That young lady had spoken eloquently before the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, this is a good idea,” she said, her eyes shining brightly as she stepped forward. “Think about it—if I become Empress, my father becomes the National Uncle. He wouldn’t just be a subject, he would also be the Young Highness’s relative. Your Majesty, if you trust my father to preserve the lives of the Young Highness and myself, then why not simply trust my father to ensure the Young Highness sits firmly on the throne?”
The Emperor at that time seemed about to say something, but the young lady didn’t give him a chance to speak and stepped forward again.
“Your Majesty, even if you don’t believe it, the world will believe it.”
The young lady’s eyes gleamed with light, seeming both excited and indignant.
“If I become Empress, my father will rack his brains and spare no effort to secure my position.”
“Whatever he does, even evil deeds, will not seem strange in the eyes of the world.”
“Your Majesty, don’t you want to see just how far my father can go for the Young Highness and myself?”
On the dragon bed, the Emperor, whose spirits had been listless, suddenly burst into loud laughter upon hearing this.
“Yes,” he said, laughing and clapping his hands. “I truly do want to see how General Chu performs as National Uncle.”
The Emperor, who had fallen into madness because both imperial princes were ruined, was persuaded by Chu Zhao’s mad proposal and agreed.
Deng Yi withdrew from his recollection and looked at the young lady standing before him at this very moment.
“Miss Chu, have you thought about this?” he said. “After His Majesty dies, the deluge that follows has nothing to do with him, but what about you? That flood will crash down upon you overwhelmingly.”
After he finished speaking, he saw the young lady smile.
“When I had done nothing, I was also struck by floods,” she muttered.
What did she mean? As Deng Yi was about to say more, a guard came to report that Xie Yanfang had arrived.
Deng Yi then also smiled.
“Your Highness the Crown Princess,” he said. “The Young Highness’s safety actually doesn’t rest on me. After all, without the Young Highness, I can still be Grand Tutor, but if there’s no Young Highness, Third Young Master Xie cannot be National Uncle. Save your sweet words for him.”
Chu Zhao nodded, but then shook her head.
“The Grand Tutor’s heart toward His Highness is one of great impartiality,” she said in a low voice. “Third Young Master Xie has the private affection of a relative. I would rather speak more sweet words to the Grand Tutor.”
At this point, she smiled again.
“The Grand Tutor keeps his word. You said you owed me a meal, so you’ll repay the favor.”
Deng Yi laughed despite himself. “Miss Chu, if you make Third Young Master Xie owe you a meal, he’ll repay you with far more favors.”
Chu Zhao nodded. “Third Young Master Xie will indeed repay favors, but I’m afraid Third Young Master Xie won’t give me the opportunity to have him owe me a meal.”
Deng Yi made a sound of understanding. “Because I’m poor, while Third Young Master Xie doesn’t lack money, right?”
“Minister Deng,” Chu Zhao said, both annoyed and amused, calling out.
She didn’t believe Deng Yi couldn’t understand what she meant. She was praising him, or rather, even if she was talking about poverty and wealth, she was saying that he and she were both poor people, constrained by difficult circumstances, which was why they could form a connection over a meal, and why a meal’s kindness must be repaid.
Deng Yi raised his hand to stop her. He wouldn’t engage in a verbal sparring match with a young lady. He said to the guard, “Please invite Third Young Master in.”
The guard acknowledged with a “yes,” but didn’t turn to leave. He asked again, “Xie Yanlai accompanied him. Should I invite him in as well, or should he stay away?”
Deng Yi glanced at Chu Zhao.
Chu Zhao didn’t mind him looking at her and said directly, “Let him come in too. Let him listen as well.” After speaking, she muttered, “Though he may not be willing to come in.”
The guard turned and left, and the hall returned to quiet.
Deng Yi looked at the young lady who was no longer pacing but gazing outward.
“Also,” he said, “thank you for looking after my mother.”
Chu Zhao looked at him and smiled. “Minister Deng has contacted home?”
When she decided to come to the imperial capital, she hadn’t known Deng Yi was there. Thinking that he was, after all, the person destined to become Grand Tutor, she asked the Dragon Might Army scouts if they knew of Deng Yi’s home. The scouts actually did know this person, so she sent several people there to prevent anything from happening to Deng Yi.
Later, when she encountered Deng Yi in the palace, she didn’t mention it.
Though Deng Yi was in the palace, the Dragon Might Army had still looked after Deng Yi’s family members.
Deng Yi nodded. “My father and brothers died early. I only have a blind elderly mother. I had thought I was powerless to look after her and felt regretful.” He glanced at Chu Zhao. “Miss Chu, this is worth far more than the meal I owe you.”
That was truly wonderful! Chu Zhao laughed heartily. “Grand Tutor, you’re too polite. This is nothing. I didn’t really help much. Minister Deng, your destiny is extraordinary, your blessings deep and abundant.”
But her manner didn’t suggest it was nothing at all. Deng Yi looked at the young lady’s delighted expression, somewhat amused. He shook his head and said nothing more as footsteps sounded from outside the door.
“Xie Yanfang pays respects to the Grand Tutor.”
…
…
Hearing that Deng Yi would see them, although the guard had said Xie Yanlai could also enter, Xie Yanlai did not go in.
“Tell her the Young Highness is looking for her,” he said to the guard.
It sounded disconnected, but the guard nodded and said “Good.”
Xie Yanlai bowed to Xie Yanfang. “I’m going on duty.” He turned and left.
“Yanlai,” Xie Yanfang called out.
Xie Yanlai stopped and turned back to look at him.