The turmoil in the capital only affected the capital itself. Outside the capital, all was calm and peaceful. Many commanderies didn’t even know yet that something had happened in the capital.
It wasn’t until the government posted proclamations that the common people learned of the major events.
“The Crown Prince was killed by the Third Prince.”
“I knew all along that something would happen. The Zhao clan was too favored.”
“Fortunately the Crown Prince’s son is still alive.”
“This Imperial Grandson has always been raised by His Majesty the Emperor. Good, good—His Majesty still has someone at his side.”
“Not only does he have the Imperial Grandson, the Imperial Grandson even has a wife now. This makes things even more stable.”
“But this Chu Zhao—which noble family’s daughter is she? To think she could even save the Imperial Grandson.”
“Didn’t you finish reading? The proclamation says she’s the daughter of General Wei Chu Ling.”
“Who is General Wei Chu Ling? I’ve never heard of him.”
“General Wei Chu Ling is a great personage. Back in the day—”
However, the impact brought by written descriptions wasn’t great. Compared to the capital’s populace, the people in other places were shocked but not anxiously disturbed. On the contrary, they were more curious about the wife the Emperor had chosen for the Imperial Grandson.
For a time, there were discussions everywhere, and General Wei Chu Ling’s past was dug up again.
So much so that when news arrived not long after of the Emperor’s death and the Imperial Grandson’s ascension, the common people weren’t too greatly shaken. Alas, the Emperor was human too. With his two sons meeting such fates, how could a father bear it? His health had already been poor, and this time excessive grief took him along with them.
But there was no need to fear. Though the Imperial Grandson was young, there was the Grand Tutor supervising the state, his maternal uncle assisting, and the mighty and renowned Chu Ling commanding—the dynasty had nothing to worry about.
After waves of muffled thunder, even more people crowded into the main hall of the Beicao Town post station.
“Boss, we’ll definitely be full tonight,” a servant happily sidled over and said in a low voice to the plump Station Master standing in the entrance hall. “Let’s bring out our treasured wine to sell.”
The plump Station Master, who seemed to have been staring at the sky lost in thought, was interrupted. He withdrew his gaze and glanced at this servant: “You want to die? The Late Emperor is still in the mourning period.”
The servant shrank back his head. Well, the mountains were high and the Emperor far away—
“The new Emperor has ascended and had a grand wedding. Isn’t this worth celebrating?” he said awkwardly.
The Station Master waved his hand: “Get lost, get lost. Stop causing me trouble.”
The servant turned and ran off.
The Station Master looked into the hall with a complicated expression. The hall was packed, but turning over and over again, only two names were being spoken: Chu Ling and the Empress.
How Chu Ling was this and that, how the Empress was such and such.
“It really is like going back ten-some years ago,” a station guard came out and sighed to the Station Master. “Back then, what was talked about most in the post station was Chu Ling—what new matters Chu Ling had, what things His Majesty the Emperor had bestowed upon Chu Ling. Who would have thought that after more than ten years of silence, Chu Ling would come back.”
Speaking of this, he lowered his voice again.
“Everyone is also discussing Chu Ling’s daughter. However, they all say she’s inconsequential, completely ordinary. That she could become Empress is all because of Chu Ling.”
The Station Master laughed with a snort, looking into the hall. Completely ordinary, inconsequential—never mind other things, this completely ordinary Empress had caused quite a commotion at their post station and nearly cost him his life—
The Station Master touched his neck.
The station guard also touched his neck and said: “And that petty official Deng Yi who was sent here as a hardship post—to think he became Grand Tutor.”
Yes indeed. People who had been at their small post station—one became Empress, one became Grand Tutor. This was beyond even dreams. The Station Master pressed his neck and looked around. Could this shabby little post station be considered a place where the land produces outstanding people?
However—
“Keep your mouth shut tight. Not a word about A’Fu’s matters must be revealed,” the Station Master said in a low voice.
The station guard quickly nodded: “Boss, rest assured.”
That Miss Chu who used the alias A’Fu—so clever and cunning, she deceived those people. Now she’d even become Empress—who knew if she had also obtained that through deception.
Whether it came through her father or she deceived her way to it, now this girl was Empress!
Empress!
The two stood in the main hall, each lost in their own thoughts. Accompanied by waves of thunder, a carriage came racing and stopped outside the door.
“Sir,” an old woman dismounted, leading a small child, and rushed toward the Station Master, bowing respectfully. “Might we stay for one night?”
The old woman was trembling, simply dressed. The small child was fearful and timid, appearing pitiable.
The Station Master pressed his belt and asked amiably: “Do you have a travel permit and official documents?”
The old woman shook her head: “Sir, we have no official status. It’s just that rain is about to fall, and my old man’s health is poor. I beg you, sir, to let us lodge here for one night.”
As she spoke, she stepped forward, taking out a money pouch from her sleeve to press upon the Station Master.
The Station Master quickly stepped back, avoiding the old woman.
“I dare not, I dare not. I cannot, I cannot,” he said with a solemn expression. “Not to mention that we’re already full today—the post station’s rules are that commoners and common people cannot stay. Old auntie, you’d better hurry on. There’s a town not far ahead where you can enter.”
The old woman fell to her knees with a thud. The child, frightened, hugged her arm and cried.
“Sir, sir, have pity! My son and daughter-in-law died early, leaving only one grandson. This old woman and grandson can only depend on the old man—his illness cannot endure more rain.” She wept: “This old woman doesn’t ask to stay in a room—just let us shelter under the eaves for one night.”
Some guests from the main hall came out. Seeing how pitiable the old woman and child were, they also urged the Station Master—just one night, they could squeeze together.
But no matter how the old woman begged, how the child cried, or what others said, the Station Master’s heart remained hard as stone and unmoved. The station guard’s expression was also serious.
“If you truly want to save your old man, then quickly drive your cart away,” the Station Master said sternly. “The faster you go, the sooner you can reach the town and find lodging.”
As he spoke, he bowed toward the direction of the capital.
“Now the dynasty has many affairs. The new Emperor has ascended. We who receive the sovereign’s salary must strictly uphold our duties.”
Seeing he truly couldn’t be persuaded, the old woman wept and stumbled away holding the child.
The guests from the hall shook their heads at the Station Master one after another: “You’re too rigid.” “Saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.” “Your helping the old and weak would also be showing the new Emperor’s love for his subjects.”
No matter what everyone said, the Station Master just smiled and shook his head. Not until that old woman’s cart disappeared down the main road did he stop, as black clouds pressed down in the distance.
Pitiable? He had already seen someone more pitiable, and even helped her. And what was the result?
That pitiable person now sat high in the Empress’s position.
He, Xu Ling, might be a good person in the future, but he would keep his eyes wide open. He couldn’t pity just anyone he saw, especially those who offered money as temptation.
Not only would he not get that money, it would also bring trouble.
Accompanied by rolling thunder, dusk instantly turned to night. Torrential rain poured down, and water immediately flowed across the post station’s grounds.
But in the heavy rain, urgent hoofbeats sounded. A group of soldiers wearing rain cloaks charged into the post station.
“By order—inspection!”
Shouts rang out one after another, stirring the post station into even greater clamor.
Everyone—whether lodgers or station servants—had their identities verified. Looking at these men’s faces black as the night, and the bloody stench on their armor, everyone in the post station held their breath and dared not speak much.
The Station Master was even more alarmed, asking the leader of this group: “May I ask what persons you are pursuing?”
That leader’s expression was indifferent, glancing at him: “Zhao clan remnants. Have you seen any suspicious persons?”
Ah, Zhao clan remnants. The Station Master quickly waved his hands and said seriously: “The post station only allows those with official status to stay. This humble official personally verified each one myself.”
The military officer grunted, his gaze sharp: “That’s good. Otherwise you would be an accomplice.”
The Station Master quickly said repeatedly he wouldn’t dare, and declared that if he encountered suspicious persons he would immediately report them.
A soldier came in and whispered in the leader’s ear. That leader immediately stood up, raised his hand and waved. Accompanied by the clanging of armor, the men and horses raced away into the heavy rain—
Leaving the people in the post station with hearts full of shock and uncertainty.
Pursuing Zhao clan remnants? The Zhao clan had already been exterminated to nine degrees of kinship—to think there were still remnants. How frightening indeed.
……
……
In the night, a carriage traveled alone on a mountain road. Rain poured down washing over the cart, as if they were within a vast ocean.
But the old woman and child who had encountered such circumstances were no longer crying. Instead, they sat quietly and respectfully in the corner of the carriage.
A person half-reclined in the carriage. By the dim light of the wall lamp, it wasn’t a sickly old man, but a young man. His posture was elegant, one hand propping up his head, the other gently stroking and tapping the carriage wall, as if playing music along with the rain.
“Young Master, this Station Master Xu is a greedy person who falsely pretends to be good,” the old woman said softly. “I don’t know what happened—he actually refused us—”
“Beicao Town post station,” Xiao Xun murmured these few words. The fingers tapping the carriage wall stopped. “I remember now. So it was this place.”
What about this place? The old woman didn’t understand.
“Not strange at all,” Xiao Xun didn’t explain to her, just smiled. “This Station Master is once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of well ropes.”
Back then, Miss Chu had hitched a ride with station soldiers at this very post station, then was pursued by Deng Yi. This Station Master had suffered plenty of consequences.
From then on, the Station Master never dared pity pitiable people again.
He had been forced out of the capital by her.
Unexpectedly, on the road, he would continue to be restricted because of her.
Miss Chu Zhao truly seemed to be his destined nemesis.