On this day, Qi Leyun fell from a ladder.
On this day, the entire city was in an uproar.
The Emperor issued an edict, declaring the turmoil had ended.
Though soldiers still patrolled the streets, hunting down remnants of the rebellion, and occasional cries and clashes echoed from the alleys—lingering resistance from the rebels—the common people had already settled their hearts.
The Third Prince’s rebellion was both unexpected and not entirely surprising to the populace, while the Crown Prince’s death was a shock, yet they could only sigh in resignation.
Fortunately, the Imperial Grandson survived and was immediately enfeoffed as the new Crown Prince. Though young, he would grow up in time, ensuring the dynasty had an heir.
But what was this about the Crown Princess?
Chu Zhao, daughter of the Chu family, became the Crown Princess?
This Chu Zhao was—
Well, no one was unfamiliar with who this Chu Zhao was.
Daughter of Chu Ling—over a decade ago, Chu Ling had been renowned throughout the capital. Now, his daughter, through beating and scolding others, provoking the Third Prince, and stirring up literary gatherings, had also made a name for herself across the capital—
But no one could have imagined she would become the Crown Princess, the future Empress!
Chu Zhao as Empress?
Amid the widespread astonishment, however, some were not surprised.
“Why can’t Chu Zhao? Didn’t you hear the Emperor say it was Chu Zhao who protected the Imperial Grandson, wielding a blade, riding a horse, and fighting her way out of the encirclement?”
“Truly, a fierce father does not raise a tame daughter.”
Yet this very statement sparked another perspective.
“Protecting the Imperial Grandson is the duty of any subject. Saving him warrants rewards and honors from His Majesty, but why marry the Imperial Grandson to her? Does the Son of Heaven also repay a life-saving debt with his own person?”
“Is this out of gratitude, or is it because of that ‘fierce father’?”
The implication was that with the Crown Prince dead, the Third Prince condemned, the Emperor ill, and the Imperial Grandson weak, Chu Ling—that formidable general—had seized the opportunity to coerce the throne.
Let’s not forget how illustrious Chu Ling’s reputation was over a decade ago, how skilled he was in warfare, and how many strong troops he commanded—
“That’s utter nonsense!”
Qi Leyun, leaning on a wooden stick and limping, went to find Chu Tang. Fuming with indignation, she thumped the stick loudly on the ground.
“What coercion? Why can’t our Chu Zhao become Empress? Even without the merit of saving the Imperial Grandson, our Chu Zhao is both talented and beautiful, renowned far and wide—no ordinary person!”
Chu Tang gave an absent-minded “oh.” At that time, she had been standing below the wall while Qi Leyun perched on a ladder leaning against it. Servants hurriedly relayed the contents of the edict; after hearing it, Qi Leyun fell from the ladder, while Chu Tang was left stunned and disoriented.
Qi Leyun, though injured, seemed even more spirited, whereas Chu Tang had yet to recover her wits.
Noticing her daze, Qi Leyun called out to get her attention, then leaned in to ask, “Did Chu Zhao really wield a blade and ride a horse to protect the Little Highness? Did you see it with your own eyes?”
Chu Tang turned to look at her. “I saw it. It happened right outside our Chu residence. It was truly… corpses and wounded everywhere, the ground soaked in blood.”
Qi Leyun rubbed her arms, a shiver running through her.
“I never would have guessed,” she murmured. “No wonder you didn’t want me staying at your house back then.”
Chu Tang replied, “Yes, you have no idea what we went through that night. Your family only had their house burned down, but here at my home… it was like a slaughterhouse.”
Qi Leyun gripped her stick and slammed it heavily on the ground. “Incredible! Who would have thought Chu Zhao was so formidable!”
With that, she hobbled toward the door.
“Chu Tang, prepare a carriage for me.”
Chu Tang frowned. “In your condition, you still want to go out?”"Of course we must go out. I'm going to gather the others right now so we can properly discuss how Chu Zhao absolutely deserves to be Empress," Qi Leyun said, her expression excited and eyes sparkling. "Our Chu Zhao is accomplished in both literary and martial arts, virtuous and talented, dignified and virtuous—a true mother to the nation—"
Chu Tang didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Virtuous and talented, dignified and virtuous," she murmured to herself. "How exactly did you determine that?"
Then her eyes lit up.
So virtue and talent, dignity and virtue weren't things one possessed first before others could see them.
Rather, as long as you positioned yourself where people could see you, you could have whatever qualities you wanted.
Even if you didn't possess them, you could still claim them!
Crown Princess.
Empress.
Chu Zhao was going to become Empress!
Chu Tang stood in the hall, clasping her hands together, a shiver running from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head.
She, Chu Tang, was going to become the Emperor's aunt!
......
......
Compared to the clamor in the streets and the commotion among the women, the deep residence of the Xie family remained silent.
Not that there was no uproar—when the Emperor's decree hadn't even left the Imperial City yet, the Xie family had already received the news. The tumult nearly lifted the roof off their mansion.
"Crown Princess!"
"How can they decide on a Crown Princess now? The Little Highness is only six years old!"
"Chu Zhao? That Chu Zhao is already thirteen."
"It's not about age—it's about what qualifies her!"
"Has anyone consulted us about the Little Highness's marriage?"
This was the crucial point. They were also the Little Highness's relatives, and with both the Crown Prince and Crown Princess gone, they were his only imperial kin.
How could such a lifelong matter be decided without consulting the Xie family?
"Third Brother, Third Brother, did you know?"
People and voices surged toward Xie Yanfang, but Du Qi intercepted them all.
"Quiet!" Du Qi stood under the corridor, coldly rebuking them. "Do not disturb the Third Young Master's rest."
The crowd instantly fell silent but refused to disperse.
"Does the Third Young Master know about the Crown Princess matter?" everyone asked urgently.
Du Qi replied, "He knows."
Knowing was good—everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Since the Third Young Master knew, it meant either he didn't oppose it or he had a countermeasure. Everything was still under the Xie family's control.
Watching the crowd retreat, Du Qi stood under the corridor without speaking further. What he meant was that Young Master Xie the Third had learned of this matter.
Just like everyone else, he had only just found out.
Inside the room, Xie Yanfang sat by the window, slowly sipping tea from his cup.
"What does His Majesty mean by this?" Cai Bo sat opposite him, his expression heavy. "What does Chu Ling mean by this?"
Xie Yanfang lowered his gaze, his eyelashes casting shadows in the teacup. Suddenly, he chuckled, causing the clear tea to ripple.
He said, "Cai Bo, back when the Liang family made a fuss and rumors spread about me and Yan Lai being involved with Miss Chu, who would have thought Miss Chu would end up as Crown Princess?"
Cai Bo found nothing amusing about it.
"Young Master, whether the world is shocked or stunned, we can laugh it off as mere excitement, but our Xie family cannot," he said, anger in his voice. "What position does this leave our Xie family in!"
Xie Yanfang drained his tea in one gulp: "Our Xie family's position before His Majesty is the same as our position before the Little Highness."
Both are subjects, both are commoners. If they treat you as family, you are family; if they don't, you are nothing.
He set the teacup down on the table.
"Cai Bo, this matter likely isn't about what the Emperor thinks, nor what Chu Ling thinks. It's about what Miss Chu thinks."
Cai Bo was stunned. What did that mean? This was Chu Zhao's idea? How was that possible? How could she—
Of course she could.Xie Yanfang looked out the window, his eyes sparkling brightly.
Because, if it were him, he would think the same way and would definitely do the same thing.
That girl really does resemble him a little.
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