When Xie Yanfang stepped into the hall, someone was already seated inside—

He was not the only one, Xie Yanfang thought to himself, amused by his musing.

“Grand Tutor,” he said with a bow.

Deng Yi turned his head, nodding slightly: “The Empress will arrive shortly.”

Xie Yanfang nodded and, without further conversation, took a seat across from him.

Deng Yi observed the smile on his face and asked, “What has made Grand Secretary Xie so happy?”

Xie Yanfang broke into a broad smile: “Today I saw His Majesty and the Empress sitting side by side, and it filled my heart with joy. Just thinking about it makes me smile from the depths of my being.”

Deng Yi tugged at the corner of his mouth, withdrew his gaze, and no longer acknowledged Xie Yanfang’s heartfelt smile.

When Chu Zhao entered, Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang were discussing a game of chess. Earlier at the banquet, since there could be no drinking or dancing, everyone had sought other activities. Old Master Zhou, who had not been seen in public for a long time, had brought out a chessboard and invited Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang to compete.

Chu Zhao knew nothing of this. By the time she arrived with her female attendants, the chess set had already been put away.

“Who won?” she asked curiously.

Xie Yanfang smiled and said, “Neither of us. Old Master Zhou dominated the board and thoroughly enjoyed his victory.”

Chu Zhao sat down: “Old Master Zhou’s granddaughter, Zhou Jiang, is already formidable and quite combative. It’s a family trait. She gave me a few pointers, and my chess skills improved dramatically. Next time I seek guidance from Old Master Zhou, perhaps I’ll be able to challenge Zhou Jiang.”

Xie Yanfang smiled and said, “Old Master Zhou also mentioned that Your Majesty has a natural talent for chess. With dedicated practice, you would certainly excel.”

As a scion of a prominent family, he understood each noble household and was well-known among them. Meanwhile, Chu Zhao, as a young woman, learned about these families through her female connections. That gathering of young ladies had also made her known to the noble families.

“I’m sure I could excel,” Chu Zhao said with a playful smile, then looked at Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang before asking with deliberate casualness, “So whose chess skills are superior, the Grand Tutor’s or the Third Young Master’s?”

Deng Yi, who had been silent until now, answered first: “My chess skills are mediocre, no match for the Third Young Master.”

Xie Yanfang smiled and said, “Each has his strengths and weaknesses. The Grand Tutor possesses skills I cannot match.”

Deng Yi turned to look at him and asked with a half-smile, “Such as?”

Xie Yanfang said, “Such as the speed of decision-making in court. You are faster than I am; I often cannot keep up.”

Deng Yi replied coolly, “Grand Secretary Xie is being modest. No matter how quickly I decide, nothing progresses until Grand Secretary Xie gives his approval.”

As the nation returned to normal functioning, this entirely new court had Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang standing side by side, neither above the other, with undercurrents running deep.

Chu Zhao had sensed this merely by sitting in court during government sessions, not to mention the palpable tension in the pointed exchanges between the two men now.

“Both ministers serve the government, and disagreements are inevitable, but please don’t become estranged,” she said with a smile.

Deng Yi corrected her: “State affairs are not personal grudges. How could there be estrangement?”

Xie Yanfang smiled and simply said, “Your Majesty need not worry.”

Chu Zhao also smiled and said, “I don’t doubt either minister’s dedication to the state. It’s precisely because I see your selfless commitment that I worry you might not agree to my request.”

Chu Zhao naturally had a purpose in summoning them, but ever since this young woman began attending court sessions, her thoughts had become increasingly difficult to guess.

What unconventional request did she have this time? Surely she wouldn’t ask to review memorials herself?

Deng Yi remained silent.

Xie Yanfang smiled and said, “Please speak freely. We’ve already overcome countless difficulties—what is there to worry about?”

Chu Zhao said, “I wish to leave the capital and visit my father in the border commandery.”

Both Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang were surprised. She had just ascended the throne with the Emperor, participated in court sessions, held a grand banquet, and presented herself before the noble families. Not only that, but she had also brought her cousin forward, establishing the formidable presence of Empress Chu.

Yet the next moment, she wanted to leave the Imperial City, the capital…

“This is not appropriate at this time, is it?” Deng Yi said, looking at Chu Zhao with disapproval.

Xie Yanfang remained silent, looking thoughtful.

“My father is in poor health,” Chu Zhao said earnestly, looking at both Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang. “You both know better than anyone how much I want to return to the border commandery.”

Their acquaintance had begun when this young woman had run away from home to reach the border commandery. Deng Yi’s furrowed brow smoothed slightly; he indeed knew the sincerity of her desire to return.

“I understand your feelings. The court immediately sent news to the border commandery,” he said in a softer voice. “Zhong Changrong personally went back, bringing imperial physicians. Grand Secretary Xie also arranged for renowned doctors to accompany them. We recently received responses from both the border commandery and your father.”

He looked at Chu Zhao.

Both the imperial physicians and the Xie family doctors, as well as General Chu Wei’s letter, indicated that while his health was indeed poor, there was no immediate danger. Moreover, General Chu Wei stated that he would come to the capital soon.

Chu Zhao herself had also received a personal letter from her father.

Why, despite receiving this news, was the young woman not reassured but instead more determined to go to the border commandery?

“Is there some information we don’t know about?” Deng Yi asked.

He certainly didn’t view this young woman as a child. He suspected she had her independent network and sources of information beyond his control.

Chu Zhao shook her head: “No, the news my father sent me is the same as what you know.”

She just—

“If you want to go, then go,” Xie Yanfang suddenly said, breaking his silence.

Both Deng Yi and Chu Zhao looked at him.

Xie Yanfang gazed at Chu Zhao with gentle eyes: “He is your father. If you want to see him, then go. No reason needed.”

The young woman’s eyes brightened.

“She may not need a reason! But!” Deng Yi stood up and said coldly, “The people and court officials do!”

“Chu Zhao, you are now the Empress, not that willful little girl from the Chu family who could steal money from home and climb over walls to run away!”

“Your home now is the Great Xia Dynasty.”

“What time is this? The turmoil has just subsided, the Late Emperor newly deceased, a young Emperor on the throne, remnants of the Third Prince’s faction not fully eliminated, and the Prince of Zhongshan silent—he has neither mourned the Late Emperor nor paid homage to the new Emperor.”

“At this moment, you want to go see your father?”

“Yes, your father is gravely ill, but have you considered why your father, ill for many years, never returned to the capital? Because he understands that one who eats the ruler’s grain must serve the ruler loyally. He knows what it means to be the General of the Guards.”

“If your father were at the front lines and learned of your grandmother’s death, would he abandon his post to return home?”

“It is difficult to fulfill both loyalty and filial piety simultaneously. I cannot believe you don’t understand this principle that your father comprehends.”

The Grand Tutor’s cold voice enunciated each word, reverberating through the hall.

Chu Zhao looked at the man standing before her, feeling somewhat dazed. Had he reprimanded Xiao Xun in the same way in that other life?

Would he raise his hand and slap her face?

The only attendant in the hall was Xiao Man. She had been standing indifferently to one side but now tensed, watching alertly.

However, Deng Yi neither struck anyone nor spoke further. With a wave of his sleeve, he turned and strode away.

The hall fell silent. Xiao Man pursed her lips and turned her head.

“The Grand Tutor certainly has quite a temper,” Xie Yanfang said with a smile.

Chu Zhao smiled bitterly: “I’ve angered the Grand Tutor. This is the first time I’ve seen him lose his temper so severely.”

She sighed.

“Bringing this up at this moment was indeed inappropriate of me.”

Xie Yanfang shook his head: “No, you did nothing wrong. At any time, regardless of one’s position, wanting to see one’s father is never wrong.”

Chu Zhao lowered her head, her shoulders drooping: “Not wrong, but still not quite appropriate, right?”

“There is nothing inappropriate about it,” Xie Yanfang said, his voice firm. “You should go immediately.”

Chu Zhao raised her head to look at him.

“Miss A-Zhao, don’t let yourself have regrets,” Xie Yanfang said softly. “Fulfilling your heart’s desire is a worthy endeavor.”

Chu Zhao bowed to him respectfully, then gazed at the elegant young man sitting before her.

“Meeting the Third Young Master in this life is heaven’s mercy upon me,” she said with heartfelt sincerity.

…

…

She was happy, grateful, and reassured to know him.

Though it sounded strange—what would heaven have done to her in this life or the last if she hadn’t met him?

Xie Yanfang didn’t pursue the young woman’s unfinished thought, only saying, “A-Zhao, you’re mistaken.”

He looked at the young woman before him.

“You don’t need to thank others, nor is this heaven’s mercy. It’s simply that you are worthy.”

Worthy of his, Xie Yanfang’s, acquaintance, friendship, protection, and… affection.

He could also make this young woman happier, more grateful, more reassured, and… fond of him.