Chapter 26

Xiao Heng could tell that Chu Zhaoyou’s words were sincere, and his gaze was particularly gentle, unlike his usual demeanor when speaking to him.

How did the young puppet speak to him? With veiled threats, sarcasm, and disdain.

Xie Chaoyun had just returned from guarding the border, and all Chu Zhaoyou could see was his courage and loyalty in defending the country. As for me, I attend court every day, working tirelessly for the kingdom, but in his eyes, I am an ambitious schemer with intentions to usurp the throne.

It was utterly despicable.

Xiao Heng had completely forgotten how he often threatened people about usurping the throne. He only felt that the young emperor’s gaze was unkind, and he had been blinded by Xie Chaoyun’s words of superficial formalities between ruler and minister.

As he watched the two of them leave side by side, Xiao Heng sternly instructed the gatekeeper, “Next time Xie Chaoyun comes, inform me before allowing him in.”

The Regent stood tall and imposing, with his sword-like eyebrows, standing at the threshold, watching the two disappear around the street corner. His gaze grew deeper. “Xiao Jiu, investigate Xie Libai’s wife—her relatives, friends, leave no stone unturned.”

Xie Libai was Xie Chaoyun’s uncle, and his wife, Lu Lihua, was Xie Chaoyun’s aunt.

“Yes.”

In the past, out of trust and respect for Xie Chaoyun, Xiao Heng rarely delved into the affairs of the Xie family. However, today’s discovery that Lu Ting, Lu Lihua’s niece, knew about the information Xie Chaoyun had disclosed to the head of the wardrobe department was a significant hidden thread.

Coupled with the fact that the Empress Dowager had arranged a marriage for Xie Chaoyue, and at the time of the Regent’s disappearance, the first person to act was Xie Libai, who had agreed to the Empress Dowager’s arrangement. At the time, it was thought that Xie Libai had been forced by the circumstances, but now it seemed that wasn’t entirely the case.

The Xie family wasn’t as peaceful as it seemed. Despite the young emperor’s lack of power, he dared to enter, and Xiao Heng furrowed his brow. “Xiao Jiu, investigate quickly. The sooner, the better.”

Xiao Jiu lowered his head in thought and said, “If you’re in a hurry, you might want to ask the Xie family’s servants. My mother once mentioned that a former maid from General Xie’s household lived next door seven years ago.”

“Lead the way.”

The elderly woman had poor eyesight and hearing. Xiao Jiu raised his voice almost to a shout, “My master is asking if you remember anything about the Xie family, Xie Libai’s wife, Lu Lihua, and whether she had any associations with anyone?”

The elderly woman replied, “I don’t remember. It’s been many years, and I wasn’t serving by Madam Lu’s side.”

Xiao Jiu’s throat was getting hoarse, and he hadn’t elicited any useful information.

Xiao Heng raised his hand. “That’s enough. Let’s try another approach.”

Suddenly, it started to rain outside. It was November, and the capital had officially entered the cold winter. The rain could potentially claim many lives.

Xiao Heng looked at the gloomy sky and furrowed his brow. “This year, provide an extra set of padded clothing for the city guards, and the expenses will be covered by the mansion. Let them patrol more frequently, keep a sharp eye out, and if I see people freezing to death in the streets inside and outside the city, I’ll personally hold them accountable.”

“Yes.” Xiao Jiu had brought the master here, but they had gained no useful information. He said in frustration, “The weather isn’t favorable. Should I arrange for a carriage to pick us up?”

“Matchmaking? Yes, Madam Lu enjoys matchmaking.” The elderly woman’s hearing suddenly improved. Even when Xiao Jiu spoke to the Regent in a normal tone, she caught a word or two.

Xiao Heng had a good temper and asked personally, “Who did she arrange matches for?”

The elderly woman counted on her fingers, her voice rough and hoarse. After a while, she only mentioned one, “She arranged a match for General Xie. His children were so young, and it was pitiful to see. He needed to remarry.”

Xiao Heng’s expression changed. Was Xie Chaoyun’s stepmother arranged by Lu Lihua?

Upon hearing this during the anniversary of the old general’s death, Xiao Jiu felt a chill run down his spine. He went to see the Regent, but Xiao Heng had already walked briskly into the misty rain, mounted his horse, and headed straight for General Xie’s residence.

Seeing the Regent’s unusual reaction, Xiao Jiu tacitly chose not to follow him and instead went to find Qian Shicheng, mobilize the Dragon Guards, and encircle the general’s residence before taking any further action.

General Xie had passed away eight years ago, and the steward was already familiar with the procedures for the anniversary. All the necessary items had been prepared a day in advance.

Because Chu Zhaoyou was present, Xie Chaoyun asked him to offer incense first.

Chu Zhaoyou politely declined, but after offering incense, he observed the reactions of the people around him.

It was his first time seeing Xie Chaoyun’s stepmother, Madam Wu, who was dressed in plain clothes, without any makeup or accessories. Xie Chaoyue had mentioned that she lived in seclusion at a Buddhist temple, and it seemed to be true.

Madam Wu appeared particularly unassuming, speaking very little and not exhibiting any signs of being capable of poisoning.

Appearances can be deceiving. Xiao Hei had also seemed very unassuming before, and I suffered greatly.

Chu Zhaoyou had assumed that General Xie and Madam Wu had a significant age gap, but that wasn’t the case. Madam Wu wasn’t young; based on her age, she must have been around twenty-seven or twenty-eight when she got married.

He was invited to sit aside, and there was an array of fruits, pastries, and tea on the table. Chu Zhaoyou had been feeling nauseous lately, but at the same time, he was hungrier than anyone else, a contradictory feeling, as if he were stockpiling food for the winter.

The thought of how Xie Chaoyun had died made Chu Zhaoyou’s hand hesitate over the pastry, and he withdrew it, wiping it on his own clothes.

Seeing this, a guard asked with concern, “Your Majesty, is the pastry not to your liking?”

Chu Zhaoyou stared at the snow-white pastry, with a layer of delicate sugar strands on top, and swallowed hard.

No, it’s very much to my liking.

He reluctantly said, “I didn’t take my medicine this morning, and now I’m feeling a bit nauseous.”

The guard immediately suggested nervously, “Your Majesty, how about returning to the palace after offering incense?”

Elderly Eunuch Xue couldn’t walk as fast as Chu Zhaoyou, and Chu Zhaoyou was worried about tiring him out, so he hadn’t brought him along when he left the palace. The guard was also responsible for Elderly Eunuch Xue’s duties for the first time and was afraid of missing something.

Receiving the Regent’s order, the guard didn’t want to upset the emperor, especially if he couldn’t eat, although it wasn’t the Regent’s fault.

Chu Zhaoyou shook his head. “Let’s wait a bit longer. You’re not allowed to eat either.”

The smell of incense in the ancestral hall was too strong, and Chu Zhaoyou blinked his dry eyes, feeling that it would take a while to finish.

Chu Zhaoyou hurried to the restroom.

When he returned, the family of three in the ancestral hall was gone.

Chu Zhaoyou was alarmed. “Where is General Xie?”

The steward replied, “He’s in the west room, Your Majesty.”

…

Several dozen incense sticks burned on the ancestral table in the west room, and even some paper money was burnt at the door, creating a haze of smoke.

Madam Wu and the Xie siblings were rarely seated together at a table, which was set with simple vegetarian dishes and a pot of sacrificial wine.

Madam Wu poured wine for the three of them. “Today is a rare opportunity for us to talk. General Xie, it may not be appropriate for me to broach this topic, but since Madam Wang personally asked me, I couldn’t refuse. Whether you take it to heart is up to you.”

Upon hearing Madam Wang’s name, Xie Chaoyun understood. Madam Wang was the mother of the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and his father was a senior statesman in three dynasties, having served as the Prime Minister. Madam Wang was a woman of great virtue and managed her household well. The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice had been the top scholar in the previous two imperial examinations, which were personally presided over by the Regent, and there was no favoritism involved.

This was a marriage proposal for Xie Chaoyue.

Xie Chaoyun didn’t look into the family background, but he had met the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice and found him to be promising. This marriage proposal was quite suitable, far better than the idle scions that Madam Lu was constantly scheming about.

“Mother, there’s no need to be formal. Just call me Chaoyun.”

Madam Wu said, “Chaoyue is of marriageable age, and you are her only elder brother. As the eldest, you have a fatherly role. But with the constant military campaigns, it has been three to five years at a time. Now that you are in the capital, it’s time to settle Chaoyue’s marriage. Last time, when the Empress Dowager arranged a marriage for Chaoyue, you were not in the capital, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find a solution.”