Xiao Zai and Chu Yun returned to the party for their children's 30 day celebration, and acted as if nothing was out of place. As always Gu Wei noticed, but for once didn't try to find out more.
It wasn't until later that night, together in bed that Chu Yun brought it up:
"I didn't realise, when she first told me the tale, how devastating it sill was, all these years later," he admitted, his face buried in Xiao Zai's chest. "For both of them. Neither of them really moved on."
Xiao Zai ran his hand down the back of Chu Yun's hair. "Would you?"
Chu Yun shifted in the silk sheets, and looked up into Xiao Zai's eyes. "No. Not if it was you and me."
Sometimes he had trouble believing it had been less than a year since he and Xiao Zai met. He couldn't imagine how his life would be without him, worse, he couldn't imagine how he would survive if anyone took Xiao Zai away from him.
"I don't know how your grandmother is feeling now that she knows Tang Fan is alive. I think the desire for revenge was the motivation behind many of her actions these past years."
"She wasn't just moved by the desire to avenge his death, they were deprived of an entire life together, that didn't change," Xiao Zai said, "although, it probably pains her that he spent all these years thinking she was complicit in his suffering."
The most harrowing thing about the Queen Dowager's and Tang Fan's tale, was how many people might be experiencing something very similar that very moment.
Chu Yun's hand tightened on Xiao Zai's inner robe. "Tomorrow, right? You're going to address the court and the remaining ministers tomorrow?"
Xiao Zai laced their fingers together over his chest. "The two of us, you're going to be there too."
"I don't know if that's wise, you hear the rumours too, everyone whispers that I'm seducing you into doing whatever I want."
Xiao Zai let out a startled laugh. "Well, aren't you?"
The faces looking up at him from the crowd all affected a polite blankness, but some couldn't hide an involuntary twitch of the lips, others couldn't disguise how their gazes drifted towards Chu Yun. If they were all set to gain something today, then no one was set to lose more than Chu Yun.
"I'm pleased to announce that the youngest prince of Zui is called Xiao Fei, and the youngest princess Xiao Yin."
As expected, a chorus of well-wishes rose from the crowd, congratulating Xiao Zai as well as wishing the prince and princess a long and prosperous life.
"The birth of our children is a joyous occasion," Xiao Zai continued, drumming his fingers slowly on the throne's armrest. "However, it has made clear the necessity for change, in this court, and in our nation."
He was barely done speaking before loud encouragements were raising from the crowd. Several people were almost trampling each other for the chance to be the first one to call him "wise".
It was hard for him to restrain a smile imagining if they would still feel that way in a moment's time.
Xiao Zai rose him his throne and walked towards the edge of the dais, his hands clasped behind his back. "We have recently avoided a treacherous plot that laid bare the necessity of strengthening our nation's morale, and entrusting the people's vision for the future of our nation."
More scattered agreement and encouragement, although less enthusiastic. Now they were less sure where Xiao Zai was going with his speech.
He was happy to put them out of their misery.
"Which is why I'm opening up schools all over the nation in order to prepare candidates to take the civil servant exam. This is aimed at opening up civil service to people from commoner families, who don't have the means to hire private tutors, or send out their children to the academies in larger cities."
Now his words met with utter silence, but Xiao Zai wasn't done yet.
"And to ensure that every citizen of Zui gets a fair chance, the schools will be open to betas and omegas along with alphas. All of them will be able to take the exams."
The silence lasted only a moment longer before breaking into utter chaos.