The bathwater rippled gently.

Besides being sprinkled with a layer of fresh flowers, sheep’s milk had also been poured in.

A-Le squatted by the pool’s edge, stirring the water with her hand. “I didn’t know baths could be taken like this.”

Chu Zhao, who was resting with her eyes closed against the opposite edge of the pool, smiled and said, “A-Le, come in and try it.”

A-Le was eager to try but shook her head. “Maybe later.”

Chu Zhao opened her eyes and asked, “What are you waiting for? You don’t need to attend to me; the palace maids are here.”

A-Le lowered her voice and said, “This is still the imperial palace, after all. I’ll enjoy such luxuries after you’ve secured your position as Crown Prince’s consort.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily. “This hardly counts as a luxury.” She then rose and walked to the clear water pool on the other side to rinse herself.

A-Le stood up and called out with dignity, “Attendants.”

Several palace maids entered in succession to dry Chu Zhao after her bath, help her dress, and escort her to the outer chamber to sit and have her hair combed.

“Where is A-Yu?” Chu Zhao asked.

Just as the palace maids were about to answer, Xiao Yu ran in from outside.

“Sister,” he called out.

Chu Zhao smiled and said, “I was just asking about you.”

Xiao Yu stood still in front of the bronze mirror, watching her comb her hair. “I was keeping track of time. I thought you should be done with your bath by now.”

Since entering the imperial city, Xiao Yu had remained inseparable from her. If he wasn’t by her side at night when sleeping, he would wake up in alarm, unable to fall back asleep. Chu Zhao understood—the poor child had lost his parents overnight and had himself escaped death. He was terrified.

Just like how he constantly clutched that bamboo tube.

Chu Zhao’s gaze fell on what was in Xiao Yu’s arms.

Eunuch Qi had already told her that the bamboo tube contained a snake.

Most children were afraid of snakes, let alone carrying one all the time.

“The young prince used to be afraid too; he never played with snakes and insects before,” Eunuch Qi had said. “This snake was caught because this old servant coaxed him into catching it as a gift for the Crown Prince.”

But before he could give it to the Crown Prince, father and son were forever separated.

“This old servant will comfort the young prince and get him to throw it away,” Eunuch Qi had said.

Chu Zhao had stopped him: “Let him keep it. It represents his attachment to memories he can’t let go.”

The gift never delivered, the child had formed an obsession. This would need to be gradually guided.

She didn’t mention it or ask about it, acting as if she didn’t see Xiao Yu holding the bamboo tube.

“Once I finish combing my hair, we’ll go see His Majesty,” she said.

Xiao Yu nodded, standing at the table that was about his height, watching Chu Zhao comb her hair.

Chu Zhao talked to him, pointing at the accessories on the table: “Which one looks nice? How about this one?”

Xiao Yu carefully selected, and Chu Zhao had the palace maids put on everything he chose. A-Le, standing behind, couldn’t help but laugh.

“Miss, you’re wearing too many,” she said.

Xiao Yu lowered his hands, appearing somewhat anxious. He had never watched his mother comb her hair or apply makeup and didn’t know how to decorate someone properly. He just wanted to pick out all the pretty things.

Chu Zhao turned in front of the mirror to look at herself and smiled. “It’s fine. I still look beautiful.”

On this point, A-Le certainly agreed: “Miss looks beautiful no matter what.”

Xiao Yu said, “Sister’s beauty doesn’t come from ornaments.”

Chu Zhao’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Xiao Yu: “Our A-Yu is right. My beauty, Chu Zhao’s beauty, doesn’t come from adornments.”

Xiao Yu looked into her eyes and nodded emphatically.

Chu Zhao wasn’t concerned about dressing up. After simple adornments, she rose and took Xiao Yu’s hand: “Let’s go. We’ll go see His Majesty.”

The palace maids stepped back, watching Chu Zhao lead Xiao Yu outside. Behind her were only two people.

One called A-Le, one called A-Man.

These were people Miss Chu had brought with her. Living in the imperial city, she only allowed these two to attend to her personally.

Moreover, Miss Chu didn’t need them to show her the way. Wherever she wanted to go, she went directly, without any hesitation—

“This isn’t just about being at ease,” a palace maid whispered. “Miss Chu seems very familiar with the palace.”

She didn’t need them to guide her, and despite the palace being magnificent, with the most exquisite objects in the world everywhere, those noble ladies who entered would usually be nervous and show amazement, but Miss Chu did not react at all, as if she were accustomed to it.

The palace maids exchanged glances, unsure if it was just their imagination, but Miss Chu seemed as if she had always lived in the imperial city.

How could that be possible? It must have been their imagination. Although the palace maids lived in the inner palace, these past few days they had privately learned of Miss Chu’s background and experiences. She had lived in a border commandery and had only come to the capital just over a year ago. Let alone the imperial city, she had barely visited the homes of noble families—this Miss Chu was quite unwelcome and didn’t have good relationships with the young ladies of the capital.

But what did it matter if she was unwelcome?

The eunuchs in front of the Emperor’s bedchamber watched as the girl approached slowly. She held the young prince’s hand, and guards bowed respectfully as they passed.

She had saved the young prince, and now she guarded the imperial city.

She had a tiger for a father, commanded troops, and could personally wield a knife to kill.

“Greetings to the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince’s consort,” the eunuchs bowed together.

Chu Zhao, holding Xiao Yu’s hand, walked past them and entered the grand hall.

Deng Yi was also with the Emperor, discussing the Third Prince’s affairs. Seeing Xiao Yu enter, he stopped.

“Continue,” the Emperor was half-reclining on the dragon couch, looking in fairly good spirits. “He is the Crown Prince now, not a child. He must bear both good and bad himself. I summoned him precisely to hear this.”

Deng Yi acknowledged with a “Yes” and continued to relay the details of that night as described by Xie Yanfang, as well as what he had personally verified, including specific details about the injuries of the late Crown Prince and his consort—

Chu Zhao felt the small hand in hers trembling and signaled for Xiao Yu to lean against her.

But the child shook his head, continuing to sit upright, his eyes reddening as he listened intently.

Deng Yi quickly finished and then mentioned funeral arrangements. The Emperor waved his hand disinterestedly, saying, “Just follow the protocols.”

The person was already dead; what happened after didn’t matter.

Deng Yi acknowledged with a “Yes” and glanced at Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu sitting to the side, one large and one small, both looking obedient.

“According to protocol, the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince’s consort’s wedding should be held after the mourning period,” Deng Yi said. “However, this minister believes that for the stability of the dynasty, it should be held immediately.”

The Emperor smiled slightly. “There’s no rush.”

No rush?

Deng Yi frowned.

“Your Majesty, this matter cannot wait,” he said, not caring at all about His Majesty’s objection.

The Emperor wasn’t angered and said, “What I mean is, let’s directly hold the ceremony for the Emperor’s ascension to the throne and the Empress’s grand wedding.”

Deng Yi was stunned.

Chu Zhao also suddenly sat upright.

“Your Majesty,” she called out instinctively.

The Emperor ignored them and beckoned with his hand: “A-Yu, come here.”

Xiao Yu sat in a daze, seemingly not hearing, until Chu Zhao shook his hand. Only then did the child come to his senses, rise, and walk to the Emperor’s side.

The Emperor extended his hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, the child slowly placed his small hand in the Emperor’s.

The Emperor didn’t mind the child’s hesitation. Although this child had been raised here, they weren’t particularly close.

Whether they were close or not didn’t matter anymore.

“A-Yu,” the Emperor said, “Grandfather Emperor will have you ascend the throne now. From now on, you will be the Emperor.”

The child didn’t yet understand what it meant to be Emperor. Although he would theoretically become Emperor one day, that was supposed to be a matter for the distant future, and it wasn’t certain he would become Emperor—so although he was the Emperor’s eldest grandson, he had never been guided with the notion that he would one day be Emperor.

But he knew that the Emperor’s wishes couldn’t be defied, so he nodded: “A-Yu obeys the imperial decree.”

The Emperor laughed heartily: “A-Yu, from now on, you won’t need to say you obey the imperial decree. From now on, you’ll only need to hear others say it.”

Xiao Yu looked at the Emperor and asked, “Grandfather Emperor, are you also going to die?”

The Emperor nodded with a smile: “Yes, Grandfather Emperor is also going to die. After that, only you, A-Yu, will be left.”

As he continued to smile, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.