Owing a meal.

Deng Yi looked at the girl below the gate tower and smiled.

“Indeed, there’s no such thing as a free meal in this world,” he said. “I thought Miss Chu was quite generous.”

Chu Zhao looked at him: “I am generous. When I want something, I don’t stint on payment. Master Deng has seen along the way that I haven’t shortchanged those who helped me.”

This girl had deceived and acted her way along the road, and indeed had been generous with her payments.

But—

“Miss Chu,” Deng Yi looked at her, “rather than calling it payment, it would be more accurate to call it bribery. Without those payments, you couldn’t command them.”

At this point, he smiled.

“Miss Chu is indeed generous, but one meal is not enough to bribe me, Deng Yi.”

He waved his hand lightly.

“Miss Chu, you’ve managed to come here, and I won’t stop you from leaving. So, please go.”

Eunuch Qi was already very anxious and urged Chu Zhao: “Let’s go quickly.”

Deng Yi had made himself clear. He knew that Chu Zhao had reached this place thanks to Chu Wei’s hidden capabilities. Because he was wary of Chu Wei, he wouldn’t make things difficult for them and would let them leave.

Let’s go—as long as they were alive, there would always be a chance.

His Majesty was still alive, General Chu had the Longwei Army, and though the Yang family had fallen, the Xie family still had its foundation. The Little Prince still had a chance.

Chu Zhao gripped the reins, watching Deng Yi on the gate tower about to turn and leave again. Her horse, as if sensing her mood, snorted and turned in place.

She could indeed leave the imperial city and the capital smoothly, even return to the border prefecture to her father’s side. But what then?

What would happen after Xiao Xun ascended the throne?

Not to mention the Little Prince’s awkward status—how could the Prince of Zhongshan and his son possibly spare him?

If Xiao Xun was destined to ascend the throne, didn’t that mean the Little Prince and she were destined to die?

She absolutely could not leave!

“Master Deng,” she called out again, “I invited you to a meal not to bribe you, but as a gift. I know you are extraordinary by nature, and I hope that someday in the future, you might extend a helping hand to give me a way to survive.”

Eunuch Qi was astonished beside her. Was she flattering Deng Yi? Wasn’t it a bit late to say nice things now?

Deng Yi, who had turned around on the wall, couldn’t help but laugh. He looked back at the girl below the gate tower. So, it wasn’t just a meal, but recognition of a hero.

Seeing him turn back and smile, Chu Zhao hurriedly looked at him expectantly: “Master Deng, that meal cost just a few taels of silver, hardly worth mentioning, but it was the greatest sincerity I, Chu Zhao, could offer at that time. Master Deng, I, Chu Zhao, am never stingy. Even if I was bribing others on the road, I gave everything I could.”

Deng Yi looked at the girl below the gate tower, at the plea in her eyes, and also, the determination.

The sincerity she could offer then was a meal.

The sincerity she could offer in the future would be more than just a meal.

Deng Yi’s gaze finally fell on the child leaning against her.

“You want to come in?” he asked.

Eunuch Qi was startled, looking at Deng Yi in disbelief, various thoughts racing through his mind—

Chu Zhao nodded without hesitation: “Yes!”

Deng Yi said: “Only you and the Little Prince may enter. If you wish to come, then approach.”

Having said that, he turned and stepped away without further words.

This time, no shout came from the girl below the gate tower.

But after Deng Yi had walked a few steps, a eunuch came forward to block his path.

“Grand Tutor,” he said in a low voice, “you’ve already promised the Prince of Zhongshan’s heir. At this time, letting others in…”

He looked up at Deng Yi.

“Surely the Grand Tutor doesn’t intend to break his word?”

…

…

Deng Yi looked at this eunuch, naturally recognizing him as the one who spoke for the Prince of Zhongshan.

He smiled slightly: “My letting others in doesn’t mean I won’t let the young master in.”

But that “other person” was no ordinary person—it was the Emperor’s eldest grandson!

A flash of anger crossed the eunuch’s eyes, quickly replaced by helplessness: “Master Deng, with the Little Prince here, is there any need for the young master to come?”

Deng Yi’s smile disappeared: “What? The young master isn’t afraid of the Crown Prince and Third Prince fighting with swords and spears, but he fears a small child? With such timidity, how can he talk about protecting His Majesty?”

He glanced at the eunuch.

“In that case, there’s no need for the young master to come.”

He was about to leave when he thought of something and stopped.

“Also, if we’re talking about keeping one’s word, in this matter, Miss Chu gave me a gift one step ahead of the Prince of Zhongshan.”

Having said this, he ignored the eunuch and strode down from the tower.

The eunuch stood there, his face alternating between pale and flushed, somewhat angry. What did he mean? Miss Chu gave a gift one step ahead of the Prince? What gift? A meal?

But he wasn’t wrong. The eunuch’s eyes regained their calmness. A six-year-old child, even if he was the Emperor’s eldest grandson, so what? The Crown Prince was already dead, the Third Prince had been deposed, the Emperor was on his deathbed—this realm was destined to be the young master’s.

While Deng Yi was being intercepted by the eunuch, outside the city gate, Chu Zhao was also being stopped by Eunuch Qi and Zhong Changrong.

“No, you can’t take the Little Prince in alone,” Eunuch Qi said anxiously. “Who knows what the situation is like inside the palace?”

Looking at Deng Yi’s attitude, the palace was truly dangerous.

The Little Prince couldn’t risk danger again.

Chu Zhao looked at Eunuch Qi: “Eunuch Qi, if we don’t take this risk, the Little Prince will be in constant danger forever.”

Eunuch Qi was taken aback. He understood Chu Zhao’s reasoning, but—

Understanding was one thing, but avoiding immediate danger was another. This Miss Chu, he had figured her out now. She was just like her father, truly brave and stubborn. Once she set her mind on something, not even ten oxen could hold her back!

“Then please trouble Miss Chu to see His Majesty. This old servant will wait outside with the Little Prince,” he said directly, extending his hand toward the child on horseback. “Little Prince, come—”

But the child on horseback remained unmoved, only leaning against Chu Zhao, as if he couldn’t see or hear Eunuch Qi.

Zhong Changrong had heard and looked displeased. This old eunuch wanted to let his young miss face danger alone—these palace people were truly heartless.

“Miss, I’ll go with you,” he said. “I’ve met His Majesty before, with the General.”

Before, the General had taken him to see His Majesty, so he was somewhat familiar with the protocol. Now he could take his miss to see His Majesty.

Chu Zhao dismounted and smiled: “No need, Uncle Zhong. It’s already very good that I could persuade Master Deng to let me and the Little Prince in. Don’t worry.”

Zhong Changrong smiled bitterly. How could he not worry? But if it came to fighting—

He looked at the tightly closed palace gate, at the hidden blades on the palace gate tower. It wasn’t that he feared these blades, but if he brought people to fight with them, what would happen to the Emperor inside? With one command, they would become rebels.

Chu Zhao dismounted and reached out to the child on the horse. The child unhesitatingly threw himself into her arms. She took him down and placed him on the ground.

“Little Prince—” Eunuch Qi reached out again to the child.

But the child avoided his hand and pressed close to Chu Zhao’s side.

Eunuch Qi was taken aback.

At this moment, the palace gate slowly opened a crack, just enough for one person to pass through.

“Miss Chu, please,” a guard from inside said coldly.

Chu Zhao held the child’s hand tightly and looked once more at Eunuch Qi beside her: “Eunuch Qi, you dared to bring the Little Prince out alive, now you should also have the courage to watch as we go in.”

She then smiled at Zhong Changrong, indicating her intent, and led the child toward the palace gate, quickly passing through.

The heavy palace gate closed the instant they stepped through. The palace city ahead was pitch black, with the cold glint of swords, spears, bows, and crossbows flickering in the swaying torchlight.

Chu Zhao felt the child’s hand trembling slightly.

She knelt to be at eye level with him.

This was the first time she had looked at this child carefully. In the misty cyan light, the child’s eyes glistened with moisture.

“Little—” she was about to speak.

“My name is Xiao Yu,” the child suddenly said, his voice soft and trembling. “A-Yu.”

Chu Zhao smiled and called him: “A-Yu.”

Chu Zhao took his hand and held it in her own.

“Your life and my life are bound together. If you die, I will also die. So, trust me. I will certainly do my best to keep us both alive.”

Xiao Yu looked at the girl before him and nodded firmly.