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

Slow in that she felt she waited a very long time, and fast in that Xie Yan Lai didn’t say much in the hall.

He didn’t even explain why he was carrying thorny branches to request punishment.

Grand Tutor Deng Yi simply said, “Commander Xie should be cautious in his conduct when in the capital,” before moving past the topic, as if the incident hadn’t happened, or rather, as if he didn’t care about it.

When asked about the border army’s military situation over the past year, Xie Yan Lai said a few sentences and presented several scrolls of reports. After that, Deng Yi stopped questioning him.

Then the officials from the Ministry of War took turns speaking, bringing out maps and examining the reports submitted by Xie Yan Lai one by one.

But even without Deng Yi’s questioning, Xie Yan Lai said what he wanted to say.

“Western Liang is at the end of its strength. We will certainly win this war,” he said. “Moreover, this victory will force the Western Liang King to disband his court and retreat far away, never daring to approach our Great Xia again.”

The court officials looked at this young commander—the thorny branches had been removed, and he was clothed again, though hastily, making his appearance somewhat strange in the court. Yet this strangeness did nothing to diminish his imposing presence.

“Commander Xie shows great spirit,” Deng Yi said. “With such determination in the border army, victory is inevitable.”

As Xie Yan Lai was about to speak, Deng Yi first bowed to His Majesty.

“With Commander Xie’s detailed explanation, we have a better understanding of the border situation. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, our Great Xia will certainly win this war.”

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

Beyond this, having not yet assumed personal rule, he could not say much more, and Chu Zhao behind the hanging screen could say even less.

After the Grand Tutor dismissed the court session, Chu Zhao returned to the rear palace, angrily flicking her sleeves.

“How was that a detailed explanation?” she fumed. “Xie Yan Lai barely spoke ten sentences from beginning to end, and that includes greeting the Emperor and taking his leave.”

Xiao Yu hopped over the high steps behind her, giggling: “Sister, don’t be angry. Uncle will tell Sister everything in detail.”

There was a light snort from behind, also seeming quite dissatisfied.

“There’s not much to say.”

“It’s just war, just fight.”

Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu turned to see Xie Yan Lai standing outside the hall doorway.

Chu Zhao smiled: “There’s much to say about this word ‘fight’.” She beckoned, “Come in quickly, Commander Xie.”

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

Xie Yan Lai gave the large and small pair a look, reluctantly stepping inside.

However, he didn’t get to explain in detail. As he entered, a group of people rushed in—palace maids, eunuchs, and imperial physicians.

“First, wash and change clothes,” Chu Zhao directed the palace maids and eunuchs, then asked, “Have Commander Xie’s clothes been brought?”

Eunuchs answered in unison, “They’ve been brought!” “This servant went personally.” “Commander Xie’s maids prepared them specially.”

The palace maids also chimed in, “The bath is ready.”

As the palace maids and eunuchs crowded around Xie Yan Lai to lead him inside, Chu Zhao changed her mind: “Let the imperial physicians examine his wounds first, so the medicine can be prepared.”

The imperial physicians then gathered around, wanting to examine Xie Yan Lai, asking to unfasten his robes.

Surrounded and bombarded with noise, Xie Yan Lai’s ears buzzed. He felt the current situation was more chaotic than being surrounded by common people on the street.

“What are you doing?” he said angrily. “Why do I need to wash up? Don’t touch me—I don’t need you to look at my wounds. If I had waited for you to examine me, could I have even made it to the capital? The fact that I’m standing here means I’m neither wounded nor sick!”

The hall grew even noisier, with Xie Yan Lai’s voice louder than in the court hall, his manner more fierce.

But Chu Zhao, who couldn’t speak in the front court hall, ruled in the rear palace, and her voice was even louder than Xie Yan Lai’s.

“You’re here to see His Majesty. Look at your state—covered in dirt, clothes in disarray. This is disrespectful before the Emperor!” Chu Zhao said, no longer considering her words. She waved her hand, “Take him to wash up. Imperial physicians, go with him and examine him while he bathes.”

The palace maids, eunuchs, and imperial physicians swept Xie Yan Lai toward the side hall without giving him a choice.

Xie Yan Lai seemed to complain about something, but his voice was drowned out, and he was powerless to resist as he was quickly led away—what could he do? One mustn’t be disrespectful before the Emperor, and who told him to be a subject?

Entering the side hall, which was where the Emperor rested, there was a bed, a couch, and a bathroom with a small plum blossom-shaped bath. Steam rose, and incense permeated the air.

Xie Yan Lai drove the palace maids away, leaving only the eunuchs and imperial physicians. He didn’t care anymore—if they wanted to look, so be it. When had Xie Yan Lai ever feared being seen?

Whoever wanted to see—

“Xie Yan Lai, have you started bathing yet?”

A woman’s voice came from behind the screen, and a silhouette appeared, leaning slightly as if about to peek over.

Xie Yan Lai, who was stepping down into the water, almost slipped.

“Chu—” he nearly blurted out Chu Zhao’s name, but bit his tongue in time. “Empress! Please conduct yourself with dignity!”

The girl’s voice came from behind the screen: “It’s not that I’m being disrespectful. His Majesty wants to see your wounds firsthand, to understand how brutal the war is—”

Xie Yan Lai almost exploded with anger: “What can wounds show about brutality? Look at the casualty registers submitted to the Ministry of War—that’s true brutality!”

That was true. The silhouette behind the screen withdrew, nodding to another smaller silhouette beside her.

“Your uncle is right. He’s brought the registers back this time and just gave them to the Grand Tutor at court. Let’s have someone get them from the Grand Tutor to look at.”

“Good, whatever Sister says is good.”

The two conversed as they left.

Xie Yan Lai submerged himself in the water, let out a long sigh, then hissed—he had bitten through his tongue. That wretched girl! She talked to him about being disrespectful before the Emperor, but when it came to herself, she didn’t know what proper imperial conduct was!

……

……

Xie Yan Lai knew his place before the Emperor. He bathed quickly, patiently allowed the imperial physicians to examine him, changed into proper clothes, and walked out.

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

What kind of game was this? Xie Yan Lai found it somewhat amusing. Was this how she and the Emperor spent their days?

Xiao Yu, sitting there, couldn’t stop laughing.

Seeing Xie Yan Lai, they both stopped cracking melon seeds.

“Uncle,” Xiao Yu sat up straight and said, “sit on my side.”

Xie Yan Lai stood a few steps away from him and bowed: “Thank you, Your Majesty, but I dare not.”

Chu Zhao smiled, winked at Xiao Yu, signaling him to sit down, then looked at Xie Yan Lai: “After two years, Commander Xie has become formal.” She then turned to A-Le, “Bring a footstool for Commander Xie.”

A-Le responded with a smile and indeed brought a footstool, placing it on Xiao Yu’s side, saying: “Commander Xie, the Empress grants you permission to sit.”

Xie Yan Lai glared at the girl: “The subject thanks Your Grace.” With that, he sat imposingly on the footstool.

With his long legs, he seemed to have nowhere to put them when sitting down, and he looked unhappy.

Xiao Yu couldn’t help but smile, looking at this uncle so close to him with curiosity and seriousness. He had already seen him in the great hall earlier, but Sister had told him that during court sessions, he should listen carefully, not only to what the ministers said but also to observe their expressions. Xie Yan Lai hadn’t said much after entering the hall, so he hadn’t looked closely at him, and at the time, he had felt like a stranger.

Now, looking at him again, memories resurfaced.

Uncle was still the same uncle, with an impatient expression, not liking his imperial nephew, not wanting to be his uncle, only wanting to be a subject.

Or perhaps he didn’t even want to be a subject; his demeanor was completely different from the court officials.

He sat there, desiring nothing.

“I heard from Xiao Man and the others about your martial contest, and I know you have many wounds, so I wanted everyone to see them,” Chu Zhao said. “Once they see these wounds, what you did in the capital doesn’t matter.”

Xie Yan Lai said: “Even if I weren’t wounded, what’s wrong with what I did? If they weren’t satisfied, we could compete. It’s only shameful if you lose due to inferior skill.”

Chu Zhao smiled: “Yes, yes, yes, it’s not shameful that you fought. I’m just adding luster to our Commander Xie’s reputation.”

Xie Yan Lai glanced at her and said: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Chu Zhao smiled slightly, then asked the imperial physicians standing nearby: “How are Commander Xie’s wounds?”

The imperial physicians gave detailed explanations, talking over each other.

Xie Yan Lai didn’t stop them, but he laughed when he heard one account and interrupted the physician: “That’s a wound from when I was a child. You’re bringing that up too? Can’t you tell whether it’s a battle wound or not? How did you become an imperial physician?”

The imperial physician glanced at the Empress’s smiling face. Having been an imperial physician for decades, he would not have survived if he couldn’t read the thoughts of noble personages.

“Commander, the Empress asked about wounds—old wounds and new wounds are all wounds,” he said solemnly. “I must speak without omission. I dare not and cannot deceive the Empress.”

Xie Yan Lai restrained himself from rolling his eyes and raised his hands slightly to the physician: “Well done, Imperial Physician.”

The imperial physician returned the gesture respectfully, then continued to prattle to the Empress: “Although it’s an old wound from more than ten years ago, it shouldn’t be overlooked or left untreated—it can still be treated—”

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

The imperial physician responded affirmatively.

What a bunch of sycophants, she’ll eventually be spoiled by all this flattery, thought Xie Yan Lai as he leaned back on the couch, no longer interested in listening.

Amidst the chatter in the room, a eunuch entered, hesitating before interrupting, “Master Xie has arrived.”

There was another Master Xie in the court. Chu Zhao quickly said, “Please invite him in.”

Xiao Yu also hurriedly sat up straight.

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

“You took a leave of absence today. Why have you come now?” Chu Zhao didn’t let him bow and asked first. Without waiting for an answer, she raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Is Third Young Master afraid the Grand Tutor will harm the Xie family?”

Xie Yan Fang laughed heartily: “Your Highness shouldn’t underestimate me.”

The two spoke quite frankly. Xie Yan Lai snorted inwardly—these matters didn’t concern him anyway. He simply leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes.