In the sixth month of the first year of Jianning, Chu Zhao was hunting and escaping the summer heat outside the capital. The nights in the mountains were cooler than in the Imperial City, yet Chu Zhao did not have pleasant dreams.
She had been awake all night.
Perhaps it was better not to dream—sometimes dreams blurred the line between reality and illusion for her.
In the life she had lived before, there had been no era named Jianning.
In this second chance at life, she had chosen era names entirely different from the previous lifetime, leveraging her advantageous position as Empress.
Things were already different.
Chu Zhao reached up to massage her temples. Xiao Man extinguished the lamp; dawn was breaking, and the dim candlelight had become useless in the pale morning light.
"Would you like to rest for a while?" Xiao Man asked. "Or eat first?" She added a few more words, "The capital was closely monitored throughout the night. Nothing major happened."
There had been constant updates all night, but all were good news.
Government troops had surrounded the Xie and Liang residences. Although members of the Xie and Liang families had uttered insults, wept, and clamored, there had been no large-scale unrest.
Noble families and officials in the city had sent people to inquire, but upon seeing it was the Capital Garrison and acting on the Empress’s orders, they all withdrew.
The Garrison Guard had detected private murmurs questioning whether the Empress was acting out of greed, but most advised waiting and observing, expecting the Empress to offer an explanation.
This demonstrated the Empress’s growing authority.
Troops outside the capital remained calm, and there were no unusual movements in the surrounding areas.
With the tension of the night slightly eased, perhaps it was time to rest.
Chu Zhao shook her head. "No rest. Xiao Yu will be here soon to eat."
Mentioning Xiao Yu, Xiao Man remarked, "He secretly went to see Xie Yanfang last night. I wonder if he’s unsettled and whether he’ll have the energy for hunting today."
Chu Zhao had known about this at the time and had not stopped Xiao Yu. It was no surprise—even if Xiao Yu felt no deep familial bond toward Xie Yanfang, he would naturally be curious and would want to see him.
"He won’t be affected," Chu Zhao said with a smile. "In fact, he’ll be even more spirited today."
Even if he hadn’t slept all night, Xiao Yu would put on a show of vigor for her to see.
The boy was almost too clever.
Chu Zhao lowered her hand from her forehead and picked up a teacup. "Go tell Ding Dachui to have several senior members of the Xie family in the capital and Liang Qiang imprisoned today. With the Emperor, me, and Xie Yanfang all at the hunting grounds, they won’t dare act rashly and will wait for our return. Use this time to interrogate them overnight. Confirm their crimes by tomorrow and announce them to the world."
Xiao Man acknowledged the order and said, "Ding Dachui should be arriving soon—"
Before she could finish, footsteps sounded outside the tent, and someone lifted the flap to enter.
"Ding Dachui, why are you so late—" Xiao Man began sternly, but she broke off mid-sentence. Her posture shifted abruptly as she twisted to shield Chu Zhao, a cold glint flashing as she drew a pair of short blades from her sleeves.
Chu Zhao stood behind Xiao Man. Over the past two years, both of them had grown taller, though Xiao Man had outgrown her.
Standing behind Xiao Man, Chu Zhao was completely concealed. Holding her teacup, she tilted her head slightly to peer past her.
The morning mountain breeze rustled, lifting robes and casting shifting light onto the face of Xie Yanfang as he stepped inside.
……
……
Ding Dachui stood among the mountain trees, glancing back with a persistent rustling sound in his ears.
"Commander Ding."
A voice called from ahead.
Ding Dachui turned to see Xiao Yu standing before him, a bow in hand. The morning light danced through the forest, illuminating his face.
"Any discoveries?" Xiao Yu asked.Before dawn today, the Emperor summoned Ding Dachui, which was quite unusual. Although the Garrison Guard was nominally under the direct command of the Son of Heaven, in reality, they were managed by the Empress, and the Little Emperor never interfered with their affairs.
However, no one could refuse a summons from His Majesty, especially at this moment—last night, the Little Emperor had even met with Xie Yanfang.
Ding Dachui arrived with mixed thoughts, only to find that the Little Emperor simply invited him to go hunting.
"I spotted a wild boar yesterday," he said. "While it's still dark, help me take it down and give Sister a surprise."
To the former Ding Dachui, the Emperor had been an awe-inspiring figure, lofty and godlike. But now, he saw the Emperor almost every day. Though he still respected him, much of the fear had faded.
Hearing this, Ding Dachui did not bow in obedience but firmly refused: "Your Majesty has guards responsible for hunting. Let them handle it."
Xiao Yu wasn’t angered by the refusal, instead looking somewhat embarrassed. "I know Minister Ding is very busy, but I heard from the guards that you once captured a wild boar single-handedly, which is why I sought your help."
Ding Dachui felt a bit embarrassed; he had indeed mentioned it before, as casual banter with the guards was part of daily life.
"Because of recent unexpected events, Sister is worried about me," Xiao Yu said softly. "I don’t want her to worry. If I hunt a wild boar, Sister will surely be surprised and see that I’m unaffected."
The young boy was animated and spirited, raising his arm enthusiastically.
"Then Sister won’t worry about me anymore."
Ding Dachui hesitated.
"Minister Ding doesn’t need to personally shoot the boar," Xiao Yu quickly added. "Just come up the mountain and advise us on how to corner it. We’ll do the waiting ourselves, and you can leave to attend to your duties afterward."
That was more manageable—just a quick look. Since the Emperor had said so, as a subject, he couldn’t be too obstinate. Ding Dachui agreed.
But now—
They hadn’t found any trace of the wild boar, and he couldn’t shake a feeling that something was off.
He had previously inspected almost every part of the hunting grounds, including the mountains and forests, yet the terrain now felt strangely unfamiliar.
But when he checked the hidden and visible sentries and their signals, everything matched up.
"Minister Ding," Xiao Yu called again.
Ding Dachui shook his head. "Nothing yet."
Xiao Yu said, "Then let’s keep looking." He was about to step forward when he noticed Ding Dachui standing still. "Minister Ding?"
The rustling in Ding Dachui’s ears grew increasingly dense, as if countless snakes and insects were crawling over the ground—or perhaps, countless people moving stealthily.
A hunter’s intuition made his hair stand on end. If he felt something was wrong, then something was definitely wrong—
"Your Majesty," he shouted, "I take my leave."
With those words, he turned and sprinted away, simultaneously drawing his waist sword, its cold gleam flashing through the forest.
Xiao Yu watched his retreating figure in silence.
"Your Majesty," a guard beside him whispered, "don’t mind him. The timing is sufficient."
Xiao Yu asked, "Will Third Uncle persuade Sister Chu, right?"
The guard replied, "Of course, Your Majesty, rest assured."
Perhaps he should have gone to persuade Sister himself instead of leaving her alone with Xie Yanfang. Watching Ding Dachui sprint into the distance, Xiao Yu couldn’t help but lift his foot.
But if she knew he had tried to stop her, Sister would surely be angry and wouldn’t like him anymore.
Xiao Yu lowered his gaze and set his foot down.
…
…Upon seeing Xie Yanfang, Chu Zhao was both surprised and not surprised.
Perhaps this was only to be expected.
"I truly cannot keep Minister Xie confined," she said with a light laugh.
"The Empress need not blame herself," Xie Yanfang replied. "You have only been Empress for a few years—naturally, you cannot compare to my decades of strategic planning."
Chu Zhao said, "Let my maid leave."
"What nonsense are you speaking?" Xiao Man cried out.
Xie Yanfang said, "Miss Azhao, such words will wound this young lady's heart. How could she abandon you and leave?" His gaze fell upon Xiao Man, studying her carefully for the first time. "So she is your mother's person. I had always thought she was your father's."
A flicker of surprise passed through Chu Zhao's eyes, then vanished.
"Did A Yu tell you?" she said, a self-mocking smile appearing at the corner of her lips. "I still haven't learned my lesson. Third Young Master, you were right—in such circumstances, even fathers and sons, husbands and wives, must be guarded against."
Xiao Yu was saved by her, but this child she had rescued was also the Emperor.
"He is just a child. Do not demand too much of him, nor blame him," Xie Yanfang said. "No child's secrets can be kept from adults."
As he spoke, a trace of melancholy flashed in his eyes, then clarity.
"Many things felt somewhat off before, though they could still be explained. Only now do I fully understand."
"For example, why Xiao Xun could be captured by Chu Lan and his family."
"For example, why Zhong Changrong could still attack the Western Liang royal court after Stone Slope City fell and the King of Xiliang was captured."
"For example, why the losses among the hundred thousand troops Prince Zhongshan seized in the Border Commandery were so severe—utterly unlike the elite forces Prince Zhongshan had meticulously trained."
"For example, why you had to imprison me."
Hearing this, Chu Zhao could not help but say, "My imprisoning you has nothing to do with this matter."
Xie Yanfang looked at her: "It does. If your mother were not still here, it would not be Miss Azhao imprisoning me."
What? Chu Zhao frowned: "If not me, then who?"
"The Empress," Xie Yanfang said. "The Empress may imprison me. The Empress may do as she pleases. But Chu Zhao may not!"
He took a step forward, looking at Chu Zhao and shaking his head.
"Chu Zhao does not wish to be Empress? Unacceptable."
As he spoke, the faint smile at his lips froze like winter ice.
"Therefore, on behalf of His Majesty, I have conveyed a new decree."
"Suppress the bandits."
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