In any case, Xie Yanfang wanted this battle to create illustrious momentum.
Thousands of charges and denunciations couldn’t compare to the scandal of an Empress’s uncle colluding with Prince Zhongshan with improper intentions shocking the world.
The guilty party illustrious, the meritorious party illustrious.
His Xie clan’s Yanfang even more illustrious.
…
…
“Eunuch Qi, what is this?” In the rear palace, Xiao Yu looked at the delivered edict, his expression surprised.
The imperial seal was in the Grand Tutor’s hands. The Grand Tutor made all the decisions about edicts, which would be shown to Xiao Yu after being written.
Chu Zhao had also instructed Xiao Yu that even if he didn’t understand, he should read them. Even if he just memorized them, he would understand when he grew up.
So Xiao Yu would carefully read them each time. This time, after opening it, not only did he understand, but he was also very shocked.
“Why, why say it like this—that the Chu clan is guilty?”
He grabbed the edict and was about to throw it down.
“How could Sister Chu be guilty?”
Eunuch Qi quickly stopped him: “Your Majesty, you mustn’t, you mustn’t.” He also knew the news and hurriedly explained, “It doesn’t say Sister Chu is guilty. This has nothing to do with Sister Chu. It’s about her uncle Chu Lan. Your Majesty, have you forgotten? At that time, her uncle wanted to harm us, so Sister Chu led us to escape from the Chu family. That Chu Lan is indeed guilty.”
Xiao Yu certainly hadn’t forgotten. Though young, after sitting in the court for these few months, he was no longer a child who understood nothing.
“Chu Lan is Sister Chu’s uncle. If he’s guilty, Sister Chu will inevitably be implicated. If there’s truly no connection, why wasn’t Chu Lan’s crime mentioned from the beginning?”
A child who had become Emperor wasn’t easy to deceive. Eunuch Qi was helpless. He knelt and grasped Xiao Yu’s sleeve, saying: “Your Majesty, this is an extraordinary time. Prince Zhongshan has attacked. The court has no choice but to fight. The battle will be tragic with heavy casualties. Your Majesty, we must let the world know the sins of Prince Zhongshan and his son so all will denounce them together.”
Xiao Yu held up the edict, the child’s brows flying: “I don’t care.”
“A-Yu—” Xie Yanfang strode in from outside.
Xiao Yu had given him the rear palace prohibition token, so naturally he could come and go freely. It wasn’t strange that he entered without announcement.
Seeing him enter, Xiao Yu’s flying brows lowered, concealing the hostile energy in his eyes. He pouted aggrievedly: “Because Sister Chu isn’t here, and Sister Chu’s father is also gone, you’re all bullying her like this.”
Xie Yanfang half-knelt before him and said: “No one wants to bully her. If Sister Chu were here, she would do the same.”
“A-Yu, you trust Chu Zhao. She could lead you to escape from encirclement, accompany you to ascend the throne, and personally lead troops to the border commandery. When her father was gone, she could take up his mantle—oh right, there’s a victory report that was intercepted. Not long ago, your Sister Chu personally led troops to attack the Xi Liang King’s main force, making them retreat another hundred li.”
Xiao Yu’s eyes filled with a smile: “Really?”
Xie Yanfang nodded: “I’ve already had them search for the victory report. It will be delivered soon.” He looked into the child’s eyes. “And not only that—hearing that Prince Zhongshan’s forces were surrounding the capital, Chu Zhao has already led troops back. At this very moment, she’s besieging Zhongshan Commandery. A-Yu, do you know what this is called?”
Xiao Yu excitedly shouted: “Besieging Wei to save Zhao! I’ve read about that!”
Xie Yanfang said: “So don’t worry. Sister Chu fears no danger or trouble. She protects the nation and people. No matter what past crimes her uncle committed, it won’t implicate her—A-Yu, trust me.”
Xiao Yu looked at him and nodded: “I trust you.” He placed the raised edict into Xie Yanfang’s hands.
Eunuch Qi silently stood up on the side. So to gain one person’s trust, you don’t need to prove how trustworthy you are—you just need to let them see that you believe in the person they trust most.
…
…
Qi Leyun was pushed into the carriage by her mother.
“Mother, even if Chu Lan is guilty, Chu Zhao isn’t guilty.” She struggled to say, lifting the carriage curtain to see soldiers already standing in ranks outside the Chu residence gates.
Master Qi was smiling obsequiously and speaking with an official, who waved his hand, and the soldiers let the Qi family’s carriages pass.
Soldiers continued racing through the streets, searching along the streets and households. Citizens gathered on the streets, pointing and commenting.
“—Is the Empress’s family about to be raided?”
“Raiding the house right after Chu Ling died?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. It’s not a raid, and it has nothing to do with the Empress. It’s Chu Lan. Chu Lan originally conspired with Prince Zhongshan to harm His Majesty.”
“Chu Lan hid it well for a long time. Taking advantage of the Empress’s absence and Chu Ling’s death, he immediately stirred up trouble, colluding with Prince Zhongshan from inside and out. That Prince Zhongshan didn’t come to aid the court at all—he came to force the palace. When the information leaked, Chu Lan fled with his whole family.”
“I see.”
“So there’s going to be a fight with Prince Zhongshan?”
“We must fight! The Late Emperor passed away, Xi Liang invaded, the young Emperor ascended—Prince Zhongshan taking advantage of this chaos is truly inhuman! Bullying an orphan.”
Listening to the clamor, Qi Leyun looked at her father returning and said urgently: “Father, you hear? Everyone knows it has nothing to do with the Empress. We’ll be fine living here.”
Master Qi glared at her: “What do you understand? Of course we’re fine now.”
Now they needed to unite against external enemies. Now Empress Chu still commanded the border army. But later, who could say? Her father was gone, and her uncle had attempted treason—a family background like this sitting in the Empress position was walking on thin ice, could be deposed at any time.
“That we can leave now already proves Empress Chu’s innocence. Otherwise, if they detained us too, think what stories would spread in the city. Probably no one would even mention Empress Chu’s name anymore.”
Master Qi said, pressing his hand on his daughter’s head and pushing her back into the carriage.
“Stop getting involved in this chaos. This isn’t something for you girls to laugh and play about.”
“Father, Father.” Qi Leyun grabbed her father’s hand. She understood what her father meant and knew she couldn’t make trouble now—it would be useless anyway. But she truly felt aggrieved and worried. “Chu Zhao is so unlucky.”
Master Qi patted his daughter: “So, daughter, cherish your blessings.”
The Qi family hurriedly moved out of Chu Garden. Other families were also discussing the Chu clan.
“The court isn’t giving Empress Chu any face at all. This is the consequence of having a weak foundation while sitting in a high position.”
Unable to withstand the slightest incident—like a flimsy house that collapses at the first gust of wind.
They sighed again in relief that the Chu clan was thin and weak. Chu Lan had little interaction with them—it was just the girls playing and visiting each other.
But even just the girls’ playing caused quite a headache.
Old Master Zhou was once again awakened in the middle of the night by his own family’s girl.
“A-Jiang.” Old Master Zhou rubbed his forehead as he came out, looking at his granddaughter standing in the outer room. “Your father, uncles, and brothers don’t see me this often.”
Zhou Jiang hurried to help support her grandfather, saying: “Our family has deep roots. We just need to operate according to rules—no need for you to worry and expend energy, Grandfather.”
“Oh, so I need to worry and expend energy for other families with weak foundations?” Old Master Zhou said, looking at Zhou Jiang. “Speak. What does our Empress Chu want now?”
Zhou Jiang took out a note. Just like last time, in the dim room, the bright red Empress seal impression was particularly striking.
Old Master Zhou took it, squinted to read it, then looked at Zhou Jiang: “A-Jiang, you’re not asking your grandfather to worry and expend energy—you’re asking your grandfather to risk his life.”