Qiao Chu

Isn't the Empress terrifying?

Ding Dachui stood nearby thinking this, but he was no longer the bandit who only knew how to hunt. Saying the Empress was terrifying now wouldn't be appropriate.

But someone could say it.

A Le happened to be bringing tea over and heard this. Puzzled and displeased, she said, "Why would you underestimate yourself? The Empress is extremely terrifying! If anyone doesn't believe it, let them ask Prince Zhongshan and his son, or ask the troops of the King of Xiliang!"

Chu Zhao laughed heartily, withdrawing her gaze from the window. "A Le is right." She picked up a letter from the desk. "You've come at the right time. Take this letter to A Jiu."

Another letter for A Jiu? The last one hasn't even been answered yet. A Le pouted. "It seems what I said wasn't right. You're waiting for A Jiu to say it instead."

Though she said this, she immediately took the letter and went out. Matters concerning A Jiu were confidential, so she pulled Xiao Man, who was standing at the door, aside and whispered instructions to her.

"Empress." Seeing Chu Zhao's mood had slightly eased, Ding Dachui spoke up. "Minister Zhu's suggestion is... perhaps we should wait a bit longer?"

When Zhu Yong returned after delivering the message, he had his trusted subordinate explain privately to Ding Dachui. The explanation was simple and straightforward: Wei Shi did kill people, but the purpose was to incite the people to fight the rebels together, leading to Handan County being breached from within. Its impact extended beyond Handan County, as surrounding counties also rebelled as a result. The Empress's army thus advanced triumphantly, crushing Xiao Xun's rebel forces with minimal cost and maximum speed.

Now that the situation had just stabilized, if the Empress were to hold Wei Shi accountable, it might cause unrest among the noble families.

After hearing this, Ding Dachui felt a chill run through his mind. As the commander of the Garrison Guard these days, he thought he had witnessed all kinds of shady and despicable acts among officials, feeling that any official picked at random wouldn't be wronged if executed publicly.

But this matter—

He knew it was wrong, but he didn't know whether he should say it was wrong. He had no idea what to do.

Whatever he did, it didn't seem quite right.

Even Zhu Yong had subtly suggested waiting, indicating this was a difficult situation.

Being the Empress isn't easy, Ding Dachui sighed inwardly.

But Chu Zhao showed no hesitation, shaking her head directly. "No need to wait. If the case can't be clarified, we can wait. But since the victims have already come forward with accusations, what are we waiting for?"

Ding Dachui looked at her. "But Minister Zhu said—"

"Don't worry about what Minister Zhu says." Chu Zhao interrupted him. "Didn't Wei Shi say they should ask for my opinion first? Of course, I know Minister Zhu is considering my interests, but he's thinking from the perspective of an official, while I must think from the position of the Empress."

Ding Dachui acknowledged and waited for Chu Zhao to continue.

"What Wei Shi did seems right. From the perspective of the court's overall situation, it also seems right." Chu Zhao said. "But in reality, this is just sophistry."

She looked at Ding Dachui.

"He's coming to ask me now, but why didn't he consult me before acting?"

She smiled at this point.

"I know, perhaps he would say he didn't ask me then to avoid implicating me in wrongdoing, so he took the evil upon himself."

"But by coming to ask me now, isn't this coercion?"

Ding Dachui nodded, suddenly enlightened. "Exactly."

"Claiming it's all for my sake, for the Great Xia." Chu Zhao smiled mockingly. "But in truth, it's for themselves. Instead, they want me and the Great Xia to be their scapegoats."

Ding Dachui exclaimed loudly, "That's it! That's exactly what the Wei clan is plotting!""So then." Chu Zhao sat upright and called for attendants. "Fetch the imperial seal."

The eunuchs entered, unrolled the scroll, and watched as Chu Zhao took up the brush before imprinting it with the imperial seal.

"Minister Ding, receive the decree," she said.

Ding Dachui bowed and acknowledged the command, waiting as the eunuch placed the edict in his outstretched hands. Upon the unfurled scroll, he saw only a single character:

Investigate.

"I've fought from the chaos in the Imperial City to the turmoil in Western Liang, then against Prince Zhongshan and his son—battling my way through all of it," Chu Zhao declared. "How could I possibly fear mere questioning? What does it matter if their hearts are wounded? Should we allow the common people to suffer heartbreak just to avoid hurting their feelings?"

This Great Xia and its people are not playthings in your hands.

She looked at Ding Dachui.

"Dachui, you will handle this matter personally."

This was why she had spoken at such length to Ding Dachui—so he would understand. Only with that understanding could he stand firm when he arrived there.

Zhu Yong was capable, but as a product of the orthodox bureaucracy, he was less suited for this task than Ding Dachui, who had been a bandit with little education and scant knowledge of sophisticated reasoning—I don't care about your logic or calculations, a life for a life is heaven's law.

Ding Dachui responded clearly: "Your servant obeys the decree." With that, he took the edict and strode away.

...

...

Garrison Guard units galloped through the streets. The people had grown accustomed to giving way, no longer panicking but merely pointing and gossiping about who might be the next to face misfortune.

Xie Yanfang leaned by the window, watching them disappear into the distance.

"Commander Ding is taking charge personally," he remarked.

Cai Bo stood nearby, glancing at the letter on the desk. "Shall we still reply to Lady Wei's message?"

Xie Yanfang rested his hands on the windowsill, leisurely surveying the street below. "No need. Since the Empress demands a thorough investigation, then guilt must be answered with punishment."

Cai Bo chuckled dryly. "Lady Wei will suffer great losses this time. Old Master Wei will have to bury his own child—he'll despise you for it."

Xie Yanfang replied, "How could that be? Old Master Wei is not so short-sighted. Having lived this long, he understands well that actions always carry risks. As long as I remain, the Wei clan will have chances to recover."

"Say what you will, as long as you're content," Cai Bo said, then shook his head. "No, I should say—as long as the Empress is content."

Lately he'd taken to teasing his lord, though he wasn't sure why.

Xie Yanfang's laughter rang out.

The sound was like clear spring water tumbling over stones, causing passersby below to look up, fortunate to catch this fleeting glimpse.

Cai Bo reflected that it was probably because of his lord's laughter. Though he had watched the young master grow up and known him to be naturally unrestrained and cheerful, such crystalline, hearty laughter was rare.

"Exactly." Xie Yanfang turned from the window, eyes brimming with amusement. "The Empress's joy is my joy."

Cai Bo pursed his lips. "What will you do when she becomes displeased because of you?"

Xie Yanfang smiled. "I don't know. When that time comes, I'll figure it out then."

...

...

The early summer grassland stretched into the distance like a spread green carpet.

Though lying upon it wasn't truly soft, one could sink into the grass and become part of the meadow.

Several bird calls went unanswered until a human voice called out.

"A Jiu—you've got mail—"

Hearing this, Xie Yanlai sprang up from the grass.

The man standing nearby watched the approaching youth with exasperation. "Didn't you hear the signal earlier?"

Xie Yanlai responded lazily, "I'm not on duty today. Bird songs mean nothing to me.""What nonsense," the man glared, but Xie Yanlai was already reaching out to him. "The letter."

The man snorted. "At your place. The boss is waiting for you."

Xie Yanlai rushed home and from afar saw Mu Mianhong sitting in the "courtyard," scattering grains to amuse the chickens and ducks gathered at her feet.

When he charged in, the chickens and ducks flapped their wings noisily and fled back to the opposite courtyard.

"Husband," Xie Yanlai gritted his teeth and whispered, "if you have any instructions, just send someone to call me. I'll come to you. There's no need to always condescend to visit me here."

Mu Mianhong smiled. "How could coming here be condescending? This is A Jiu's home."

It's A Jiu's home, not her daughter's home. Don't always act like a mother-in-law visiting her daughter, Xie Yanlai shouted inwardly, instinctively glancing at the neighbor's house. Every time Mu Mianhong came, Deng Yi would look at him with that strange, half-smiling expression.

Fortunately, Deng Yi was teaching today, and only the clear sound of reading came from next door.

"The letter A Zhao sent me?" Xie Yanlai stopped dwelling on the issue and asked in a low voice.

Mu Mianhong also lowered her voice, sliding a letter over. "Here."

Xie Yanlai reached out to take it and was about to open it when he noticed Mu Mianhong sitting motionless. He paused, considering whether to read it later, but then saw the hopeful look in her eyes as she stared at the letter—

She's really pitiful.

Chu Zhao rarely wrote to Mu Mianhong.

But she had written him almost two letters a month—that was really too much. She should at least give one to Mu Mianhong. Otherwise, he'd feel too embarrassed.

Xie Yanlai grumbled inwardly but ultimately didn't ask her to leave. He opened the letter—if her gaze became too eager, he'd just read some parts aloud.

But at that moment, Mu Mianhong stood up and left with a smile.

She was teasing him. Xie Yanlai was annoyed.

As Mu Mianhong walked away, she seemed to sense the young man's angry yet shy gaze behind her. The smile on her lips grew wider. Though she hadn't received a letter from A Zhao, seeing her write to someone else made her happier than reading a letter herself.

Especially that silly boy behind her—he must be grinning from ear to ear while reading the letter.

Mu Mianhong resisted turning around, not wanting to embarrass the thin-skinned fool.

But suddenly, footsteps sounded behind her, accompanied by a shout: "I'm going to the capital."

Mu Mianhong froze, turned around, and saw Xie Yanlai rushing over, still clutching the letter. But there was no trace of a smile on his face—only anxiety and gloom.

And just then, Deng Yi emerged from the house, hearing these words and looking over.