Chu Zhao hadn’t expected herself to lift the curtain and step out in court.

She knew that throughout history, almost no Empress had been allowed to attend court. She was only sitting in the court hall to accompany the Emperor.

Even the Emperor wasn’t qualified to speak; she, sitting behind the Emperor, was even less entitled.

This was overstepping boundaries.

She looked at Deng Yi and could see his face instantly darken like the bottom of a pot.

But how could she not speak out?

She had saved Xiao Yu with her own hands, requested the position of Empress from the Late Emperor with her mouth, personally witnessed Xiao Xun and his son being trapped, personally bid farewell to her father, and gradually peeled away the nightmare of her previous life. Years had passed, and she had just begun to set down her anxious heart, only to hear in court the same words she had heard in her previous life.

In her previous life, she had heard them in the rear palace.

Xiao Xun had returned from court, smiling as he told her, “There’s a rising talent in the border army, exceptionally brave. Even after being cut in the arm, he didn’t retreat, and managed to lead his troops to annihilate the ambushing forces.”

She had been pleased too, not because of shared glory, but because Xiao Xun was happy. So she had happily continued the topic, asking who this person was: “Since he is so brave, Your Majesty needs people. He should be employed in an important position.”

“Important position, of course, an important position.” Xiao Xun had told her, reaching out to pinch her cheek, his eyes smiling, dimples deep. “This man is Liang Qiang. I will appoint him as Wei General, hoping he can uphold your father’s reputation. Please ask General Zhong to take care of him. The border province is unstable now, with the traitor Xie in rebellion, and General Zhong is divided between two concerns.”

At that time, two new beauties had just entered the palace. Xiao Xun said they were daughters of noble families. With the nation unstable, he needed to appease these families and reluctantly accepted them. Despite his reluctance, Xiao Xun couldn’t neglect the newcomers. Xiao Xun, who had once belonged solely to her, was now shared, and she hadn’t seen his smiling face for four or five days.

Intoxicated by his smile, she had nodded: “I’ll tell Uncle Zhong right away. With help, Uncle Zhong can be more at ease.”

At ease? Yes, he was at ease—so at ease that he eventually died.

In this life, Xiao Xun hadn’t become Emperor, the Xie clan hadn’t rebelled—why was she still hearing these words?

Sitting behind the curtain, she felt as if struck by lightning. She had to speak out to stop this.

“Empress!” Deng Yi shouted, “How dare you interfere in court matters!”

The officials in the hall also came to their senses, with buzzing discussions rising as they looked at Chu Zhao with surprised and suspicious expressions. Xiao Yu also stood up at the same time. Though he didn’t know what to say, he stood beside Chu Zhao.

Having spoken out, she couldn’t retreat now. Chu Zhao said: “Imperial Tutor, I am not interfering in court matters rashly. I am discussing the border army, and I have the qualifications to discuss the border army.”

Indeed, this Empress was different from previous ones. Empress Chu had led the border army against Western Liang. When the commander Chu Wei died, she had taken over military authority. Though her status prevented her from being officially considered the border army commander, everyone in the army still regarded her as such.

“We understand Your Majesty’s intentions,” one official proactively said, trying to resolve the deadlock between the Imperial Tutor and the Empress. “This matter is of great importance—”

“Precisely because it is of great importance that I must speak,” Chu Zhao interrupted him. “Imperial Tutor, please hear me out. At this time, military personnel changes are truly inappropriate. We should be cautious.”

Deng Yi looked at her: “May I ask which caution Your Majesty is referring to? Is it the previous request to appoint Xie Yanlai as Wei General, or my suggestion of Liang Qiang as Wei General?”

This question caused the hall to again fill with low discussions, with officials looking at the Empress with complex expressions.

Earlier, when the Ministry of War had requested Xie Yanlai’s appointment as Wei General, the Empress hadn’t come out to oppose it. Only when the Imperial Tutor said Liang Qiang should be appointed as Wei General—

So the Empress favored Xie Yanlai’s appointment?

That wasn’t surprising; the Empress had to call Xie Yanlai “uncle”—he was family, after all.

Chu Zhao sighed inwardly. She couldn’t blame Deng Yi for his challenging words. She had appeared in court without warning, speaking in opposition to him—it was a challenge to his authority.

“The position of Wei General is of great importance; both appointments require caution,” she said, looking at Deng Yi. “If Xie Yanlai’s conduct is questionable, Liang Qiang is not flawless either.”

Deng Yi nodded: “Yes, I was just telling Official Dong.” He looked toward the hall. “Liang Qiang’s background is indeed not good; he enlisted as a criminal conscript.”

Officials near Official Dong had already quietly told him about Liang Qiang’s situation. Official Dong’s expression turned hesitant. If that was the case, he had truly misunderstood Deng Yi. He bowed to Deng Yi: “This official was hasty.”

“But this Imperial Tutor still wishes to appoint him as Wei General, so I too do not judge people by their background and have no personal bias,” Deng Yi continued, responding to the officials’ earlier questioning. As he said the final words, his gaze turned to Chu Zhao with a warning look.

He was warning her not to have a personal bias. Chu Zhao moved her lips, holding back words that wouldn’t have sounded pleasant. If she had spoken them, they would have truly damaged her rapport with Deng Yi.

But her restraint and desire to maintain harmony didn’t mean others shared the same intent. A snort was heard in the hall.

“Official Dong, don’t be so quick to admit hastiness,” an official said with a half-smile, his hands lowered. “The Imperial Tutor doesn’t consider Liang Qiang’s background, but that doesn’t mean he has no personal bias. It’s just that this bias isn’t toward Liang Qiang, but against Xie—Colonel.”

He deliberately separated and elongated the words “Xie” and “Colonel.”

Everyone in the hall instantly understood the implication, and discussions buzzed again. Most people knew about the old affairs of Liang Siqing, though some didn’t—having lived through the princes’ conflict, the Late Emperor’s death, the new Imperial Tutor’s regency, Xie Yanfang’s entry into court, and several rounds of purges replacing old officials with new ones.

Those who knew discussed, those who didn’t inquired, including Official Dong, who was unaware and was being informed by others pulling him aside to explain.

In short, the Xie clan and Liang clan had a feud, and the Imperial Tutor was at odds with the Xie clan. Naturally, the Imperial Tutor would suppress rewards for the Xie clan and be willing to bestow them on the Liang clan.

The hall was in chaos, interspersed with officials’ cold laughter.

“Yesterday, Liang Qiang reportedly visited, and the Imperial Tutor specially returned home to meet him.”

“I wonder how many carriages entered the Imperial Tutor’s residence yesterday?”

“Stop talking nonsense. Did you also go to the Imperial Tutor’s residence? How else would you know so clearly?”

The court was in complete disorder, with discussions turning into arguments, growing increasingly fierce—

“Silence!” a female voice commanded.

At the same time, a child’s voice echoed: “Silence!”

The censors, accustomed to chaos, were sharp-eyed and quick-eared. They immediately noticed the Empress and Emperor speaking. Though the Emperor rarely spoke, he was, after all, the master of this court. When he spoke—

“Silence!” “No clamoring!” The censors shouted, and the guards on both sides struck their weapons, calling out in unison. Like a fierce wind sweeping through the court hall, the chaos was quickly swept away, restored to quiet. All eyes focused forward, not on the Imperial Tutor, but on the girl and the young Emperor beside her.

Without waiting for anyone else to speak, Chu Zhao directly ordered: “Today’s court session ends here!”

The assembled officials didn’t move, shifting their gaze from her to Deng Yi. Whether the court ended or not had always been decided by the Imperial Tutor.

As for the Empress—

Deng Yi looked at Chu Zhao and asked: “Is Your Majesty certain about dismissing the court this way? The matter hasn’t been resolved.”

Chu Zhao said: “I’ve already said this matter requires caution. Everyone should examine and compare in detail before discussing further. This kind of arguing won’t produce results now; it will only damage harmony.”

The last words were directed at Deng Yi, her eyes showing some pleading.

Deng Yi looked at her and said: “Your Majesty worries too much. Having attended court for so long, you should know that there is no harmony in court, so there’s no such thing as damaging harmony.”

But after saying this, he turned his head.

“Court dismissed.”

…

…

The officials surged out of the great hall like a tide, scattering tumultuously outside.

The fatigue typically felt after court was nowhere to be seen. Some officials had deep, pensive expressions, others had flickering gazes; some walked quickly, others slowly and thoughtfully.

Today’s court session, though brief, was unprecedentedly shocking.

“The appointment of Wei General isn’t such a big matter.”

“Nonsense, who cares about that? Not just Wei General, even the appointment of a Great General wouldn’t be significant.”

“It’s that the Empress spoke up.”

“More precisely, it’s who the Empress spoke for.”

Along with these discussions, news spread beyond the imperial city.

Chu Zhao didn’t concern herself with whatever turmoil might occur outside. After the court was dismissed, she sent Xiao Yu back for his lessons while she went to find Deng Yi.

Deng Yi was being escorted by several trusted officials toward the Imperial Tutor’s hall.

“Imperial Tutor,” Chu Zhao called from behind.

Deng Yi stopped and turned to look at Chu Zhao as she hurried toward him.

“Imperial Tutor, I have something to discuss with you,” Chu Zhao said, then walked past Deng Yi into the hall. “The rest of you, please wait.”

The officials looked at each other, then at Deng Yi.

Deng Yi waved them away and entered the hall. The officials were hesitating whether to step back when the palace maid who had followed the Empress inside slammed the door shut. Two guards stood at the door, watching them with stern expressions.

The officials hurriedly backed away.

“Imperial Tutor,” Chu Zhao began as soon as they entered. “Let me explain, this matter—”

Deng Yi raised his hand to interrupt her: “Your Majesty, please listen to me first. No matter what you say, there is one thing I cannot change.”

Chu Zhao was startled, then frowned helplessly: “Imperial Tutor, why must you do this? I know you dislike the Xie clan, but Liang Qiang is also unsuitable—”

Deng Yi said: “I initially selected Liang Qiang in court because I dislike the Xie clan, but now I select him because of the Empress.”

What did he mean? Chu Zhao frowned.

“Empress, you spoke out in opposition in the hall. So if Liang Qiang cannot be appointed as Wei General—” Deng Yi looked at Chu Zhao. With the door closed, the hall was somewhat dim, making his features appear unstable in the light and shadow. “Then in Great Xia, is it this Imperial Tutor who serves as regent, or is it you, Empress, who serves as regent?”