Chu Zhao stopped practicing calligraphy and took Xiao Yu to the Empress’s storehouse to see what gifts they could select.

Although Chu Zhao had spent much time away from the palace since becoming Empress, the gifts meant for the Empress had never been lacking. Throughout the year, at festivals and her birthday, civil and military officials, various prefectures and counties, and noble families all sent presents.

Of course, compared to the Emperor’s treasury, this one was somewhat empty, as Chu Zhao had only been Empress for a few years.

“Sister Chu,” Xiao Yu sighed similarly, “why don’t you come choose from my collection? I have so many things.”

Everything left by his parents, the late Emperor and Empress, and others now belonged to him.

Chu Zhao smiled and said, “We don’t need that many. I’ll select one gift, and then A-Yu can bestow a piece of calligraphy. That will be a treasure they can pass down through generations.”

Xiao Yu nodded with a smile, then breathed a sigh of relief: “Fortunately, I haven’t neglected my practice lately. My teacher praised me, saying my calligraphy is improving.”

“That’s good,” Chu Zhao also sighed in relief. “Although nobody cares how well Your Majesty writes, I still take pride when Your Majesty’s calligraphy is good.”

Xiao Yu laughed heartily: “I will bring honor and glory to Sister.”

He vaguely remembered that in his childhood, his mother’s favorite thing was when the Emperor Grandfather praised him, and making his mother happy was what made him happiest.

How wonderful that even though his mother was gone, he still had someone to please, someone who could be pleased by him.

Compared to Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu’s cheerful conversation, A-Le seemed somewhat absent-minded and showed little interest in selecting gifts.

“Sister Chu,” Xiao Yu whispered to Chu Zhao, “A-Le doesn’t care about Lady A-Tang.”

The distracted A-Le immediately heard this and snorted: “I do care! Your Majesty shouldn’t speak nonsense!”

Xiao Yu stuck his tongue out at her and hid behind Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao laughed and said: “A-Le has too many things to prepare.” Then she looked at Xiao Yu, “And you, have you finished today’s lessons?”

Xiao Yu giggled: “Not yet—”

Chu Zhao tapped his forehead: “Then hurry along.”

Xiao Yu covered his forehead, laughing as he ran outside.

Chu Zhao then called A-Le: “Let’s go. We won’t choose gifts today. Let our A-Le rest her mind first.”

“My Lady,” A-Le complained, “it’s not that I’m tired.”

At this point, she sighed and tugged at Chu Zhao’s sleeve.

“My Lady, I’m worried about you. Lady A-Tang is getting married. What about your future?”

Chu Zhao stopped walking.

Xiao Yu, who had already reached the doorway, also stopped.

Seeing him stop, the eunuchs who had come to respectfully welcome him also halted, deliberately holding their breath, silent.

A woman’s laughter came from the storehouse: “What are you thinking? Why are you suddenly concerned about me getting married?”

A-Le tugged firmly at her sleeve: “My Lady, I’m serious. Lady A-Tang has found someone she likes and is getting married. What about you? Will you be the Empress for your entire life?”

Chu Zhao smiled: “A lifetime is long.” She pulled her sleeve free. “Who knows? Perhaps—”

A-Le was confused: “Perhaps what? Perhaps what? My Lady, please tell me.”

Chu Zhao only smiled without answering, putting her hands behind her back and walking out leisurely.

Perhaps she would get married too.

She stepped out of the hall and saw Xiao Yu standing to the side, who grinned at her and pointed upward: “Sister, it’s time for lunch. Why don’t we eat first and then do lessons?”

“Nice try,” Chu Zhao feigned sternness. “I’ll check your work later. If it’s not finished, you don’t get to eat.”

Xiao Yu ran off immediately: “I’m going to do my lessons, or I’ll starve—”

As he scurried away with the patter of feet, a group of eunuchs followed him at a quick pace.

Chu Zhao smiled, then looked at A-Le, who had followed her out, still determined to question her. Chu Zhao picked up her skirt and ran away.

A-Le was both annoyed and amused, and ran after her.

In the spring palace, it was as if butterflies were fluttering lightly.

Xiao Yu entered his chambers, and immediately four or five eunuchs rushed forward. One carried tea, another held towels, one fanned him, and another carried incense. They surrounded Xiao Yu to serve him, but without blocking his path.

“Your Majesty, the imperial kitchen has sent new pastries,” one eunuch said, presenting the tray. “This servant asked them to carve little animals.”

Xiao Yu glanced at the plate and casually picked up a soft, white rabbit pastry with red eyes and tossed it into his mouth.

“Not bad, well done,” he said. “Little Xu Zi is thoughtful.”

The eunuch called Little Xu Zi said happily: “As long as Your Majesty is pleased. If Your Majesty likes it, this servant likes it too.”

Xiao Yu said: “I like it.”

Though he said he liked it, there was not a hint of joy in his eyes. He sat in the chair, watching the eunuchs efficiently arrange his brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone.

In this imperial palace, no, in this entire world, everyone sought to please him, and with just a casual word, he could please the world.

But they weren’t trying to please him; they were only pleasing the Emperor.

Only Sister Chu was different. In Sister Chu’s eyes, he wasn’t the Emperor; he was A-Yu.

If there were no Sister Chu, there would be no A-Yu in this world.

Sister Chu would never leave. Sister Chu wouldn’t get married. Sister Chu would always be with him.

She must stay with him.

…

…

After returning, Chu Zhao didn’t have to do lessons, but she couldn’t eat lunch on time either.

Ding Dachui and Advisor Yin brought the latest news about Yu Shang.

“I’m surprised you could still find anything,” Chu Zhao said, somewhat amazed.

Since Zhong Changrong’s near-assassination and Liang Qiang’s secret report, the Imperial Guard had been investigating secretly, but they were always one step behind. In Yun Zhong County, every investigation turned up nothing suspicious. In the capital, since Yu Shang had not returned for a long time, his family had sold their shop to search for him and then disappeared, and even the neighbors had moved away, replaced by new people.

Chu Zhao wasn’t surprised by these results.

People capable of such deeds, once they realized Yu Shang was in trouble and Zhong Changrong had survived the assassination attempt, would surely erase all traces promptly.

Her lack of surprise initially stemmed from her previous life’s experience, knowing that the Liang family had harmed Uncle Zhong, and the person behind it all was naturally Xiao Xun.

But in this life, Liang Qiang had turned against Xiao Xun and attacked him. If Xiao Xun had truly arranged everything, and Xiao Xun himself was about to die, how could he allow Liang Qiang to live?

“Yu Shang was a small merchant who didn’t have much interaction with the capital’s major merchants, but he was amiable, which left an impression on the porters at the dock,” Ding Dachui said. “Our team responsible for the investigation found some information about Yu Shang from a casual remark made by a porter.”

“When Yu Shang left the capital two years ago, he had a bottle of wine that he called ‘Immortal’s Brew,’ a gift from an immortal,” Advisor Yin continued. “We suspect this was a farewell gift, perhaps from his master.”

“So we investigated all the restaurants, teahouses, and even whether any noble families had hosted banquets during those days,” Ding Dachui said.

This was no easy task—like looking for a needle in the sea, Chu Zhao thought as she looked at them.

“We found something,” Advisor Yin said, producing two thick ledgers with the words “Lotus Pond Pavilion” on them. “Yu Shang visited several restaurants during those days, and Liang Qiang was at one of them.”

The capital was vast, but there were only so many famous restaurants. People running into each other wasn’t uncommon, but people meeting could also never be merely coincidental.

Chu Zhao looked at the ledgers without speaking. These were Lotus Pond Pavilion’s reservation records and account books.

“Liang Qiang had just been appointed as Mobile Corps Commander at that time, and these young masters were hosting a banquet for him,” Ding Dachui said. “We’ve already investigated those people but haven’t found any issues yet.”

“Yu Shang wasn’t listed in the ledgers. An old flower seller at the restaurant remembered him because he accidentally bumped into her. To apologize, he bought a bouquet from her and paid twice the price. The old woman never forgot such a kind person,” Advisor Yin said quietly, unable to help thinking that if one were an assassin, one shouldn’t try to be remembered as a good person—

“He wasn’t trying to be a good person,” Ding Dachui said. “He was only pretending to be good, honest, and ordinary. That was his way of concealing his true identity. It just goes to show that once something is done, traces will always be left behind.”

Advisor Yin agreed and added: “We only know that Yu Shang and Liang Qiang were both at Lotus Pond Pavilion at that moment, but we haven’t found evidence of any contact between them.” He pointed at the ledgers and continued, “We’re carefully tracking down the guests who were there that night, but it’s been a long time. I’m afraid there will be omissions.”

Chu Zhao smiled slightly: “There will certainly be omissions because some establishments have private clients who leave no records.”

Advisor Yin nodded. This was precisely his concern, and they couldn’t truly arrest and interrogate all the staff of Lotus Pond Pavilion. They had stolen these ledgers, fearing they might alert their targets.

“Then let’s continue to disturb the grass that’s already been disturbed,” Chu Zhao said. “Summon Liang Qiang.”