“When you first ran away from the capital, though you met me and had the bad luck of being stopped, after you returned to the capital and went through so much, you finally set out on your journey again.”

“And this time, you even had me as your escort.”

“This shows that you, Chu Zhao, are favored by heaven.”

“Think about it—in the capital, everyone despised you, yet no one could do anything to you, and you even became Empress.”

Hearing this, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but glare at him: “Nonsense! What do you mean everyone despised me?”

She looked up, but the young officer was looking straight ahead, and she could only see his chin.

“You’re the one everyone despises,” Chu Zhao said.

Xie Yanlai snorted: “I’m a son of a concubine, despised by all. You’re the Empress—” he lowered his head to look at the girl in front of him, raising an eyebrow, “and similarly, despised by all.”

Chu Zhao smiled. She understood his meaning. Sitting in the position of Empress, many people detested her. Court officials resented her presence in court. Even Deng Yi had no choice but to select her, and as for Xie Yanfang, he would probably have preferred to choose an empress of his liking.

In her previous life, her position as Empress satisfied many, but only she was unfortunate.

In this life, her position as Empress displeased many, so perhaps this time she wouldn’t be the unfortunate one.

This distraction somewhat dispersed her tension. Chu Zhao raised an eyebrow and smiled: “Being despised isn’t so bad.”

Xie Yanlai made a sound: “Look at you. Who wouldn’t find you annoying?”

“My father doesn’t,” Chu Zhao said. “And if my mother were alive, she wouldn’t either.” She looked at Xie Yanlai again. “You—”

Xie Yanlai freed a hand to pull her hood over her head, cutting off her next words. The girl’s voice turned into a muffled sound as she waved her hands, like a cat.

Xie Yanlai smirked, focusing his attention ahead. Suddenly, he pulled the girl’s hood back down: “I told you, even someone despised by all can have good fortune. Chu Zhao, look ahead.”

Chu Zhao looked forward. Her vision was still a bit blurry, so she hurriedly rubbed her eyes. At the same time, she heard the guiding messenger shouting.

“General Chu—it’s General Chu—”

Even without the messenger’s shout, Chu Zhao had already glimpsed the figures ahead through her fingers. On the vast snow-covered land, a group of people and horses stood silently. They had been waiting for some unknown time, their heavy cloaks turned white with snow.

The man at the front sat tall as a mountain on his horse, white as jade.

……

……

When she first caught sight of him through her fingers, Chu Zhao wished she could be at her father’s side in the blink of an eye.

But when the horses drew near and she could see the man’s eyebrows, nose, and eyes, Chu Zhao froze.

“A-Zhao!” Zhong Changrong called out, concerned yet unable to conceal his sadness.

Xie Yanlai said: “She’s fine.” He embraced the girl and helped her dismount.

Chu Zhao suddenly felt the world spinning and let out a startled cry, coming back to her senses.

“We’ve frightened our A-Zhao,” Chu Wei said from his horse, smiling.

Xie Yanlai looked at him, sensing something wrong, and frowned slightly. Chu Zhao had already rushed over.

Chu Wei dismounted, and Zhong Changrong quickly moved to support him, saying: “Be careful, General, your health isn’t good.”

Chu Zhao, who was about to throw herself into her father’s arms, abruptly stopped, slowly reaching out her hand to touch Chu Wei’s arm—

“Are you trying to confirm if I’m real?” Chu Wei smiled, opening his arms. “Come, though A-Zhao has grown up, this old father can still lift you onto his shoulders.”

Chu Zhao burst into laughter, tears flying from her eyes. Without further hesitation, she threw herself into her father’s embrace.

“Father,” she choked, “it’s been so long—”

“So long since you’ve seen me, right?” Chu Wei finished her sentence, smiling as he gently patted his daughter’s head. “I know, I know everything.”

Yes, it had been so long. She had experienced death before seeing her father again. Chu Zhao felt her father’s embrace, which wasn’t warm—having waited here for who knows how long, his robes were freezing, and even his hands were ice-cold.

She had finally seen her father.

The scene of the father-daughter reunion brought tears to everyone’s eyes. Even Zhong Changrong wanted to cry, but someone was pacing back and forth in front of him—

This rascal! Zhong Changrong glared at Xie Yanlai. Why was it him again!

Xie Yanlai also looked at him, nodding toward Chu Wei’s direction, then pointed at his own eyes.

This brat, nothing escapes him. The young miss hadn’t even noticed yet. Zhong Changrong glared at Xie Yanlai, silently warning him to “keep quiet.”

Xie Yanlai snickered and turned away.

The wilderness was too cold. Despite the excitement of the reunion, Chu Zhao hadn’t forgotten about her father’s health. Though her father had personally come to meet her, Uncle Zhong’s unusual urgency in calling her suggested something very serious.

Her father had come to meet her, probably fearing she would be frightened.

After a brief exchange, the group immediately headed back to the city. Since they weren’t far from the city, they hadn’t brought extra horses.

Zhong Changrong was about to ask some soldiers to walk on foot, but Chu Zhao had already grabbed Xie Yanlai’s arm, waving: “No need, no need. A-Jiu and I will be fine together.”

Xie Yanlai frowned and shook her off, but didn’t say anything.

Chu Wei, who had been helped onto his horse by Zhong Changrong, looked over—

Xie Yanlai met his gaze.

Even knowing that Chu Wei could no longer see, Xie Yanlai still felt uncomfortable.

Chu Wei smiled and said: “Thank you, Lieutenant Xie. I must trouble you for a bit longer on this journey.”

What’s there for this kid to be troubled about?—Zhong Changrong glared at Xie Yanlai, who rolled his eyes in response. See, how annoying.

Xie Yanlai watched Chu Zhao mount her horse, then mounted his own, cracking his whip to urge the horse forward.

“Father,” Chu Zhao called out anxiously, leaning forward.

Chu Wei smiled, gently tapping his horse’s head. Without needing his guidance, the horse quickened its pace to catch up.

Zhong Changrong commanded from behind, and the soldiers stood at attention as their horses’ hooves trampled the snow.

……

……

Following Chu Wei to the city, the officers had been waiting for a long time. However, they didn’t stand on ceremony. After greeting them, they withdrew, allowing father and daughter to speak privately.

“Miss A-Zhao has been away from the border commandery for almost two years, right?”

“Yes, it’s been a very long time. They are truly having a reunion after a long separation.”

The officers discussed and sighed as they left.

Xie Yanlai didn’t stay either. He went to meet Xiaoman, A-Le, and the others, who, according to their travel schedule, should arrive soon.

“Talk in peace,” Zhong Changrong said in a deep voice. “I’ll keep watch outside.”

The door closed, leaving only father and daughter inside. With their cloaks removed, the warm charcoal fire softened their freezing clothes.

Chu Zhao looked at her father sitting in the chair—

“What are you looking at?” Chu Wei asked with a smile. “Are you afraid this is a dream and can’t believe it?”

Chu Zhao sniffled and nodded.

Chu Wei beckoned to her, and Chu Zhao came forward, half-kneeling before him.

“A-Zhao, dreams are elusive. Just stay clear-headed in your own life,” Chu Wei said, then added, “Actually, my eyes are blind now.”

Chu Zhao was stunned, looking at her father’s eyes, which still seemed warm and spirited—

“This time,” Chu Wei’s warm eyes looked at her, “I must leave you again.”

……

……

While the border commandery was covered in bitter snow, the capital also welcomed its coldest period.

However, with victory reports constantly passing through the streets, the harsh winter became more pleasant.

Several officials, each carrying a stack of documents, walked through the imperial palace, chatting and laughing. Suddenly, one of them stopped.

“Gentlemen, you go ahead to see the Grand Tutor,” he said with a smile. “I just remembered something I need to attend to first.”

The other officials smiled and said that the gentleman should do as he pleased, watching as that official headed in another direction.

“What other business,” one of them said softly. “He’s going to show the military reports from the northwest to Third Young Master Xie.”

“The Grand Tutor is in charge of military and political affairs,” another official said with a gloomy face.

Another shook his head and smiled: “If Third Young Master Xie wants to be in charge, can the Grand Tutor stop him?”

That’s true. The three men exchanged glances, and the gloomy-faced official frowned helplessly, looking at the departing official: “This is too blatant, without any disguise. Before it was done privately, now it’s done openly.”

……

……

Xie Yanfang looked at the documents handed by the official but didn’t take them. He said: “Border commandery military reports should be delivered directly to the Grand Tutor. There’s no need to show them to me first.”

The official said: “I remember that, but this one is special.”

Special?

Xie Yanfang reached out to take and open the document: “—Military achievements? This is even less for me to see. The border commandery is of utmost importance right now. Whatever General Chu asks for, give it to him.”

The official turned a few pages, pointing at a line, and said softly: “Military achievements should certainly be granted, but these two people—”

Xie Yanfang’s gaze settled on it, seeing two names.

He said: “To lay down the pen and take up arms at this time, Second Master Liang and his son are indeed men of courage.”

The official said: “I don’t know what connections this father and son have used, but they’ve seized this opportunity and even earned military merits. Their crimes are immediately offset, and they’ve regained official status.”

Xie Yanfang said: “This is how heroes emerge in troubled times.”

The official laughed: “Third Young Master, no need for such sentiments. Shall we destroy this document?”

Xie Yanfang looked up at him, smiling: “Why?”

“The Liang family was punished because of the Xie family,” the official said. Had the Third Young Master forgotten? Impossible, the Third Young Master never forgot anything.

With the Liang family awarded and given official status, a once-dead tree had been revived—no enemy would want to see this.

The Liang family had grievances and hatred, which would threaten the Xie family.

Xie Yanfang laughed heartily, throwing the military report back on the desk: “When the Liang family was at its peak, they weren’t a threat to my Xie family. How could they be now?”

“But, Third Young Master,” the official said with a bitter smile, “now there’s the Grand Tutor.”

The Grand Tutor was willing to support those who had grudges against the Xie family. The Liang father and son had only achieved minor military merit this time, but with the Grand Tutor’s support, they could rise quickly, becoming the Grand Tutor’s lackeys and opposing the Xie family everywhere, which would be very troublesome.

For such matters, one should nip them in the bud, directly cutting off the Liang family’s lifeline. They should never be allowed to receive military merit.

Xie Yanfang looked at the official and nodded: “I understand your intention, but doing this would be losing more for less. During critical wartime, suppressing military achievements would give others a handle against us. The Grand Tutor could pursue charges of undermining military morale, and my Xie family would also offend the entire border commandery army—”

He picked up the document, paused, then smiled.

“It’s better to let the Grand Tutor make his own decision. Then it has nothing to do with me.”

The official seemed not to understand. Xie Yanfang gestured to him, and the official quickly drew near, listening to Xie Yanfang’s whispered words. A smile appeared on his face.

“I understand,” the official smiled, taking the military report and bowing as he left.

The Grand Tutor’s location was the busiest place in the imperial palace. Before one official finished his inquiry, another pushed forward. When they had all finally spoken, a minor official beside the Grand Tutor raised his hand to stop the remaining people.

“Stop, all of you. Come in turns. Take turns to eat. The Grand Tutor hasn’t eaten yet,” they shouted sternly.

Even the minor officials around the Grand Tutor couldn’t be underestimated. Although they all held unofficial positions, they were Deng Yi’s people—his people who brought him money.

Not small amounts of money, nor amounts that ordinary families could afford, but from powerful noble families. They sent money, Deng Yi arranged positions, and thus they became his people.

The powerful noble families gained opportunities, while Deng Yi gained support and assistance. Each got what they needed, creating a harmonious situation.

These minor officials came from significant backgrounds, so other officials couldn’t look down on them. To meet Deng Yi, they had to maintain good relations with these minor officials.

Now, hearing the minor official’s words, everyone could only withdraw.

“When the Grand Tutor finishes eating, remember to call me first,” another official whispered to the minor official, while secretly slipping him a jade pendant under the pretext of adjusting his sleeve.

The minor official accepted it calmly.

Many people witnessed this scene. Some shook their heads helplessly: “How is this any different from when the Crown Prince was in charge?”

At that time, the late Emperor neglected court affairs, the Crown Prince was obsessed with riding and archery, the Yang family was domineering, and the archery officials ran rampant, collecting money just like this—

They had thought that with the new Emperor and new Grand Tutor, there would be a new atmosphere.

But now it seemed they had thought too much. The late Emperor had foolishly appointed a low-born minor official as the Supervising Grand Tutor, making the Great Xia court even more absurd.

“That’s not entirely fair,” another official said softly. “Regardless, the Grand Tutor hasn’t delayed court affairs. His handling is extremely fast, accurate, stable, and good—”

Another official nodded: “Let him take money, let him be autocratic. As long as he gets things done, let’s just get through these few years.”

Great Xia was truly beset by calamities.

Look at the current situation: a young Emperor, an unruly Empress, a Grand Tutor focused on money and power. Well, at least there was still Third Young Master Xie.

The officials withdrew to the corridor outside the hall, each lost in their thoughts. But one official who had just arrived refused to leave and pushed his way inside.

“Grand Tutor, this is an urgent matter from the border commandery. General Chu said that military merits must be rewarded immediately, without delay,” he shouted, holding up his document.

Deng Yi, who had just sat down at the dining table with two minor officials, wiping his hands, slightly raised his eyes.

“What nonsense,” he said. “Is General Chu going to run the court as well as fight the war?”

Hearing this, the minor officials at the door no longer hesitated. They reached out to restrain the official who was trying to push inside.

“Out!” they shouted.

The scholarly official, clutching his documents, was pushed back, staggering.

The great hall doors closed with a bang.