When it was discovered that Deng Yi, the imperial seal, and the tiger tally had all disappeared, Chu Zhao immediately issued Empress decrees to various regions while ordering the Garrison Guard to investigate the courier stations.
As expected, the Crown Prince of Zhongshan had also vanished.
Soon after, they discovered that the Capital Garrison had been mobilized.
Not just the Capital Garrison—many provinces and commanderies were also being controlled, all through secret orders that made tracing extremely difficult.
The imperial seal and tiger tally were simply too important.
The Empress decrees relied entirely on Chu Zhao's personal prestige, so they met with mixed success—half succeeding, half failing.
Meanwhile, Xie Yanlai left the capital heading toward Zhongshan Commandery, meeting with local officials, military commanders, and prominent families along the way to make preparations.
Thus, when Xiao Xun declared rebellion and raised his army, they barely managed to stop him north of the Yellow River.
"Please invite him in at once," Chu Zhao said, rising with Xiao Yu to greet him.
Xie Yanfang entered from outside, his robes dust-stained from travel, yet it did nothing to diminish his dignified bearing.
"Uncle, you've worked hard," Xiao Yu spoke first cheerfully.
Xie Yanfang smiled and bowed: "Greetings to Your Majesty and the Empress."
Chu Zhao bade him rise and first summoned palace maids and eunuchs to take Xie Yanfang for bathing and changing clothes. Xie Yanfang smiled gratefully without declining. After he had washed and changed into fresh robes, the dining table was lavishly spread with delicacies.
"The palace has chefs skilled in Dongyang cuisine," Chu Zhao said, holding Xiao Yu. "A'Yu's tastes are very similar to his mother's."
Chu Zhao never avoided mentioning the late Crown Princess—forgetting was not the way to confront grief and fear; facing it directly was.
Xiao Yu eagerly said: "Uncle, try if it suits your taste?"
Xie Yanfang sat as instructed but didn't immediately pick up his bowl and chopsticks. Instead, he smiled: "This subject begs pardon, but I wish to utter an improper remark."
Chu Zhao laughed: "We pardon you, beloved official."
Xie Yanfang sighed softly, leaning back against the chair-couch: "It's so good to be home."
Chu Zhao laughed heartily, then paused slightly, remembering how Deng Yi had practically lived in the Imperial City's front hall—privately joked about treating the Imperial City as his home, with the Grand Tutor's residence merely being a warehouse for storing gifts.
"I say it feels like home because I've seen my family," Xie Yanfang said quietly.
Chu Zhao collected her thoughts and served a bowl of soup, smiling: "Honorable Uncle, please enjoy."
Xie Yanfang couldn't help laughing, slightly turning his head as he reached out to receive it: "Thank you, thank you."
Xiao Yu imitated Chu Zhao beside him, serving dishes to Xie Yanfang: "Uncle, try this—this is my favorite."
Xie Yanfang also smilingly accepted the small plate: "Good, good."
He ate the dishes and sipped the soup with a silver spoon while Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu each had their meal. Palace maids moved quietly in and out, lighting lamps. The autumn night indoors was refreshing, with figures nestled together.
How wonderful this was.
Xie Yanfang gently wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. Though Deng Yi wasn't dead, by joining Xiao Xun's rebellion, he was as good as dead in Chu Zhao's eyes—no longer existing.
This person should never have existed.
"North of the Yellow River, three commanderies and twenty-eight cities have pledged allegiance to Xiao Xun. Prince Zhongshan's privately trained troops, combined with those deceived by the tiger tally into joining, total two hundred seventy thousand."
Hearing Xie Yanfang's words, Xiao Yu couldn't help glancing at Chu Zhao. The court officials had said much in court discussions, but there was no certainty about Xiao Xun's troop numbers. Now hearing this figure—who would have thought that even after being stripped of a hundred thousand troops last time, Prince Zhongshan could still gather so many forces.Chu Zhao's expression remained calm. In her previous life, Xiao Xun had commanded even more troops than this. Of course, that was because he was the legitimate emperor at the time. However, the rebel forces of the Xie family, who had risen without legitimacy, initially numbered about the same.
She glanced at Xie Yanfang.
So in this life, have the two of them swapped positions?
She couldn't help but smile.
Seeing her smile, Xie Yanfang also smiled. "There's no need to worry. At the beginning, their momentum is always overwhelming and imposing. Coupled with the imperial seal and tiger tally stolen by Deng Yi, many people will be deceived. But as time passes and the imperial forces strike back, they will come to their senses."
Chu Zhao said, "I'm not worried, because Lord Xie is here." As she spoke, she pursed her lips into a smile.
Although Xie Yanfang found her smile peculiar, he was certain her words were sincere.
"However," Chu Zhao added, "I want to personally confront Xiao Xun."
Xiao Yu, holding a spoon, looked surprised. Xie Yanfang paused briefly before immediately saying, "The Empress is courageous."
Chu Zhao shook her head with a smile. "No, it's not just courage. This time, I suppose it's also pride. Xiao Xun and Deng Yi have denounced me as a usurping, wicked Empress, slandering my father and me as treacherous ministers and traitors. I will personally go and execute them, so they understand just how wicked this 'wicked Empress' can be."
Xie Yanfang laughed and clapped his hands. "Well said! The Empress must personally vent this righteous anger."
Xiao Yu also smiled, though his eyes betrayed reluctance and a hint of self-reproach.
He was too weak. Time and again, he had attracted the aggression of Prince Zhongshan, forcing Sister Chu to shield him repeatedly.
Chu Zhao noticed but offered no words of comfort. Instead, she called for Qi Gonggong, "Bring the Proclamation written by His Majesty and show it to the Third Young Master quickly."
Qi Gonggong complied and brought it over.
Xie Yanfang took it with a smile and read it carefully, nodding as he went. His expression gradually grew solemn. After finishing, he set it down and looked at Xiao Yu. "Though His Majesty is young and his phrasing still carries a touch of immaturity, the force in his words is as sharp as a blade."
Chu Zhao laughed. "Right? It's well-written, especially the opening lines: 'Zhongshan Prince has attempted to assassinate Us twice, and twice he has failed. This third time, he shall fail again.' And this line—" She leaned over, pointing at the paper.
"Back then, Our Imperial Grandfather told Us that inheriting the throne would be a dangerous and arduous path for Us. Yet We remained fearless. From that moment, We knew We would face this day. We have long been prepared. We will let Our Imperial Grandfather, Our Father, Our Mother, and the people of Great Xia see that We, as Emperor of Great Xia, are fearless and without shame."
Chu Zhao recited it once more, then added, "A Yu wrote all of this himself."
Watching Chu Zhao's animated and incessant praise, Xiao Yu felt somewhat embarrassed.
Xie Yanfang reached out and patted Xiao Yu's shoulder. "The late Emperor, your father, and your mother would all be proud of you. A Yu, you will be the most challenged yet most majestic Emperor of Great Xia."
"So," Chu Zhao said, looking at Xiao Yu, "I will wield A Yu's sharp blade in battle. This fight is not for A Yu. To be selfish, it is for myself—I must clear my name!"
Xiao Yu broke into a bright smile. "Sister, I am willing to fight alongside you and help you clear your name."
...
...
By the time Xie Yanfang returned home, the night was deep, and Seventh Master Xie was still waiting for him."The Empress is going to lead the expedition herself?" Upon hearing Xie Yanfang's words, Seventh Master Xie frowned with displeasure. "Has she really become addicted to warfare?"
Xie Yanfang replied, "So we must go all out, gathering troops and leveraging connections, to ensure the Empress wins a splendid victory in quelling the rebellion, allowing Miss Azhao to properly vent her frustrations."
Seventh Master Xie snorted. "Once again, we're just paving the way for Miss Azhao, letting her achieve her desires and steal all the spotlight."
Xie Yanfang sat down, gazing at the long-untouched incomplete chess game on the table.
"We're not losing anything either," he said with a smile. "Besides, Deng Yi dying at Miss Azhao's hands is better than him dying by mine. They formed an alliance only to turn on each other and fall apart—this is what it means to set things right."
As he spoke, he studied the chessboard again.
"Incidentally, there's one more move that needs correcting."
"That way, everything will be perfectly resolved."
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