“News—”

“Western Liang troops outside Yunzhong Commandery have been eliminated—”

“Great victory, great victory at Wangcheng—”

“Empress Chu’s great victory at Wangcheng—”

The speeding courier, with fluttering silk banners inserted at his back, passed through the city. The already bustling streets instantly erupted like firecrackers.

On the second floor of a private room, Qi Leyun pushed open the windows with two loud bangs, allowing the cold wind and clamor to surge in.

The thinly dressed girls inside complained, “Qi Leyun, what are you doing?!”

Qi Leyun stood by the window and said loudly, “So everyone can hear more clearly.”

The girls reproached her, “Do we need to hear it this way?” “We’ve already heard clearly.”

These people were either wealthy or noble, with excellent sources of information. This time, with the express courier, their families had received the news even before it reached the capital.

They didn’t bother with Qi Leyun by the window, instead turning to look at Chu Tang sitting in the center.

“A-Tang, what exactly happened?” “How did Chu Zhao go to the border commandery?”

Chu Tang pressed her hand to her heart: “I can finally talk about this. I’ve been keeping it secret with such difficulty. You don’t know how my heart, my body has suffered—”

The girls interrupted her before she could finish, shaking her and saying, “Never mind your heart and body.” “Quick, tell us what happened!”

Chu Tang laughed as they shook her, stepping away from the girls.

“It’s very simple. While people in the capital were criticizing my uncle for incompetent leadership and lamenting the suffering of the people, Chu Zhao led troops from the palace—” She planted her feet firmly and swept her hand forward like a sharp sword cutting down. “She headed straight for the border commandery to eliminate the bandits and save the people.”

It sounded simple, but to do it—going so far, facing such danger—the girls looked at her with excitement.

Chu Tang turned to face everyone: “This is the Chu clan, saving the country and protecting the people, not fearing slander or hardship. We don’t speak; we act.”

Qi Leyun clapped by the window: “How can we not speak! Before, General Chu was criticized; now he has merit, and he should be praised! A-Tang, hold a banquet at Chu Garden, send out invitations, and let everyone come praise the Empress!”

…

…

“Absurd!”

In the great hall of the court, after a long interval, everyone was talking about the Empress.

Before the express courier reached the capital, most court officials had already received the news and confronted the Grand Tutor and Third Young Master Xie.

Before discussing why the Empress appeared at the border commandery, they wanted to suppress the news, only announcing the victory without mentioning the Empress.

But it was useless. The express couriers shouting the Empress’s name passed through cities and towns to the capital, making it known to everyone.

In the court hall, the entire court questioned the Grand Tutor, including Xie Yanfang and the young Emperor sitting on the dragon throne.

By now, everyone understood the situation clearly.

“Outside, they’re spreading rumors about the Empress hearing of the people’s suffering in the deep palace and couldn’t rest, so she led troops to the border overnight—it’s all false!”

The Empress hadn’t been in the deep palace before this incident.

The court officials looked toward the dragon throne. The curtain behind it was still hanging, with no one behind it for a long time—of course, there should be no one behind the curtain.

At the time, they said the Empress’s injury from saving the Emperor had relapsed and she needed rest, so she couldn’t accompany the Emperor to court—they had hoped her injury would never heal.

They had rejoiced and thanked heaven for its mercy.

Who would have thought!

That Empress Chu wasn’t in court ruling from behind the curtain but had taken troops to the border commandery!

Throughout history, had there ever been such an absurd thing!

Even more absurd was that, apart from the Emperor, who was young and didn’t understand or control anything, how could the Regent Grand Tutor and Xie Yanfang claim they didn’t know!

If these two truly didn’t know, then Great Xia was completely under Empress Chu’s control.

“Grand Tutor, Official Xie, how could you indulge the Empress in such absurd behavior?”

At this moment, the entire court questioned them in unison.

Deng Yi remained silent from beginning to end.

“Everyone, this isn’t so absurd,” Xie Yanfang said. “After all, this is a victory report, a joyous occasion—”

“Official Xie!” an official angrily interrupted Xie Yanfang. “We’re not talking about the victory report; we’re talking about the Empress leaving the palace!”

Xie Yanfang spoke calmly: “Actually, it’s the same matter. The Empress left the palace to save the border people.”

“Official Xie,” an elderly official said with a trembling voice. “Has our Great Xia reached the point where the Empress must lead troops into battle? Isn’t this absurd? If Great Xia has truly reached such a state, this official, though old, would dare to fight to the death!”

Xie Yanfang bowed to him, saying: “I understand your concern, Official.”

Understanding, just saying nice words, without addressing the issue—several officials stepped forward anxiously—

“What’s so absurd about it?” Deng Yi’s voice crashed down from the front. “If this is absurd, it’s not without precedent.”

Everyone looked at him.

“Don’t forget, His Majesty—” Deng Yi said, “was personally saved by Empress Chu, who rode into battle.”

He swept his gaze across the officials present.

“Our Great Xia is currently unstable, with constant absurdities. If Empress Chu can personally kill enemies to protect His Majesty, she can certainly go to the border to defend our territory.”

“For our Great Xia to have such an Empress is a great fortune amid misfortune. What are you questioning?”

“Now you hear the news and call it absurd, saying you want to kill enemies. Why didn’t you say so before?”

“Of course, it’s not too late to say it now—”

Deng Yi’s gaze fell on the elderly official.

“If you wish to go into battle like the Empress to defend our territory, please proceed to the border immediately.”

The court erupted in uproar. This was a threat!

The elderly official was both angry and anxious: “You, Deng Yi, this official will remove his official robe and go to the border to kill enemies right now.” He then called on others, “Let us all go. We will die for the Great Xia. This court can be left to the Grand Tutor alone.”

In the great hall, many officials immediately removed their official hats, some indignant, some weeping for the late Emperor, creating chaos.

This was the first time since his ascension that Xiao Yu had witnessed such a scene. Sitting on the high dragon throne, he looked past these officials and seemed to see that night—that night that was similarly chaotic, no, that night wasn’t chaotic, that night was only darkness, weapons, and firelight.

Xiao Yu wanted to hold the bamboo tube in his arms, but reaching out, he found it empty—the tube was left in the sleeping palace.

What should he do? The bamboo tube wasn’t here, and his sister wasn’t either—

“A-Yu.” A voice came.

This voice sounded like his mother’s, but different. He was almost forgetting his mother’s voice.

Xiao Yu looked toward the sound and met a pair of bright, warm eyes.

“A-Yu,” Xie Yanfang said, “do you remember what your uncle told you?”

…

…

Before the court, Xiao Yu walked out of the sleeping palace and saw Xie Yanfang standing at the door—this uncle never summoned him, and this uncle also never appeared before him.

As if he didn’t exist.

But he did exist, in court, he would see him, just like those officials and courtiers.

That’s right, just like the courtiers and officials.

Xiao Yu didn’t speak, waiting for him to bow.

“A-Yu,” Xie Yanfang didn’t bow but crouched down, looking at him. “I know you don’t trust me, don’t like me, but this time you must listen to what I say. This is to protect your Sister Chu.”

Was this uncle trying to persuade him to bring Sister Chu back? This uncle was very clever; he must have guessed his and that other uncle’s true intentions. Xiao Yu moved his lips: “Sister won’t be in danger. I trust Sister. Those Western Liang soldiers can’t harm her. Official Xie needn’t worry.”

Xie Yanfang looked at him: “I know those Western Liang soldiers can’t harm her, but the people in court can harm her. Harm isn’t necessarily physical; it can also affect reputation. A-Yu, you need to protect her reputation, just as she’s going to see her father to ease his worries, you need to ease her worries here.”

“I couldn’t protect your parents, nor could I protect you. I’m incapable of protecting those I want to protect, but A-Yu is different.”

“A-Yu can now protect the person you want to protect.”

…

…

Xiao Yu looked at Xie Yanfang standing below. Amid the court’s clamor, his voice reached his ears.

He withdrew his gaze and stood up.

“Silence!” he said.

The child’s voice was childish and not loud amid the hall’s commotion.

But he was the Emperor.

The Emperor had spoken. Eunuch Qi immediately called out loudly, “Silence!” Then the palace guards on duty all shouted “Silence!” while striking their weapons, creating a rolling thunder sound.

The officials’ clamor instantly stopped, and they saw the Emperor standing.

The young Emperor was speaking?

The young Emperor rarely spoke, except for the opening “dispense with formalities” and the final “court dismissed.” During court discussions, he only listened.

Was the child frightened by the chaotic arguments? Unhappy?

“Your Majesty,” everyone bowed, some asking His Majesty to calm down, others weeping sorrowfully.

“My beloved officials, please hear my words,” Xiao Yu said.

The small child’s voice was childish, but none of the officials present laughed. All raised their heads to look at him.

“The Empress is supposed to lead the six palaces, practicing the virtue of motherly example and education,” Xiao Yu said. “But my Empress is different from those in the past. I survived the chaos because of the Empress’s protection. Empress Chu is the daughter of Defense General Chu Wei. Although she is a woman, she is brave and skilled in battle, so my imperial grandfather appointed her as Empress so she could continue to guard my safety. The people of Great Xia and I are one; the safety of Great Xia’s people is related to my safety. I, with the supreme imperial authority, preside over the imperial city and cannot personally go to the border to save the country and protect the people. Therefore, I asked the Empress to go to the border to resolve my worries. This is not absurd; it is the late Emperor’s dying wish.”

The officials stared at this child emperor, their first thought being: who taught him this? The Grand Tutor? Xie Yanfang? Or Empress Chu?

“Officials need not speculate wildly. The Empress’s departure from the palace was my order, and I convinced the Grand Tutor and Official Xie,” Xiao Yu said clearly. “But my command for the Empress to go to the border commandery was not due to distrust of my beloved officials. The stability of the country cannot be achieved by one person alone. The Empress represents me in investigating the border commandery, and you, beloved officials, stabilize the country for me. Both are fundamental to my peace of mind.”

At this point, the Emperor straightened his small face and looked around the hall.

“I ascended the throne at a young age and in haste, following the late Emperor’s governance of ruling with civility and suppressing chaos with military might. Civil and military officials are both pillars of the court. All my officials should serve the public interest and embody the state, not provoke conflicts and disturb the court’s rules.”

Although the final sentence was childish, falling on the officials’ ears, they instinctively bowed deeply: “We dare not! We are guilty!”

As the echoes faded, the child’s voice fell again.

“This matter needs no further harsh criticism. The Empress’s great victory is a joyous occasion for the country and should be celebrated.”

The officials looked at each other, finally bowing together again: “We congratulate Your Majesty, we congratulate the Empress.”

…

…

Sure enough, they no longer denounced Sister Chu but congratulated her instead.

His words were so effective.

He really could protect Sister Chu.

Standing before the dragon throne, Xiao Yu couldn’t hide the excitement in his eyes as he looked at the officials bowing throughout the hall. Only then did his small hands at his sides relax, his palms wet with sweat.

Among the bowing officials, Xie Yanfang raised his head and smiled at him.

Xiao Yu met his gaze, hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to look away, but before he could, Xie Yanfang lowered his head, avoiding his gaze.

Xiao Yu clenched his hands, not looking away.

…

…

As the court dispersed, the officials in Deng Yi’s hall also left. The buzzing noise in his ears finally dissipated.

“Sir,” a minor official brought hot tea.

Deng Yi took it, drank a sip, and gently pressed his brow.

“Who taught His Majesty that?” the minor official said. “To speak at such a time.”

Deng Yi said: “Who else but Xie Yanfang?”

The minor official smiled: “I thought it was Empress Chu.”

“I thought it was Empress Chu”—this seemingly casual remark made Deng Yi flash a thought: so now people were comparing Chu Zhao with Xie Yanfang, and him?

“—Third Young Master Xie is truly devoted to Empress Chu,” the minor official continued with a smile.

“He has no choice but to be devoted. Are we going to change Empresses now?” Deng Yi said, raising his head. “Whatever the case, His Majesty speaking at this time was most appropriate.”

He could allow Chu Zhao to come and go freely from the palace, but he couldn’t prevent her from being questioned.

Deng Yi rotated the teacup in his hand, looking at the victory report placed on the desk. Express courier indeed—that girl not only didn’t conceal her identity but wanted the whole world to know.

“Is Empress Chu doing this—” the minor official asked softly, “for her father? Whose idea was it? Third Young Master Xie’s?”

Deng Yi suddenly laughed: “Third Young Master Xie.” He laughed twice.

If he had only heard about Chu Zhao eliminating the scattered Western Liang soldiers, Deng Yi wouldn’t have thought much of it. But upon hearing the express courier proclaiming the Empress’s bravery, he knew that Xie Yanfang’s expression couldn’t be much better than his own.

What was he laughing at? The minor official didn’t understand.

“This wasn’t Third Young Master Xie’s idea,” Deng Yi laughed. “This was Empress Chu’s idea.”

And it wasn’t for her father, but for herself.

All along, this girl had her ideas, all for herself.

Previously, taking advantage of the capital’s chaos to be seen by the late Emperor, she demanded the position of Empress from him.

Now, by establishing such merit during the Western Liang invasion, she certainly wanted the world to see.

An Empress seen by the world was no longer just a decoration sitting in the imperial city.

The smile on Deng Yi’s face gradually faded.

Was this girl asking for too much?