Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 762: A True Man

On the way to the palace, Zhao Changhe lowered his voice and asked Tang Wanzhuang, “You deliberately left Baoqin there to entertain me, didn’t you?”

Tang Wanzhuang sighed and shook her head. “She kept shoving Romance of the Western Chamber under my nose, resting her chin in her hands and daydreaming all the time. If I didn’t give her a chance, she would’ve held a grudge against me for the rest of her life.”

Baoqin kept her head down, saying nothing.

Tang Wanzhuang continued, “With your personality, you’d never take the initiative to ask for her. You’d keep ignoring her until one day, it hurt her too much. And if she was suddenly ordered to serve you as a chamber maidservant, I was more afraid you might refuse on the spot. That would’ve ended badly, and you probably wouldn’t even realize why. So, it was better to create an opportunity for you two to spend time together first. I knew you wouldn’t be able to withstand it once Baoqin started scolding you for an explanation. And see? Wasn’t this much cleaner? Be good to her... She’s practically my little sister, I’ve never treated her as a mere maid.”

Zhao Changhe raised Baoqin’s hand. “Who said she’s a maid? She’s my little sister too.”

Tang Wanzhuang could not help but laugh. “You just like stacking identities for yourself, don’t you?”

Zhao Changhe grinned. “I’ve stacked quite a few, but only to chase after you, not to play tricks.”[1]

“And what tricks do you still want to play?” Tang Wanzhuang glanced around cautiously before murmuring, “Sometimes, I really wish you weren’t so competent out there. Every time I receive news of your achievements, it feels like you’re telling me it’s time to fulfill my promise. But then I think about Huangfu Qing, and I immediately feel uncomfortable. She wouldn’t agree to it either. You have no idea how many years we’ve been at odds.”

Zhao Changhe could not help but laugh. “Some things will happen when the time is right, forcing it won’t make it any better. Like today, I already told you there was no need to push me into the palace. You can’t just fixate on that one thing all the time.”

This time, both Tang Wanzhuang and Yue Hongling turned to look at him simultaneously. Wait a minute. You were so eager to experiment with combinations before, so why the sudden change in tone? Don’t tell us... you’re losing your edge? If you can’t keep up, what are we supposed to do?

Zhao Changhe sighed. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but every time you two argue, I’m always at a loss. I never know what to do. Just managing to avoid fights is already a blessing. I wouldn’t dare dream of more. Just like when you two first met, why would you think I was considering any of that? Seriously.”

Everyone laughed. Now that they thought about it, he really did look helpless whenever they argued, completely different from the domineering strategist he was on the battlefield.

Which meant this family banquet was going to be even more of a nightmare for him. With everyone gathered, the tension would be high. Tang Wanzhuang, at least, knew that she would struggle to be civil to Huangfu Qing; that foolish bird should know what to expect when they met.

When they arrived at the banquet hall, the first thing they saw was Xia Chichi chatting with Huangfu Qing. The latter was holding a cup of tea, sipping it slowly with an air of satisfaction, nodding as if she approved of whatever was being said.

Whatever the topic was, it did not matter. What mattered was that the two of them had shamelessly taken the prime seats closest to the host.

The banquet was set at a large round table. The central position, directly facing the decorative wall, was clearly the “head seat,” and at the moment, it was empty, reserved for the true “master of the house.”

Never mind that one of them was the empress dowager and the other the empress herself, every palace maid knew who the real head of this household was.

And just below the head seat, Xia Chichi and Huangfu Qing had already claimed the spots to the left and right, effectively securing their places beside Zhao Changhe. Anyone else would have to sit further down the table.

Even more amusing was that Xia Chichi was not wearing her dragon robe today but had chosen a casual white robe instead. Meanwhile, Huangfu Qing remained in her signature red attire. The result was an unintentional symmetry—two figures in red and two in white, perfectly balanced.

And then there was Baoqin, the little green cabbage among them, standing out as the only odd one in the arrangement.

Tang Wanzhuang and Yue Hongling’s casual, smiling expressions vanished instantly.

You might have the advantage of proximity, but do you have to be so blatant? Are you really trying to set the hierarchy right here and now, pressing our heads down, deciding who’s big and who’s small?

Tang Wanzhuang locked eyes with Huangfu Qing. Xia Chichi is one thing—she is the empress, after all—but Huangfu Qing? Who does she think she is? She isn’t the empress’s mother, and she wasn’t the old emperor’s wife either. She’s been nothing but a fake imperial noble consort, a leftover from the last dynasty, and yet now she’s acting all high and mighty? Come, come. Our sixteen-year war is far from over. Do you seriously think that reaching the Profound Control Realm makes you invincible?

Yue Hongling’s sharp gaze landed on Xia Chichi. Huangfu Qing was at least an ally in battle, so she could tolerate her. But Xia Chichi? Who the hell was she to her? Yue Hongling was normally easygoing and never got jealous, but there was one thing she still had not let go of—the time Zhao Changhe had stood protectively in front of Luo Qi, nearly falling out with her over it. The closer she became with Zhao Changhe, the more that memory stung. She had held back from asking many times, but she could not help but wonder: If Luo Qi and I fought now, would you still protect her? Would you turn against me?

Maybe today was the perfect time to find out.

As soon as their stares locked onto the other two women, the response was immediate. Both Xia Chichi and Huangfu Qing stopped talking and looked back, their gazes equally challenging.

Who’s afraid of whom?

A silent storm pervaded the air; it felt as if sparks were already flying.

Baoqin let go of Zhao Changhe’s hand and clenched her teeth, ready to back her mistress in battle.

The banquet had not even begun, yet the atmosphere in the hall was already heavy with tension. The palace maids shrank away, retreating to the corners in fear.

Zhao Changhe sighed, rubbing his forehead. It was just as he expected.

This was no time to be helpless. Today’s Zhao Changhe was no longer the clueless fool who fumbled when women fought. Out in the world, he was a dominant force; here, he was not going to just stand there and let things escalate, either.

Before anyone could speak, he took the initiative, “What were you two discussing just now?”

Xia Chichi, at least, was willing to give him face and answered, “We were talking about various matters. For instance, the sweet potatoes you mentioned. We’ve successfully sourced them overseas and we’re currently selecting test sites for cultivation. As for your request regarding special exotic beasts, the palace already has a few species. We’ve sent envoys along with imperial decrees to Dali, and they should be arriving soon. As for other creatures, we’ve dispatched search teams.

“Regarding finances, the Empress Dowager mentioned that although Guanlong has the Silk Road, our maritime trade is just as lucrative. Now that Ying Five has disrupted their operations, ours is flourishing. If this turns into a prolonged war, our advantage will only grow... Eh? What are you doing?”

As she spoke, Zhao Changhe had already strode toward the table. He glanced at the seat at the very end of the table—the one directly opposite the main seat, meant to indicate a lack of hierarchy at the round table. Originally, he had considered sitting there to avoid making a statement about seating order.

Then, he immediately dismissed the idea.

The real issue was not about who sat where but who sat beside him. If he took the end seat, it would leave Tang Wanzhuang and Yue Hongling free to claim the spots at his sides, which would be an outright declaration of favoritism. That would make Xia Chichi and Huangfu Qing lose their minds.

So, he made a bold decision.

Without hesitation, he walked up to Xia Chichi and scooped her into his arms, lifting her onto his lap before she could finish her sentence.

In an instant, the scene shifted. Xia Chichi, the mighty Empress, was now sitting on Zhao Changhe’s lap, giving her report to everyone.

Being held like this, Xia Chichi was secretly pleased that he would display such public affection. But under the searing gazes of everyone else, her face burned slightly, and she wriggled in mild protest, “What are you doing...”

“Appreciating Your Majesty’s unwavering commitment to state affairs.” Zhao Changhe kissed her lightly on the side of her face, smiling. “You’ve worked hard.”

Xia Chichi quickly glanced at the stunned onlookers, her heart secretly pleased, but she still whispered, “What I do is nothing. Minister Tang has helped a great deal... You’re the one who’s been fighting battles everywhere. Alright, alright, put me down. This looks improper.”

Zhao Changhe, obliging as always, gently placed her onto the main seat. “Today’s family banquet is also a state banquet. The Empress should take the head seat and preside over the occasion.”

Then he called out, “Baoqin, come sit here.”

Baoqin, still dazed and still with the three streaks of oil on her face, stepped forward hesitantly and pointed at herself. “I’m just a maid. I don’t have a seat.”

“Who said you don’t? Do we have such rules in our family?” Zhao Changhe reached out, pulled her over without giving her a chance to refuse, and sat her down beside him.

Baoqin plopped down, utterly dumbfounded. So... I really am at the Empress’s table?

Yet, when she turned to see Zhao Changhe’s smiling face, an unexpected wave of emotion surged within her. Her chest tightened, and for some reason, she felt like crying.

Zhao Changhe then looked at Tang Wanzhuang and Yue Hongling. “Why are you two still standing? Sit wherever you like.”

Now, the scene had shifted.

Xia Chichi, in her role as Empress, sat at the head seat, momentarily bewildered. Huangfu Qing and Zhao Changhe sat on either side of her, with Baoqin sitting to Zhao Changhe’s right, completely blurring any distinctions of status or hierarchy. The tension from before had dissipated entirely.

Both Tang Wanzhuang and Yue Hongling were quietly impressed at how smoothly Zhao Changhe had defused the situation. There was no need to provoke trouble at this point. Tang Wanzhuang took the seat next to Baoqin, while Yue Hongling sat beside Huangfu Qing. What could have turned into an all-out battle between two opposing factions was effortlessly resolved.

Zhao Changhe raised his wine cup with a smile and said, “I’ve roamed the jianghu for years, rarely having the chance to sit down and truly be with family. Now, on this rare occasion, even Hongling is here to celebrate the New Year together. It fills my heart with joy. I hope that soon, the world will be at peace, and we can reunite like this every day. Let’s drink to that!”

As his words fell, the women around him exchanged glances, watching him take the first sip. Each of them felt something indescribable stirring within.

Looking back on all the moments since they had met him, it was as if they had witnessed, step by step, a young man transforming into a true man.

1. Note that there is some wordplay when it comes to the “stacking” parts here. Yes, it means exactly what you think it means. ☜