When a group of civilians appeared stumbling and crying in their field of vision, Chu Zhao thought it would be the same as before—Xiao Xun’s side using them as human walls, as human shields, to fill trenches, trip horse ropes…

But this time, there was no forest-like military formation following behind the civilians.

There were troops galloping as well, but they scattered left and right, protecting these civilians like wings.

These were the court’s scouts.

“Your Majesty the Empress—” a scout galloped to report. “These are civilians from Han Commandery. They’ve come to report that the people of Han Commandery are engaged in chaotic fighting with the rebels.”

Upon hearing this news, the first thought of the other officers was: a new rebel strategy?

Previously, the rebels had used civilians to force them to retreat and yield position. Now were they using civilians to lure them into the city?

Soon those civilians were brought forward. Though they didn’t know what the Empress looked like, upon seeing the female general in red within the military formation, they all knelt and cried out for the Empress.

“The Xiao traitor oppresses the people—we cannot survive.”

“Random killings, humiliation.”

“The people of the commandery capital could no longer endure it.”

“Everyone rose up together, stormed the government office, killed the officers, and opened the city gates.”

“We’re seeking Her Majesty the Empress to save us—”

“Over a hundred rushed out, but only we dozen or so survived.”

“Your Majesty the Empress, Your Majesty the Empress, we’ve finally found you—”

“Your Majesty the Empress, quickly save us, save us—”

After hearing the civilians’ account, Chu Zhao looked to the scouts.

“Forward reconnaissance reports the commandery capital of Han does appear abnormal,” the scout said. “Smoke and fire billow within the city.”

“Since—” Chu Zhao was about to speak.

The officers beside her hurriedly urged again: “Your Majesty, be cautious. Have the troops investigate further.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” An officer said in a low voice, “The prefectures and commanderies here were cultivated by Prince Zhongshan for years, submitting to Xiao Xun immediately. We must be careful.”

Chu Zhao looked at the grieving civilians before the military formation, then toward the distance. When civilians fought against official troops, no matter their numbers, they were like eggs striking stones.

“We cannot wait,” Chu Zhao said. “Even if this is a rebel conspiracy, those civilians are truly suffering trampling. With nowhere to go and nowhere to flee, if even we abandon them, what difference is there between us and the rebels? What face would we have to call them subjects of Da Xia?”

The officers exchanged glances and said no more, bowing in salute: “Please Your Majesty deploy troops!”

Chu Zhao raised her hand and waved. Behind her, Xiao Man immediately waved the battle flag. Within the military formation, war drums gradually rose, and the formation slowly moved across the earth.

The war drums and galloping troops made the entire ground tremble.

As the military formation moved out, the rear encampment became quieter. Xie Yanlai, sitting in a rocking chair basking in the spring sun, yawned.

“Time to break camp?” he said, then looked at the sky. “Just in time for a meal.”

He turned to look at the soldier beside him.

“Let’s eat first.”

The soldier acknowledged: “General Xie, the old duck soup you requested yesterday has been simmering. I’ll go check if it’s ready.”

The soldier turned to leave but was stopped by A’Le approaching: “Eat what? The Empress has gone to battle, and you’re still here waiting for food and drink.”

Xie Yanlai sat in the rocking chair, gently swaying: “Why not? I don’t need to go fight. I’m here to recuperate.”

A’Le glared and scrutinized him: “I think you’re here to get fat!”

Xie Yanlai reached up to touch his face: “Fat what? I was quite gaunt before. I’m far from recovering. It’ll take at least two or three years to properly recuperate.”

A’Le grabbed his rocking chair, about to overturn it: “Recuperate what!”

“You crude servant girl!” Xie Yanlai shouted. “After so many years as the Empress’s palace maid, you’ve made no progress at all!”

The two bickered noisily. Xie Yanlai ultimately didn’t get his old duck soup, but he also didn’t run off to lead troops in the siege. Instead, he packed up and followed with the supply train in the rear. By the time he caught up the next day, the commandery capital had already been taken.

Smoke curled through the air. Amid the devastation throughout the city, the noble families of the commandery led the surviving civilians to kowtow to the Empress.

“We are guilty and ashamed to face Your Majesty.” The leading elders kowtowed tearfully. Their hair and beards were disheveled, clothing untidy—they had narrowly escaped death.

Following their prostration, the surviving civilians knelt and wept loudly, also claiming their guilt.

“We were first deceived by Prince Zhongshan, believing him a good prince who served country and people.”

“Then blinded by Deng Yi, thinking Xiao Xun was truly entrusted with the throne by the Late Emperor, the legitimate line of Da Xia.”

“We pledged loyalty to His Majesty, honoring him as sovereign.”

“Who knew the Xiao traitor’s officers and soldiers would be so depraved, treating us like pigs and dogs, bullying and humiliating us at will, even taking pleasure in killing—”

“We could endure no longer and could only fight to the death, seeking rescue from Your Majesty the Empress—”

At this point, the elders wept uncontrollably, covering their faces with both hands, striking their heads to the ground.

“We deserve death ten thousand times. Thank you, Your Majesty, for not abandoning us. Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving our lives.”

After hearing these words and seeing everyone weeping in disarray and distress, Chu Zhao sighed softly. She understood what had happened—the noble families within the city had joined forces, setting up a Hongmen Feast to poison the attending officers. To poison these officers, several elders had willingly shared the poisoned wine.

Then, led by the noble families, the civilians stormed the government office, seized weapons, and engaged in chaotic combat with the garrisoned soldiers.

Though the civilians all rose to fight, they were no match for the troops. Fortunately, Chu Zhao arrived with forces in time; otherwise they would all have been slaughtered.

“Please rise quickly.” Chu Zhao stepped forward, personally helping the elders up, then looked at the kneeling civilians. “You are not guilty. Even if you were deceived, it is this Palace’s fault. This Palace arrived too late.”

“Your Majesty the Empress—”

Hearing these words, the elders and civilians finally felt at ease, prostrating again with sorrowful cries.

“Long live Her Majesty the Empress!”

After taking the commandery capital, there was much to handle—pursuing fleeing soldiers, deploying defenses around the perimeter, searching within the city. Though these noble families and many civilians all claimed submission, personnel still needed strict inspection to prevent spies. It wasn’t until dusk fell that she reached her resting place.

A’Le had already tidied the lodging, heated water, and prepared hot food.

Chu Zhao sat down, drank a mouthful of hot tea, caught her breath, and suddenly thought of something, looking around: “Where’s Xie Yanlai?”

In the army, Xiao Man stayed close by her side, while A’Le remained in the rear, responsible for overseeing Chu Zhao’s daily needs. Besides A’Le, there was also Xie Yanlai in the rear.

Of course, he wasn’t there to oversee her needs, but to mooch off being cared for alongside her.

Each time they rested, Xie Yanlai was always present, already enjoying the good food and drink in advance.

Why wasn’t he here today?

A’Le snorted: “When Your Majesty fights, he hides in the rear enjoying leisure. Now that the fighting’s done, he’s wandered off somewhere.”

Wandering around the commandery capital? Chu Zhao thought for a moment and put her outer robe back on: “I’ll go look.” With that, she went out.

A’Le could only curse Xie Yanlai again for preventing the young lady from resting.

Though Xie Yanlai had wandered about, Chu Zhao immediately learned his location—the place outside the city where corpses were being collected.

Night had fallen. In the open ground outside the city, torches burned. Densely packed corpses filled the space—these were only the civilians’ bodies; the soldiers were in another location.

Some of the deceased civilians had been taken away by surviving family members. Others had lost their entire families. At this moment, more than half were already covered with grass mats, while the other half remained uncovered—there were too many dead, not enough grass mats.

Among the dense corpses stood a person, seeming to survey yet seeming lost in thought.

He wore black clothes. The firelight danced across his face, as if outlining ghostly patterns.

“In warfare, commoners suffer most,” Chu Zhao said softly, walking to his side. “We arrived too late to save them from the sea of suffering.”

“Sea of suffering.” Xie Yanlai repeated these words. “Perhaps they didn’t know they were in a sea of suffering, nor whether they’ve escaped it.”

The campaign wouldn’t end for a day, so people lived in constant anxiety. Today they’d retaken this city, but there was no guarantee they wouldn’t lose it again someday. Chu Zhao fell silent for a moment. She truly had no right to claim she was saving civilians from their sea of suffering.

She looked around. Among the dead were old and young. That previous life must have been the same situation. She’d thought she could avoid it in this life, yet here was internal strife and warfare again.

Chu Zhao said softly, “You don’t know what happened in the city yet, do you? Xiao Xun’s officers and soldiers were tyrannical and cruel, harming commoners. They even frightened the submissive noble families, who recognized he wasn’t an enlightened ruler. They persuaded the entire city’s civilians to rise up in rebellion, catching the commandery’s officers and soldiers off guard. That’s why this city fell so easily.”

“Frightened?” Xie Yanlai sneered. “These noble families would be frightened by civilians being harmed? If they’re so easily frightened, why would they have rebelled with Xiao Xun in the first place?”

Chu Zhao frowned slightly. “You’re saying these noble families can’t be trusted. I know this too. After all, they previously submitted to Xiao Xun. To call them innocent wouldn’t be accurate. But right now, it’s not good to pursue their crime of rebellion…”

Xie Yanlai interrupted her: “That’s not what I mean.”

“Then what do you mean?” Chu Zhao asked.

Xie Yanlai averted his gaze: “I don’t mean anything.”

What’s this about? Chu Zhao said, “Xie Yanlai, is there something you can’t tell me?”

Xie Yanlai laughed mirthlessly. “Why wouldn’t I have things I can’t tell you? I—”

His words were cut short as an officer came seeking them, calling loudly: “Empress, urgent message from the capital.”

Xie Yanlai stopped speaking. Chu Zhao also turned: “Is it a letter from His Majesty?”

The officer nodded: “There’s one from His Majesty, and also letters from Lord Xie and others.”

While on campaign, letters from the capital continued. Xiao Yu wrote to her in detail about daily matters, while Xie Yanfang explained court affairs one by one. He even had officials from various departments write letters—not truly expecting her to handle court business, as Xie Yanfang resolved many matters himself. It was to involve her, as if she still sat high in court.

A smile appeared in Chu Zhao’s eyes. Before she could speak, Xie Yanlai beside her walked away.

“Hey,” she called. “We haven’t finished talking.”

Xie Yanlai didn’t look back, only waved his hand dismissively and strode toward the other side.

“Your Majesty, this is His Majesty’s letter.” The officer also approached Chu Zhao, respectfully presenting a letter first.

Chu Zhao glanced once more at the departing Xie Yanlai. Fine, if he didn’t want to talk, she wouldn’t press. This wasn’t the place for conversation anyway. She accepted the letter and walked toward the city.

“His Majesty has written quite a lot again,” Chu Zhao said, examining the thick envelope in her hand, then looking at what the officer held. “Which one is Lord Xie’s?”

The officer quickly pulled it out, smiling: “This one.”

Chu Zhao shook it in her hand—thin, just one sheet.

“Why is Lord Xie so brief this time?” she said, simply opening it immediately. Inside the envelope was only a talisman.

Chu Zhao paused, holding it up to examine by the city gate’s lamplight. What was this?

The officer beside her studied it for a moment, then smiled: “This is a peace and auspiciousness talisman from the Great Buddha Temple in the capital. When I went on campaign, my family also obtained one for me.”

Chu Zhao laughed: “He actually believes in such things?”

The officer smiled: “Your Majesty campaigns abroad. Lord Xie worries. Believing in a few more ensures greater safety. My wife visited every deity and Buddha she could.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily.

Standing in the night-shrouded area outside the city, Xie Yanlai turned his head, watching Chu Zhao pass through the brightly lit city gate.

What did he mean? Warfare was precisely this meaning.

Warfare always meant people would die. Victory was better than defeat. Should he insist on pursuing the suspicion that Han Commandery’s civilians weren’t necessarily harmed by Xiao Xun’s officers and soldiers, but were intimidated, incited, and deceived by others, stirring up internal chaos?

What would be the point of saying that? To insist these corpses covering the ground, these dead civilians, weren’t killed by Xiao Xun but died by the Empress’s hand?

Someone was indeed doing evil, was indeed heartless, but at this moment, what they were doing was protecting her, making her invincible, making her shine with radiance.

Should he drag her down into the mud, leaving her not only physically exhausted but mentally tormented?

Pointless.

Xie Yanlai’s gaze shifted to the ground covered with corpses.

Pointless. Life and death, tears and laughter—merely games in others’ hands.

He withdrew his gaze, turned, and disappeared into the night with long strides.

……

……

After an almost sleepless night, Chu Zhao finally finished handling Han Commandery’s numerous matters and reading the letters sent from the capital.

She saved Xiao Yu’s letter for last, to accompany her meal and soothe body and mind.

“Reading His Majesty’s letter, Miss can eat, bathe, change clothes, and sleep well,” A’Le said beside her, holding hot soup and feeding Chu Zhao spoonful by spoonful so Chu Zhao could keep her hands free.

Chu Zhao leaned back in the chair, enjoying A’Le’s service, lazily opening the letter. Suddenly thinking of something, she sat up.

A’Le quickly moved the spoon away, nearly poking her face.

“There’s one more thing,” Chu Zhao said, setting down Xiao Yu’s letter, spreading out paper, and picking up brush and ink. “I need to give instructions.”

A’Le sighed helplessly but didn’t urge the young lady to rest. Warfare was like this—not a moment could be delayed. If the commanding general rested and closed her eyes for a bit, she might miss the opportune moment for battle, resulting in heavy casualties.

She also set down the soup bowl and went to the outer room to supervise the cook keeping water and food hot.

Chu Zhao quickly finished writing and called for Xiao Man.

Xiao Man, who had just lain down in the adjacent room, rushed out irritably: “What is it!”

Chu Zhao smiled and handed her the letter, saying: “Give this to Ding Dachui. Have him send people to Han Commandery to investigate this internal chaos.”

Xiao Man muttered about what was so urgent, took the letter, and was about to head out when A’Le rushed in from outside, nearly colliding with her.

“Miss,” she said urgently, “Xie Yanlai has disappeared!”