The capital's night was bustling with noise, but the hunting grounds lacked the liveliness of daytime.
Since the Emperor and Empress had not invited officials or their families for this summer retreat, there were no evening banquets. Amid the bright campfire, only Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu sat together for their meal.
The main course tonight was Xiao Yu's game, meticulously prepared by the imperial chefs, yet neither the Emperor nor Empress had their minds on food or drink.
Chu Zhao told Xiao Yu about Xie Yanfang's actions and the decision she had made.
The flickering firelight danced across Xiao Yu's face, his expression shifting between light and shadow.
"I never expected Third Uncle to do such a thing," he said, then shook his head. "But nothing Third Uncle does surprises me. I've known since childhood how clever and formidable he is. Mother said he could accomplish anything he set his mind to."
"He holds no disloyal intentions toward Your Majesty and is wholeheartedly devoted to supporting you as Emperor," Chu Zhao said. "But, A Yu, you must become the Emperor yourself. You cannot become someone else's Emperor."
Xiao Yu nodded. "I'll listen to Sister." Then he caught himself—Sister Chu had just told him not to be someone else's emperor, and she too was "someone else." She might be displeased. He quickly corrected himself, "I'll remember. I will be myself."
Chu Zhao chuckled softly and reached out to pat Xiao Yu's shoulder. This child was indeed clever in his own way.
"You will soon assume personal rule. Though you are young, and though the late Emperor and Crown Prince are no longer here to guide you, you have experienced life-and-death hardships. These experiences will guide you, and you will learn how to be an Emperor," Chu Zhao said. "If you don't know how, you can learn. As long as you keep learning and remain undiscouraged by failure, there is nothing you cannot master. A Yu, being Emperor is a lifelong lesson, so do not fear or rush."
Xiao Yu smiled and nodded. "Sister, don't worry. I'm not afraid." He hugged Chu Zhao's arm. "With you here, I fear nothing."
Chu Zhao withdrew her arm and made him sit up straight. "Even without me, you should not be afraid. Remember—no matter who leaves, you can still be Emperor."
Xiao Yu murmured an acknowledgment and sat properly as instructed. Noticing the plate before him, he cheerfully cut a piece of meat. "Sister, try this quickly. It's venison I hunted myself."
He carefully placed the meat on Chu Zhao's plate, then looked up at her and realized he had changed the subject too abruptly.
"Sister," he asked sheepishly, "it won't taste good if it gets cold."
Such a significant matter, and all he cared about was the meat getting cold? Chu Zhao felt both exasperated and amused. "I'm not just imprisoning Xie Yanfang—I'm also charging the Xie family with crimes."
Once convicted, they could legitimately prune the mighty tree that was the Xie family.
This was Xiao Yu's maternal family.
Seeing that she had seen through him, Xiao Yu made no attempt to hide it and smiled. "I know Third Uncle's feelings toward me. As long as I am here, I am the Emperor, and the Xie family are my relatives and subjects. Imprisoning him now is for my good, and Third Uncle surely agrees, which is why he willingly restrained himself. Moreover, Third Uncle did commit wrongs, and it is right that he be punished—especially since the punishment is only imprisonment. Charging the Xie family is merely holding them accountable, not confiscating their property or exterminating the clan. So, I have nothing to worry about."
Chu Zhao fell silent at his words. He was correct, yet some things were not merely about being correct. He truly saw the Xie family only as Imperial Relatives, not as kin.
Was this the result of Xie Yanfang's teachings?Or perhaps children born into the imperial family are innately conditioned to restrain their emotions.
"You're so calm, I don't know whether to be happy or not about it," she said helplessly.
Xiao Yu smiled. "Then, Sister, try the venison I hunted. If you find it delicious, you can be happy."
Chu Zhao laughed heartily and took a bite of the venison as suggested.
"Is it good?" Xiao Yu asked with concern.
Chu Zhao didn't answer, took another bite, then looked at Xiao Yu and said, "Cut more meat for me. How can one piece be enough?"
A smile bloomed on Xiao Yu's face.
……
……
After the meal, Chu Zhao urged Xiao Yu to rest early, since hunting was exhausting. As for Chu Zhao herself, she was destined for a sleepless night, with messages from the capital and all directions continuously arriving.
After washing up, Xiao Yu didn't sleep either. He sat on the bed, listening to two attendants discuss what game to hunt the next day.
"This servant has scouted the mountains here. Tomorrow we should go west—there are plenty of pheasants."
"Better to go east. I heard we need to prepare for wild boar."
Xiao Yu suddenly stood up. The two attendants hurriedly stopped talking and asked, "What does Your Majesty need?"
Xiao Yu looked outside the tent and said, "I'm going for a walk."
He decided to visit his third uncle. Although he had little interest in doing so, if he didn't go, Sister Chu would think him cold-hearted.
"Go ask if there's any roasted meat left," he ordered.
An attendant replied, "Your Majesty and Her Majesty rewarded the leftovers to others. They've probably all been snatched up."
The game Your Majesty hunted wasn't abundant. While the emperor and empress couldn't eat much, rewarding it to others made it insufficient to go around.
Xiao Yu glanced at him. "Who said it has to be from the one I hunted? Today, since I've come hunting, all the game belongs to me."
The attendant suddenly understood—Your Majesty meant to simply cut any piece of meat.
"This servant is foolish," he said, slapping his own face before scurrying off.
Xiao Yu knew they were dull-witted—ten of them couldn't match one Qi Gonggong. As a child, he had liked the barrier smart people built around him, where he could hide within. Now that he had grown up, having clever people around annoyed him—
Even when smart people stayed silent, their eyes felt noisy.
……
……
When Du Qi heard Xiao Yu was coming, he stood up from where he sat cross-legged on the ground, a smile appearing on his face.
"Your Majesty indeed remembers the young master and isn't bewitched by that woman," he said.
Xie Yanfang, reclining with his eyes closed, was amused by this. "I didn't teach His Majesty to be like that," he said.
As they spoke, Xiao Yu entered, carrying a food box.
"Third Uncle, this is from today's hunt, roasted. Have a taste," he said cheerfully.
He made no mention of what had happened, nor did he seem to notice the dense formation of guards he passed on his way in.
Xie Yanfang sat up with a smile and nodded. "Thank you, Your Majesty. This is wonderful." He then asked, "What did Your Majesty hunt today?"
Xiao Yu said, "They released various game, and I hunted every kind."
Xie Yanfang smiled and opened the food box, looking at the assortment of sliced meats.
"It's just a bit cold," Xiao Yu said. "Heat it if you want to eat it, or throw it away if you don't."
Xie Yanfang didn't mind his attitude—the child had long ceased to hide his perfunctory manner in front of him.
Xiao Yu sat down casually, looking around without speaking.
"What is Your Majesty looking at?" Xie Yanfang asked.
Xiao Yu said, "Nothing. I'm counting the time. When it's about right, I'll leave."
Du Qi, standing nearby, was stunned. What did that mean?Xie Yanfang had already smiled and said, "Don't worry about the timing. It's enough that you came. Actually, it wouldn't matter if you didn't. Your Sister Chu wouldn't mind these things."
Xiao Yu was naturally not surprised that Xie Yanfang saw through him. He neither admitted nor denied it, leaning back against the chair with a sigh. "Third Uncle, with you gone, I only have my sister by my side now." Though he sighed, his eyes were full of laughter. "Sister will never leave me again. She'll work hard for me and stay with me."
Xie Yanfang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you're too kind. Even if nothing had happened to me, the Empress would never leave you."
After saying this, he didn't hear Xiao Yu's response. He couldn't help but look up and saw a trace of gloom in the young boy's eyes as he sat in the chair.
Would Sister really never leave? Over the past year or so, Sister had often said strange things—things like "when Sister is no longer here" or "in the future, you'll have to manage on your own." She no longer liked holding his hand, and she no longer came to see him before bedtime.
He wasn't a child anymore. He could sense the meaning behind her words and her growing distance from him.
But now it was fine. Sister had even detained Third Uncle. He had only Sister by his side now, and she would surely stay with him.
"People don't leave their homes," Xie Yanfang said. "The Empress and you, A Yu, have no parents or relatives left. You are each other's family. So, wherever A Yu is, that is the Empress's home."
These words did not soothe the gloom in the young boy's eyes; instead, they added to his unease.
Parents and family?
"A Yu," Xie Yanfang's voice rose, "what are you worried about?"
Xiao Yu snapped out of his thoughts and looked at him, the gloom in his eyes replaced by a hint of restlessness. "I'm not worried, and you shouldn't worry either. Once Sister cools down, she'll release you. I'm leaving."
With that, he stood up and walked out.
"Does the Empress still have a home? Besides Chu Lan, does she have other family?"
Xie Yanfang's voice came from behind.
Xiao Yu paused in his steps.
Xie Yanfang's voice continued.
"Then Sister Chu really is going to leave you."
Xiao Yu spun around abruptly. "She won't!"
As he turned, he saw the cold smile in Xie Yanfang's eyes as he held a piece of cold roasted meat.
Xiao Yu clenched his fists at his sides and said, "Sister Chu has already married me. We are family now. She won't leave me."
Xie Yanfang put the piece of meat, whatever it was, into his mouth and chewed slowly. "Sister Chu didn't marry you. It's because your parents died, and she's supporting you. If her family were still here, she would leave you sooner or later. Xiao Yu, if your parents were alive, wouldn't you want to return to them?"
He would... Xiao Yu's eyes grew somewhat dazed. His mother, needless to say, had a warm embrace. And his father, though he rarely spent time with him and often ignored him, he still longed for his father.
So, it must be the same for Sister Chu.
Xie Yanfang stood up and walked over, crouching in front of him. He took Xiao Yu's hands and looked into his eyes. "Tell me. I can still help you keep her here. Otherwise, she will truly go home."
Xiao Yu looked at him, his lips trembling slightly, and said, "Her mother... is still alive."
OpenNovel