“She didn’t write that I should go.”

“Nor did she write that something has happened—”

Xie Yanlai couldn’t rush to the capital immediately; he was sent back home by Mu Mianhong, who wanted to see what was written in the letter.

But there wasn’t much written in the letter.

Hearing the inquiry, Xie Yanlai impatiently replied.

“Then why do you want to go to the capital?” Mu Mianhong asked, carefully examining the letter again.

Surely there weren’t secret codes between her daughter and A-Jiu?

Chu Zhao’s letter was very simple. She merely mentioned a past event, asking Xie Yanlai if he remembered being publicly flogged by the Xie family. She wanted him to tell her what had happened, saying that since Xie Yanlai was already dead, all his past deeds, whether good or evil, had been written off, so he could reveal the truth.

“Are you angry because she’s exposing your shameful past?” she asked.

She didn’t know what incident it was, but public flogging brought more humiliation to the spirit than pain to the body.

Someone took the letter from Mu Mianhong’s hand.

Mu Mianhong glanced up; it was Deng Yi, so she didn’t say anything.

When she had sent Xie Yanlai back to the courtyard, Deng Yi had already come over. Mu Mianhong didn’t drive him away, allowing him to listen from the side.

Deng Yi glanced at the letter and said, “That incident was indeed shameful.” He looked at Xie Yanlai and asked, “Is it related to Xie Yanfang?”

Xie Yanlai remained grim-faced, ignoring him, and asked Mu Mianhong, “What has she been doing lately?”

Besides private letters, Zhong Changrong also regularly delivered the capital’s gazettes.

Mu Mianhong shook her head: “She hasn’t been doing much lately, just being the Empress, attending court, discussing state affairs, hosting banquets, and such. Little Man said she’s been relaxed and happy. Oh, and her cousin Chu Tang is about to get married; she’s been busy with that recently.”

Xie Yanlai snorted: “She would never truly be relaxed.”

“Indeed,” Deng Yi said. “Since she intends to come here with you, she must surely clean up the court thoroughly before leaving—”

His words were interrupted by Mu Mianhong, her voice both joyful and anxious: “Is she coming here? She won’t be Empress anymore?”

Deng Yi didn’t speak, looking at Xie Yanlai, and Mu Mianhong’s gaze followed.

Xie Yanlai was suddenly stared at by both of them, as if scorched by fire: “Why are you looking at me? It’s none of my business.”

Deng Yi sneered: “None of your business? If it weren’t for you, would she give up the court and the position of Empress? Weren’t you always clever? Why are you confused now? What would she do when leaving the court? Certainly eliminate all threats—in the current court, without me, there’s still Xie Yanfang. You must know who she trusts least and guards against most, don’t you?”

Xie Yanlai’s face alternated between flushing and turning gloomy, but he didn’t refute. He let Deng Yi finish his barbed remarks, his emotions calming from the previous restlessness.

“That old incident of mine was related to a private deal between Xie Yanfang and the Wei family of Hanjun,” he continued, still only looking at Mu Mianhong. “If Chu Zhao is asking me about this now, she must be investigating the Wei family.”

But then he shook his head.

“No, she’s investigating Xie Yanfang.”

Mu Mianhong knew of Xie Yanfang but didn’t know much about him. Now, seeing Deng Yi and Xie Yanlai’s expressions, she asked: “Is this person very formidable?”

Xie Yanlai glanced at Deng Yi and said with a cold smile: “Let me put it this way: Imperial Tutor Deng’s current fate is merely the result of being noticed by him.”

Originally not even worth a glance of contempt, but if the Third Young Master Xie cast his gaze over and gave him an extra look, he could make Deng Yi’s name disappear.

Deng Yi’s face remained expressionless, ignoring his mockery.

Mu Mianhong looked at him, nodded in understanding: “Indeed formidable. A-Jiu, you too are in your current situation thanks to him.”

Xie Yanlai exclaimed: “Not really! I’m not like Deng Yi.”

Deng Yi said coldly, “How are you different? Didn’t you also have to fake your death to escape from his grasp?”

Mu Mianhong raised her hand to stop them: “Enough, no need to say more, I understand.” She took a deep breath and looked at Xie Yanlai. “How many troops should we bring?”

Xie Yanlai looked toward the direction of the capital.

“If we make it in time, just the two of us will be enough,” he said. “If we’re too late, even bringing fifty thousand troops would be useless.”

……

……

Dark clouds gathered in the sky above the grassland, with rain seemingly about to pour down. The village became clamorous, as if everyone was busy avoiding the rain. Adults were running everywhere, not toward their homes but away from the village.

Deng Yi stood under the eaves, listening to the bird calls of varying lengths, watching the horizon in the southeast direction.

He hoped she would be lucky this time.

……

……

This year, it seemed that all the rain for Beijing had fallen in early summer. After entering midsummer, not a drop of rain fell, only scorching sunshine.

People in the palace sought cool places to escape the heat.

Chu Zhao moved to Qiongfang Garden, sitting in a high tower reading flood reports from various regions. A breeze made the entire tower refreshingly cool.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it’s cool over here!” A-Le stood on the corridor outside the tower, then added, “His Majesty is in the Imperial Garden.”

As Xiao Yu grew older, the Emperor and Empress no longer lived together. With less than a year and a half until his formal enthronement, Xiao Yu had many things to familiarize himself with. Apart from mealtimes, the imperial couple rarely spent time together.

Even for meals, they could only eat together at most once a day.

Chu Zhao put down the documents, stood up, and walked out to stand in the corridor, looking down. From this spot, one could see the Imperial Garden perfectly. In a pavilion by the Bibo Lake, Xiao Yu sat upright at a table, writing something. A row of attendants stood quietly by his side, occasionally taking away what Xiao Yu had written and laying down new paper.

“His Majesty is truly busy,” A-Le smiled.

Chu Zhao also smiled. Yes, everyone was busy; Xiao Yu was busy growing up, and she was busy preparing—

Something flashed before her eyes, and another person appeared in her vision.

“The Third Young Master Xie is also there,” A-Le noticed and laughed. “What is he doing? Holding a fishing rod, fishing?”

Chu Zhao watched as Xie Yanfang, dressed in official robes, walked to Xiao Yu’s side. The fishing rod in his hand was particularly eye-catching. He didn’t put down the fishing rod but stood by the table, watching as the attendants held up the papers Xiao Yu had written, either nodding or shaking his head as he spoke.

Xiao Yu, meanwhile, put down his brush and listened attentively.

Due to the distance, she couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she could sense that one was teaching and one was learning. At one point, Xiao Yu seemed somewhat annoyed, putting down his brush heavily, but after Xie Yanfang said something, the annoyed Xiao Yu smiled again, picked up his brush, and began writing properly.

Chu Zhao smiled along.

At this moment, Xie Yanfang, holding his fishing rod, turned around, noticed, and looked up, flashing a bright smile at the person in the high tower.

……

……

Seeing Chu Zhao approaching, Xiao Yu immediately stood up to greet her, but then stopped, still holding his brush.

“Sister,” he called loudly. “Wait for me to finish writing.”

Chu Zhao nodded at him with a smile: “Alright, I’ll wait for you here.”

Xiao Yu sat down and continued writing earnestly, no longer distracted.

Chu Zhao sat down beside Xie Yanfang and said: “His Majesty is becoming more and more steady.”

Xie Yanfang said proudly: “His Majesty will surely become a wise ruler of his generation.”

After he said this, the person beside him didn’t respond but kept looking at him.

Xie Yanfang turned his head, smiled at the girl, and asked: “What is the Empress looking at?”

Chu Zhao didn’t move her gaze, examining him, and said: “I’m confused.”

Confused? Xie Yanfang saw in the girl’s eyes that she seemed very happy but also puzzled; she was indeed confused.

“Tell me about it,” he said with a smile. “Let’s see if I can resolve your confusion.”

Chu Zhao shifted her gaze to the lake surface and said: “You must know about the Hanjun incident, right?”

Yesterday, the Imperial Guard reported on the Wei family case in Hanjun. During Xiao Xun’s occupation of Hanjun, the Wei family had collaborated with the enemy, taking the opportunity to extort wealth and kill civilians. The Wei clan had been taken into custody, and Old Master Wei’s family had been imprisoned.

“Tomorrow at court, there will surely be another round of arguments,” Chu Zhao said.

Xie Yanfang asked: “Is it Old Master Wei’s letter that came with the Imperial Guard’s report that confuses you, Empress?” He raised his fishing rod, and a small fish wriggled its tail, splashing water. “Empress, listen to me: throw this letter directly into the fire pot and burn it.”

He looked at Chu Zhao, his gaze cold and clear.

“Since you’ve already decided what to do, you are right. There’s no need to be confused.”

Chu Zhao looked at him, still confused in her eyes, and asked: “Is that really what you think? That I’m right?”

Xie Yanfang nodded: “In my heart, whatever the Empress does is right.”

Chu Zhao burst into laughter, the mirth rippling in her eyes, dispelling the confusion. She leaned slightly toward him and said in a low voice: “Did you say the same to the Emperor?”

Xie Yanfang looked at the lake surface, removing the small fish from the hook and throwing it back into the water, shaking his head: “Of course not.” He also leaned slightly toward Chu Zhao and said softly, “Only one person can be right.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily, then, fearing she would disturb Xiao Yu, stifled her laughter while looking toward the pavilion.

In the pavilion, Xiao Yu was focused on his writing, not looking up, just smiling at the corners of his mouth.

Chu Zhao fanned the air in front of her: “The weather is too hot, and things will get troublesome soon. Why don’t we go somewhere cool?”

She turned to look at Xie Yanfang.

“How about the hunting grounds outside the city?”

Xie Yanfang smiled at her: “Sounds good.”