Qiao Chu

Chu Zhao intended to discuss Border Army matters with Deng Yi.

Although Xie Yanlai had spoken little during court sessions, she knew Deng Yi wasn't indifferent to border troops—he would surely investigate privately. Since Deng Yi disliked the Xie family, she would take the initiative to draw him into further discussion.

Unfortunately, when she arrived at the front hall, officials informed her the Grand Tutor wasn't present, having returned home.

"This is rather unusual," Chu Zhao remarked.

The officials responded with awkward smiles, uncertain whether the Empress meant this as praise or criticism.

"How is Lady Deng faring?" Chu Zhao inquired further.

Though Deng Yi's residence overflowed with gold and jewels, these were mere external possessions—the only person he truly cared about was his aged mother.

Realizing this was concern for the Grand Tutor's family, the officials now felt comfortable responding: "The Lady is well, thank you for Your Majesty's concern," and "Her appetite has been excellent recently—the Grand Tutor has likely gone to purchase her favorite pastries."

After exchanging pleasantries, Chu Zhao departed. She had barely returned to the inner palace when a eunuch hurried over: "The Grand Tutor has returned."

Chu Zhao immediately turned back to the front hall, yet still failed to meet with Deng Yi.

Officials apologized with strained expressions: "The Grand Tutor is deliberating urgent matters and requested no disturbances."

Chu Zhao hesitated. Were she to insist on entering, Deng Yi probably wouldn't expel her. However, her attendance at court was permitted only as the Little Emperor's companion—after all, the inner palace shouldn't interfere with governance. Now that court had adjourned and the Grand Tutor was overseeing state affairs, it would be inappropriate for her, as Empress, to intrude.

In many matters, Deng Yi had turned a blind eye, indulging her whims. She couldn't undermine his authority entirely.

Since she needed to maintain long-term relations with Deng Yi, it was best to avoid friction over minor issues.

Border Army decisions would require days of discussion anyway—she could meet him after court tomorrow.

There was no need for immediate haste.

Chu Zhao thus instructed eunuchs to prepare Imperial Cuisine for dinner, ensuring the ministers wouldn't miss their meal while discussing state affairs. Officials outside the chamber profusely thanked her for this imperial benevolence as they respectfully saw the Empress off.

"Her Majesty truly trusts and favors the Grand Tutor," one official marveled.

"He's the Regent. If she didn't show him trust and favor, she might not even remain Empress," another retorted warily, without shared admiration. "Now that she's Empress and the Xies are her relatives, only when the Xie family conflicts with the Grand Tutor will we see whom she truly trusts and favors."

Chu Zhao paid no mind to the officials' whispers. Being gossiped about was itself a form of capability—in her previous life as Empress, court officials never discussed her, but neither did they acknowledge her existence.

By the time she returned to the inner palace through this back-and-forth, lanterns were being lit in the evening gloom.

"Sister." Xiao Yu proudly showed her two handwritten pages. "I finished all my writing."

Chu Zhao sat down. "Good, let me examine them carefully." She took the papers, reviewed them earnestly, then nodded. "Done quickly and well."

Xiao Yu beamed with delight.

Qi Gonggong chimed in playfully: "His Majesty was so focused he didn't even drink tea—sat completely still until finished, and even had this old servant check them twice."

Chu Zhao gently patted Xiao Yu's head. "Our A Yu is a child with determined purpose."

Xiao Yu leaned against her. "That's because Sister taught me.""Others may teach, but whether one learns depends on oneself." Chu Zhao smiled, knowing one shouldn't lecture children too much. She clapped her hands and instructed Qi Gonggong, "Well, since His Majesty finished his writing early, we get to enjoy some leisure. Have the opera troupe perform now. We'll dine while watching, treating it as a small banquet."

Qi Gonggong acknowledged with a smile.

"Since it's a banquet—" Chu Zhao giggled again, "should we bring some wine?"

Xiao Yu immediately chimed in beside her, "I want some too."

Qi Gonggong looked at the pair, one grown and one young, shaking his head helplessly. He pointed outside, "The Grand Tutor is still in the outer hall. If you lead His Majesty to drink, be careful he sends someone to scold you."

"Just one cup each—peach blossom brew, it's practically sweet water," Chu Zhao laughed, then added, "The Grand Tutor is busy in the outer hall and won't pay us any mind."

Qi Gonggong was only teasing; peach blossom brew indeed hardly counted as wine. He smiled in agreement and went to arrange things—some to prepare the meal, others to summon the opera troupe. The bedchamber grew noisy and lively.

Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu naturally didn't need to move. As they put away the completed calligraphy, Xiao Yu hesitated and said, "Sister, you didn't keep your promise."

Chu Zhao feigned surprise, "How could I be that sort of person?"

Xiao Yu pointed at the desk, "What about the almonds you promised me?Older children couldn't be easily deceived anymore. Chu Zhao remembered then—she had casually mentioned it while cracking melon seeds. She hadn't actually forgotten; while talking with Xie Yanlai, she had even shelled some almonds—only she'd forgotten to save any for Xiao Yu.

Recalling how Xie Yanlai had hurried into the palace, spoken only a few words before exhaustedly falling asleep, and how upon waking—given his temperament—he would surely rush to leave without even drinking tea, she had packed the shelled almonds into a small pouch and tied it to Xie Yanlai's belt. Consider it a gesture of imperial magnanimity.

But Chu Zhao's words hovered on her lips, then she swallowed them and said instead, "I ate them." She offered an apologetic smile, "I was talking and unconsciously shelled and ate them as I went, and ended up finishing them all."

Xiao Yu's face instantly brightened, "So Sister ate them! Then Sister can shell some more for me."

With that, the matter was settled. Chu Zhao nodded with a smile. It had been too long since she'd been a child; she suddenly remembered that promises were very important to them. To promise something to a child and then give it to someone else would truly break their heart.

"Tonight during the opera, I'll shell all the nuts with shells for you," she generously promised.

Xiao Yu beamed but shook his head, "I'll eat them together with Sister."

Chu Zhao reached out and patted Xiao Yu's head, "Good boy."

While the Imperial City's front courts and rear halls each had their own bustle, the night at the Xie residence was far from peaceful either. Shouts, scuffles, curses, and screams rose and fell intermittently. Fortunately, the Xie mansion was vast and deep, with servants stationed everywhere outside the compound, keeping idlers from approaching.

Only when night grew deep did the Xie residence finally return to calm.

Xie Yanlai collapsed face-first onto the bed, only to be pulled up by four or five maidservants exclaiming in alarm.

"Young Master, you must bathe and change clothes before getting into bed."Young Master, these beddings and covers were hastily made new by your sisters—sun-softened and fragrantly smoked." You can't get into them all dirty."

Xie Yanlai was both annoyed and amused, "Are you preparing this for me as a person, or for my skin?"

The maidservants coaxed gently, "For both the person and the skin."

"I already bathed before my audience with His Majesty," Xie Yanlai lay stubbornly, refusing to get up, "Aren't these clothes the ones you picked out?""Before was before," the maids sighed helplessly, eyeing the mud, dirt, and blood on Xie Yanlai's clothes—

He had just been embroiled in another chaotic brawl with the young masters at home.

Xie Yanlai had no choice. Knowing full well that if he didn't comply, these maids would keep him up all night with their nagging, he reluctantly rose to wash up. The maids followed him inside, eagerly helping him undress. Just as they began, Xie Yanlai suddenly remembered something and stopped them—

He raised an eyebrow and said, "I know you want to check my injuries. Don't bother. All of you, out."

The maids exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master actually guessed!" But they refused to leave, instead bringing out various medicinal supplies for dressing wounds. "Young Master, please let us take a look."

Xie Yanlai waved them off. "I've already been examined in the Imperial City. The Grand—"

Before he could finish, the previously reluctant maids lit up with joy. "So the Empress has already seen you?" "That's good, then that girl A Le must have been there too." "If they've seen you, we needn't worry." "A Le's medicine works best." "I always said once Young Master went to the Imperial City, we needn't fret, with Her Majesty there." "Exactly! Her Majesty even sent someone to fetch Young Master's clothes earlier—I had a feeling."

Xie Yanlai felt a headache coming on. "What nonsense are you all spouting? I meant the imperial physician!"

The maids giggled, undeterred—after all, the imperial physician ultimately answered to the Empress—and helped him remove his outer robe before finally withdrawing.

Just as Xie Yanlai undressed and was about to step into the bathtub, a maid's voice chimed in from outside, "Oh, Young Master, where did this sachet come from?" "Did you have maids in the Border Commandery who embroidered this for you?" "Young Master is handsome and kind—naturally, someone would fancy you."

Xie Yanlai snapped irritably, "Stop talking nonsense! Throw away all soiled clothes and accessories!"

No sooner had he spoken than another maid's voice carried in, "Ah, why are there almonds in this sachet?"

Almonds. The word struck Xie Yanlai's mind like a hammer, and the crisp, rhythmic tapping sound echoed in his ears. Earlier, he had fallen asleep in front of that girl again, lulled by her endless chattering and the light tapping of a small hammer—so annoying—

She had been shelling almonds.

Almonds.

Xie Yanlai's mind flashed to the pile of almond shells on the small table in front of the girl in the Imperial Palace—

"Mine! Don't touch it! Bring it here—" he heard himself shout.

This time, the maids weren't as obedient as before. "Young Master, we'll keep it safe for you. You can have it after your bath—"

"No!" Xie Yanlai burst out of the room, ignoring the maids' deliberate squeals and laughter, snatched the sachet, and dashed back into the bath chamber.

He couldn't let a repeat of that incident from years ago, when that little brat Xiao Ding stole his snacks!

...

...

Deep into the night, the maids had all withdrawn. Clean and lying in his soft, comfortable bed, Xie Yanlai found himself unable to sleep.

How ironic—he could doze off even while sitting on a footstool or leaning against a couch.

The thought filled him with frustration. How could he have fallen asleep again? He'd barely exchanged a few words with her.

Xie Yanlai punched the bed in annoyance, then conjured an excuse: with Xie Yanfang there, there was no need for him to say much anyway. Might as well sleep.

He picked up an almond and tossed it into his mouth, crunching it loudly.

She could talk and laugh, even had the leisure to shell almonds for him—clear proof she was doing well.

Having seen her with his own eyes, even if it meant being manipulated, calculated against, and confined to this deep estate for who knew how many days again, he could rest assured.

...

...

That night, many slept soundly, while many others lay awake. As dawn's first light tinged the sky, the doors to the Grand Tutor's hall finally swung open.The palace lanterns that had flickered through the night now seemed weary and dim. The officials all had bloodshot eyes, yet their spirits remained high with excitement.

"Although we can't verify everything immediately, the background relationships of the figures recorded in this ledger submitted by Liang and his son have all been confirmed so far," one official said cheerfully, then gritted his teeth in anger. "These officers, taking advantage of the remote border regions, have formed cliques for personal gain, nearly turning the military camps into their own family estates."

Deng Yi showed no anger at this; instead, he smiled faintly. "It should be considered praise when soldiers treat their camps as home."

"That's meant to encourage them to devote themselves to protecting Great Xia's stability," another official sighed. "Not to let them monopolize achievements and power, enabling their entire families to rise through their connections."

"No need for such indignation," Deng Yi said calmly. "Military authority has always been of utmost importance. When the Crown Prince and Third Prince were still here, weren't their followers all scrambling for positions in the army? Previously we only knew the obvious allegiances and who was meddling where. Now, beyond the surface, we clearly understand even the deputy generals, staff officers, and even commandants."

He glanced at the document in his hand.

"Compared to the publicly known generals, these are the key figures. The generals come and go with rotations, but these lower-ranking officers have entrenched themselves in the border commanderies, turning their territories into iron fortresses."

"Now that we understand their relationships, when we look at the Border Army, everything becomes clear and bright. They'll never be able to conceal achievements or submit false reports again," one official said happily.

"And we can deploy troops more effectively," added another.

This was the crucial point - to break the bones, one must know where the connecting tendons lie. Only by understanding the hidden connections beneath the surface could they completely sever the limbs.

Especially the Xie family's limbs.

Who would have thought the Xie family had quietly infiltrated so deeply?

"However," another official said with a grave expression, "how could Liang Ji uncover such secret relationships so clearly?"

Hadn't Liang and his son been with the Border Army for less than three years?

"Who assisted them?"

"Someone must have helped Liang and his son enlist."

"What is that person's background?"

"Nothing particularly notable has been found yet, we haven't investigated thoroughly."

Deng Yi cut off their speculation.

"I don't care who stands behind him or what opportunities helped him uncover this information," he said. "What matters is that this information is verifiable and useful to us. Since he's willing to serve me, I'll trust him and use him. That's how simple things are in this world."

As the officials conversed indoors, the door opened and a minor official entered with tea. He addressed Deng Yi: "Her Majesty the Empress came twice yesterday."

Deng Yi frowned. Although the girl tended to act on her own initiative, over the past year she had taken her role as Empress seriously, showing him respect as Grand Tutor and diligently studying state affairs without unnecessary comments.

Apart from court sessions, she spent her time in the inner palace educating the Little Emperor.

Why would she suddenly come looking for him yesterday, not just once but twice?

Ah, yesterday... Xie Yanlai had returned.

"Grand Tutor, would you like to see Her Majesty before court session?" the minor official asked. "To see what she wishes to discuss?"

Deng Yi shook his head. "We'll talk after court dismissal."

There was no particular urgency.