The rain pounded on the carriage, clamorous yet isolating them from heaven and earth.

Xiao Xun reached to pull out a sheet of paper from beneath him. This was a government proclamation, with the latest news written on it.

The Emperor had died, the new Emperor had ascended, the Empress had been invested.

That girl had become Empress.

Her becoming Empress wasn’t actually strange. If he had entered the palace, she would have been Empress too.

Xiao Xun crushed the proclamation in his hand. He had thought she would only counterattack—he hadn’t expected she would also seize opportunities.

She had snatched this opportunity from his hands.

“I still underestimated her,” he said.

Under the dim lamplight, the young man’s face wore a smile, his dimples shallow, appearing pleasing to the eye. But the old woman’s expression held some fear. She said in a small voice: “Your Highness, we had wanted to change to official status at the post station. What should we do now?”

Xiao Xun had left the capital quickly enough, but the pursuit was even faster.

Though there was no official warrant, soldiers under the pretext of hunting Zhao clan remnants were secretly investigating his whereabouts. Even more were unofficial people, emerging from all directions, making his journey extremely difficult. Circling and detouring, he had yet to return within Zhongshan Commandery’s borders.

But Xiao Xun wasn’t angry or worried. He still smiled and said: “As long as they haven’t caught me, as long as they don’t dare openly condemn Father and me for even one day, they cannot do anything to us for that day.”

The carriage curtain was lifted. Tie Ying, wrapped in rain cloth and wearing a rain hat, said: “Ning Kun says we should switch to the waterway.”

Xiao Xun asked: “What does Father say?”

Tie Ying’s voice held some helplessness: “The Prince says—you should figure out your own way back. He wants to see if you’ve gained any ability from this journey outside.”

Having said this, without waiting for Xiao Xun to speak, she expressed her dissatisfaction.

“At a time like this, the Prince is still making such jokes.”

Xiao Xun sat up: “If Father can still joke with me, that means Zhongshan Commandery is safe and sound.”

The new Emperor had already ascended. The matter of persuading Chu Lan to kill the Imperial Grandson had no evidence, and this Empress surnamed Chu would not announce it to the world. But the new Grand Tutor and the Xie clan certainly knew. While pursuing him, they would inevitably also reach toward Zhongshan Commandery—

Reach out. Xiao Xun smiled. As if it were that easy. A petty official Grand Tutor who appeared out of nowhere, a dying general from a border commandery, an external relative who had kept a low profile but suddenly and unexpectedly stood before the world—did they truly think themselves omnipotent?

Father hadn’t been killed when he was young, hadn’t been killed after living all these years, and now wanting him dead wouldn’t be so easy either.

“Let’s go,” Xiao Xun said. “Tie Ying, we cannot let Father laugh at us.”

The old woman handed the rain cloak to Xiao Xun. Xiao Xun put it on and stepped out of the carriage in one stride. The old woman also put on rain cloth, wrapping herself and the child, and they disappeared into the rainy night. In the mountains, only one carriage traveled alone. Not long after, it rushed toward a cliff and disappeared.

……

……

The night rain didn’t stop everyone. Some fled, some pursued, and some raced carrying official documents on their backs.

Day rose and set, clear weather alternated with rain. The imperial dynasty’s changes spread to every corner of Da Xia.

The border commanderies were no exception.

In fact, they learned of it even earlier.

Moreover, turmoil had also occurred in the border commanderies. The scene was extremely perilous. If Chu Ling hadn’t suddenly appeared leading troops, who knew what state Yunzhong Commandery would be in.

Chu Ling was currently still stationed in Yunzhong Commandery.

Previously some people might have been dissatisfied, but now absolutely no one was.

Never mind Yunzhong Commandery—even if he went to command in the capital, no one would have objections.

His daughter had become Empress. Chu Ling had become the National Uncle.

It was truly unbelievable. Never mind in the capital—even in Yunzhong Commandery, Chu Ling was rarely mentioned. Who would have thought that overnight, everywhere people were talking about Chu Ling and Chu Ling’s daughter.

“That Miss Chu, I do have some impression of her. She always came to play in the commandery city. Apart from being rather pretty, I didn’t notice anything special.”

“I noticed she had a bad temper, very spoiled. She quarreled with several young ladies, and even said she was from the capital and looked down on them.”

“To think she could become Empress.”

“They say she saved the Imperial Grandson.”

“Well, that’s quite possible. After all, she’s Chu Ling’s daughter. General Chu is very brave. His Majesty trusted him extremely, bestowing rewards pile after pile—a very, very long time ago.”

Vice General Zhong galloped on horseback through the bustling street. Since approaching Yunzhong Commandery, he had no other thoughts, only thinking of Chu Ling, especially after hearing that turmoil had also occurred in Yunzhong Commandery—

Vice General Zhong burst into the room.

“General!” he shouted loudly, his gaze searching wildly. Whether from being too tense or the environment being unfamiliar, for a moment he actually didn’t see Chu Ling’s figure.

General—was he already unable to rise?

“Changrong.”

A gentle male voice came from the side.

Vice General Zhong quickly looked over. Only then did he see Chu Ling and several military officers standing by the wall, looking at the campaign map hanging there.

Everyone seemed to have been startled by Vice General Zhong.

“Old Zhong, why did you come back?” someone asked urgently. “How can the young miss be alone in the capital?”

These were all Chu Ling’s trusted confidants. Everyone was here. Zhong Changrong’s heart settled halfway.

“The young miss sent me back,” he said, stepping forward, staring intently at Chu Ling, his voice even somewhat choked. “The young miss is worried about the General.”

The military officer before his eyes—his form was still tall and large, his face still gentle, only his complexion was no longer the ruddy color from when Vice General Zhong had left, but showed a layer of frost-white pallor.

Hearing his words, the surrounding people’s expressions all became somewhat sorrowful.

Chu Ling smiled and gestured to everyone: “You all go attend to things first. We must not slacken at this time, especially regarding Xi Liang—we must keep close watch. In a while, have Changrong tell everyone about matters in the capital.”

Everyone responded affirmatively, bowed and withdrew. As they passed by Zhong Changrong, they all patted his shoulder.

When everyone had left and the door was closed, only the two of them remained in the room.

“Elder Brother,” Zhong Changrong stepped forward. “Are you alright?”

Chu Ling smiled: “Still alright. Won’t die just yet.”

That meant things weren’t good. Zhong Changrong’s tears nearly fell.

“How is A’Zhao?” Chu Ling asked.

Zhong Changrong was just about to speak.

Chu Ling asked again: “Was she injured?”

Zhong Changrong swallowed the words he had been about to say, shaking his head then nodding: “No, only a little superficial injury.”

Chu Ling quickly asked: “Injured where?”

Zhong Changrong quickly set aside all those thrilling events—how the young miss had rescued the young Imperial Grandson, how cleverly she had led them to attack the imperial city, how she had persuaded the two groups guarding the palace gates and met His Majesty, how the young miss had persuaded the Emperor and the Emperor had bestowed the marriage—all these stirring matters. For this father who only cared whether his daughter was injured and where she was injured, he earnestly recounted—

He raised his hand and pointed to places on his own body.

“There’s an injury on her arm, from a blade’s edge cutting across. A’Zhao wasn’t wearing armor.”

“A bit on the shoulder, from an arrow grazing past.”

“The foot also has some injury. This was from A’Zhao not paying attention while running and twisting it.”

“Elder Brother, A’Zhao was so capable, didn’t cry at all. However, she was still afraid of pain. When the imperial physician was bandaging, she held A’Le’s hand and didn’t dare look.”

Chu Ling listened carefully, attentively watching every place Zhong Changrong indicated on his body, as if his daughter were right before his eyes.

Zhong Changrong recounted in detail everything that had happened in the capital. His long speech finally finished as dusk shrouded the room.

Chu Ling sat at the table and reached to pour tea.

Zhong Changrong moved first to pour water for him. Shaking the water kettle on the table, only half the water remained. What poured out into the cup gave off a strong medicinal smell.

He was treating drinking medicine like drinking water?

Zhong Changrong’s nose stung with emotion, and he couldn’t quite stand steady supporting himself on the table.

“That was the situation at the time,” he said through gritted teeth. “The incident happened suddenly, but A’Zhao handled it appropriately. A’Zhao said this was the best outcome. She was worried you’d be anxious. She couldn’t trust anyone else either, so she urged me to come back.”

Chu Ling held the teacup and slowly took a sip. This medicine smelled nauseating just from the scent—who knew how difficult it was to swallow when drunk. Drinking it down in one gulp would have been better, but Chu Ling was as composed as if savoring fine tea.

“What hardship has A’Zhao endured,” he said, “that she would think this was the best outcome?”