The officials in the hall buzzed with discussion, suggesting that the Empress's letter be discarded.
Deng Yi smiled and halted their chatter: "Let's first see what the Empress has to say."
She could say what she wished—how they responded was their own affair.
The officials fell silent. Deng Yi made no attempt to conceal the Empress's private letter from them, reading its contents aloud as he perused it.
From the letter's description, it was clear the girl had indeed gone to persuade Prince Zhongshan to surrender—or rather, to threaten him.
She had captured the Heir Apparent, Xiao Xun, and threatened mutual destruction with Prince Zhongshan and his son, forcing the prince to abandon his ambitions empty-handed. In the end, Prince Zhongshan decided to surrender to end the conflict, but on one condition—that he not be left with nothing. Thus—
"Pardon Prince Zhongshan and his son from all crimes. Apart from the Heir Apparent entering the capital as a hostage, Prince Zhongshan shall remain unbound by any restrictions."
Reading this, Deng Yi chuckled: "Is Empress Chu being too polite? Should she have added a request for the court to reward Prince Zhongshan as well?"
The officials erupted in uproar.
"How absurd," one official sneered, holding a teacup. "Has Empress Chu lost her senses?"
For Prince Zhongshan to submit, he must naturally be convicted, stripped of his rank, and rendered a commoner to eliminate future threats—this crippled prince had secretly amassed such a large army. Though still veiled in pretense, his intentions were clear to all.
Another official picked up a piece of pastry and remarked, "The court has no fear of Prince Zhongshan. A war would uproot him entirely—hmm." He took a bite and immediately praised it, urging the others to try it. "Taste this apricot blossom cake—it's exceptionally fresh."
A nearby official swept his sleeve and took a piece, stating, "The court holds a strong advantage in this war. How can we not fight, let alone spare Prince Zhongshan?" After sampling the cake, he nodded in approval and turned to Deng Yi. "Grand Tutor, your elderly mother enjoys sweets. Send some of this for her to try."
Now even the preferences of that blind old woman were carefully noted by others.
Deng Yi smiled faintly: "Another day, you must try the skills of the cook in my residence—a gift from Editor Zhang."
The loosely seated officials in the hall turned their gaze in one direction, where a middle-aged Imperial Academy official with a ruddy complexion grinned and raised his teacup: "A family recipe from my shop—a humble offering, nothing more."
Editor Zhang's clan ran renowned restaurants and pastry shops, famous throughout the capital and even across Great Xia. Some of their unique pastries and dishes were not even found in the Imperial Cuisine.
Gift-giving sometimes mattered less in value and more in thoughtfulness. Among the officials, some scoffed, some envied, and some jested, filling the hall with lively chatter.
Deng Yi took a sip of tea, cleared his throat softly, and lowered his eyes to the letter, reading the girl's words: "If war breaks out, the empire will descend into chaos, the Border Commanderies will be in peril, military morale will collapse, the land will be ravaged, and the people will suffer."
Such were the inevitable consequences of war—known to all.
An elderly official with a grizzled beard tucked his hands into his sleeves, closed his eyes, and remarked indifferently, "Empress Chu has a compassionate heart."
"Merely a woman's softness," another official added.
Deng Yi continued reading: "Though the court may surge with momentum and ample troops, Prince Zhongshan has long accumulated strength, and the King of Xiliang gnaws at us relentlessly. Once war erupts, the empire will plunge into turmoil, and even thereafter, peace may not be restored for a decade.Where did this girl get such certainty, to assert that Great Xia would descend into an age of chaos?
Though it was already quite tumultuous, still—"With the Grand Tutor here, the Xie family here, and Your Majesty here," one official said solemnly, "even if the Great Xia faces turmoil for one, two, or three years, the realm will surely be pacified. But if Prince Zhongshan is allowed to remain, it will never know peace. Cutting the Gordian knot is better than enduring prolonged suffering. Surely the Empress understands this principle."
Of course she understood. Deng Yi lowered his gaze to the letter. "However, Prince Zhongshan has rebellious intentions but lacks the backbone for rebellion. If we break his momentum, he will hesitate at every step thereafter, allowing the court to gain advantage progressively—subduing the enemy without battle."
Another official chuckled and shook his head. "Such arguments are futile. His Majesty has already personally led the expedition. Xie Yanfang's momentum is soaring as he vigorously roots out treachery and evil. Everyone witnesses the Emperor's majesty."
Subduing the enemy without battle was like wearing fine robes at night—Xie Yanfang would never agree to it. Although they weren't keen on seeing the Xie family bask in glory, they couldn't intervene, for it concerned the imperial dignity of the sovereign.
"If His Majesty leads the expedition while we negotiate peace with Prince Zhongshan from the rear, the infamy we'd incur is unimaginable."
Moreover—
He glanced at Deng Yi.
"Grand Tutor, Xie Yanfang already has his eyes on your past dealings with Prince Zhongshan."
Previously, he had tried to force Deng Yi to reveal how he had been bribed by Prince Zhongshan. When Empress Chu's family fled first, their guilt was self-evident, and Deng Yi no longer needed to provide evidence.
But now, if they followed Empress Chu's suggestion—accepting Prince Zhongshan's confession without punishment or inquiry, downplaying major issues as minor ones—Deng Yi would truly bear the stigma of being Prince Zhongshan's lackey.
"Let Empress Chu indulge in her absurdities alone. You must not join her."
Deng Yi leaned against the armrest, holding the letter in one hand and taking a cup of hot tea from an attendant with the other. In the night, the steam danced ethereally, blurring his features.
He really ought to toss this girl's nonsensical letter into the brazier and read no further.
But—
The girl had stopped lecturing and added a line:
"Quelling chaos in a troubled world is a great achievement, but preventing turmoil to maintain peace is equally meritorious. Grand Tutor, do you wish to be the Grand Tutor of a troubled era or that of a peaceful, well-governed one?"
Deng Yi came from humble origins, with no influential family background or deep-rooted connections through old friends or marriage.
He lifted his eyes slightly, surveying the officials seated around the hall. Though he now had many followers who obeyed his commands, supported him, and contributed resources—enabling him to hold sway at court and rival the aristocratic Xie family, which had imperial ties—it was only because the late emperor had entrusted him with guardianship, granting him the imperial seal and the authority to supervise the state and assist in governance.
Their allegiance was not to Deng Yi himself, but to the power he wielded.
In times of chaos, authority is forged through conflict. Even as the chief civil official holding the imperial seal, during military campaigns, generals in the field might defy royal decrees, leaving no room for a Grand Tutor to dictate strategy.
If power becomes difficult to wield, it will only grow more so.
Deng Yi looked at the letter. Miss Chu came from an ordinary background with a modest family. Though she had military forces, she knew she couldn't compete with Xie Yanfang in a chaotic world, so she sought solidarity with him as a fellow sufferer.
This kindred spirit wrote another line:
"If the Grand Tutor cannot aid me, I will perish together with Prince Zhongshan and his son, doing my part to hasten the arrival of peace for you."
"Though I strive to survive, I have never feared death."
"From the moment I stepped into Zhongshan Prince's Mansion, I was marching toward my demise."
"In death, I shall have no regrets—for the state, the people, or myself. And for you, Lord Deng, there will be no regrets either."
"Chu Zhao bids farewell here."She was right. If he didn't help her, she would surely die.
If there were no regrets, why write so many words? At such a young age, she was both candid and shrewd, self-interested yet principled. Wasn't this using death to threaten him?
Was Deng Yi the kind of person who cared about others' lives or deaths?
Deng Yi set down the letter and looked at the tea in his hand. The girl seemed to have left long ago—he could no longer recall her face.
"Deng Yi, why are you here too!"
He vaguely remembered their first meeting, how the girl had exclaimed his name in shock—though it was their first encounter, he could clearly sense her familiarity with him.
She feared him, distrusted him, yet she also flattered him, praised him, and at times, even trusted him implicitly.
"Grand Tutor Deng is the most capable."
"Grand Tutor Deng is truly the most capable."
Deng Yi seemed to hear the girl's voice echoing in his ears. Capable? He was indeed capable. Becoming the one entrusted by the late Emperor was truly a heaven-sent opportunity, but why did it fall to him, Deng Yi? It was because he had meticulously planned and maneuvered every step of the way.
He, Deng Yi, had seized the opportunity and not wasted it. He grasped it firmly and, in a short time, solidified his position in the court.
With such capability, was there anything in this world he dared not do? Anything he could not accomplish?
Deng Yi set down his tea and declared, "I wish to draft an imperial decree."
The lively hall, filled with laughter, tea, and snacks, fell silent instantly. The officials looked astonished, wondering if they had misheard.
"Grand Tutor," several officials stood up, "please reconsider!"
Deng Yi scanned the hall. "Are you all unwilling to assist me?"
Under his gaze, some officials avoided eye contact, while others looked resigned.
Deng Yi watched them and smiled faintly, swirling the tea in his hand.
"Consider this, gentlemen: what benefit do we gain from eliminating Prince Zhongshan?"
"His Majesty is young. Who knows what unforeseen events may occur in the future?"
Such audacious words! The officials in the hall were startled—
"After all, Prince Zhongshan is of the legitimate Xiao bloodline," Deng Yi said, his gaze sweeping over them. He did not elaborate further but shifted the topic. "The Prince has been quite generous to all of you, hasn't he?"
If even a minor official like him had received lavish gifts from Prince Zhongshan, how could the court officials not have accepted gifts from the Prince as well?
Indeed, these words caused even greater shifts in the expressions of the seated officials.
After a moment of silence, an elderly official sighed bitterly.
"Grand Tutor, if we do this, we will bear the infamy," he said. "How will we retain our dignity?"
Deng Yi replied, "You all know well that I have a history with Prince Zhongshan, yet you still associate with me, Grand Tutor, and maintain your dignity quite well, don't you?"
The officials in the hall felt somewhat embarrassed.
"That's not a fair comparison," one official said helplessly. "That was before. Now, you are the Grand Tutor chosen by the late Emperor."
Deng Yi responded, "Then, as long as Prince Zhongshan confesses his crimes, he remains a Prince of Great Xia. If Prince Zhongshan rebels, the court dares to fight. If Prince Zhongshan confesses, why should the court not dare to accept it?"
He looked at the officials again.
"Do not worry. I will bear the infamy. All you need to do is appear helpless."
Helpless, unable to stop it—this would make them seem pitiable. The officials exchanged glances. If they appeared pitiable, the infamy would be lesser.
Now that they were already tied to Deng Yi, not only could they not let him fall, but they must also unite their strength with his. With the Emperor so young, this was a prime opportunity for the noble families to govern. The officials bowed and said, "We abide by the Grand Tutor's decision."
Deng Yi set down his teacup and nodded. "Thank you, gentlemen."The matter was thus settled, easing the tension in the hall.
"Grand Tutor, are you doing this for the Empress as well?" a young official couldn't resist asking.
Since ascending the throne, the Empress had committed many acts that violated protocol, yet Deng Yi had indulged her without inquiry.
Originally, he had intended to wash his hands of the affair concerning Prince Zhongshan, leaving it entirely to the Xie family's control. But after reading a letter from the Empress, he abruptly decided to seek reconciliation with Prince Zhongshan without even consulting the Xie family—
The Grand Tutor naturally had his own considerations, but surely the Empress factored into those considerations as well?
Rumors said the Empress and Deng Yi shared a past connection, with whispers circulating that during the night of the palace unrest, the Empress had shouted at Deng Yi about some debt he owed her—
The expressions of the officials in the hall flickered with complexity.
Deng Yi's expression remained placid as he glanced at the official. "The Empress acts for the sake of the realm, and so does this official."
His gaze then fell upon the Grand Tutor's seal and the imperial jade seal resting on the desk.
"This realm is currently under my authority. If I don't speak now, I may never get another chance to do so."
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