Chu Zhao hadn’t expected she would lift the curtain and walk out in the court hall.

She knew that historically, there were almost no empresses who could attend court. She sat in the court hall only because she accompanied the Emperor.

Even the Emperor had no right to speak—she, sitting behind the Emperor, even less so.

This was overstepping boundaries.

She looked at Deng Yi. She could clearly see that in an instant, Deng Yi’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

But how could she not speak?

She had personally saved Xiao Yu, personally demanded the position of Empress from the Late Emperor, personally witnessed Xiao Xun and his son trapped, personally bid farewell to her father. Bit by bit, she had stripped away the nightmare of that previous life. Several years had passed, and only now had her anxious heart settled down. Who would have thought that sitting in the court hall, she would hear again the words she had heard in that previous life?

In that 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, extremely brave. Even after being struck in the arm, he didn’t retreat but led his troops to completely annihilate the ambushing army.”

She had been very happy too—not, of course, because she shared in the glory, but because Xiao Xun was happy. So she happily continued the topic, even asking who this person was: “If he’s so brave and Your Majesty is short of people, he should be given important appointment.”

“Important appointment, of course important appointment.” Xiao Xun had said to her, even reaching out to pinch her cheek, his eyes smiling into crescents, his dimples deep. “This person is Liang Qiang. I will appoint him as General of the Guard. I hope he can uphold your father’s prestige. You should ask General Zhong to look after him more. The border commandery is unstable now with the traitor Xie in rebellion, and General Zhong is also divided in his attention.”

At that time, two beauties had just entered the palace. Xiao Xun said they were daughters of aristocratic families, and with the state unstable, he needed to appease the aristocratic families—he had accepted them helplessly. Though it was helpless, with new people entering the palace, Xiao Xun couldn’t possibly neglect them. The Xiao Xun who had once belonged only to her had been divided away. She hadn’t been able to see Xiao Xun’s smiling face for four or five days.

She had been intoxicated by that smiling face and nodded. “I’ll tell Uncle Zhong right away. With help, Uncle Zhong can also relax a bit.”

Relax—yes, he relaxed, and in the end relaxed his way into death.

In this life, Xiao Xun hadn’t become Emperor. The Xie family hadn’t rebelled. Why was she still hearing these same 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 presume to discuss court affairs!”

The officials in the hall also came to their senses. A buzzing discussion arose, and they looked at Chu Zhao with expressions of shock and suspicion. Xiao Yu also stood up at the same time. Though he didn’t know what to say, he stood beside Chu Zhao.

Since she had already spoken, she couldn’t retreat. Chu Zhao said, “Grand Tutor, this palace is not presuming to discuss court affairs—I’m discussing the border army. This palace is qualified to discuss the border army.”

Yes, this Empress was different from past empresses. Empress Chu had led the border army against Xi Liang. When the commander Chu Ling died, it was Empress Chu who took over military authority. Though due to her status she wasn’t counted as the border army’s commander, the border army from top to bottom still treated her as their commander.

“We all understand Your Majesty’s feelings,” one official took the initiative to say, wanting to resolve the standoff between the Grand Tutor and the Empress. “This matter is of great importance—”

“Precisely because this matter is of great importance, this palace had no choice but to speak.” Chu Zhao interrupted him. “Grand Tutor, please hear my words. At a time like this, military appointments are truly inappropriate. We should be cautious.”

Deng Yi looked at her. “I wonder which caution Your Majesty speaks of? The earlier request to appoint Xie Yanlai as General of the Guard, or this minister’s proposal of Liang Qiang as General of the Guard?”

These words caused low discussions to rise again in the hall, and the gazes toward the Empress became complex.

When the Ministry of War had earlier requested the appointment of Xie Yanlai as General of the Guard, the Empress hadn’t come out to oppose it—not until the Grand Tutor said Liang Qiang should be appointed General of the Guard—

Did this mean the Empress favored appointing Xie Yanlai as general?

This wasn’t surprising. The Empress would have to call Xie Yanlai “Uncle.” He was family, after all.

Chu Zhao sighed inwardly. She couldn’t blame Deng Yi for immediately challenging her. She had suddenly appeared in the court hall without warning to speak, and what she said opposed him—it was indeed a challenge to him.

“The position of General of the Guard is of great importance. Both require caution,” she said, looking at Deng Yi. “If we say Xie Yanlai lacks private virtue, Liang Qiang is also not flawless and unblemished.”

Deng Yi nodded. “Yes, I was just saying this to Minister Dong.” He looked into the hall. “Liang Qiang’s birth is indeed poor. He joined the military as a criminal conscript.”

Officials beside Minister Dong had already quietly told him about Liang Qiang’s circumstances. Minister Dong’s expression grew uncertain. If it was like this, he truly had misunderstood Deng Yi. He made a gesture of respect to Deng Yi. “This official was presumptuous.”

“But this Grand Tutor still wishes to appoint him as General of the Guard. So I too don’t judge by birth and have no private motives,” Deng Yi continued, responding to the earlier questioning from court officials. When he spoke the last sentence, his gaze turned to Chu Zhao, his eyes carrying a warning.

He was warning her not to have private motives. Chu Zhao’s mouth twitched. She suppressed words that wouldn’t sound very good. If she spoke them, it would truly hurt the harmony between her and Deng Yi.

But though she didn’t speak, didn’t want to hurt the harmony, that didn’t mean others didn’t want to. A scoffing sound rang out in the hall.

“Minister Dong, don’t be too quick to say you were presumptuous,” an official said with clasped hands and a half-smile. “The Grand Tutor doesn’t judge Liang Qiang by his birth, but that doesn’t mean he has no private motives. It’s just that these private motives aren’t about Liang Qiang—they’re about Colonel… Xie.”

He separated and drew out the words “Xie” and “Colonel.”

Everyone in the hall instantly understood the implication and discussions buzzed again. Most people knew about the old matter concerning Minister Liang back then, though some didn’t—after experiencing the chaos of the princes, the Late Emperor’s death, the new Grand Tutor supervising the state, Xie Yanfang entering court, and several rounds of purges replacing old people with new.

For a moment, those who knew discussed it, those who didn’t inquired, including Minister Dong who was uninformed and was pulled aside to be told.

In short, the Xie family and the Liang family had a feud. The Grand Tutor was at odds with the Xie family. Naturally, the Grand Tutor would suppress the Xie family’s rewards and happily reward the Liang family.

The hall became noisy and chaotic, mixed with officials’ cold laughter.

“Yesterday, it’s said Liang Qiang paid a visit, and the Grand Tutor specially returned home to meet him.”

“I wonder how many more carts entered the Grand Tutor’s residence yesterday?”

“Stop talking nonsense. Did you perhaps also go to the Grand Tutor’s residence? Otherwise, how would you know so clearly?”

The court hall descended into chaos. The discussions turned into quarreling, growing fiercer and fiercer—

“Silence!” A female voice reprimanded.

At the same time, a child’s voice also rang out. “Silence!”

The censors, accustomed to seeing disorder, were sharp-eared and sharp-eyed, noticing immediately that the Empress and Emperor had spoken. Though the Emperor almost never opened his mouth, he was after all the master of this court hall. Once he spoke—

“Silence!” “No disturbances!” The censors shouted reprimands one after another. The guards on both sides struck their weapons, calling out in unison. For a moment, the court hall was like a wild wind sweeping through, quickly carrying away the clamor and restoring quiet. All gazes converged on the front—though they weren’t looking at the Grand Tutor but at that girl and the young Emperor beside her.

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

The court officials didn’t move. Their gazes also shifted from her to Deng Yi. Whether the court session ended or not had always been for the Grand Tutor to decide.

As for the Empress—

Deng Yi looked at Chu Zhao and asked, “Is Your Majesty certain you want to dismiss court this way? The matter hasn’t been fully discussed yet.”

Chu Zhao said, “This palace has said this matter requires caution. Everyone should investigate and verify carefully before discussing it again. Quarreling like this now won’t produce results—it will only hurt harmony.”

Her last sentence was directed at Deng Yi, her eyes carrying some entreaty.

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

However, after saying this, he turned his head.

“Court is dismissed.”

……

……

The officials surged out of the great hall like a tide, churning and scattering before the hall.

The weariness that usually followed court sessions was nowhere to be seen. The officials either had deeply sunken brows and eyes, or flashing gazes, some walking quickly, others pacing slowly in thought.

Though today’s court session had been very short, it was unprecedentedly shocking.

“The appointment of General of the Guard isn’t really such a major matter.”

“Nonsense. Who cares about that? Never mind General of the Guard—even a Great General’s appointment wouldn’t matter much.”

“It’s the Empress speaking.”

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

Accompanied by discussions, the news also spread beyond the imperial city.

Chu Zhao didn’t care what controversies arose in the outside world. After court was dismissed, she had Xiao Yu return to his lessons first while she went to find Deng Yi.

Deng Yi, surrounded by several trusted officials, was walking toward the Grand Tutor’s hall.

“Grand Tutor,” Chu Zhao called from behind.

Deng Yi stopped and turned to look at Chu Zhao hurrying toward him.

“Grand Tutor, this palace has words to say to you,” Chu Zhao said. Having spoken, she stepped past Deng Yi and entered the hall first. “Others, wait a moment.”

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

Deng Yi waved his hand at them and walked into the hall himself. The officials were still hesitating whether to step back when the palace maid who had followed the Empress in slammed the door shut. Two guards also stood by the door, their gazes heavy as they looked at them.

The officials hurried to retreat.

“Grand Tutor,” Chu Zhao said immediately upon entering. “Listen to my explanation. This matter—”

Deng Yi raised his hand to interrupt her. “Your Majesty, you listen to me first. No matter what you say, there’s one matter I must ask your forgiveness—I cannot change it.”

Chu Zhao paused, frowning helplessly. “Grand Tutor, why must you do this? I know you don’t like the Xie family, but Liang Qiang is also not suitable—”

Deng Yi said, “Earlier in the court hall when I selected Liang Qiang, it was because I dislike the Xie family. But now I select him because of the Empress.”

What did he mean? Chu Zhao frowned.

“Empress, you spoke in opposition in the hall. So if Liang Qiang cannot be appointed General of the Guard—” Deng Yi looked at Chu Zhao. Because the door was closed, the hall was somewhat dim, making his features appear uncertain in light and shadow. “Then in this Da Xia, is it this Grand Tutor who supervises the state, or is it you, Empress, who supervises the state?”