"The wicked deeds of Prince Zhongshan and his son must be proclaimed to the world. Otherwise, it will be difficult to console the deceased and inspire the living. However, this action will also damage Empress Chu's reputation."
"To prevent any harm to Empress Chu, I ask the Grand Tutor to also reveal to the world the past dealings between Prince Zhongshan and you, exposing the cruelty of Prince Zhongshan and his son, and proving Empress Chu's bravery and decisiveness."
If he did not step forward, would he be the one tarnishing the Empress's reputation?
Deng Yi sneered coldly, "Xie Yanfang, spare me your elaborate talk. If you want to dredge up Chu Lan's past, it is you who threatens Chu Zhao's reputation. Why drag me into it? If you wish to bully that girl, go ahead, but I am not so easily bullied."
Bullying? Xie Yanfang nodded lightly and sighed softly, "Yes, doing this means I am bullying her. To avoid causing her irreparable harm, I have no choice but to come and bully you."
Deng Yi looked at Xie Yanfang and found it rather amusing. "For someone like you, should Miss Chu hate you or thank you?"
Xie Yanfang smiled faintly and said, "Because of someone like me, Miss Chu will be very grateful to you, Grand Tutor."
With that, he turned and left.
Deng Yi leaned back in his chair, silent and lost in thought.
A minor official who had been hiding in the corner approached and whispered, "Grand Tutor, are we really going to accuse Prince Zhongshan of treason?"
"This battle is unavoidable," Deng Yi said. "The sin of heavy civilian casualties must be borne by Prince Zhongshan and his son."
"Then let Chu Lan take the blame alone—it was his doing in the first place," the official said. "Even if the Empress were here, at this moment, she would have to uphold justice at the expense of her kin."
If that girl were here now, would she push her uncle forward? Deng Yi pondered, thinking she might, yet also thinking she might not. This girl was somewhat unpredictable.
"Don’t listen to Xie Yanfang. You must not step forward," the official urged anxiously. "If the Empress's reputation is damaged, she will merely be confined to the palace and cared for. But if someone seizes upon this old matter of yours, it could ruin your future when it resurfaces."
The future referred to when the Emperor grew up and took personal control, and the Grand Tutor no longer acted as regent, without the imperial seal. If the ruler demands the subject's death, what can the subject do?
"Xie Yanfang is truly shameless. This is a move to kill two birds with one stone. From now on, only their Xie family will remain untainted."
Deng Yi, of course, understood this logic, but—
"Compared to others, having Miss Chu as Empress is entirely beneficial and not at all harmful to me," Deng Yi said. "I must protect her. Even if both of us bear stains, as long as we stand together and unite, the Xie family will not have an easy time."
If he abandoned Chu Zhao, that would truly be letting the Xie family kill two birds with one stone.
That girl had said it before—she was generous, someone capable of repaying in full.
Now, she was no longer the girl who could only offer a meal. Though her father was gone, she had taken command of the Border Army herself, achieved military merits, and her fame had spread throughout the land.
He opened the letter he had taken out earlier.
Xiao Xun had indeed written to him as well. The letter was brief, with only one sentence:
"Grand Tutor, will you open the gate?"
Deng Yi could hardly recall what Xiao Xun looked like, but this single sentence vividly depicted the image of a lofty, arrogant imperial clansman.
This clansman appeared courteous, gentle, and amiable, but in truth, they looked down upon everyone in the world.
Deng Yi flicked his hand, tossing the letter into the brazier, where it burst into flames and turned to ashes.
"You want me to open the gate?" he said. "You were unworthy before, and you remain unworthy now."
He turned his gaze to the minor official."Arrange it, I'll go see Chu Lan tonight."
The clerk acknowledged the order.
...
...
As night fell, Qi Leyun couldn't sleep. Her father had been speaking strangely all day, refusing to explain when questioned, only urging them to move out immediately. The family had been packing until midnight, the clattering noises making sleep impossible.
What did he mean by "everyone will be fine, but the Empress won't"?
Was he saying Chu Zhao would bring troops to rescue the capital, and there would be danger in the fighting?
But Chu Zhao wouldn't be in danger - she even dared to fight the Western Liang people.
Though it must be exhausting - fighting both the Western Liang people and Prince Zhongshan. This must be the duty of an Empress, Qi Leyun thought with sympathy. Her worries somewhat eased, she was drifting into sleep when sudden commotion erupted outside, as if many people were forcing their way in.
Some were shouting, some screaming, some crying, with torchlight flickering wildly.
Qi Leyun instantly recalled the previous princes' rebellion.
Could it be happening again—
But there are no other princes now.
Has Prince Zhongshan broken through?
Qi Leyun scrambled up urgently. Before she could call for help, her maids screamed as a group of people rushed in.
They were black-armored guards, weapons in hand.
Qi Leyun also cried out in fright.
The black-armored guards didn't kill anyone upon entering, but scattered to search everywhere, emptying chests and cabinets. They ignored the scattered money and jewels, soon retreating to report to the official at the door: "Nothing here."
Mother Qi held Qi Leyun tightly while Father Qi repeatedly assured the official: "Truly, we have nothing. Though we live here, we've never had contact with them. We really know nothing."
What were they searching for? Qi Leyun felt both panicked and confused.
"Did you see Chu Tang today?" The official looked at Qi Leyun. "Did she mention where she was going?"
Chu Tang? Were they looking for Chu Tang? Qi Leyun stared blankly as Mother Qi urgently urged: "Speak quickly, don't hide anything. Something terrible has happened."
"I saw her, we went out playing together, then returned together. She went home, and I saw her enter her gate with my own eyes," Qi Leyun said, unable to resist asking, "What happened to her?"
The official didn't answer, probably realizing he wouldn't get any useful information, and turned to leave. The black-armored guards all departed noisily.
Looking at her terrified family amidst the mess, Qi Leyun urgently asked: "What exactly happened? Has the capital fallen?"
Were these people here to arrest the Empress's family?
Father Qi looked complicated. "The capital hasn't fallen," he said. "Chu Tang's entire family has disappeared."
Disappeared? Qi Leyun was shocked and confused. "What do you mean disappeared?"
Mother Qi pinched her arm. "Silly child, it means the whole family has fled!"
...
...
"The neighbors noticed nothing unusual. Chu Lan and his wife never went out, always recuperating from illness. Chu Tang went out playing with the girls today," the clerk reported to Deng Yi.
Nothing seemed amiss.
Deng Yi stood in the great hall as night gradually faded, the light and shadows dim. He suddenly laughed.
"Don't boast about starting early, for there are those who started earlier," he said. "The Chu family had already fled when we first conceived the idea."
The clerk looked annoyed. "Sir, they must be hiding with some noble family. They wouldn't run away at this time."
With fighting about to break out, fleeing would be suicide for the Empress's relatives.
Deng Yi nodded. "Go search house by house. Don't conceal our purpose. Tell everyone the Chu family fled guiltily, afraid of punishment. Anyone who shelters them will be treated as accomplices."The person may have fled, but the crime remains.
The official acknowledged the order and strode away.
Deng Yi stood silently in the hall. How had Chu Lan's family managed to escape so promptly? Ever since Chu Zhao's absence, they had been completely cut off from the palace. Where could they have obtained the information?
Were they really so adept at assessing situations? Chu Lan's family didn't possess anyone of such caliber.
Could it be that Chu Zhao had informed them?
The thought crossed Deng Yi's mind.
But first, Prince Zhongshan had intercepted the news, and then the court had deliberately concealed it. How could she have known? And how could she have delivered the message to them?
Regardless, Young Master Xie the Third's plans were instantly thrown into disarray. Deng Yi suddenly laughed and called for an attendant.
"Go, deliver this good news to Young Master Xie the Third."
……
……
Even without Deng Yi's message, Xie Yanfang already knew.
"How did they manage to escape?" Du Qi exclaimed, both shocked and furious. "Are they fleeing out of guilt?"
Xie Yanfang showed neither surprise nor anger, instead smiling faintly. "Chu Lan's family has always been guilty-hearted, after all."
In truth, their escape didn't surprise him.
"What's strange is that someone was willing to help them flee and take them in to hide them."
Cai Bo entered, holding a piece of paper. "Yesterday, five families left the city. Some claimed to be returning to their ancestral homes in the countryside, others said they were going on outings. They had carriages and horses. Here is the list."
Xie Yanfang took it and glanced over it. "All prominent and noble families. Logically, these households wouldn't even deign to look at Chu Lan's family."
"Because Chu Zhao is the Empress," Du Qi said.
Xie Yanfang shook his head. "It's not just because of her title as Empress."
Throughout history, there have been many empresses, and their clans have each enjoyed their own prominence. But for the great aristocratic families, it isn't necessarily a given to curry favor or fear them.
Moreover, the Chu family's standing was weak.
Their willingness to lend a hand was because of Chu Zhao herself.
This girl had first seized the position of Empress, and now she had won people's hearts.
Xie Yanfang lowered his gaze.
"Find out which family it is. I will pay them a visit myself."
……
……
The carriage jolted and swayed, the cracks between the planks shifting from pitch darkness to letting in slivers of light. After what felt like an eternity of rocking, it finally came to a stop.
The planks were removed one by one, revealing the face of a young girl.
She tapped on the carriage board and looked at the family of three lying inside.
"A Tang, come out."
Chu Tang was the first to rise and climb out. It was a spacious cargo carriage, and the furniture and belongings stacked in the hidden compartment had all been unloaded.
"A Jiang, thank you," Chu Tang said, bowing.
Zhou Jiang replied, "Don't mention it. There's no need to thank me. If my grandfather hadn't agreed, I couldn't have helped you."
Chu Tang helped Chu Lan and Jiang Shi out. Chu Lan seemed unaccustomed to daylight and people after so long, covering his head and face with his sleeve.
As they spoke, several more carriages and horses drove in. Old and young emerged from the compartments, gathering noisily behind Chu Tang's family.
Seeing them, Zhou Jiang felt somewhat helpless.
"A Tang, I never knew you were so chivalrous," she said. "Even when fleeing yourself, you didn't forget to bring along the household servants."
And she had brought so many—a full twenty people, from elderly maids to young servants as young as ten.
Chu Tang sighed softly. "How could I just leave on my own and let them take the blame in my place?"
Zhou Jiang thought to herself that leaving the servants behind wouldn't mean they'd take the blame—at most, they'd be arrested, imprisoned, and await being sold off to another master.
But she never pried into others' affairs.
"Go and rest now. I'll inform you if there's any new information. This is my grandmother's private property; even my own family knows very little about it."Chu Tang expressed her gratitude once more and, with Jiang Shi's assistance, supported Chu Lan as they retreated to the rear, surrounded by their servants.
"A-Tang, it's all thanks to your good relations with these young ladies that they were willing to help us," Jiang Shi said, wiping away tears, still visibly shaken.
In truth, she didn't fully grasp her daughter's words, but she understood the gist: they could no longer bask in the Empress's authority and were instead facing the repercussions.
"I always knew we'd be dragged down by your second uncle and his family."
As Chu Tang listened to her mother, she reflected that this time, it wasn't just Zhou Jiang's family offering aid. To obscure their movements, several households had sent carriages out of the city that day.
But persuading these families to help wasn't due to her friendships with their daughters—though, of course, she, Chu Tang, had played her part.
At the very least, she had been prepared in advance, with their belongings packed long ago, allowing them to depart immediately upon receiving the message.
Despite her preparations, when Xiao Tu woke her in the middle of the night and handed her a note, she nearly fainted from fright upon reading Chu Zhao's words: "Prince Zhongshan is attacking. The court will dredge up old accounts and evidence of crimes. Danger."
Chu Tang pressed a hand to her chest.
Her heart was still pounding wildly.
The danger had come far too swiftly.
What were they to do?
Fortunately, Chu Zhao's letter listed the names of several prominent families, instructing her to seek their help immediately and go into hiding. The note was signed with Chu Zhao's name and stamped with the Empress's Phoenix Seal.
That very night, Chu Tang had Xiao Tu help her slip out, and following Chu Zhao's instructions, Xiao Tu scaled the walls of these households to rouse the heads of the families from their sleep.
Though these elders were advanced in years, none fainted from the shock. After reading the note and pondering for a moment, they agreed without questioning the nature of the old accounts or evidence.
Chu Tang pressed her chest again, recalling how she had sat in the rooms of those elderly gentlemen and ladies that night, her heart racing even more than theirs.
Though these were households she often visited, it was always to socialize with the young ladies. Aside from one encounter at an Empress's banquet, she had no other interactions with them.
She knew that in that moment, it wasn't she who sat before these elders, but Chu Zhao.
Though Chu Zhao wasn't physically present, she still stood before these noble families.
And she could still secure their assistance.
Chu Tang took a deep breath and exhaled, comforting her parents: "Let's not say more now. First, we need to hide safely."
After settling her parents in their room and instructing the servants to keep watch, Chu Tang stepped out and called for Xiao Tu.
Xiao Tu, who had been crouched on the wall scanning the distance, leaped down at her call.
"Did you send word to her that we've gone into hiding?" Chu Tang asked quietly. "Has she written again? Any new updates?"
Xiao Tu replied, "We sent the message as soon as we left the city." Then added, "There's no news from Sister Xiao Man, but there is other news."
Chu Tang asked, "What is it?"
Xiao Tu said excitedly, "Fighting has broken out. The Crown Prince of Zhongshan beheaded three court officials."
...
...
At the same time, Xie Yanfang received this news while playing a game of chess with Old Master Zhou.
After Du Qi whispered in his ear and stepped back, Xie Yanfang immediately relayed the information to Old Master Zhou.
"This is what you call 'the map is unrolled, and the dagger is revealed,'" Old Master Zhou said, placing a chess piece.
Xie Yanfang shook his head. "His intentions have been clear to everyone for a long time. Now, this is checkmate."
As he spoke, he made his move on the board.Old Master Zhou hastily examined the chessboard, his expression vexed. "Young man, you may not surpass me in Go, but you've been hiding your skills in Chinese chess."
Xie Yanfang smiled. "Actually, my Go skills aren't bad either. If I exerted my full effort, I could still defeat you, Old Master. However, at present, my heart is preoccupied with other matters, and I dare not take risks anymore. The only thing I would spare no effort for now is to ensure that the child my elder sister left behind—the one who witnessed his own parents' tragic deaths and overnight transformed from an innocent, mischievous boy into the Great Xia Emperor—grows up steadily, impervious to evil influences."
Having said this, he raised his hand in a salute.
"Prince Zhongshan and his son once held a blade to Xiao Yu's neck, with Chu Lan as the witness. I implore you, Old Master, to assist His Majesty in revealing the truth to the world."
Old Master Zhou looked at him and stood up to return the salute.
"Lord Xie," he said, "I share your conviction that His Majesty has survived great calamities and remains impervious to evil influences. The ambitious and treacherous nature of Prince Zhongshan and his son has long been clear to all."
Before Xie Yanfang could speak again, the old master stepped forward and slammed the chessboard heavily.
"As for that traitor Chu Lan, once Prince Zhongshan and his son are captured, he will not escape the death penalty."
Thus, before Prince Zhongshan and his son were captured, the old master would not hand over the traitor Chu Lan. Xie Yanfang looked at Old Master Zhou as hurried footsteps sounded outside the flower hall, and groups of black-armored guards gathered.
The leading soldier reported, "We've searched everywhere. Nothing."
Xie Yanfang said to Old Master Zhou, "My apologies for the intrusion. We shall continue searching other areas of your residence."
Old Master Zhou smiled amiably. "As you wish, Lord Xie."
OpenNovel