Deng Yi’s study was somewhat messy, with scrolls, documents, and papers scattered about.

Several sheets of paper had even drifted to the doorway. Liang Qiang looked down and immediately saw written on them “So-and-so, at such-and-such time had excessive dealings with the former Zhao family—”

This was an accusatory report.

But such accusatory reports were just thrown on the ground, showing Deng Yi didn’t take them seriously.

Liang Qiang withdrew his gaze, stepped over these sheets of paper, and stood still in the room, raising his head to look.

Before the desk surrounded by scattered papers and books, a man wearing the Grand Tutor’s official robes sat in a chair, holding a document and reading, his brow furrowed.

His appearance was ordinary, but his long eyebrows and deep-set eyes, combined with the solemn official robes, made his entire person imposingly forbidding to look at directly.

Liang Qiang knew he shouldn’t stare too much, but couldn’t help his curiosity. He came from an official family with wide connections—he knew almost all the court ministers and noble clans, but this Deng Yi truly was a figure like dust.

Even if he really became Grand Tutor through endless scheming, no one treated him as a small figure anymore now.

Deng Yi looked up and met the young man’s gaze.

Liang Qiang started in alarm and quickly lowered his head, bowing. “Liang Qiang pays respects to the Grand Tutor.”

Deng Yi, gripping the scroll, asked, “Why are you dressed like this?”

Liang Qiang’s military robe was still rolled up and held in his arms. He quickly bowed again. “This general has been discourteous. To avoid the people misunderstanding, I removed my military robe.”

Deng Yi smiled. Without Liang Qiang needing to say more, he knew what it meant. The earlier commotion on the streets, the flower throwing and welcoming—it wasn’t for him, and he didn’t want to be surrounded with questions.

Noble family young masters cared greatly about face—or rather, felt deeply inferior.

“Having Young Master Liang enter the capital as a private individual is this Grand Tutor’s failure to you,” he said lightly.

Liang Qiang quickly bowed again, saying he dared not suggest such a thing.

Deng Yi waved his hand. “I have many matters to attend to. No need for such pleasantries. Whether I’ve wronged you or not is of no importance to me—I don’t care either. I asked you to come in a private capacity to ask about the border situation, and you should answer in a private capacity without reservation.” He pointed to the side. “Sit.”

Liang Qiang understood. Right now he was the dust. In Deng Yi’s eyes, even if he had dissatisfaction, grievances, even hatred—to Deng Yi, it was all insignificant.

He said no more and sat down as instructed, answering Deng Yi’s questions one by one. As he spoke, Deng Yi didn’t even look at him, either thinking, or reading the documents in his hand, sometimes frowning, sometimes nodding, as if verifying something.

Liang Qiang understood. Xie Yanlai must have just reported the border army situation at court. Deng Yi didn’t trust Xie Yanlai—after all, he was from the Xie family—so he’d called him here to cross-check and verify.

Deng Yi finished questioning quickly, made notes on the document with his brush, then looked at Liang Qiang and gestured. “Put your clothes on.”

Liang Qiang’s military robe had been held in his arms the whole time. Hearing this, he quickly stood and put it on.

“Actually, you don’t need to worry. There’s no misunderstanding in wearing a military robe,” Deng Yi said. “You and your father entered the military as convicted criminals. That you can be summoned to the capital by me today is already very rare and glorious.”

Liang Qiang finished putting on his military robe, acknowledged this, then said, “This general feared causing trouble for the Grand Tutor. My father’s and my status cannot compare with School Captain Xie’s.”

Even Zhong Changrong was very displeased, declaring that the Grand Tutor hadn’t issued orders to the border army—this was a private letter—so the military envoy could only be Xie Yanlai, while he, Liang Qiang—

“This commander gives you one month of family leave,” Zhong Changrong had said with a half-smile. “I permit you to go to the capital. That’s all.”

So he could only come to the capital behind Xie Yanlai, in a private capacity. If he also wore his military robe and was surrounded by crowds on the streets, who knew if it would be used against him?

Deng Yi smiled. “If you would cause me trouble, I wouldn’t have called you here. And precisely because you and your father’s status cannot compare with School Captain Xie’s is why I invited you, Liang Qiang. You understand the meaning of my words, right?”

Liang Qiang understood. “That I have today is all due to the Grand Tutor’s advancement.”

Deng Yi said, “I have advanced you and your father, though of course, it’s also because you and your father were brave first.” Having finished, he put down the scroll. “Good. You can go back now.”

Liang Qiang looked at him without moving.

Deng Yi made a sound of understanding, then said, “A trip to the capital is quite rare. You can enjoy yourself for a few days, meet with old friends. If you want to wear your military robe, wear it. If you want to wear regular clothes, wear those.”

The young man in the hall still didn’t move.

Deng Yi looked at him. “Does Young Master Liang have other matters?”

This was a direct dismissal.

He did trust them, but only that much. In Deng Yi’s heart, it wasn’t that he couldn’t do without the Liang family—it was that the Liang family couldn’t do without him. So for the current Liang family, the Grand Tutor summoned and dismissed them at will. Not obstructing their military achievements and promotions was already the Grand Tutor’s greatest kindness.

As for advancement, even treating them as his own people—that wasn’t enough yet.

Liang Qiang understood this in his heart.

To gain the Grand Tutor’s true regard, bravery alone was useless.

Oh. Liang Qiang now no longer believed the Grand Tutor was the person behind him. He pressed his hand against his chest. Just as he’d arrived in the capital, one of his personal soldiers—or rather, guards—had handed him some things.

“I heard that doing business with the Grand Tutor requires sending gifts.”

The Grand Tutor wouldn’t send gifts to himself. The person who prepared this gift for him was the one truly behind the scenes.

That person was not Grand Tutor Deng Yi.

Liang Qiang couldn’t say whether he felt regret, disappointment, or nothing at all. As a chess piece, he had no right to have any emotions.

Pulling his wandering thoughts back, before Deng Yi could speak again, Liang Qiang bowed and took out a scroll from his chest, holding it up with both hands. “Grand Tutor, this is a small token of regard from my father and myself. Please accept it.”

Deng Yi smiled. “Military Marquis Liang understands this Grand Tutor well.” He pointed at the desk. “Since you’re thoughtful, I’ll accept it.”

Liang Qiang placed the scroll on the desk. “Just as the Grand Tutor said, though I’m not here on official business, I am border army, so I’ll stay at the military camp. If the Grand Tutor has any orders, send someone to the capital garrison to summon me.”

Having said this, he bowed cleanly and efficiently, took his leave, and departed.

From his words, did he mean there would be other times when Deng Yi would need to find him? Deng Yi smiled. The Liang family was indeed useful—or rather, anyone at odds with the Xie family was useful. He would help the Liang family along, but重用 couldn’t be discussed yet.

He picked up the scroll Liang Qiang had left behind. A gift list? The Liang father and son were capable—in such a short time they’d risked their lives to build up family assets, or perhaps it was the Liang family’s secretly hidden wealth. Though it was said their property was confiscated and they were exiled, these noble families had multiple hideouts—they inevitably hid some private property.

But when Deng Yi opened the scroll, what met his eyes were names. The border army’s great generals—it listed the general’s name, age, native place, background—

Deng Yi wasn’t unfamiliar with these. Before he was Grand Tutor he already knew about these great generals, and now their records were even more readily available.

About the great general there were only a few brief lines. Then the brush turned and wrote another name—an official serving as the great general’s chief clerk. Though this chief clerk’s official rank wasn’t as high as the great general’s, the content written about him filled an entire page—

As Deng Yi read, his smile faded and his expression grew grave. He stood and walked out.

The attendants outside quickly asked, “My lord, what are your orders?”

Deng Yi strode rapidly outward. “Return to the Imperial City.”

The visitors saw the commotion at the gate—Deng Yi, who had just returned, was hurriedly leaving again. Their earlier speculation was verified.

“The Grand Tutor suddenly returned just to see Young Master Liang.”

“Young Master Liang actually received such regard from the Grand Tutor!”

“But we didn’t see him send any valuable gifts?”

“Perhaps he sent them earlier.”

“The Liang family is actually being restored!”

The visitors didn’t sit until dark as usual. Some hurried to bring this news to their family heads, while others rushed to visit and inquire about this Young Master Liang.

……

……

While Young Master Liang’s private audience with the Grand Tutor stirred small waves in the capital, Xie Yanlai, who had stirred great waves, also woke up in the Imperial City.

After waking, whether from embarrassment, anger, or what, he stood up to leave.

Xie Yanfang and Xiao Yu came over from the other side.

“Are you returning to the military camp or going home?” Xie Yanfang asked. “If you don’t want to go home, you can stay at the capital garrison. If there’s any news from the Imperial City, I’ll have someone inform you promptly.”

News from the Imperial City—Xie Yanlai glanced at Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao was smiling at him. Seeing him look over, she also nodded. “The capital garrison isn’t far. Communication is much more convenient than in the border regions.”

But it was still far. Xie Yanlai raised his eyebrows at Xie Yanfang. “I’m afraid the family doesn’t want me to return.” Without waiting for Xie Yanfang to speak, he added, “Regardless of whether they want it or not, I’m going back.”

Xie Yanlai clenched his hands, making cracking sounds, a cold smile at his lips.

“I still have accounts to settle with my nephews.”

He then bowed to Xiao Yu.

“This subject takes his leave.”

The three people in the hall didn’t have time to speak before Xie Yanlai had already walked out. However, all three were obviously accustomed to this and showed no surprise whatsoever.

Xie Yanfang also bowed to Xiao Yu. “This subject takes his leave.”

Chu Zhao asked with a smile, “Is Third Young Master accompanying him back?”

Xie Yanfang smiled. “Of course not. If I go back at this time, when they fight they’ll come to me seeking justice. I won’t even go back tonight.”

Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu both laughed heartily.

Xie Yanlai left, and Xie Yanfang returned to his office. But Chu Zhao didn’t continue shelling melon seeds with Xiao Yu.

“I’m going to say a few words to the Grand Tutor,” Chu Zhao said. “A’Yu, you write a few characters first. That way we won’t need to do lessons tonight, and I’ll have the little theater troupe come in to perform.”

Xiao Yu clapped his hands happily. “Good, good! I want to see tumbling!”

Chu Zhao said to Eunuch Qi, “Did you hear? Follow His Majesty’s orders—everyone tumble!”

Eunuch Qi smiled and acknowledged. “Your Majesty and Her Majesty just wait and see.”

Chu Zhao left. But Xiao Yu didn’t return to the study—instead he climbed onto the couch by the window.

“My Majesty,” Eunuch Qi quickly followed, softly persuading, “The Empress told you to write characters. Don’t be lazy, or Elder Sister will strike your palm.”

Away from Chu Zhao’s presence, Xiao Yu’s face showed not a trace of childishness.

“We know,” he said, cutting off Eunuch Qi’s words. He frowned as he swept his gaze across the desk, even looking under the table.

“Your Majesty, what are you looking for?” Eunuch Qi asked carefully.

Xiao Yu looked at the almond shells on the desk and shook his head. “Nothing.” He jumped down from the couch, flicked his sleeves, and walked toward the study with his hands clasped behind his back.

Eunuch Qi didn’t dare ask more and quietly followed.