Attending court in summer was far from pleasant, and today the capital was exceptionally sweltering.
Even before the sun had risen, several officials standing outside the Imperial City were already sweating profusely. One of them, disregarding decorum, fanned himself vigorously with his sleeve while cursing, "This damned weather."
An official beside him chuckled, "For the Empress, it's excellent weather."
The surrounding officials laughed. Ever since the Border Army rewards were announced, the Empress had stopped lowering the pearl screen. When an Imperial Censor inquired, she claimed the weather was too hot.
"What does the Empress actually mean?" one official whispered. "Is she provoking the Grand Tutor?"
Another official chuckled softly, "Do you think women only throw tantrums? Her intention is clear—"
He mouthed two words silently.
"Seize power."
The nearby officials fell silent for a moment.
Someone snorted disdainfully, "Even the Emperor hasn't seized power! What right does she have?"
But immediately, another official muttered, "Precisely because the Emperor hasn't seized power, the Empress wants to."
This remark silenced the officials again.
If the Emperor weren't so young, Empress Chu would never have been allowed to accompany him to court. She first used the Emperor's youth to gain the opportunity to attend court and listen to governance, and now it was hardly surprising she sought to seize power.
Otherwise, once the Emperor came of age, the Empress would remain merely the Empress.
"By what right—" someone muttered, cutting himself off mid-sentence. This Empress indeed had her backing—she couldn't be treated as an ordinary woman. But—"Even with military power, she can't do as she pleases and break ancestral rules!"
If the Empress wants power, let her wield it in the inner palace. The inner court must not interfere in governance—she shouldn't meddle in state affairs.
"Who do you think is behind her—" someone suddenly said.
"Who else?" another replied. "Lord Xie, of course."
This time, the officials didn't remain silent but collectively let out a muffled snort through their noses: "All imperial relatives."
As the snorts faded, a slight commotion arose at the palace gates. The officials made way, and in the dim morning light, Xie Yanfang approached leisurely, fanning himself with a handheld fan as he walked. He greeted others with a smile.
"The weather is truly hot today."
The officials responded with smiles; those unwilling to engage lowered their heads and stepped aside.
Xie Yanfang walked at the forefront. As he reached the palace gates, they swung open precisely on time, allowing him to enter the Imperial City unimpeded.
The other officials then proceeded in order, and those at the back resumed their conversations.
"Will the Empress speak today?"
"Will there be silence again today?"
"How will Xie Yanfang respond?"
"I never expected Lord Xie would remain silent too."
"If he speaks, the Grand Tutor will surely pounce—it's a strategy."
"It's a battle of endurance between these two factions."
"Is there no third party?"
The last remark seemed abrupt. Two officials paused and turned to see someone had approached unnoticed from behind—
But this wasn't unusual. The rear of the procession consisted of lower-ranking officials, many of whom belonged neither to the Grand Tutor's faction nor associated with the Xie family, instead serving as solitary, obscure minor officials with leisurely posts.
"Lord Zhu, what do you mean by a third party?" they asked.
The official addressed as Lord Zhu hesitated before saying, "The Empress doesn't truly belong to the imperial relatives. She and the Emperor are both sovereigns."
The two who had spoken earlier were taken aback, finding it somewhat amusing. "The Empress is subordinate to the Emperor—how can they both be sovereigns—"Before they could finish speaking, the imperial censors' commands rang out, and the court assembly music began to play. The Emperor was entering the court. Though standing at the very back of the procession, they could no longer converse freely. The few men hurriedly ceased talking, straightened their expressions, and stood properly, watching as the Emperor and Empress approached slowly before bowing in salute.
"Your Majesty, may you live ten thousand years!"
...
...
The court affairs proceeded gradually, mostly consisting of tedious routine matters. The hall was stiflingly hot. Among the ranks, some officials were distracted and dazed, others were nodding off, while a few, to avoid distraction or drowsiness, occasionally lifted their heads to glance at the Empress—
The Empress sat behind the Emperor.
She seemed to be sitting closer than before.
Some officials, bored during court, pondered over these details and even felt a flicker of excitement—why didn't the Empress just sit directly on the Dragon Throne with the Emperor?
After all, the Dragon Throne was large enough. Seating two people, one of whom was a child, wouldn't be a problem.
If that really happened, wouldn't the court erupt like a boiling pot?
Just as an official was lost in thought, he suddenly heard a woman's voice say, "Minister Zhou, how many high-ranking officials are among this year's candidates from the Ministry of Personnel?"
In the court, voices varied in pitch—some clear and bright, others aged and hoarse—but all were male. This woman's voice stood out, exceptionally pleasant to the ear.
The male voices that had been speaking fell silent, as if entranced by her voice.
The sudden silence was suffocating.
No one answered the Empress's question—not even a single "I don't know, Your Majesty." Nor did anyone question the Empress for interfering in court affairs.
The only response to the Empress was silence.
The official from the Ministry of Personnel who had been addressed simply lowered his head.
Other officials who had not been addressed either lowered their eyes or wore blank expressions.
The Empress did not speak again, only watching the court officials.
It seemed like a long time, yet also just an instant, before Deng Yi spoke: "How are the flood prevention arrangements for this year?"
Deng Yi's words were like water droplets falling into hot oil. The quiet court suddenly became lively again, with officials vying to respond. In addition to speaking, various documents were presented.
Seated high above and ignored, the Empress showed no change in expression. She listened calmly and attentively to the officials' discussions, occasionally raising another question at a certain moment, which would plunge the court into silence once more. Then, Deng Yi would speak again, introducing another topic to stir up activity—
This cycle repeated until Deng Yi finally said, "Are there any further memorials today? If not, court is dismissed!"
As the officials standing in the back rows knelt to bid farewell to the Emperor, they couldn't help but feel pity for the young girl. But pity was useless in the court.
As the Emperor and Empress rose to leave, Deng Yi suddenly called out to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, do you have anything to say?"
The officials also looked up at the Emperor. The tension between the court and the Empress these days had not escaped the Emperor's notice. He was a child, but not merely a child—what did he think? How did he see it?
Xiao Yu seemed taken aback by the question, then shook his head and said, "I am still learning. I have nothing to say about court affairs."
Indeed, the Emperor appeared to have no opinions. He showed no joy when the Empress spoke, nor did he display fear or anger when the court officials responded to her with silence.
He sat quietly on the Dragon Throne, listening to the court discussions—only listening, without forming judgments.
This response brought a slight smile to Deng Yi's face. He nodded and said, "Your Majesty is wise." Then he added, "Your Majesty, study well."
Xiao Yu nodded, lingered no longer, and left, holding Chu Zhao's hand.
The officials dispersed like a receding tide.
"Who would have thought Empress Chu wouldn't force the Emperor to join her in causing a scene?"
"She's not foolish. If she dared to force the Emperor to side with her, the Grand Tutor could use the imperial seal to confine her to the inner palace, never to emerge again!""The Emperor isn't foolish either. What does it have to do with him? Just because the Empress speaks and no one listens doesn't mean the same would happen if he spoke. He just needs to wait four years to assume personal rule."
The officials chatted and laughed among themselves as they went about their duties. The confrontation between the Empress and the court ministers didn't affect state affairs, nor did it impact them.
It didn't affect Xiao Yu either. After court, he went to attend lessons as usual.
Actually, it didn't affect Chu Zhao either. After court, she continued sitting in the study reading memorials. Although the court ministers refused to speak with her during court sessions, maintaining silent opposition, memorials kept coming in.
Whether the Emperor read them or the Empress read them, they pretended not to know.
After all, neither the Emperor nor the Empress made decisions regarding the memorials or their responses.
When Xie Yanfang entered, he saw Chu Zhao eating pastries while reading.
"Don't dip them in the wrong osmanthus sauce," he said, reaching to move the inkstone aside on the desk.
Chu Zhao smiled. "I won't." Then she pointed to the opposite seat. "Please sit, Minister Xie."
Xie Yanfang expressed gratitude but remained standing.
"Your Majesty," he asked with a smile, "is it difficult being Empress?"
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