Chu Zhao stood before the great hall. Even after Deng Yi’s figure disappeared, she remained standing motionless.
From inside the hall came the sound of Xiao Yu reading. Outside the hall, the attending eunuchs and imperial guards were silent.
Xiao Man stood not far away, not urging her either.
The entire imperial city was quiet and peaceful. That night’s earth-shattering slaughter left no trace. The imperial city was like this—the dead were immediately erased, everything belonging to the new master.
According to the timeline, in that other life at this time, the new Empress Liang would already be in the inner palace, perhaps frolicking there at this very moment.
Chu Zhao’s ears seemed to ring with women’s joyous laughter. Her hand hanging at her side clenched into a fist, her gaze somewhat dark. Suddenly, a figure appeared in her line of sight.
He seemed to walk slowly, but still approached step by step.
The darkness in Chu Zhao’s eyes dispersed, and she smiled radiantly.
“A Jiu,” she called, beckoning.
Xie Yanlai frowned. “Your Highness, this humble general is Xie Yanlai.”
Still calling him by his childhood name—didn’t she know what her status was now? Wasn’t she afraid others would criticize her for lacking propriety?
From the corner of his eye, Xie Yanlai swept a glance around. Eunuchs, imperial guards, palace maids stood solemnly and quietly, not even raising their eyes—
Hmph. Xie Yanlai scoffed inwardly.
“Xie Yanlai,” Chu Zhao obligingly corrected herself, taking a step forward to greet him. “Has my father sent a reply?”
Her eyes sparkled brightly, overflowing with joy. How happy was she? Xie Yanlai knew that even if he said there was no reply, the girl would still be just as happy.
Because there was hope.
The letter had been sent out. Father could see it. Father would surely respond.
Xie Yanlai looked away. “Yes.”
He reached to take out the letter, but Chu Zhao was already beckoning him. “Come inside with me to talk.” She turned and headed into the hall.
Xie Yanlai glanced around. The eunuchs and imperial guards standing outside the hall still seemed to see and hear nothing, while that palace maid actually stared at him, as if she would force him inside if he didn’t obey—
Xie Yanlai glanced at the room beside them. He could faintly hear a tutor lecturing and Xiao Yu’s responses. He lifted his foot and followed.
Next to Xiao Yu’s study, Chu Zhao also had a study. When Xiao Yu was studying, she was studying too.
“Sit here,” Chu Zhao greeted him, pointing to the window area as she went over to sit down first.
Sitting could wait. Xie Yanlai walked over and before she could speak again, handed her the letter. “Just arrived.”
Chu Zhao happily took it, paying no more attention to Xie Yanlai as she opened it to read.
“I—” Xie Yanlai started.
The girl made two sounds of acknowledgment. “Let me read the letter first.”
Xie Yanlai opened his mouth, said nothing more, and didn’t leave either. Mainly because it wasn’t convenient to bring Zhang Gu inside. Zhang Gu had given him a detailed account—what if this girl had many questions after reading the letter? Though they would all be unnecessary questions, and there was also another letter—
He glanced over. Chu Zhao held the letter sitting by the window, reading with devotion and concentration. Forget it, he’d mention it later.
Xie Yanlai withdrew his gaze. If he couldn’t look at people, he could only look at the room. The room was obviously just furnished, with bookshelves full of various items, desk with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, documents and books scattered about. Besides these, there was also a chess board and zither, and even bows and swords hanging—chaotic yet revealing ease—
What for? When tired of reading, writing, playing the zither, and chess, would she then practice archery and swordplay?
Xie Yanlai couldn’t help curling his lip.
“Young Master A Jiu,” A Le personally brought over tea, smiling. “Sit down and have some tea.”
Xie Yanlai said, “No need.” He frowned again. This tea’s smell—
“This is medicinal tea,” A Le said with a smile. “Your old injuries haven’t fully healed, and you fought another battle, so Miss said your body needs slow nurturing and can’t be neglected.”
Xie Yanlai scoffed.
“What are you laughing at?” A Le was displeased. “This is medicinal tea I made. My medicine is the most effective. If you hadn’t taken my medicine pills before, you couldn’t have recovered so quickly. Forget about fighting—you’d probably just now be able to walk.”
When they were on the road before, hadn’t this girl been like a mute? Xie Yanlai raised his brows. “How does that prove it was your medicine’s merit? Couldn’t it be that I’m naturally gifted?”
A Le thrust the tea at him. “Drink it! After you drink it and go back, feel whether that pain in your body is gone. Then you’ll know whether you’re naturally gifted or I, A Le, have miraculous healing hands.”
As they argued here, Chu Zhao over there put down the letter, but was still somewhat distracted. Xie Yanlai saw at a glance and turned. “Zhang Gu couldn’t come in, but he told me everything. What do you want to ask?”
Chu Zhao looked at him, her gaze drifting. She made a sound, as if she’d heard his words, yet also as if she hadn’t.
Xie Yanlai’s gaze fell on the letter in her hand. He pressed his lips together and asked, “About your mother—what happened?”
What could make her so distracted? She must have received an answer about her mother.
Living or dead?
Chu Zhao’s gaze focused, looking at him. She nodded. “My father said my mother truly is gone.”
So, part of her hope had still fallen through after all.
Xie Yanlai said, “Since your father told you before, you shouldn’t believe rumors so readily.”
What good was believing these rumors? It only added to the sadness. Not believing meant no hope, and no hope meant no disappointment.
When he had first arrived at the Xie family, those young masters and servants had tricked him, saying, “Your mother isn’t dead. She took a lot of money and left. Quickly crawl out through the dog hole and go find your mother.”
He had never believed it.