Proclamations flew everywhere.

They also appeared in the capital, scattered throughout the streets and alleys overnight.

However, as the Gongwei Bureau raided several private residences and arrested dozens of people of various identities, this was suppressed.

But while it was suppressed in the capital, not all other places could prevent it.

Sitting on the dragon throne looking down, the once bustling and crowded court had lost half its people, but Xiao Yu’s expression showed no change whatsoever, just as before.

Chu Zhao sat behind the dragon throne, also without the slightest panic, even seeming to be lost in thought. She held a small round fan in her hand, gently waving it. By rights, she shouldn’t bring a fan to court, but perhaps everyone’s minds were unsettled, so no one paid attention.

The court had lost more than half its people—all officials who had previously followed Deng Yi. Learning that Grand Tutor Deng Yi had sided with Prince Zhongshan, his followers naturally didn’t fare well either. Of course, they weren’t all arrested and killed. Most immediately wept and wailed saying they had been deceived, and the rest, when surrounded, all righteously declared themselves irreconcilably opposed to Deng Yi.

Chu Zhao also didn’t have the Gongwei Bureau torture confessions. At this time, they couldn’t simply kill everyone, or it would only make people’s hearts more unsettled.

Of course, they also couldn’t act as if nothing had happened, or the world would think this empress had a guilty conscience and no authority.

At this time, earning a good reputation was actually less effective at stabilizing people’s hearts than a bad reputation.

So many officials were ordered to reflect on themselves and confined to their homes.

However, though there were fewer officials in court, the clamor was even greater than before.

“The proclamation says the late emperor originally intended to pass the throne to Xiao Xun.”

“It also says there’s an edict as proof.”

“This is complete nonsense. When the late emperor established the crown prince, he was still clear-headed and gave the order in front of us. That Deng Yi was right there, yet he dares to make such outrageous claims.”

“Could Deng Yi have been coerced by Xiao Xun—or has he already been killed?”

“Stop talking. You’re still trying to make excuses for Deng Yi. The soldiers and officials at the front saw with their own eyes that Deng Yi was right at the front of Xiao Xun’s rebel army. He even personally went to Quzhou Prefecture. If the prefect hadn’t escaped quickly, he would have been killed by Deng Yi.”

Listening to the noisy discussion in court, Chu Zhao, who had been lost in thought, suddenly asked: “What did Deng Yi say was written in that edict from the late emperor?”

The clamor in the court paused.

Now, those remaining in court wouldn’t ignore the empress’s questions. An official immediately answered: “The proclamation says the edict meant: ‘One of my sons is unfilial, one is dead. I have no more sons, so your son shall become my son, bestowed as crown prince to inherit the throne of Da Xia. But a son cannot have two fathers, so I declare my edict: grant him the favor of ordering him to commit suicide.'”

As his words fell, other officials also spoke up one after another.

“This must be fake. The imperial seal is in Deng Yi’s hands—he can write whatever he wants.”

“But some people have seen that edict. They say Deng Yi displayed it for viewing, and it’s absolutely genuine.”

“Moreover, the Ministry of Rites checked the seal usage records, and the timing matches.”

When the emperor used the imperial seal, it wasn’t used casually—there were records. The timing matching meant that this edict’s date indeed occurred on the night of the princes’ chaos.

“So what? On the night of the princes’ chaos, that Deng Yi had already taken control of the inner palace, and the late emperor had already been poisoned.”

The court ministers began arguing again.

Chu Zhao didn’t ask further. Waving her fan, she nodded. She didn’t doubt this edict was fake, and a mystery in her heart was resolved. So in that previous life when Xiao Xun ascended to the throne and Prince Zhongshan died, this was how it happened.

So Prince Zhongshan had been poisoned to death. She had wondered how someone in good health with no illness or disaster could suddenly die.

In the previous life, Chu Zhao didn’t know who did it. In that life, there was no Xiao Yu—the late emperor directly bestowed the crown prince position on Xiao Xun, and the late emperor was still alive then.

But in this life, it must have been Xiao Xun who did it.

Whether Deng Yi participated, she didn’t know.

The mystery was solved, and fate had repeated itself. Previously, she had been anxious and nervous in her vigilance, trying to prevent this scene from recurring, but now that it had actually appeared, she felt no fear whatsoever.

She even found it interesting. In this life, Xiao Xun had become the rebel side, while she was still the evil empress being denounced.

Fate indeed.

“Enough,” Chu Zhao put down her fan, interrupting the clamor in court. “No need to debate authenticity anymore.”

She looked at the assembled ministers.

“Things have already reached this point. What’s false is also true.”

“My lords, don’t be disturbed by these matters. When the Grand Tutor’s residence caught fire, we already anticipated today and made preparations.”

“Although we couldn’t intercept all the edicts and lost some troops and cities, this isn’t frightening. Those troops who could be deceived and used by the edicts—their hearts weren’t with us anyway.”

“Now Minister Xie presides at the front and has already blocked Prince Zhongshan’s forces north of the Yellow River.”

“Now that King Xi Liang has surrendered, the border commanderies will soon be restored to stability.”

“We have sufficient energy and troops to quell the rebellion.”

“What you must do is fulfill your duties with full dedication. While troops fight at the front, I ask you beloved ministers to hold firm in the rear.”

At this point, Chu Zhao smiled again.

“Prince Zhongshan’s troops rebelling isn’t exactly the first time. Last time we stopped them—what is there to fear this time?”

“So there’s one more Deng Yi—so what? He’s merely acting against all decency, a scheming cur.”

“Pay no attention to the treacherous minister and rebel’s proclamation. His Majesty will personally write a proclamation to announce to the world.”

With that, she stood up.

“Court is dismissed.”

The court ministers bowed in unison: “Respectfully sending off His Majesty, respectfully sending off the Empress.”

……

……

After court was dismissed, Chu Zhao met with Chu Tang, who was waiting in the rear palace.

Before Chu Tang could speak, Chu Zhao said: “Don’t worry, don’t worry. It’s not yet time to pack and leave the capital.”

Chu Tang was amused by her: “This happens once a year. How is it that ever since I became a princess, I’m always living with my head on the chopping block?”

“Maybe you lived too comfortably in your previous life,” Chu Zhao said, half-joking, half-serious. “So this life has to be a bit harder.”

Actually, calling it hard was just a joke. Chu Tang thought that although it was somewhat nerve-wracking, the feeling was quite good.

She didn’t know what kind of life she’d lived in a previous life. Her earlier days had been quite comfortable, but looking back, they weren’t as satisfying as now. Although the situations she encountered were quite frightening—either being cursed as a traitor or going deep into enemy armies to capture people—this feeling of daring to split mountains, cleave seas, and be a hero was too intoxicating.

So when this matter first arose, she had proactively circulated among the aristocratic families, investigating their thoughts and discussing matters with them in detail.

“I told everyone about how our Chu family was besieged back then. How ridiculous—Xiao Xun and Deng Yi really dare to say anything. Have they forgotten why he was captured last time?”

It was because he believed Chu Lan’s family had come to join him.

Why did he believe Chu Lan’s family was joining him?

It was because back then, they had tried to lure Chu Lan into conspiring to harm the young prince.

Chu Zhao smiled and said: “What wouldn’t they dare say? They’re just trying to pull on a skin to cover their wolfish ambitions.”

Chu Tang said: “Rest assured, the aristocratic families in the capital all believe you. They all curse Deng Yi and Xiao Xun as petty men—treacherous, disloyal, and unfilial.”

Chu Zhao thought this was still different from the previous life. Back then, she and Father were cursed as treacherous ministers and an evil empress, and no one spoke for her—everyone even believed it.

Even though in that life she had done nothing.

“Ah Tang,” Chu Zhao suddenly said. “Qi Leyun and the others are all getting married. What about you? Haven’t Uncle and Aunt arranged matches for you?”

Chu Tang was startled, then covered her face with her sleeve in a coy gesture: “Is the Empress going to arrange a marriage for me? If Your Majesty makes the decision for me, I want someone handsome with good family background, accomplished in both civil and military arts, devoted to me alone, who doesn’t just covet my princess status and won’t treat me as a means of social climbing.”

Chu Zhao laughed and waved her hand: “I understand. When you’ve made your own choice, come tell me, and this palace will arrange the marriage for you.”

This life’s Chu Tang knew what she wanted and how to grasp what she desired, and wouldn’t be deceived by a few words from others.

“I mean, you don’t have to live this kind of life. You could go to Uncle and Aunt’s place and live in peaceful leisure,” Chu Zhao said.

Chu Tang pressed her forehead and sighed: “My Empress, let’s wait until we’ve resolved this matter before discussing it. The way things are, even if we hid in deep mountains, we couldn’t live in peaceful leisure.”

She also knew this was Chu Zhao’s way of caring for her, and smiled again.

“You don’t need to worry about Father and Mother. Ever since you had them use farmland to support students, this past year the academy and my father’s reputation have soared. Everyone praises him as a noble and unworldly gentleman. More and more disciples are joining under him, and the more they do, the more Father wants to be a noble gentleman—he’s about to give away all the family wealth.”

“This time when the matter arose, I immediately had Little Rabbit and the others send urgent letters to ask. Brother just replied saying that Xiao Xun’s proclamations also appeared at Qiaoshan Academy, but they were immediately torn down. Everyone unanimously cursed Deng Yi as a shameless petty man and Xiao Xun as a rebel. Father didn’t even need to speak out.”

Since Chu Zhao had entrusted Chu Lan’s family to Chu Tang’s care, she hadn’t inquired further. Now hearing this, she felt both comforted and moved.

After seeing Chu Tang off, Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu wrote the proclamation denouncing Xiao Xun together, continuing until sunset and dusk. Just as they set down their brushes to eat, Eunuch Qi reported that Xie Yanfang had returned.

……

……