Torches illuminated the path beneath their feet, while the surrounding imperial guards cast shadows like bronze walls.

Chu Zhao held Xiao Yu’s hand and followed Deng Yi through the inner palace.

“Lord Deng, you know about what happened outside, don’t you?” Chu Zhao asked softly.

Deng Yi said, “I guessed.”

“Meeting the Young Highness was unexpected for me too,” Chu Zhao said. “I never imagined—”

Deng Yi raised his hand to his lips and gave a soft “shh,” interrupting Chu Zhao.

“Miss Chu, whatever you have to say, say it after you see His Majesty,” he said.

It seemed trying to chat more with Deng Yi first to build rapport wouldn’t work. Chu Zhao looked at the man walking ahead—no longer the minor official who had appeared at the post station, dusty from travel.

A Grand Tutor now, that Grand Tutor who even dared to strike the Emperor’s face. Chu Zhao pouted, but just as she did, seeing the Grand Tutor glance back, she quickly curved her lips into a smile.

Deng Yi naturally saw the girl’s small gesture and said, “Miss Chu, smiling at this time isn’t quite appropriate.”

Chu Zhao said sheepishly, “You’re right to admonish me, my lord.”

Deng Yi didn’t make things more difficult for the girl. He withdrew his gaze and looked ahead.

Letting her in was actually rather amusing.

They spoke no more and walked in silence until they reached a palace hall. This area was much brighter than other places.

Outside the doors, imperial guards stood like a forest and eunuchs gathered like clouds, surrounding the palace hall so tightly not even wind could pass through.

Deng Yi didn’t slow his pace at all, nor did he need to request permission. He walked step by step forward, and wherever he went, guards and eunuchs respectfully made way.

Chu Zhao held Xiao Yu’s hand and followed behind him. Not a single guard questioned or stopped them. The eunuchs, seeing Xiao Yu, showed surprise in their expressions—

The eunuchs here naturally all recognized the Imperial Eldest Grandson.

By rights, seeing the Imperial Eldest Grandson, the eunuchs should all be excited, especially at this time. But these eunuchs only showed shock in their expressions. No one cried out, and no one surged forward.

Grand Tutor Deng was formidable indeed. Chu Zhao tightened her grip. The small hand in hers moved. Chu Zhao quickly loosened her hold and looked down at Xiao Yu, her gaze reassuring. Xiao Yu also looked up at her.

Deng Yi entered the hall, looked back at the one large and one small child, and without the slightest consultation with the master of the hall, decided on his own: “Come in.”

Chu Zhao suddenly felt somewhat nervous. Was the Emperor inside still there? Was he alive or dead?

Chu Zhao held Xiao Yu’s hand and stepped inside without hesitation.

Inside the hall, lamps blazed brightly. At a glance, she saw an elderly man reclining on the dragon bed holding a book scroll, reading. He wore dragon robes and a jade crown, his posture leisurely and elegant, yet carrying an emperor’s dignity.

Chu Zhao was somewhat surprised.

In that other life, she had of course also seen the Emperor. After entering the palace with Xiao Xun, she went to pay her respects. The Emperor lay sickly, his face ashen gray. When he heard her name, his eyes had been frightening too. She had lowered her head and not dared look again.

Later when she saw him again, it was the Emperor’s death. On the dragon bed lay a corpse devoid of all vitality. Even dressed in dragon robes and adorned magnificently, it couldn’t conceal the withering decay.

In this life, the Emperor was surprisingly spirited.

Deng Yi looked at the Emperor, also somewhat surprised, his gaze turning to a eunuch nearby.

Your Majesty, why had he groomed and dressed himself?

The eunuchs made helpless expressions. His Majesty insisted on doing so.

His Majesty insisted on doing so? As if receiving guests—

Did His Majesty know guests were coming?

Deng Yi’s gaze also turned again toward the doorway. Guests? He looked at the one large and one small still standing at the entrance.

“Who is it?” The Emperor seemed only now to notice someone had entered, but he didn’t care much. Without looking up from his book scroll, he asked in an indifferent voice.

Deng Yi withdrew his gaze and bowed in salute: “Your Majesty, it is Chu Ling’s—daughter, escorting the Imperial Eldest Grandson back.”

He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but from the corner of his eye, he saw His Majesty’s form stiffen, as if about to sit up straight, but the next moment he slumped back weakly.

“Chu Ling’s daughter…” the Emperor said slowly, setting down the book scroll in his hands. He raised his head to look toward the doorway, as if he couldn’t see clearly, yet also as if looking very intently.

Deng Yi turned to look at the doorway: “Chu Zhao, approach and bow to His Majesty.”

Chu Zhao responded and led Xiao Yu forward. She knelt down: “From Yunzhong Commandery, daughter of General Wei Chu Ling, Chu Zhao pays her respects to Your Majesty.”

Kneeling on the ground, Chu Zhao felt the gaze from the dragon bed, but there was prolonged silence. The Emperor seemed to look for a long time, to think for a long time, before remembering something—

“General Wei, Chu Ling, ah.” He spoke slowly, his voice indifferent. “Rise.”

Chu Zhao kowtowed in thanks for the imperial grace and stood.

His Majesty still remembered Father. This could also be guessed from Eunuch Qi’s words—after all, His Majesty had never disbanded the Longwei Army and still maintained it as before.

But he also indeed seemed not to favor Father, displaying such a cold attitude.

Deng Yi stood to the side with lowered eyes. Had the Emperor truly forgotten Chu Ling? Did he not favor Chu Ling?

No. He raised his eyes slightly to look at the child standing beside Chu Zhao.

His Majesty remembered Chu Ling and was very excited to see Chu Ling again, even if only his daughter. So excited he had washed, changed clothes, and adorned himself. So excited he had even overlooked the Imperial Eldest Grandson standing before him.

The Imperial Eldest Grandson stood quietly beside Chu Zhao, without the excitement of one who had survived disaster rushing forward.

Having experienced this night’s nightmare, this child’s three souls and six spirits had probably all scattered. After all, he was only six years old, heaven’s favored son, raised in the deep palace.

Deng Yi said, “Your Majesty, Miss Chu has escorted the Imperial Eldest Grandson back.”

The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment and only then looked at the child beside Chu Zhao, reaching out his hand: “A’Yu—”

Xiao Yu stood without moving, staring blankly at the Emperor, as if he hadn’t heard.

Chu Zhao gently pushed him: “A’Yu, it’s His Majesty. You’re safe now.”

Hearing these words, the blank child finally rushed toward the Emperor on the dragon bed, burying his head in the Emperor’s embrace and sobbing, “Imperial Grandfather—”

The Emperor stroked the child: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Imperial Grandfather is here.”

Deng Yi glanced at Chu Zhao. Chu Zhao noticed and thought this probably meant she could speak and give her account.

“Your Majesty, Eunuch Qi brought the Young Highness back to the capital in time and came to my home to take shelter,” Chu Zhao said. “It happened that my father had sent Vice General Zhong Changrong back to the capital. In the chaos, he mobilized the Longwei Army to escort the Young Highness into the palace.”

The Emperor gently patted the child in his embrace, his gaze on the girl standing before him, seeming both distracted and very focused. After hearing her words, he smiled.

“The Longwei Army—I had forgotten about them,” he said. “Your father actually still remembered.”

Chu Zhao said, “My father never mentioned the Longwei Army to me.”

Never mentioning didn’t mean forgetting—it could even be said he remembered constantly.

“When Uncle Zhong told me, I was startled. I always thought my father was nothing in the border commandery. I never imagined he had actually been entrusted with such an important mission by Your Majesty.”

These were Chu Zhao’s sincere words. She hadn’t known in her previous life, and had only just learned in this life.

The Emperor laughed with a “ha.” His hand was still patting the child in his embrace, though actually Xiao Yu had already stopped crying.

The Emperor laughed, his voice cold: “General Chu is capable in both civil and military affairs, omnipotent. Now, I am indebted to him for preserving my imperial grandson.”

By rights, when an emperor said such words, they carried great weight. But strangely, Chu Zhao didn’t feel frightened at all. She raised her head.

“Your Majesty,” she couldn’t help but say, “please don’t be angry.”

The Emperor froze, as if seeing that military general standing before him again. No matter how he lost his temper and scolded, the general only listened silently, not defending himself, not afraid. After listening, he raised his head and said, “Your Majesty, don’t be angry.”

Don’t be angry, don’t be angry—it made him so angry!

The general used to anger him, now it was his daughter’s turn!

The Emperor was about to stand up and rebuke this girl, but the moment he moved, his vital energy surged, his throat turned sweet, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Your Majesty!”

Chu Zhao was startled and rushed forward.

Xiao Yu, lying in the Emperor’s embrace, also sat up.

But only Deng Yi showed no surprise. This was right. How could His Majesty be that spirited? He had already been poisoned and couldn’t hold on much longer.