Upon discovering that Deng Yi had disappeared along with the imperial seal and tiger tally, Chu Zhao immediately issued the Empress’s edicts to various regions while ordering the Imperial Guard to investigate the postal stations.

Sure enough, the Crown Prince of Zhongshan had also vanished.

Following that, they discovered that the capital’s troops had been mobilized.

Not just the capital’s troops—many prefectures and commanderies had been manipulated as well, and through secret orders that made investigation extremely difficult.

The imperial seal and tiger tally were far too important.

The Empress’s edicts relied purely on Chu Zhao’s prestige, so they were half successful and half failed.

However, at the same time, Xie Yanfang had left the capital and headed toward Zhongshan Commandery, meeting with local officials, military commanders, and noble families along the way, making preparations.

Thus, after Xiao Xun declared rebellion and raised his army, they narrowly managed to block him north of the Yellow River.

“Please come in quickly,” Chu Zhao said, rising with Xiao Yu to welcome their guest.

Xie Yanfang entered from outside, his robes stained with dust from travel, though this did not diminish his dignity in the slightest.

“Uncle, you’ve worked hard,” Xiao Yu happily spoke first.

Xie Yanfang smiled and bowed: “Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Chu Zhao bid him rise and first called for palace maids and attendants to escort Xie Yanfang to bathe and change his clothes. Xie Yanfang smiled in gratitude without refusing. When he returned, freshly washed and dressed in new robes, the dining table was laden with delicacies.

“The palace has chefs skilled in Eastern Yang cuisine,” Chu Zhao said, drawing Xiao Yu close. “A-Yu’s tastes are very similar to his mother’s.”

Chu Zhao never avoided mentioning the late Crown Prince’s Consort. Forgetting was not the way to fight grief and fear; facing it directly was.

Xiao Yu enthusiastically asked, “Uncle, try this and see if it suits your taste?”

As instructed, Xie Yanfang sat down but didn’t immediately pick up his utensils. Instead, he smiled and said, “I hope I’m not being disrespectful, but I wish to express a sentiment that may not conform to protocol.”

Chu Zhao smiled: “We forgive your offense.”

Xie Yanfang sighed softly, leaning back against the chair: “It feels so good to be home.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily, but then paused slightly, remembering how Deng Yi had practically lived in the front hall of the imperial palace. In private, people joked that he treated the imperial palace as his home, while the Imperial Tutor’s residence was merely a storehouse for collecting and storing gifts.

“When I say home, I mean seeing my family,” Xie Yanfang said softly.

Chu Zhao pushed aside her thoughts and ladled a bowl of soup, smiling: “Please enjoy, Lord Uncle.”

Xie Yanfang couldn’t help but laugh, slightly tilting his head as he reached out to accept it: “Thank you, thank you.”

Xiao Yu also imitated Chu Zhao, picking up dishes for Xie Yanfang: “Uncle, try this one. It’s my favorite.”

Xie Yanfang also smiled as he accepted the small plate: “Good, good.”

He ate the dish and sipped the soup with a silver spoon. Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu also ate their meals. Palace maids quietly entered and exited, lighting lamps. Inside the room, the autumn night was refreshing, with shadows nestled together.

How wonderful this was.

Xie Yanfang gently wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief. Although Deng Yi wasn’t dead, his rebellion with Xiao Xun meant he was as good as dead to Chu Zhao—he no longer existed.

This person should never have existed in the first place.

“North of the Yellow River, three commanderies and twenty-eight cities have pledged allegiance to Xiao Xun. The Prince of Zhongshan’s privately maintained troops, plus those confused by the tiger tally and mobilized to join him, total two hundred and seventy thousand.”

Hearing Xie Yanfang’s words, Xiao Yu couldn’t help but glance at Chu Zhao. In court, the officials had said much, but there had been no confirmation of Xiao Xun’s military strength. Now hearing this number, it was unexpected that after stripping away one hundred thousand troops last time, the Prince of Zhongshan could still muster such a large force.

Chu Zhao remained calm. In her previous life, Xiao Xun had commanded even more troops than this. Of course, that was because he had been the legitimate Emperor. However, the illegitimate rebel Xie clan’s forces had initially been about the same number.

She glanced at Xie Yanfang.

So in this life, had the two of them switched places?

She couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing her smile, Xie Yanfang also smiled: “There’s no need to worry. At first, they all appear mighty and impressive, especially with the imperial seal and tiger tally stolen by Deng Yi. Many will be confused, but as time passes and the imperial forces counter-attack, they will awaken.”

Chu Zhao said: “I’m not worried, not with Minister Xie here.” She smiled, pressing her lips together.

Although Xie Yanfang found her smile strange, he could be certain that she spoke these words sincerely.

“However,” Chu Zhao added, “I want to personally go to battle against Xiao Xun.”

Xiao Yu, holding his spoon, looked somewhat surprised. Xie Yanfang paused briefly, then immediately said: “The Empress is valiant.”

Chu Zhao smiled and shook her head: “No, besides valor, this time I should be… proud. Xiao Xun and Deng Yi call me a usurping tyrant Empress and slander my father and me as treacherous ministers and rebels. So I will personally go and kill them, letting them know just how formidable this ‘tyrannical Empress’ can be.”

Xie Yanfang smiled and clapped his hands: “Well said. The Empress must personally avenge this grievance.”

Xiao Yu also smiled, though his eyes betrayed his reluctance to part and a hint of self-reproach.

He was too weak, repeatedly inviting the Prince of Zhongshan’s aggression, only to have Sister Chu shield him time and again.

Chu Zhao noticed this but offered no words of comfort. Instead, she called to Eunuch Qi: “Bring the manifesto His Majesty has written for Lord Xie to see.”

Eunuch Qi obeyed and brought it.

Xie Yanfang accepted it with a smile and read it carefully, nodding as he did so. His expression gradually became solemn. After reading it through once, he put it down and looked at Xiao Yu: “Although Your Majesty is young and there’s still some immaturity in the phrasing, the spirit between the lines is as sharp as a sword.”

Chu Zhao smiled: “Isn’t it? Isn’t it well-written? Especially those first few sentences: ‘The Prince of Zhongshan has attempted to harm me twice, and both times he has failed. So this third time, he will fail again.’ And this line—”

She leaned forward and pointed to the paper.

“‘At that time, Imperial Grandfather told me that inheriting the throne would be a dangerous and difficult path for me, but I remained fearless. From that moment, I knew I would face today, and I have long been prepared. I want to show Imperial Grandfather, Father, and Mother, and the people of Great Xia, that I, the Emperor, am fearless and worthy to be the ruler of Great Xia.”

Chu Zhao read it once, then added another sentence.

“A-Yu wrote all of this himself.”

Seeing Chu Zhao’s animated, continuous praise, Xiao Yu became somewhat embarrassed.

Xie Yanfang reached out and patted Xiao Yu’s shoulder: “The late Emperor, your father, and mother would all be proud of you. A-Yu, you will be Great Xia’s most challenged but also most mighty Emperor.”

“Therefore,” Chu Zhao said, looking at Xiao Yu, “I will wield A-Yu as my sword in battle. This battle is not for A-Yu’s sake; selfishly speaking, it is for myself. I want to clear my name!”

Xiao Yu smiled brightly: “Sister, I am willing to fight alongside you, to help you clear your name.”

…

…

When Xie Yanfang returned home, the night was deep. The Seventh Master Xie was still waiting for him.

“The Empress wants to personally lead the campaign?” After hearing Xie Yanfang’s words, the Seventh Master Xie frowned, displeased. “She’s become addicted to warfare.”

Xie Yanfang said: “That’s why we must give our all, preparing troops and connections, to let the Empress fight a beautiful battle against the rebellion, allowing Lady A-Zhao to properly vent her anger.”

The Seventh Master Xie snorted: “Once again, we’re making wedding clothes for Lady A-Zhao, letting her have her way and steal the spotlight.”

Xie Yanfang sat down, looking at the unfinished game of chess that had remained untouched on the table for a long time.

“We don’t lose anything, and besides, Deng Yi dying at Lady A-Zhao’s hands is better than dying at mine,” he said with a smile. “They formed an alliance and rose, then they’ll scatter through mutual destruction. This is restoring order from chaos.”

As he said this, he examined the chessboard carefully.

“By the way, there’s one more place that needs to be set right.”

“This way, everything will be perfect.”