Chu Zhao stopped writing and took Xiao Yu to the Empress's treasury to select a gift.
Although Chu Zhao had often been away since becoming Empress, the congratulatory gifts reserved for the Empress had never been lacking. During festivals, holidays, and her birthdays, civil and military officials, regional prefectures, and prominent families would all send presents.
Of course, compared to the Emperor's treasury, this one was somewhat emptier—after all, Chu Zhao had only been Empress for a few years.
"Sister Chu," Xiao Yu remarked with the same thought, "why don't you come to my place and pick something? I have plenty."
Everything left by his parents, the late Emperor and Empress, and others belonged to him.
Chu Zhao smiled. "We don't need that many. I'll choose one gift, and when the time comes, A Yu can bestow a piece of your calligraphy. That will be a family heirloom."
Xiao Yu nodded with a laugh, then sighed in relief. "Luckily, I haven't been slacking off lately. My tutor says my handwriting keeps improving."
"That's good to hear." Chu Zhao also breathed a sigh of relief. "Although no one really minds how Your Majesty's handwriting looks, it still reflects well on me when you write beautifully."
Xiao Yu chuckled. "I must bring honor to my sister."
He vaguely remembered how, as a child, his mother had been happiest when his grandfather praised him. Making his mother happy had been his greatest joy.
How wonderful that, even with his mother gone, he still had someone to please and someone who could be pleased by him.
In contrast to Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu's cheerful banter, A Le seemed distracted and showed little interest in selecting gifts.
"Sister Chu," Xiao Yu whispered to Chu Zhao, "A Le doesn't really care about Miss A-Tang."
The absent-minded A Le overheard immediately and snorted, "That's not true! Your Majesty, don't talk nonsense!"
Xiao Yu stuck out his tongue at her and hid behind Chu Zhao.
Chu Zhao laughed. "A Le just has too much on her mind to prepare." Then she turned to Xiao Yu. "And what about you? Have you finished today's lessons?"
Xiao Yu grinned. "Not yet—"
Chu Zhao tapped his forehead. "Then hurry up and go do them."
Xiao Yu covered his forehead, still laughing, and ran off.
Chu Zhao called out to A Le, "Come on, let's not pick gifts today. Our A Le needs to rest first."
"Miss," A Le protested with a pout, "I'm not tired."
At that, she sighed and tugged at Chu Zhao's sleeve.
"Miss, I'm worried about you. Miss A-Tang is already married—what about your future?"
Chu Zhao stopped in her tracks.
Xiao Yu, who had just reached the doorway, also halted.
Seeing him stop, the attending eunuchs, who had been waiting respectfully, froze as well, holding their breaths in silence.
A woman's laughter came from the treasury. "What are you thinking? Why are you talking about me getting married?"
A Le shook her sleeve firmly. "Miss, I'm serious. Miss A-Tang has found someone she loves and married. What about you? Will you be Empress for the rest of your life?"
Chu Zhao smiled. "Life is long." She pulled her sleeve back. "Who knows? Maybe—"
A Le looked puzzled. "Maybe what? Maybe what? Miss, tell me!"
Chu Zhao only laughed without answering, clasping her hands behind her back and sauntering out.
Maybe she would get married too.
As she stepped out of the hall, she saw Xiao Yu standing to the side, grinning at her and pointing upward. "Sister, it's time for lunch. How about we eat first before I do my lessons?""Not a chance." Chu Zhao feigned a stern expression. "I'll check your studies later. If you haven't finished, no dinner for you."
Xiao Yu immediately scampered away: "Better go do my homework, or I'll go hungry—"
As he pattered off, a group of eunuchs hurried after him in a small entourage.
Chu Zhao smiled, then noticing A Le who had followed her out still looking determined to ask questions, she hitched up her skirts and dashed away too.
A Le felt both exasperated and amused, chasing after her as well.
The springtime Imperial Palace seemed to dance with the light flutter of butterflies.
Xiao Yu entered his bedchamber, where four or five eunuchs immediately swarmed around him. One offered tea, another held a towel, one fanned him, while yet another presented incense, all attending to him closely yet without obstructing his path.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen has sent new pastries," one eunuch said, presenting the treats. "This servant had them carved into little animals."
Xiao Yu glanced at the plate, casually picking up a soft, white rabbit-shaped pastry with red eyes and popping it into his mouth.
"Not bad, well done," he said. "Little Xuzi has been thoughtful."
The eunuch called Little Xuzi beamed with pleasure: "This servant is happy as long as Your Majesty is happy. Whatever pleases Your Majesty pleases this servant."
Xiao Yu said: "I like it."
Though his words expressed liking, his eyes showed no joy whatsoever. He sat in his chair, watching the eunuchs efficiently arrange his writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone without any disorder.
In this Imperial City—no, in this entire world—everyone sought to please him, and with just a casual word he could please all under heaven.
But they weren't pleasing him—they were pleasing the Emperor.
Only Sister Chu was different. In Sister Chu's eyes, he wasn't the Emperor—he was A Yu.
If Sister Chu were gone, there would be no A Yu left in this world.
Sister Chu would never leave. Sister Chu wouldn't marry anyone. Sister Chu would always be with him.
She had to be with him.
...
...
After returning, Chu Zhao didn't have to do homework, but she didn't get to eat lunch on time either.
Ding Dachui and Yin Canshi brought the latest news about Yu Shang.
"To think we could still find traces," Chu Zhao expressed some surprise.
Since Zhong Changrong nearly lost his life and Liang Qiang secretly informed, the Garrison Guard had been conducting covert investigations, but they were always one step behind. Investigations in Yunzhong County revealed no issues, while in the capital, since Yu Shang had long been absent, his family sold their shop to search for him, then vanished completely—even their neighbors moved away, replaced by new residents.
Chu Zhao wasn't particularly surprised by this outcome.
Whoever could orchestrate such deeds, upon realizing Yu Shang's disappearance and Zhong Changrong's near-fatal incident, would inevitably erase all traces promptly.
Actually, her initial lack of surprise stemmed from her experiences in that previous life, knowing the Liang family had harmed Uncle Zhong, with Xiao Xun naturally pulling the strings behind the scenes.
But in this life, even Liang Qiang had turned against Xiao Xun to attack him. If Xiao Xun were truly behind it, with his own life hanging by a thread, how could he allow Liang Qiang to remain alive?
"Yu Shang ran small businesses and didn't interact much with major merchants in the capital, but he was amiable, which left an impression on the laborers at the docks," Ding Dachui said. "Our investigation team picked up a faint clue about Yu Shang from an offhand remark by one of the laborers."
"When Yu Shang left the capital two years ago, he carried a bottle of wine, claiming it was Immortal Brew gifted by an immortal," Yin Canshi continued. "We suspect this might have been a farewell drink, possibly given by his master."
"So we investigated all the capital's restaurants, teahouses, and even whether any noble families held banquets during those days," Ding Dachui said."This is no easy task. It's like searching for a needle in a haystack," Chu Zhao said, watching them.
"We've found the needle," Yin Canshi said, producing two thick ledgers bearing the words "Lotus Pond Pavilion." "During those days, Yu Shang visited several taverns, one of which Liang Qiang also frequented."
The capital was vast, but renowned taverns were few. Encounters between people were inevitable, yet such meetings were never mere coincidences.
Chu Zhao examined the ledgers without speaking—they were Lotus Pond Pavilion's draft reservation records and account books.
"Liang Qiang had just been appointed Brigadier General then, and several young nobles were hosting banquets in his honor," Ding Dachui said. "We've investigated those families but found no issues for now."
"Yu Shang's name doesn't appear in the ledgers. It was the flower-selling A Po who remembered him because Yu Shang accidentally bumped into her. To apologize, he bought a bouquet from her and paid double. A Po never forgets kind people," Yin Canshi murmured, simultaneously thinking that one couldn't afford to be good if working for others—
"He wasn't trying to be good," Ding Dachui interjected. "He was merely crafting the image of a kind, honest, ordinary person—a facade to conceal his true identity. It just goes to show that actions always leave traces."
Yin Canshi acknowledged this and added, "We only know Yu Shang and Liang Qiang were both at Lotus Pond Pavilion at that moment, but we've found no evidence of contact between them." Pointing at the ledgers, he continued, "We're meticulously tracing all guests from that night, but given how much time has passed, omissions are likely."
Chu Zhao smiled faintly. "Omissions are inevitable. Some establishments have discreet patrons who leave no records."
Yin Canshi nodded—this was precisely his concern. Moreover, they couldn't simply arrest all Lotus Pond Pavilion's staff for interrogation. These account books had been secretly obtained, and they feared alerting their targets.
"Then let's continue stirring the grass we've already disturbed," Chu Zhao said. "Summon Liang Qiang."
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