Qiao Chu

Chu Zhao stood motionless before the grand hall until Deng Yi’s figure vanished from sight.

Inside the hall, Xiao Yu’s recitations echoed, while the eunuchs and imperial guards stationed outside remained silent and still.

Xiao Man stood not far away, offering no urge to hurry.

The entire Imperial City was tranquil and serene, with no trace of the fierce struggle that had raged that night. Such was the nature of the Imperial City—death was swiftly erased, and everything belonged to its new master.

By this time in that previous life, the new Empress Liang would already have been in the rear palace, likely amusing herself there at this very moment.

Chu Zhao seemed to hear the laughter of women in her ears. Her hands, hanging at her sides, clenched, and a faint gloom shadowed her eyes. Suddenly, a figure appeared in her line of sight.

He seemed to walk slowly, yet step by step, he drew nearer.

The gloom in Chu Zhao’s eyes lifted, and her face brightened with a smile.

"A Jiu," she beckoned.

Xie Yanlai frowned. "Your Highness, this humble general is Xie Yanlai."

Still using his childhood name—did she not realize her current status? Was she not afraid others would reprimand her for lacking propriety?

Xie Yanlai’s gaze swept subtly around: eunuchs, imperial guards, and palace maids stood solemnly and quietly, not even lifting their eyes—

Hmph, he scoffed inwardly.

"Xie Yanlai," Chu Zhao readily complied, stepping forward to meet him. "Has my father replied?"

Her eyes sparkled, brimming with joy—so much so that Xie Yanlai knew even if he said there was no reply, the girl would remain just as happy.

Because there was hope.

The letter had been sent; her father would see it. He would surely respond.

Xie Yanlai averted his gaze. "Yes."

He reached to retrieve the letter, but Chu Zhao was already beckoning him. "Come inside with me." She turned and headed into the hall.

Xie Yanlai glanced around. The eunuchs and guards outside the hall still appeared to see and hear nothing, while the palace maid even stared at him, as if ready to force him inside if he disobeyed—

He glanced toward the adjacent room, where the faint sounds of a tutor’s lecture and Xiao Yu’s responses could be heard. He followed her in.

Beside Xiao Yu’s study, Chu Zhao had her own study. While Xiao Yu studied, she too was learning.

"Sit here," Chu Zhao invited, pointing to a spot by the window before seating herself first.

Sitting was out of the question. Xie Yanlai approached and, without waiting for further words, handed her the letter. "It just arrived."

Chu Zhao accepted it happily, paying him no further mind as she eagerly broke the seal and began to read.

"I—" Xie Yanlai started.

The girl hummed dismissively. "Let me read the letter first."

Xie Yanlai closed his mouth, saying nothing more but not leaving either. Mainly because it was inconvenient to bring Zhang Gu inside. Zhang Gu had already relayed everything in detail—what if the girl had many questions after reading the letter? Though they would likely be unnecessary. And there was another matter regarding the letter—

He glanced at Chu Zhao, who sat by the window holding the letter, reading with devout concentration. Fine, he would wait.

Xie Yanlai withdrew his gaze. Unable to watch her, he turned his attention to the room. It was clearly newly arranged: shelves filled with an array of books, a desk equipped with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, scattered with scrolls and volumes. Beyond that, a chessboard and a qin were displayed, and even a bow and sword hung on the wall—cluttered, yet exuding a sense of ease—

What was this? Study, write, play the qin, play chess, and when tired, practice archery and swordplay?

Xie Yanlai couldn’t help but curl his lip.

"Young Master A Jiu," A Le approached personally with tea, smiling warmly. "Please sit and have some tea."Xie Yanlai said, "No need." He then frowned—the taste of this tea—

"This is medicinal tea," A Le said with a beaming smile. "Your old injuries haven't fully healed, and you've just been through another fight. The young lady said your body needs gradual nurturing and can't be neglected."

Xie Yanlai let out a scoffing laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" A Le was displeased. "This is medicinal tea I made. My remedies are the best! If you hadn't taken my pills earlier, would you have recovered so quickly? Forget fighting—you might have just started walking again by now."

Back when they were on the road, wasn't this girl as silent as a mute? Xie Yanlai raised his eyebrows. "How can you prove it was your medicine that did it? Couldn't it be my extraordinary natural talent?"

A Le handed him the tea. "Drink it. Go back and see if the pain in your body doesn't fade. Then you'll know whether it's your extraordinary talent or my miraculous healing hands."

While they were arguing, Chu Zhao over there had set down the letter but still seemed distracted. Xie Yanlai noticed at a glance, turned, and said, "Zhang Gu couldn't come in, so he told me everything. Is there anything you want to ask?"

Chu Zhao looked at him, her gaze drifting, and let out an "Ah," as if she had heard him but also as if she hadn't.

Xie Yanlai's eyes fell on the letter in her hand. He pressed his lips together and asked, "What about your mother?"

It must be news about her mother that had her so lost in thought, right?

Alive or dead?

Chu Zhao's eyes focused, and she looked at him, nodding. "My father said my mother is indeed gone."

So, some of her hopes had been dashed after all.

Xie Yanlai said, "Since your father has already told you, you shouldn't put too much faith in rumors just because you hear them."

What good was there in believing rumors? They only brought unnecessary grief. Without belief, there would be no hope; without hope, no disappointment.

When he first arrived at the Xie family, those young masters and servants had tricked him: "Your mother isn't dead—she took a lot of money and left. Hurry and crawl through the dog hole to find her!"

He had never believed it.

The two stood in silence, facing each other, as A Le quietly set the tray on the table and stepped back.

"But," Chu Zhao suddenly broke into a smile, "although my mother is gone, the people she left behind are still protecting me."

She then looked toward Xiao Man, who was standing in the hall.

Xie Yanlai followed her gaze.

Xiao Man, who had been twisting her head away by the door, sensed their eyes on her. Her eyes widened warily. "What?"

"Xiao Man, my father told me," Chu Zhao said with a smile. "You're not my father's people. You're my mother's."

Xiao Man's eyes widened even more, her body tensing like a cat's as she took a step back. "Wh-what?"

"Don't be afraid. My father told me everything. He won't blame you for acting on your own," Chu Zhao said gently.

Xiao Man's expression grew even stranger. "Wh-what are you talking about?"

"My mother wasn't the rustic village woman the rumors made her out to be. Though she came from a rural gentry family, she was well-educated, learned, and charitable. My father said that during the frequent conflicts in the Border Commandery, many people were displaced. She took in countless homeless—elderly who had lost their children, children who had lost their parents." Chu Zhao's eyes sparkled as she looked at the letter. "After her death, these people, grateful for her kindness, were willing to follow the general into battle. Though my father didn't agree, they trained on their own—"

She looked at Xiao Man."You came to the capital secretly behind my father’s back, but my father says he doesn’t blame you. Instead, he wants to thank you, saying my mother in the underworld would also be grateful."

Xiao Man’s face shifted between pale and flushed, as if she couldn’t decide whether to rage or laugh.

"Pah," she spat. "Who cares for your father’s gratitude!"

Her expression showed undisguised fury.

Chu Zhao nodded. "I know you hate my father—for waging war in the Border Commandery, for the homes and loved ones you lost, and for my mother’s death."

She lowered her head, gazing at the letter.

"My mother exhausted herself sharing my father’s burdens and worries, which weakened her spirit so much that she couldn’t survive the ordeal of giving birth to me."

Xiao Man sneered. "Yes, exactly! If not for your father, your mother wouldn’t have ended up like this! If not for your father driving us to desperation, you—"

She angrily flicked her sleeve, seemingly unable to continue, and sharply turned her head away.

Just as Chu Zhao was about to speak, Xie Yanlai, who had remained silent until then, spoke first.

"Here," he said, producing a letter. "Zhang Gu said this is from your father to her."

He tilted his chin toward the girl who had turned away.

Xiao Man turned back, her expression a mix of surprise and suspicion.

Chu Zhao showed no surprise; it was only natural that her father would personally write to console the girl. Seeing Xiao Man’s guarded refusal to take the letter, she signaled to A Le, who understood and took the letter from Xie Yanlai, pressing it into Xiao Man’s hand.

"Read it quickly," she urged. "See what our General has to say."

Xiao Man looked ready to toss the letter aside, but upon noticing the mark on the envelope, she hesitated. Clutching the letter, she snorted and strode out of the room.

A Le wasn’t bothered by her attitude. So what if she had a temper? She had risked her life to protect the young lady, unlike Miss Chu Tang, who, though pleasant, would push the young lady into danger when trouble arose instead of shielding her.

"She’s gone off to read the letter in private," A Le said. "I’ll keep an eye on her secretly, in case she tears it up."

She stepped outside and stood by the hall entrance, watching Xiao Man, who had hidden in a corner to read the letter.

Only Chu Zhao and Xie Yanlai remained in the hall.

"Yan Lai," Chu Zhao said, "sit and talk."

Xie Yanlai frowned but, this time, said nothing and sat opposite her.

Chu Zhao gestured toward the table. "Have some tea."

Xie Yanlai picked up the teacup and drained it in one gulp, then nearly spat it out. Covering his mouth with his sleeve, he exclaimed, "Are you doing this on purpose? First, you nearly choked me with that medicine, and now this tea is bitter enough to kill me!"

Chu Zhao smiled and pushed a plate of candied fruit toward him. "Here, have some preserves. Quick, take a bite."