After court was dismissed, the Emperor would have breakfast and then attend lessons.
Today, as usual, an official from the Ministry of Rites was teaching. Seeing the young Emperor and Empress approaching, he bowed respectfully.
“Go on, listen carefully to your lessons,” Chu Zhao said with a smile, then looked at the official from the Ministry of Rites. “Thank you for your trouble, Sir.”
The official from the Ministry of Rites invited the Emperor to enter the study first, and then followed him in. Before entering, he glanced at the Empress heading in another direction, toward her study. While the Emperor attended lessons, the Empress would read, write, and review memorials in her study.
Although these memorials had already been processed by the Grand Tutor, the Empress would still read every single one, and after finishing, she would accompany the Emperor to review them as well.
The Empress had first ruled from behind a curtain, then suddenly began speaking in court, and now, for the past two days, hadn’t used a curtain at all. What would happen next?
The official from the Ministry of Rites couldn’t help losing focus, feeling that some things were about to change—
In his momentary distraction, he suddenly saw three tall and robust guards approaching, dressed like the imperial guards of the inner palace.
The reason to emphasize “like the imperial guards of the inner palace” was that the inner palace guards were different from the imperial city guards.
The inner palace guards were the Dragon Guard Army left by the late Emperor.
They weren’t part of the regular military system but were under the Empress’s command, responsible for guarding the inner palace. To distinguish them, a year ago during a ceremony commemorating the late Emperor, the Empress had granted them robes embroidered with python patterns on both sides of the collar. People privately joked about them as the “Dragon Robe Guards.”
Now, one of the Dragon Robe Guards was holding a box, its contents unknown. The official from the Ministry of Rites couldn’t help but look a few more times. The three Dragon Robe Guards immediately noticed, their gazes sharp as knives.
The official from the Ministry of Rites quickly withdrew his gaze and entered the Emperor’s study.
…
…
Chu Zhao took out a register from the box and flipped through it.
“This is the list of guests who attended the Grand Tutor’s banquet last night,” Ding Dachui said. “Twenty-five people in total.”
As he spoke, he took out another register from the box.
“These are the attendants of those twenty-five people, including personal servants, guards, and coachmen—seventy-two people in total.”
Chu Zhao accepted it with a nod, then looked at the several other registers still in the box and asked, “What else?”
Ding Dachui said, “Also, information about the Grand Tutor’s household and the family relationships of these twenty-five people.” At this point, he seemed somewhat embarrassed. “It’s not very detailed due to time constraints.”
Chu Zhao took out the remaining registers and flipped through them. At a glance, she saw entries recording “four horses, five carriages,” and even the number of trees in the courtyard. She couldn’t help but laugh: “You call this not detailed? It’s very thorough.”
She looked at Ding Dachui with a surprised expression.
“Dachui, I’ve underestimated you. Besides being good at warfare, you’re also excellent at other tasks.”
Ding Dachui’s face turned bright red, resembling the red python embroidery on his collar squirming about.
“This is nothing special. When I was previously a mount—a hunter, when I went down the mountain to sell—to sell game, I was used to observing people’s homes—” he explained haltingly.
Chu Zhao understood. As a bandit, occasionally going down the mountain to plunder, one had to scout beforehand—counting how many people lived in a house, locating windows and doors, storerooms, vehicles, horses, and so on.
She smiled slightly and stopped Ding Dachui from explaining further, nodding: “I understand. I thought you wouldn’t be capable of such things. It was I who underestimated you.”
Ding Dachui sighed with relief, then shook his head: “I don’t deserve such praise. It’s the men below me who are capable. Our former brothers taught us quite a lot.”
The Dragon Guard Army had been divided into two. The old Dragon Guard Army, led by Old Bai, guarded the palace, while Ding Dachui and those who had returned with him from the border army were assigned to the outer perimeter along with a small portion of the Dragon Guard Army. They were responsible for standing by for orders, with the mission of communicating with Dragon Guard Army units stationed along routes and border areas.
This was the first time they had received such an order. The Empress had instructed them to monitor the movements of the Grand Tutor and officials. Fortunately, the previous Dragon Guard Army had been lying low in the capital for ten years, spread throughout various areas, with different identities, methods, and connections, which helped them complete this task smoothly.
“We’ve captured most of the conversations at the Grand Tutor’s banquet and written them down,” Ding Dachui continued. “But for some confidential talks, we haven’t had the opportunity to get close enough.”
Chu Zhao said, “No need to rush. We’re just beginning this work. Take it slowly.”
Ding Dachui hurriedly bowed: “I understand.”
Chu Zhao said, “Also, don’t refer to yourself as ‘this little one’ anymore. Ding Dachui, you are a commandant leading seven hundred men, and a commandant of the Dragon Guard Army left by the late Emperor.”
Ding Dachui stood up straight: “This subordinate understands.”
Chu Zhao looked at him: “So you are monitoring my orders, operating in secrecy to avoid disturbing others and preventing unnecessary incidents. If discovered, you need not retreat.”
Ding Dachui again responded affirmatively.
Only then did Chu Zhao nod: “You may go.”
After leaving the inner palace, Ding Dachui passed through the front hall and arrived at the palace gate. The guards at the gate greeted him when they saw them. Over a year, Ding Dachui, once a stranger, had become known to everyone. Even if they didn’t recognize him personally, they recognized his uniform.
Ding Dachui walked in front, with two men following closely behind. One was a former bandit brother who had come out with him, and the other was from the old Dragon Guard Army, surnamed Yin, who served as a counselor in the Dragon Guard Army, assisting Ding Dachui.
“Did the Commandant understand what Her Majesty just said?” Counselor Yin asked in a low voice.
Ding Dachui nodded: “Her Majesty wants us to act freely.” After saying this, he sighed lightly. “I just fear I’ll fail Her Majesty’s important task. My background is poor, and I don’t understand anything—”
Counselor Yin said, “The Commandant is overthinking. No one else could do this job better than you.”
Ding Dachui turned his head and said, “I know you never mock our background, Brother Yin, but there’s no need to flatter me either.”
Counselor Yin smiled: “The Commandant’s background is that of someone who fought alongside Her Majesty all the way. Who would dare to ridicule that?” He continued, “I’m not flattering when I say this task suits the Commandant’s background. What Her Majesty wants us to do is actually what the Commandant has been doing all along.”
Ding Dachui and the other brother both looked at him.
“Guarding the mountain, spying, robbing.” Counselor Yin made a gesture with his hand. “We just need to treat the capital as a mountain. People and things here must be under our control. At Her Majesty’s command, we seize a person and confiscate everything, just like that.”
He smiled after saying this.
“See, isn’t it simple?”
The brother beside them thought it was indeed so. Back then, the boss had led them to know every inch of the mountain—which fruits, mountain chickens, rabbits, and wild boars could be eaten when, which ones should be left to grow, which fruits were sweet, which could be used as bait to catch prey—they knew it all. Whenever needed, they could obtain anything at will. Now, these officials were like prey on the mountain. They would watch them, understand them thoroughly, and wait for Her Majesty’s order—he couldn’t help but laugh: “So it turns out we’ve come to the capital to be mountain bandits.”
Counselor Yin laughed heartily: “That’s right, sanctioned mountain bandits.”
Ding Dachui coughed lightly: “Nonsense.”
Although Ding Dachui had a bandit background, when it came to killing, Counselor Yin, who had been in the Dragon Guard Army for over a decade, was not necessarily his match. As a rustic bandit who had followed the Empress to fight the Western Liang and besiege King Zhongshan, when he didn’t smile, his demeanor was cold and solemn.
Counselor Yin immediately stopped laughing and responded affirmatively.
But Ding Dachui smiled slightly: “It should be, sanctioned hunters.”
Counselor Yin immediately smiled along: “The Commandant is right.”
Ding Dachui added, “And we’re sanctioned by the late Emperor’s decree.”
Since the current Emperor was still young and had not taken personal control, all imperial decrees were issued by the Grand Tutor as regent. By invoking the late Emperor, Ding Dachui was making it clear that their “sanction” had nothing to do with the Grand Tutor. Counselor Yin thought to himself, the mountain might be rural, but bandits have always been clever and shouldn’t be underestimated.
“Yes,” he responded solemnly.
They passed through the palace gate. Outside the gate stood more than a dozen imperial guards. Seeing Ding Dachui and the two others emerge, they quickly put away their chatter and greeted them: “Commandant.”
Ding Dachui swept his gaze over them. The python patterns on each person’s military robe gleamed in the sunlight, different from the stern appearance of the palace gate guards, yet not appearing frivolous. Instead, they added a touch of coldness that made people reluctant to look directly at them.
“Mount up,” he said.
At his command, more than a dozen men mounted their horses. Ding Dachui said nothing more, spurring his horse suddenly. The horse neighed and galloped away at full speed.
The guards at the palace gate were startled. Not many people rode horses in front of the palace gate, and even fewer could ride so fast. Apart from urgent dispatch riders, only the National Uncle Xie Yan had done this a few times.
This Ding Dachui wasn’t the National Uncle, so why was he suddenly acting this way?
The Dragon Guard Army men following Ding Dachui didn’t think so much. If their leader went wild, they would follow suit. In an instant, the horses’ neighing thundered from the palace gate to the imperial street, rolling away toward more distant places.
The busy main street was like a whirlwind had swept through. Civilians couldn’t dodge in time, but seeing the military robes, most people didn’t say anything. However, some couldn’t help but—the war with Western Liang wasn’t over yet, but it had hardly been felt for more than a year now.
Even with the war not so tense anymore, soldiers shouldn’t be so unruly, rushing about like this.
“These soldiers, what are they running around for!” someone angrily cursed. “Even the brave border armies who came to the capital for an audience weren’t this wild.”
“Perhaps because they’re not ordinary soldiers,” another person smiled, standing by a wall.
What did that mean? This comment made the idlers around curious.
“Look carefully at the python patterns on their military robes,” the person said. “These are no ordinary insignia. Python patterns can only be worn if bestowed by the Emperor.”
Standing nearby, Liang Qiang waved his hand at the dust that had stirred up.
“I know them. They’re the Dragon Guard Army,” his clan nephew said in a low voice, standing on tiptoe to watch the soldiers rolling away. “They usually guard the inner palace and are rarely seen. So they’re this impressive when they come out.”
Liang Qiang silently glanced at him, then averted his eyes: “Don’t meddle in other people’s affairs. Have you packed everything?”
The excitement faded from his clan nephew’s eyes, replaced by some melancholy: “Why leave so soon? Let’s stay in the capital for a few more days. We’re not like Xie Yanlai and his group. We’re here in a private capacity, and our departure isn’t so urgent.”
Liang Qiang said, “What’s there to stay for? Our business is done.”
With business done, it was the perfect time to enjoy the glory. Invitation cards were piling up like snowflakes, nearly burying him. Former friends and relatives had all emerged, not only with invitations but also gifts. The Liang family’s house had been confiscated, but someone had sent them a new mansion.
A new mansion in the capital.
How much money must that have cost!
The Liang family had truly risen again!
“That wasn’t sent to me,” Liang Qiang said. “It’s because of the Grand Tutor’s face.”
With that, he strode forward.
His clan nephew responded with an “Oh,” not seeing any difference, and hurried to catch up. He took out several invitation cards from his sleeve: “Let’s set aside the others, but for these few banquets, A-Qiang, you should attend. They’re all former good friends, and most importantly, their families are prominent. No matter what, they’ve shown sincere intentions. We can’t ignore them. Otherwise, people will say only the Grand Tutor can invite you.”
Liang Qiang glanced at the cards: “It’s at Lotus Pond Pavilion, my favorite place back then.” There was some wistfulness in his eyes. “They’ve been thoughtful.”
He nodded.
“Then let’s go.”