The fierce and intimidating soldiers and the gentle, courteous Young Master Xie the Third had departed, and the frightened members of the Zhou family surged forward.
"What happened, Grandfather?" someone asked, completely unaware.
"Grandfather, we never should have taken that letter. With Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang's eyes and ears everywhere, they must have found out. Are they going to accuse us of conspiring with Prince Zhongshan?" someone else speculated with partial understanding.
"I heard they were trying to arrest the Empress's family. How could they depose the Empress right after Chu Ling's death?" another person, sharp-eared and keen-eyed, offered a new conjecture.
Amid the chaotic clamor, Old Master Zhou waved his hand. "All of you, be quiet!"
But as the family patriarch, he knew that staying silent would not reassure his family. After all, even during the Third Prince's rebellion, soldiers had never stormed into the Zhou residence.
The dynasty was crumbling.
"Prince Zhongshan's troops are approaching the capital. Just moments ago, the Crown Prince of Zhongshan executed three imperial envoys under the pretext of meddling in military affairs, issuing reckless orders, and undermining morale. Now he claims he will come to the capital to personally apologize to the Emperor—though of course, that is merely an excuse," Old Master Zhou explained. "But it is a plausible excuse, and the people, already anxious and fearful, believe it. The court is in a difficult position now."
That made sense, the family members nodded. In truth, if the situation demanded it, they too could believe such claims.
But such thoughts were better left unspoken.
"So what does this have to do with the Empress?" everyone pressed urgently.
Old Master Zhou replied, "Chu Lan, the Empress's uncle, was once involved in schemes with the Crown Prince of Zhongshan. The court now wants him to testify against Prince Zhongshan and his son for treason."
They had all sensed the treasonous intentions of Prince Zhongshan and his son, but the involvement of Chu Lan still shocked them. Instantly, they guessed the truth of that night's events—the late Emperor's claim that a woman of the Chu family had rescued the Little Highness must have meant she saved him from her own uncle and Prince Zhongshan.
"No wonder Chu Zhao became Empress, yet Chu Lan and his wife never appeared."
"They said they were recuperating from illness, but they were actually imprisoned."
"I always suspected there was something odd about the Chu family."
"So what's happening now?"
"Did Chu Lan's family escape?"
Old Master Zhou nodded. "Yes, Chu Lan's family has fled. That's why the court is conducting searches—it's not just our family being targeted. Every household in the city is being searched."
The family members breathed a sigh of relief. So it wasn't specifically aimed at the Zhou family.
Fortunately, the Chu family was relatively simple. Chu Lan and his wife had long been absent and had no connections. Empress Chu Zhao remained secluded in the deep palace, and now she had gone to the Border Commandery. Only that girl of the Chu family, Chu Tang, newly enriched and arrogant, wandered about indulging in pleasure.
"Tell the children in our family not to associate with her."
"Especially A Jiang. A Jiang was playing with that Chu Tang just the day before yesterday."
Old Master Zhou impatiently cut them off. "Enough about the past. Why act wise after the event? Weren't you all socializing and forming connections before the Third Prince and the Zhao Family fell?"
His stern words, though rebuking, brought a sense of calm to the family members, who murmured in agreement.
"Anyway, it has nothing to do with our family," they said, taking their leave and departing.
But it had everything to do with their family—Old Master Zhou sat silently in the flower hall, contemplating the chessboard.
Whether it was the Crown Prince of Zhongshan, the Little Emperor, or the Xie family, did they truly need the Zhou family's assistance? Without the Zhou family, they would still be all-powerful. What they offered was not assistance but icing on the cake.
For the Zhou family, adding icing to the cake would only earn them the same in return. Of course, even if they refrained from such gestures, no one could touch them.
The old strategies had been followed for too long. Suddenly, a new path had emerged—I wonder what new tactics she might employ.
Old Master Zhou raised his hand and altered the two moves Xie Yanfang had made, replacing them with his own winning strategy, revealing a satisfied smile.
……
……
When Xie Yanfang returned to his quarters in the Imperial City, he found Deng Yi sitting inside, leisurely watering the orchid on the desk.
This was the first time Deng Yi had visited him here.
"Lord Xie is indeed a man of refined taste," Deng Yi remarked, glancing around the hall. "Even the Imperial City's grand hall feels as comfortable as home to you."
Xie Yanfang smiled slightly, ignoring the implied meaning in his words, and said only, "Is the Grand Tutor waiting for news? I regret to say that nothing has been found so far. Although Empress Chu has not been Empress for long, she has deeply won the people's hearts and trust."
He had not expected that even standing before those noble families and invoking the Emperor's favor would fail to persuade them to relent.
He had spent years cultivating a reputation for modesty and restraint, backed by the influence and authority of the noble families. What did that girl rely on? Her position as Empress and the military power of the Border Army? Or her sharp, unyielding courage?
Suddenly, he seemed to see his thirteen-year-old self standing before the Crown Prince, bow in hand.
"Empress Chu holds great power," Deng Yi said. "Not only can she rally the noble families from a thousand miles away to protect her family, but she can also deploy troops externally. I came to tell you that the Empress has mobilized the armies from Hedong and Shangdang Commanderies."
Xie Yanfang turned to look at the map hanging on the wall. "Is she planning to besiege Zhongshan Commandery?" He had known that the girl would not stand idly by and would take action. He chuckled. "This is a strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao.'"
Deng Yi replied, "Empress Chu has just lost her father. Perhaps she believes that all fathers and sons in this world share a deep bond."
Did she think that the Heir Apparent, having arrived in the capital, would abandon his plans and return upon hearing that his father was under siege? How naive.
Xie Yanfang smiled and said, "As Empress, she must take action upon hearing of Prince Zhongshan's rebellion. Grand Tutor, do not worry. Even with two fewer armies, we can still prevail."
Deng Yi glanced at him. Why would he worry about that?
"It is Lord Xie who need not worry," Deng Yi said with a faint, mocking smile. "You were concerned that prosecuting Chu Lan would damage Empress Chu's reputation, but the Empress had already prepared for it. She resolved the issue herself, without your help."
Xie Yanfang pretended not to understand the sarcasm, nodding with a smile. "Indeed. Therefore, I request that the Grand Tutor issue an edict announcing Chu Lan's past dealings with Prince Zhongshan and proclaiming to the world that Prince Zhongshan has rebelled. This way, Empress Chu's siege of Zhongshan Commandery will be justified, and her prestige will grow even greater."
Deng Yi fell silent.
In any case, Xie Yanfang intended to stir up a grand spectacle with this battle.
No indictment or accusation, no matter how numerous, could compare to the shockwaves caused by the revelation that the Empress's uncle had conspired with Prince Zhongshan in treacherous schemes.
The guilty would be exposed in grandeur, and the righteous would rise in glory.
And Xie Yanfang of the Xie family would shine even brighter.
……
……
"Qi Gonggong, what is this?" In the rear palace, Xiao Yu looked at the edict that had been delivered, his expression one of astonishment.
The Imperial Seal was in the hands of the Grand Tutor, who drafted the edicts and showed them to Xiao Yu for review.
Chu Zhao had instructed Xiao Yu to read them carefully, even if he did not fully understand, and to memorize them so that he would comprehend when he grew older.
Thus, Xiao Yu always read them attentively. This time, however, he not only understood but was also shocked.
"Why? Why does it say this? Is the Chu family guilty?"
He grabbed the edict, about to throw it down.
"How could Sister Chu be guilty?"Eunuch Qi hurriedly pressed down: "Your Majesty, you mustn't, you mustn't." Having also learned the news, he quickly explained, "It's not that Sister Chu is guilty, this has nothing to do with Sister Chu either. It's about her uncle Chu Lan. Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Back then, her uncle tried to harm us, which is why Sister Chu took us and fled the Chu family. That Chu Lan is indeed guilty."
Xiao Yu certainly hadn't forgotten. Though young, after sitting in court for these past few months, he was no longer a completely ignorant child.
"Chu Lan is Sister Chu's uncle. If he's guilty, Sister Chu will inevitably be implicated. If it truly has nothing to do with her, why wasn't Chu Lan's crime mentioned from the beginning?"
The child emperor wasn't easily fooled. Eunuch Qi sighed helplessly, knelt down and grasped Xiao Yu's sleeve, saying, "Your Majesty, these are extraordinary times. Prince Zhongshan has attacked, and the court has no choice but to engage in battle. The war is brutal with heavy casualties. Your Majesty, we must make the world aware of the crimes of Prince Zhongshan and his son, so all may join in condemning them."
Xiao Yu grabbed the imperial edict and raised it high, his childish brows lifting defiantly: "I don't care."
"Ah Yu—" Xie Yanfang strode in from outside.
Xiao Yu had given him the palace restriction order, so he could come and go freely without announcement, which wasn't surprising.
Seeing him enter, Xiao Yu's lifted brows drooped, the fierceness in his eyes fading as he pouted resentfully: "Just because Sister Chu isn't here, and Sister Chu's father is gone, you all bully her like this."
Xie Yanfang half-knelt before him: "No one wants to bully her. If Sister Chu were here, she would do the same."
"Ah Yu, you believe in Chu Zhao. She managed to escape the assassination attempt with you, accompanied you to the throne, and even led troops to the Border Commandery herself. With her father gone, she took up his mantle—by the way, a victory bulletin was intercepted not long ago. It reported that your Sister Chu personally led troops to attack the main force of the King of Xiliang's army, forcing them to retreat another hundred li."
A smile appeared in Xiao Yu's eyes: "Really?"
Xie Yanfang nodded: "I've already ordered them to retrieve the victory bulletin. It will arrive soon." He looked into the child's eyes: "Moreover, hearing that Prince Zhongshan's troops are surrounding the capital, Chu Zhao has already led her forces back. At this very moment, she's besieging Zhongshan Commandery. Ah Yu, do you know what this is called?"
Xiao Yu exclaimed excitedly: "Besieging Wei to rescue Zhao! I've read about this!"
Xie Yanfang said: "So don't worry. Sister Chu fears no danger or trouble. She protects the nation and its people. No matter what past crimes her uncle committed, they won't affect her—Ah Yu, trust me."
Xiao Yu looked at him and nodded: "I trust you." He placed the raised edict into Xie Yanfang's hand.
Eunuch Qi silently stood up to the side. So to gain one person's trust, you don't need to prove your own credibility—you just need to show them that you believe in the person they trust most.
...
...
Qi Leyun was practically shoved into the carriage by her mother.
"Mother, even if Chu Lan is guilty, that doesn't mean Chu Zhao is guilty," she protested, struggling as she lifted the carriage curtain to see soldiers already lined up outside the Chu residence.
Master Qi was smiling apologetically to an official, who waved him off, allowing the Qi family's carriage to pass through.
Soldiers continued running through the streets, conducting door-to-door searches as crowds gathered, pointing and commenting.
"—Is the Empress's family being raided?"
"Raiding the Chu family right after Chu Ling's death?""Don't talk nonsense. It's not a house raid, nor is it related to the Empress. It's Chu Lan—Chu Lan was secretly conspiring with Prince Zhongshan to harm His Majesty."
"Chu Lan had kept it well hidden. Taking advantage of the Empress's absence and Chu Ling's death, he immediately stirred up trouble, colluding with Prince Zhongshan both inside and out. That Prince Zhongshan wasn't here to aid the court at all—he came to force the emperor to abdicate. When the news leaked, Chu Lan fled with his entire family."
"So that's how it is."
"Does that mean we'll have to fight Prince Zhongshan?"
"We must fight! The late emperor has passed away, Western Liang has invaded, the young emperor has ascended the throne—and Prince Zhongshan chooses this chaos to cause trouble? He's utterly inhuman! Bullying orphans."
Hearing the commotion around them, Qi Leyun watched her father return and said urgently, "Father, listen—everyone knows it has nothing to do with the Empress. It's safe for us to stay here."
Her father glared at her. "What do you know? Of course it's safe for now."
For now, they must unite against external threats. Empress Chu still commands the Border Army, but who knows about the future? With her father gone and her uncle guilty of attempted treason, such a family background makes her position as empress precarious—like walking on thin ice. She could be deposed at any moment.
"The fact that we're allowed to leave already proves Empress Chu's innocence. Otherwise, if they imprisoned us too, imagine what rumors would spread in the city. I'm afraid no one would even dare mention Empress Chu's name."
As he spoke, Qi's father placed his hand on his daughter's head and pushed her back into the carriage.
"Stop causing trouble. This isn't some matter for you girls to chatter and laugh about."
"Father, Father." Qi Leyun grabbed her father's hand. She understood his meaning—knew she couldn't make a scene now, that it would be useless—but she felt both wronged and worried. "Chu Zhao is just so unlucky."
Her father patted her shoulder. "So, my daughter, cherish your blessings."
The Qi family hastily moved out of Chu Manor, while other households were also discussing the Chu family.
"The court isn't leaving any face for Empress Chu. This is what happens when someone from a weak family background rises to a high position."
They can't withstand even a minor incident—a flimsy house collapses at the first gust of wind.
Once again, they sighed in relief that the Chu family had few connections and that Chu Lan hadn't interacted much with them—only the young women had socialized and played together.
But even these casual interactions among the young women were quite troublesome.
Old Master Zhou was once again awakened late at night by the young women of his household.
"A Jiang." Rubbing his forehead, Old Master Zhou walked out and looked at his granddaughter standing in the outer room. "Not even your father, uncles, or granduncles see me this often."
Zhou Jiang hurried to support her grandfather. "Our family is deeply rooted and operates according to rules. There's no need for you to trouble yourself with these matters."
"Oh, so I should trouble myself with matters of other families with shallow roots?" Old Master Zhou said, looking at Zhou Jiang. "Go on, what does our Empress Chu want now?"
Zhou Jiang produced a note, just like last time. In the dimly lit room, the bright red Empress's seal stood out prominently.
Old Master Zhou took it, squinted to read it, then looked back at Zhou Jiang. "A Jiang, you're not just asking me to trouble myself—you're asking me to risk my life."
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