Qiao Chu

Deng Yi did not have absolute authority in the court, as not everyone was aligned with him—Xie Yanfang, for instance, was not.

Even those officials who sided with him came from various family backgrounds and positions, so they also considered their own interests.

But this was all inconsequential. Court affairs were inherently this way, and Deng Yi was not one to relent at the first sign of opposition.

Chu Zhao, however, was different.

As the Empress, she stood above the court officials, especially with the Emperor being young. When she accompanied the Emperor to court and spoke up, particularly in opposition to the Grand Tutor, it carried an entirely different weight.

Chu Zhao understood this well and sighed.

"I regret that even if it displeased the Grand Tutor, I should have forced my way in to see him yesterday," she said. "Then we wouldn’t have this misunderstanding in court today."

Deng Yi’s expression remained unchanged. "Since Your Majesty has made up your mind, there’s no difference between yesterday and today."

Chu Zhao said, "Let’s not rush. Sit down and talk." She sat down first and poured tea. "Grand Tutor, the morning court session must have been taxing. Have some tea first."

Over the past year or so, they had had their disagreements, but no matter the dispute, they could always sit down and discuss things calmly.

Deng Yi said nothing but sat down and accepted the tea Chu Zhao offered.

"Let me first speak of my personal motives. I genuinely want Xie Yanlai to be rewarded—he is a brave and skilled warrior with great potential," Chu Zhao said, then shifted her tone. "However, his personal conduct is indeed lacking."

Deng Yi glanced at her.

"Rewarding him is for Uncle Zhong’s sake—Zhong Changrong," Chu Zhao continued, meeting Deng Yi’s gaze without evasion. "Xie Yanlai is valiant but lacks moral discipline, and he is a member of the Xie family. Such a person is both useful and easy to control. Grand Tutor, you know as well as I do that Zhong Changrong cannot match my father’s reputation or his abilities. As Empress, I support him in commanding the Border Army, but his position as commander is not an easy one."

This was a fact Deng Yi had long been aware of. Being the commander of the Border Army was no simple task, and he had initially disapproved of Chu Zhao’s choice.

But Chu Zhao had stubbornly refused to yield.

Deng Yi understood: this girl had turned the Border Army into her private asset, risking her life to build her reputation through battle, and she would never let it go.

Just like the Dragon Guard Army, which still remained under her control.

The Dragon Guard Army was inherently irregular—a private force established through the reckless actions of the late Emperor and Chu Ling. With both the late Emperor and Chu Ling gone, the Dragon Guard Army should have been disbanded. Yet, not only did Chu Zhao refuse to disband it, she even expanded it privately.

"I am not expanding the army but replenishing it. Over the past few years, with constant turmoil, the Dragon Guard Army left by the late Emperor has been reduced by more than half. It was precisely the Dragon Guard Army that protected His Majesty. Now, with the King of Xiliang watching covetously and Prince Zhongshan harboring ill intentions, it is best to maintain the army as it was during the late Emperor’s reign until His Majesty comes of age. The late Emperor’s spirit in heaven would surely rest easy knowing this."

Deng Yi merely listened to these words. In essence, it was nothing but greed for power. She had risen to prominence through the Dragon Guard Army, and it remained her foundation and reliance.

Everyone had their personal motives, and those within the Imperial City were no exception—in fact, their ambitions only grew larger.

This was inevitable, and Deng Yi did not demand perfection. Since she had openly admitted her personal schemes regarding the Border Army, his expression softened slightly. He took a sip of tea and asked, "So, obstructing Liang Qiang’s promotion is also part of Your Majesty’s personal agenda?"

That was indeed a personal motive. Chu Zhao nodded.Deng Yi said, "Your past affair with the Liang family was never the real issue—it was merely an excuse used by the Xie family. The Liang family knows this well. Even if they didn't, you are now the Empress. If you show them favor, how could they hold resentment? Their true resentment lies with the Xie family."

Deng Yi set down his teacup and tapped the table.

"If the Empress were acting out of personal motives, she should actually promote the Liang family instead."

This way, the Empress would gain an ally to counterbalance the Xie family. Chu Zhao understood Deng Yi's meaning and inwardly smiled bitterly—her personal motives were not of that nature; they were something she could never voice aloud.

"I understand," she nodded, her expression earnest and receptive. "I will keep it in mind. But for now, let it be. The Border Army's campaign has reached a critical juncture, and the troops are accustomed to the current arrangements. Let's avoid changes. After the victory, when rewards are given to Liang Qiang and his son for their merits, I will certainly step forward to oppose the Grand Tutor—"

Here, she smiled.

"—to oppose the Grand Tutor for giving too little and request that he grant three times the rewards."

In the past, when she made such witty remarks, Deng Yi would always laugh. But this time, he did not; he merely looked at Chu Zhao with a calm expression.

"Change is precisely for the sake of victory," he said. "The Empress may not know this, but the garrison commanders of the three passes surrounding Luocheng Fort are all Xie family appointees. Once Xie Yanlai is enfeoffed, the entire western front will fall under the Xie family's control."

Chu Zhao was taken aback. She truly hadn't known, but she couldn't admit her ignorance either.

She knew the Xie family was not simple. Though they appeared quiet, who were the Xie family? In her previous life, when the emperor displeased them, they outright rebelled.

"Actually, back when I rushed to the Border Commandery to see my father, before I even met you, Lord Deng, I had already seen the letter Young Master Xie the Third wrote to my father," she said softly. "So, it's clear that long before the war began, the Xie family had already been maneuvering in the Border Commandery. But—"

Chu Zhao looked at Deng Yi.

"Regardless, the war is stable now, the Border Commandery is stable, and the Border Army is winning successive victories. Grand Tutor, if we just wait a little longer—"

Deng Yi slammed his teacup down heavily. "Empress, do not be foolish. This matter absolutely cannot wait."

He stood up.

"You grew up in the army with your father. You know very well what war means to military officers!"

"Though for the dynasty and the people, war is a calamity—displacement and devastation—for soldiers and generals who live by war, it means opportunity and merit."

"The court, you and I, and the people all hope for a swift victory to end the war. But if you could peer into the hearts of more than half the Border Army's officers, you would see they do not share that hope. Some even wish for the war to drag on, as it brings them more achievements, promotions, and wealth—"

At this, Chu Zhao also threw her teacup heavily onto the table, stood up, and shouted, "Nonsense!"

The hall erupted like a firecracker. Xiao Man, who had been standing to the side, instantly tensed, as if she had stepped onto a battlefield.

Outside the hall, officials who had retreated to a distance heard the sudden commotion—the raised male voice and the sharp female rebuke.

They were arguing!

The officials exchanged glances.

...

...

Deng Yi looked at the girl standing before him. Her brows were furrowed with anger, a fury he had never seen in her before."Since I grew up in the military, I've always known that civil officials often look down upon and slander military generals, with the greatest malice being accusations that generals are warmongers seeking merit." Chu Zhao said with raised eyebrows, her eyes filled with sorrow. "But Grand Tutor, how could you say such things too?"

His earlier words had genuinely hurt her. Deng Yi lowered his gaze slightly. "Because I am a wicked man, so I judge others with wicked intentions."

"Soldiers on the frontlines risk their lives to protect our homeland. Those who live today may die tomorrow - who doesn't want to survive? Who doesn't wish for the war to end quickly?" Chu Zhao said through gritted teeth. "Their merits are earned with their lives, not gained through the malicious speculations of you court officials."

"I wasn't referring to the soldiers," Deng Yi said. "I meant certain officers. Officers and soldiers are different."

Chu Zhao looked at him. "But during wartime, officers and soldiers are united, inseparable. You cannot disrupt the entire war situation just because of the selfish motives of certain officers or individuals."

Deng Yi met her gaze. "The Luocheng garrison can remain as is."

Was this his compromise? An apology for his earlier words? Chu Zhao looked at him and asked, "And then?"

Deng Yi said, "Liang Qiang must be rewarded. Otherwise, it will be difficult to satisfy the masses and prevent speculation that you, Empress, are acting out of personal bias."

Chu Zhao laughed and nodded. "Thank you for your consideration on my behalf, Grand Tutor."

She had often been playful in her speech before, but this was the first time she had been sarcastic. Deng Yi stared at her woodenly.

Chu Zhao continued, "In that case, to prevent speculation that you, Grand Tutor, are acting out of personal bias, Xie Yanlai must also be rewarded."

Deng Yi said coldly, "I will immediately order discussions on the matter."

Chu Zhao looked at him. "I'll trouble you with this, Grand Tutor. I take my leave." With that, she walked out.

Xiao Man hurried to follow, reaching the door first to open it.

Chu Zhao strode away.

Deng Yi stood silently in the hall until officials outside entered cautiously, calling "Grand Tutor."

Without looking at them, Deng Yi glanced at the table where the teacup the girl had thrown lay overturned, tea spilled all over the floor.

"Clean this up," he said.

...

...

News spread like wildfire about the Empress suddenly speaking in court, and about the Grand Tutor and Empress arguing after court adjourned - rumors of overturned tables, broken teacups and vases, with some even exaggerating that the Grand Tutor and Empress had come to blows.

Of course, the common people weren't yet aware of court affairs, but discussions were already stirring within the deep residences of noble families.

Xie Yanfang smiled as he sat before the chessboard. "At this moment, I should immediately petition to refuse your reward, demonstrating that we Xies only care for the country and people, that our virtue and talent are still lacking - thus earning our Xie family a reputation for humility."

Xie Yanlai, sitting on the pavilion railing with his legs nearly dangling into the water, scoffed at the fish in the pond.

"But," Xie Yanfang said, placing a chess piece with no smile in his eyes, "why should we be humble and yield? Just because you're named Xie, you can't be rewarded, while that Liang Qiang must be rewarded because he's named Liang? How absurd and ridiculous—"

"Enough," Xie Yanlai turned his head to interrupt coldly. "Just tell me directly what I should do."

Xie Yanfang looked at him. "Go make trouble. Go demand it. Let everyone know that it's you, that it's our Xie family forcing the Empress's hand."

Xie Yanlai swung his long legs around, landed on his feet, and strode out without another word.