When Deng Yi arrived at the Emperor’s study, Chu Zhao was discussing court matters with Xiao Yu.

Who had spoken today, and what matters they had addressed.

Whether the approaches they discussed were correct or not—

“This I don’t know either,” Chu Zhao smiled as she said this.

The child sitting behind the desk looked somewhat at a loss, not because he didn’t understand, but because he didn’t know how to comfort Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao paid no attention to what the child was thinking and looked at Deng Yi as he entered.

“It’s all right, the Imperial Tutor is here,” Chu Zhao smiled. “Let the Imperial Tutor tell us, then we’ll know.”

Deng Yi stood and bowed: “Greetings to Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress.”

Xiao Yu nodded and asked him to rise. After Xiao Yu finished speaking, Chu Zhao then instructed him to be seated.

Eunuch Qi personally brought over a round stool.

Deng Yi sat down without ceremony and looked at the documents on the desk. The proceedings of the court session had been recorded. He said: “I can’t say whether this matter is right or wrong either, because it’s all just talk. We’ll only know once it’s implemented. In about half a month, we should be able to give Your Majesty feedback.”

Xiao Yu hesitated, looking at Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao said to him: “If A-Yu wants to say something, go ahead. You can say anything in front of the Imperial Tutor.”

Xiao Yu then looked at Deng Yi and curiously asked: “What if it’s wrong?”

Deng Yi said: “Then we’ll punish the officials and compensate the people.”

Xiao Yu made a sound of acknowledgment, mumbling: “Then there will still be losses.”

Deng Yi said, “Your Majesty shouldn’t worry about making mistakes. There’s no such thing as absolute certainty in this world.”

Indeed, Xiao Yu understood this point. Just like the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, despite having so many guards as the pride of heaven, they still died unexpectedly. He fell silent.

“However, the court will make preparations to deal with contingencies and will try to avoid bad outcomes,” Deng Yi added, rising to bow. “Please rest assured, Your Majesty, we officials will do our utmost to protect Your Majesty’s subjects.”

Xiao Yu glanced at Chu Zhao, who signaled for him to stand.

Xiao Yu then got up from behind the desk, walked to Deng Yi, and helped him up with his small hands, his childish voice saying: “With the Imperial Tutor here, I have nothing to worry about.”

Deng Yi thanked him again for the grace and stood upright.

Chu Zhao smiled: “Good, we’ve finished discussing court matters. A-Yu, it’s time for your lessons.”

As Emperor, he needed to familiarize himself with court affairs; as a six-year-old child, reading was even more important.

Xiao Yu couldn’t neglect either.

Deng Yi bowed and withdrew, Eunuch Qi went to summon the waiting teachers, and Chu Zhao instructed Xiao Yu to study well before following Deng Yi out.

“What did you say to the Third Young Master of the Xie family?” Deng Yi stopped, letting Chu Zhao walk ahead before catching up to ask.

Chu Zhao smiled: “Naturally, it was for His Majesty’s sake.”

Deng Yi looked at her. After court, the girl had already changed out of her empress ceremonial robes and was wearing a simple dress that made her look somewhat childlike.

But from the first day he met this girl, he knew that childishness had nothing to do with her.

Before the Emperor’s first court session, she had summoned him, saying she had something to discuss.

……

……

When Deng Yi arrived, Chu Zhao was eating. Seeing him, she smiled with sparkling eyes.

“A-Le, A-Le,” she said. “Quickly bring bowl and chopsticks for the Imperial Tutor.”

That familiar maid also happily brought a bowl and chopsticks.

“Lord Deng,” she also said, “taste this quickly. The food from the imperial kitchen is much better than the Yaquige restaurant.”

Deng Yi couldn’t help but smile. These words were so rustic, comparing outside food to imperial cuisine. However, he glanced around and saw that the palace maids standing in the hall all had calm expressions, with no hint of mockery, as if they hadn’t heard anything.

Chu Zhao and her maid, along with another stern-faced, fierce-looking girl, carried an air completely foreign to the palace, yet strangely, they didn’t seem out of place. Instead, they were unconstrained and at ease.

She was the mistress of the palace.

Deng Yi didn’t decline. He sat down, took the bowl and chopsticks, ate a few bites, and said: “The imperial cuisine in the inner palace is better than that of the outer palace.”

As regent, Deng Yi had consecutively presided over the funerals of the late Emperor, the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, and others, practically living in the outer palace, with his meals taken there as well.

Hearing him say this, Chu Zhao smiled: “These people dare to neglect the Imperial Tutor!”

Deng Yi said: “It’s not just me they neglect. All court officials are treated the same.”

The food supplied by the imperial kitchen to officials naturally couldn’t compare with that of the inner palace.

Chu Zhao smiled and, without saying, she would investigate the imperial kitchen, turned to A-Le and said: “From now on, the Imperial Tutor’s meals will be sent from our quarters.”

A-Le acknowledged.

There was a distinction between inner and outer court; officials couldn’t partake of the Emperor’s food, but trusted ministers could be granted the Emperor’s imperial cuisine.

Distinction wasn’t a bad thing; it was protocol, as well as a sign of favor and face.

Was this girl born to be royalty? At such a young age, she understood everything. Deng Yi was somewhat curious: how had Chu Wei raised his daughter? Surely not as an empress from birth.

He didn’t decline, expressed his thanks, and without further pleasantries, asked directly: “What instructions does Your Highness have for summoning me?”

Chu Zhao said: “It’s about His Majesty attending court.”

After saying this, she signaled to A-Le, and A-Le led the palace maids out. Xiao Man remained standing motionless, ignoring even A-Le’s meaningful looks. A-Le didn’t insist.

Deng Yi didn’t mind whether there was one more or one less person in the hall. He guessed that Chu Zhao had summoned him because she was concerned about the young Emperor’s first court appearance and wanted to remind him to take care of the Emperor.

“I—” he began.

But Chu Zhao spoke first: “Imperial Tutor, I wish to accompany His Majesty to court.”

Deng Yi was grateful that he had only tasted a few bites of food and had swallowed everything, otherwise, he might have spat it out.

She was indeed concerned about the young Emperor, but she wasn’t asking him to look after the Emperor—

This was quite a bold request.

“How many times does Your Majesty wish to accompany him?” he asked calmly.

For the coronation ceremony, one could say His Majesty was young, and you could accompany him. For his first day at court, one could say His Majesty was nervous, and you could accompany him. But surely he couldn’t be afraid every day? Even the most frightening things became familiar and less scary with time.

Chu Zhao smiled: “I wish to accompany him until His Majesty assumes personal rule.”

Deng Yi smiled and put down his chopsticks, saying: “Miss A-Zhao is becoming increasingly bold.”

What did it matter that she had become Empress? He, Deng Yi, still dared to call her Miss A-Zhao.

The identity of the Empress wasn’t inborn; it was bestowed by the Emperor. Since it was given by someone else, it could be taken away, could be revoked.

Chu Zhao showed no fear of Deng Yi’s attitude. What did it matter if he spoke disrespectfully to her? She had even seen Deng Yi slap the Emperor’s face.

“Imperial Tutor,” she called, not responding to his comment, reaching out to pick up some food for him. “Try this.”

What was this? Attentiveness? Deng Yi had a half-smile.

“Lord Deng,” Chu Zhao said, looking at Deng Yi with a frank expression. “I want to accompany His Majesty as he grows up. His closest relatives cannot be only the Xie family.”

The meaning of the latter statement, Deng Yi understood.

She was insisting on attending court because of the Xie family.

She wanted to compete with the Xie family for the young Emperor’s affection.

Indeed, she had risked her life to protect the young prince and fought her way into the imperial city, then demanded the position of Empress from the Emperor. Of course, it wasn’t to secure a relative, an Emperor, for the Xie family.

She had been looking out for herself from the beginning. Since she was looking out for herself, she wanted the Emperor to rely more on her. But she was a woman, and the Emperor ultimately belonged to the court. To be a good Emperor, he would need to rely on those who could support him in court, such as his uncle, who was both a relative and a court official.

Deng Yi reached out again to pick up the food Chu Zhao had offered.

Seeing his action, Chu Zhao hurriedly bowed: “Please help me, Imperial Tutor.”

She bowed, then looked up at him, her large eyes blinking.

Deng Yi looked at the food in his chopsticks: “Should I not be eating this meal?”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily, suddenly sitting upright and loudly calling to A-Le: “Tell the imperial kitchen to bring more dishes.”

Deng Yi didn’t eat any more food. Although he could call her Miss A-Zhao, the current Miss A-Zhao was no longer just Miss A-Zhao in identity.

“In this matter, Your Highness most needs to convince not me,” he said. “Between me and His Majesty, we are forever sovereign and subject. He is my sovereign, I am his subject—simple and clear. Having the Empress sit in court doesn’t matter to me.”

In his eyes, he recognized only the Emperor.

Even if she, as Empress, sat in court, she wasn’t his sovereign.

These words were extremely direct.

Chu Zhao showed no shame or anger, listening attentively.

“But for the Xie family, having the Empress sit beside the Emperor is very important,” Deng Yi said. “So you need to convince the Xie family.”

Chu Zhao bowed solemnly to him: “Thank you, Imperial Tutor, for teaching me.”

Deng Yi said lightly: “I can help you attend court, but I won’t help you convince the Xie family.”

The girl looked up with a smile: “Lord Deng has only eaten one meal with me, so of course you can’t help me with two things. This matter, I’ll handle myself.”

……

……

Deng Yi withdrew his gaze. She had indeed succeeded.

For His Majesty’s sake.

Of course, for His Majesty’s sake, Xie Yanfang would do anything.

Deng Yi didn’t ask further, bowed and withdrew, striding past her.

He didn’t care how she had convinced Xie Yanfang.

When she had previously asked for his help, she didn’t need it; she was just telling him that she didn’t trust Xie Yanfang.

Her distrust of Xie Yanfang—who benefited from that? Naturally, he did.

How could he, Deng Yi, not agree to something that benefited him?

Only—

Deng Yi stopped, looked back, and saw the girl still standing in front of the great hall, seemingly watching him leave, or perhaps surveying the imperial city.

Did she trust him?