Qiao Chu

Today's court session felt both fast and slow to Chu Zhao.

Slow because it seemed to drag on forever, fast because Xie Yanlai spoke very little in the hall.

He didn't even explain why he had come bearing brambles to plead guilty.

Grand Tutor Deng Yi merely said, "Captain Xie should act with caution when in the capital," and moved on from the topic as if nothing had happened—or as if he didn't care.

When asked about the Border Army's battles over the past year, Xie Yanlai offered a few words and presented several scrolls of records, after which Deng Yi stopped questioning him.

Then, officials from the Ministry of War took turns speaking, bringing out maps and cross-referencing them with the records Xie Yanlai had submitted.

Even without Deng Yi's inquiries, Xie Yanlai had said what needed to be said.

"Western Liang is at the end of its rope. We will surely win this battle," he declared. "Moreover, this victory must force the King of Xiliang to disband his royal court and flee far away, never daring to approach our Great Xia again."

The court officials watched this young officer—the brambles had been removed, and his clothes were back on, though hastily arranged, making his appearance in the court somewhat odd. Yet, this oddity did nothing to diminish his imposing presence.

"Captain Xie has great spirit," Deng Yi remarked. "With such determination in the Border Army, you will surely be invincible."

Just as Xie Yanlai was about to respond, Deng Yi bowed to the Emperor first.

"With Captain Xie's detailed explanation, we have a better understanding of the situation in the Border Commandery. Your Majesty, rest assured, our Great Xia will surely win this battle."

The Emperor hurriedly replied, "My ministers have worked hard."

Beyond that, as an emperor who had not yet taken full control of governance, he could say no more. Chu Zhao, behind the curtain, could say even less.

After the Grand Tutor dismissed the court session, Chu Zhao returned to the inner palace, angrily flicking her sleeves.

"How was that a detailed explanation?" she fumed. "Xie Yanlai only spoke about ten sentences from start to finish, including 'I pay respects to Your Majesty' and 'We take our leave'!"

Xiao Yu hopped over the high steps behind her, giggling. "Sister, don't be angry. Uncle will give you a detailed explanation."

A light snort came from behind, seemingly equally dissatisfied.

"There's nothing much to say."

"It's just a battle. We'll fight, that's all."

Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu turned to see Xie Yanlai standing outside the hall door.

Chu Zhao smiled. "There's a lot to say about the word 'fight'." She beckoned, "Captain Xie, come in quickly."

Xiao Yu stood beside Chu Zhao, nodding in agreement. "Uncle, come in quickly."

Xie Yanlai glanced at the two—one tall, one short—and reluctantly stepped inside.

But even after entering, he didn't get to give a detailed explanation. As he came in, a crowd of people swarmed in after him—palace maids, eunuchs, and imperial physicians.

"First, wash up and change your clothes," Chu Zhao directed the maids and eunuchs, then asked, "Have Captain Xie's clothes been fetched?"

Eunuchs chimed in, "They've been fetched, fetched!" "This servant went personally." "Captain Xie's maids prepared them themselves."

The palace maids added, "The bath is ready."

As the eunuchs and maids crowded around Xie Yanlai to lead him inside, Chu Zhao changed her mind. "No, let the imperial physicians check his injuries first. Medicine can be prepared in the meantime."

The physicians then surrounded him, ready to examine him through observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, and to remove his robes.

Xie Yanlai, trapped in the middle of the commotion, felt his ears buzzing from the noise, thinking this moment was even more chaotic than being surrounded by crowds on the street.

"What is this?" he snapped. "Why do I need to wash up? Don't touch me—I don't need you to check my injuries. If I'd waited for you to treat my wounds, I'd never have made it to the capital! The fact that I'm standing here means I'm unharmed and healthy!"

The hall grew even noisier, Xie Yanlai's voice louder than it had been in the court, his demeanor fiercer.However, in the front court hall where Chu Zhao could not speak, she held sway in the inner palace, her voice even louder than Xie Yanlai's.

"You are here to see His Majesty. Look at yourself—covered in dust, disheveled attire. This is a breach of decorum before the sovereign!" Chu Zhao said, no longer mincing words, and waved her hand. "Take him to freshen up. The imperial physicians should go too—examine him while he cleans up."

Without another word, the palace maids, eunuchs, and physicians crowded around Xie Yanlai and ushered him toward the side hall.

Xie Yanlai seemed to complain about something, but his voice was drowned out, and he was too weak to resist as he was quickly dragged away. What could he do? One must not be disrespectful before the sovereign—after all, he was but a subject.

Entering the side hall, which served as the Emperor’s resting place, there was a bed, a daybed, and a bathing area. A small plum-blossom-shaped bathing pool steamed with hot water, the air thick with the scent of incense.

Xie Yanlai shooed away the palace maids, leaving only the eunuchs and physicians. He paid them no mind—if they wanted to look, let them. Was Xie Yanlai afraid of being seen?

Let whoever wanted to look—

"Xie Yanlai, have you started bathing yet?"

A woman’s voice came from behind the partitioned screen, accompanied by a shadow leaning slightly forward, as if about to peek around the corner.

Xie Yanlai, who was just stepping down into the water, nearly slipped.

"Chu—" He almost blurted out Chu Zhao’s name but bit his tongue just in time. "Your—Your Highness! Please maintain your dignity!"

The girl’s voice came from behind the screen: "It is not I who am being discourteous. His Majesty wishes to see your wounds with his own eyes, to understand the brutality of the war—"

Xie Yanlai nearly exploded with anger: "What can wounds reveal about brutality? Go look at the casualty roster from the Ministry of War—that is true brutality!"

Well, he had a point. The figure behind the screen withdrew and nodded to a smaller figure beside her.

"Your uncle is right. He brought the roster back this time and just handed it to the Grand Tutor during court. Let’s send someone to fetch it from the Grand Tutor so we can take a look."

"Alright, whatever you think is best, sister."

Chatting, the two departed.

Xie Yanlai submerged himself in the water, letting out a long sigh, then hissed in pain—he had bitten his tongue until it bled. That wretched girl! She lectured him about breaching decorum before the sovereign, yet she herself had no idea how a ruler ought to behave!

……

……

Xie Yanlai, mindful of propriety before the sovereign, washed quickly and patiently endured the physicians’ examination. After changing into fresh clothes, he stepped out.

Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu sat facing each other on the daybed by the window, gathered around a plate of sunflower seeds, competing to see who could crack them faster.

What kind of game is this? Xie Yanlai found it somewhat amusing. Was this how she and the Emperor spent their days?

Xiao Yu, seated, giggled uncontrollably.

Noticing Xie Yanlai, the two stopped cracking seeds.

"Uncle," Xiao Yu said, straightening up. "Sit here beside me."

Xie Yanlai halted a few steps away, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, but I dare not."

Chu Zhao grinned and winked at Xiao Yu, signaling for him to sit back down. Then she turned to Xie Yanlai: "Captain Xie, it’s been two years, yet you’ve grown more reserved." She glanced at A Le and added, "Fetch a footstool for Captain Xie."

A Le smiled, acknowledged the order, and promptly brought a footstool, placing it near Xiao Yu. "Captain Xie," she said, "Her Highness has granted you a seat."

Xie Yanlai shot the girl a glare. "Your servant thanks Her Highness." With that, he sat boldly on the footstool.

His long legs seemed to have nowhere to go, and he wore an unmistakably displeased expression.Xiao Yu couldn't help but laugh as he looked at this uncle before him, both curious and earnest. He had already seen him earlier in the grand hall, but his sister had told him to pay close attention during court sessions—not only to what the court officials said but also to their expressions. Xie Yanlai hadn't spoken much after entering the hall, and Xiao Yu hadn't observed him closely then, finding him somewhat unfamiliar at the time.

Now, as he looked again, memories from the past resurfaced.

This uncle was still the same uncle—impatient, disliking his emperor nephew, unwilling to be his uncle, and only wanting to be a subject.

Or perhaps, he didn't even want to be a subject. His demeanor was entirely different from that of the other court officials.

He sat here, wanting nothing.

"I heard from Xiao Man and others about your martial arts competition and learned that you have many injuries, so I wanted everyone to see them," Chu Zhao said. "As long as they see these wounds, what you've done in the capital becomes insignificant."

Xie Yanlai replied, "Even without these injuries, what I've done is nothing to be ashamed of. If anyone is dissatisfied, let them compete. Only those who lack skill should feel ashamed."

Chu Zhao laughed, "Yes, yes, it's not because you fought that it's shameful. I'm just adding flowers to embroidery for our Captain Xie."

Xie Yanlai glanced at her and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Chu Zhao smiled faintly and turned to the imperial physicians standing nearby, "How are Captain Xie's injuries?"

The physicians began speaking in detail, one after another.

Xie Yanlai didn't stop them but laughed at one point, interrupting a physician, "That's an old injury from my childhood, and you're bringing it up now? Can't you tell it's not a battle wound? How did you become an imperial physician?"

The physician glanced at the Empress's smiling expression. Having served as an imperial physician for decades, he knew that failing to understand the nobles' thoughts would be his downfall.

"Captain, Her Majesty asked about your injuries. Old or new, they are all injuries," he said solemnly. "I must speak truthfully and dare not, nor can I, deceive Her Majesty."

Xie Yanlai resisted the urge to roll his eyes and raised his hands in a slight salute to the physician, "You're quite impressive, Physician."

The physician returned the gesture respectfully and continued chattering to the Empress, "Although it's an old injury from over a decade ago, it shouldn't be underestimated or ignored. It can still be treated—"

Chu Zhao quickly interjected, "Physician, treat him immediately. Use whatever medicine is necessary."

The physician acknowledged the order.

"A bunch of bootlickers," Xie Yanlai thought. "Sooner or later, she'll be spoiled silly by all this flattery." He couldn't be bothered to listen further and leaned back on the couch.

Amid the murmurs in the room, a eunuch entered and hesitantly interrupted, "Lord Xie is here."

There was another Lord Xie in the court. Chu Zhao promptly said, "Please invite him in."

Xiao Yu also hurriedly straightened his posture.

Xie Yanfang walked in from outside, holding a scroll in his hand.

"You took leave today, so why are you here again?" Chu Zhao asked without letting him perform the formal greetings. Before he could answer, she raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Could it be that Third Young Master is afraid the Grand Tutor will harm the Xie family?"

Xie Yanfang laughed heartily, "Your Majesty, don't underestimate me."

The two spoke quite freely, without restraint. Xie Yanlai snorted inwardly. None of this concerned him anyway, so he simply leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes.