As Zhou Ye and Zhou Ya chatted on, Zhou Ye began glancing at the surrounding palace attendants out of the corner of his eye.
Zhou Ya was perceptive and understood what he meant. She said to the attendants, "You may withdraw for now."
Only after everyone had left did Zhou Ya say, "Xiao Ye, whatever it is, just tell me."
Zhou Ye had no intention of hiding it.
"Sister, I need your help with something."
"What is it?"
"Help me discreetly gather information on all the imperial consorts and princes in the palace. And try to build a good relationship with the empress."
Zhou Ye understood that if he wanted to keep Noble Consort Shu in check, he had to find someone who could match her.
The empress was the best choice.
Zhou Ya said in surprise, "Are you thinking of getting involved in factional struggles?"
Seeing that Zhou Ye did not deny it, Zhou Ya frowned.
"But you know perfectly well that Father has remained neutral all these years to keep the family safe. If you truly take one prince's side and get caught up in the struggle for succession, you'll face countless dangers."
"To be honest, Sister." Zhou Ye took a sip of hot tea and said, "I'm already in enough danger as it is."
After this campaign, Zhou Ye's achievements had surpassed those of his sovereign.
Wei Zhao had summoned him back to the capital ostensibly to reward him, but in truth, he intended to keep him under house arrest there.
Then he would gradually strip him of his military command.
Finally, just as in the novel, he would arrange for him to die on the battlefield.
So Zhou Ye's words were no exaggeration.
"Today, I passed by the Imperial Academy and met a few princes..." Zhou Ye told Zhou Ya about his concerns and everything he had seen and heard that day.
After listening, Zhou Ya fell silent for a long time.
At last, she sighed and said, "Since ancient times, the imperial family has shown little affection."
"In my three years in the palace, His Majesty has favored me three times a month, yet every time I've been forced to drink contraceptive medicine disguised as a tonic."
"That alone shows how wary His Majesty is of our Marquis of Zhenbei's Household."
"How ridiculous. He cannot see how you and Father have led the soldiers in bloody battles on the front lines, fearlessly risking your lives to protect the people. He just sits in this palace, endlessly doubting your loyalty."
"As for the Sixth Prince, I haven't had much contact with him, but from what you've said, I can tell he has a good nature."
"So I'll help you this time." Zhou Ya patted Zhou Ye's hand and said, "But we must be extremely cautious. We can't let His Majesty discover our intentions too soon, or it will cause too much trouble."
Zhou Ye looked at Zhou Ya, his eyes flickering.
He felt that a woman so bold, sensible, and composed truly should not be trapped in the depths of the palace forever.
If he had the chance, he would set Zhou Ya free.
"Thank you for your support, Sister. I'll be careful."
Li Dehai accompanied Zhou Ye all the way out of the palace before taking his leave.
Outside the palace, Zhou Ye's personal guards, Zhou Da and Zhou Er, were waiting with horses by the palace wall. When they saw their general emerge, the two tall, sturdy men immediately broke into toothy grins and waved to him.
Zhou Da said, "General! You're finally out! The two of us have been staring at these imperial guards on gate duty for hours. We were bored out of our minds!"
Both men were servants of the Marquis of Zhenbei's Household. They had been sold to the household as children and given their names by the madam, so they had practically grown up alongside Zhou Ye.
Later, they had followed Zhou Ye into the army and become his most trusted personal guards.
Following behind Zhou Ye, they said quietly, "General, the commander of these imperial guards is now Noble Consort Shu's younger brother, Zhao Junze. We don't know how he manages his men, but now the imperial guards look at us from the Northern Frontier Army like we're enemies. They won't even give us a pleasant look."
Zhou Ye took his horse and said, "That's only natural. You'll get used to it. After all, who knows how many more cold looks we'll get here in the capital?"
With that, Zhou Ye mounted his horse and took the reins. He turned his head to glance at the palace with its towering walls and the imperial guards who regarded them warily. "Life here really isn't as comfortable as it is in the Northern Border."
"You've had a hard time today. Once we're back at the residence, I'll reward you properly."
"Let's go."
At that moment, the Marquis of Zhenbei's Household was decked out in lanterns and colorful decorations. The display rivaled the one on the day Zhou Ya had entered the palace.
The mood, however, was far more cheerful than it had been that day.
Zhou Ye's mother, Wang Yulan, was personally bustling about alongside the household steward. She checked whether the decorations at the front were properly arranged, whether Zhou Ye's courtyard had been cleaned, and went to the kitchen to oversee the cooking.
She made sure everything they prepared was something Zhou Ye liked to eat.
"Oh, I told you to make this soup thicker! Ye'er likes a thick soup, so you have to simmer it long enough!"
"And prepare the herbs for the medicinal dishes I asked you to make in advance. Ye'er has suffered injuries year after year, so his health must have suffered. He needs proper nourishment..."
Though it was only March, Wang Yulan was sweating all over from her efforts.
Her maid hurriedly offered her some tea. Only after taking a sip did her parched throat feel a little better.
Just then, a young maid came running over and said, "Madam, the young master is almost at the gate!"
The moment Wang Yulan heard that, she dropped the teapot, hitched up her skirts, and hurried outside.
On the way, she ran into Zhou Ye's father, Zhou Zhenghai.
The two exchanged a look, and Zhou Zhenghai immediately strode toward the gate.
As he went, he said, "Ha ha, I'm faster than you! I'll be the first to welcome Ye'er!"
"Hey! Zhou Zhenghai, how can you do that?" Wang Yulan stamped her foot, lifted her skirts even higher, and took off running!
"I'm going to be the first to see Ye'er!"
"Your legs are short. You can't keep up!"
"But I can run fast!"
"I can run too!" Zhou Zhenghai wore an infuriating grin. "I can run faster than you!"
The couple bickered as they ran.
By the time Zhou Ye rode up to the residence, he saw the two of them chasing each other, practically flying out through the gate.
Zhou Ye stared in surprise.
He dismounted and greeted his parents as the original owner's memories told him to. "Father, Mother."
Wang Yulan's eyes turned red at once.
Laughing and crying all at once, she hugged Zhou Ye and refused to let go. "Ye'er, your mother missed you so much."
Zhou Zhenghai watched from the side and did not compete with Wang Yulan anymore.
After all, he had only been teasing his wife.
Seeing Wang Yulan like this, his eyes held only tenderness and concern.
"Ye'er, come inside. Your mother prepared a whole table of dishes. We've just been waiting for you to come home."
"All right." Looking at his kind parents, Zhou Ye felt a warmth spread through his heart.
Supporting and comforting Wang Yulan, he walked into the Marquis of Zhenbei's Household.
That evening, the family had a good time catching up.
Wang Yulan was so happy that she drank some wine and went back to her room to sleep, tipsy.
Zhou Zhenghai, meanwhile, called Zhou Ye into the study and set up a chess game.
As they played, he asked him about affairs in the Northern Border.
"You fought this campaign beautifully. You've brought honor to our Marquis of Zhenbei's Household."
Zhou Zhenghai was full of pride in what Zhou Ye had done.
Yet he also sighed softly and said, "It's just that this victory has planted the seeds of trouble in the heart of our suspicious sovereign."
"I'm afraid life in the capital won't be easy for either of us from now on."
"You're right, Father." Zhou Ye also held the original owner's father in great respect.
After all, according to the original owner's memories, Zhou Zhenghai was skilled with both the pen and the sword and exceptionally talented. He too had joined the army as a young man and rendered great service to Great Wei, but later an arrow had injured his heart and lungs in the Northern Border, leaving him with a lingering ailment and a much weaker constitution.
Zhou Ye had then sent Zhou Zhenghai back to the capital to recover while he carried on fighting alone.
"So, have you decided what to do next?"
Zhou Zhenghai placed a piece on the board, his expression gentle, though there was a hint of probing in his tone.
Zhou Ye came back to himself and placed a piece of his own. "I have."
"Let's hear it."
"I plan to hand over the military tally, then ask you, Father, to request a sinecure for me from His Majesty."
"Retreating in order to advance?" Zhou Zhenghai nodded. "Ya'er is already walking on thin ice in the palace. If we hold on to the military tally and rely on our troops to bolster our position, her situation will become exceptionally difficult."
"With this move, you've taken your sister into consideration as well."
He approved of Zhou Ye's proposal and asked, "Tell me, then, what sinecure do you want me to request from His Majesty?"
Holding a black piece, Zhou Ye surveyed the board, then placed it in a spot surrounded by white pieces.
He looked up at Zhou Zhenghai and said, "I want to serve as an assistant to the current Grand Tutor, Elder Liu, and enter the Imperial Academy to teach the princes martial arts and military strategy."