Chu Zhao needed to find Deng Yi to discuss the border army matters.
Though Xie Yanlai had said little in court, she knew Deng Yi wasn’t unconcerned about the border army and would certainly be investigating privately. Since Deng Yi disliked the Xie family, she would take the initiative to engage him and draw out more information.
Unfortunately, when she arrived at the front hall, the officials informed her that the Imperial Tutor was not present; he had gone home.
“That’s rare,” Chu Zhao remarked.
The officials laughed awkwardly, unsure if the Empress was praising or criticizing.
“How is Elder Madam Deng?” Chu Zhao asked.
Though Deng Yi’s home was filled with gold, silver, and treasures, those were merely external possessions. The only person Deng Yi truly cared about was his elderly mother.
Realizing the Empress was inquiring about the Imperial Tutor’s family, the officials eagerly responded, “The Elder Madam is well, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.” “Elder Madam has had a good appetite recently. The Imperial Tutor has likely purchased her favorite pastries again.”
After exchanging a few pleasant words, Chu Zhao departed. She had barely returned to the rear palace when a eunuch hurriedly approached: “The Imperial Tutor has returned.”
Chu Zhao immediately headed back to the front hall, but still couldn’t meet with Deng Yi.
The officials apologetically explained: “The Imperial Tutor is discussing several important matters and instructed us not to disturb him.”
Chu Zhao hesitated. If she insisted on entering, Deng Yi probably wouldn’t turn her away. However, her ability to attend court was only as the young Emperor’s companion—after all, the imperial harem was not permitted to interfere in government affairs. Now that the court had adjourned and the Imperial Tutor was overseeing state affairs as regent, it would be inappropriate for her as Empress to barge in.
In many matters, Deng Yi had been lenient with her, turning a blind eye and allowing her to act as she wished. She couldn’t make him lose face.
They would need to work together for a long time, so it was best to avoid wearing down their relationship over minor issues.
The border army matter would take some time to resolve anyway; she could see him after court tomorrow.
There was no rush.
Chu Zhao instructed the eunuchs to have the imperial kitchen prepare the evening meal, saying that those discussing state affairs shouldn’t delay their dining. The officials outside the door expressed profuse thanks for Her Majesty’s grace and respectfully saw the Empress off.
“Her Majesty truly trusts and favors the Imperial Tutor,” one official remarked.
“The Imperial Tutor is regent. If she doesn’t trust and favor him, she should worry about keeping her position as Empress,” another official replied without sentiment, instead showing some vigilance. “She’s the Empress now, and the Xie family is her relatives. When the Xie clan and the Imperial Tutor truly oppose each other, then we’ll see whom the Empress truly trusts and favors.”
Chu Zhao paid no mind to the officials’ whispers behind her. Being the subject of private discussion was a matter of significance. In her previous life as Empress, the court officials didn’t discuss her, but they didn’t acknowledge her existence either.
After going back and forth, she finally returned to the rear palace as dusk fell and lanterns were being lit.
“Sister,” Xiao Yu held up two sheets of calligraphy for her to see. “I’ve finished writing.”
Chu Zhao sat down. “Good, let me check carefully.” She took the papers and examined them thoroughly before nodding. “You wrote quickly and well.”
Xiao Yu beamed with happiness.
Qi Gonggong chimed in: “His Majesty was very focused, not even drinking a sip of tea. He sat motionless until he finished writing, and even had this old servant check it twice.”
Chu Zhao stroked Xiao Yu’s head. “Our A-Yu is a child with determination.”
Xiao Yu leaned against her. “Sister taught me.”
“No matter how others teach, learning depends on oneself,” Chu Zhao smiled. One shouldn’t lecture children too much. She clapped her hands and instructed Qi Gonggong, “Since His Majesty finished writing early, let’s enjoy ourselves. Have the theater troupe perform now. His Majesty and I will watch while dining, making it a small banquet.”
Qi Gonggong smiled and complied.
“Since it’s a banquet—” Chu Zhao giggled. “Why not bring some wine as well?”
Xiao Yu immediately chimed in at her side: “I want some too.”
Qi Gonggong looked at the two of them, shaking his head helplessly and pointing outside: “The Imperial Tutor is still in the outer hall. Your Majesty, if you encourage His Majesty to drink wine, he might send someone to reprimand you.”
“One cup each of peach blossom wine—it’s just sweet water,” Chu Zhao smiled, then added, “The Imperial Tutor is busy in the outer hall and won’t bother with us.”
Qi Gonggong was just teasing; peach blossom wine indeed barely qualified as alcohol. Smiling, he complied and went to make arrangements. Some servants prepared the meal, others summoned the theater troupe, and the inner chamber became bustling with activity.
Naturally, Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu didn’t need to lift a finger. After putting away the calligraphy, Xiao Yu hesitated before saying, “Sister doesn’t keep her promises.”
Chu Zhao exclaimed: “How could I possibly be that kind of person?”
Xiao Yu pointed at the table: “Where are the almonds you promised me?”
One couldn’t casually fool children once they grew up. Chu Zhao remembered now; she had casually mentioned it while cracking melon seeds. She hadn’t forgotten—when talking with Xie Yanlai, she had still been shelling almonds—but she’d forgotten to save them for Xiao Yu.
Thinking of how Xie Yanlai had hurriedly come to the palace, spoken only briefly before falling asleep exhausted, and would likely rush off after waking without even a cup of tea—typical of his temperament—she had put the shelled almonds in a small pouch and tied it to Xie Yanlai’s belt, considering it an act of imperial grace.
However, the words on the tip of Chu Zhao’s tongue circled once before being swallowed, and she said something else instead.
“I ate them,” she said with an apologetic smile. “While talking, I unconsciously shelled and ate them myself, and before I knew it, they were gone.”
Xiao Yu’s face instantly lit up with a smile: “So Sister ate them. Then please shell some more for me.”
That settled the matter. Chu Zhao nodded with a smile. Having not been a child for so long, she suddenly remembered how important promises were to children. Saying something was for them, then giving it to someone else would be very hurtful.
“Tonight while watching the performance, I’ll shell all the nuts for you,” she generously promised.
Xiao Yu smiled broadly, then shook his head: “I’ll eat them with Sister.”
Chu Zhao patted Xiao Yu’s head: “Good boy.”
While the imperial palace’s front and rear halls each had their activities, the Xie family residence was far from peaceful that night. Shouts, fighting, cursing, and miserable screams rose and fell. Fortunately, the Xie residence was deep and surrounded by servants, preventing outsiders from approaching.
Only when the night grew deep did the Xie residence finally return to calm.
Xie Yanlai collapsed face-first onto the bed, but four or five maids hurriedly pulled him up, exclaiming.
“Young Master, you must wash and change before going to bed.”
“Young Master, this bedding was newly made by the sisters, dried until soft and scented with fragrance. You can’t soil it when you’re so dirty.”
Xie Yanlai felt both annoyed and amused: “Are you preparing things for me as a person or just for my body?”
The maids gently persuaded: “For both the person and the body.”
“I already washed when I had an audience with the Emperor earlier,” Xie Yanlai lay down, refusing to get up. “Aren’t these the clothes you prepared for me?”
“That was then, this is now.” The maids were helpless as they looked at the mud, dirt, and blood on Xie Yanlai—
He had just been fighting and arguing with the young masters of the house.
Xie Yanlai had no choice. Knowing that if he didn’t comply, these maids would keep him awake all night with their nagging, he rose and went to wash as instructed. The maids followed him in, many hands working to remove his clothes. Xie Yanlai thought of something and stopped them—
He raised an eyebrow and said: “I know you want to check my wounds, but there’s no need. All of you, get out.”
The maids were surprised: “Young Master guessed it!” Yet they refused to leave, simply bringing out various medicines for bandaging. “Young Master, please let us have a look.”
Xie Yanlai waved them away: “I was already examined in the imperial palace. The Imperial—”
Before he finished, the previously reluctant maids suddenly lit up with joy: “So the Empress has already seen to it?” “That’s good, that girl named A-Le must have been there too.” “Then we don’t need to worry.” “A-Le’s medicines are most effective.” “I said earlier that once the Young Master went to the imperial palace, we needn’t worry with Her Majesty there.” “That’s right, Her Majesty even sent someone to fetch Young Master’s clothes. I guessed as much.”
Xie Yanlai felt a headache coming on: “What nonsense are you talking about? I meant the Imperial Physician!”
The maids giggled as they removed his outer robe and withdrew, satisfied that the Imperial Physician followed the Empress’s orders anyway.
Xie Yanlai had just removed his clothes and was about to enter the bath when voices of the maids sounded from outside: “Oh, Young Master, where did this sachet come from?” “Did Young Master have a maid serving him at the border who embroidered it?” “Young Master is handsome and kind-hearted; naturally, someone would fall for him.”
Xie Yanlai snapped: “What nonsense are you talking about? Throw away all the dirty clothes and ornaments!”
No sooner had he spoken than another maid’s voice came: “Ah, why are there almonds in this sachet?”
Almonds—Xie Yanlai’s head felt as if struck by a hammer, and he recalled the clear tapping sound. Earlier, he had fallen asleep in front of that girl again, accompanied by her chattering and the sound of a small hammer tapping, which was quite noisy—
She had been shelling almonds.
Almonds.
In Xie Yanlai’s mind flashed the almond shells on the small table in front of that girl in the palace—
“Mine! Don’t touch it! Bring it here—” he heard himself shout.
The maids weren’t as obedient as before: “Young Master, we’ve kept it safe for you. After you finish bathing—”
“No!” Xie Yanlai rushed out, ignoring the maids’ deliberate squeals and laughter, snatched the sachet, and rushed back to the bathroom.
The tragedy of having his snacks stolen by that little Ding years ago couldn’t happen again!
…
…
Deep into the night, with all the maids withdrawn, Xie Yanlai lay clean in his soft bed but couldn’t fall asleep.
Yet he could easily fall asleep sitting on a footstool or leaning against a couch.
Thinking of this made him frustrated—how had he fallen asleep again? And after barely exchanging a few words.
Xie Yanlai pounded the bed once, finding an excuse: since Xie Yanfang was there, he didn’t need to say much anyway, so he might as well sleep.
Xie Yanlai picked up an almond and popped it into his mouth, crunching loudly.
She could talk and laugh, and even had the mood to shell almonds for him. She was doing well.
Having come back to see her, even if it meant being manipulated and confined to the deep residence for who knows how many days, he was now at ease.
…
…
That night, many slept well, while many others didn’t sleep at all. When the first light of dawn appeared, the doors to the hall where the Imperial Tutor resided finally opened.
The palace lamps that had flickered all night now seemed weak and tired. The officials all had red eyes, though their spirits remained excited.
“Although we can’t verify everything immediately, from what we’ve confirmed so far, the backgrounds and relationships of the people listed in the book sent by the Liang father and son are accurate,” one official said happily, then gnashed his teeth in hatred. “These military officers, taking advantage of the remoteness of the border, have formed cliques and engaged in private dealings, almost turning the military camp into their domain.”
Deng Yi showed no anger upon hearing this; he even smiled slightly: “Soldiers treating the military camp as home is usually considered praiseworthy.”
“That’s meant to encourage them to defend Great Xia with their whole hearts,” another official sighed. “Not to let them seize achievements and power, allowing one person’s success to elevate all their relatives.”
“No need to be so indignant,” Deng Yi said calmly. “Military power has always been of paramount importance. When the Crown Prince and Third Prince were alive, didn’t their subordinates also scheme in the military? Before, we only knew who belonged to whom on the surface, and who interfered in which matters. Now, beyond the surface level, we understand clearly about those deputy generals, assistant generals, and even colonel-level officers.”
He glanced at the document in his hand.
“Compared to the high-ranking generals on the surface, these people are the key. The major generals come and go in rotation, but these lower-level officials entrench themselves in the border regions, making their territories as impenetrable as iron buckets.”
“Now that we know the relationships between them, when we look at the border army, everything is clear and bright before our eyes. In the future, they won’t be able to conceal achievements or falsify reports,” an official said happily.
“We can also maneuver the military more effectively,” another official added.
This was the most crucial point. Breaking bones means severing tendons; only by knowing where the tendons lie beneath skin and flesh can one completely disable arms and legs.
Especially the arms and legs of the Xie clan.
It was truly unexpected that the Xie family had infiltrated so extensively without anyone noticing.
“However,” another official said with a solemn expression, “how could Liang Ji uncover these secret relationships so thoroughly?”
The Liang father and son had been at the border army for less than three years, hadn’t they?
“Who helped them?”
“The Liang father and son must have had assistance to join the army.”
“What background does that person have?”
“Nothing special, we haven’t investigated thoroughly yet.”
Deng Yi interrupted everyone’s speculation.
“I don’t care who’s behind him or what circumstances allowed him to uncover these things,” he said. “This information is reliable and useful to us, and he is willing to serve me. So I will trust him and use him. It’s that simple.”
The officials were speaking inside the room when they saw the door open, and a minor official entered with tea. He then said to Deng Yi: “Yesterday, the Empress came twice.”
Deng Yi frowned slightly. Though that girl liked to act on her initiative, she had been conscientiously serving as Empress for over a year, showing great respect to him as Imperial Tutor, earnestly learning and listening about state affairs without speaking a word more than necessary.
Except for attending court, she spent the rest of her time in the rear palace teaching the young Emperor.
Why had she suddenly come looking for him yesterday, and twice at that?
Hmm, yesterday, Xie Yanlai returned.
“Imperial Tutor, would you like to see the Empress before court to hear what she has to say?” the minor official asked.
Deng Yi shook his head: “Let’s wait until after court.”
There was no rush.