Deng Yi’s word in court wasn’t absolute, since not everyone shared his intentions, like Xie Yanfang.

Even the officials who did align with him had their family backgrounds and positions, so they would consider their interests.

But none of this mattered. Court affairs were simply this way, and Deng Yi wasn’t one to obsess over a single thwarted matter.

But Chu Zhao was different.

Chu Zhao was the Empress, not among the court officials, but high above them. Especially with the Emperor being young, she accompanied the Emperor to court. For her to speak in court and to oppose the Imperial Tutor carried completely different significance.

Chu Zhao understood this principle and sighed.

“I regret that yesterday, even if it displeased the Imperial Tutor, I should have barged in to see you,” she said. “Then there wouldn’t have been this misunderstanding in court today.”

Deng Yi’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. “Since Your Majesty had already made up your mind, there is no difference between yesterday and today.”

Chu Zhao said: “Don’t be hasty. Let’s sit down and talk.” With that, she sat down first and poured tea. “Imperial Tutor, morning court is tiring. Have some tea first.”

Over the past year and more, they had their disputes, but disputes aside, they could always sit down and talk calmly.

Deng Yi didn’t speak but sat down and accepted the tea Chu Zhao offered.

“Let me first admit my interest. I did indeed want Xie Yanlai to receive a reward. He’s a good, brave, and battle-skilled talent,” Chu Zhao said, then shifted her tone. “But indeed, his conduct is not good.”

Deng Yi glanced at her.

“Rewarding him was for Uncle Zhong, Zhong Changrong.” Chu Zhao didn’t avoid Deng Yi’s gaze and continued. “He’s brave but lacks personal virtue, and he’s a member of the Xie family. Such a person is both useful and easy to control. Imperial Tutor, you know that Zhong Changrong can’t compare to my father’s reputation or his talents. I use my position as Empress to help him command the border army, but it’s not easy for him to maintain his position as commander.”

This was a fact that Deng Yi already knew. Being the commander of the border army was no easy task, and he had never approved of Chu Zhao’s choice.

But Chu Zhao had been unyielding.

Deng Yi also understood that this girl had turned the border army into her asset, risking her life to gain reputation, and would never let go.

Just like the Dragon Might Army that she still held in her grasp.

The Dragon Might Army itself was irregular—it was the private army created by the Late Emperor and Chu Wei. With both the Late Emperor and Chu Wei gone, the Dragon Might Army should have been disbanded, but not only did Chu Zhao refuse to disband it, she secretly expanded it.

“I’m not expanding the army, just replenishing it. With the constant troubles of these years, the Dragon Might Army left by the Late Emperor has been reduced by more than half. It was the Dragon Might Army that protected His Majesty. Now, with the Western Liang King eyeing us covetously and the Zhongshan King harboring ill intentions, before His Majesty grows up, it’s best to maintain them as they were during the Late Emperor’s time. The Late Emperor’s spirit in heaven would surely be at ease knowing this.”

Deng Yi merely listened to these words. To put it, wasn’t it just greed for power? She had risen to prominence with the Dragon Might Army; it was her backing and support.

Everyone has self-interest, especially those sitting in the imperial palace, and self-interest only grows stronger.

This was unavoidable, and Deng Yi didn’t demand perfection. Since she had been frank about her self-interest and plans for the border army, Deng Yi’s expression softened slightly. He sipped his tea and asked: “So, preventing Liang Qiang’s promotion is naturally also Your Majesty’s interest?”

That was indeed self-interest. Chu Zhao nodded.

Deng Yi said: “Your past incident with the Liang family was nothing significant; it was merely a pretext used by the Xie clan. The Liang family understands this clearly. Even if they didn’t, you’re now the Empress. If you showed them favor, how could they resent you? What they truly resent is the Xie clan.”

Deng Yi put down his teacup and tapped the table.

“If the Empress were acting out of self-interest, she should support the Liang family.”

This way, the Empress would gain another helper to restrain the Xie clan. Chu Zhao understood Deng Yi’s meaning and inwardly smiled bitterly. Her self-interest wasn’t that kind of self-interest; hers was something she couldn’t speak of.

“I understand,” she nodded with a sincere expression of having received instruction. “I’ll keep it in mind. But let’s drop this matter for now. The border conflict has reached a critical moment, and the troops are accustomed to their current arrangement. Let’s not make changes. After victory is secured, we can reward Liang Qiang and his father according to their merits. At that time, I’ll stand up to contradict the Imperial Tutor again—”

Here she smiled.

“I’ll contradict the Imperial Tutor for giving too little, and request three times the reward.”

In the past, when she made witty remarks, Deng Yi would smile, but this time he didn’t. He just looked at Chu Zhao with a calm expression.

“Changes are being made precisely for victory,” he said. “The Empress may not know that the commanders of the three passes surrounding Luocheng City are all the Xie clan’s men. Once Xie Yanlai is appointed, the entire western front will be in the Xie clan’s hands.”

Chu Zhao was startled. Indeed, she didn’t know this, but she smiled bitterly again—she couldn’t say she didn’t know.

She knew the Xie clan wasn’t simple. Though they appeared quiet, who were the Xie clan? In her previous life, when the Emperor didn’t act according to their wishes, they directly rebelled.

“When I rushed to the border province to see my father, before I met Lord Deng, I had already seen the letter Third Young Master Xie wrote to my father,” she said softly. “So one can imagine that even before the conflict, the Xie clan had already been establishing their presence in the border province. But—”

Chu Zhao looked at Deng Yi.

“Regardless, the situation is now stable, the border province is stable, and the border army is winning victory after victory. Imperial Tutor, if we just wait a little longer—”

Deng Yi set down his teacup heavily: “Empress, don’t be foolish. This matter cannot wait.”

He stood up.

“You grew up in the military with your father. You know very well what warfare means to military officers!”

“Although for the state and the people, war is a calamity, causing displacement and suffering, for soldiers and officers who make their living from war, it means opportunity and merit.”

“The court, you and I, and the people all hope to achieve victory quickly and end the war, but if you could see into the hearts of more than half the officials and officers in the border army, you would find they don’t look forward to this. They even hope the fighting lasts longer because this brings more merit, promotions, and wealth—”

Hearing this, Chu Zhao threw her teacup heavily onto the table, stood up, and shouted: “You’re talking nonsense!”

The sound was like a bursting firecracker in the hall. Xiao Man, who had been standing to the side, instantly tensed up, as if at the front lines of battle.

Outside the hall, the officials who had withdrawn to a distance also heard the sudden commotion—the raised male voice and the female rebuke.

They’re arguing!

The officials exchanged glances.

…

…

Deng Yi looked at the girl standing before him. Her brows and eyes were filled with anger, a type of anger he had never seen before.

“I grew up in the military, so I’ve always known that civil officials often despise and slander military officers, with the greatest malice being that military officers love war and covet merit,” Chu Zhao said with furrowed brows, her eyes also showing grief. “But Imperial Tutor, how can you say such things?”

His words had indeed hurt her. Deng Yi slightly lowered his gaze and said, “Because I am a villain, I judge others with malice.”

“Soldiers risk their lives abroad to protect the country, living today and possibly dying tomorrow. Who doesn’t want to live? Who doesn’t want to end the war quickly?” Chu Zhao said through gritted teeth. “Their merits are exchanged with their lives, not with the malice you display standing in court.”

“I wasn’t referring to the soldiers,” Deng Yi said. “I was referring to certain officers. Officers and soldiers are different.”

Chu Zhao looked at him: “But in wartime, officers and soldiers are one body, difficult to separate. You can’t disrupt the entire war situation because of the self-interest of some officers, some people.”

Deng Yi looked at her: “Luocheng City’s defense can remain unchanged.”

Was this his compromise? Was it an apology for his earlier words? Chu Zhao looked at him and asked: “And then?”

Deng Yi said: “Liang Qiang must be rewarded, otherwise it will be difficult to convince people, and they will suspect the Empress of acting out of self-interest.”

Chu Zhao smiled and nodded: “Thank you, Imperial Tutor, for considering my situation.”

She had often been witty in her speech before, but this was the first time she had been sarcastic. Deng Yi looked at her expressionlessly.

Chu Zhao continued: “In that case, to prevent people from suspecting the Imperial Tutor of acting out of self-interest, Xie Yanlai must also be rewarded.”

Deng Yi coldly said: “This official will order someone to discuss it right away.”

Chu Zhao looked at him: “Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Tutor. I shall take my leave.” With that, she walked toward the exit.

Xiao Man hurriedly followed, reaching the door first to open it.

Chu Zhao strode out.

Deng Yi stood silently in the hall until the officials from outside cautiously entered, calling for the Imperial Tutor.

Deng Yi didn’t look at them. He glanced at the table where the girl had left her teacup tipped over, tea spilled everywhere.

“Clean this up,” he said.

…

…

News of the Empress suddenly speaking in court, and the Imperial Tutor and Empress arguing in the hall afterward—overturning tables, breaking teacups and vases, reportedly leaving the room in disarray, with some even exaggerating that the Imperial Tutor and Empress had come to blows—flew out like the wind.

Of course, the common people still knew nothing of court affairs, but discussions echoed in the deep residences of noble families.

Xie Yanfang, sitting before a chess board, smiled and said: “At this moment, I should immediately submit a memorial refusing the appointment for you, declaring that our Xie Yanlai only cares for the country and people, that his virtue and talent are shallow. This would establish our Xie clan’s reputation for modesty.”

Sitting on the pavilion railing with his legs almost touching the water, Xie Yanlai snorted at the fish in the pond.

“But,” Xie Yanfang continued, placing a chess piece, his eyes without a smile, “why should we be modest and yield? Is it because you are surnamed Xie that you cannot be rewarded, while Liang Qiang, because he is surnamed Liang, must be rewarded? How absurd—”

“Enough,” Xie Yanlai turned his head, interrupting him coldly. “Just tell me directly what I should do.”

Xie Yanfang looked at him and said: “Go make a fuss, go demand, let everyone know that it is you, it is our Xie clan, forcing the Empress.”

Xie Yanlai lifted his long legs, turning around to land on his feet, and strode away.