Chapter 296 - 83: Her Path (2)

Chapter 296: Chapter 83: Her Path (2)

Xie Yanfang turned to the map hanging on the wall. "She’s going to besiege Zhongshan County?" He knew that girl wouldn’t just sit by and do nothing; she was bound to make a move. He smiled. "This is a classic ’besiege Wei to rescue Zhao’."

Deng Yi said, "Empress Chu just lost her father. She probably thinks all fathers and sons in this world share a deep bond."

’Does she think that since the Princely Heir is already in the Capital City, he’ll simply give up and return home upon hearing his father is under siege? Truly naive.’

Xie Yanfang chuckled. "As the Empress, it is her duty to launch a punitive expedition upon hearing of the King of Zhongshan’s treason. Grand Tutor, don’t worry. Even without those two contingents, we can still win."

Deng Yi glanced at him. ’Why would I be worried about that?’

"It is Mr. Xie who has no need to worry," he said with a half-smile. "You were concerned that denouncing Chu Lan would damage Empress Chu’s reputation, but she was already prepared. She solved the problem herself without needing your help."

Xie Yanfang acted as if he didn’t understand the sarcasm, nodding with a smile. "Yes. Therefore, I ask the Grand Tutor to issue the imperial edict announcing Chu Lan’s past dealings with the King of Zhongshan. Proclaim to the world that the King of Zhongshan is a traitor. This way, Empress Chu’s siege of Zhongshan County will have a just cause, and her renown will become even more illustrious."

Deng Yi fell silent.

In any case, Xie Yanfang was determined to use this battle to create a sensational spectacle.

Thousands of writs of condemnation could not compare to the uproar of revealing that the Empress’s own uncle had colluded with the King of Zhongshan in a treacherous plot.

The sinner would be infamous; the victor, glorious.

And he, Xie Yanfang of the Xie family, would be the most glorious of all.

...

...

"Eunuch Qi, what is this?" In the inner palace, Xiao Yu asked with a surprised expression as he looked at the imperial edict that had been delivered.

The Jade Seal was in the Grand Tutor’s hands, so he had the final say on all imperial edicts. Once written, they would be shown to Xiao Yu for his review.

Chu Zhao had also instructed Xiao Yu that even if he couldn’t understand them, he had to read them. He should even memorize them, and he would understand when he grew older.

So, Xiao Yu would read them carefully every time. This time, when he opened the edict, not only did he understand it, but he was also utterly shocked.

"Why? Why does it say the Chu Family is guilty?"

He snatched up the imperial edict, about to throw it to the ground.

"How could Sister Chu be guilty?"

Eunuch Qi quickly held him back. "Your Majesty, you mustn’t!" He had also heard the news and hurriedly explained, "It isn’t saying Sister Chu is guilty, and this has nothing to do with her. It’s about her uncle, Chu Lan. Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Back then, her uncle wanted to harm us, which is why Sister Chu led us to escape from the Chu Family. So you see, Chu Lan is indeed the guilty one."

Of course, Xiao Yu hadn’t forgotten. Although he was young, after sitting in the imperial court for these past few months, he was no longer a child who understood nothing.

"Chu Lan is Sister Chu’s uncle. If he is guilty, Sister Chu will inevitably be implicated. If it really has nothing to do with her, why didn’t they announce Chu Lan’s crimes from the beginning?"

A child who had become emperor was not so easily fooled. Helpless, Eunuch Qi knelt and grabbed Xiao Yu’s sleeve. "Your Majesty, these are extraordinary times. The King of Zhongshan is attacking, and the court has no choice but to fight back. The war will be brutal, with devastating casualties. Your Majesty, we must let the world know of the sins of the King of Zhongshan and his son, so that we may all crusade against them together."

Xiao Yu held the edict high, his young brow arched in defiance. "I don’t care!"

"Yu—" Xie Yanfang strode in from outside.

Xiao Yu had given him unrestricted access to the inner palace, so it was no surprise that he could come and go as he pleased, unannounced.

Seeing him walk in, Xiao Yu’s defiant expression softened, hiding the fierce look in his eyes. He pouted, aggrieved. "Because Sister Chu isn’t here, and Sister Chu’s father is gone, you’re all bullying her."

Xie Yanfang knelt on one knee before him. "No one is trying to bully her. If Sister Chu were here, she would do the same thing."

"Yu, you trust Chu Zhao. She was able to help you escape from an encirclement, stay with you through your enthronement, and then personally lead troops to fight in the Border County. With her father gone, she has taken up his mantle—oh, right, a victory report was intercepted. Not long ago, your Sister Chu personally led an attack on the main force of the Western Liang King’s Army, forcing them to retreat another hundred li."

A smile lit up Xiao Yu’s eyes. "Really?"

Xie Yanfang nodded. "I’ve already sent people to retrieve the victory report. It will be delivered soon." He looked into the child’s eyes. "And that’s not all. Upon hearing that the King of Zhongshan’s forces were marching on the Capital City, Chu Zhao has already led her troops back to counterattack. Right now, she is besieging Zhongshan County. Yu, do you know what that’s called?"

Xiao Yu shouted excitedly, "’Besiege Wei to rescue 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 its people. No matter what past crimes her uncle committed, they won’t implicate her. Yu, you have to trust me."

Xiao Yu looked at him and nodded. "I trust you." He placed the edict he was holding into Xie Yanfang’s hand.

Eunuch Qi silently rose to his feet from the side. ’So that’s how you win someone’s trust. You don’t have to prove how trustworthy you are. You just have to show them that you trust the person *they* trust the most.’

...

...

Qi Leyun was hustled into the carriage by her mother.

"Mother, even if Chu Lan is guilty, it doesn’t mean Chu Zhao is!" she said, struggling. Lifting the carriage curtain, she saw the area outside the Chu Mansion was already lined with soldiers.

Mr. Qi was speaking to an official with an apologetic smile. The official waved a hand at him, and the soldiers let the Qi family’s carriage pass.

Soldiers were still running through the streets, searching house by house. Crowds of people gathered, pointing and murmuring.

"—Is the Empress’s family home being ransacked?"

"They’re ransacking the home right after Chu Ling died?"

"Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not being ransacked, and it has nothing to do with the Empress. It’s about Chu Lan. He was conspiring with the King of Zhongshan to harm His Majesty."

"Chu Lan kept it hidden well. He took advantage of the Empress being away and Chu Ling being dead to immediately stir up trouble, colluding with the King of Zhongshan from within. That King of Zhongshan wasn’t here to aid the court at all; he was here to force the Emperor to abdicate! When the news leaked, Chu Lan fled with his family."

"Oh, so that’s what’s going on."

"Does this mean we’re going to war with the King of Zhongshan?"

"We have to fight! The late Emperor passed away, Western Liang invaded, a young Emperor took the throne... For the King of Zhongshan to stir up trouble at a time like this, he’s no better than an animal! Preying on an orphan."

Listening to the commotion, Qi Leyun looked at her returning father and said urgently, "Father, listen! Everyone knows it has nothing to do with the Empress. We’ll be fine staying here."

Mr. Qi glared at her. "What do you know? Of course it’s fine, for now."

’Right now, everyone must present a united front against the external threat. Right now, Empress Chu is still in command of the Border Army. But there’s no telling what will happen later. Her father is gone, and her uncle is guilty of attempted treason. With a family background like that, her position as Empress is like walking on thin ice. She could be deposed at any moment.’

"The fact that we can leave now is already proof of Empress Chu’s innocence. Otherwise, if they had locked us up too, just imagine the rumors that would spread through the city. I’m afraid no one would even dare mention Empress Chu’s name."

Mr. Qi spoke as he pressed his daughter’s head down, pushing her back into the carriage.

"Stop getting mixed up in this mess. This isn’t one of your little games where you girls just laugh and fool around."

"Father, Father," Qi Leyun cried, grabbing his hand. She understood what he meant and knew she couldn’t make a scene now—it would be useless. But she felt so aggrieved and worried. "Chu Zhao is just so unlucky."

Mr. Qi patted his daughter’s hand. "So, my dear daughter, count your blessings."

The Qi Family hastily moved out of the Chu Garden. Other families were also discussing the Chu Family.

"The court isn’t giving Empress Chu any face at all. This is what happens when you have a weak family background and rise to a high position."

They couldn’t withstand the slightest trouble. A flimsy house collapses at the first gust of wind.

They were again thankful that the Chu Family was of little consequence and that they hadn’t had much contact with Chu Lan, aside from their daughters playing together.

But even their daughters just playing together was proving to be a headache.

Grandmaster Zhou was once again woken late at night by his own granddaughter.

"Ah Jiang," Grandmaster Zhou said, rubbing his forehead as he came out and looked at his granddaughter standing in the outer room. "Your father and your uncles don’t even see me this often."

Zhou Jiang hurried to personally support her grandfather. "Our family is deeply rooted. It runs according to tradition just fine, so there’s no need for you to trouble yourself, Grandfather."

"Oh? So I need to trouble myself for someone else’s family, one with shallow roots?" Grandmaster Zhou said, looking at Zhou Jiang. "Speak. What does our Empress Chu want now?"

Zhou Jiang took out a note. Just like last time, the bright red Empress’s Seal on it was especially conspicuous in the dimly lit room.

Grandmaster Zhou took it, squinted to read it, then looked back at Zhou Jiang. "Ah Jiang, you’re not just asking me to trouble myself anymore. You’re asking for your grandfather’s life."