“Report—”

“Xi Liang soldiers outside Yunzhong Commandery have been eliminated—”

“Great victory, great victory at Wang City—”

“Empress Chu has achieved great victory at Wang City—”

Galloping courier soldiers with flying silk banners on their backs passed through the city. The already bustling streets instantly exploded like firecrackers.

On the second floor of a private room, Qi Leyun pushed open the windows with two bangs. Cold wind rushed in carrying the clamor.

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

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

The girls chided her. “Do we need to hear it like this?” “We heard it clearly long ago.”

These people were either wealthy or noble with well-informed sources. Moreover, this was a flying victory bulletin. Before it even reached the capital, their families had already received the news.

Everyone couldn’t be bothered with Qi Leyun at the window and looked toward Chu Tang sitting in the center.

“A’Tang, what’s going on?” “How did Chu Zhao get to the border commandery?”

Chu Tang pressed her hand to her chest. “I can finally talk about this matter. It’s been so hard keeping it secret. You don’t know how much my heart and body have endured—”

The girls didn’t wait for her to finish and interrupted, shaking her. “Never mind your heart and body.” “Hurry up and tell us what happened!”

Chu Tang laughed as she was shaken, dodging the girls and walking a few steps away.

“This matter is very simple. When everyone in the capital was denouncing my uncle for inadequate leadership and lamenting the people’s suffering, Chu Zhao led troops out from the palace—” She stood firm, extending her hand forward in a sweeping motion like a sharp sword striking down. “Heading straight for the border commandery to eliminate bandits and save the people.”

Very simple—it sounded very simple. But to actually do it, that far, that dangerous—the girls looked at her with excited expressions.

Chu Tang turned to look at everyone. “This is our Chu clan—saving the nation and protecting the people, not fearing infamy or hardship. We don’t just talk, we act.”

Qi Leyun slapped her hand at the window. “How can we not talk! Before there were faults, General Chu was cursed. Now there are achievements, we must praise! A’Tang, hold a banquet at Chu Garden, send invitations—everyone come praise the Empress!”

……

……

“Outrageous!”

In the great hall of the court, after a long interval, all ears were filled with talk of the Empress.

Before the flying victory bulletin reached the capital, most court officials had already received the news and immediately blocked the Grand Tutor’s and Third Young Master Xie’s locations.

Never mind why the Empress appeared at the border commandery—first suppress this news. Only mention the great victory, don’t mention the Empress.

But it was still useless. The flying victory bulletin shouting the Empress’s name passed through cities and towns straight to the capital. Everyone knew.

In the court hall, all civil and military officials questioned the Grand Tutor, including Xie Yanfang, as well as the young Emperor sitting on the dragon throne.

By now, everyone understood clearly in their hearts.

“Outside, there’s wild speculation spreading that the Empress heard about the people’s suffering in the deep palace and felt uneasy, leading 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 still hung there, though no one had been behind it for a long time—of course, there shouldn’t have been anyone behind the curtain to begin with.

At the time, they’d said the Empress’s injuries from rescuing the Emperor had relapsed and she needed rest, so she couldn’t accompany the Emperor to court anymore—they’d wished she would never recover!

They had celebrated and cheered, thanking Heaven for having eyes.

Who would have thought!

That Empress Chu wasn’t listening behind the curtain in court but had led troops to the border commandery.

Throughout history, where had there been such an outrageous thing!

What was even more outrageous was that the Emperor was one thing—young, understanding nothing, able to manage nothing. But the Regent Grand Tutor and Xie Yanfang—these two couldn’t claim they didn’t know!

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

“Grand Tutor, Lord Xie, how could you indulge the Empress like this and commit such an outrageous act?”

At this moment, all civil and military officials questioned in unison.

Deng Yi had remained silent from beginning to end.

“Everyone, this isn’t really an outrageous matter,” Xie Yanfang said. “After all, this is a victory report, a joyous occasion—”

“Lord Xie!” An official angrily interrupted Xie Yanfang. “We’re not talking about the victory report now—we’re talking about the Empress leaving the palace!”

Xie Yanfang said slowly, “Actually, it’s still about this matter. The Empress left the palace precisely to rescue the border people.”

“Lord Xie,” an elderly official said in a trembling voice. “Has our Da Xia reached the point where we need the Empress to lead troops into battle? Isn’t this an outrageous matter? If Da Xia has truly reached this point, though this official is old and feeble, I dare to go to my death in battle!”

Xie Yanfang bowed to him. “This official understands my lord’s sentiments.”

Understands—just nice words, without saying what use this matter serves. Several officials stepped forward urgently—

“What’s outrageous about it?” Deng Yi’s voice hammered down from the front. “If this is an outrageous matter, it’s not the first time such things have happened.”

Everyone looked at him.

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

He swept his gaze across the assembled officials.

“Our Da Xia is currently unstable as a nation, with endless outrageous incidents. If Empress Chu could personally kill bandits to protect His Majesty, naturally she can personally go to the border to defend our territory.”

“That our Da Xia has such an Empress is great fortune within misfortune. What do you all have to question!”

“Now that you’ve heard the news, you call it outrageous and say you want to go kill enemies—why didn’t you say so before?”

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

Deng Yi’s gaze fell on that old lord.

“If you want to go to battle and defend the territory like the Empress, then please proceed immediately to the border.”

The entire court was in an uproar. This was a threat!

That old lord was both angry and anxious. “You, Deng Yi! This official will remove his official robes right now and go to the border to kill enemies.” He rallied the others. “Let us all go. We will die for Da Xia. This court can be left to the Grand Tutor alone.”

In the great hall, quite a few officials immediately removed their official hats. Some were indignant, some wept for the Late Emperor—chaos reigned.

This was the first time since ascending to court that Xiao Yu had witnessed such a scene. He sat high on the dragon throne, looking past these officials, seemingly seeing that night—that night had seemed this chaotic too. No, that night wasn’t chaotic. That night had only darkness, weapons, firelight.

Xiao Yu wanted to hold tight the bamboo tube in his arms, but reaching out found nothing—the bamboo tube had been left in the sleeping chamber.

What to do? The bamboo tube wasn’t here, Sister wasn’t here either—

“A’Yu,” a voice came.

This voice seemed like Mother’s, yet different. He was almost forgetting Mother’s voice.

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

“A’Yu,” Xie Yanfang said. “Do you still remember what Uncle told you?”

……

……

Before court, Xiao Yu walked out of the sleeping chamber and saw Xie Yanfang standing at the door—this uncle whom he never summoned, and who never came before him of his own accord.

As if he didn’t exist.

But he did exist after all. In the court hall, he would see him, just like those officials and ministers.

That’s right, just a court minister and official.

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

“A’Yu,” Xie Yanfang didn’t bow but instead 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 going 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 Xi Liang soldiers can’t harm her. Lord Xie need not worry.”

Xie Yanfang looked at him. “I know those Xi Liang soldiers can’t harm her. But these people in court can harm her. Harm isn’t necessarily physical—there’s also reputation. A’Yu, you must protect her reputation, just as she went to see her father to ease his worries, you must ease her worries from behind.”

“I failed to protect your parents, and failed to protect you. I’m incompetent, unable to protect those I want to protect. But A’Yu is different.”

“A’Yu can now protect those you want to protect.”

……

……

Xiao Yu looked at Xie Yanfang standing below. The court was noisy, but his voice reached clearly into his ears.

He withdrew his gaze and stood up.

“Silence!” he said.

The child’s voice was immature, not particularly loud in the noisy hall.

But he was the Emperor.

The Emperor had spoken. Eunuch Qi immediately called loudly, “Silence!” Then the Imperial Guards on duty in the hall shouted in unison, “Silence!” while striking their weapons simultaneously, like rolling thunder.

The officials’ clamor instantly stopped, and only then did they see the Emperor standing.

The young Emperor was speaking?

The young Emperor rarely spoke. Aside from the opening “rise from courtesy” and the final “court is dismissed,” he only listened during court deliberations.

Seeing this chaotic dispute, was the child frightened? Displeased?

“Your Majesty,” everyone bowed. Some asked His Majesty to calm his anger, some wept mournfully.

“Ministers, please hear what I have to say,” Xiao Yu said.

The small child’s voice was immature, but not one official present laughed. All raised their heads to look at him.

“The Empress is to lead the Six Palaces and should practice the virtues of maternal instruction and moral transformation,” Xiao Yu said. “But my Empress is different from all who came before. I survived the chaos thanks to the Empress’s rescue. Empress Chu is the daughter of Guardian General Chu Ling. Though she is a woman, she is brave and skilled in battle. Therefore, Imperial Grandfather made her Empress so she could continue to protect my safety. The people of Da Xia and I are one body. The safety of Da Xia’s people relates to my safety. I, of supreme honor, sit in the Imperial City and cannot personally go to the border to save the nation and protect the people. Therefore, I asked the Empress to go to the border to ease my worries. This is not an outrageous matter—it was the Late Emperor’s dying command.”

The officials stared dumbly 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 leaving the palace was my command. I persuaded the Grand Tutor and Lord Xie,” Xiao Yu said clearly. “But my ordering the Empress to the border commandery is not because I distrust you ministers. National stability cannot be achieved by one person alone. The Empress inspects the border commandery on my behalf, while you ministers stabilize the nation for me. Both are fundamental to my peace of mind.”

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

“I ascended the throne young and hastily. I uphold the Late Emperor’s governance by culture and suppression of chaos by force. Civil ministers and military officers are all pillars of the court. All my ministers should serve the nation loyally and not provoke divisions or disrupt our court discipline.”

Though the last sentence was spoken in a childish voice, when it fell on the ministers’ ears, they instinctively bowed. “We dare not! We are at fault!”

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

“This matter need not be debated or criticized further. The Empress’s great victory is a joyous occasion for the nation and should be celebrated.”

The officials looked at each other, finally bowing in unison once more. “We congratulate Your Majesty, we congratulate Empress.”

……

……

Sure enough, they weren’t denouncing Sister Chu anymore—they’d changed to congratulating Sister Chu.

His words were that effective.

He truly could protect Sister Chu.

Standing before the dragon throne, Xiao Yu’s eyes couldn’t hide his excitement. Looking at the hall full of bowing officials, only then did his small hands hanging at his sides relax. His palms were covered in sweat.

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

Xiao Yu met his gaze, hesitated, wondering whether to look away. But before he could, Xie Yanfang lowered his head and avoided it.

Xiao Yu clenched his hands but didn’t look away.

……

……

The court session ended. The officials in Deng Yi’s hall also dispersed. The buzzing clamor that had filled his ears finally dissipated.

“My lord,” a clerk brought hot tea.

Deng Yi took it and drank, gently pressing his brow with one hand.

“Who taught His Majesty that?” the clerk said. “He actually spoke at this moment.”

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

The clerk laughed. “I thought it was Empress Chu.”

I thought it was Empress Chu—this seemingly casual remark flashed a thought through Deng Yi’s mind. So now everyone was comparing Chu Zhao with Xie Yanfang, and even with him?

“—Third Young Master Xie truly exerts himself wholeheartedly for Empress Chu,” the clerk continued with a laugh.

“He has no choice but to exert himself. Would he change the Empress now?” Deng Yi said, raising his head. “No matter what, His Majesty speaking at this time was most appropriate.”

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

Deng Yi gripped his teacup and turned it, looking at the victory report on his desk. A flying victory bulletin—that girl not only didn’t conceal her identity, she wanted all under heaven to know.

“Empress Chu doing this—” the clerk asked in a low voice. “Is it for her father? Whose idea was it? Third Young Master Xie’s?”

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

If he’d only heard that Chu Zhao resolved the Xi Liang scattered soldiers, Deng Yi wouldn’t have thought much of it. But upon hearing the flying victory bulletin proclaiming the Empress’s valor, he understood. Third Young Master Xie Yanfang’s expression couldn’t have been much better than his own.

Why laugh? The clerk didn’t understand.

“This wasn’t Third Young Master Xie’s idea,” Deng Yi said with a laugh. “This was Empress Chu’s own idea.”

And it wasn’t for her father either—it was for herself.

All along, this girl’s ideas had been her own, all for herself.

Previously, she used the opportunity of the capital’s chaos to be seen by the Late Emperor and demanded the Empress position from him.

Now, using the Xi Liang invasion to achieve such merit, of course she wanted all under heaven to see.

An Empress seen by all under heaven was no longer just a decoration sitting in the Imperial City.

The smile on Deng Yi’s face gradually faded.

Was this girl wanting too much?