Qiao Chu

But not everyone is Liang Qin.

Even Chu Zhao could no longer casually strike or scold people at will.

Being the Empress was her glory, but also her shackles.

Let alone someone like you, Chu Tang, who amounts to nothing!

"What we're saying is the truth," one girl retorted angrily.

Chu Tang immediately turned her gaze to her: "What truth? Seeing is believing—did you personally witness my uncle's defensive failure? Did you see the Western Liang troops break through?"

Of course not. The girl choked on her words: "But it's a fact that Western Liang people appeared behind Yunzhong County."

"It's true that Western Liang people appeared in the rear, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was my uncle's fault," Chu Tang argued. "Do any of you know how vast Yunzhong County is? Do you understand how many officers are involved in a single battle? Are you aware of how many Western Liang people travel back and forth due to trade between Western Liang and Daxia?"

They certainly didn't know, but another girl interjected: "But your uncle was the commanding general. Since he held that position, he must bear responsibility—otherwise, what's the point of being the commanding general?"

Chu Tang looked at her: "That's just your presumption. Who says the commanding general isn't taking responsibility? Once the court investigates and determines guilt, they will decide whether my uncle is innocent or guilty. But until then, you can't convict him with empty accusations—"

As the girl tried to speak again, Chu Tang raised her voice.

"As the saying goes, 'a general in the field is not bound by orders from the sovereign.' When battle erupts, situations change in an instant—complex and unpredictable. Even the Emperor's commands aren't always to be followed, and you understand even less about what truly happened in Yunzhong County. How can you blindly follow rumors and even criticize the frontline operations?" Her gaze swept across the room. "Of course, we young girls can casually chat—we're young and ignorant. But I fear some might harbor ill intentions, seizing this chance to stir trouble, destabilizing the rear and ultimately affecting the frontline. Remember, the turmoil in the capital hasn't been long past."

By the end, she lowered her voice but emphasized her words, her sweeping gaze making her implication clear to everyone present, even the girls—

Western Liang spies, remnants of the Zhao Family, and so on.

Such serious accusations, if levied, would lead to far worse fates than what Minister Liang's family suffered.

The matrons could no longer remain spectators. Chu Tang wasn't a girl to be underestimated, and then there was Chu Zhao—if she truly went mad, her virtue flawed, they could lose their lives—

"Miss Chu, your words are too severe," one matron hurriedly interjected, restraining the girls beside her. "These are just rumors they heard. They aren't declaring General Chu guilty—they're merely expressing pity for the common people."

"Miss Chu, you needn't worry too much," another matron seated in a chair said softly, holding her teacup. "Such idle gossip won't disrupt the court. The people are its children, and the court is their parent. When children suffer, they naturally complain to their parent. The court, compassionate toward its people, won't hold it against them."

To punish and accuse based on mere discussion—such a parent is unworthy of being the nation's mother.

Did she think becoming Empress meant she could throw her weight around and do as she pleased? That she could shine as brilliantly as the Yang or Zhao Families?

The matrons glanced at the girl sitting by the flower-card table, light smiles touching their lips. The Chu Family—they lacked substantial backing.

A nobody like Chu Lan, a minor household like Jiang Shi, with only Chu Ling to speak of.

Military origins, and a tarnished reputation at that—what confidence could such a consort clan possibly have?"Yes, you're young and speak without thinking, seeing things too simply, but don't overthink it either." The other matrons chimed in, "If you have something to say, speak properly. What's the point of arguing back and forth or even fighting?"

Though their words were directed at the girls beside them, their gazes were fixed on Chu Tang.

Amid the crowded front hall, Chu Tang sat as if stranded on a solitary island.

The girls who had been with Chu Tang were now restrained by their families—unable to approach or speak, they could only fret and sigh inwardly.

Chu Tang, just leave—

Wouldn't it have been better to leave early? Why come here to pick a fight? Chu Zhao is now the Empress, lofty and untouchable within the Imperial City. No one dares or can confront her, but you, Chu Tang, delivered yourself to their doorstep—how could they let you off?

Qi Leyun felt somewhat bewildered. Chu Tang seemed to have suddenly turned foolish—she would never have acted this way before.

The old Chu Tang would have shared everyone's grief over the current situation, blamed herself a little, perhaps even shed tears, then retreated behind closed doors while others comforted and pitied her—

The matrons would have taken her hand and said, "Child, this has nothing to do with you."

Not like now, with words hurled at her like stones and eyes stabbing her like blades.

Chu Tang was always the best at assessing situations and turning disadvantages into advantages—they thought she was too naive to notice, but of course she understood. If not in the moment, then after repeated occurrences, she'd reflect and see clearly afterward.

Nothing in this world is truly that hard to comprehend.

But now she genuinely felt confused.

Surrounded by words and stares, Chu Tang showed no trace of unease. Instead, she nodded along with the matrons' remarks: "Yes, arguing back and forth is undignified. Complaints and criticisms stem from deep care and high expectations, but as a member of the Chu family, I must add a few words because—"

Her gaze swept across the hall.

"You are all bystanders, living safely in the capital, while my uncle fights on the most dangerous battlefields, holding back tens of thousands of Western Liang troops and protecting countless civilians in the Border Commandery. You hear about death and tragedy—he lives it."

"You feel heartache, rage, and curses—my uncle endures it all. He must not only bear the heartache and fury but also suppress them, carrying your condemnation while continuing to confront Western Liang, deploying troops and commanding strategies."

Here, she raised her voice to call her maid.

The maid, hiding somewhere, timidly peeked out and acknowledged—the earlier scene had been terrifying. Those matrons and young ladies seemed ready to strike her mistress. She wished she could drag her young lady home, or better yet, to the Imperial Palace, the only truly safe place.

"Fetch Xiao Tu," Chu Tang said.

Relieved it wasn't her being summoned, the maid hurried out.

Who was Xiao Tu? Why call him? The matrons exchanged puzzled glances. Soon, the maid returned with a ten-year-old page boy.

"Miss A-Tang," Xiao Tu stood firm in the front hall, calling out clearly without fear despite the crowd.

Chu Tang nodded to him but addressed the room instead: "Xiao Tu is an orphan from the Border Commandery. My uncle has taken in many widows and orphans—most of our servants are elderly or parentless from the border regions—"

Really? The girls wondered inwardly. True or false? But before, they hadn't even cared enough about the Chu family to inquire where their servants came from."The hardships of the Border Commandery, the brutality of the war—we in the capital know nothing of it, but Xiao Tu—"

At this point, one of the girls finally found something to say.

"That's not right," she cried out, pointing at Xiao Tu. "How old is he? The previous war was twenty years ago."

Right—the girls in the hall snapped back to reality. This Chu Tang was deceiving a child!

"—Exactly, twenty years ago, Xiao Tu's grandfather died in the war," Chu Tang raised her voice. "His grandfather died, his grandmother died of grief, his home was destroyed, his father and mother wandered homeless, and after giving birth to Xiao Tu, they both died—he became an orphan. Is that wrong?"

No, it wasn't wrong. Xiao Tu stood in the hall, silently agreeing.

……

……

"There are many orphans like this in the Border Commandery. Because of the war, they lost their families and their homes. Many of them have personally experienced the pursuit of Western Liang bandits on horseback, seen the Western Liang bandits raise their broadswords, and watched their loved ones die before their eyes."

Chu Tang spoke, turning her gaze to Xiao Tu.

"Xiao Tu, do you hate my uncle, Chu Ling?"

The question came a bit abruptly. Xiao Tu blinked: "Hate—or not hate?"

Chu Tang nodded: "Right, hate or not? Because my uncle and the other officers failed to protect you, causing you to lose your loved ones."

Xiao Tu seemed confused: "Wasn't it the Western Liang people who did it? Shouldn't we hate the Western Liang people? Why hate General Chu and the others?"

Whether Xiao Tu truly didn't understand or was pretending, the ladies and girls in the hall understood. They felt both annoyed and amused.

"Chu Tang, there's no need to beat around the bush. We all know the disaster was caused by the Western Liang people," one girl said. "But with so many deaths, the commanding officer bears responsibility. This isn't about whether to hate or not—it's about responsibility, about dereliction of duty!"

"Whether so many deaths constitute dereliction of duty is for the imperial court to decide," Chu Tang said. "Even if there are accusations, they should come from those who experienced it firsthand in the Border Commandery—not from you girls who have never left the capital, never seen death, and make accusations based solely on hearsay."

"You!" several girls exclaimed angrily. "When something happens, are we not even allowed to speak? Everyone in the capital, everyone in the empire is talking about it. Do you, Chu Tang, intend to silence all of them?"

Silencing the voices of the entire empire—that was a serious accusation.

Chu Tang sat calmly in her chair, neither hurried nor angered. "No, I'm not forbidding others to speak. But you cannot forbid me from defending myself either."

A lady sighed softly: "Miss Chu, in truth, this matter has nothing to do with you. You're young, you're in the capital—we haven't seen it with our own eyes, we don't know the details. And neither have you, isn't that right?"

"Yes, I haven't seen it with my own eyes either. But he is my uncle, I am a member of the Chu family. The Chu family stands as one. I believe in my uncle, I believe that after over twenty years guarding the Border Commandery, he is responsible and capable," Chu Tang said slowly. "Therefore, I will not consider this matter unrelated to me. I will not hide behind closed doors, nor will I avoid everyone's accusations, questions, or ridicule. But until the imperial court convicts him and the truth is uncovered, I will certainly defend my uncle."

This Chu Tang—by this point, the ladies and girls were somewhat astonished. This Chu Tang was different from the temperament they usually discussed among themselves.Initially thinking that Chu Zhao was deep in the palace—though his status had risen, he couldn’t act as he pleased—and that Chu Lan and his wife were feigning illness to avoid worldly affairs, this time, regarding the matter of Chu Ling, public opinion would surely lean entirely one way.

Unexpectedly, Chu Tang, who had always been cautious and quick to adapt to circumstances, suddenly stepped forward—

Though Chu Tang neither struck nor insulted anyone, her rebuttals, one sentence after another, were like sticky taffy, impossible to shake off, and as frustrating as cotton candy, leaving others powerless.

"Miss A-Tang," the host couldn’t help but sigh softly, with the helplessness of an elder. "You really ought to lay low for a while. No one can say for sure how this will turn out. If—I mean, if it truly comes to a conviction, what will become of you—your entire family?"

Chu Tang looked at her and said softly, "If my uncle is guilty, it is the guilt of the Chu family. Naturally, our entire family should accept punishment and admit our fault together, to console the suffering people."

As she spoke, she stood up.

"When the time comes, I, Chu Tang, will personally kneel before all the ladies and sisters to confess our crime. But for now—"

"I will never stand by and let you condemn and slander my uncle, or disgrace the name of my Chu family."