Qiao Chu

Chu Zhao watched the young man running in, feeling rather emotional.

Uncle Chu Lan had one wife and two concubines, fathering three sons and one daughter—far more prosperous than her own father's branch.

But before she died, Uncle's family had already been scattered with deaths and injuries.

The eldest cousin Chu Ke was the first to die.

Uncle desperately wished to become an official and enter government service, but believed he was hindered by (what he perceived as) his father's legacy. So when Xiao Xun became Emperor, he immediately had his eldest son take up an official post. However, perhaps influenced by someone's persuasion, instead of keeping the stable Hanlin Academy position, he sent his eldest son to an outer province to build reputation. This led to involvement in a major disaster relief corruption case.

Uncle pleaded with Xiao Xun, who said helplessly that since Chu Ke was the Empress's brother, letting him off would provoke public outrage.

To quell public anger, Chu Ke was ultimately imprisoned, with the understanding that he'd be released after a few years when the situation cooled down.

But Chu Ke, having been pampered since childhood, couldn't endure such hardship. He fell gravely ill and died in prison.

Uncle's family hated her intensely, accusing her of stepping on relatives to become a virtuous Empress.

Yet how could she be considered virtuous? The court and commoners still mocked her, saying Chu Ke wouldn't have dared act so without her domineering influence as Empress.

The only one who gained a reputation for virtue was Xiao Xun, particularly compared to the arrogant power-wielding of Imperial Relatives during the previous emperor's reign. He was suddenly hailed as sagacious by the people, which also caused the rebelling Xie family to retreat steadily.

Uncle's family hated her, and she resented them for causing trouble. From then on, she resolved to truly become a virtuous Empress by preventing them from entering government service entirely. She sent Uncle to establish an academy elsewhere, moving the whole family away from the capital.

Later, Uncle used the academy as pretext to seize vast farmlands, becoming extremely wealthy. Her two cousins socialized widely, spending their days drinking and reveling. Her female cousin married but was divorced for arrogantly disrespecting her in-laws while flaunting her status as the Empress's sister—

These were all messages brought by noblewomen during audiences. Ashamed and furious, she told Xiao Xun to stop local officials from indulging Uncle's family.

Later, she heard Uncle had fallen ill. Her two cousins actually fought with weapons over the family fortune, resulting in one death and one injury. The younger cousin who caused the injury fled, and Uncle's condition worsened from anger until he died.

Later still, she saw her female cousin.

Chu Tang was brought into the palace by a noblewoman. Despite the family conflicts, as her only remaining relative, Chu Zhao was genuinely happy to see her.

But before she could express this joy, Chu Tang grabbed her by the throat, screaming that she had destroyed their family and would fight her to the death.

"If not for my father, how could you have married Xiao Xun? How could it be your turn to be Empress?" Chu Tang, looking haggard like a woman in her forties, shrieked madly. "Why do you get wealth and honor while we live in misery?"

Choked unconscious, she woke to find Chu Tang already executed by imperial guards for treason.

The shock caused her to miscarry days later—her second lost child. Grief-stricken, she hated Chu Tang intensely and never pondered her mad words.

Chu Tang had always been vain and had once secretly expressed admiration for Xiao Xun, so she must have been jealous of her becoming Empress.

Having died and been reborn, looking back now, many things felt wrong. The life she once thought clear seemed veiled—she had lived confused and died confused.Chu Ke was just as detestable in speech as she remembered. The three elder brothers and one elder sister from her uncle's family, having grown up apart from her, shared little affection with her. Having heard numerous stories about her father since childhood, they resented him and consequently clashed with her, often bullying and mocking her.

Having grown up in the Border Commandery, this was the first time she heard so many grievances against her father—and from her own relatives at that. Shocked and bewildered, compounded by the disdain and ridicule from the young ladies of the capital who mocked her rustic speech and manners, she couldn't help but feel resentment toward her father as well. Thus, she endured the bullying from her cousins and went out of her way to please them.

But now, of course, that was impossible.

"What audacity am I showing?" Chu Zhao retorted coldly. "How is visiting my own father considered audacious? That's called filial piety moving heaven. You call yourself a scholar—don't you understand loyalty and filial duty?"

Chu Ke was taken aback. Since when did this wretched girl dare to talk back? Hadn't she always kept her head down in silence?

"You're lecturing me?" he grew even angrier. "Chu Zhao, the things you've done—"

"I'm well aware of what I've done. There's no need for you to repeat it," Chu Zhao interrupted him. "Aren't you tired? If not, let's set off for the capital." She frowned at him. "Why did you take so long to get here?"

Chu Ke nearly choked on his own breath.

"You—you—" he pointed at Chu Zhao, incredulous that she had the nerve to complain about his tardiness. "You actually care to ask if I'm tired? I nearly died on the road! If I had died, it would've been because of you."

He had indeed died because of her, but—Chu Zhao's expression darkened. "That's because you're incompetent. I traveled the same road—why am I perfectly fine?"

Chu Ke was scolded once again and stared blankly at his cousin. Since when had she become so fierce?

"Let's not dwell on what's already happened," Chu Zhao said, looking at him. "If you're tired, go rest and eat. Then we'll return to the capital. Whatever issues there are, we'll discuss them at home. Making a scene here will only give outsiders a reason to laugh at us."

Chu Ke scoffed. "So you're worried about becoming a laughingstock? Let me tell you, we're already the joke of the capital—no, with all your antics along the way, we're the joke of the entire realm now." He strode into the hall, grumbling again, "Why did you come to the courier station? Didn't the Crown Prince of Zhongshan bring you here? Why didn't you go to his residence?"

"Men and women should maintain propriety," Chu Zhao said offhandedly. "Going to the Prince's residence with him would damage my reputation."

Chu Ke nearly tripped over the threshold. Why did Chu Zhao's words sound so bizarre today?

"Are you out of your mind?" he scrutinized her. "What nonsense are you talking?"

Worried that traveling with the Crown Prince of Zhongshan would harm her reputation? Good heavens! Having any association with the Crown Prince would be the greatest blessing of her life!

Chu Zhao said coldly, "That's what my father said. He forbade me from having any dealings with the Prince's household, and you shouldn't go either."

Chu Ke held little respect for this uncle of his and saw no reason to obey his words.

"Your father should indeed keep his distance since he's under censure, to avoid causing trouble for others," he sneered. "But I'm different from you. Moreover, Official Deng and I owe our thanks to Prince Zhongshan for his assistance. Not going to express gratitude would be inhuman."

Chu Zhao seethed. Everyone accused her father of crimes—before she became Empress, they said he was guilty; after she became Empress, they still said he was guilty.But her father had clearly guarded the Border Commandery for over a decade. Under his watch, the border remained impregnable, the people lived in peace and prosperity, and not even a single bandit could be seen.

After Xiao Xun ascended the throne, her father continued defending the Border Commandery despite his ailing health, repelling the Western Liang people who tried to take advantage of the turmoil.

Her father personally led troops to confront the forces of the King of Xiliang. It was only after the great victory that everyone discovered he had already passed away.

Uncle Zhong said her father remained seated upright on his horse, gripping his long saber so tightly that several people together couldn’t pry it from his hands.

It was understandable that the Xie family cursed her father, given his loyalty to Xiao Xun.

The court also condemned him, calling him a wolf with ambitions, and even claimed that her position as Empress had been forced upon Xiao Xun by her father.

Yet she had chosen to marry Xiao Xun herself, and Xiao Xun had wanted to marry her. When they wed, Xiao Xun wasn’t even the Emperor—he wasn’t even the Crown Prince then!

“What nonsense are you spouting!” Chu Zhao could no longer contain her rage and kicked Chu Ke. “If my father were truly guilty, your entire family would have been implicated, thrown into prison, or sent to hard labor. How could you still be studying, still be called ‘Young Master,’ and still dare to shout at me like this?”

Chu Ke hadn’t expected her to resort to violence—and with such force. His already exhausted and frail leg felt as if it had been broken.

He cried out in pain, grabbing the doorframe to keep from falling.

“Have you gone mad?” he shouted furiously. “Have you developed an addiction to hitting people?”

As the siblings scuffled, a cough sounded from behind.

“Young Master Chu, perhaps you and your sister should catch up later? I’ll go pay my respects to Prince Zhongshan first.”

Chu Ke immediately suppressed his anger, turned gracefully while leaning on the doorframe, and said, “My apologies for the unsightly scene, Lord Deng. It’s no trouble at all. Of course, I’ll accompany you to thank Prince Zhongshan.”

Chu Zhao also looked over, her anger replaced by shock.

“Deng Yi?” she blurted out in disbelief. “Why are you here too?”