Hearing laughter from the hall, Xiao Yu stopped in his tracks, then turned around and returned to the study.

Today’s instructor was an official from the Ministry of Rites who was speaking with Xie Yanfang. Seeing Xiao Yu suddenly return, both looked over at him.

Xiao Yu sat back down at his desk without a word. The official from the Ministry of Rites, knowing the young Emperor was quiet by nature, didn’t dare ask questions and hurriedly bowed and excused himself.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Yanfang asked, pointing at the book in Xiao Yu’s hand. “Didn’t you say you wanted to show Sister Chu your essay?”

Xiao Yu said, “Sister is talking with Uncle Yanlai.”

Xie Yanfang responded with an “Oh.” So after getting out of prison, he came here first instead of going home.

“Your Uncle Yanlai is about to return to the border army. He’s come to say goodbye to the Empress and you,” he said. “No need to avoid them.”

Xiao Yu nodded: “I know, but—” He sighed lightly. “Sister has been unhappy these past few days. It’s rare for her to talk happily with Uncle, so let her enjoy it a little longer.”

He looked at the paper in front of him. Being a good child, writing good characters, and reading well couldn’t solve Sister Chu’s worries or prevent her from being bullied by the Grand Tutor.

He was the Emperor, but he didn’t have the imperial seal.

“In a few more years, I’ll take back the imperial seal and rule personally. Then Sister can do whatever she wants, and no one will dare to interfere.”

As he said this, he glanced at Xie Yanfang, nodding with both intimacy and determination.

“By then, Uncle won’t need to be cautious either and can speak freely.”

Xie Yanfang couldn’t help but smile. Looking at the child’s sincere face, he felt embarrassed to suspect the little one was criticizing him for not defending Empress Chu in court.

“Does A-Yu think the Grand Tutor is bullying Sister Chu?” he asked, sitting down across from him.

Xiao Yu looked surprised: “Doesn’t Uncle think so?”

Xie Yanfang couldn’t help but smile. This child was always nakedly deliberate in playing mind games with him—the kind where “I know you’ll see through it, but I want you to see through it anyway.”

He stopped smiling and shook his head: “I don’t think so. In court, this is very normal. Hasn’t A-Yu seen arguments in court before?”

Xie Yanfang had been away from the capital for half a year, and even when in the capital, he could take five days off out of ten, but Xiao Yu was different. Unless he was sick, he couldn’t rest.

Of course, he knew that in court there was a major argument every five days and a minor one every three days, but it didn’t matter to him. What was even more amusing was that during heated arguments, some officials would weep bitterly before him, crying that they wanted to join the late Emperor.

Then go ahead, he thought. Why cry about it? Just bash your head and die right there in court.

He sat upright on the dragon throne, looking down at these officials arguing, and didn’t find it noisy. He wasn’t scared even when they threatened death.

What was there to fear about death? He had seen countless people die before his eyes, seen soldiers with severed limbs on the battlefield, seen the ground soaked through with blood.

His parents could die, and he had nearly been killed several times. What difference would it make if these court officials died?

Death was just death.

But while it didn’t matter how the officials argued among themselves, it was different when they argued with Sister Chu.

Xiao Yu looked at the young master sitting across from him and shook his head: “Uncle, Sister Chu is the sovereign. In their eyes, there is no sovereign—that is defiance.”

Defiance deserved death, but he couldn’t make them die.

Xie Yanfang saw the irritation rising in the child’s eyes and reached out to tap the table, his slender fingers producing a clear rhythm on the surface.

“There is a distinction between ruler and subject,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean the Emperor can be omnipotent and do whatever he wants, nor does it mean subjects must obey everything the Emperor says. That’s why we have the saying ‘remonstrance is heeded,’ and ‘the Emperor’s benevolence extends to the people’—”

Xiao Yu interrupted with an “Oh”: “I know, the teacher has explained this before. But if it weren’t for the imperial seal, I wonder if the Grand Tutor would dare to offend her. I believe that Sister personally leading troops into battle is a better and more correct decision than the Grand Tutor’s.”

You explain grand principles to him, and he asks about personal feelings. This child who became Emperor was indeed extraordinary. Xie Yanfang smiled with satisfaction and said: “Since you ask this, I’ll tell you something treasonous—”

He paused and looked around the room.

Court Eunuch Qi noticed and came forward to pour tea, saying with a smile: “Third Young Master, set aside your position as Vice Censor-in-Chief and speak freely with His Majesty as uncle and nephew. This old servant will guard the door and ensure no one overhears.”

With that, he retreated to the doorway and had the palace maids and eunuchs standing outside move further away, while he remained inside, facing outward.

This old servant only withdrew when Xiao Yu and Chu Zhao were alone together; at all other times, he remained by Xiao Yu’s side.

Xie Yanfang turned his gaze back.

“Between ruler and subject, regardless of right or wrong, it’s a game. To put it simply, each takes what they need. Subjects eat the ruler’s food and serve the ruler, while the ruler needs subjects to govern the realm. Neither can do without the other, but each has its private interests. So, A-Yu, this is just the beginning. There will be many more situations like this in the future, especially after you get the imperial seal. It doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want—”

He leaned slightly closer to the child.

“At that time, all the civil and military officials won’t argue with each other anymore, but will target you and your Sister Chu. They will argue, try to win, and suppress you.”

Xiao Yu’s face turned slightly pale. Holding his book, he said: “I’m not afraid. I am the Emperor.”

Xie Yanfang smiled and reached out to hold the child’s hand, saying softly: “Of course you don’t need to be afraid. You are the Emperor, but you shouldn’t argue with them.”

Xiao Yu was momentarily stunned, blinking his eyes, showing a child’s confusion.

“How can one person argue against so many?” Xie Yanfang smiled. “No matter how clever our A-Yu is, how can one person’s mind keep up with so many? I mentioned earlier about eating the ruler’s food and serving the ruler—all the civil and military officials throughout the realm can be used by you. What you need to do is let others argue for you. Don’t do things yourself; let others do them.”

Xiao Yu was dumbfounded: “How can I make them follow my will?”

Xie Yanfang said: “By not letting them know your will.”

Xiao Yu was even more bewildered. Then—

“If they don’t know your will, they don’t know what you want to do, and naturally can’t argue with you,” Xie Yanfang smiled, his finger turning on the table. “Then you can act according to your own will and make them argue according to your will.”

Xiao Yu stared at him. In his heart, he seemed to understand, yet something was still missing. He kept his eyes fixed on Xie Yanfang, as if just one more word would enlighten him, but Xie Yanfang changed the subject.

“You’re still too young. You can’t understand these things yet,” he said.

Xiao Yu’s eyes instantly revealed undisguised anger: “You’ve told me, and I’ll think about it myself. Whether I understand or not, I know.”

This undisguised irritation was his true nature. Xie Yanfang seemed not to notice, neither alarmed nor soothing, merely shaking his head: “I know A-Yu is very clever, but children and adults are still different. You think you understand, but you’ve only half-grasped it, seeming to understand without truly understanding. That’s useless to you and will only confuse your mind. Don’t rush these things. Just quietly observe the court, and I, your uncle, will tell you bit by bit, letting you learn through experience. Only then will you truly understand, just like—”

He raised his hand to stroke Xiao Yu’s cheek.

“When I took you to the battlefield to face the traitor Xiao Xun. With me by your side, you don’t need to be afraid.”

Xiao Yu looked at the young master before him. His hand was warm and gentle, his eyes like spring water—just like his mother. He was already starting to forget what his mother looked like.

In his daze, Xie Yanfang withdrew his hand, sat up straight, and smiled.

“However, there is one thing Your Majesty can practice right now.”

Xiao Yu quickly asked: “What is it?”

Xie Yanfang said: “Don’t be angry with the Grand Tutor.”

Xiao Yu exclaimed, furrowing his brows: “He bullies Sister—”

“I mean, don’t let people discover that you’re angry with the Grand Tutor,” Xie Yanfang smiled. “If they know, they’ll come to argue with you. That way, not only will you fail to help your Sister Chu, but Sister Chu will also have to worry about you.”

Xiao Yu pondered thoughtfully: “If they don’t know I’m angry with the Grand Tutor, they won’t focus on me.”

“Then you can watch them argue among themselves,” Xie Yanfang said. “In court, there are countless things to argue about, and no one can have everything go their way. The Grand Tutor is no exception.”

This time, Xiao Yu nodded solemnly: “I think I understand.”

“It’s really about not letting people guess your thoughts,” Xie Yanfang said. “The Emperor’s heart should be unfathomable and impossible to gauge. Don’t let those you dislike know it, and don’t let those you like know it either. This way, no one can use your thoughts and preferences to manipulate you. Thus, sitting in court, you can control and command all under heaven.”

Xiao Yu nodded again, stood up, and took Xie Yanfang’s hand, saying: “Thank you for your guidance, Uncle.”

Ah, after all his effort and speaking from the heart, the child finally showed genuine enthusiasm. Truly born with an imperial heart, and he would sculpt this imperial heart into the shape that satisfied him most.

Xie Yanfang smiled and gently pushed him: “Go now. Let Sister Chu see your essay. When you’re happy, Sister Chu will be happy too.”

This time, Xiao Yu obediently took his book and went off happily. Xie Yanfang didn’t follow but stood outside the hall, listening to the laughter coming from Chu Zhao’s study.

Xiao Yu’s laughter, Chu Zhao’s laughter, and Xie Yanlai’s grunts.

“I can’t read. Your Majesty doesn’t need to show me. I wouldn’t understand anyway.”

“Your Majesty is so young and writes so well. Aren’t you ashamed that you can’t read at your age? What are you so proud of?”

“Though Uncle can’t read, he can kill enemies. He should be proud.”

“Your Majesty is wise. When the time comes that Your Majesty can make decisions with your golden words, grant me titles and rich rewards.”

“Don’t corrupt the child.”

“His Majesty is so wise, what could I possibly teach him?”

The three inside the hall bantered back and forth merrily. Standing outside the hall, Xie Yanfang also smiled slightly. See, he hadn’t interrupted Sister Chu’s happiness after all.

So there was no need to overthink. How could an Emperor be troubled by others’ emotions?

Xie Yanfang turned away and walked out. As he left the inner palace, he couldn’t help but look back, as if he could still hear the laughter from the hall.

Being troubled by others’ emotions, was it, perhaps, also a joy?

…

…

After a night, this thought still lingered in Xie Yanfang’s mind.

Having received the honors on behalf of Xie Yanlai, Xie Yanfang took another leave from the morning court. While leisurely playing chess, he pondered and even asked Steward Cai about it, leaving the old servant utterly confused.

“What joy is there in that?” the old servant glared.

“I don’t know,” Xie Yanfang said, resting his chin on his hand while looking at the chessboard. “That’s why I’m curious.”

Steward Cai snorted and placed a chess piece: “Young Master, you’ve lost.”

Xie Yanfang sat up straight and exclaimed: “How did you notice this oversight?”

Steward Cai smiled: “Young Master is troubled by others’ emotions. Are you happy now?”

Xie Yanfang laughed heartily, then smiled gently, slowly nodding: “Indeed, I am a bit happy.”

Really? Steward Cai frowned: “Young Master, what are you thinking about? Have you been watching too much excitement these days and gotten bored?”

Xie Yanfang smiled: “How can there be too much excitement? Not too much, not too much.” As he spoke, he reset the chessboard.

Steward Cai began discussing serious matters.

“Xie Yanlai didn’t come back last night. He went drinking with people in the military camp. The host was Lin Kun, the youngest son of Lin Feng from the Military Bureau.”

Xie Yanfang responded with a “hmm” and placed a piece, unconcerned.

“Last night, the Grand Tutor’s mansion also held a banquet. Our newly promoted Guerrilla General Liang Qiang also attended.”

Xie Yanfang smiled and placed another piece: “As expected. From now on, he’s the Grand Tutor’s disciple.”

Steward Cai continued: “Yesterday’s banquet was like before, with spies watching inside and out, keeping track of everything from the guests who attended to what was eaten.”

Xie Yanfang made an affirmative sound.

“Besides us, there was another group also watching,” Steward Cai said. “Although these people concealed their movements, they didn’t hide their identities. This old servant saw their waist tokens with his own eyes—Dragon Guard Army.”

Xie Yanfang paused while holding a chess piece and looked at Steward Cai.

Steward Cai returned his gaze, smiled slightly, and said: “Also, during morning court today, the Empress still did not lower the curtain.”

Xie Yanfang tossed the chess piece aside. His calm expression, like still pond water, instantly rippled with waves. He laughed heartily.

Miss A-Zhao had courage and insight, troops and authority. How could she quietly sit behind a lowered curtain? How could she get along with everyone pleasantly?

If she did that, even as Empress, how would she be different from ordinary, mediocre people?

As Empress, Miss A-Zhao should be above all others, should be without heart, without emotion, without scruples.

Such an Empress A-Zhao—

Xie Yanfang looked at the chessboard before him, his eyes radiant: “Is the Empress I want?”

And more like him.