On this day, Qi Leyun fell from a ladder.

On this day, the entire city was in an uproar.

The Emperor had issued an edict, proving this upheaval had ended.

Though troops still patrolled the streets, hunting down remaining rebels, and occasionally cries and sounds of fighting would come from the alleys—those were remnants putting up desperate resistance—the common people’s hearts had already settled.

The Third Prince’s rebellion both surprised and didn’t surprise the people. The Crown Prince’s death was surprising, but they could only sigh.

Fortunately, the Imperial Grandson remained and was immediately designated Crown Prince. Though young, he would eventually grow up. The imperial dynasty had an heir.

But what was this about the Crown Princess?

The Chu clan’s daughter Zhao—Chu Zhao had become Crown Princess?

This Chu Zhao was—

Well, everyone was no stranger to who this Chu Zhao was.

Chu Ling’s daughter. Over ten years ago, Chu Ling’s name had filled the capital. Over ten years later, his daughter hit people, cursed at them, provoked the Third Prince, and held literary gatherings, making just as much noise throughout the capital—

But no matter how much they thought about it, no one had imagined she could become Crown Princess. In the future, she would be Empress!

Chu Zhao as Empress?

However, amid the shock, some were not shocked at all.

“Why can’t Chu Zhao? Didn’t you hear what the Emperor said? It was Chu Zhao who rescued and protected the Imperial Grandson, holding a blade, controlling a horse, fighting her way out of the siege.”

“Truly a tiger father has no dog daughter.”

But it was precisely this phrase that sparked another view.

“Rescuing the Imperial Grandson is the duty of subjects. For saving the Imperial Grandson, His Majesty could commend her, could reward her. Why make the Imperial Grandson marry her? Must even the Son of Heaven, when encountering life-saving grace, repay with his own person?”

“So is this because of the grace, or because of the tiger father?”

This meant that with the Crown Prince dead, the Third Prince guilty, the Emperor ill, and the Imperial Grandson weak, the fierce general Chu Ling was taking the opportunity to coerce them.

Don’t forget how illustrious Chu Ling’s reputation had been over ten years ago, how capable he was in battle, and how many strong troops he commanded—

“This is pure nonsense!”

Qi Leyun, leaning on a wooden stick and limping, came to find Chu Tang. Indignant, she pounded her stick on the ground with loud thumps.

“What coercion! Why can’t our Chu Zhao become Empress? Even without mentioning her merit in saving the Imperial Grandson, our Chu Zhao possesses both talent and beauty, has an illustrious reputation—she’s no ordinary person!”

Chu Tang made a sound of acknowledgment. At that time, she had been standing below the wall, with Qi Leyun perched on a ladder against the wall. The servants had frantically relayed the content of the edict. After hearing it, Qi Leyun had fallen from the ladder while she had been shocked senseless.

With her injured foot, Qi Leyun seemed even more energetic, while she still hadn’t recovered.

Qi Leyun noticed her dazed state and called out a few times to alert her, leaning in to ask: “Did Chu Zhao really hold a blade and control a horse to rescue the Young Highness? Did you see it with your own eyes?”

Chu Tang turned to look at her: “I saw it. It happened right outside our Chu family gate. It was truly carnage everywhere, blood flowing across the ground.”

Qi Leyun rubbed her arms, her whole body tingling.

“You couldn’t tell at all,” she murmured. “No wonder you didn’t want me to stay at your house.”

Chu Tang said, “Yes, you don’t know what we went through that night. Your house just had its building burned. Here at my house, it was simply a scene from hell.”

Qi Leyun gripped her wooden stick and struck the ground hard: “Too amazing! Who could have imagined Chu Zhao was this capable!”

She then limped toward the exit.

“Chu Tang, prepare a carriage for me.”

Chu Tang frowned: “In your condition, you’re still going out?”

“Of course I’m going out. I’m going to find the others right now. Everyone needs to discuss properly how Chu Zhao should rightfully be Empress.” Qi Leyun said, her expression excited, her eyes sparkling. “Our Chu Zhao is accomplished in both literature and martial arts, virtuous and talented, dignified and gentle, fit to be mother of the nation—”

Chu Tang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Virtuous and talented, dignified and gentle,” she muttered to herself. “How did you see that?”

Then her eyes lit up.

Virtuous and talented, dignified and gentle—it turned out these weren’t things you had first and then waited for people to see.

Rather, as long as you stood where people could see you, whatever you wanted, you would have.

Even if you didn’t have it, you would have it!

Crown Princess.

Empress!

Chu Zhao was going to become Empress!

Chu Tang stood in the hall, clasping her hands together, trembling from her feet to the top of her head.

She, Chu Tang, was going to become an Imperial Aunt!

……

……

Compared to the clamor on the streets and the noise of the women, the deep residence of the Xie family was quiet and silent.

Actually, it wasn’t that there had been no clamor and noise. Before the Emperor’s edict had even left the imperial city, the Xie family had already received the news. The uproar had nearly overturned the estate.

“Crown Princess!”

“How can the Crown Princess be decided now? The Young Highness is only six years old!”

“Chu Zhao? That Chu Zhao is already thirteen years old.”

“It’s not a matter of age—what gives her, Chu Zhao, the right!”

“The Young Highness’s marriage—were we consulted?”

This was the most crucial point. They were also the Young Highness’s relatives, and with both the Crown Prince and Crown Princess gone, they were the Young Highness’s only imperial relatives.

In such a lifelong matter, how could they not consult the Xie clan?

“Third Brother, Third Brother, did you know about this?”

People and voices surged toward where Xie Yanfang was, but they were all stopped by Du Qi.

“All of you be quiet!” Du Qi stood in the corridor, rebuking coldly. “You’re not permitted to disturb Third Young Master’s rest.”

Everyone instantly quieted, but they refused to disperse.

“Does Third Young Master know about the Crown Princess matter?” everyone asked urgently.

Du Qi said, “He knows.”

He knows—that’s good. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Since Third Young Master knew, either he didn’t object, or he had a response prepared. Everything was still under the Xie clan’s control.

Watching everyone withdraw, Du Qi stood in the corridor without saying more. What he meant was that Third Young Master Xie now knew about this matter.

Just like everyone else, he had just found out.

Inside the room, Xie Yanfang sat by the window, slowly drinking tea from the cup in his hand.

“What does His Majesty mean by this?” Steward Cai sat across from him, his expression somber. “What does Chu Ling mean by this?”

Xie Yanfang lowered his eyes, his eyelashes casting shadows on the teacup. Suddenly he laughed softly, and the clear tea water rippled.

He said, “Steward Cai, when the Liang family made their fuss, there were rumors about me and about Yanlai having unclear relationships with Miss Chu. In the end, Miss Chu became Crown Princess—no one expected that, did they?”

Steward Cai didn’t find it funny at all.

“Young Master, whether the world is shocked or their jaws drop, they can laugh it off and treat it as entertainment. But our Xie clan cannot.” His voice carried anger. “Where does this place the Xie clan!”

Xie Yanfang drained his tea in one gulp: “Whatever status my Xie clan has before His Majesty is the status we have before the Young Highness.”

All were subjects, all were commoners. If they treated you as relatives, you were relatives. If they didn’t treat you as relatives, you were nothing.

He placed the teacup on the desk.

“Steward Cai, this matter probably isn’t what the Emperor thinks, and it isn’t what Chu Ling thinks either. Rather, it’s what Miss Chu thinks.”

Steward Cai was stunned. What did that mean? This was Chu Zhao’s idea? How could that be? How could she—

Of course she could.

Xie Yanfang looked toward the window, his eyes bright and shining.

Because if it were him, he would think the same way. He would definitely do the same.

That girl truly was somewhat like him.