While the capital city was alive with clamorous night scenes, the hunting grounds lacked the bustling activity of daytime. For this summer retreat, the Emperor and Empress had not invited officials and their families, so there were no banquets in the evening. Under the bright light of bonfires, only Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu sat together for dinner.

Tonight’s main course was Xiao Yu’s hunt, expertly prepared by the imperial chefs, but neither the Emperor nor the Empress had their minds on food and drink.

Chu Zhao told Xiao Yu about Xie Yanfang’s situation and the decision she had made.

The firelight danced across Xiao Yu’s face, his expression flickering between light and shadow.

“I never thought that Third Uncle would do such a thing,” he said, then shook his head. “But nothing Third Uncle does is surprising. I’ve known since I was little that he’s clever and formidable. Mother used to say he could accomplish anything he set his mind to.”

“He has no disloyal intentions toward Your Majesty and is wholeheartedly supporting you as Emperor,” Chu Zhao said. “But, A-Yu, you must be your Emperor. You cannot become someone else’s puppet Emperor.”

Xiao Yu nodded: “I’ll listen to Sister.” Then he caught himself, realizing that his sister had just told him not to be anyone else’s Emperor, and his sister was also someone else. Not wanting to displease her, he quickly corrected himself, “I’ve taken note. I will be myself.”

Chu Zhao couldn’t help but smile, reaching out to pat Xiao Yu’s shoulder. When it came to cleverness, this child was indeed quite astute.

“You will soon rule independently. Although you’re young, and although the late Emperor and Crown Prince are no longer here to guide you, you have experienced life and death hardships. These experiences will guide you, and you will learn how to be an Emperor,” Chu Zhao said. “If you don’t know how, you can learn. As long as you study and don’t get discouraged by setbacks, there’s nothing you can’t master. A-Yu, being an Emperor requires lifelong learning, so don’t be afraid and don’t rush.”

Xiao Yu smiled and nodded: “Don’t worry, Sister. I’m not afraid.” He hugged Chu Zhao’s arm. “With Sister here, I fear nothing.”

Chu Zhao pulled her arm away and made him sit up straight, saying: “Even without Sister, you need not be afraid. Remember, without anyone, you can still be an Emperor.”

Xiao Yu responded with a soft “Oh” and sat up straight as instructed. Noticing the plate in front of him, he enthusiastically cut a piece of meat: “Sister, quick, try this. It’s deer meat that I hunted myself.”

He carefully placed the meat on Chu Zhao’s plate, looked up at her, then realized the topic had changed too abruptly.

“Sister,” he asked awkwardly, “it won’t taste good if it gets cold.”

Such a significant matter, and all he cared about was whether the meat would taste good when cold? Chu Zhao felt both irritated and amused. She said, “I’m not just going to imprison Xie Yanfang; I’m also going to condemn the Xie clan.”

With a formal condemnation, she could legitimately cut down the great tree that was the Xie clan.

This was Xiao Yu’s maternal family.

Having been caught by her, Xiao Yu no longer tried to conceal his thoughts and smiled: “I understand Third Uncle’s intentions toward me. As long as I’m here, I am the Emperor, and the Xie clan is my relatives and subjects. Sister is confining him now for my benefit, and Third Uncle surely agrees with this, which is why he’s willing to submit. Besides, Third Uncle did indeed make mistakes, and it’s right that he be punished for them. Moreover, this punishment is merely confinement, and the condemnation of the Xie clan is only a judgment of guilt, not confiscation of property or extermination of the clan. So, I have nothing to worry about.”

Chu Zhao was rendered speechless by his words. What he said was correct, but some things weren’t merely a matter of being correct. He truly regarded the Xie clan only as imperial relatives, not as family.

Was this the result of Xie Yanfang’s teachings? Or was it that children born into the imperial family naturally controlled their emotions?

“You’re so detached that I don’t know whether to be happy or unhappy,” she said helplessly.

Xiao Yu smiled and said: “Then, Sister, taste the deer meat I hunted. If you find it delicious, you can be happy.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily and obliged, taking a bite of the deer meat.

“Does it taste good?” Xiao Yu asked attentively.

Chu Zhao didn’t speak, taking another bite before looking at Xiao Yu and saying: “Cut me some more meat. How is one piece enough?”

Xiao Yu’s face broke into a smile.

…

…

After finishing the meal, Chu Zhao told Xiao Yu to rest early since hunting was tiring. As for herself, she was destined for a sleepless night as messages from all directions of the capital continuously arrived.

After washing up, Xiao Yu did not sleep either. He sat on his bed, listening to two eunuchs discussing what game to hunt tomorrow.

“This side of the mountain has been surveyed by us servants. Tomorrow, let’s go west where there are many pheasants.”

“Let’s go east instead. I heard they’re preparing for wild boar.”

Xiao Yu suddenly stood up. The two eunuchs hastily stopped talking and asked: “What does Your Majesty require?”

Xiao Yu looked outside the curtain and said: “I will go for a walk.”

He wanted to check on Third Uncle. Although he wasn’t particularly interested in seeing him, if he didn’t go, Sister Chu would think he was cold-hearted.

“Go ask if there’s any roasted meat left,” he also ordered.

The eunuch replied: “Your Majesty and the Empress gave away the leftovers as rewards, so they’re probably all gone.”

Your Majesty didn’t hunt much, and the imperial couple couldn’t eat a lot. Once distributed as rewards, there wouldn’t be enough to go around.

Xiao Yu glanced at him: “Who said it must be from the one I hunted? I came hunting today, so all game belongs to me.”

The eunuch suddenly understood that His Majesty meant just to cut a piece of meat from anywhere.

“This servant is foolish,” he said, slapping his face once before scurrying away.

Xiao Yu knew they were dull-witted. Ten of them couldn’t compare to one Eunuch Qi. When he was younger, he liked the shield built by clever people where he could hide. Now that he was growing up, having clever people around him felt annoying—

Even when clever people didn’t speak, their gazes were too loud.

…

…

When Du Qi heard that Xiao Yu was coming, he stood up from his cross-legged position on the ground, a smile appearing on his face.

“Your Majesty indeed thinks of the young master and isn’t misled by that woman,” he said.

Xie Yanfang, who was reclining with closed eyes, was amused by his words and said: “I certainly didn’t raise His Majesty to be like this.”

As they spoke, Xiao Yu had already entered, carrying a food box.

“Third Uncle, this is what I hunted today. It’s been roasted, try some,” he said happily.

He made no mention of what had happened and seemed not to notice the dense rows of guards he had passed on his way in.

Xie Yanfang sat up with a smile and nodded: “Thank you, Your Majesty. This is wonderful.” Then he asked, “What did Your Majesty hunt today?”

Xiao Yu replied: “Whatever they released, I caught all of it.”

Xie Yanfang smiled as he opened the food box to see various meats already cut into pieces.

“It’s only a bit cold,” Xiao Yu said. “If you want to eat it, warm it up yourself. If not, throw it away.”

Xie Yanfang wasn’t concerned about his attitude; this child had long stopped pretending or being diplomatic in front of him.

Xiao Yu sat down casually, looking around without speaking.

“What is Your Majesty looking at?” Xie Yanfang asked.

Xiao Yu said: “Nothing. I’m just keeping track of time. When it’s about right, I’ll leave.”

Du Qi, beside him, was astonished, wondering what that meant.

Xie Yanfang had already smiled and said: “Don’t mind the time. As long as you’ve come, that’s enough. Not coming would be fine too. Your Chu Sister wouldn’t care about these things.”

Xiao Yu naturally wasn’t surprised that Xie Yanfang had seen through him. He neither admitted nor denied it, leaning back in his chair and sighing: “With Third Uncle in trouble, I only have Sister by my side now.” Despite his sigh, his eyes were full of joy. “Sister will never leave me anymore. She will work hard for me and stay by my side.”

Xie Yanfang smiled and said: “Your Majesty is too polite. Even if I hadn’t gotten into trouble, the Empress wouldn’t leave you.”

After saying this, he didn’t hear Xiao Yu’s response and couldn’t help but look up to see the young boy in the chair with a somewhat gloomy look in his eyes.

Would Sister not leave? Sister had been saying strange things this past year or more, like “when Sister is not here” and “in the future, you’ll be on your own.” Sister no longer liked to hold his hand, and she no longer came to see him before bedtime.

He wasn’t a child anymore; he could perceive the meaning behind the words and Sister’s distancing from him.

But now it was better. Sister had even arrested Third Uncle. He only had Sister by his side now. Sister would stay with him.

“People don’t leave their home,” Xie Yanfang said. “The Empress, like you, A-Yu, has no parents or relatives left. You are each other’s family. So, wherever A-Yu is, that’s the Empress’s home.”

These words did not soothe the gloom in the young boy’s eyes; instead, they added several degrees of unease.

Parents and relatives?

“A-Yu,” Xie Yanfang’s voice rose. “What are you worried about?”

Xiao Yu came back to himself and looked at him. The gloom was replaced by several degrees of agitation. He said: “I’m not worried, and you shouldn’t worry either. When Sister’s anger subsides, she’ll release you. I’m leaving.”

With that, he stood up and walked toward the exit.

“Does the Empress still have a home? Apart from Chu Lan, does she still have relatives?”

Xie Yanfang’s voice came from behind.

Xiao Yu’s figure paused.

Xie Yanfang’s voice continued.

“Then your Chu Sister will indeed leave you.”

Xiao Yu turned around sharply: “She won’t!”

He turned back to see Xie Yanfang holding a piece of cold roasted meat, with a cold smile in his eyes.

Xiao Yu’s hanging hand clenched, and he said: “Sister Chu has already married me. We are family. She won’t leave me.”

Xie Yanfang put the piece of unidentifiable meat into his mouth and chewed slowly: “What Chu Sister did can’t be called marrying you. It’s because your parents died, and she’s supporting you. If her relatives were still around, she would leave you sooner or later. Xiao Yu, if your parents were alive, wouldn’t you want to return to them?”

Want to… Xiao Yu’s eyes showed some confusion. His mother needn’t be mentioned—her warm embrace. And his father, though rarely accompanying him, overlooked him; he still wanted his father.

So, Sister Chu must feel the same way.

Xie Yanfang stood up and walked over, crouching before him and grasping his hand, looking into his eyes: “Tell me. I can still help you keep her now, otherwise she’ll go home.”

Xiao Yu looked at him, his lips moving slightly, and said: “Her mother is still alive.”