Whether it was the meaning Chu Tang expressed when she captured him, or the meaning conveyed by Prince Zhongshan’s military officers and officials, Prince Zhongshan had been forced to halt his troops because Xiao Xun was captured.

Xiao Xun had always said this before, even blaming himself for being careless, causing his father the Prince’s efforts to fail at the last moment.

Why was he suddenly asking such a question now?

Ning Kun couldn’t help but lower his eyes and sigh softly: “The Heir’s safety is the Prince’s greatest threat.”

Xiao Xun said nothing.

The silence in the room was suffocating.

Xiao Xun suddenly laughed: “I shouldn’t ask you. You were captured together with me and sent to the capital together. You know nothing about what happened on my father the Prince’s side either, and can’t return now.” He stood up, walked to Ning Kun’s side, and gently patted his arm. “Uncle Kun, you’ve also been implicated by me. In the future, having to stay with me in this capital, your wealth of knowledge will see no light of day.”

Ning Kun quickly said: “Heir, you mustn’t say such things—”

Xiao Xun interrupted him with a nod: “I won’t say more. No matter what, I’ll write a letter asking father the Prince to have you sent back. Imprisoning me alone in the capital is sufficient—Uncle Kun, I’m going to help Tie Ying boil water.” He smiled again. “Actually, I’m quite good at taking care of myself.”

With that, the young man strode out.

Ning Kun stood in the hall with changing expressions, lowering his eyes and sighing softly.

……

……

The night was deep and dark. The Emperor’s sleeping palace was brightly lit, and the eunuchs and palace maids walking within had light steps and smiles on their faces.

The Emperor had returned. Although he was a child, everyone’s hearts were at peace.

“His Majesty achieved a great victory. By rights, there should be a banquet.”

“There’s still fighting at the border regions.”

“Besides, the lords in court all seem unhappy.”

It seemed to be because of Prince Zhongshan’s confession of guilt and reward. When escorting His Majesty into the inner palace, several officials nearly came to blows. Fortunately, the imperial city was deep and the common people didn’t see it.

The common people only saw that there would be no more fighting and were reassured, but in truth things were far from over.

Moreover—

“His Majesty has returned, but the Empress hasn’t come back yet.”

Actually, originally everyone had no particular feelings about the Empress. After all, she’d been in the palace for only a short time and quickly left the imperial city. But unexpectedly, after the Empress left the imperial city, they became increasingly familiar with her, thought of her, and looked forward to her return.

“That’s right, when will the Empress return? She still has to handle the aftermath on Prince Zhongshan’s side, doesn’t she?”

“Perhaps the Empress will even go to the border regions—maybe she won’t return until Xi Liang is pacified.”

“How long would that be? One year, two years?”

As the palace maids’ whispered conversation reached this point, the sound of a teacup shattering came from inside the hall. The sleeping palace fell silent for a moment inside and out, then palace maids and inner court attendants rushed in.

“Your Majesty—”

Inside the sleeping hall, Xiao Yu, who had washed up and was wearing his inner garments with his hair down, stood before the table. A teacup lay on the floor.

“Your Majesty.” Eunuch Qi rushed over first.

He had just gone inside to organize the Emperor’s clothing.

Xiao Yu looked at the water stain on his sleeve: “I wanted to drink water and didn’t hold it properly.”

The inner court attendants and palace maids immediately knelt on the floor apologizing.

“It’s not your fault.” Xiao Yu said. “It’s because I don’t let people stay near when I rest.”

Eunuch Qi waved at everyone. The inner court attendants and palace maids all withdrew. Eunuch Qi poured tea for Xiao Yu again and presented it to him.

Xiao Yu slowly took a sip.

“Your Majesty, you’ve been traveling for days. Please rest early.” Eunuch Qi gently urged.

Xiao Yu nodded, but stood without moving.

“Your Majesty—” Eunuch Qi said again.

“I know!” Xiao Yu raised his voice, interrupting him.

Eunuch Qi was startled. This was the first time Xiao Yu had been impatient with him. He quickly bent down, lowered his head, and knelt on the floor: “This servant is guilty.”

The hall was somewhat quiet.

It seemed like a long time passed, yet also seemed like only the blink of an eye.

“Eunuch Qi, please rise quickly.” The child’s voice said. At the same time, a hand reached over and grasped Eunuch Qi’s sleeve. “I know I should rest, and I am indeed very tired, but I miss Sister Chu very much and just wanted to write her a letter.”

Eunuch Qi looked up at Xiao Yu and said softly: “Sister Chu will return very soon. Your Majesty can rest assured.”

Xiao Yu looked at him and nodded: “So I won’t write it. I’ll go to sleep now.”

“If Your Majesty sleeps well and recovers your energy, when the Empress returns and sees you, Your Majesty will have grown taller—she’ll definitely be startled.” Eunuch Qi made a gesture.

Children indeed grew quickly. Xiao Yu, who had aged another year, had also grown somewhat taller.

A smile appeared on Xiao Yu’s face.

Eunuch Qi took his hand and stood up, heading inward: “Your Majesty, the Empress hasn’t returned yet, and Minister Xie is handling the aftermath and hasn’t returned either. Shall this old servant light all the lamps and stay with Your Majesty until you fall asleep?”

Xiao Yu shook his head: “I’ve been on the battlefield. I’m not afraid of anything now. Extinguish the lamps.”

Eunuch Qi acknowledged this and accompanied Xiao Yu into the sleeping chamber. After much deliberation, he placed the bamboo tube beside Xiao Yu before lowering the curtain.

“Your Majesty, this old servant will truly extinguish the lamps now.” He asked again.

The child inside made a sound of acknowledgment.

“Your Majesty.” Eunuch Qi said again. “This old servant will be right beside you. If anything happens, please call for this old servant.”

The child inside made another sound of acknowledgment and even smiled: “Don’t worry, Eunuch Qi. I’m fine.”

Eunuch Qi smiled: “This old servant has been too wordy.” Having said this, he bowed and withdrew.

The lamps in the hall were extinguished one by one.

Standing outside the palace, Eunuch Qi breathed out gently into the deep dark night.

“After personally leading the expedition once, His Majesty’s courage has truly grown,” a young eunuch said happily beside him.

Eunuch Qi paid him no attention, looking at the palace shrouded in darkness.

Was growing bolder good or not good?

……

……

The excitement of the Emperor returning to court in triumph, the disputes in the imperial court regarding Prince Zhongshan—for Chu Zhao in Zhongshan Commandery, all of this had already been settled.

Prince Zhongshan picked up a princely seal from the desk and examined it.

Chu Zhao held half a command token—this represented the one hundred thousand troops Prince Zhongshan had surrendered, the one hundred thousand troops Prince Zhongshan displayed before others. As for the remaining one hundred thousand troops, the court would pretend not to see them.

“However, the Grand Tutor trusts that the Prince will certainly know when to advance and when to retreat.” The official who had come to announce the imperial decree said coldly.

Prince Zhongshan looked at him and smiled: “Did Lord Huang settle his family affairs before coming?”

This referred to the matter of the three decree-announcing officials previously killed by Prince Zhongshan’s heir.

Was this a threat?

Lord Huang’s expression was grim: “Thank you for the Prince’s concern. This official has already made arrangements.”

Prince Zhongshan laughed heartily: “Don’t be nervous. This Prince won’t cut off your head.” Then he smiled and looked at Chu Zhao sitting to the side. “After all, the Empress is here.”

Chu Zhao smiled and put away the command token.

“Yes,” she said. “Before Lord Huang leaves, this palace will sit in the Prince’s residence watching over the Prince.”

Although he had some slight dissatisfaction with this Empress Chu, personally walking into Prince Zhongshan’s residence—more precisely, walking into Zhongshan Commandery—and seeing the soldiers and guards standing everywhere, the tense standoff with drawn swords, and along the way the people in cities, towns, and villages living in fear, was different from sitting in the imperial court in the capital. Although sitting in the court was also tense, it was completely different from personally entering the midst of it all.

This kind of tension was suffocating, left one not knowing what to do, drove one mad.

But this young woman had sat here for a long time, alone.

Lord Huang looked toward Chu Zhao and bowed with a bow: “This official, besides announcing the decree, must also escort Your Majesty back to the palace, so this official will not leave first.”

Actually, the court hadn’t made such a requirement. Escorting Your Majesty back to the palace was something he had added himself.

Chu Zhao smiled and said: “Then Lord Huang must wait a while longer. This palace still needs to wait for news from the border regions.”

Lord Huang acknowledged this.

Prince Zhongshan tapped on the desk: “You sovereign and subject shouldn’t discuss state affairs in this Prince’s residence. Leave, all of you, leave.”

……

……

The great door slowly closed. Having crossed the threshold, Chu Zhao didn’t continue forward but stood still and first took a deep breath.

“Having left Prince Zhongshan’s territory, even the air is fresher.” She said with a sigh.

Lord Huang said beside her: “Your Majesty, now he should be addressed as Prince Zhenguo. Moreover, within the commandery city is still his territory.”

Chu Zhao laughed despite herself. She hadn’t expected Deng Yi to actually further enfeoff Prince Zhongshan, creating a Prince Zhenguo. Did many people think Prince Zhongshan had sent Deng Yi more valuable gifts?

She glanced around. Unfriendly soldiers and horses surrounded them. Prince Zhongshan had only retreated one step—this step was retreating one step from outside the capital. Zhongshan Commandery was still Prince Zhongshan’s territory.

Moreover, previously there had been concealment and evasion, but now there was no need to hide.

Chu Zhao looked at the horses being led over and said: “This palace will first go outside the city to meet with the commander of the troops.”

Lord Huang bowed: “This official will go to the prefectural office to inspect commandery affairs.”

“Dachui.” Chu Zhao called.

Ding Dachui stepped forward in acknowledgment.

“This is the most capable guard who braved mountains of blades and seas of fire together with this palace.” Chu Zhao said. “Now I’ll lend him to Lord Huang for your use.”

Lord Huang bowed again: “This official thanks Your Majesty for the bestowal. This official will not fail the mission.” Having said this, he turned and left.

Ding Dachui was somewhat slow to react and stood dazed. A’Le pushed him: “Are you dizzy? Go quickly!”

Ding Dachui was indeed a bit dizzy. What had the Empress just called him? The most capable guard!

However, dizzy or not, there was one thing he still remembered.

“Captain Xie and the Boss both told me to guard the Empress—” he couldn’t help saying in a low voice.

Chu Zhao heard this and smiled: “Don’t worry. I’m going to see your Boss right now. I’ll mention it to her for you. As for Captain Xie—”

Chu Zhao winked at him.

“He’s far away and won’t know.”