“She didn’t write that I should go.”

“Nor did she write that something happened—”

Xie Yanlai hadn’t been able to immediately rush to the capital. He was chased back home by Mu Mianhong, who demanded to see the letter and read what it said.

But there wasn’t much written in the letter at all.

Hearing the inquiry, Xie Yanlai answered impatiently.

“Then why do you want to go to the capital?” Mu Mianhong asked, carefully reading the letter once more.

Surely there wasn’t a secret code between her daughter and A’Jiu?

Chu Zhao’s letter was written very simply, just mentioning a past event, asking if Xie Yanlai still remembered being publicly whipped by the Xie family on the street back then. She asked him to tell her about what that incident was really about, and also said that since Xie Yanlai was already dead, everything he’d done, good or evil, was written off, so he could speak the truth.

“Because you’re angry she’s exposing your unsavory past?” she asked.

She didn’t know what the incident was, but public whipping brought spiritual humiliation that was more severe than physical pain.

Someone took the letter from Mu Mianhong’s hands.

Mu Mianhong glanced over—it was Deng Yi—and said nothing.

When she’d chased Xie Yanlai back to his courtyard, Deng Yi had come over. Mu Mianhong hadn’t driven him away, letting him listen from the side.

Deng Yi glanced at the letter and said: “That incident was indeed unsavory.” He looked at Xie Yanlai again and asked, “Related to Xie Yanfang?”

Xie Yanlai kept a dark expression and ignored him, asking Mu Mianhong: “What has she been doing lately?”

Besides private letters, Zhong Changrong would also regularly deliver the capital’s gazette.

Mu Mianhong shook her head: “She hasn’t been doing anything special lately—just being Empress, attending court, discussing court matters, hosting banquets and such. Xiao Man says she’s both idle and happy. Oh, and her cousin Chu Tang is getting married soon, so she’s been busy with that lately.”

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

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

His words were cut off by Mu Mianhong, her voice both joyful and uneasy: “She’s really coming here? Not being Empress anymore?”

Deng Yi didn’t speak, looking toward Xie Yanlai. Mu Mianhong’s gaze also followed to look at him.

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

Deng Yi sneered: “None of your business? If not for you, would she give up the court and her position as Empress? Haven’t you always been clever? Why are you confused now? What would she do before leaving the court? Naturally, eliminate all threats—now in the court, without me, there’s still Xie Yanfang. You can’t not know who the person is that she most distrusts and guards against, right?”

Xie Yanlai’s face alternated between flushed and grim, but he didn’t refute. He let Deng Yi finish his barbed speech, and his emotions shifted from the earlier restless anxiety back to calm.

“Back then, that old matter of mine was related to a private transaction between Xie Yanfang and the Wei clan of Hanjun.” He still only looked at Mu Mianhong as he spoke. “That Chu Zhao is asking me about this now—she must be investigating the Wei clan.”

At this point he shook his head again.

“No, she’s investigating Xie Yanfang.”

Mu Mianhong knew of Xie Yanfang but didn’t understand much about him. Now seeing Deng Yi and Xie Yanlai’s expressions: “This person is very formidable?”

Xie Yanlai glanced at Deng Yi and said with a cold laugh: “Put it this way—Grand Tutor Deng’s current state is merely because he was given one extra look.”

Originally disdained by others, but if Third Young Master Xie cast his gaze over and gave one more look, he could make Deng Yi’s name disappear.

Deng Yi’s face was wooden, ignoring his mockery.

Mu Mianhong looked at him and nodded in understanding: “Truly formidable. A’Jiu, your current state is also thanks to him.”

Xie Yanlai made a sound: “I don’t count. I’m different from Deng Yi.”

Deng Yi said coldly: “What’s different? Didn’t you also have to fake your death to escape from that person’s grasp?”

Mu Mianhong raised her hand to stop them both: “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 don’t make it in time, even bringing fifty thousand troops would be useless.”

……

……

Dark clouds gathered densely over the grassland sky, and a rainstorm was clearly forming. The village also became noisy, seemingly busy preparing for rain. Adults ran everywhere, not toward their homes but outward from the village.

Deng Yi stood under the eaves, listening to the various long and short bird calls, watching the horizon in the southeast direction.

May she have good fortune this time.

……

……

This year the capital’s rain seemed to have fallen thoroughly in early summer. After entering midsummer, not a single drop of rain fell, and the scorching sun blazed high.

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

Chu Zhao moved to Qiongfang Garden, sitting in the tall pavilion reading flood reports sent from various regions. When a breeze came, it swept refreshingly through the entire building.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it’s cool here.” A’Le stood in the corridor outside the building, then made a sound. “His Majesty is in the imperial garden.”

As Xiao Yu grew older, the Emperor and Empress no longer lived together. Moreover, with less than a year and a half until his enthronement, Xiao Yu had many matters to familiarize himself with. Aside from mealtimes, the Emperor and Empress rarely spent time together.

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

Chu Zhao set down the documents, rose and walked out, standing in the corridor to look down. From here she could see the imperial garden perfectly. In the pavilion by Jade Wave Lake, Xiao Yu sat upright at the desk writing something. Beside him stood a line of palace servants in quiet attendance, occasionally taking away what Xiao Yu had written and laying out fresh paper.

“His Majesty is truly busy.” A’Le said with a smile.

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

A flash before her eyes—another person appeared in her view.

“Third Young Master Xie is there too.” A’Le saw him and made a sound. “What’s he doing? Holding a fishing rod—is he fishing?”

Chu Zhao watched as Xie Yanfang, dressed in official robes, walked to Xiao Yu’s side, the fishing rod in his hand particularly conspicuous. He didn’t put down the fishing rod but stood before the desk, looking at the papers held up by the palace servants that Xiao Yu had written, nodding or shaking his head and speaking as he looked.

Xiao Yu stopped his brush and listened attentively.

Due to the distance they couldn’t hear what was being said, but one could sense it was one teaching and one learning. At one point Xie Yu’s expression seemed somewhat annoyed as he set down his brush heavily. However, Xie Yanfang said something more, and a smile appeared on the annoyed Xiao Yu’s face. He picked up his brush and began writing properly again.

Chu Zhao smiled along with them.

At this moment Xie Yanfang, holding the fishing rod, turned around. Sensing something, he looked up and broke into a radiant smile toward the person in the tall pavilion.

……

……

Seeing Chu Zhao walk over, Xiao Yu immediately stood up to greet her, but the next moment he stopped, still gripping his brush.

“Sister.” he called out loudly. “Wait until I finish writing.”

Chu Zhao smiled and nodded at him: “I know. I’ll wait for you here.”

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

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 be a wise ruler of the age.”

After he finished this sentence, the person beside him didn’t speak but kept looking at him.

Xie Yanfang turned his head and smiled at the young woman: “What is the Empress looking at?”

Chu Zhao didn’t shift her gaze, studying him intently, and said: “I’m very confused.”

Confused? Xie Yanfang saw in the young woman’s eyes what seemed like both happiness and puzzled incomprehension. She was indeed confused.

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

Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze and looked toward the lake surface, saying: “You know about the Hanjun matter, don’t you?”

Yesterday the Guard Bureau had reported on the Hanjun Wei clan case. During the period when Xiao Xun occupied Hanjun, the Wei clan had acted as his accomplice, taking the opportunity to amass wealth and slaughter civilians. The entire Wei clan had been placed under guard, and Old Master Wei’s family had already been thrown in prison.

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

Xie Yanfang said: “Is it Old Master Wei’s letter that came with the Guard Bureau’s report that has confused you, Empress?” He lifted the fishing rod in his hand, and a small fish waggled its tail, splashing water. “Empress, listen to me—throw that letter directly into the brazier 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 for confusion.”

Chu Zhao looked at him, still confusion in her eyes, and asked: “Do you really think so? That I’m right?”

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

Chu Zhao laughed with a snort, amusement rippling in her eyes, dispelling the confusion. She leaned slightly closer to him and said in a low voice: “Did you say this to the Emperor as well?”

Xie Yanfang’s gaze was on the lake surface as he removed the small fish from the hook and tossed it back into the water, shaking his head: “Of course not.” He also leaned slightly closer to Chu Zhao and said in a low voice, “Only one person can be right.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily, then fearing she’d disturb Xiao Yu, restrained her laughter while looking toward the pavilion.

In the pavilion, Xiao Yu was focused on writing and didn’t look up, only the corners of his mouth curved in a smile.

Chu Zhao waved her hand before her face to fan away the heat: “It’s too hot, and things will get very troublesome next. Why don’t we go escape the heat somewhere?”

She turned to look at Xie Yanfang.

“How about the hunting grounds outside the city?”

Xie Yanfang looked at her and smiled: “Sounds good.”