In the sixth month of the first year of Jianning, Chu Zhao was hunting and escaping the summer heat outside the capital. The night in the mountains was cooler than in the imperial city, but Chu Zhao couldn’t get a good night’s sleep.

She hadn’t slept all night.

Not dreaming was better. Sometimes dreams made it difficult for her to distinguish between reality and the dream world.

In her previous life, there had never been an era named Jianning.

In this reborn life, taking advantage of her favorable position as Empress, she had chosen era names different from those in her previous life.

Things were already different.

Chu Zhao raised her hand to massage her temples. Xiao Man extinguished the lamp as the sky was already beginning to brighten. In the blue-green light, the candle flame flickered dimly, serving little purpose now.

“Do you want to rest a bit?” she asked. “Or would you prefer to eat first?” After saying this, she added, “Throughout the night, everything in the capital has been monitored. No major incidents occurred.”

Messages had been arriving continuously throughout the night, but they were all good news.

Officials and soldiers had surrounded the Xie and Liang residences. Although the Xie and Liang families had spoken disrespectfully and made noisy scenes with crying and shouting, no major disturbances had broken out.

Among the noble families and officials in the city, some came out to inquire about the situation, but upon seeing that it was the imperial army and the Empress’s order, they all retreated.

The Gongwei Department had detected private questioning about the Empress’s greed, but most people said they would wait and observe, waiting for the Empress to come forward with an explanation.

This showed that the Empress’s authority was becoming stronger.

The troops outside the capital were also stable, and there were no unusual movements in the surrounding areas.

The anxiety that had persisted throughout the night could be somewhat relaxed now, allowing for a brief rest.

Chu Zhao shook her head: “No need to rest. A-Yu will be coming for breakfast soon.”

Speaking of Xiao Yu, Xiao Man said, “He secretly went to see Xie Yanfang last night. I wonder if his mind has been swayed and whether he’ll still have the energy to hunt today.”

Chu Zhao had known about this at the time but hadn’t stopped Xiao Yu. It wasn’t surprising; even if Xiao Yu didn’t have deep familial feelings for Xie Yanfang, he would certainly be curious about the situation and would want to see Xie Yanfang.

“He won’t be affected,” Chu Zhao smiled. “He might be even more energetic today.”

Even if he hadn’t slept all night, Xiao Yu would appear visibly energetic to her.

This child was almost too clever.

Chu Zhao removed her hand from her forehead and picked up her teacup: “Go tell Ding Dahui to put the Xie family officials in the capital and Liang Qiang in prison. The Emperor, I, and Xie Yanfang are all at the hunting grounds. They won’t act rashly and will wait for our return. Taking advantage of this time, interrogate them through the night, establish the charges by tomorrow, and announce them to the world.”

Xiao Man acknowledged the order and said, “Ding Dahui should be arriving soon—”

Before she could finish, footsteps sounded outside the tent, and someone lifted the curtain to enter.

“Ding Dahui, why are you so late?” Xiao Man began with raised eyebrows, but her words halted as her posture suddenly changed. Her waist twisted to shield Chu Zhao, while a cold glint flashed as a pair of short daggers hidden in her sleeves appeared before her.

Chu Zhao stood behind Xiao Man. In the past two years, both she and Xiao Man had grown taller, though Xiao Man had grown more.

Standing behind Xiao Man, she was completely shielded. Holding her teacup, she tilted her head slightly to look.

The morning mountain breeze stirred, lifting clothing and causing light to pour in, illuminating Xie Yanfang’s face.

…

…

Ding Dahui stood in the forest, looking back, feeling that there was a rustling sound in his ears.

“Commander Ding.”

A voice came from ahead.

Ding Dahui turned his head to see Xiao Yu standing in front, holding a bow and arrow, with the morning light dancing through the forest and falling on his face.

“Have you discovered anything?” Xiao Yu asked.

Earlier today, before dawn, the Emperor had summoned Ding Dahui, which was quite rare. Although the Gongwei Department was nominally under the direct control of the Emperor, in reality, they were all managed by the Empress, and the young Emperor never inquired about their affairs.

But when the Emperor summoned, no one could refuse to listen, especially at this moment—the young Emperor had visited Xie Yanfang last night.

Ding Dahui came with various thoughts, but the young Emperor had only invited him to go hunting.

“I spotted a wild boar yesterday,” he said. “While it’s still dark, help me catch it to give Sister a surprise.”

For someone like Ding Dahui in the past, the Emperor had been awe-inspiring, a deity-like figure high above all. But now, he could see the Emperor almost every day. Though he still respected the Emperor, he felt less fear.

Upon hearing this, Ding Dahui not only didn’t bow in compliance but firmly refused: “Your Majesty has guards responsible for hunting. Let them handle it.”

Xiao Yu wasn’t angry at being refused, his expression somewhat embarrassed: “I know Lord Ding is very busy. I heard from the guards that Lord Ding once captured a wild boar single-handedly, so I wanted to ask for your help.”

Hearing this, Ding Dahui felt a bit ashamed; he had indeed spoken about that, as he inevitably joked with the guards during daily interactions.

“Because of the unexpected events, Sister is worried about me,” Xiao Yu said softly. “I don’t want her to worry. If I hunt a wild boar, Sister will surely be surprised and see that I haven’t been affected.”

The young boy’s face was animated and energetic as he raised his arm.

“Then Sister won’t worry about me anymore.”

Ding Dahui hesitated.

“Lord Ding doesn’t need to personally kill the wild boar,” Xiao Yu quickly added. “Just come to the mountain to give us some guidance on how to surround and capture it. We’ll keep watch ourselves, and Lord Ding can attend to his duties.”

That seemed acceptable, just a moment’s effort to take a look. Since the Emperor had spoken thus, he, as a subject, couldn’t be too unreasonable. Ding Dahui acknowledged.

But now—

He hadn’t found any traces of wild boar yet, and he felt that something was amiss.

He had previously surveyed almost every part of the hunting grounds, including the forest, but now the forest seemed somewhat strange, no matter where he went.

Yet when he checked the hidden sentries, the visible posts, and the commands, everything matched up.

“Lord Ding,” Xiao Yu asked again.

Ding Dahui shook his head: “No discoveries.”

Xiao Yu then said: “Let’s continue looking.” As he was about to step forward, he saw that Ding Dahui remained motionless. “Lord Ding?”

The rustling sound in Ding Dahui’s ears grew more intense, as if countless snakes and insects were crawling on the ground, or perhaps countless people were quietly rushing about.

The hunter’s instinct made his hair stand on end. If he felt something was wrong, then something was wrong—

“Your Majesty,” he called out, “I take my leave.”

Throwing down these words, he turned and sprinted away, drawing his waist knife, its cold gleam flashing through the forest.

Xiao Yu watched his retreating figure in silent silence.

“Your Majesty,” a guard beside him said softly, “Don’t mind him. There’s enough time.”

Xiao Yu asked: “Third Uncle will persuade Sister Chu, right?”

The guard replied: “Of course, Your Majesty, don’t worry.”

Perhaps he should have gone to persuade his sister himself, not leaving her alone with Xie Yanfang. Xiao Yu watched Ding Dahui running away in the distance and couldn’t help but raise his foot.

But if she knew he was hindering her, Sister would certainly be angry and would no longer like him.

Xiao Yu lowered his gaze and put his foot down.

…

…

Seeing Xie Yanfang, Chu Zhao was both surprised and not surprised.

Perhaps this was normal.

“I indeed cannot confine Lord Xie,” she said with a smile.

“Your Highness need not feel inadequate,” Xie Yanfang said. “You’ve only been Empress for a few years, naturally, you can’t compare to my decade and more of strategic planning.”

Chu Zhao said: “Let my servant go.”

“What nonsense are you talking?” Xiao Man exclaimed.

Xie Yanfang said: “Lady A-Zhao, such words would hurt this girl’s feelings. How could she leave you behind?” His gaze fell on Xiao Man, examining her carefully for the first time. “So she is your mother’s person. I always thought she was your father’s.”

A flash of surprise crossed Chu Zhao’s eyes before quickly disappearing.

“A-Yu told you?” she said, a self-mocking smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. “I still haven’t learned my lesson. Third Young Master, you were right. In such circumstances, even father and son, husband and wife must be wary of each other.”

Xiao Yu was saved by her, but the child she had saved was also the Emperor.

“He is a child. Don’t be too demanding of him, and don’t blame him,” Xie Yanfang said. “No child’s secrets can be kept from adults.”

At this point, there was some despondency in his eyes, but they quickly cleared.

“Many things seemed somewhat odd before, but could be explained. Now I finally understand completely.”

“For instance, why could Xiao Xun be captured by Chu Lan’s family?”

“For instance, why, after Stone Slope City fell and the King of Western Liang was captured, Zhong Changrong could still attack the Western Liang royal court.”

“For instance, why so many of the hundred thousand troops seized by the King of Zhongshan were lost in the border regions, which is not at all characteristic of the carefully trained troops of the King of Zhongshan.”

“For instance, why did you want to confine me?”

Upon hearing this, Chu Zhao couldn’t help saying: “My confining you has nothing to do with this matter, does it?”

Xie Yanfang looked at her: “It does. If your mother weren’t still alive, it wouldn’t be Lady A-Zhao confining me.”

What? Chu Zhao frowned: “If not me, then who?”

“The Empress,” Xie Yanfang said. “The Empress can confine me, the Empress can do whatever she wants, but Chu Zhao cannot!”

He stepped forward, looking at Chu Zhao, shaking his head.

“Chu Zhao doesn’t want to be Empress, but that’s not acceptable.”

At this point, the faint smile at the corner of his mouth froze like winter ice.

“So I have conveyed a new order on behalf of His Majesty.”

“Suppression of bandits.”