“A-Jiang, thank you.” Chu Tang bowed in courtesy.
Zhou Jiang said: “Don’t be polite, and you don’t need to thank me. If my grandfather hadn’t agreed, I couldn’t have helped you.”
Chu Tang helped Chu Lan and Jiang Shi out. Chu Lan seemed very uncomfortable with sunlight and people after not seeing them for so long, using his sleeve to cover his face.
As they spoke, several more carriages drove in. Old and young alike climbed out of the compartments, standing behind the Chu Tang family in a lively group.
Seeing these people, Zhou Jiang was somewhat helpless.
“A-Tang, I didn’t know you were so righteous.” She said. “Fleeing yourself but not forgetting to bring the household servants.”
And bringing so many—a full twenty people, from old servants and women down to ten-year-old servant boys.
Chu Tang sighed softly: “How could I just leave and abandon them to take the blame?”
Zhou Jiang thought to herself that leaving the servants behind wouldn’t mean they’d take the blame—at most they’d be arrested, detained, and sold off—just changing masters.
But she never asked too many questions when doing things.
“Go rest quickly. I’ll tell you if there’s any new news. This is my grandmother’s private property. Not many people in my family even know about it.”
Chu Tang thanked her again, and with Jiang Shi, supported Chu Lan as they headed inside, surrounded by servants.
“A-Tang, fortunately you became friends with these young ladies, so they could help us.” Jiang Shi said, wiping tears, still shaken.
Actually, she didn’t fully understand what her daughter had said, but she grasped the general idea—they couldn’t enjoy the prestige of the Empress, but would instead be implicated.
“I knew all along we’d be dragged down by your second uncle’s family.”
Chu Tang listened to her mother’s words, thinking that this time, it truly wasn’t just the Zhou family helping. To create a diversion, several families had left the city with carriages and horses that day.
But being able to convince these families to help wasn’t because she was friends with their young ladies—though of course, she, Chu Tang, had contributed.
At least she had prepared early, with household luggage already packed, so they could leave immediately upon receiving the news.
Though she had prepared early, when Little Rabbit woke her in the middle of the night and handed her the note, opening it to see what Chu Zhao had written—”Prince Zhongshan is attacking. The court will drag out old accounts and evidence. Danger.”—she nearly fainted from fright.
Chu Tang pressed her hand to her chest.
It was still pounding wildly.
The danger had come too quickly.
What should they do?
Fortunately, Chu Zhao’s letter listed several aristocratic family names, telling her to immediately seek their help and hide. On this note was Chu Zhao’s signature and the Empress’s phoenix seal.
That very night, Chu Tang had Little Rabbit take her over the walls. Following the names Chu Zhao had written, she had Little Rabbit climb into these families’ estates and wake the heads of household from their sleep.
Though these household heads were all quite elderly, none fainted from shock. After seeing the note, none asked what the old accounts and evidence were about. After a moment’s contemplation, they all agreed.
Chu Tang pressed her chest again. That night, sitting in the rooms of those old masters and madams, she had been more frightened than the people who were woken up.
Though these were also families she had regularly visited, it had all been playing with the young ladies. Apart from seeing them once at the Empress’s banquet, there had been no other interaction.
She knew that at that moment, sitting before those old masters and madams, it wasn’t her but Chu Zhao.
Though Chu Zhao wasn’t physically present, she could still stand before these aristocratic families.
And could request their help.
Chu Tang took a deep breath and exhaled, comforting her parents: “Don’t say more now. First hide safely.”
After settling her parents in their room and having the servants keep watch, Chu Tang came out and called for Little Rabbit.
Little Rabbit was crouching on the wall looking into the distance. Hearing the call, she jumped down.
“Did you get a message out to her saying we’ve hidden?” Chu Tang asked in a low voice. “Has she sent another letter? Is there any new news?”
Little Rabbit said: “I sent it out when we left the city.” She added, “There’s no new news from Sister Xiao Man’s side, but there is other new news.”
Chu Tang asked: “What?”
Little Rabbit said excitedly: “Fighting has started. That Prince Zhongshan’s heir cut off the heads of three court officials.”
…
…
At the same time, Xie Yanfang also received this news, while playing chess with Old Master Zhou.
After Du Qi whispered from beside him and stepped back, Xie Yanfang immediately told Old Master Zhou.
“This is called revealing the dagger when the map unfolds.” Old Master Zhou said, placing a chess piece.
Xie Yanfang shook his head: “His intentions have long been known to everyone. Now this is—checkmate.”
As he spoke, he placed a chess piece.
Old Master Zhou quickly looked at the board, his expression vexed: “You youngster can’t beat me at Go, but you’ve been hiding a trick at Chinese chess.”
Xie Yanfang smiled: “Actually, my Go is also passable. If I gave it my all, I could beat you too, Old Master. But now, with something weighing on my heart, I don’t dare take risks in my actions. What I can give my all for now is what my older sister left behind—a child who witnessed his parents’ brutal deaths with his own eyes, transformed overnight from an innocent child into Da Xia’s Emperor. I want to see him grow steadily, impervious to evil.”
He finished speaking and bowed with cupped hands.
“Prince Zhongshan and his son once held a blade to Xiao Yu’s neck. Chu Lan witnessed it. Please, Old Master, help His Majesty reveal the truth to the world.”
Old Master Zhou looked at him and returned the bow.
“Master Xie.” He said. “Like you, I firmly believe His Majesty survived great calamity and is impervious to evil. The world has long seen clearly the wolfish ambitions of Prince Zhongshan and his son.”
Before Xie Yanfang could speak again, he stepped forward and slammed the chess board heavily.
“As for that traitor Chu Lan, once Prince Zhongshan and his son are captured, he cannot escape death.”
So, before capturing Prince Zhongshan and his son, he would not hand over the traitor Chu Lan. Xie Yanfang looked at Old Master Zhou. Outside the flower hall, chaotic footsteps sounded as groups of black-armored guards gathered.
The lead soldier said: “We’ve searched everywhere. Nothing.”
Xie Yanfang said to Old Master Zhou: “My apologies for the offense. Then we’ll continue searching other areas of your estate.”
Old Master Zhou smiled amiably: “Master Xie, please do as you wish.”