The feast was just talk. Xie Yanlai pursed his lips and stood up—how could there be any feast at a time like this?

“Why not?” Chu Zhao pulled down the cloak and pointed toward the city. “The Prince of Zhongshan has admitted his guilt and surrendered. The army should celebrate. As the Empress, I will set up a grand feast under the open sky. Who would dare say it’s not allowed?”

Xie Yanlai looked at the girl standing tall with the cloak in her arms. Although he had known from their first meeting that this girl was formidable, with each new encounter, she showed different changes, becoming increasingly dazzling.

Indeed, she was the Empress. She had made the Prince of Zhongshan bow his head, and no one could object to her holding a grand feast.

Xie Yanlai also looked toward the city: “The Empress has achieved a great victory and can certainly hold a feast. But for this subject’s feast, let’s wait a while. After the King of Western Liang is defeated, it won’t be too late to bestow such a reward.”

“A feast doesn’t have to be a reward,” Chu Zhao said. “It could be encouragement. After this feast, Commander Xie will achieve great merit.”

Xie Yanlai laughed: “Never mind. I can achieve greater merit by returning quickly, in case your Uncle Zhong becomes confused and is persuaded by someone to act rashly. Then I wouldn’t be able to enjoy any feast at all.”

Chu Zhao muttered: “I knew if I woke you up, you’d want to leave immediately.”

So when he had fallen asleep from exhaustion, she had preferred to let him sleep on the ground rather than wake him to go sleep in a warm, soft bed in the tent. Because she knew that once awake, he wouldn’t be willing to sleep.

He had rushed to see her, and he was in a rush to leave immediately.

Xie Yanlai didn’t hear clearly and lowered his head to ask: “What did you say?”

Chu Zhao smiled: “I didn’t say anything.”

“Certainly nothing good,” Xie Yanlai snorted.

Chu Zhao laughed: “I know you can’t be away from the border army for long. You were worried about me and hurried here to check on me. I’m fine, don’t worry.” As she spoke, she took out two letters.

“Before you came, I had already written letters to you and Uncle Zhong. Now that you’re here, I don’t need to send someone specially to deliver them.”

Xie Yanlai made a sound and reached for one: “I don’t need mine, right? You can just tell me what you wanted to say.”

Chu Zhao pressed it into his hand: “I’ve already written it, so I’m too lazy to say it again. Read it yourself.”

Xie Yanlai didn’t try to give it back but put it away, correcting her: “It’s not that I was worried about you. It was Zhong Changrong. He forced me to come.”

Chu Zhao hugged the cloak and walked forward, nodding: “I know, I know.”

What did she know with that attitude? Just perfunctory agreement. Xie Yanlai followed her to explain: “What happens here is of great importance. Do you know that your life and death affect our lives and deaths? You—”

Before he could finish, Chu Zhao called loudly for A-Le.

As soon as she called, A-Le ran over from the nearest bonfire, carrying a food box. She stopped in front of Chu Zhao and opened it. Chu Zhao took out a covered bowl.

“Commander Xie,” she said, “you don’t need to say more. I understand everything. Please drink this bowl of nourishing soup and return with my good wishes.”

Xie Yanlai looked at her, reached out to take it, and was about to drink it all in one go—

“It’s scalding!” Xie Yanlai nearly bit his tongue off. “Chu Zhao, did you do this on purpose?”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily, standing on tiptoe to fan it for him: “No, no.”

A-Le pursed her lips and said: “We didn’t know when you would wake up. It’s been simmering all this time, and we didn’t dare let it cool. This is for your good.”

“You mistress and servant, have nothing but ill intentions,” Xie Yanlai raised an eyebrow and said. “First a giant medicinal pill to choke me, then bitter medicine to torture me, and now you want to scald me to death.”

While complaining, he slowly finished the soup.

Chu Zhao took out two pastries from the food box and offered them to him: “Apricot blossom cakes, a specialty of the Prince of Zhongshan’s kitchen. I ate many when I was confined there. You can’t get these in the border region. Try something fresh.”

Even with his humble origins, Xie Yanlai was still a member of the Xie family, Xie Yanfang’s brother. The Xie family wouldn’t deprive him of food and drink. He would surely have fine clothing and exquisite food, and had personally witnessed the maids in the Xie household treating him like a precious jewel.

The night concealed the weathered roughness on the young man’s face.

Xie Yanlai looked at the cake that was almost being pushed to his lips and surrendered, snatching it from her: “So while I was asleep, you prepared all these things to eat and drink?”

Chu Zhao laughed: “There wasn’t much else to do.”

Xie Yanlai swallowed the apricot blossom cake in a few bites: “Then I’m leaving.”

Chu Zhao made a sound of surprise.

Xie Yanlai put down his foot that hadn’t yet lifted and asked impatiently: “What now?”

Chu Zhao looked at him and took out a paper package from the food box: “These are wrapped cakes. Take them to eat on your journey.”

Xie Yanlai rolled his eyes, truly exasperated. He grabbed them and stuffed them into his robes, then started to walk away.

“You and Uncle Zhong should be careful too,” Chu Zhao said, following him a few steps to remind him.

Xie Yanlai turned back and smiled: “Is that right for the Empress to say? You are fearless, yet you want us to cling to life and fear death?”

Chu Zhao smiled: “My fearlessness is also for the sake of living. It’s wonderful when everyone is alive.”

Xie Yanlai chuckled twice and turned to walk away again.

Chu Zhao watched him leave, feeling she should say something, yet having nothing to say. But after Xie Yanlai had walked a few steps, he turned and beckoned to her.

Chu Zhao hurried over.

“What is it?” she asked happily.

In the night, the girl’s smiling eyes shone brightly, like fallen stars. Xie Yanlai averted his gaze, feeling a desire to smile.

“What are you so happy about?” he muttered.

“Hurry and tell me,” Chu Zhao urged. “Is there something you want? People? Weapons? Do you have any trouble? People? I’m the Empress now. If there are people you can’t handle, I’ll take care of them.”

Xie Yanlai laughed heartily. This girl, when she was nothing at the beginning, already dared to fight this person and scold that person. Now that she’s the Empress, she’s even more aggressive, isn’t she? Just listen to her tone—

“You’re so powerful, yet why do you find it so difficult to talk to her?” he said.

Chu Zhao was startled for a moment. Her? Who?

Xie Yanlai looked at her: “Mu Mian Hong.”

Her? Chu Zhao made a sound of acknowledgment and looked to the side. Everything was fine; why bring her up?

“It’s not difficult,” she said. “When you interrupted us, she and I were getting along fine.”

Xie Yanlai snorted.

Chu Zhao lowered her head and sighed: “It’s not that it’s difficult. I haven’t thought much about it. We’re just… not familiar with each other.”

Having never had a mother, then suddenly having one appear, and with their separation happening for those reasons, the fact that she could now speak to Mu Mian Hong was already quite an achievement. Xie Yanlai’s gaze softened somewhat.

He turned his head and coughed lightly: “So what if you’re not familiar? Aren’t you most skilled at dealing with all sorts of people?”

Chu Zhao smiled again: “How am I skilled?”

Xie Yanlai pointed at himself: “People like me, and your cousin, and all those complicated men and women in the capital. We used to fight fiercely, but now haven’t you captivated everyone?”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily, tilting her head to look at him: “If I’m really that impressive, then it seems even you, A-Jiu, have been captivated by me.”

Xie Yanlai spat: “You just won’t stop twisting my words.” With that, he strode away.

Chu Zhao hurriedly caught up with him, circling to stand in front of him, and smiled: “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have teased Master A-Jiu.” Then she put away her smile and said seriously, “I understand what you mean. I do feel somewhat uncertain about how to face her, and I don’t want to face her—”

She shook her head and gave a self-mocking smile.

“But I also can’t stay away from her.”

“When I was young, she abandoned me, but now, my life has been saved by her.”

“Should I kneel to thank her for saving my life, or should I rightfully say that this is what she owes me?”

“If I thank her, there is some resentment in my heart.”

“If I resent her, I have no right to do so.”

“What’s more ridiculous is that I can’t even say to her now, ‘Go away, I don’t want to see you,’ because I need her, I still need to use her.”

“It seems like she doesn’t have the right to see me, but in reality, it’s me—I don’t have the right to refuse to see her.”

“Should I disdain her as a mother, or should I be grateful to have such a mother?”

“How should I face her? With joy? With anger? Or with calculation?”

As she spoke, tears fell, and she lowered her head.

Xie Yanlai reached out. He wanted to pat the girl’s head, but as his hand extended, it unconsciously fell on her shoulder, pulling her firmly into his embrace.

If she needed to cry, let her cry against him. He would shield her, and no one would see.