Qiao Chu

Chu Zhao stood atop Yuxiu Tower as a gust of wind swept through, covering her in falling blossoms.

“Time passes so swiftly,” she murmured, catching a drifting petal in her palm. “Spring departs and returns again.”

Since returning to the capital last spring, her days had been filled with busyness yet felt strangely idle—a whole year had slipped by in the blink of an eye.

“Is Uncle doing well at the academy?” she asked, turning her head.

Chu Tang stood behind her, teasing a parrot held by A Le, and nodded with a smile. “Extremely well. We just received a letter saying many new students enrolled at the academy this spring. My father is very pleased, and so is my mother.”

Chu Lan was delighted by the increased student body and growing prestige, while his wife rejoiced over the higher tuition fees and the academy’s expansion—they had acquired a new plot of land.

Chu Lan had long coveted that land, pulling numerous strings to obtain it, but the local authorities had paid him no heed.

Now, without even asking outright, a mere hint from Chu Lan was enough for the local officials to deliver the deed to his doorstep.

At this point, Chu Tang grew uneasy and added, “If it’s inappropriate, I’ll have Father return it.”

In her previous life, Chu Lan had similarly seized vast tracts of land, stirring public resentment and tarnishing his reputation. After a moment of silence, Chu Zhao said, “Keeping the land isn’t impossible, but Uncle must provide free education to a hundred students.”

Chu Tang was taken aback, then understood. “You mean Father should use the land’s proceeds to support teaching and mentoring.”

Free education meant waiving tuition and covering all living expenses—no small financial burden for the academy.

Chu Zhao nodded. “What is taken from the people should be returned to them. Wouldn’t this enhance Uncle’s reputation even further?”

Chu Tang chuckled. Her father would agree—he never managed household finances and didn’t grasp the costs. Her mother, however, would certainly object. Acquiring the land under these terms would mean financial loss, but perhaps that would curb her parents’ greed.

“I know Uncle and Aunt desire much, precisely because I am the Empress,” Chu Zhao said with a laugh. “But because I am the Empress, I desire even more. I want Uncle to become a great scholar, spreading knowledge and guiding disciples. I want Aunt to be virtuous, compassionate, and devoted to aiding the people. I want my three cousins to become my pillars, charging into battle for me. I want all my relatives to bring honor to me, the Empress—convey these words to Uncle and Aunt.”

Chu Tang smiled and nodded, though helplessly. “Your words will frighten Father and Mother all over again. They’ve only just settled down after fleeing the capital.”

Last year, Chu Lan had returned to the capital with the Emperor as a hero for capturing the Crown Prince of Zhongshan, Xiao Xun. After deliberations, the court granted rewards: Chu Lan was appointed to the Hanlin Academy, Jiang Shi was enfeoffed as a Lady of the State, and Chu Tang was made a princess.

However, after her return, Chu Zhao advised Chu Lan to decline the official post and leave the capital to continue teaching at his academy.

At that time, Chu Lan had just reunited with Chu Ke—who had taken refuge at the academy—along with his two other sons and two concubines, ready to revel in their newfound wealth and status.

When Chu Zhao voiced her suggestion, Chu Lan immediately wanted to rush to the Imperial City and confront her.

“Let him come,” Chu Zhao told A Le to relay. “Others may not know what you’ve done, but does His Majesty know? How did you earn these rewards? You may hide it from others, but do you understand it in your heart?”

Doused by this cold water, Chu Lan’s anger vanished. He sighed deeply, pleading, “After all, we are family. Can’t we let this matter rest?”"It's passable," A Le conveyed Chu Zhao's words, her face beaming with a bright smile as she reached out to support Jiang Shi. "After this incident, the young lady has also come to realize that the elder master and his wife are her family. We are all one family, and some matters are best handled by you. Look at this time—we’ve cleared our name in front of the world regarding the past with Prince Zhongshan. In the future, there will be many more occasions where the master and madam’s assistance will be needed—"

The future?

More assistance?

Chu Lan and his wife knew all too well how this "clearing" had been achieved. Was that assistance? That was risking their lives.

When Chu Tang returned from visiting Chu Zhao in the palace, she was distraught, murmuring to herself, "I was so foolish," and "I was in such danger."

Chu Lan and his wife were startled and asked what had happened. Chu Tang told them that capturing Xiao Xun had indeed been arranged by Chu Zhao, but when she curiously asked what the plan was after the capture, Chu Zhao frankly admitted there was no plan—it was all a gamble.

"If we were lucky, we’d win. If not, it wouldn’t matter—we’d all die together."

So death was a real possibility.

So it was a gamble.

Chu Lan and his wife broke out in a cold sweat.

"Don’t worry," A Le said cheerfully. "The master and madam have been ennobled and will now preside over the household. Have the young masters returned? In the future, we can leave tasks to them."

The young masters! This was sending their sons to their deaths!

If their sons died, how could they, as parents, go on living?

"I’ve seen through it now," Chu Lan said to Jiang Shi. "Chu Zhao is ruthless and cold-blooded; we can’t rely on her. With Second Brother gone, her family background is weak. To secure her position as Empress, she has no choice but to depend on us—to depend on us to exert our strength, shed our blood, and sacrifice our lives."

Once he understood this, Chu Lan hesitated no longer and immediately took his family away from the capital to the academy. Chu Tang reasoned that not everyone could leave—as a daughter, she should stay in the capital to avoid truly angering Chu Zhao.

After arriving at Qiao Mountain Academy, Chu Lan breathed a sigh of relief. Not only could he distance himself from Chu Zhao and the Emperor, but he also enjoyed treatment he never had in the capital. Local noble families and officials alike treated him with utmost respect, knowing he was the Empress’s uncle, that he had courageously captured Xiao Xun, and that he was learned and erudite—

Chu Lan felt like a fish in water, living more comfortably than he ever had in the capital. He no longer desired an official post and forbade his three sons, including Chu Ke, from pursuing one—holding office would mean being controlled by Chu Zhao, charging into battle for her, bleeding and dying for her.

As life grew more comfortable, Chu Lan became increasingly inflated. Now he had begun acquiring land, and if left unchecked, his greed would only grow.

And with greed comes the risk of falling into others’ traps.

Chu Tang leaned against the railing and sighed, "When will we ever stop living so cautiously?"

Chu Zhao smiled. "People must always live carefully and prudently."

But then she added, "Perhaps in seven or eight years, it will be a bit easier."

Seven or eight years? Chu Tang had only been speaking casually; she had always known that life required caution. She hadn’t expected Chu Zhao to give an actual timeframe.

"Why seven or eight years?" she asked curiously.

Because, in that previous life, she had died eight years later. If in this life she could still be alive by then, it would truly mean she had changed her fate.

Chu Zhao smiled. "Because by then, we will have grown up, matured, and become steady."Chu Tang chuckled. "I think I'm already quite mature and steady now, after all, I am a Junzhu."

She knew Chu Zhao wasn't telling the truth, but she wouldn't press further. A cautious and steady person understood the importance of boundaries.

"Your Highness," a palace maid called from behind, "the titled ladies have all arrived."

Today, Chu Zhao was hosting a grand flower-viewing banquet in the palace.

Chu Zhao and Chu Tang descended the Yuxiu Tower together but didn't go directly to meet the titled ladies.

"Ah-Tang, please entertain the ladies on my behalf first," she said. "I'm going to check on His Majesty and bring him along. I promised him that if there was a banquet today, he could finish his lessons early."

Chu Tang acknowledged the order. Since becoming a Junzhu, she had become more adept at hosting titled ladies on behalf of the Empress. Surrounded by palace maids, she gracefully departed.

Chu Zhao, meanwhile, made her way through the imperial garden toward the inner palace. Just as she turned the corner of a narrow path, she spotted a young man standing beneath the wisteria tree by the palace gate.

He was dressed in official robes, tall and poised.

Even from his back, Chu Zhao recognized him immediately and called out in delight, "Third Young Master, you're back!"

Xie Yanfang turned at the sound of her voice. Sunlight filtered through the blooming wisteria, casting a halo around him.

"Your Highness, the Empress," he greeted with a smile, bowing respectfully.