In that previous lifetime, Minister Liang had also fallen from grace around this time, but she hadn’t known why.
Back then, how would she have cared about such things? The group of girls had only been terrified by the Liang family’s miserable fate.
Someone had described how the Liang family members were driven out of the capital like cattle and horses.
She had been so frightened her face turned pale. Thinking of how Miss Liang had been playing with them just two days earlier, brightly dressed and showing off her newly made garments, and now in the blink of an eye had become a prisoner—
“Officials and nobles—a single misstep in behavior or conduct means utter disaster,” Chu Tang had said with a sigh, turning to look at her. “Now do you understand what great danger your father has brought to our family?”
At the time, she had nearly burst into tears, as if already seeing their family becoming prisoners. She resented her father even more and felt even more guilty toward her uncle’s family.
Thinking about it now, how could she have seen it as disaster brought by her father? Father had done something so publicly defiant, yet the Chu family remained stable and worry-free. This clearly showed that Father was formidable, that Father was extraordinary, that Father could protect the Chu family’s household.
Her brain must have been broken.
Chu Zhao looked at Chu Tang.
Chu Tang was startled by her gaze.
“I didn’t believe those rumors,” she said hastily, feeling something was off, and added, “Even if those things were true, I don’t think you did anything wrong. Look, this time I didn’t just stand by—I spoke up for you somewhat.”
Chu Zhao burst out laughing.
Yes, this time at the wine house, Chu Tang’s performance had indeed been praiseworthy. She hadn’t avoided trouble like before.
Although such praise used for family members was somewhat ironic, given their family relationships and Chu Tang’s selfish nature, it was still a significant change.
“Yes, thank you, Elder Sister,” she said with a smile.
Chu Tang didn’t care whether her thanks were genuine or not. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “So in this matter, was it Uncle who was impressive, or were you impressive?”
Clearly it was Xie Yanfang who was impressive, but Chu Zhao understood what Chu Tang meant by asking this.
Third Young Master Xie was impressive—but who could make him do such an impressive thing? Was it Chu Ling? Or was it her?
Chu Zhao glanced at Chu Tang. She had only hinted that her father Chu Ling was formidable, but Chu Tang’s perspective was broader—she could also see it in her—
However, in this matter, undeniably, Xie Yanfang’s regard for her must have been because of her father. But she herself was also quite impressive, daring to do things she had never imagined doing before.
“This time, I was more impressive, I suppose,” she said with a smile.
Hearing this, Chu Tang’s almond eyes moved as she examined her face, her expression somewhere between a smile and not.
“It’s not because of my face,” Chu Zhao immediately knew what she was thinking. These young girls. “Although I am indeed very good-looking.”
Chu Tang burst out laughing.
“However, good looks—to men, they’re just good looks, nothing more,” Chu Zhao said. “They’re not all-powerful.”
Chu Tang said with a smile, “I’ve heard that before, but it’s usually plain-looking women who like to say it.”
Because they lacked something, they needed to make themselves and others believe they had other advantages.
Beautiful girls might say the same thing, but their purpose would be to make others believe they deserved to receive more.
Chu Zhao shook her head. This was a young girl’s small cleverness.
In the imperial harem, she had seen countless beauties. In the eyes of power, beauty was nothing—all were merely playthings.
……
……
Although many officials had been convicted in recent years, Minister Liang’s case had suddenly caused quite an uproar.
Especially since, unlike before, the Xie family was implicated.
Early in the morning, officials gathered at the palace gates, discussing animatedly.
“This must be the Xie family abusing their power.”
“Over such a trivial matter as a marriage arrangement between their children, they convicted the Liang family. Who says the Xie family isn’t imposing?”
Amid the discussion, hoofbeats rang out urgently, making the ground tremble. Without looking, the officials knew who had arrived. Only the Crown Prince could ride with such presence in the imperial city. They instantly scattered to make way.
The Crown Prince rode toward them like a mountain, surrounded by eunuchs and mounted guards, all of them powerfully built.
“With so much to do at court, why are you all still gathered here chatting idly?” the Crown Prince shouted from horseback. “This afternoon, I want to see proposals on field taxes and military affairs. If I don’t see them—”
His gaze swept over everyone present.
“You’ll all go keep Minister Liang company!”
The officials hastily responded in unison, feeling the Crown Prince sweep past like a wild wind toward the inner palace.
Once inside the imperial city, the Crown Prince could no longer ride. He strode forward on foot. The palace guards patrolling in front of the inner palace all stopped and stood at attention. Eunuch Zhu looked ahead and immediately spotted a man standing at the palace gate—
His eyes flickered. He squeezed toward the Crown Prince’s side and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, there’s someone named Deng Yi. I don’t know if Minister Yang mentioned him to you—”
The Crown Prince withdrew from his thoughts and asked, “What?”
As soon as he spoke, a eunuch came forward with a beaming smile.
“Eunuch Qi!” The Crown Prince left Eunuch Zhu behind, laughing heartily as he strode forward quickly. “Why did you come yourself? Is Father Emperor making you run errands again? After all these years, you still haven’t learned to slack off and shirk duties. You have so many people under you—just send any one of them.”
Eunuch Qi said with a smile, “His Majesty didn’t send this old slave on an errand. This old slave came on behalf of the young prince to see Your Highness.”
The young prince naturally referred to the Crown Prince’s son, who was currently studying with the Emperor.