On this day, Qi Leyun fell from a ladder.
On this day, the entire city was in an uproar.
The Emperor had issued an edict, proving this upheaval had ended.
Though troops still patrolled the streets, hunting down remaining rebels, and occasionally cries and sounds of fighting would come from the alleys—those were remnants putting up desperate resistance—the common people’s hearts had already settled.
The Third Prince’s rebellion both surprised and didn’t surprise the people. The Crown Prince’s death was surprising, but they could only sigh.
Fortunately, the Imperial Grandson remained and was immediately designated Crown Prince. Though young, he would eventually grow up. The imperial dynasty had an heir.
But what was this about the Crown Princess?
The Chu clan’s daughter Zhao—Chu Zhao had become Crown Princess?
This Chu Zhao was—
Well, everyone was no stranger to who this Chu Zhao was.
Chu Ling’s daughter. Over ten years ago, Chu Ling’s name had filled the capital. Over ten years later, his daughter hit people, cursed at them, provoked the Third Prince, and held literary gatherings, making just as much noise throughout the capital—
But no matter how much they thought about it, no one had imagined she could become Crown Princess. In the future, she would be Empress!
Chu Zhao as Empress?
However, amid the shock, some were not shocked at all.
“Why can’t Chu Zhao? Didn’t you hear what the Emperor said? It was Chu Zhao who rescued and protected the Imperial Grandson, holding a blade, controlling a horse, fighting her way out of the siege.”
“Truly a tiger father has no dog daughter.”
But it was precisely this phrase that sparked another view.
“Rescuing the Imperial Grandson is the duty of subjects. For saving the Imperial Grandson, His Majesty could commend her, could reward her. Why make the Imperial Grandson marry her? Must even the Son of Heaven, when encountering life-saving grace, repay with his own person?”
“So is this because of the grace, or because of the tiger father?”
This meant that with the Crown Prince dead, the Third Prince guilty, the Emperor ill, and the Imperial Grandson weak, the fierce general Chu Ling was taking the opportunity to coerce them.
Don’t forget how illustrious Chu Ling’s reputation had been over ten years ago, how capable he was in battle, and how many strong troops he commanded—
“This is pure nonsense!”
Qi Leyun, leaning on a wooden stick and limping, came to find Chu Tang. Indignant, she pounded her stick on the ground with loud thumps.
“What coercion! Why can’t our Chu Zhao become Empress? Even without mentioning her merit in saving the Imperial Grandson, our Chu Zhao possesses both talent and beauty, has an illustrious reputation—she’s no ordinary person!”
Chu Tang made a sound of acknowledgment. At that time, she had been standing below the wall, with Qi Leyun perched on a ladder against the wall. The servants had frantically relayed the content of the edict. After hearing it, Qi Leyun had fallen from the ladder while she had been shocked senseless.
With her injured foot, Qi Leyun seemed even more energetic, while she still hadn’t recovered.
Qi Leyun noticed her dazed state and called out a few times to alert her, leaning in to ask: “Did Chu Zhao really hold a blade and control a horse to rescue the Young Highness? Did you see it with your own eyes?”
Chu Tang turned to look at her: “I saw it. It happened right outside our Chu family gate. It was truly carnage everywhere, blood flowing across the ground.”
Qi Leyun rubbed her arms, her whole body tingling.
“You couldn’t tell at all,” she murmured. “No wonder you didn’t want me to stay at your house.”
Chu Tang said, “Yes, you don’t know what we went through that night. Your house just had its building burned. Here at my house, it was simply a scene from hell.”
Qi Leyun gripped her wooden stick and struck the ground hard: “Too amazing! Who could have imagined Chu Zhao was this capable!”
She then limped toward the exit.
“Chu Tang, prepare a carriage for me.”
Chu Tang frowned: “In your condition, you’re still going out?”
“Of course I’m going out. I’m going to find the others right now. Everyone needs to discuss properly how Chu Zhao should rightfully be Empress.” Qi Leyun said, her expression excited, her eyes sparkling. “Our Chu Zhao is accomplished in both literature and martial arts, virtuous and talented, dignified and gentle, fit to be mother of the nation—”
Chu Tang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Virtuous and talented, dignified and gentle,” she muttered to herself. “How did you see that?”
Then her eyes lit up.
Virtuous and talented, dignified and gentle—it turned out these weren’t things you had first and then waited for people to see.
Rather, as long as you stood where people could see you, whatever you wanted, you would have.
Even if you didn’t have it, you would have it!
Crown Princess.
Empress!
Chu Zhao was going to become Empress!
Chu Tang stood in the hall, clasping her hands together, trembling from her feet to the top of her head.
She, Chu Tang, was going to become an Imperial Aunt!
……
……
Compared to the clamor on the streets and the noise of the women, the deep residence of the Xie family was quiet and silent.