?” “How many times in these two years has Xie Yanlai disobeyed orders and acted willfully?” “He bullies others in the military, steals others’ merit, and even led troops to attack his own comrades!”

The court hall erupted into chaos. Sitting behind the curtain, Chu Zhao sighed. She would have a proper discussion with the Grand Tutor later. What person in this world was perfectly flawless?

Actually, last night she had wanted to discuss this very matter with the Grand Tutor.

Deng Yi’s voice rang out in the court hall. “All of you, be quiet!”

The Grand Tutor had spoken. The censors also shouted reprimands one after another. The hall fell silent.

“You’re overthinking this.” Deng Yi looked at the opposing groups of officials. “Of course Colonel Xie’s merit can be rewarded. It’s just that this reward is excessive. General of the Guard—”

He shook his head.

“He’s not qualified enough.”

Behind the curtain, Chu Zhao pressed her lips together. If he wasn’t qualified, who was? The military achievements were all listed out.

An official outside the curtain also spoke these words. This was a military officer, straightforward in temperament, who called out, “Grand Tutor! I know you people always think through everything thoroughly, examining a matter or a person from every angle before acting. But we military men don’t have such refinements in warfare. If he’s brave and skilled in battle, then he’s qualified to hold this position. I, Old Dong, don’t look at birth when I judge people. I, Old Dong, swear here—if I have any private motives, may I be struck by five thunderbolts from heaven!”

At these words, some officials’ faces looked very ugly. This crude man—if they opposed, did that mean they had private motives and should be struck by five thunderbolts from heaven?

“Outrageous!”

“What’s outrageous about it? Is Minister Dong wrong in what he says? It’s easy for you to flap your lips, but do you know how difficult fighting at the front is?”

“If Xie Yanlai isn’t qualified, who is?”

The hall instantly erupted in argument again. Deng Yi once more shouted in loud reprimand.

“Since you put it that way, this Grand Tutor indeed thinks there’s someone even more qualified.” He wasn’t angry either, looking at that indignant military officer. “However, this person might actually be denied important assignment because of his birth.”

Minister Dong frowned. “Who?”

Deng Yi said, “Left Wing Army Commander, Liang Qiang.”

Liang Qiang? This name—Minister Dong seemed to have an impression. He was about to speak, but a voice opened before him.

“No!”

This was a female voice. Though not as loud as the officials’ voices, at this moment it resonated throughout the court hall.

The officials instinctively looked toward the dragon throne—and beyond.

The hanging curtain was lifted by someone. The girl wearing the Empress’s court robes stepped forward.

The entire court fell silent, as if everyone was stunned.

Chu Zhao stood beside the dragon throne, not looking down over the court officials, only looking at Deng Yi who was nearest in front.

“No,” she said again.