Xie Yanfang had been away from the capital for over half a year.

After Chu Zhao returned to the capital, Xie Yanfang also came back quickly, but soon the summer floods arrived and many places suffered disasters.

Xie Yanfang voluntarily requested to go supervise officials for negligence and settle disaster victims. He was busy for three or four months, but when he finished, he couldn’t return. Xie Yanfang’s grandfather fell gravely ill, so he requested leave from the court to return to Dongyang to attend to his illness.

This year after the New Year, Old Master Xie passed away.

Chu Zhao walked quickly to Xie Yanfang and told him to forgo the formalities.

“I thought you wouldn’t return until after the third month,” she said. “His Majesty also deeply missed Old Master Xie.”

Old Master Xie was the Emperor’s elder. Besides the court drafting posthumous honors, Xiao Yu also personally sent Eunuch Qi to make a trip.

In truth, originally to Xiao Yu, Old Master Xie and even his maternal grandfather Old Master Xie were very unfamiliar, but having lost his mother, Xiao Yu instead felt closer to his mother’s elders, probably because they were his mother’s roots.

Xie Yanfang walked forward with her, saying: “Grandfather was old and his health was already poor. Back then, the family concealed the matter of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess from him. Only last year did they tactfully tell Grandfather. As expected, Grandfather was greatly shocked and nearly passed away on the spot. Fortunately, A’Yu was still here. Grandfather had comfort and concern in his heart, so he persevered a while longer, allowing us to arrange all the family and clan matters properly. He also spent one more New Year with the family before departing.”

When the head of a clan passes away, it inevitably triggers some family disputes. Outsiders see a clan as unified, but inside it’s actually not so.

That Old Master Xie had time to arrange his posthumous affairs properly relieved much of the burden for Xie Yanfang as a junior.

The two talked as they walked, and soon arrived at the Emperor’s study.

“Third Young Master has also returned.” Eunuch Qi was also surprised and delighted. Without waiting for them to speak, he turned around. “This old servant will go fetch His Majesty immediately.”

Xie Yanfang said: “There’s no rush, His Majesty’s lesson—”

“The Empress gave special permission—today the lesson can end early.” Eunuch Qi said, then lowered his voice and pointed next door. “His Majesty gave a thousand instructions that we must interrupt his lesson.”

Xie Yanfang smiled slightly, then looked at Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao smiled at him, holding tea with both hands and passing it over: “Don’t blame me for leading His Majesty astray.”

Xie Yanfang reached out to take it, pretending to be serious: “Don’t let it happen again.”

Chu Zhao smiled and bowed her head in courtesy: “Yes, Uncle’s instruction is noted.”

Uncle—Xie Yanfang had just brought the tea to his lips but quickly stopped, raising his sleeve to cover his laughter.

“Uncle!” a child’s voice called out.

Xie Yanfang lowered his sleeve and looked toward the doorway, seeing Xiao Yu walk in. Half a year unseen, the child had changed again—grown taller, his features had filled out considerably. With fair skin and beautiful eyes, wearing bright yellow robes, whether influenced by the aura of the Son of Heaven or having experienced many things, his childishness was almost invisible.

Xie Yanfang stood up and bowed: “This subject pays respects to His Majesty.”

Xiao Yu waited for him to finish the courtesy, then walked several steps to stand before him, his eyes full of smiles and joy: “Uncle, how did you come back?” After saying this, he seemed to feel it was inappropriate. “I thought you would stay home for a while longer.” He asked again, “Great-grandfather is gone—is the family very sad?”

Xie Yanfang looked at him with a smile, listened to him finish, then said: “Grandfather specially instructed me before his death to return to the capital quickly to accompany A’Yu. The person he worried about most was you. He said, ‘How pitiful—such a small child born into an imperial family.'”

Xiao Yu’s expression darkened. Yes, if he had been born into an ordinary family, he wouldn’t have encountered so many human tragedies—

“No, no.” Chu Zhao said from the side. “It’s fortunate you were born into an imperial family.”

Xie Yanfang and Xiao Yu looked at her.

“Born into an ordinary family, having lost your parents, you wouldn’t have so many people supporting and protecting you,” Chu Zhao said.

Xiao Yu had already walked to Chu Zhao’s side, smiling as he called out “Sister.”

“If that were the case, you couldn’t possibly go with me today to enjoy the flowers,” Chu Zhao continued looking at him. “Every day struggling for three meals, not knowing what tomorrow brings—where would you have the mood to look at scenery?”

Xiao Yu nodded: “Sister is right.”

Chu Zhao held his hand: “And such things aren’t hypothetical. Right now in this world, there are many children like that.”

Xiao Yu stopped smiling and said seriously: “I know. Although I’m pitiful, there are people more pitiful than me. I want to be a good emperor and let the pitiful people in the world live better.”

Chu Zhao held his hand and shook it, saying: “Only if Your Majesty is like this will Great-grandfather truly be at peace in the afterlife.”

Xiao Yu broke into a smile, then looked at Xie Yanfang: “Uncle, I definitely won’t let Great-grandfather worry.”

Xie Yanfang nodded with a smile: “Not only your great-grandfather, but your grandfather, your father and mother won’t worry either.”

Xiao Yu leaned against Chu Zhao, then summoned palace maids and attendants to help him change clothes, asking Chu Zhao which outfit looked best for the banquet.

“Your Majesty looks good in everything,” Chu Zhao smiled.

Xiao Yu was no longer the six-year-old child who thought wearing all the hairpins on his head meant looking good. He was already eight years old.

“Uncle, you help me choose,” he said, looking at Xie Yanfang. The young master wore common official robes, but completely different from the officials in court—his elegant and handsome bearing couldn’t be concealed. “I want to look as good as Uncle.”

Xie Yanfang smiled. He didn’t demur or tell the Emperor that one shouldn’t judge by appearances, but stood up and said “good.” He carefully examined each robe, and after careful consideration, chose a deep purple robe.

“Won’t this one be too heavy?” Xiao Yu still discussed with Xie Yanfang. “Sister is holding a flower-viewing banquet with many, many flowers, especially especially bright.”

“Precisely because it’s flower-viewing, with flowers competing in beauty, whatever people wear is just accompaniment,” Xie Yanfang said, holding the deep purple robe up to Xiao Yu. “A’Yu is young with fair skin. Wearing this won’t be heavy at all. Put it on—”

He wrapped his arm around Xiao Yu’s shoulder, turning toward the large bronze mirror, looking at the elegant young master and child in the mirror with a smile.

“You’ll look as good as me.”

Xiao Yu smiled, no longer hesitating as the palace maids and attendants served him in changing robes. Then he turned around to let Chu Zhao see: “Sister, does it look good?”

Chu Zhao sat to the side watching, smiling: “Third Young Master is truly capable of anything. This robe makes A’Yu look mighty and extraordinary.”

Xie Yanfang smiled, examined the girl for a moment, then suddenly said: “Let me also select a robe for the Empress.”

Chu Zhao was startled and wanted to speak, but Xiao Yu had already happily said “good”: “Sister Chu must look the best.” After saying this, he quickly added: “Sister Chu already looks the best. I mean, dressed the best too.”

The child had truly grown up and knew how to compliment people. Chu Zhao laughed. She naturally wouldn’t spoil the mood, stood up, and said: “Good.”

Palace maids lined up in the hall in a row, clothing racks displaying a dazzling array of robes in various colors and styles. Chu Zhao’s eyes were overwhelmed—she didn’t know she had so many clothes.

“New ones are made for the Empress each season,” the palace matron said. “It’s just that the Empress doesn’t use them much.”

Chu Zhao was different from other empresses. Chu Zhao attended court and commonly wore court robes. Because the dynasty’s affairs were numerous and there were no banquets in the palace, she wore the same few regular outfits—

And there was one more important point: the Emperor was still young and didn’t need the Empress to dress up to seek favor.

Women adorn themselves for those who appreciate them.

Chu Zhao looked at the mirror, slightly lost in thought. Actually, in that previous life when she was Empress, she had far more clothes and jewelry than now. She devoted more than half her energy to dressing and adorning herself, but what use was it? Her existence was not because of her beauty.

In this life, no one could make her serve with her appearance, nor would she serve others with her appearance.

A light crimson dress was held before her. Xie Yanfang stood at her side, looking at the girl in the mirror.

The girl had also grown up. Her face had filled out, her features clear and beautiful. Add to that over a year of sitting steadily in court, her eyes were bright as stars. With the light-colored dress on, smiling at the mirror, radiance shone forth in all directions.

“Sister looks truly beautiful,” Xiao Yu said standing to the side.

Xie Yanfang also smiled slightly, looking at the girl standing beside him in the mirror.

She truly looked beautiful.

Like him in his youth.

High-spirited, embracing clear winds and bright moon.