The bath water rippled gently.

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

A’Le squatted by the edge of the pool, stirring the water with her hand: “So you can bathe like this too.”

Chu Zhao, leaning against the opposite pool wall with her eyes closed, smiled: “A’Le, come down and try it.”

A’Le was eager to try but shook her head: “I’ll wait.”

Chu Zhao opened her eyes and asked, “Wait for what? You don’t need to serve me—the palace maids are all here.”

A’Le lowered her voice: “This is the imperial palace after all. I’ll wait until Miss has secured your position as Crown Princess, then I’ll enjoy myself.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily: “What kind of enjoyment is this?” She rose and walked into the clear water pool on the other side to rinse off.

A’Le stood up and called out with dignity, “Someone come.”

Several palace maids filed in, wiping down Chu Zhao after her bath, dressing her, and escorting her to the outer room where she sat down to have her hair combed.

“Where’s A’Yu?” Chu Zhao asked.

The palace maids were about to answer when Xiao Yu ran in from outside.

“Sister,” he called.

Chu Zhao smiled: “I was just asking about you.”

Xiao Yu stopped in front of the bronze mirror, watching her comb her hair: “I was calculating the time. You should be finished bathing.”

Since entering the imperial city, Xiao Yu remained inseparable from her. At night, if he wasn’t by her side while sleeping, he would wake up startled and couldn’t fall back asleep. Chu Zhao could understand—the poor child had lost both parents in one night and had himself narrowly escaped death. He was terrified.

Just like how he constantly held that bamboo tube.

Chu Zhao’s gaze fell on Xiao Yu’s arms.

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

Most children were afraid of snakes, let alone constantly holding one.

“The Young Highness is also afraid. He never played with snakes and insects before,” Eunuch Qi had said. “This old servant coaxed him into catching this snake to give to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

But before it could be given to His Highness the Crown Prince, father and son were separated forever.

“This old servant will coax the Young Highness to throw it away,” Eunuch Qi had said.

Chu Zhao stopped him: “Let him hold it. That’s his attachment he finds hard to let go.”

The gift hadn’t been delivered yet. The child had formed an obsession. This needed to be gradually guided away.

She also 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 and stood by the table at his own height, watching Chu Zhao comb her hair.

Chu Zhao spoke with him, pointing at the jewelry on the table: “Which one looks good? How about using this one?”

Xiao Yu selected carefully. Whatever he chose, Chu Zhao had the palace maids put on. A’Le stood behind, unable to hold back her laughter.

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

Xiao Yu lowered his hands, somewhat uneasy and awkward. He had never watched his mother comb her hair or apply makeup and didn’t know how to dress someone up. He just wanted to pick out all the pretty ones.

Chu Zhao turned before the mirror, looking at herself, and smiled: “It doesn’t matter. I’m still very beautiful.”

A’Le naturally agreed with this: “Miss looks beautiful no matter what.”

Xiao Yu said, “Sister’s beauty doesn’t lie in adornment.”

Chu Zhao looked at Xiao Yu with bright eyes: “Our A’Yu is right. My, Chu Zhao’s, beauty doesn’t lie in adornment.”

Xiao Yu looked into her eyes and nodded vigorously.

Chu Zhao hadn’t been trying to dress up anyway. After simple grooming, she rose and took Xiao Yu’s hand: “Let’s go. We’ll go see His Majesty.”

The palace maids withdrew, watching Chu Zhao lead Xiao Yu outside. Only two people followed behind her.

One was called A’Le, the other A’Man.

These were people Miss Chu had brought with her. While Miss Chu resided in the imperial city, she only allowed these two near her person.

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

“This isn’t a matter of being unrestrained,” one palace maid said quietly. “Miss Chu is clearly very familiar with the palace.”

She didn’t need them to lead the way. Moreover, the palace halls were magnificent and splendid, filled with the most exquisite objects in the world. When noble ladies entered, they would still be constrained and show amazement on their faces, but Miss Chu had no reaction at all, as if she were accustomed to seeing such things.

The palace maids exchanged glances, not knowing if it was an illusion, but Miss Chu seemed as if she had always lived in the imperial city.

How was that possible? This was naturally an illusion. Although the palace maids were in the deep palace, they had learned privately about Miss Chu’s background and deeds these past few days. She had always lived in the border commandery and had only come to the capital for just over a year. Never mind the imperial city—she had barely visited the homes of aristocratic families a few times. This Miss Chu was quite unpopular and didn’t have good relationships with the young ladies of the capital.

So what if she was unpopular?

The eunuchs before the Emperor’s sleeping quarters watched the girl walk toward them with measured steps. She held the Young Highness’s hand, and wherever she passed, soldiers and guards bowed to her in salute.

The Young Highness had been saved by her. The current imperial city was under her protection.

She had a tiger father, she had troops, and she herself could wield a blade to kill.

“Greetings to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess,” the eunuchs bowed in unison.

Chu Zhao, holding Xiao Yu’s hand, passed them and stepped into the great hall.

Deng Yi was also at the Emperor’s side, discussing matters about the Third Prince. Seeing Xiao Yu enter, he stopped.

“Continue,” the Emperor said, half-reclining on the dragon bed. He looked in fairly good spirits. “He is the Crown Prince, not a child anymore. Good or bad, he must bear it himself. I summoned him here precisely to hear this.”

Deng Yi acknowledged and continued relaying the situation Xie Yanfang had described from that night, as well as the details he had personally investigated—in detail down to the injuries of the late Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

Chu Zhao felt the small hand she held trembling and gestured for Xiao Yu to lean against her.

But the child shook his head and continued sitting upright, his eyes reddening as he listened attentively.

Deng Yi soon finished and spoke of funeral arrangements. The Emperor waved his hand listlessly: “Just follow the regulations.”

People were already dead—posthumous matters didn’t matter.

Deng Yi acknowledged, glancing at Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu sitting to the side. One large, one small, both looking well-behaved and obedient.

“By regulation, the wedding of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess should be held after the mourning period ends,” Deng Yi said. “But this subject believes that for the stability of the nation, it should be held immediately.”

The Emperor smiled faintly: “No rush.”

No rush?

Deng Yi frowned.

“Your Majesty, this matter cannot be delayed,” he said, not at all concerned about His Majesty’s opposition.

The Emperor wasn’t angered either and said, “I mean, let’s directly hold the Emperor’s enthronement and Empress’s wedding ceremonies.”

Deng Yi froze.

Chu Zhao also sat bolt upright.

“Your Majesty,” she blurted out.

The Emperor ignored them and beckoned: “A’Yu, come.”

Xiao Yu was dazed, as if he hadn’t heard. Only when Chu Zhao shook his hand did the child come to his senses and rise to walk before the Emperor.

The Emperor extended his hand. The child hesitated, then slowly placed his small hand on it.

The Emperor didn’t mind the child’s hesitation. Though this child had been raised here with him, they weren’t very close.

Close or not, it didn’t matter anymore.

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

The small child still didn’t understand what it meant for him to be Emperor. Although he should also become Emperor in principle, that was a matter for the distant future, and it wasn’t certain he would be able to. So although he was the Imperial Grandson, he had never received guidance on the concept that he would become Emperor in the future.

But he knew that the Emperor’s meaning could not be defied. He nodded: “A’Yu obeys the decree.”

The Emperor laughed heartily: “A’Yu, from now on, you don’t need to say ‘obey the decree.’ From now on, you only need to hear those words.”

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

The Emperor smiled and nodded: “Yes, Imperial Grandfather is also going to die. From now on, only A’Yu will be left alone.”

As he smiled, blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.