The bathwater rippled gently.
In addition to being scattered with a layer of flowers, goat's milk had also been poured in.
A Le crouched by the pool's edge, stirring the water with her hand. "So this is how one can bathe."
Chu Zhao, resting against the opposite wall with her eyes closed, laughed. "A Le, come down and try it."
A Le was eager but shook her head. "Let's wait a bit longer."
Chu Zhao opened her eyes and asked, "Wait for what? You don't need to serve me; the palace maids are here."
A Le lowered her voice. "After all, this is the Imperial Palace. I'll indulge only after you've firmly secured your position as Crown Princess."
Chu Zhao laughed heartily. "What kind of indulgence is this?" With that, she stood up and walked into the clear water pool to rinse off.
A Le rose and called out gracefully, "Attendants."
Several palace maids filed in, drying and dressing Chu Zhao after her rinse, then escorting her to the outer chamber to sit and have her hair combed.
"Where's A Yu?" Chu Zhao asked.
Just as the maids were about to answer, Xiao Yu ran in from outside.
"Sister," he called.
Chu Zhao smiled. "I was just asking about you."
Xiao Yu stopped in front of the bronze mirror, watching her comb her hair. "I timed it; you should be done bathing."
Since entering the Imperial City, Xiao Yu had remained inseparable from her. If he wasn't by her side at night, he would wake up startled and unable to sleep. Chu Zhao understood—the poor child had lost his parents overnight and had narrowly escaped death himself, leaving him terrified.
Just like how he constantly held this bamboo tube.
Chu Zhao's gaze fell on the crook of Xiao Yu's arm.
Qi Gonggong had already told her that the bamboo tube contained a snake.
Most children were afraid of snakes, let alone carrying one around at all times.
"Little Highness is afraid too; he never played with snakes or insects before," Qi Gonggong had said. "I coaxed him into catching this snake for Crown Prince."
But before it could be given to the Crown Prince, father and son were forever separated.
"I'll coax Little Highness into throwing it away," Qi Gonggong said.
Chu Zhao stopped him. "Let him keep it. It's a cherished memory he can't bear to part with."
The gift had never been given, and the child had formed an attachment. This needed to be gently guided over time.
She never mentioned it or asked, as if she hadn't noticed Xiao Yu carrying the bamboo tube.
"Once my hair is done, we'll go see Your Majesty," she said.
Xiao Yu nodded, standing before the table that was as tall as he was, watching Chu Zhao comb her hair.
Chu Zhao chatted with him, pointing to the jewelry on the table. "Which one looks nice? How about using this?"
Xiao Yu carefully made his selections, and whatever he chose, Chu Zhao had the maids put on. A Le, standing behind them, couldn't help but laugh.
"Miss, you're wearing too much," she said.
Xiao Yu lowered his hand, looking uneasy. He had never seen his mother comb her hair or apply makeup and didn't know how to dress up—he just wanted to pick out all the pretty things.
Chu Zhao turned her head to look in the mirror and laughed. "It's fine; I still look beautiful."
A Le certainly agreed. "Miss, you look beautiful no matter what."
Xiao Yu said, "Sister's beauty isn't in the adornments."
Chu Zhao's eyes sparkled as she looked at Xiao Yu. "Our A Yu is right. My beauty, Chu Zhao's beauty, isn't in the adornments."
Xiao Yu looked into her eyes and nodded firmly.
Chu Zhao hadn't intended to dress up elaborately anyway. After a simple grooming, she stood up and took Xiao Yu's hand. "Let's go; we're off to see Your Majesty."
The palace maids stepped aside, watching as Chu Zhao led Xiao Yu out. Only two people followed behind her.
One was called A Le, the other A-Man.This is the person Miss Chu brought with her. Miss Chu resides in the Imperial City and only allows these two individuals to stay close to her.
Moreover, Miss Chu doesn’t require them to guide her. Wherever she wants to go, she goes directly, without the slightest restraint—
“This isn’t just a matter of being unrestrained,” a palace maid whispered. “Miss Chu seems remarkably familiar with the palace.”
She doesn’t need their guidance, and the palace is resplendent and magnificent, filled with the most exquisite objects in the world. Even noble ladies who enter here might feel constrained and gasp in awe, yet Miss Chu shows no reaction, as if it were all commonplace.
The palace maids exchanged glances, wondering if it was an illusion—Miss Chu seemed as though she had always lived in the Imperial City.
How could that be? Of course, it was an illusion. Although the palace maids lived deep within the palace, they had privately learned of Miss Chu’s background and story in recent days. She had always lived in the Border Commandery and had only come to the capital a little over a year ago. She hadn’t even visited the homes of noble families and powerful officials more than a few times, let alone the Imperial City—this Miss Chu was quite unpopular and didn’t get along well with the young ladies of the capital.
But what did it matter if she was unpopular?
The eunuchs in front of the Emperor’s bedchamber watched as the girl approached slowly, holding Little Highness’s hand. As she passed, the guards bowed in salute to her.
She had saved Little Highness, and now she was the one guarding the Imperial City.
She had a formidable father, commanded troops, and was capable of wielding a blade herself.
“Greetings to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess,” the eunuchs chorused, bowing in unison.
Chu Zhao, holding Xiao Yu’s hand, walked past them and stepped into the grand hall.
Deng Yi was also with the Emperor, discussing matters concerning the Third Prince. When he saw Xiao Yu enter, he paused.
“Go on,” the Emperor said, half-reclining on the Dragon Body, looking rather spirited. “He is the Crown Prince, not a child. He must bear both good and bad news himself. I summoned him here precisely to hear this.”
Deng Yi acknowledged the order and continued recounting Xie Yanfang’s description of the events of that night, along with the details he had personally verified—down to the injuries of the late Crown Prince and Crown Princess—
Chu Zhao felt the small hand she was holding tremble and gestured for Xiao Yu to lean against her.
But the child shook his head, sitting upright with red-rimmed eyes, listening intently.
Deng Yi soon finished and moved on to the funeral arrangements. The Emperor waved his hand dismissively. “Just follow the regulations.”
The person was already dead; what happened afterward didn’t matter.
Deng Yi acknowledged the order and glanced at Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu sitting nearby—one tall, one small, both looking quiet and well-behaved.
“According to regulations, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s wedding should be held after the mourning period ends,” Deng Yi said. “But I believe that for the stability of the state, it should be held immediately.”
The Emperor smiled. “There’s no hurry.”
No hurry?
Deng Yi frowned.
“Your Majesty, this matter cannot be delayed,” he said, paying no heed to the Emperor’s objection.
The Emperor showed no anger and replied, “What I mean is, we should proceed directly with the Emperor’s ascension ceremony and the Empress’s grand wedding.”
Deng Yi was stunned.
Chu Zhao also abruptly straightened up.
“Your Majesty,” she exclaimed without thinking.
The Emperor ignored them and beckoned. “A Yu, come here.”
Xiao Yu seemed dazed, as if he hadn’t heard, until Chu Zhao shook his hand. The child then snapped back to reality, stood up, and walked to the Emperor’s side.
The Emperor reached out his hand. The child hesitated for a moment before slowly placing his small hand in the Emperor’s.
The Emperor paid no mind to the child’s hesitation. Although the child had been raised under his care, they had never grown particularly close.
Whether they were close or not no longer mattered.
“A Yu,” the Emperor said, “Your grandfather will now have you ascend the throne. From now on, you will be the Emperor.”The child didn't fully understand what it meant to be an emperor. Although he was supposed to become one in the future, that was a long way off, and it wasn't guaranteed—so even as the imperial grandson, he had never been guided by the notion that he would one day ascend the throne.
But he knew the emperor's words could not be disobeyed, so he nodded and said, "A-Yu obeys the decree."
The emperor laughed heartily. "A-Yu, from now on, you don't need to say 'obey the decree.' In the future, you'll only need to hear others say it to you."
Xiao Yu looked at the emperor and asked, "Grandfather Emperor, are you going to die too?"
The emperor smiled and nodded. "Yes, Grandfather Emperor is going to die too. After that, only you will be left alone, A-Yu."
As he continued to smile, a trickle of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
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