Chapter 1: Taken Away

Although Chu Lan resented Chu Zhao for causing trouble, he never truly intended to hand Chu Zhao over to the authorities.

It wasn’t that he felt sorry for Chu Zhao—it was a matter of interconnected interests. If one daughter surnamed Chu entered prison, the other children surnamed Chu would also be subjected to gossip and finger-pointing.

He had captured her intending to hand her directly to the Liang family, bypassing official channels so they could handle the matter privately however they wished.

This Deng Yi actually dared to say such things—did he even know what task he’d been assigned?

Chu Lan naturally had to object, invoking the Liang family: “This is Minister Liang’s intention. Minister Liang is still waiting.”

But this Deng Yi completely ignored him: “Minister Liang filed an official complaint, which is why the Court of Judicial Review ordered me to apprehend the person. If Minister Liang wants to see her, he must first go to the Court of Judicial Review.”

“Lord Deng, you mustn’t—” Chu Lan stepped forward to obstruct him.

But as soon as he moved, he saw the previously smiling Deng Yi’s expression darken, and the whip in his hand suddenly lashed down—

“How audacious, daring to obstruct this official’s execution of duty.”

Caught off guard, Chu Lan felt the whip pass before his eyes, narrowly grazing his nose. The cold wind it stirred made his face sting, as if he’d actually been struck across the face.

Such humiliation.

“You! You!” he shouted, pointing his finger at Deng Yi.

Chu Ke was also startled and quickly moved to support his father. He had witnessed firsthand how Deng Yi treated those officials along the route—truly beating them at will, turning on them without mercy. Even when encountering local tyrants, he showed not the slightest fear.

He had stated brazenly: “Either you kill me, or you behave yourselves.”

Who would risk their life over such a trivial matter? So the local tyrants endured, harboring grudges in their hearts to settle later.

Back then, since it was his family’s business being handled, all the hatred fell on Deng Yi, and Chu Ke had been content to watch the spectacle.

But now that this spectacle involved his own family, it wasn’t so entertaining anymore.

“Father, Father.” He pressed down Chu Lan’s hand. “Don’t conflict with Lord Deng. Lord Deng is also following orders—he cannot disobey. Whatever needs to be said, we can discuss it after returning home.”

Chu Lan was not an impulsive person. He didn’t rush forward to argue further with Deng Yi, only shouting indignantly, “How outrageous!”

Deng Yi didn’t raise his whip again. As long as no one obstructed his work, he resumed his gentle demeanor. With a single command, he urged his horse forward, and Chu Zhao’s carriage naturally followed him.

In the blink of an eye, the bustling roadside returned to its previous state.

Chu Lan, who had come to receive someone, stood rooted to the spot. All that effort—rising so early, traveling so far—and he’d received nothing.

The Heir of Prince Zhongshan had been driven away by Chu Zhao’s anger.

Chu Zhao had been taken away by Deng Yi.

“That Deng Yi!” He trembled with rage, pointing at the departing group. “Truly audacious indeed.”

Chu Ke nodded in heartfelt agreement: “He’s certainly very bold. Father, you don’t know how dangerous that just was.” He recounted Deng Yi’s actions along the journey.

After finishing, Chu Ke asked curiously: “This Lord Deng—what exactly is his background? What backing does he have?”

Chu Lan was also quite surprised to hear this, but then sneered: “A petty man achieving success is naturally arrogant.”

He had naturally inquired about this Deng Yi—unsuccessful in his studies, he’d worked as a minor clerk in the commandery to make ends meet, climbing his way up step by step. Only last year had he managed to reach the capital and enter the Court of Judicial Review.

“What connections did he rely on?” Chu Ke was even more surprised. Someone who sounded so ordinary, yet hadn’t simply disappeared into the masses and had even managed to enter the capital and join the court—that was quite remarkable.

Chu Lan scoffed: “What connections? He relied on sending money and gifts. I heard that initially, to become a minor clerk, he even pawned the padded coat off his back to give as gifts, stuffing his clothes with dry grass every day to keep warm. This time he managed to enter the capital by going through the Yang family’s channels.”

The Yang family referred to the National Uncle Yang clan. Although the Empress had been deceased for many years, the Second Prince born to the Empress had already been designated Crown Prince, so the Yang clan’s position remained secure.

So he did indeed have backing.

Chu Ke understood now and advised his father with lingering apprehension: “Father, don’t get angry with him. We cannot afford to provoke such a person.”

But Chu Lan laughed, his expression disdainful—not because of scholarly principles, but because—

“This Deng Yi is an unprincipled scoundrel. One foot curries favor with the Yang clan, while the other has entered the Zhao family’s door.”

After the Empress’s death, the Emperor had never established another empress. Noble Consort Zhao monopolized the imperial favor and practically conducted herself as empress. Her natal family, the Zhao clan—from grandfathers and uncles among the elders to nephews and younger relatives—had nearly all received titles and were privately called the New National Uncles, with even greater momentum than the Yang clan.

This backing was even more formidable.

But when one person tried to rely on two backers, especially two that were like fire and water, there was only one outcome—being crushed into mud.

Chu Ke was dumbstruck: “Has this Deng Yi gone stupid or mad?”

Although petty men had no integrity, even being a petty man required following certain rules, didn’t it?

Chu Lan mocked: “That’s why he’s despised on all sides and has difficulty establishing himself at the Court of Judicial Review.”

The current Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was close to the Yang family—how could he tolerate such a scoundrel fantasizing about serving two masters?

That’s probably why he’d been assigned this thankless task.

And yet this Deng Yi still dared to use his chicken feather as an arrow of authority.

“I want to see if he dares to crack his whip at Minister Liang.”

Chu Lan swept his sleeves.

“Let’s go.”

……

……

Whatever anger Chu Lan harbored behind her, Chu Zhao didn’t care. In her previous life, her uncle’s family had always been angry with her, angry with her father, blaming all of life’s misfortunes on their father-daughter pair.

If she couldn’t bring them satisfaction, they wouldn’t say a single kind word.

And they would never be satisfied, only demanding more, then complaining more.

Deng Yi brought her into the Court of Judicial Review and truly arranged a prison cell for her.

Seeing this young girl being brought to the prison, even the warden was somewhat shocked.

The Court of Judicial Review’s prison wasn’t without female prisoners, but those were only the female relatives of official households whose families had been raided and exterminated—that was the qualification required.

Although Chu Ling had once greatly disrespected the Emperor, the Emperor had neither raided the household nor exterminated the clan. General Chu’s official position had remained stable all these years.

For his daughter to run here—wasn’t this seeking misfortune?

“Miss Chu, this was your own request. Don’t blame me,” Deng Yi said.

Chu Zhao had already descended from the carriage and said: “How could I blame you, my lord? You granted my request—on the contrary, I’m indebted to you, and I’ve also made you bear responsibility on my behalf.” She then offered a solemn bow.

Deng Yi smiled. Bringing her to the prison was indeed beyond his official duties; she should be grateful.

He’d accepted a large sum of money from this girl, but that was for her request to ride in a carriage. That transaction had already concluded. This girl didn’t assume that because he’d taken money, he should manage her affairs endlessly—very clear-headed and understanding. He was quite satisfied.

He nodded and said: “Dealing with Miss Chu has been most pleasant. If there’s an opportunity, we’ll meet again.”

What kind of statement was that? Who would want dealings with the Court of Judicial Review’s Magistrate? It wasn’t anything good. The warden widened his eyes again, but seeing that the girl showed not the slightest fear or dread, she actually smiled: “Having Lord Deng’s care during this journey was the greatest fortune within my misfortune.”

Deng Yi laughed heartily: “For the sake of Miss Chu’s words, Warden, arrange a good cell for Miss Chu. Consider this favor as one I owe you.”

The warden spat: “Who wants to owe such a favor? Stop your nonsense and go report for duty.”

Deng Yi said no more and strode away.

“Miss Chu, your luck truly is poor, encountering him on duty.” The warden shook his head helplessly and led Chu Zhao to the cell. “Magistrate Deng is not an easy person to get along with.”

Chu Zhao followed him forward. Whether Deng Yi was easy to get along with didn’t concern her at all. She wasn’t hoping to befriend this person anyway.

She only hoped not to offend him, so that when he rose to power as destined in her previous life, he could slap Xiao Xun hard across the face.

This time, she would no longer pity or feel sorry for Xiao Xun—she would only applaud and cheer.