When the Emperor and Empress went to escape the heat, they couldn’t just leave on a whim. Before departing, they had to handle government affairs, select auspicious dates and times, choose the traveling party, and there were the Imperial Guards who had to patrol, clear, and deploy defenses—all quite complicated.
The entire imperial city became busy, but everyone was happy.
Life in the palace hadn’t been easy these past few years. Aside from ceremonial occasions, they hadn’t gone out at all.
But A’Le wasn’t happy at all.
“Don’t be unhappy—you can go out too, and it’s a very long journey.” Chu Zhao said with a smile. “Plus there will be beautiful scenery all along the way.”
A’Le’s mouth drooped as she said: “But the young miss won’t be there.” She looked at Chu Zhao again. “Young miss, actually couldn’t Eunuch Qi go instead?”
The day of Chu Tang’s wedding was approaching. Although gifts had already been sent over in batches, someone would still be sent to attend on the actual wedding day. Chu Zhao had chosen A’Le.
Usually, as long as Chu Zhao gave an order, A’Le would scale mountains or dive into flames without blinking, but this time she was very reluctant.
“I’ve never been separated from the young miss before.” A’Le said. “Leaving the young miss here alone, I’m not at ease.”
These words made Xiao Man, standing by the door, laugh: “Really? Who’s worried about whom? Are you just scared to go out alone?”
“No, it’s not that.” A’Le hurried to refute.
Chu Zhao stopped their dispute and looked at A’Le, saying: “This time when you go on my behalf, it’s not just as A’Le, but also representing the Empress. You’ll carry my honor and dignity, and also look around there for me—Uncle’s family, A’Tang’s husband’s family, and the local people. I need to know their attitudes and views toward the Empress.”
A’Le understood and nodded: “I get it now.”
“I know you can’t bear to leave me.” Chu Zhao held her hand and said softly, “I can’t bear to part with you either, but I need your help—”
A’Le quickly interrupted: “Miss, please don’t say such things. This is what I should do.” She also felt somewhat ashamed—she’d personally witnessed how difficult it was for the young miss to be Empress, yet here she was, only thinking about not wanting to leave the young miss and refusing to do her duties.
Serving the young miss was something any palace maid could do.
She needed to do things that could help the young miss more.
“I’ll go select the palace servants and maids to accompany us on this trip first.”
A’Le left with thumping footsteps.
Xiao Man stood by the door and couldn’t help pursing her lips. The next moment she saw Chu Zhao’s gaze turn toward her.
“Hey—” she spoke first. “Don’t bother saying things like asking me to accompany her, protect her, and complete your mission.”
She looked at Chu Zhao and snorted.
“My mission is to guard you. Other matters have nothing to do with me, so I’m not so easily fooled—”
She waved her finger.
“Don’t make excuses to get me to leave.”
Fooled, excuses, leave—if A’Le were still here to hear this, she would surely be shocked.
Chu Zhao smiled: “I was going to ask, how many people do we still have on the outside?”
Xiao Man’s hand hanging at her side clenched, and she said: “Not many. A’Tang took Little Rabbit. Auntie Shu and the others are still around.”
Chu Zhao said: “That’s good then.” After speaking, she turned and walked inside.
Xiao Man couldn’t help but follow, asking in a low voice: “What are you planning to do? There are only a dozen or so people outside. Should I go find more people? There’s no time from Auntie’s side, but nearby we’ve also gathered quite a few bandits—”
Chu Zhao smiled at her: “Enough, enough. As long as we can pass messages, that’s sufficient. If at that time we don’t even have the chance to send messages out, then no matter how many people come from outside, it won’t help.”
Xiao Man had experienced life-and-death situations many times and considered herself fearless, but at this moment, hearing Chu Zhao’s words and seeing the smile on her face, she felt inexplicably alarmed.
“What exactly are you planning to do?” she asked in a low voice again.
Rebellion? No, that’s not right—she’s already Empress, what would she rebel for?
Chu Zhao said: “Don’t worry, it’s not anything major. I just need to persuade someone.”
……
……
Rows of troops spread out like dark clouds, almost covering the entire street, but this didn’t frighten the populace. Instead, people from throughout the capital poured out.
When they saw the magnificent carriage arrive, the people saw the Emperor and Empress sitting among the hanging silk curtains and jade ornaments. Many hadn’t seen the Emperor and Empress for a long time. The children in their memories now looked like young men, and the young woman sitting beside him bloomed like a flower.
“Long live His Majesty—”
“A thousand years to Her Majesty the Empress—”
Countless shouts rolled forth like waves.
Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu smiled and surveyed the crowds around them, driving out of the capital surrounded by numerous officials, palace servants, maids, and Imperial Guards.
Looking at the mountain forest ahead drawing closer and closer, Xiao Yu sat up straighter, his expression somewhat stiff. The next moment, Chu Zhao’s arm wrapped around his shoulders.
“A’Yu.” Chu Zhao said softly. “Don’t be afraid.”
She also looked ahead.
“You’re wearing dragon robes, entering here as the Son of Heaven of Da Xia. Those who wanted to kill you will be scared out of their wits, and your parents will be excited and joyful for you.”
“You don’t need to be afraid coming here. Those who should be afraid are them—those bad people, those who tried to harm you.”
Xiao Yu looked up at her and nodded: “I’m not afraid.” He gripped Chu Zhao’s hand. “With sister here, I’m not afraid of anything.”
Chu Zhao withdrew her hand.
“Even if I’m not here, even if you’re alone, you don’t need to fear anything.” she said seriously, then gently patted his shoulder and smiled with raised brows. “So A’Yu, let me see your hunting skills.”
Xiao Yu, whose gaze had momentarily frozen when Chu Zhao withdrew her hand, instantly broke into a smile, his face animated with excitement, even waving his arms.
“Sister, you’ll see how amazing I am!”
……
……
The galloping horses made the entire mountain forest tremble. Hounds barked wildly, mountain birds scattered in chaos, mixed with human shouts and calls.
Sitting on the hillside, one could see the intense hunting below.
“A’Yu’s horsemanship is not bad.” Xie Yanfang walked over, raising his hand to shade his eyes as he looked. “But his archery still needs work.”
Chu Zhao said: “He’s still young.” She smiled again. “And he doesn’t need to be good at archery. He’s the Emperor—riding and shooting to strengthen his body is enough. It shouldn’t become an obsessive entertainment, nor does he need it as a means of self-defense.”
As obsessive entertainment, there was the precedent of his father, the former Crown Prince.
As for self-defense, if it truly reached the point where the Emperor needed to use archery to save himself, then there would only be a dead end anyway.
Chu Zhao looked up at Xie Yanfang and said: “Won’t Minister Xie go set an example for His Majesty?”
Xie Yanfang gazed at Xiao Yu chasing a spotted deer under the Imperial Guards’ protection: “A’Yu once took me as his example. My sister took me as an example, and she naturally wanted A’Yu to also take me as an example—”
He paused here and looked down at Chu Zhao with a slight smile.
“This wasn’t because of deep affection between uncle and nephew, but because A’Yu would be Emperor. If an Emperor takes me as his example from childhood, then throughout his life I will be his example, and the Xie clan’s position will be unmatched by anyone.”
Chu Zhao smiled: “Human nature. There was nothing wrong with the Crown Princess doing this.”
The Crown Princess was surnamed Xie. Though she married into the imperial family, she was forever a person of the Xie clan and had to plan for her own family.
Xie Yanfang said: “But the Crown Prince and my sister both died. No matter how excellent my horsemanship and archery, how learned and talented, how omniscient—in A’Yu’s eyes, someone who couldn’t protect even his parents, couldn’t protect even him, is nothing.”
Chu Zhao said: “You needn’t belittle yourself. A’Yu knows that being able to sit firmly on this throne is inseparable from Minister Xie.”
“Yes.” Xie Yanfang said. “I know he knows, and he knows I would do this anyway, but forget about being an example.”
At this point he shook his head with a gentle smile.
“Actually, I never thought about being anyone’s example. What I want to do is very simple—make A’Yu an unprecedented Emperor. As for me, as for the Xie clan, whether we’re examples, whether our position is unmatched—it doesn’t matter.”
Chu Zhao nodded: “I can see that this is indeed Third Young Master’s wish.” She looked at Xie Yanfang. “Then what about me? Can I be the unprecedented Empress in Third Young Master’s eyes?”
Xie Yanfang smiled: “Of course.”
Chu Zhao looked at him, some confusion in her eyes: “Then why did you try to kill my people?”
The mountain wind seemed to freeze at this moment. Behind Chu Zhao, Xiao Man stood motionless. The Imperial Guards standing with lowered hands around them seemed unable to hear anything.
Xie Yanfang showed no hesitation, nor any surprise. With a serious expression he asked: “Are you referring to Zhong Changrong or Deng Yi?”