Today’s court audience felt both fast and slow to Chu Zhao.

Slow because it felt like she had waited forever; fast because Xie Yanlai didn’t say much at all in the hall.

He didn’t even explain why he bore thorned branches to plead guilty.

Grand Tutor Deng Yi merely said, “School Captain Xie should act with caution when in the capital,” and moved past the topic, as if the matter had never happened—or rather, as if he didn’t care about it.

When asked about the border army’s battle situation over the past year, Xie Yanlai said a few sentences and presented several scrolls of records. Deng Yi stopped questioning him.

Then the officials from the Ministry of War took turns speaking, even bringing out maps and checking them one by one against the records Xie Yanlai had submitted.

However, even though Deng Yi didn’t inquire further, Xie Yanlai said what he needed to say.

“Xi Liang is at the end of its strength. We will certainly win this war,” he said. “Moreover, this victory must scatter the Xi Liang King’s royal court, must make Xi Liang flee far away, never daring to approach our Da Xia again.”

The court officials looked at this young general—the thorned branches had already been removed and his clothes put back on, though it was done hastily. Standing in this court hall, he looked rather peculiar, but this peculiarity didn’t diminish his imposing manner in the slightest.

“School Captain Xie has admirable spirit,” Deng Yi said. “With the border army possessing such determination, victory in every battle is certain.”

Xie Yanlai was about to say something when Deng Yi first bowed to His Majesty.

“With School Captain Xie’s detailed explanation, we understand the border situation much better. Please rest assured, Your Majesty—our Da Xia will certainly win this war.”

The Emperor quickly said, “My beloved ministers have worked hard.”

Apart from that, not yet ruling personally, he couldn’t say much else. Behind the hanging curtain, Chu Zhao could say even less.

The Grand Tutor dismissed the court audience. Chu Zhao walked back to the rear palace, angrily flicking her sleeves.

“How was that a detailed explanation?” she said irritably. “From start to finish, Xie Yanlai only said about ten sentences, right? Including his greetings to His Majesty and ‘this subject takes his leave.'”

Xiao Yu jumped over the high steps behind her and said with a grin, “Elder Sister, don’t be angry. Uncle will tell Elder Sister everything in detail.”

Behind them came a light snort, also seemingly quite dissatisfied.

“There’s nothing much to say.”

“It’s just fighting. Just fight.”

Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu turned to see Xie Yanlai standing outside the hall entrance.

Chu Zhao smiled. “This word ‘fight’ has much that can be said about it.” She beckoned. “School Captain Xie, quickly come in.”

Xiao Yu stood beside Chu Zhao, also nodding. “Uncle, quickly come in.”

Xie Yanlai glanced at the one big and one small figure, reluctantly stepping inside.

However, even after stepping inside, there was no detailed explanation. As he entered, a crowd surged in behind him—palace maids, eunuchs, and imperial physicians.

“First wash up and change clothes,” Chu Zhao directed the palace maids and eunuchs, then asked, “Has School Captain Xie’s clothing been brought?”

Eunuchs responded repeatedly, “Brought, brought!” “This servant went personally.” “School Captain Xie’s servants prepared them personally.”

The palace maids also said in succession, “The bath chamber is ready.”

The eunuchs and palace maids crowded around Xie Yanlai, about to lead him inside, when Chu Zhao changed her mind. “Actually, have the imperial physicians examine his wounds first. The medicine can be prepared in the meantime.”

The imperial physicians then gathered around, wanting to examine Xie Yanlai through observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation—wanting to unfasten his robe.

Surrounded in their midst and bothered by the noise making his ears ring, Xie Yanlai felt this moment was even more clamorous than being watched by crowds on the street.

“What are you all doing?” he said angrily. “Why do I need to wash up? Don’t touch me—I don’t need you examining my wounds. If I had to wait for you to examine my wounds, how would I have made it to the capital! Standing here right now means I have no wounds or illness!”

The clamor in the hall intensified. Xie Yanlai’s voice was even louder than in the court hall, his manner even more fierce.

But while Chu Zhao couldn’t speak in the front court hall, in the rear palace she had the final say, and her voice was even louder than Xie Yanlai’s.

“You’ve come for an audience with His Majesty—look at yourself! Covered in dust, clothes disheveled—this is a breach of decorum before the sovereign!” Chu Zhao said. She stopped deliberating and waved her hand. “Take him to wash up. Imperial physicians, go too. Examine him while he washes.”

The palace maids, eunuchs, and imperial physicians without another word crowded Xie Yanlai toward a side hall.

Xie Yanlai seemed to complain about something, but his voice was drowned out. Having no power to resist, he was quickly dragged away—what could be done? One couldn’t breach decorum before the sovereign. Who told him to be a subject?

Entering the side hall—this was where the Emperor rested briefly—there were beds, couches, and a bathing chamber with a small plum blossom-shaped pool. Steam rose and incense diffused through the air.

Xie Yanlai drove away the palace maids, keeping only the eunuchs and imperial physicians. He didn’t care anymore—if they wanted to look, let them look. Was he, Xie Yanlai, afraid of being seen?

Whoever wanted to look could—

“Xie Yanlai, have you started washing yet?”

A female voice came from behind the partition screen, and simultaneously a figure appeared, leaning forward slightly, as if about to peek around in the next moment.

Xie Yanlai, who was stepping down into the water, nearly slipped.

“Chu—” He almost blurted out Chu Zhao’s name but had to bite his tongue in time. “Empress! Your Majesty! Please conduct yourself with propriety!”

The girl’s voice came from behind the screen. “It’s not this subject being improper—His Majesty wants to see your wounds with his own eyes to understand how brutal the warfare is—”

Xie Yanlai was nearly exploding with anger. “What brutality can be seen from wounds? Go look at the casualty lists reported by the Ministry of War—that’s what’s brutal!”

That was also true. The figure behind the screen withdrew and nodded to the small figure beside her.

“Your uncle is right. This time he brought the lists back. Just now in court he gave them to the Grand Tutor. Let’s have someone fetch them from the Grand Tutor to look at.”

“Good. Whatever Elder Sister says is good.”

The two conversed as they left.

Xie Yanlai submerged into the water, exhaling a long breath, then hissing—he’d even bitten his tongue. That damned girl! Telling him about decorum before the sovereign, but when it came to herself, she didn’t know what proper sovereign conduct meant!

……

……

Xie Yanlai had a sense of propriety before the sovereign. He washed briefly, then patiently allowed the imperial physicians to examine him before changing clothes and emerging.

Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu sat facing each other on a couch by the window, the two of them gathered around a plate of melon seeds, competing to see who could shell them faster.

What kind of game was this? Xie Yanlai was somewhat amused. Was this how she and the Emperor spent their days?

Xiao Yu sitting there couldn’t stop laughing.

When the two saw Xie Yanlai, they stopped shelling seeds.

“Uncle,” Xiao Yu even straightened up and said, “You sit on my side.”

Xie Yanlai stopped several paces in front of him and bowed. “Many thanks to Your Majesty. This subject dares not.”

Chu Zhao smiled and winked at Xiao Yu, gesturing for him to sit back down, then looked at Xie Yanlai. “Two years without seeing you, School Captain Xie has become formal.” She looked at A’Le. “Bring a footstool for School Captain Xie.”

A’Le smiled and agreed, indeed bringing a footstool and placing it on Xiao Yu’s side, saying, “School Captain Xie, Her Majesty grants you a seat.”

Xie Yanlai glared at the girl. “This subject thanks you for your grace.” He then sat boldly on the footstool with his legs spread wide.

His long legs seemed to have nowhere to rest once seated, and his face showed displeasure.

Xiao Yu couldn’t help but laugh. Looking at this uncle right before his eyes with curiosity and seriousness—he had already looked at him earlier in the main hall. But Elder Sister had said that when in the court hall, he should listen carefully, not only to what the court ministers said but also carefully observe their expressions. After Xie Yanlai entered the hall, he didn’t speak much, so he hadn’t looked much either. At that time, looking at him felt very unfamiliar.

Now at this moment, looking again, previous memories resurfaced.

Uncle was still that uncle—impatient, disliking him as an imperial nephew, not wanting to be his uncle, only wanting to be a subject.

Or rather, not even wanting to be a subject. His expression was completely different from the officials in the court hall.

Sitting here, he desired nothing.

“I heard Xiao Man and the others describe the scene of your sparring match and learned you have many wounds on your body, so I wanted everyone to see them too,” Chu Zhao said. “As long as they see these wounds, what you did in the capital won’t matter anymore.”

Xie Yanlai said, “Even without wounds, what’s wrong with what I did? If someone’s not satisfied, let’s compete. The one whose skills are inferior is the one who should be ashamed.”

Chu Zhao smiled. “Yes, yes, yes—it’s not that your fighting is shameful. I’m just adding glory to our School Captain Xie.”

Xie Yanlai glanced at her and said, “Many thanks, Your Majesty.”

Chu Zhao smiled with pursed lips, then asked the imperial physicians standing to the side, “How are School Captain Xie’s wounds?”

The imperial physicians all spoke at once in detail.

Xie Yanlai didn’t stop them. Hearing one comment, he laughed and interrupted that physician. “That’s a wound I got when I was little—you’re bringing that up too? Can’t you tell if it’s a battle wound? How are you qualified to be an imperial physician?”

The physician glanced at the Empress’s smiling expression. Having been an imperial physician for decades, if he couldn’t discern what nobles were thinking, he wouldn’t have survived this long.

“School Captain, Her Majesty asked about wounds—old wounds and new wounds are all wounds,” he said solemnly. “This subject speaks without reservation and dares not, cannot deceive Her Majesty.”

Xie Yanlai restrained himself from rolling his eyes and raised his hands toward the physician in salute. “The imperial physician is formidable.”

The physician returned the salute respectfully and continued chattering to the Empress. “Although it’s an old wound from over a decade ago, it shouldn’t be underestimated or ignored. It’s not untreatable—”

Chu Zhao quickly said, “Imperial Physician, treat him immediately. Use whatever medicine is needed.”

The physician acknowledged the order.

A group of people skilled at flattery—sooner or later she’d be praised into stupidity. Xie Yanlai was too lazy to listen anymore and leaned back against the couch.

The room buzzed with chatter. A eunuch entered, hesitating before interrupting. “Lord Xie has arrived.”

There was another Lord Xie at court. Chu Zhao quickly said, “Invite him in at once.”

Xiao Yu also quickly straightened up.

Xie Yanfang walked in from outside, holding a scroll in his hand.

“You requested leave today—why have you come?” Chu Zhao didn’t let him bow formally but asked first. After asking, without waiting for an answer, she raised her eyebrows with a smile. “Is Third Young Master worried the Grand Tutor will act against the Xie family?”

Xie Yanfang laughed heartily. “Your Majesty, don’t underestimate me.”

The two spoke quite freely without reservation. Xie Yanlai snorted inwardly. These matters had nothing to do with him anyway. He simply leaned against the couch and closed his eyes.