Zhang Gu only felt his ears buzzing, not knowing if it was from the shouting of that group earlier, or from the tense suffocation of being surrounded now.
Miss Chu?
When did they have a miss among them?
He looked at the girl on horseback, wondering if it was because of being addressed as “miss,” but country girl A’Fu’s bearing seemed different now.
The girl gripped the reins, wearing tattered cotton robes. Her previously rough, disheveled hair, having been washed after falling into the water earlier, was now black and smooth. Though her face was somewhat dusty, with her head raised her eyes were fully revealed—black, bright, and dazzling. Surrounded by guards and soldiers, she was like a jade lotus emerging from water, graceful and elegant.
“You have the wrong person,” she said.
A’Jiu beside her had an expression of uncertain shadows, but hearing this, he couldn’t help pressing his lips together, as if wanting to laugh.
She really dared spin any lie—this was encountering fools, counting each one she encountered, and if she didn’t encounter any, so be it.
Xiao Xun, wearing white robes bound with a blue sash, spurred his horse forward, saying with a smile: “The Beicao Town postal station master and the courtesan Li Niang have both identified you. Also, Miss Chu, your portrait has already been delivered to the Prince’s mansion. Wait a bit longer and you’ll be able to see it.”
They had investigated so quickly? Uncle was both selfish and callous, but he was very stupid—he certainly didn’t have this ability. It must have been the Liang family!
Chu Zhao silently and resentfully recited the name “Liang” twice in her heart, then lowered her gaze.
A’Jiu curled his lip. This girl, confirming that playing dumb and muddling through wouldn’t work, was about to start playing pitiful.
“Bad people in the capital are bullying me,” Chu Zhao said in a trembling voice. “I want to go home. I’m going to find my father. I’ve already told my father. My father knows I’m coming back. Whatever you have to say, wait until we’ve seen my father.”
Hearing this—bad people bullying her?—Xiao Xun’s gaze suddenly flicked toward A’Jiu.
A’Jiu immediately noticed, his gaze meeting coldly. Foolish boy, what are you thinking? Do you really think she eloped with him?
What a fierce youth. Xiao Xun wasn’t angry either. He withdrew his gaze and looked at the girl on horseback.
“Miss Chu,” he said. “Your father’s people have also arrived.”
Chu Zhao froze, her hand gripping the reins tightened. Father really knew—
……
……
In the town closest to the riverside, the only inn had been surrounded and cleared out by guards.
Chu Zhao and the postal soldiers walked in.
The innkeeper bowed respectfully with both trepidation and excitement—of course not to them, but to Xiao Xun behind them.
“Your Highness,” he said. “This commoner has personally swept the guest rooms clean.”
Xiao Xun nodded: “Thank you.”
The innkeeper was so excited he didn’t know what to do with his hands and feet: “To serve Your Highness is this commoner’s honor, bringing glory to our ancestors.”
Xiao Xun said nothing more, clearly accustomed to such attitudes.
“You all rest for a bit,” he said to Chu Zhao and the others. “Food has been prepared in the hall.”
Zhang Gu and the others were still in shock. So much had happened in just half a day—they were all dizzy and didn’t react immediately.
Xiao Xun didn’t mind their lack of courtesy. He entered a room with Tie Ying, with no intention of continuing to talk with them.
After he left, Zhang Gu and the others could finally breathe a bit easier.
“So this is Prince Zhongshan’s heir,” a postal soldier said softly. “Long have I admired his great name. His bearing truly is extraordinary.”
Prince Zhongshan, as the Emperor’s youngest brother, had been diligent and studious, modest and courteous from childhood. He had always enjoyed a fine reputation and had the best relationship with the Emperor. After being enfeoffed as Prince Zhongshan, his territory enjoyed favorable weather, abundant harvests, and peaceful livelihood, and he was deeply beloved.
His legitimate eldest son was also intelligent and studious. When young, he was even raised in the palace by the Empress Dowager, treated like the Emperor’s own son.
However, Prince Zhongshan strictly observed the rules. After the Empress Dowager passed away, he recalled his son, and father and son carefully remained within their fief, not venturing out lightly.
They never expected to encounter the Prince’s heir.
Besides the Prince’s heir, there was also A’Fu’s identity—
The postal soldiers’ gazes turned to A’Fu—no, Miss Chu.
“Are you really General Chu Ling’s daughter?” a postal soldier couldn’t help asking.
Chu Zhao made a sound of affirmation.
“Then what about Beicao Town postal station?” “What about Yang Dachun?” “Your mother—”
Chu Zhao’s affirmative sound opened everyone’s floodgates. Various questions poured forth, but Chu Zhao didn’t answer them.
“A’Jiu,” she pushed past these postal soldiers and grabbed A’Jiu.
The postal soldiers’ voices all paused. Their eyes moved complexly between the two, silently asking another question: “Are you two really—”
A’Jiu looked coldly at Chu Zhao, shook off her hand, and stepped back: “Miss Chu, please conduct yourself properly.”
Chu Zhao didn’t care. She pursued another step and grabbed him again, lowering her voice: “Now do you believe me? About my identity.”
A’Jiu looked down at the girl who only reached his chest and made a sound of acknowledgment.
“So you don’t need to worry about me having any improper intentions,” Chu Zhao said, looking up at him, her eyes shining bright, full of hope. “Take me with you. Let’s go see my father.”
A’Jiu laughed despite himself. He bent down slightly and said to Chu Zhao in a low voice: “Miss Chu, for you to go see your father, you’ve created such a huge commotion—what does that mean? It means there’s that much trouble! And I should take you with me? I’m not crazy enough to seek out such trouble!”
Chu Zhao froze. The next moment she was pushed away by A’Jiu.
“Let’s eat,” A’Jiu said, calling to the others. “We’re just postal soldiers. Other matters have nothing to do with us.”
Zhang Gu and the others had complicated expressions. They hesitated, then followed him in.
Chu Zhao stamped her foot behind them: “A’Jiu!” She chased after them.
Standing in the room, Tie Ying saw this scene. These young man and woman’s voices rose and fell, not knowing what they were saying, but seeing this pulling and tugging—
“General Chu’s daughter, how could she be like this,” he couldn’t help saying.
Actually getting entangled with a postal soldier, making scenes of life and death. Although General Chu Ling was said to be unruly and rebellious, from the one or two times he had seen him, he was a refined and elegant military officer.
“Stop staring at other people’s private affairs,” Xiao Xun said, then smiled. “This thing called affection doesn’t follow reason.”
A general’s daughter liking a common soldier wasn’t impossible.
Tie Ying looked at Xiao Xun and muttered: “Then Your Highness, you not liking so many women also doesn’t follow reason.”
Xiao Xun laughed heartily: “I came out here to hide and be comfortable. Don’t talk to me about this.”
Master and servant chatted and laughed. Tie Ying’s gaze remained fixed outside, and suddenly he was delighted: “General Chu’s people have arrived!”
……
……
Seeing a travel-worn man wearing military robes, his face somewhat dark with a scar across it, enter the hall, Chu Zhao was overjoyed, and at the same time her eyes grew hot.
“Uncle Zhong!” she called out, her voice thick with emotion.
Although Uncle Zhong looked fierce because of his disfigurement, he was a good man. As her father’s deputy general, he had grown up with her since childhood. After her father died, he came to the palace to see her, telling her not to be sad.
“Though the General is gone, I’m still here. I will protect you, Miss.”
He kept his word. After her father’s death, he continued to lead troops in campaigns north and south—although Xiao Xun had become Emperor, his reign was turbulent.
A struggle between imperial princes left Great Xia’s borders unstable, with rebellions erupting everywhere. Especially the Dongyang Xie clan, who refused to accept Xiao Xun as Emperor, raised the banner of punishing evil and eliminating wickedness, nearly occupying half the empire.
Uncle Zhong died in battle trying to suppress the rebellion.
She only learned of it long after his death. When she asked Xiao Xun, he only said lightly, “He advanced recklessly and fell into the rebels’ ambush. Out of consideration for your face as Empress, I won’t pursue his family’s guilt.”
But in fact, Uncle Zhong’s wife and daughter had fallen into the hands of the rebel Xie clan. Their fate was obvious.
Chu Zhao grabbed Vice General Zhong’s sleeve, tears falling.
Vice General Zhong saw the girl crying, and a trace of compassion appeared on his stern face: “Miss A’Zhao.”
Chu Zhao cried: “You’ve come to fetch me. Let’s go home quickly.”
Vice General Zhong’s expression stiffened, returning to sternness: “The General said you should stop being willful. Return to the capital immediately. That is your home.”