Xie Yanfang didn’t speak again, only quietly watching the child in Xie Yanlai’s arms.

Xie Yanlai, on the other hand, was quite uncomfortable, pressing on the child’s shoulders, wanting to lift him away like a cat.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

The eunuchs all gathered around.

“The Young Prince was sleeping and ran out as soon as he woke up.” “He hasn’t even dressed properly.” “Young Prince, be careful not to catch a cold.”

Xie Yanlai pinched the child’s shoulders, frowning as he asked: “What do you want? Just tell them.”

Xiao Yu raised his head and asked: “Where is Sister?”

Who was “Sister”? A palace maid taking care of the Young Prince? Xie Yanfang wondered to himself, but still didn’t speak, only watching Xiao Yu and Xie Yanlai.

Xie Yanlai knew who the “Sister” was, and frowned at the eunuchs: “Where is she?”

The eunuchs naturally also knew who it was and hurriedly said: “His Majesty just summoned her.”

But the eunuch from the Emperor’s quarters had just said His Majesty was resting. Both Xie Yanlai and Xie Yanfang looked at that eunuch.

The eunuch quickly said: “She left after finishing her conversation, and I don’t know where she went.”

Xie Yanlai snorted: “Running around everywhere.” Then, thinking of something, he pursed his lips, “She’s probably with Lord Deng.” He patted Xiao Yu, “You go back for now, I’ll call her to return.”

Xiao Yu nodded, releasing his grip, no longer resisting the eunuchs, allowing them to wrap him in robes.

Xie Yanlai turned to leave, but pivoted on his toes and turned back.

“Your Highness,” he said, pointing at Xie Yanfang with a half-smile, “this is the Third Young Master, Xie Yanfang. You know him, right?”

Xiao Yu glanced at him, then lowered his head and bowed to Xie Yanfang: “Greetings to Third Uncle. Thank you for taking care of my father and mother.”

As he spoke the last sentence, the child’s tender voice became hoarse.

A clever child naturally knew who Xie Yanfang was and could deduce what this Third Uncle had been doing. His reluctance to face him directly was probably because he didn’t want to confront the tragedy of his parents. Xie Yanfang walked in front of him and crouched down, looking up at the child’s face.

“Your Highness, they were my sister and brother-in-law,” he said softly. “You should rest well now, and I will come to tell you everything later. A-Yu is a brave child who should know and remember what happened.”

Xiao Yu nodded.

Xie Yanfang didn’t say more, and stood up: “Yanfang takes his leave.”

Xiao Yu didn’t linger either, following the eunuchs as they left.

After watching Xiao Yu leave, Xie Yanlai spoke again: “Third Brother, let’s go see the Grand Tutor.”

Xie Yanfang nodded, leading Du Qi to follow Xie Yanlai back toward the outer hall.

The two brothers walked one after the other, somewhat silent, but that wasn’t strange. Even at home, they rarely exchanged words, especially as Xie Yanlai kept to himself.

“Seeing the Young Prince safe, I’m relieved,” Xie Yanfang said. “Before she died, my sister was most reluctant to part with him.”

Xie Yanlai made a sound of agreement: “The eunuchs have checked. The Young Prince is completely fine.”

Xie Yanfang asked: “How is His Majesty?”

The question was quite direct.

Xie Yanlai looked back at him, leaning his shoulder over to say softly: “Not very well, neither mentally nor physically.”

His answer was equally direct.

Xie Yanfang nodded: “I understand. I’ll be careful with my words when I see His Majesty.”

Xie Yanlai turned his head away, then back again, smiling: “You might not need to. After meeting the Grand Tutor, you probably won’t need to see His Majesty.”

These words made Xie Yanfang thoughtful. He probably understood. Although he had only inquired about Deng Yi when focusing on Chu Zhao, fortunately, his memory was good, and he remembered everything he saw or heard. This Deng Yi was a Palace Gate Official.

Overnight, he had transformed into the Grand Tutor, even deciding who could see His Majesty.

This showed he had already earned His Majesty’s deep trust and responsibility.

The real master of the Imperial City, at this moment, was Deng Yi.

Deng Yi. Xie Yanfang silently repeated this name to himself, somewhat amazed. Among all the illustrious high officials and intimidating royal relatives, who could have imagined that a minor official, no one would give a second glance, would soar to such heights in a single leap?

Life was just like this. It seemed unchanging, but in reality, one never knew what would happen in the next moment—ever-changing, unpredictable. This was also the joy of being human.

He didn’t ask anything more, and Xie Yanlai didn’t volunteer additional information. The two brothers passed through the imperial guards to the front hall. There were fewer guards in the front hall, but more officials coming and going with hurried steps, their expressions dull, terrified, or whispering to each other. The atmosphere was tense and strange.

“…Where is Grand Tutor Liao? Has he wisely chosen not to come?”

“…What wisdom? Whether wise or not, he must be wise. Grand Tutor Deng directly sent troops to tell him not to come…”

“…Is it all up to him?”

“…He’s now investigating the Third Prince and the Zhao family’s remaining followers. Do you think he has the final say or not? If he says you’re involved, then you are, even if you’re not. Who dares not to listen?”

“…Why are there so many more troops? They don’t look like imperial guards.”

“…Has the garrison entered? Impossible, the gates weren’t even open.”

When they saw Xie Yanlai approaching in armor, the officials immediately stopped discussing. Then, seeing Xie Yanfang, they became excited.

“Third Young Master Xie!”

“Third Young Master Xie is still here!”

“Third Young Master Xie is indeed safe and sound.”

Xie Yanfang kept his gaze straight ahead, not engaging with any of the officials, following Xie Yanlai with rapid steps.

Arriving at a hall, there were far fewer guards here than at His Majesty’s sleeping quarters, but Xie Yanlai, who had been striding confidently, stopped early.

“Reporting to the Grand Tutor,” he said loudly to the guards at the door, “the Crown Princess’s brother, Xie Yanfang, has returned and requests an audience.”

…

…

Inside the Grand Tutor’s hall, there was no gathering of officials.

At this moment, there were only Deng Yi and the girl.

Deng Yi sat reviewing documents, while Chu Zhao paced back and forth with a frown.

“Miss Chu,” Deng Yi said, “what are you in such a hurry about?”

Chu Zhao stopped: “How can I not be anxious? Xiao Xun has escaped!”

Once things had settled slightly in the palace, her first action was to immediately send Uncle Zhong to capture Xiao Xun, but when Uncle Zhong reached the courier station, he found only corpses. The Prince of Zhongshan’s heir and his entourage had vanished. After searching the city, they finally discovered that in a house near the city gate, there was a hidden passage through which the Prince of Zhongshan’s heir had fled the city—

“There’s nothing strange about the Prince of Zhongshan’s heir running away,” Deng Yi said. “He’s not stupid, and his father is even less so. Since they dared to come, they surely had a way to retreat safely.”

That was certainly true. Xiao Xun’s life was quite precious. Chu Zhao sighed: “He poses a threat to the Young Prince, Lord Deng—”

Deng Yi looked up, seeing the hopeful look in the girl’s eyes—whether genuine or not.

Chu Zhao said: “The Young Prince’s safety now rests entirely on Your Excellency.”

Deng Yi said: “It seems the Empress’s safety doesn’t require this official’s concern.”

Chu Zhao shook her head, smiling as she said: “This humble subject is not yet the Empress. The Grand Tutor needs only to address me as Crown Princess.”

This time, Deng Yi couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud, his laughter somewhat complex as he looked at the girl before him, recalling what had happened in the hall earlier.

She had brought troops to storm the city, which was surprising, but learning that Chu Yi had unknown forces made this less unexpected.

But she said she wanted to be the Empress.

Did she know what she was saying?

Did she know to whom she was speaking?

In that moment, Deng Yi, who thought he had seen every surprise, was too shocked to speak.