Deng Yi withdrew his gaze and nodded to Xie Yanfang. "That's only right. The Third Prince's crimes are unforgivable."
Xie Yanfang stood up and added, "I've already killed the Third Prince."
Deng Yi remained composed. Xie Yanfang was determined to save the Crown Prince and would dare anything to achieve that. In his eyes, the Third Prince was an irreconcilable enemy who had to be eliminated.
Chu Zhao, however, was surprised once again. In her previous life, the Third Prince hadn't died—she hadn't expected Xie Yanfang to kill him directly in this life. Back then, events had unfolded too suddenly, leaving Xie Yanfang no opportunity. If he had had the chance, he would surely have killed the Third Prince with his own hands.
"Please help conceal this matter, Grand Tutor," Xie Yanfang bowed again.
Although the Third Prince's crimes warranted death, he was still the Emperor's son, and only the Emperor had the authority to execute him. Even if Xie Yanfang's actions were justified, the Emperor would inevitably hold a grudge against him.
Chu Zhao quickly turned to Deng Yi. "Grand Tutor, Young Master Xie is right. For the sake of the Little Highness, this matter must be kept secret."
See, she also knew how to protect those who were wholly devoted to the safety and dignity of the Little Highness.
Deng Yi ignored her and simply nodded at Xie Yanfang, repeating, "That's only right."
Xie Yanfang bowed respectfully. "Xie Yanfang thanks the Grand Tutor on behalf of my brother-in-law and sister."
Though he held no official position, and the Grand Tutor's decisions concerned state affairs—making it inappropriate for him to offer praise, which might seem presumptuous—he was the close relative of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, so expressing gratitude as a family member was entirely reasonable.
Young Master Xie the Third was indeed adept in human relations. Deng Yi smiled slightly and returned the bow. "It is my duty."
Xie Yanfang did not stand on ceremony further and said, "The Third Prince had bribed half of the Capital Garrison. After a night of chaotic fighting outside the city, I have mostly cleared them out. I now request the Grand Tutor to step in."
Deng Yi replied, "There are also many remnants of the Third Prince and the Zhao Family in the court. With insufficient manpower, I must trouble Young Master Xie the Third to handle the Capital Garrison affairs."
Xie Yanfang responded, "Xie Yanfang takes full responsibility."
Listening to their conversation, Chu Zhao interjected, "Young Master Xie, we must also pursue the Crown Prince of Zhongshan."
Xie Yanfang looked at her.
"Bringing the Little Highness to the Imperial City was actually a risky move," she explained to him.
Xie Yanfang nodded. He could imagine how dangerous it had been, with the city full of the Third Prince's men. However, since Miss Chu had dared to take the risk, she must have had confidence. What had Chu Ling left behind? Of course, he wouldn't ask proactively.
"But at that time, I had no other choice—not because of the Third Prince, but because the Crown Prince of Zhongshan, Xiao Xun, came to besiege and kill the Little Highness," Chu Zhao said.
Xie Yanfang understood immediately and sighed softly. "No surprise. How could the Crown Prince of Zhongshan miss such a golden opportunity? I believe the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince was likely his doing." He bowed to Chu Zhao again. "If not for you, Miss Azhao, I wouldn't know how to face this situation."
Actually, it wouldn't have made much difference. In her previous life, he had handled it quite formidably, making life very difficult for Xiao Xun. Chu Zhao smiled inwardly. In this life, with her assistance, let Xiao Xun's life be even more difficult.
"Earlier, when Yan Lai and I went to the rear palace, we saw the Little Highness running out to look for you," Xie Yanfang said. The guard had stepped aside and was waiting by the door for them to finish speaking. Since he knew who the Little Highness referred to as "sister," he naturally brought it up first.
Chu Zhao exclaimed, "A Yu is awake?"
He must not be sleeping soundly."I'll go check on him," she said, glancing at Deng Yi and then at Xie Yanfang. With these two present, the court would remain stable, and Xiao Xun wouldn't have an easy time either.
She curtsied to both of them.
"The court affairs will be left to Grand Tutor and Young Master the Third."
Her words already sounded as if she were the rightful master of the imperial court, Deng Yi thought to himself, but he said nothing and glanced at Young Master Xie the Third—
The matter of Miss Chu becoming a member of the imperial family was something Young Master Xie the Third still didn't know.
Though Miss Chu appeared sincere and reliant on Xie Yanfang, she had kept this matter completely hidden—clearly, she wasn't truly opening her heart to him.
Deng Yi pressed his lips together slightly and nodded. "Miss Chu, please go ahead."
Naturally, he didn't mention it either.
This matter had nothing to do with him; it was between Miss Chu and the Xie family.
Though Xie Yanfang found Deng Yi's faintly mocking expression somewhat peculiar, he paid it no mind. Everything had changed now, but as long as he, Xie Yanfang, remained, and as long as the Little Highness, who carried the blood of the Xie family, remained, then everything was still intact.
"Thank you for your efforts in taking care of A Yu," he said with a bow.
Chu Zhao sighed softly. "It is my honor."
In this lifetime, being able to save Xiao Yu was indeed her good fortune.
......
......
Xie Yanfang watched as Chu Zhao walked out. He saw the guards around her bowing respectfully, and then she gestured to one of them, saying something he couldn't hear. The guard nodded and left—
These unfamiliar guards seemed very familiar with Chu Zhao—they must be the hidden forces left behind by Chu Ling.
It seemed this palace was not entirely under Deng Yi's control.
"Young Master Xie the Third," Deng Yi called out.
Xie Yanfang withdrew his gaze.
Deng Yi gestured for him to sit. "Please, let's sit and talk."
Xie Yanfang acknowledged and walked over to take a seat.
......
......
Chu Zhao passed through layers of guards as she made her way to the inner palace. She wasn't overly concerned about how Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang would handle things.
No matter how clever Xie Yanfang was, Deng Yi was someone who dared to slap the Emperor's face.
And no matter how formidable Deng Yi was, Xie Yanfang was someone who dared to rebel—
Neither of them was someone to be trifled with.
For the young and vulnerable ruler at present, their confrontation was a good thing.
Seeing Chu Zhao return, the eunuchs standing in front of the hall breathed sighs of relief and hurriedly gathered around her. "Miss Chu, you're back."
No one dared to question why she had left the Little Highness or why she had been gone for so long.
Thanks to Xie Yanlai's intervention, Xiao Yu had already been persuaded to return to bed, but he hadn't fallen asleep. When he saw Chu Zhao enter, he immediately jumped down from the bed.
"Don't run, don't run," Chu Zhao said, catching him and pulling him into her embrace. Before Xiao Yu could speak, she explained proactively, "His Majesty summoned me for a talk, and afterward, I went to see Grand Tutor Deng. You were asleep at the time, so I didn't wake you or let you know. Please don't be angry."
Xiao Yu shook his head and then nodded, remaining silent.
Chu Zhao led him back to the bedside. "You haven't slept for a full day and night. The imperial physician said you need rest and must recover your energy."
Xiao Yu nodded but clung tightly to Chu Zhao's hand, whispering, "You haven't slept either, and you rode a horse and killed people. You need to rest and recover your energy too."
Chu Zhao smiled. "A Yu is right." She gestured to him. "Hurry, get into bed. I'll rest with you."
Only then did the child's tense little face relax. He obediently climbed into bed, and as Chu Zhao tucked him in, she felt something hard and noticed a bamboo tube.
This bamboo tube was not unfamiliar to Chu Zhao.When she first held Xiao Yu at the Chu Manor, she noticed the child clutching a bamboo tube tightly in his arms, never letting go for even a moment.
The situation had been critical then, so she didn’t ask further, even assuming it might be some important national artifact he had brought along.
It was still in Xiao Yu’s possession now, held close even as he slept.
“What is this?” she asked curiously.
Xiao Yu hurriedly hugged the bamboo tube to his chest, lowering his gaze as he replied, “It’s nothing.”
Chu Zhao let out an “oh” and didn’t press further.
But Xiao Yu glanced at her again and said, “I… cut it on the mountain.”
The child still offered her an explanation. Chu Zhao gently stroked his head, her heart aching. For this child, who should have been happily playing with his parents, who could have imagined that in the blink of an eye, they would be separated forever, leaving only this bamboo tube in his hands.
“Then you must keep it safe,” she said, lying down beside him and softly patting both Xiao Yu and the bamboo tube. “Such a precious thing mustn’t be lost.”
Xiao Yu said nothing more. Under Chu Zhao’s soothing pats, he slowly closed his eyes.
Chu Zhao watched the child’s fluttering eyelashes and felt the tension in his body beneath the quilt. She sighed inwardly but didn’t expose his feigned sleep.
In her previous life, she had never been able to have a child of her own. Back then, she thought it was due to her poor health and had often blamed herself. Of course, she now knew it was because Xiao Xun would never let her have a child.
Perhaps it was for the best.
Chu Zhao gazed at Xiao Yu’s tender face. Given the fate she had suffered, if she had left a child in this world, how could the child have survived? It would have been too cruel, too pitiful.
As she patted Xiao Yu, Chu Zhao slowly drifted off to sleep herself.
She hadn’t closed her eyes for a full day and night.
After she fell still, Xiao Yu, who had been pretending to sleep, opened his eyes. He stared blankly at the canopy, hugged the bamboo tube tighter, and curled into a ball.
……
……
Night fell once again over the Imperial City, brightly lit and heavily guarded by imperial soldiers.
Xie Yanlai dismounted, discarded his sword, and strode into the palace with a displeased expression. When he was stopped, however, his brow relaxed.
“What are you doing?” Deputy General Zhong snapped sternly. “Weren’t you assigned to guard the city gate? Why are you wandering around—”
Before he could finish, the young man clasped his fists and said, “Very well. Please inform Miss Chu on my behalf that this humble general takes his leave.”
With that, he turned to leave.
“Stop right there!” Deputy General Zhong barked angrily. Fortunately, he had sharp ears and caught the words “Miss Chu.” Though reluctant, he said, “Since Miss Chu has summoned you, why aren’t you hurrying?”
Xie Yanlai replied, “Deputy General Zhong, perhaps you should go in and ask. Maybe Miss Chu was concerned you were too busy and didn’t want to trouble you. After all, you are the most reliable in handling matters.”
Deputy General Zhong certainly knew he was the most reliable, but since Miss Chu wanted to see this brat—
“Enough nonsense,” he hissed quietly. “Get inside, now.”
Xie Yanlai raised an eyebrow and murmured, “At this late hour, isn’t it rather inconvenient—”
Deputy General Zhong’s scar twitched. He muttered, “Your nephew is inside. Your nephew is looking for you. What’s inconvenient about that?” With that, he grabbed the young man’s arm and shoved him inward.
He had intended to deliver a kick, but he was too slow—the young man had already leaped away and strode off.
Deputy General Zhong glared at the retreating figure and snorted inwardly. Miss Chu only sought him out for the sake of the Little Highness. This brat had better not get any ideas.
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