Chapter 295 - 83: Her Path

Chapter 295: Chapter 83: Her Path

The menacing soldiers and the refined, courteous Third Young Master Xie departed, and the startled members of the Zhou family surged forward.

"Grandmaster, what happened?" someone asked, completely bewildered.

"Grandmaster, we never should have accepted that letter," another said, only half-understanding the situation. "Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang have eyes and ears everywhere. They must have found out. Are they going to accuse us of conspiring with the King of Zhongshan?"

"I heard they were arresting the Empress’s family," someone with sharp ears offered a new speculation. "Chu Ling just died. How can they be deposing the Empress already?"

Amid the chaotic din, Grandmaster Zhou waved his hand dismissively. "All of you, be silent."

But as the head of the family, he knew he had to say something to put them at ease. After all, in all these years, not even during the Third Prince’s rebellion had soldiers ever burst into the Zhou family’s residence.

’The Dynasty was collapsing.’

"The King of Zhongshan’s army is approaching the Capital City," Grandmaster Zhou said. "Just now, the Heir of Zhongshan King executed three Ministers of Announcing Imperial Decree under the pretext of their ’interfering in military affairs, giving reckless commands, and damaging morale.’ Now he claims he’s coming to the Capital City to personally apologize to the Emperor—which is, of course, just an excuse. But it’s a high-sounding one, and the common people, already in a state of panic, have believed it. The court is now in a very difficult position."

That was true enough, and the family members nodded. In truth, if the situation demanded it, they would have believed it too.

But that was something that couldn’t be said aloud.

"So? What does this have to do with the Empress?" everyone asked eagerly.

Grandmaster Zhou said, "Empress Chu’s paternal uncle, Chu Lan, once conspired with the Heir of Zhongshan King. Therefore, the court wants him to come forward and testify that the King of Zhongshan and his son are plotting rebellion."

They had all seen the rebellious intentions of the King of Zhongshan and his son, but Chu Lan’s involvement still shocked them. In that instant, they guessed the truth of what had happened that night—when the late Emperor spoke of the Chu Family’s Daughter rescuing the young prince, she had actually saved him from her own uncle and the King of Zhongshan.

"No wonder Chu Lan and his wife never appeared after Chu Zhao became the Empress."

"They claimed he was recuperating from an illness. Turns out he was imprisoned."

"I knew there was something strange about the Chu Family all along."

"So what’s happening now?"

"Did Chu Lan’s family escape?"

Grandmaster Zhou nodded. "Yes, Chu Lan and his family have fled. That’s why the court is conducting a search. They didn’t just come to our home; every household in the city is being searched."

The family members breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t targeted at the Zhou family, then.

Fortunately, the Chu Family was a simple one. Chu Lan and his wife were never seen and had no social dealings. Empress Chu resided deep within the palace and had now gone to the Border County. The only one of note was that girl from the Chu Family, Chu Tang, who acted like she was nouveau riche—arrogant and constantly wandering about for her own amusement.

"Tell the children in the family not to associate with her."

"That’s mainly for Ah Jiang. Ah Jiang was playing with that Chu Tang just the day before yesterday."

Grandmaster Zhou cut them off impatiently. "Stop talking about the past. What’s the use of being a Monday-morning quarterback? Before the trouble with the Third Prince and the Zhao Family, weren’t you all doing the same—socializing and making connections?"

Being reprimanded at this point actually put the family members at ease, and they all murmured their agreement.

"In any case, it has nothing to do with our family," they said as they took their leave.

’It has a great deal to do with our family.’ Grandmaster Zhou sat in the flower hall, silently studying the game board.

’Whether it was the Heir of Zhongshan King, the Xiao Emperor, or the Xie family, did any of them truly need the Zhou Family’s help? Without us, they would still be perfectly capable. That wouldn’t be help; that would be merely gilding the lily.’

’For the Zhou Family, gilding the lily would only earn us the same in return. Of course, if we chose not to, no one could do anything to us either.’

’I’ve been playing the old game for far too long. Suddenly, a new path has appeared—’

’I wonder what new patterns will emerge from it.’

Grandmaster Zhou reached out, changed the two moves Xie Yanfang had made on the board, and replaced them with a winning move for himself. A satisfied smile spread across his face.

...

...

When Xie Yanfang returned to his quarters in the Imperial City, he found Deng Yi sitting inside, watering the clivia lily on the desk with great interest.

This was the first time Deng Yi had ever come to his quarters.

"Mr. Xie, you are as refined as they say," Deng Yi said, glancing around the hall. "You make yourself right at home, even in a hall of the Imperial City."

Xie Yanfang smiled but didn’t respond to the comment. Instead, he said, "Is the Grand Tutor waiting for news? I’m sorry to say we haven’t found them yet. Although Empress Chu has not been on the throne for long, she has won deep trust and respect."

’He hadn’t expected that even after standing before those Aristocratic Families and invoking the Emperor’s great favor, he still couldn’t persuade them to yield.’

’He had his good reputation, earned over many years of biding his time, as well as the power and backing of his own Aristocratic Family. What did that girl rely on? Her position as Empress and her command of the Border Army? Or was it her sharp, dauntless spirit that drove her ever forward?’

For a moment, it was as if he saw his thirteen-year-old self, standing before the Crown Prince with a bow in hand.

"Empress Chu wields considerable power," Deng Yi said. "Not only can she compel the Aristocratic Families to help protect her family from a thousand miles away, but she can also command troops from afar. I came to tell you that the Empress has mobilized the County Soldiers from Hedong and Shangdang."