In that lifetime, Minister Liang's downfall occurred around this time as well, though the exact reasons remained unknown.
Back then, how could she have cared about such matters? A group of young girls could only tremble at the tragic fate of the Liang family.
Someone described how the Liang family dependents were driven out of the capital like cattle.
Her face turned pale with fear, recalling how just two days earlier, Miss Liang had been playing with them in bright, elegant attire, showing off her newly made dress. In the blink of an eye, she had become a prisoner.
"A single misstep by officials or nobles can lead to utter ruin," Chu Tang sighed, turning to look at her. "Now you understand the danger your father has brought upon our family, don't you?"
She nearly burst into tears then, as if already seeing her own family reduced to prisoners. Her resentment toward her father grew, along with her guilt toward her uncle's family.
Now, thinking back, how could she have viewed it as a disaster brought by her father? Even after committing such widely known acts of defiance, the Chu family remained secure and untroubled. This clearly showed her father's remarkable capabilities, his extraordinary nature—it was his strength that protected the Chu household.
She must have been out of her mind back then.
Chu Zhao looked at Chu Tang.
Chu Tang was startled by her gaze.
"I never believed those rumors," she hurriedly said, then feeling it wasn't quite right, added, "Even if they were true, I don't think you're at fault. Look, this time I didn't stand by idly—I spoke up for you to some extent."
Chu Zhao chuckled.
Indeed, Chu Tang's behavior at the tavern this time deserved praise—unlike before, she hadn't avoided the trouble.
Though it felt somewhat ironic to praise such behavior within a family, given their familial relationships and Chu Tang's selfish nature, this still represented significant growth.
"Yes, thank you, sister," she said with a smile.
Chu Tang didn't care whether her gratitude was genuine or not. After a moment's thought, she asked, "So in this matter, was it Uncle's doing or yours?"
It was clearly Xie Yanfang's achievement, but Chu Zhao understood what Chu Tang meant by her question.
If Young Master Xie the Third was formidable, who had prompted him to take such remarkable action? Was it Chu Ling? Or was it her?
Chu Zhao glanced at Chu Tang. She had only hinted at her father Chu Ling's capabilities, but Chu Tang's perspective was broader—she could see her own involvement too.
However, in this incident, it was undeniable that Xie Yanfang held her in higher regard undoubtedly because of her father. Yet, she herself had been remarkable too, daring to do what she had never imagined before.
"This time, I'd say I was more remarkable," she said with a laugh.
Chu Tang listened, her almond-shaped eyes studying Chu Zhao's face with a teasing expression.
"Not because of my face," Chu Zhao immediately knew what she was thinking—these young girls. "Though I am indeed very beautiful."
Chu Tang burst out laughing.
"But beauty, to men, is just beauty," Chu Zhao said. "It's not omnipotent."
Chu Tang laughed, "I've heard that before, but usually from plain-looking women who like to say such things."
Because they lacked something, they needed to convince themselves and others that they possessed other virtues.
Beautiful girls might say the same, aiming to make others believe they deserved even more.
Chu Zhao shook her head—this was the petty cleverness of young girls.
Having witnessed countless beauties in the imperial harem, she knew that in the eyes of power, beauty meant nothing—it was merely a plaything.
...
...
Although many officials had been convicted over the years in court, Minister Liang's case had unexpectedly stirred significant turmoil this time.What was particularly different this time was that the Xie family was involved.
Early in the morning, officials gathered at the palace gates, murmuring among themselves.
"This must be the Xie family manipulating power."
"To convict the Liang family over trivial matters like marriage arrangements—who says the Xie family isn't formidable?"
Amid the murmurs, the urgent clatter of hooves struck the ground with such force that it trembled. Without even looking, the officials knew who had arrived. No one but the Crown Prince could command such presence within the Imperial City. Instantly, they scattered to make way.
The Crown Prince rode in like a mountain, flanked by eunuchs and mounted archers, all of whom were burly and imposing.
"With so many affairs of state to attend to, why are you all gathered here idly chatting?" the Crown Prince shouted from his horse. "I want to see the proposals on land taxes and military matters by this afternoon. If I don’t—"
His gaze swept over the assembled officials.
"You’ll all join Minister Liang!"
The officials hurriedly responded in unison, feeling the whirlwind of the Crown Prince’s presence as he swept past them into the inner palace.
Once inside the Imperial City, the Crown Prince could no longer ride his horse. He strode forward on foot, and the imperial guards patrolling the inner palace halted and stood at attention to greet him. Eunuch Zhu, looking ahead, spotted a man standing at the palace entrance—
His eyes flickered, and he pressed closer to the Crown Prince, whispering, "Your Highness, there’s a man named Deng Yi. I don’t know if Lord Yang mentioned him to you—"
The Crown Prince snapped out of his thoughts and asked, "What?"
Just then, a eunuch emerged from within, smiling warmly as he approached.
"Eunuch Qi," the Crown Prince said, leaving Eunuch Zhu behind as he strode forward with a laugh. "Why have you come in person? Has His Majesty sent you on another errand? You, after all these years, still haven’t learned to slack off. With so many underlings, you could easily assign one of them."
Eunuch Qi smiled. "It wasn’t His Majesty who sent this old servant. I came on behalf of Little Highness to see you."
Little Highness naturally referred to the Crown Prince’s son, who was currently studying under the Emperor’s supervision.
At the mention of his son, the Crown Prince’s smile softened. "What’s wrong with A’Yu? Is something the matter?"
"Nothing’s wrong. Little Highness misses you, so this old servant came to remind you to visit him after you’ve seen His Majesty," Eunuch Qi said.
The Crown Prince laughed heartily. "It’s his own fault for only wanting to study. If he went to the training grounds, he’d see me every day."
Eunuch Qi quickly admonished, "Don’t take Little Highness to the training grounds. Last time, he injured his arm. Have you forgotten how His Majesty punished you for that?"
"When I was a child, I injured my arm countless times, and I never saw Grandfather punish Father for it," the Crown Prince retorted with a laugh.
Eunuch Qi feigned annoyance. "How dare you speak ill of His Majesty again? If you continue, this old servant will report you to His Majesty."
The Crown Prince paid no heed, laughing loudly as he strode further inside. The officials and guards lining the palace gates were beneath his notice.
As he marched in, the others hurried to follow. Eunuch Zhu swallowed his unfinished words, glanced at Deng Yi, and quickly trailed after.
Deng Yi seemed entirely unaware, bowing respectfully as the group passed. But when another gaze fell upon him, he lifted his head and met Eunuch Qi’s backward glance—
Deng Yi averted his eyes, bowing even deeper in a solemn salute, as if paying his respects once more to the departing Crown Prince.
Eunuch Qi smiled faintly, turned back, and said to the Crown Prince, "His Majesty has just taken his medicine. Please don’t upset him. This old servant is going to Little Highness now. Please remember to visit him and don’t rush off in a hurry again."
The Crown Prince waved a hand without looking back. "I know, I know. Ah, Old Qi, you’re getting more long-winded with age.""Old age does make one long-winded," Qi Gonggong chuckled, bowing before taking his leave.
...
...
When Qi Gonggong returned to the Emperor's bedchamber, the Crown Prince had already departed. The Emperor reclined on a soft couch with his eyes closed, being fed sweet soup by a beautiful palace maid.
He took occasional sips, eating without much appetite.
Qi Gonggong stepped forward and took over the bowl, while the maid bowed her head and withdrew.
"Has His Highness the Crown Prince rushed off in haste again?" he said helplessly. "Fortunately, this old servant didn't inform the Little Highness."
The Emperor snorted. "He seized the opportunity—captured over a hundred scholars, claiming they're bandits and rebels. He's in a hurry to make the Third Prince lose his temper."
Qi Gonggong asked, "Are they truly bandits and rebels? Did they sneak in under the cover of the Third Prince's literary gathering?"
"Does truth matter?" The Emperor opened his eyes. "Who told the Third Prince to host a literary gathering where even a young girl could steal the spotlight? Those attending are nothing but riffraff and strays."
Qi Gonggong shook his head resignedly. "Your Majesty, won't you intervene and stop them from causing such chaos?"
The Emperor sat up straight. His face, having grown even thinner, appeared more listless, but his deep eyes flickered with a trace of madness. "If he can't even subdue his own brother, how can he be Crown Prince? And if he wants to be Crown Prince, counting on his father to help him—I can't assist him forever."
Qi Gonggong understood the meaning behind these words perfectly. The two instances of "he" in that sentence did not refer to the same person.
And the "tempering" the Emperor spoke of concealed cruelty.
Treating his sons like playthings, akin to watching young beasts fight in a hunting ground, was a covert and unspoken pleasure for the aging ruler.
Not daring to comment further on matters between father and son, or between sovereign and subject, Qi Gonggong only said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has said you shouldn't eat too much of this."
The Emperor grumbled discontentedly, "Old and decrepit, yet still being managed by others."
Qi Gonggong laughed heartily and put away the bowl.
"Why did you personally go to the palace gate to receive the Crown Prince?" the Emperor suddenly asked.
Although he had already explained that it was to convey the Little Highness's greetings to his father, the Emperor's question now was not due to senility—
Qi Gonggong lowered his voice and said, "This old servant went to protect someone."
The Emperor lifted his eyelids. "Who?"
Qi Gonggong replied, "The palace guard, Deng Yi."
The Emperor gave an "oh" and lowered his eyelids, asking no more, as if he had merely posed the question casually.
Though the Emperor did not press further, Qi Gonggong continued, "This Deng Yi is new and rather reckless—he actually dared to stop the Crown Prince's men. Of course, the Crown Prince wouldn't mind, but petty people are hard to deal with. I feared those villains might deliberately cause trouble and tarnish the Crown Prince's reputation."
The Emperor smiled. "You're old already, yet still so meddlesome."
Qi Gonggong chuckled. "This old servant is aged and has nothing left but idle concerns. There's nothing else to do, after all."
The Emperor glanced at him. "It's fine if you laze about here with me, but don't neglect Yu'er's studies and daily routine."
Qi Gonggong smiled and acknowledged the order. Seeing that the Emperor had fallen silent, he bowed his head and withdrew this time.
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