The imperial edict burned in the brazier, sending up black smoke that made the faces of those in the room as dark as the bottom of a pot.

The quiet command tent didn’t hold only Xiao Xun. Three court officials stood facing him.

They knew Xiao Xun came with ill intentions, but they still hadn’t expected him to burn the imperial edict right in front of them.

This left no face whatsoever—he had torn away all pretense directly.

“Young Master,” the lead court official shouted sternly, “How dare you!”

Xiao Xun smiled, his dimples deepening. “My lord, if I weren’t daring, could I have come this far? Do you all think I, Xiao Xun, am very timid? What I’ve come to do, you know very clearly in your hearts. What you’ve come to do, you also know very clearly.”

He pointed at the burning edict.

“Did you think holding this thing could stop me?”

One court official said gravely, “Xiao Xun, do you and your father truly intend to violate sacred instructions and commit acts of great treason?”

Xiao Xun sighed softly. “What are sacred instructions, and what is great treason? Have you forgotten that I also bear the Xiao surname? My father is also of imperial bloodline. The late Emperor was dissolute and incompetent, failed to educate his son properly, and committed such heinous acts against human ethics. This throne should rightfully be given to the worthy and able. Letting a small child sit on the throne, letting a minor official of humble origins and an imperial relative manage the court—this is what constitutes great treason.”

“Would a worthy and able person do what you’re doing? Bully an orphaned child who just ascended the throne after losing both parents?” the official said coldly. “Would a worthy and able person use commoners as shields to threaten the court?”

Another official said gravely, “This imperial edict is to preserve your father and son’s dignity, urging you to turn back from your wrong path. Everything can still be salvaged.”

Xiao Xun laughed heartily. Tie Ying even stepped forward, her blade aimed at this official.

The official’s expression changed slightly, but he straightened his spine without retreating.

“Don’t kill him yet,” Xiao Xun said. “It’s not time.”

Tie Ying sheathed her blade and stepped back.

“Bullying a young child,” Xiao Xun said softly. “Wasn’t my father also a young child back then?”

He looked at the three officials.

“Using commoners as shields—it’s not just me, but you as well.”

“Who are you issuing this imperial edict for? Not for me, but to deceive the people.”

“The capital garrison’s one hundred thousand troops have already formed battle arrays ahead. One hundred and fifty thousand provincial soldiers from all directions have surrounded us. You’re just waiting for me to refuse the edict, to disobey it, then start the war under charges of defiance. When blades are merciless and iron hooves roll over and crush the civilians, it won’t be the court’s fault.”

At this point, Xiao Xun smiled.

“But don’t worry. I won’t let the court’s intentions be wasted.”

“I accept the imperial edict and will obey orders to defend the capital.”

“However, there’s one saying you shouldn’t forget.”

“When a general is abroad, some sovereign commands need not be obeyed.”

With that, he signaled Tie Ying.

“Let the three lords rest.”

Before the three could react, Tie Ying stepped forward, drew and sheathed her blade, raised her hand three times and knocked all three unconscious. They collapsed to the ground.

Xiao Xun didn’t even glance at them as he stepped over them and walked out.

“Everyone, the three lords will also remain behind to defend the capital together with us,” he announced to the gathered civilians surrounding the camp. “Even without General Chu Ling, Xi Liang will not set foot in our Da Xia, will not harm a single subject of Da Xia!”

The people cheered loudly.

Amid the cheers, Xiao Xun said to the officers behind him, “Tomorrow, break camp. Divide forces into four routes and continue toward the capital.”

The officers acknowledged this.

Xiao Xun looked back toward the northwest. What a pity that girl couldn’t witness with her own eyes how he would conquer the capital.

……

……

Late at night, the capital garrison’s troops had not stopped.

Zhang Gu stood outside the camp, lost in thought.

“Chief,” a fellow courier ran over and asked quietly, “Something’s wrong here.”

“Of course something’s wrong,” Zhang Gu glared at him. “Are you stupid? Did you think everything was fine?”

Suddenly, large numbers of capital garrison troops were being mobilized. The claim was that the court was coordinating with Prince Zhongshan and the capital garrison together to defend the capital—such words were only meant to fool the people. Where would Prince Zhongshan get troops? A vassal prince raising an army meant death.

Moreover, such large troop movements had reached five hundred miles outside the capital, yet the courier garrison had received no prior information.

Clearly, Prince Zhongshan’s troops had evaded court surveillance.

What these troops intended—did it need guessing?

The courier said quietly, “Chief, I’m saying the court is also wrong.”

Zhang Gu looked at him. “The court can only do this for now—try their best to stop it. If they can’t—aren’t the troops already arrayed outside the capital?”

Provincial and prefecture troops from various regions were also on standby, having long prepared to respond to internal threats.

“No,” the courier said urgently. “I’m saying the court still hasn’t transmitted news to Empress Chu. They’re keeping it from her!”

The courier reports had been cut off by Prince Zhongshan’s side, but the court should restore them! The Empress was still at the border. Such a major event had occurred—why not inform Empress Chu?

Zhang Gu said, “The situation at Empress Chu’s side is also critical. What good would telling her do? Have her deploy troops to aid us? Then what about the border?”

The courier fell silent for a moment. This reasoning made sense. General Chu was gone, and the Empress was facing the Xi Liang King—who knew how mentally and physically exhausted she was? She truly couldn’t spare attention for the capital.

Zhang Gu looked toward the northwest. “I hope when the Empress learns the news, she won’t be too anxious.”

The courier nodded, then sighed. “I hope Old Wang and Erxi can succeed. This is Erxi’s first time going to the border. He’s just a country boy who doesn’t understand much.”

Zhang Gu said quietly, “He’s young, but he’s worked at the country courier station for many years. He’s not truly ignorant of everything. Moreover, not understanding too much is actually better. Now the route is filled with checkpoints. Someone who least resembles a courier might have the best chance of breaking through.”

Though the court wasn’t transmitting news of the capital’s crisis to the Empress, and though they also worried this news would make her anxious, both Empress Chu and Xie Yanlai had instructed them before leaving: regardless of what news came from the capital, whether or not the court sent messages, Zhang Gu must transmit it promptly and as quickly as possible.

Therefore, sensing something was wrong, before the proclamation officials departed, with courier communications severed, Zhang Gu had privately dispatched two couriers who had already left the capital.

Given the current situation and the imminent warfare, the journey certainly wouldn’t be smooth.

Zhang Gu and the courier said nothing more, looking toward the northwest with worry and hope.

The New Year festival had dispelled no cold. The farther northwest one traveled, the harsher the early spring winds became compared to deep winter.

But no matter how cold the wind, it couldn’t freeze the gurgling flow of blood.

Young soldier Ding let out muffled sobs. His whole body trembled. He wished he could remove all his clothes to wrap his companion’s wounds.

His companion was covered with arrows. He didn’t know where to start wrapping the wounds.

When they rushed through the checkpoint, his companion had tightly shielded him in front, blocking the rain of arrows from behind.

“Erxi,” his companion grabbed his hand. “You country boy, haven’t you seen death and injury? What are you crying about?”

Country courier stations never saw death and injury—they barely saw any people at all. Young soldier Erxi sobbed twice. “Brother Wang, Brother Wang, you can’t die! If you die, what will I do?”

Courier Wang cursed, but without strength, it had no force.

He took several deep breaths and said, “Never mind whether I die or not. Go quickly, or they’ll catch up and no one will escape.”

Erxi continued frantically wrapping wounds, shaking his head desperately. “I can’t—I can’t do it alone.”

Old Wang cursed. “You’re going to anger me to death.” He grabbed Erxi’s hand. “Boy, listen to me. Don’t forget what kind of couriers we are. We’re the ones Her Majesty the Empress trusts most. If you came to work with us, then you can do it.”

Erxi continued shaking his head. “No, when I joined you all, you hadn’t been trusted by the Empress yet. Her Majesty the Empress doesn’t even know me.”

Old Wang laughed despite his anger. “Then you, boy, use this chance to prove to Her Majesty the Empress that you’re very capable!” With that, he reached for the arrow lodged in his heart and pressed hard. “Now get lost!”

With this shout, his last breath ceased. No more sounds.

Erxi also let out a cry, covering his face with his hands, sobbing. But the next moment, he stumbled to his feet and rushed into the dense forest in the cold wind, disappearing from sight.

What happened afterward, Erxi couldn’t remember clearly.

Even in dreams, he only repeated past days.

Crouching at the country courier station watching passing couriers, so imposing and impressive—though in others’ eyes, couriers were all dust-covered, bitter, and exhausted.

Or he had joined the capital garrison, become a courier, feeling immensely joyful.

Following Chief Zhang to tour the capital, seeing so many people, so much delicious food, even seeing someone paraded through the streets being beaten, a man wielding a whip to strike that young person.

Chief Zhang pushed him, saying go quickly.

Go where? Go forward? No way—he’d get hit by the whip.

He didn’t want to watch the spectacle anymore. He wanted to go home. He desperately retreated, but Chief Zhang pushed him. He stumbled forward, and that man raised the whip and swung it down at him—

Erxi shouted, covering his head with both hands. Sharp pain pierced him. Someone held his hands. Noisy voices surrounded him.

“—He’s awake.”

“He’s alive.”

“Quickly tell the Empress.”

Empress? Erxi’s consciousness gradually cleared. That’s right—Chief Zhang told him to find the Empress. What was it about? Erxi fumbled over his body—the message, where was the message—

Someone else grabbed his hand.

“I have the message,” a clear female voice said. “You can rest easy.”

She got it?

Did she really get it?

Brother Wang died! Brother Wang died! He couldn’t do it—how could he deliver it alone?

Seeing the courier becoming agitated again, Chu Zhao held his hand and said to the physicians, “Let him rest more.”

The physicians came forward to administer medicine, watching the courier slowly sink into deep sleep.

“Miss, A’Jiu has returned,” A’Le said quietly at the doorway.

Chu Zhao glanced once more at the sleeping courier before walking out.

Xie Yanlai had already strode over. “From Zhongshan Prefecture to the capital, all courier stations have been seized.”

At this point, he glanced toward the inner room.

“For this boy to tunnel through—not easy.”

This was the first time she’d heard him praise someone else. Chu Zhao glanced at him, then heard the next sentence.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t have been so slow.”

Chu Zhao was both exasperated and sighed, interrupting him. “How are things in the capital?”

Xie Yanlai said, “Don’t worry. However sudden Prince Zhongshan’s moves, hasn’t the court long been on guard?”

One could say that from the moment Xi Liang began its war, while the border faced Xi Liang, the court prepared to face Prince Zhongshan.

Though Prince Zhongshan’s actions and methods were even more formidable than anticipated—breaking through the military encirclement, cutting off communications, advancing on the capital—the court wasn’t entirely caught off guard.

Zhong Changrong looked at the tactical map. “No need to worry. The capital garrison has one hundred thousand. The fastest provincial garrison troops that can rush there number two hundred thousand. It won’t be easy for Prince Zhongshan to break into the capital.”

Chu Zhao remained silent.

Xie Yanlai curled his lip. “Don’t worry about the little Emperor. If you can’t trust others, can’t you trust Xie Yanfang? With him in the capital, who can breach it?” At this point, he chuckled. “He’s probably been anticipating this battle all along.”

During the last capital upheaval, Xie Yanfang had suffered such great losses—the renowned young master ending up empty-handed. This time, the young master was determined to recover his reputation.

Chu Zhao said, “I’m not worried.”

Back then, Xiao Xun had favorable timing, terrain, and popular support. Even with Xie Yanfang rebelling, he could still fight Xiao Xun into repeated retreats. Now, with Xie Yanfang defending the capital and possessing favorable timing, terrain, and popular support, it would be even more impossible for Xiao Xun to defeat him.

It was just—

This was warfare.

Fighting Xi Liang was at least on the border, where population was sparse.

When Prince Zhongshan and the court fought, it would be in the central heartland, amid prosperous civilization—

Besieging cities, seizing territory, iron hooves and blades—how tragic would the scenes be?

Moreover, there was another danger—

Chu Zhao suddenly raised her voice, shouting, “Xiao Man!”

No one outside responded. Chu Zhao didn’t call again. Before long, Xiao Man reluctantly entered.

“What?” she asked ungraciously, her head turned away.

“Communications between the capital and here have been cut off,” Chu Zhao said.

Xiao Man scoffed. “Your official troops are so useless.”

Zhong Changrong glared at her furiously. Xie Yanlai actually agreed. “Indeed quite useless.”

Chu Zhao paid no attention to these remarks. “I want to ask you all to establish contact with the capital.”

Xiao Man turned her head away, remaining silent.

Zhong Changrong said coldly, “No need for others. We’ll break through again ourselves. It’s not like we lack people.”

Chu Zhao said to Zhong Changrong, “Our people will naturally also take action. However, for some matters, Xiao Man and her people are more capable.” As she spoke, she bowed her head in thought for a moment, then picked up a brush to write a brief message. She also took out the phoenix seal to stamp it, sealed it properly, and handed it to Xiao Man. “Never mind other matters for now. Deliver this message to Chu Tang.”

Though Xiao Man kept her head turned and said nothing, she reached out to snatch the letter, turned, and left.

Zhong Changrong didn’t bother with the young girl and asked Chu Zhao, “Are you worried the Elder Master’s family is in danger?”

Impossible, right? Chu Lan’s entire family was in the capital. If the capital was secure, what could happen to them?

Xie Yanlai nearby made sounds of understanding.

“An army of righteousness,” he said, looking at Chu Zhao with raised eyebrows and a smile. “You’re in trouble.”