Lady Jiang also guessed something and grabbed Chu Tang’s hand crying: “Will she silence us?”
Chu Tang had actually thought of this too, but shook her head: “No.”
Silencing them at this time would do Chu Zhao no good at all. If she really wanted to silence them, those guarding the door that night could have cleaned them all up together, which would have added even greater merit to Chu Zhao—the entire family sacrificed to protect the young emperor.
Silencing them now would only invite speculation.
Chu Zhao wasn’t that stupid.
Chu Zhao also wasn’t that heartless.
The girl before her looked at her and nodded: “Good. I’m at ease with you handling things.”
Chu Tang said: “I dare not say I did very well. After all, Ah Zhao, the things you do are all major matters.” She placed her hand on her heart. “I’ll do my utmost, only asking not to cause you trouble.”
Chu Zhao glanced around: “A’Le, take them outside first.”
A’Le responded affirmatively, raised her hand to signal, and the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall immediately withdrew.
“That night, Uncle intended to kill the young emperor,” Chu Zhao said to Chu Tang.
Chu Tang’s face instantly turned white. She stood up from her chair. Her guess had been confirmed. What Chu Zhao said next, she seemed to hear clearly yet also seemed not to hear clearly, her ears buzzing—
Finished, finished. Even if Chu Zhao had become empress, the emperor wouldn’t let them go.
“However, you don’t need to be too afraid,” Chu Zhao’s voice came again. “Uncle is Uncle, you are you—not the same.”
Not the same? Parents and children are one body; children pay for their fathers’ debts. Chu Tang looked at her with confused eyes.
“Uncle was deceived by the heir of Prince Zhongshan and wanted to work for Prince Zhongshan,” Chu Zhao said. “Then you won’t be deceived by Prince Zhongshan and will only work for His Majesty—that’s all.”
She smiled slightly.
“Just like my father and me. You see, the late emperor and His Majesty still harbor no grievances toward us.”
That’s right. Chu Tang’s soul returned to her body as she sat back down heavily: “Ah Zhao, naturally I’m the same as you and Uncle.”
Chu Zhao nodded and pushed the tea before her toward her: “Try it—tea from the palace.”
Chu Tang wasn’t polite either. She picked it up and drained it in one gulp: “Indeed better than at home.”
Chu Zhao laughed despite herself: “Sister Ah Tang, your courage is far greater than I imagined.”
She had just heard what her father had done, yet could immediately drink tea with peace of mind.
“That’s because you’re here, younger sister Ah Zhao,” Chu Tang said sincerely.
Chu Zhao looked at her: “What if I weren’t here?”
If she weren’t here? What did that mean? Chu Tang was stunned.