The second year of Jianning arrived accompanied by heavy snow.

In the Imperial City, everything proceeded as usual with the New Year grand banquet being held.

The men were fine, preparing as normal, but the womenfolk were somewhat troubled.

“Should we go or not?” A household’s madam held the invitation and asked her husband with a frown.

Her husband also frowned. “What kind of question is that? The Emperor invites you to a banquet and you won’t go? Who do you think you are?”

“I mean, should we bring the other family members or not?” the madam said, then lowered her voice. “After all, the Empress is no longer here.”

Her husband also paused slightly. It had been half a year since Empress Chu was convicted of treason and fled. The traces of Empress Chu in the court and capital seemed to have been erased, but when standing in court, after the officials finished their memorials, their gazes would unconsciously fall behind the Emperor. Behind the Emperor there was no curtain, no chair, and no woman.

In the inner chambers too, no one spoke of the Empress. When some younger girls came across the Chu Garden literary collections on their sisters’ or sisters-in-law’s desks and curiously asked what they were, the women all fell silent and snatched the collections back—

Some households burned the collections.

Most couldn’t bear to and hid them away.

“Back then we brought the children because the Empress was friends with many girls. It made the Empress happy and gave our family face before the Empress,” the madam said softly. “Now that the Empress is gone, we don’t need to bring so many womenfolk. Otherwise the Emperor and the Xie clan might be displeased and resent us—”

Indeed, that was the issue. The husband nodded. “Then just the two of us will go. Don’t bring the other family members.”

Most households discussed this same problem and made the same choice. But when they attended the banquet, it wasn’t actually quiet and sparse.

The seventeen or eighteen-year-old girls were absent, but many young girls had come, aged around eight or nine to ten years old. The oldest were only eleven or twelve.

They wore festive New Year clothing, adorned with jewelry, like carved jade figurines.

Though they’d been instructed beforehand, at this age they hadn’t yet begun socializing. They’d only played with their siblings and cousins at home or among relatives. Suddenly arriving at the Imperial Palace—a place they might not enter more than a few times in their lives—each one couldn’t help showing nervousness and constraint. Some girls couldn’t help clutching their elders’ sleeves and asking this and that. Others had been scolded or something and had reddened eyes.

The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat noisy.

“Why did they bring children?” Some people were puzzled, frowning. “Are they worried the banquet will be too quiet and want to add some liveliness?”

“This isn’t their family feast,” someone mocked. “Bringing a bunch of little dolls to dote on.”

But others smiled meaningfully. “You don’t understand. This has deep significance.”

Deep significance? The others were stunned. Just then, music sounded. Everyone quickly stood in position, watching the Emperor enter.

The Emperor, who would turn thirteen next year, had grown taller. His complexion was very fair, his eyes long and narrow. One could see his resemblance to the Late Crown Prince, but he was more handsome than the Late Crown Prince.

Whether it was the bright yellow dragon robe on his body or his indifferent expression, the youth had gained an air of authority.

That delicate child who had once sat on the dragon throne had truly grown up.

Next year he would assume personal rule and become a true Son of Heaven whose word was law.

In the hall, whether officials or womenfolk, all knelt and kowtowed.

“Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!”

This time they didn’t need to kowtow to the Empress. The womenfolk had accepted this fact over the past half year, but at this moment they still couldn’t help feeling dazed.

Some also suddenly understood another fact.

The Emperor no longer had an Empress. The Emperor could remarry an Empress!

In what seemed like an instant, many people in the hall reacted, their gazes falling on those womenfolk who had brought young daughters.

Shock, realization, confusion, contemplation.

Could this work?

Shouldn’t the Empress position belong to the Xie clan?

Not necessarily. The Xie clan already held the position of National Uncle. With one family dominating everything, selecting an Empress from a different surname would look better for appearances.

It could also forge marriage alliances.

For a moment, both male guests and womenfolk were distracted with such thoughts, no one paying attention to what congratulatory words the Emperor spoke, what fine wine and delicacies the palace maids served, or how beautiful the songs and dances were.

In the great hall, probably only two people maintained calm expressions, focused on appreciating the performances.

One was the Emperor, and one was the masked young master of the Xie clan seated below.

The Xie young master watched one dance performance. When the officials began offering congratulations to the Emperor, he rose from his seat and left. But just as he reached the entrance, someone called out from behind.

“Young Master Xie…”

Xie Yanlai turned his head and saw a young man following behind.

Under the flickering lamplight, the golden beast mask appeared even more fierce. Liang Qiang took a deep breath and stood before this young master of the Xie family.

This young master had never given his name, nor was it known what his rank was in the family. Everyone only called him Young Master.

It was unclear whether he was an existence even more mysterious than Xie Yanfang in the Xie family, or merely Xie Yanfang’s subordinate.

Liang Qiang had no way to guess. Since even the Empress had been defeated and fled, the Xie clan had become increasingly unfathomable.

“Is Third Young Master well?” he asked.

Xie Yanlai glanced at him. “Do you hope he’s well or not well?”

The question was quite discourteous. Liang Qiang’s expression turned self-mocking. “I have no right to guess. After all, whether I’m well or not is decided by you.”

Since he’d taken over the Xie clan, Xie Yanlai naturally understood what Liang Qiang meant by this. He made a sound of acknowledgment, withdrew his gaze, and couldn’t be bothered to respond.

“Young Master,” Liang Qiang said again, stepping forward. “I want to ask why.”

Why knock down the Liang clan with one hand, then lift them up again?

Even if you wanted to support a puppet, there were plenty in the border commanderies.

Xie Yanlai turned his head again. The voice behind the mask laughed. “Probably because only now do you dare ask why.”

These words were like a slap, making Liang Qiang’s face burn.

Yes, if he’d asked why at the very beginning when he went to battle, when he was being protected and supported…

Or if he hadn’t reacted at first, but after many times when even a fool would realize something was wrong, if he’d asked why…

Or even when that girl noticed and questioned him, if he’d asked why…

Things wouldn’t have developed this way.

Today’s situation existed because he himself was worthless—a coward, timid, greedy. He himself had wanted to be a puppet.

Xie Yanlai paid him no more attention and turned to look into the hall. The guests were taking turns going forward to pay respects to the Emperor. Currently standing before the Emperor was a matron with a girl around ten years old.

A eunuch beside them held a registry and read: “Wife of Chief Historian Liang Ji, General of Resolute Authority.”

Xie Yanlai asked, “That’s your mother?”

Liang Qiang came back to himself, looked over, and nodded.

Xie Yanlai’s gaze fell on the girl standing beside Mother Liang. The girl was dressed luxuriously and curtsied with her mother, but she was quite bold, sneaking glances up at the Emperor…

“How old is your younger sister?” Xie Yanlai asked.

Liang Qiang was stunned. “She’ll turn eleven this March.”

Xie Yanlai turned to look at him. “Not bad. Very suitable.” With that, he walked into the hall.

Suitable? Suitable for what? Liang Qiang didn’t understand and wanted to follow, but Xie Yanlai walked very quickly, and wherever he passed, everyone retreated. No one dared approach and chat with him.

Liang Qiang finally stopped. Watching his mother who had finished kowtowing and was withdrawing, his gaze also fell on his younger sister. Recalling the discussions he’d heard earlier, his expression changed slightly.

It couldn’t be…

……

……

The various speculations and thoughts aroused at the New Year banquet hadn’t yet had time to spread when, just after the first month, the court announced an edict.

Liang Ji’s youngest daughter was to be made Empress.

Because of her young age, she was specially granted a traveling palace where she would be raised and educated by the court. The grand wedding and investiture would be held after she came of age.

When the news spread, there was shock everywhere.

Her young age was one thing—after all, the previous Empress had been older than the Emperor, so age didn’t matter anymore.

But why a Liang clan daughter?

The Liang clan had previously been a convicted family.

“You can’t say it like that,” someone refuted. “Back then Chu Ling was also convicted.”

So the Emperor was still selecting an Empress according to Empress Chu’s pattern?

“Stop your nonsense. It’s so obvious,” someone said with calm superiority, seeing through everything. “This was clearly selected by the Xie clan. Don’t forget—that night, Empress Chu’s order surrounded both the Xie and Liang residences together.”

So the Liang clan was allied with the Xie clan.

So the Liang clan wasn’t Deng Yi’s people after all. Or perhaps seeing Deng Yi convicted, the Liang clan immediately switched to the Xie clan.

This Liang clan was really surprising.

Various discussions swirled. The Liang residence kept its gates tightly shut. Though this heaven-sent great fortune made the Liang clan’s status soar again, at this moment they didn’t dare make a big show.

They needed to be calm, composed, maintain dignity in both favor and disgrace, and display the bearing of an Empress’s maternal family.

But for Miss Liang, these weren’t considerations for a child. She could freely spin around in circles in her room.

“I’m going to be Empress!”

“I’m going to be Empress!”

With the doors closed and only family present, there was no need to suppress such wild joy.

Liang Qiang entered and saw her like this. Mother Liang sat nearby with an indulgent yet helpless smile. “Do you know what being Empress means?”

“Of course I know,” Miss Liang said, her eyes bright. She hadn’t forgotten—when she first returned to the capital and went to the Imperial City for the first time, she’d seen that woman walking beside the Emperor.

So beautiful, so imposing.

Entering the capital and becoming a young lady wasn’t imposing enough. How wonderful it would be if she could enter the palace and become a favored consort.

She’d never imagined this day would truly come, and not as a favored consort, but as Empress.

She was truly like that woman now!

Thinking of this, she ran around again like a flower butterfly.

From now on, she would be the one walking beside the Emperor, wearing magnificent robes, receiving the kowtows of countless people.

And the Emperor was truly good-looking too, more handsome than any boy she’d ever seen.

“Look at her,” Mother Liang said helplessly. “Still a child. Can she really be Empress?” She looked at Liang Qiang. “A’Qiang, does this matter have something to do with you and your father?”

Liang Qiang was silent for a moment, then nodded. “I just received news. Father is to be enfeoffed as Great General, commanding the border army. I’ll also be setting out to return to the border army to assist Father.”

So that was it. Mother Liang understood, but felt somewhat uneasy.

“Is this good or bad?” she said, looking at the edict on the desk. “Can this Empress position be held?”

As her words fell, Miss Liang heard them and immediately flew over, clutching the edict to her chest.

“Of course it can!” she shouted. “I’m the Empress. I must be Empress.”

Mother Liang grabbed her to scold her, but Liang Qiang smiled. “You are the Empress. Of course you can be. The edict has been issued. The Emperor’s word is law.”

Only then did Miss Liang relax, calling out that her brother was wonderful. She snuggled into her mother’s embrace and looked up. “Mother, Brother, and Father too—in the future I’ll give everyone lots and lots of rewards.”

Mother Liang stroked her daughter’s head, smiling and saying that would be good.

Liang Qiang also smiled, but his eyes were wooden.

It didn’t matter whether it was good or bad. They were all just puppets anyway.

……

……

But not everyone was pleased with this decision.

Xiao Yu burst into the Grand Tutor’s hall for the first time, looking at Xie Yanlai who was supposedly reviewing memorials but was actually sleeping with his head pillowed on them.

“I don’t want this Empress,” he said through gritted teeth in a low voice.

Xie Yanlai said, “How can the Emperor not have an Empress?”

Xiao Yu bit his lower lip. “I have an Empress. Sister Chu—”

Xie Yanlai sat up and interrupted him. “Your Majesty is confused. You no longer have Sister Chu. She won’t come back.” With that, he picked up a memorial and threw it at him. “Properly read your memorials! Watch over your realm and state!”

The memorial hit his body and fell. Xiao Yu stood there dazed, his face pale.

Yes, he should be clear-headed. It didn’t matter who became Empress, since none of them would be his Sister Chu anyway.

He said nothing more. He bent down to pick up the memorial and indeed sat down to read it as instructed.

Xie Yanlai looked at the seated youth. The youth’s face was like a wooden carving or stone statue. Because the Emperor had entered and ordered the hall doors closed, the spring sunlight was blocked outside. The great hall was dim and gloomy.

“How boring,” he said. “When reviewing memorials in the future, there should be songs and dances to accompany us. That would be lively.”

But liveliness didn’t necessarily mean interesting.

Xie Yanlai lay back down, looking through his mask at the carved beams and painted rafters.

……

……

When Xie Yanfang was lucid, he also heard this news and smiled.

“See how well he uses people. The Liang clan should be used exactly this way,” he said. “Uncle Cai, you can be at ease now.”

Uncle Cai said, “If Young Master is at ease, then I’m at ease.”

Xie Yanfang smiled. “Of course I’m at ease.”

He pressed his hand against his chest.

He would wait at ease to see whether the new person replacing the old could allow the old person to remain free and carefree.

……

……

On the spring grassland, white sheep were scattered everywhere. With a shout, an arrow flew from the distance and landed at a sheep’s feet.

The sheep was startled and ran away bleating.

The shepherd not far away felt somewhat pained, calling the lamb’s name and shouting to the other side, “A’Fu, watch what you’re doing!”

Chu Zhao stood up from the hillside holding her bow and arrow, shouting loudly, “Uncle Zhong, do you want me to watch and hit them, or watch and not hit them?”