Hearing the laughter from that side hall, Xiao Yu stopped in his tracks, then turned and walked back to the study.

Today’s lesson was taught by a Vice Minister from the Ministry of Rites, who was speaking with Xie Yanfang. Seeing Xiao Yu suddenly return, both looked over.

Xiao Yu said nothing and sat back down at his desk. The Vice Minister from the Ministry of Rites knew this young Emperor was taciturn and didn’t dare ask more questions, hastily bowing and taking his leave.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Yanfang asked, pointing at the text册 Xiao Yu was holding. “Weren’t you going to show Sister Chu the essay you wrote?”

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

Xie Yanfang said “oh,” so sure enough, 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 came to bid farewell to the Empress and you,” he said. “You don’t need to avoid them.”

Xiao Yu nodded. “I know, but—” He sighed lightly. “Sister hasn’t been happy these past two days. It’s rare for her to speak happily with Uncle, so let her be happy a while longer.”

He looked at the papers laid out before him. Writing characters well, studying books properly, being a good child—none of it could help Sister Chu resolve her troubles. He could only watch as Sister was bullied by the Grand Tutor.

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

“In a few more years, I’ll reclaim the imperial seal and rule personally. Then Sister can do whatever she wants, and no one will dare point fingers and give orders.”

Saying this, he glanced at Xie Yanfang and nodded intimately and firmly.

“Then Uncle won’t need to hold back either and can speak freely.”

Xie Yanfang couldn’t help but smile. Looking at the child’s sincere face, he felt it would be shameless to suspect this was the little one sarcastically criticizing him for not speaking up for Empress Chu in court.

“Does A’Yu think the Grand Tutor is bullying Sister Chu?” He sat down across from him and asked.

Xiao Yu’s expression showed surprise. “Does Uncle think he’s not?”

Xie Yanfang couldn’t suppress a smile. This child was always nakedly and deliberately scheming in front of him—the kind where “I know you’ll see through it, but I want you to see through it anyway.”

He put away his smile 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 hadn’t been in the capital for half a year, and even when he was in the capital, he could take leave from court five days out of ten. But Xiao Yu was different—unless he was ill, he couldn’t rest.

Of course he knew there was a major quarrel in court every five days and a minor one every three days, but to him it didn’t matter. What was even more laughable was that when the quarrels got heated, some officials would weep at him—crying about wanting to go accompany the late Emperor.

Then go—why just cry? Why not bash your head to death right there in the court hall?

He sat upright on the dragon throne overlooking these court officials quarreling, not finding it noisy. Seeing them threaten death didn’t frighten him either.

Death—what was there to fear about it? He had seen countless common people die before his eyes, seen soldiers’ severed limbs on the battlefield, seen the ground soaked through with blood.

His parents could die, and he himself had been nearly killed several times. So what if these court officials died?

Let them die then.

But no matter how the court officials quarreled or threatened death among themselves, it was different when they quarreled with Sister Chu.

Xiao Yu looked at the gentleman sitting across from him and shook his head. “Uncle, Sister Chu is the sovereign. If they have no respect for the sovereign in their eyes, that’s insubordination.”

Insubordination deserved death, but he had no way to make them die.

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

“There is indeed a distinction between sovereign and subject,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean the Emperor can be omnipotent and do whatever he pleases, nor does it mean subjects must listen to whatever the Emperor says. That’s why there must be remonstration and counsel, and imperial grace must flow down to the people—”

Xiao Yu said “oh” and interrupted him. “I know. My teacher has taught this. But if it weren’t for holding the imperial seal, I don’t know if the Grand Tutor would dare commit such insubordination. I believe Sister personally leading troops to war makes better and more correct decisions than the Grand Tutor’s.”

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

He paused here and looked around the room.

Seeing this, Eunuch Qi came forward to pour tea, smiling as he said, “Third Young Master, just put aside your identity as Vice Censor-in-Chief and speak freely with His Majesty as uncle and nephew. This old servant will guard at the door and guarantee no one will overhear.”

With that, he retreated to the doorway, making the palace maids and attendants standing outside move farther away, while he remained standing inside the room facing outward.

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

Xie Yanfang withdrew his gaze.

“Between sovereign and subject, it’s actually not about right or wrong. To put it bluntly, it’s a contest. To put it even more simply, it’s each taking what they need. Subjects eat the sovereign’s salary and serve the sovereign’s affairs; the sovereign needs subjects to govern the four quarters for him. Neither can do without the other, but each also has their own private interests. So, A’Yu, this is just the beginning. There will be many more such incidents in the future, especially after you obtain the imperial seal. It won’t be that you can do whatever you want as you please—”

He leaned forward slightly toward the child.

“At that time, the entire court of civil and military officials won’t be quarreling with each other anymore, but will turn their focus on you and your Sister Chu. They will want to quarrel, to win, to suppress—and their target will be you two.”

Xiao Yu’s face paled slightly. Gripping his text册, he said, “I’m not afraid. I am the Emperor.”

Xie Yanfang smiled and reached out to grasp the child’s hand, saying softly, “Of course you don’t need to be afraid. You are the Emperor. But you must not quarrel with them.”

Xiao Yu was stunned. He blinked, showing a child’s confusion.

“How can you alone out-quarrel so many people?” Xie Yanfang smiled. “No matter how clever our A’Yu is, how can one person’s mind outmaneuver so many people’s? I said before: eat the sovereign’s salary, serve the sovereign’s affairs. All the civil and military officials in court and all the officials throughout the realm can be used by you. What you need to do is make others quarrel for you. What you want to do shouldn’t be done by you yourself, but should be done by others.”

Xiao Yu stared blankly. “Then how do I make them act according to my wishes?”

Xie Yanfang said, “By not letting them know your wishes.”

Xiao Yu was even more stunned. Then—

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

Xiao Yu looked at him. In his heart he seemed to understand, yet seemed to fall just short. He stared intently at Xie Yanfang, as if waiting for just one more sentence to enlighten him completely, but Xie Yanfang changed the subject.

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

Xiao Yu’s eyes immediately showed undisguised anger. “You’ve said it. I’ll think about it myself. Whether I understand or not, I’ll know for myself.”

This unmasked irritation was his true nature. Xie Yanfang seemed not to notice, neither alarmed nor soothing, only shaking his head. “I know A’Yu is very clever, but children and adults are different after all. You think you understand, but actually you only have a superficial grasp, half-understanding. That’s of no use to you and will only confuse your mind. You mustn’t be impatient about these things. Just quietly observe the court. I, your uncle, will tell you bit by bit and let you experience it firsthand. Only then will you truly understand. Just like—”

He raised his hand and stroked Xiao Yu’s cheek.

“When I took you onto the battlefield with me to face the traitor Xiao Xun—with me accompanying you, you don’t need to be afraid.”

Xiao Yu looked at the gentleman before him. His hand was warm and gentle, his eyes like spring water—just like Mother. He was already beginning to forget what Mother looked like.

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

“However, there is one matter at present that His Majesty can practice with.”

Xiao Yu hurriedly asked, “What is it?”

Xie Yanfang said, “Don’t be angry at the Grand Tutor.”

Xiao Yu made a sound of protest, brows furrowing. “He’s bullying Sister—”

“I mean, don’t let people discover you’re angry at the Grand Tutor,” Xie Yanfang smiled. “If they find out, they’ll come quarrel with you. In that case, not only will you be unable to help your Sister Chu, but Sister Chu will have to worry about you.”

Xiao Yu thought about this. “If they don’t know I’m angry at the Grand Tutor, they won’t watch me closely.”

“Then you can watch them quarrel among themselves,” Xie Yanfang said. “In court, there are countless things to quarrel about. Not everyone can do as they please and have everything go their way. The Grand Tutor is no exception.”

Xiao Yu nodded seriously this time. “I think I understand.”

“Essentially, don’t let people guess your thoughts,” Xie Yanfang said. “An emperor’s heart cannot be fathomed and must not be fathomed. Don’t let those you detest know it, and don’t let those you favor know it either. This way, no one can use your thoughts or your likes and dislikes to manipulate you. Only thus, sitting in court, can you control and command all under heaven.”

Xiao Yu nodded again, stood up and grasped Xie Yanfang’s hand, saying, “Thank you for Uncle’s teaching.”

Ah, after he had spent so many words and poured out his heart, only now did this child show him genuine warmth. Truly a natural imperial heart, and he would carve this imperial heart into the shape that most satisfied him.

Xie Yanfang smiled and gave him a gentle push. “Go on. Show Sister Chu the essay you wrote. When you’re happy, Sister Chu will be happy too.”

This time Xiao Yu obediently took his text册 and went off happily. Xie Yanfang didn’t follow, standing 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 snorts.

“I’m illiterate. His Majesty doesn’t need to show me—I wouldn’t understand it anyway.”

“His Majesty writes so well at such a young age, yet you’re so old and illiterate. Instead of feeling ashamed, why are you acting so proud!”

“Though Uncle is illiterate, he can kill enemies. That deserves pride.”

“His Majesty is wise and sagacious. When the day comes that His Majesty can make authoritative pronouncements, grant me promotions and generous rewards.”

“Don’t you dare corrupt this child.”

“His Majesty is so wise and sagacious—where would he need my teaching?”

The three inside the hall bantered back and forth in lively conversation. Xie Yanfang, standing outside, also smiled faintly. See? He hadn’t interrupted Sister Chu’s happiness after all.

So there was no need to think so much. How could someone who would be Emperor be bound by others’ emotions?

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

Being bound by others’ emotions—wasn’t that also quite happy?

…

…

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

Having collected the reward for Xie Yanlai, Xie Yanfang took leave from morning court again. While idly sitting and playing chess, he pondered this question and even asked Steward Cai who came to pour tea, leaving the steward completely baffled.

“What’s there to be happy about that?” The old servant’s eyes widened.

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

Steward Cai snorted and picked up a chess piece to place it. “Young Master, you’ve lost.”

Xie Yanfang sat up straight and exclaimed, “How did you discover this oversight!”

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

Xie Yanfang laughed heartily, then smiled and pressed his lips together, slowly nodding. “Actually, yes—a little happy.”

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

Xie Yanfang smiled. “How can excitement be too much? Not at all too much.” He began resetting the board.

Steward Cai also began discussing serious matters.

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

Xie Yanfang hummed in acknowledgment and placed a piece, unconcerned.

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

Xie Yanfang smiled and placed another piece. “As it should be. From now on he’ll be a disciple under the Grand Tutor’s wing.”

Steward Cai continued, “Yesterday’s banquet was like before—we arranged informants to watch inside and out. Everything from the guests who attended to what was eaten at the banquet is clear.”

Xie Yanfang hummed.

“Besides us, there was another group also watching,” Steward Cai said. “Though these people concealed their movements, they didn’t conceal their identities. This old servant personally saw their waist tokens—Longwei Army.”

Xie Yanfang paused mid-move with a chess piece and looked at Steward Cai.

Steward Cai looked at Xie Yanfang and smiled slightly. “Also, at this morning’s court session, the Empress still did not lower a curtain.”

Xie Yanfang tossed the chess piece. His eyes, calm as still water just a moment ago, instantly rippled. He laughed heartily.

Miss A’Zhao was bold and insightful, had troops and power—how could she obediently sit behind a curtain? How could she be all smiles and pleasantries with everyone?

If she did that, even as Empress, what difference would there be from mediocre, ordinary mortals?

When Miss A’Zhao became Empress, she should be above all beings, should be without heart, without feeling, without hesitation.

This kind of Miss A’Zhao—

Xie Yanfang looked at the board before him, his eyes and brows brilliant. “This is the Empress I want.”

And she was even more like him.