Because the dynasty faced great turmoil, the Late Emperor, the Crown Prince, and others were quickly buried, and preparations were made for the coronation ceremony of the Imperial Grandson.

As well as the Empress investiture ceremony.

The Imperial Grandson’s and Empress’s ceremonies were held together. By normal standards, this should not be done, but both Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang insisted on it this way, and the court officials’ objections were useless—in today’s court, Deng Yi had been entrusted by the Emperor as regent, holding the imperial seal and military command tokens, while Xie Yanfang was the Imperial Grandson’s only living relative. The Yang family had been nearly massacred by the Third Prince, the Zhao family had been uprooted with nine degrees of kinship exterminated, and more than half the court officials were now currying favor with the Eastern Yang Xie clan.

One was resolute and decisive, the other smiled without speaking, and half the court remained silent.

Before dawn, Chu Zhao began her preparations.

Compared to the Imperial Grandson, Eunuch Qi was more worried about Chu Zhao’s side. The Imperial Grandson had grown up in the imperial family from childhood, with etiquette and rules ingrained in his bones, so he specifically found time to come check on this side.

Inside the palace hall, lanterns blazed brightly, with palace maids and eunuchs standing in rows. As Eunuch Qi walked in, he immediately saw the girl sitting in the center. The girl was having her hair dressed, still wearing simple palace attire, but sitting there, her posture was dignified and her expression composed.

She looked into the mirror, her eyes somewhat distracted, as if her mind was wandering, yet her gaze was focused and naturally imposing without anger.

In that moment, Eunuch Qi inexplicably had the thought that she was born to be Empress.

The girl was perceptive. She lifted her eyes and looked over. Seeing it was Eunuch Qi, the slightly melancholy look in her eyes instantly dispersed, replaced by a smile.

“Is A’Yu well?” she asked.

Eunuch Qi quickly bowed: “All is well, all is well. The young master is worried about you and urged this old servant to come see. If this old servant hadn’t come, he would have run over himself.”

Chu Zhao smiled. Her gaze swept across the table, and she picked up a small dish of plum blossom cakes and handed it to Eunuch Qi: “I ate this and found it just right—not too rich and not too dry. Have him eat a few bites, but don’t dare eat much else.”

Eunuch Qi responded affirmatively and received it with both hands.

At this moment, palace maids brought over various jeweled hairpins and the phoenix crown.

Chu Zhao raised her hand to stop them: “Change clothes first. If I dress my hair first and then change clothes, it will easily become messy, and sitting and lying down will be uncomfortable.”

The palace maids responded affirmatively. The palace matrons on the side didn’t say half a word extra.

Eunuch Qi couldn’t help but glance at Chu Zhao again. These words were strange—it felt as if she had dressed this way before. Though it could also be experience from girls’ preparations.

However, to remember such experience at a time like this and pay attention to her own comfort was quite rare.

This girl really was—Eunuch Qi felt great admiration in his heart. He couldn’t help but think of that night when the girl raised her hand and drew a blade to kill. Then thinking of the girl’s father, when Chu Ling first entered the palace, he too was steady as a mountain. There was nothing so strange about it.

Eunuch Qi withdrew his gaze, holding the plum blossom cakes as he took his leave. There was no need to worry about Miss Chu here; he should focus on looking after the Imperial Grandson.

Chu Zhao saw Eunuch Qi’s look but didn’t mind. She surveyed the great hall. Entering here once again, she didn’t want to and was too lazy to pretend to be a stranger.

She also glanced at the palace maids and matrons standing around with lowered eyes and obedient demeanor.

In that previous life when she was invested as Empress, she had been tormented plenty.

These palace maids, matrons, and eunuchs were not this obedient then. They looked down on her, this nameless woman from a border commandery, constantly saying “this is the rule,” while she trembled with fear, afraid of embarrassing Xiao Xun.

Thinking of this, she stood up and looked at herself in the mirror, now dressed in the Empress ceremonial robes.

Rules—rules were set by the master.

And this time, she was the master here.

……

……

A’Le took a deep breath. Hearing the music playing all around, she couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Man on the other side.

“Xiao Man,” she called softly, “don’t be nervous.”

Xiao Man, dressed as a palace maid, glanced at her.

Even for the Empress investiture, Xiao Man followed at Chu Zhao’s side, together with A’Le responsible for holding the ceremonial cape. By normal standards, this should be undertaken by senior palace matrons, as it was an important occasion that could not tolerate the slightest mistake.

Some palace matrons had raised this point, but Xiao Man firmly insisted it wouldn’t do.

“The more important the occasion, the more dangerous it is,” she said. “We are exactly the ones who regularly work in important occasions.”

The palace matrons were stunned. Dangerous? Did she mean walking wrong, walking too slowly, accidentally tearing something—that kind of danger? And also, what important occasions had she worked in?

Chu Zhao smiled: “It’s fine, just let her follow.”

Hearing Chu Zhao say this, A’Le immediately wanted to follow as well.

What more could the palace matrons say? This obscure Miss Chu had been personally enfeoffed by the Late Emperor in the imperial city, was attended day and night by the young Emperor, was treated respectfully by Eunuch Qi, could sit with Grand Tutor Deng Yi, could converse in detail with the imperial relative Third Master Xie. When she walked out, the Imperial Guards bowed to her—

Even if this young lady truly made a mistake at the investiture ceremony, who would say anything?

A’Le was still somewhat nervous—nervous about not doing well herself. She had never been nervous before. Previously in the dark of night following her mistress in combat entering the imperial city, Xiao Man following the mistress in and out while she guarded the palace hall where the mistress stayed—everything had been her decision then, and she hadn’t thought much of it. But now, looking at the imposing great hall, looking at the mass of court officials, listening to the solemn palace music—

This wasn’t a dream. Miss was truly becoming Empress.

Empress—

“Xiao Man,” she murmured, “do you know what Empress means?”

The Emperor’s wife, the most noble woman in all the land.

When leaving the border commandery with Miss to enter the capital, she had thought the General wanted Miss to find a family in the capital to marry into. She also felt this was appropriate—how could those people in the border commandery be worthy of Miss? But she had never imagined Miss would marry the Emperor and become Empress.

Miss would be Empress from now on!

Xiao Man glanced at her: “I know what Empress means, but no matter what Empress is, isn’t she still Chu Zhao?” She added, “Your hands are shaking. Can you do this or not? If not, I can do it myself.”

A’Le blinked. Yes, she looked at the girl standing in front.

The girl wore the ceremonial robes, scarlet and solemn, with layer upon layer of magnificent cloud-patterned hems below, a flowering tree crown on her head dazzling and brilliant. Her posture was dignified yet relaxed and at ease.

Empress—Miss was Empress, Empress was Miss. A’Le took a deep breath, straightened her back, her mind at peace.

Everything proceeded smoothly. No officials stood out crying and making scenes, no one walked the wrong steps or stood in the wrong position, until it was time for the Emperor to ascend the steps, enter the court hall, and sit on the dragon throne.

The Emperor refused to walk.

The child dressed in dragon robes stood in the sunlight and turned to look back.

……

……

“What does he want?”

The court officials standing several steps away watched Eunuch Qi run over and asked urgently.

Eunuch Qi’s face was covered in a layer of sweat.

“He wants Chu, the Empress,” he stammered, about to say Miss Chu but correcting himself in time. “To walk with him.”

Hearing this, a white-haired court official could no longer contain his anger: “Absurd!” “It’s not like he’s a six-month-old baby.”

In history there were infant emperors carried through their enthronement, but Xiao Yu was six years old after all. What nonsense was this!

“Don’t be hasty,” another official with a gentler temperament said. “His Majesty is still young. Mainly, what he’s experienced in succession—we adults couldn’t bear it, let alone a six-year-old child. Let’s talk to him nicely, persuade him.”

Hearing him say this, the officials behind stirred and called out a name.

“Minister Xie.” “Minister Xie, quickly come.”

Following the calls, the ranks parted, and Xie Yanfang in official robes strode forward quickly, looking at Eunuch Qi and asking, “What happened?”

Eunuch Qi looked at Xie Yanfang’s official robes and young face, and bowed: “Please go persuade His Majesty. He doesn’t dare walk alone.”

“No problem, no problem,” Xie Yanfang said. “I’ll go talk to him.”

With that he walked forward. The officials watched as Xie Yanfang walked before Xiao Yu, knelt down, and spoke softly with the child. Though the child shook his head with a tense face at first, gradually his expression eased, becoming hesitant—

It seemed he had been persuaded.

The officials’ expressions were gratified: “Still needs coaxing.” They sighed, “He’s a child, after all.” Some were moved: “Fortunately Third Master Xie is here as family.”

Deng Yi, standing in the front row, hadn’t said a word from start to finish. When he saw Xie Yanfang take Xiao Yu’s hand and Xiao Yu lower his head to turn around—

“Summon the Empress,” he suddenly said.

The officials were startled. What?

“Grand Tutor, what do you mean?” the white-haired official from before asked. “Do you want the Empress to also come persuade His Majesty?”

Without waiting for an answer, he shook his head.

“No need. His Majesty has already been persuaded by Minister Xie. Having the Empress come would be redundant. We cannot delay the auspicious time.”

The other officials also nodded in agreement.

But Deng Yi wasn’t speaking to them or consulting with them—he was giving orders to the Imperial Guards beside him.

Those Imperial Guards paid no attention to what the officials said and immediately left. Soon the ranks of officials parted again, and guided by the Imperial Guards, Chu Zhao strode forward.

“What happened?” she asked.

The clamoring officials instantly fell silent, averting their gazes.

Deng Yi didn’t explain what the matter was, only saying: “His Majesty is looking for you. Go see him.”

Chu Zhao didn’t ask further questions, just nodded: “Alright.”

She passed the crowd and walked forward. Deng Yi called out again: “Your Majesty the Empress.”

Chu Zhao turned to look at him.

Deng Yi looked at her, his eyes deeply shadowed, and said: “Don’t miss the appointed hour.”

Chu Zhao paused for a moment, then nodded: “This palace understands.” With that she turned and walked forward.

Xiao Yu, who was about to turn around, caught sight of the girl approaching. He withdrew his hand from Xie Yanfang’s grasp and reached out toward Chu Zhao.

“Elder Sister,” he called.

Xie Yanfang looked over and saw the girl approach with a smile, bend down and take Xiao Yu’s hand.

“What’s wrong?” she asked softly. “Didn’t we already agree? You even told me not to be afraid. How come you’re afraid now?”

Xiao Yu looked at her: “I don’t want to walk alone. Elder Sister, come with me.”

Chu Zhao looked at him and smiled: “Alright.”

A smile bloomed on Xiao Yu’s face.

Only then did Chu Zhao look toward Xie Yanfang, saying softly: “Third Master, the appointed hour approaches. The ceremony cannot have any more mishaps.”

Xie Yanfang knelt on the ground, looking at the girl’s clear eyes, and nodded: “Very well.”

He stood up and stepped aside.

Chu Zhao looked at Xiao Yu again. The child was still smiling happily at her. Chu Zhao smiled, then straightened her expression and coughed lightly. Xiao Yu immediately stopped smiling and straightened his expression to match hers.

Chu Zhao held Xiao Yu’s hand and stepped onto the stairs.

Xie Yanfang stood in place watching them, then withdrew his gaze and turned to walk back. Passing Deng Yi, he suddenly looked at him and smiled.

Deng Yi was completely indifferent to his smile, his expression wooden, and gave a slight nod: “Thank you for your efforts, Minister Xie.”

Xie Yanfang smiled and said: “The Grand Tutor is too kind.” With that, he said no more and passed him, walking back into the ranks of officials.

“Kneel!”

The ceremonial official called out loudly. Drums and music sounded together. The officials knelt in unison.

High on the steps were only two figures.

Chu Zhao held Xiao Yu’s hand, walking up step by step. She didn’t look back. Of course she knew that walking together with the Emperor wasn’t according to protocol, but so what?

Since she was becoming Empress again in this life, she couldn’t be the same as in that previous life.

This Empress position—she was choosing to take it herself. Therefore, how to be this Empress, she herself would decide.

……

……

Not everyone knelt. The Imperial Guards stood solemnly with weapons in hand, guarding the new Emperor.

Xie Yanlai stood at the head, watching the figures on the steps, step by step, higher and higher.

Though high, the back view was still that of a little girl.

Who could have imagined that A’Fu from the post station would become Empress today?

Quite amusing.

He pulled at the corner of his mouth in a smile.

Actually, there was nothing unimaginable about it. He also hadn’t imagined that he would be standing here today.

Xie Yanlai withdrew his gaze and stood solemnly with a wooden expression.