In the night, the imperial city was brightly lit with lanterns, and people came and went in the Emperor’s sleeping quarters.
After bathing, Chu Zhao was momentarily startled to see seven or eight palace maids attending her.
It had been a long time since she’d been served by so many people.
“Your Majesty, is this a wound on your arm?” A palace maid carefully held Chu Zhao’s arm and asked cautiously.
Chu Zhao turned her head to look and saw a long scratch on her forearm—not deep, but quite long. She thought for a moment: “It’s a blade mark.”
The palace maids cradled her arm with expressions of sorrow.
Chu Zhao smiled: “It grazed past—it wasn’t a direct strike. Otherwise it would be much more serious than this.”
Another palace maid carefully examined her cheek and exclaimed: “Your Majesty, your face has been injured too!”
Immediately all the palace maids crowded around.
Chu Zhao smiled and waved her hand: “After all, I went to the battlefield, not on an outing. Only suffering flesh wounds is already fortunate.”
“We naturally understand that blades and swords are blind and life and death are decided in an instant,” a senior palace woman said softly. “We simply admire Your Majesty’s courage and regret that we couldn’t assist you.”
Chu Zhao smiled and stood up: “I am an empress, but also a general’s daughter. Moreover, I believe that if you faced such situations, you would certainly be just as courageous as I.”
The palace maids all laughed.
“Your Majesty flatters us.” “I think I really wouldn’t be afraid.” “Even if I couldn’t beat them, I’d grab onto them and not let go, so Your Majesty could kill them.” “I could scratch them—my nails are long.”
The bathing chamber was filled with lively chatter and laughter. Palace maids chatting and laughing with their mistresses was common, but the content being about how to fight and kill people was unprecedented. The senior palace woman smiled from the side without admonishing them.
Now that the palace had a new mistress, naturally everything would be according to the new mistress’s preferences.
A’Le poked her head in from outside: “Your Majesty, the late-night meal has been delivered. Please come eat quickly.”
Even a maid could urge the Empress now. The senior palace woman still smiled without speaking, watching as the urged Empress called out “Coming, coming.” She and the maids then stepped forward to wrap, dry, and dress Chu Zhao.
Chu Zhao emerged to see the tables in the sleeping quarters laden with a dazzling array of dishes, with Xiao Yu staring at them.
“Elder Sister.” Seeing her, Xiao Yu hurried over and took her hand.
Chu Zhao asked: “Is A’Yu hungry? You’ve been so busy all day.”
Upon returning to the palace they had gone to court, which continued until dusk. After court there was also a small council meeting, and only when night fell did they return to the inner palace and have some leisure.
Xiao Yu shook his head: “Not hungry.” Then he nodded. “But eating with Elder Sister, I could eat two bowls of rice.”
Chu Zhao smiled: “That won’t do. Elder Sister won’t let you eat two bowls of rice late at night.”
Xiao Yu sat down with her at the table, with Eunuch Qi personally attending.
“The imperial kitchen has practically sent everything Your Majesty likes to eat,” he said with a smile. “The nourishing soups and broths are also dazzling. Even if you need nourishment, you can’t make it all up in one night.”
Chu Zhao smiled: “They’re being thoughtful.”
Eunuch Qi examined Chu Zhao’s complexion: “Your Majesty does need good nourishment for a period of time.” He added, “The Imperial Medical Bureau people also wanted to come take Your Majesty’s pulse just now, but this old servant told them to come tomorrow. Tonight, let Your Majesty sleep peacefully and soundly—that’s the best tonic.”
Chu Zhao smiled and nodded: “Eunuch Qi is right. What I truly lack most is sleep.” She reached out to stroke Xiao Yu’s shoulder. “These past days, I truly haven’t slept soundly.”
Xiao Yu rested his head on Chu Zhao’s arm and murmured: “Me neither.”
Chu Zhao stroked his shoulder: “When the people suffer and the nation is unstable, anyone can sleep well, but the Son of Heaven cannot. This is the suffering the Son of Heaven must endure. Our A’Yu must endure this hardship.”
Xiao Yu sat up straight and looked at Chu Zhao: “A’Yu has suffered the pain of losing both parents. There’s no suffering in the world I fear anymore.”
These weren’t words a child should be able to say. Eunuch Qi felt his heart ache—after losing his parents, the child could no longer be just a child.
Chu Zhao looked at the child and suddenly said: “I have a secret—”
Before finishing her sentence, she looked at Eunuch Qi with a smile.
“Eunuch Qi, I want to tell His Majesty a secret. Please take everyone and withdraw first.”
Eunuch Qi smiled and agreed, immediately leading everyone out. Only the two of them remained in the sleeping quarters.
“Elder Sister.” Xiao Yu’s eyes were bright, and he lowered his voice. “What secret?”
Chu Zhao leaned close to his ear and whispered: “My mother is still alive.”
Xiao Yu’s eyes instantly widened, and he jumped to his feet: “Really!”
Chu Zhao quickly shushed him.
Xiao Yu hurriedly covered his mouth and looked around alertly. Under the palace lanterns’ glow, his eyes sparkled with animation—
Outside the hall doors, seeing this scene, Eunuch Qi couldn’t help but smile. He pushed away a young eunuch who was also craning his neck to look: “Move aside. Don’t disturb His Majesty and Her Majesty’s conversation.”
The young eunuch chuckled and stepped back a few paces, gazing at the palace city shrouded in night and sighing: “Since Her Majesty returned, His Majesty feels different—not like His Majesty, but like a child.”
Eunuch Qi also looked at the palace city: “His Majesty is, after all, just a child.”
In the Empress’s words, a child who must endure hardship.
Fortunately, there was still someone who wanted him to be a child, someone who cherished him as a child.
……
……
“This is truly wonderful.”