Qiao Chu

The girl spoke confidently before the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, this is an excellent idea," she said with sparkling eyes, taking a step forward. "Consider this: once I become Empress, my father will become the Imperial Father-in-law. He won't merely be a subject anymore—he'll be Little Highness's family. Your Majesty, if you believe my father can protect both me and Little Highness, why not trust that he can secure the throne for Little Highness?"

The Emperor seemed about to respond, but the girl didn't give him the chance, advancing another step.

"Your Majesty, even if you don't believe it, the world will."

The girl's eyes shone with a mixture of excitement and indignation.

"If I become Empress, my father will exhaust every effort and spare no expense to ensure I maintain this position."

"Whatever he does, even if it's wicked, will appear justified in the eyes of the world."

"Your Majesty, don't you wish to see how far my father would go for me and Little Highness?"

The Emperor, who had been listless in his Dragon Body, suddenly burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"Indeed, I do," he chuckled, clapping his hands. "I truly wish to see how General Chu would act as Imperial Father-in-law."

The Emperor, driven mad by the disqualification of both princes, was swayed by Chu Zhao's equally mad proposal.

Deng Yi pulled himself from his reverie and looked at the girl standing before him now.

"Miss Chu, have you considered," he said, "that after His Majesty's death, the ensuing deluge will no longer concern him, but you? That flood will crash down upon you with overwhelming force."

After he spoke, he saw the girl smile faintly.

"Even when I did nothing, I was already struck by the flood," she muttered under her breath.

What did she mean? As Deng Yi was about to ask further, a guard arrived to announce that Xie Yanfang had come.

Deng Yi also smiled slightly.

"Crown Princess," he said, "Little Highness's safety doesn't truly rest with me. After all, without Little Highness, I could still serve as Grand Tutor. But if Little Highness were gone, Young Master Xie the Third would lose his chance to become Imperial Uncle. You should save your persuasive words for him."

Chu Zhao nodded but then shook her head.

"The Grand Tutor serves His Highness with selfless devotion," she said quietly. "Young Master Xie the Third is motivated by familial ties. I'd rather speak more kindly to the Grand Tutor."

She smiled again at this point.

"The Grand Tutor keeps his word. He said he owed me a meal, and he repaid the favor."

Deng Yi laughed dismissively. "Miss Chu, if you had Young Master Xie the Third owe you a meal, he would repay you with far greater favors."

Chu Zhao nodded. "Young Master Xie the Third would indeed repay favors, but he probably wouldn't give me the chance to have him owe me a meal."

Deng Yi made a sound of understanding. "Because I'm poor, and Young Master Xie the Third lacks for nothing, right?"

"Lord Deng," Chu Zhao said, both annoyed and amused.

She didn't believe for a moment that Deng Yi failed to grasp her meaning. She was complimenting him—or, even if discussing wealth, implying that he, like her, was among the less fortunate, constrained by circumstances, which was why they could form a bond over a meal and feel compelled to repay such kindness.

Deng Yi raised a hand to stop her; he wouldn't bandy words with a young girl. He turned to the guard. "Invite the Third Young Master in."

The guard acknowledged the order but didn't leave immediately, asking instead, "Xie Yanlai is with him. Should he be invited in as well, or should he wait outside?"

Deng Yi glanced at Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao met his gaze unabashedly and said directly, "Let him come in too. He should hear this." Then she added under her breath, "Though he might not be willing to enter."

The guard turned and left, and the hall fell silent once more.Deng Yi watched the girl who had stopped pacing and was now looking outside.

"There's more," he said. "Thank you for looking after my mother."

Chu Zhao turned to him with a smile. "Has Lord Deng been in contact with his family?"

When she decided to come to the Imperial City, she hadn't known Deng Yi was there. Remembering he was fated to become Grand Tutor, she asked the Dragon Guard Scouts if they knew Deng Yi's family. Surprisingly, they actually knew of him, so she sent some men there to prevent any mishaps from befalling Deng Yi.

Later, when they met in the palace, she hadn't mentioned it.

Although Deng Yi was in the palace, the Dragon Guard Army had casually kept an eye on his family members as well.

Deng Yi nodded. "My father and elder brother died early, leaving only my blind elderly mother. I originally thought I couldn't take care of her and felt regretful." He glanced at Chu Zhao. "Miss Chu, this is much more significant than owing you a meal."

That's truly wonderful, Chu Zhao laughed heartily. "Grand Tutor, you're too polite. It's nothing really, I didn't help much. Lord Deng, your destiny is extraordinary, blessed with profound fortune."

But her expression suggested it was anything but "nothing." Deng Yi watched the girl's beaming face, somewhat amused, shook his head, and said nothing more as footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Xie Yanfang pays respects to the Grand Tutor."

...

...

Hearing that Deng Yi would see them, though the guard said Xie Yanlai could also enter, Xie Yanlai did not go in.

"Tell her the Little Highness is looking for her," he said to the guard.

It sounded abrupt and unclear, but the guard nodded and said, "Alright."

Xie Yanlai bowed to Xie Yanfang. "I'm going on duty." He turned and left.

"Yan Lai," Xie Yanfang called.

Xie Yanlai stopped and looked back at him.

"If you need anything, just say so," Xie Yanfang said.

Xie Yanlai smiled. "Alright, I will." With that, he strode away.

Du Qi remarked, "He wasn't this obedient before."

Xie Yanfang glanced at him. "You didn't have so much to say about him before either. Are you particularly concerned or afraid?"

Du Qi's face stiffened, and he lowered his head. "This subordinate acknowledges his mistake."

Xie Yanfang said no more, nodded to the guard, and walked toward the main hall. At the doorway, he didn't enter directly but requested permission again.

Footsteps came from inside the hall first, accompanied by a crisp female voice.

"Young Master the Third."

Xie Yanfang looked up to see the girl rushing over.

He wasn't particularly surprised; instead, many things became clear to him.

Since the Little Highness had returned to the palace, it meant she was safe at the Chu residence. It was natural for Miss Chu, who could ensure the Little Highness's safety, to follow into the palace.

Those unfamiliar troops.

Xie Yanlai could defend the city and had subtly become their leader.

The Little Highness was close to Xie Yanlai.

The sister the Little Highness kept mentioning.

Xie Yanfang stepped over the threshold. "Miss A Zhao."

Chu Zhao stopped before him. "You're here, that's great! Are you alright?" She looked Xie Yanfang up and down.

Hearing her three questions, Xie Yanfang's expression grew complicated.

"It was my incompetence, wasting your repeated warnings, miss," he said, then looked at Chu Zhao. "Fortunately, you were here, and the Little Highness was preserved."

Chu Zhao's feelings were also mixed; she hadn't expected that even after warning Young Master Xie the Third, she still couldn't prevent events from unfolding.

"This isn't your fault," she said. "It must be fate."

She nodded as she spoke.

"At least the Little Highness is safe."

Xie Yanfang sighed softly and looked inside. Chu Zhao quickly guided him. "Young Master the Third, come quickly. Grand Tutor Deng is waiting for you too. We're inside the city and don't know what's happening outside."Xie Yanfang followed her inside, taking a few steps before seeing the man seated behind the desk.

He was in his early thirties, with delicate features, long eyebrows, and thin lips. His emotions were unreadable, and combined with his court robes, he exuded a dignity that belied his years.

This was Deng Yi.

Xie Yanfang bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Grand Tutor Deng."

Deng Yi set down the scroll and stood. "There's no need for such formality, Young Master Xie. What happened with the Crown Prince? How did the Third Prince assassinate His Highness?"

Xie Yanfang straightened. "To be precise, the Crown Prince died first, and the Third Prince attacked afterward."

What?

Both Deng Yi and Chu Zhao were taken aback. The Crown Prince hadn't been killed by the Third Prince?

Xie Yanfang continued, "His Highness the Crown Prince died while attempting to lift a ceremonial cauldron."

Deng Yi and Chu Zhao exchanged glances—this—

"But I've investigated. The Crown Prince had practiced lifting the cauldron many times before; there should have been no accident. Someone must have schemed against him," Xie Yanfang said. "By the time I arrived, the scene had been tampered with. There was nothing to be found."

So he had no evidence.

"Nevertheless, the Third Prince did intend to assassinate the Crown Prince. Even after hearing of the Crown Prince's death, he didn't stop but sought to slaughter everyone present," Xie Yanfang added, looking at Deng Yi. "Therefore, I implore the Grand Tutor to announce to the world that the Crown Prince died at the hands of the Third Prince."

He bowed once more.

"Please preserve the Crown Prince's reputation and the dignity of the Little Highness."

A Crown Prince dying from lifting a cauldron would indeed be a disgrace, becoming a subject of ridicule in historical records and mitigating the Third Prince's culpability. Xie Yanfang could not allow the Third Prince any chance of redemption.

This was for the Crown Prince, and even more so for the Little Highness.

Deng Yi glanced at Chu Zhao.

See? This is someone wholly devoted to the Little Highness's safety and honor.

Chu Zhao pressed her lips together. The Grand Tutor was teaching her how to handle affairs and judge character. She smiled inwardly—she didn't need his instruction. Of course, she knew.