“Xiao Man is very capable, Xiao Man is very capable.” The gentle female voice repeated in her ear, like a lullaby from childhood.

Xiao Man lay in the warm embrace, crying until her nose stung.

Before departing, her aunt had said she would place people along the route, in case Xiao Man had unexpected needs.

Just now, whether it was Chu Zhao or that old military officer Bai, although neither said anything, Xiao Man could tell they were prepared to die.

If Chu Zhao died here—

She rushed out recklessly, like a headless fly, continuously calling out the stronghold’s secret signal.

She hadn’t expected to get a response.

They had left the capital in haste, constantly changing routes, traveling through remote areas. After leaving the border prefecture, she had realized just how vast the Great Xia was—

When she heard a response, she couldn’t believe it, let alone seeing her aunt in person.

Her aunt had come personally. Her aunt was here. Her aunt was present.

She had always thought herself capable—able to ride and kill at a young age, daring to lead a group away from familiar surroundings to the capital, even fighting her way into the imperial palace.

She, Xiao Man, feared nothing in heaven or earth.

But at this moment, throwing herself into her aunt’s embrace, she realized how helpless she was, how afraid. She had always been the child protected by her aunt.

“I didn’t expect to meet you either,” her aunt’s voice gently explained, hand stroking the girl’s back. “Since receiving your letter, although I’ve never been an official, I knew that a high position and great power inevitably bring danger. So I came out personally, acquiring several more strongholds along the way to have more eyes and ears—”

“Don’t be afraid, Manman. Even if you hadn’t met me, you would have met others. All our people have come out, and we have people on every road from the capital to home.”

They definitely wouldn’t make it to the capital, but by walking a few more steps on the road, they could be closer to that girl, and their hearts could be more at peace.

Xiao Man suddenly rose from the embrace—this wasn’t the time to indulge in family comfort.

There were still family members facing life-threatening danger.

“Aunt,” she grabbed the woman’s arm. “Quickly, Chu Zhao is under attack.”

The woman looked at her and nodded: “I know.” She reached out to wipe the blood from Xiao Man’s face.

Without looking down, Xiao Man knew how frightening she must appear now, probably covered in blood. Seeing her like this, her aunt must have guessed something had happened, but she still held her in her arms to comfort her—

Chu Zhao had never had this opportunity.

She couldn’t let Chu Zhao never have this chance!

“Their numbers aren’t many, but they’re formidable. Chu Zhao and Old Bai said they’re government troops, elite and fierce soldiers, come to kill us.”

“We’ve retreated to this position.”

Xiao Man drew the positions on the ground. Though tear stains remained on her face, her voice had regained clarity. The woman didn’t speak, carefully examining the topographical map she had drawn.

Three or four more men flew in from a distance, standing nearby with solemn expressions, listening to Xiao Man speak.

…

When Ding Dachui saw the girl throw herself into the new boss’s arms, crying “wuwuwu,” he led his brothers away.

These were their people, so they wouldn’t meddle.

Ding Dachui led his brothers to retrieve the wild boar they had abandoned earlier, wanting the new guests to taste the mountain delicacies—

The thought flashed by and seemed somewhat amusing.

Was this to show off? To let these people know how valuable their stronghold was to be robbed?

But before Ding Dachui and his men had gone far, a series of urgent bird calls came from the stronghold, accompanied by wooden clappers—

This was the assembly call.

Bird calls were the newcomers’ usual method, but as time had been short and the signals numerous, Ding Dachui and his men couldn’t remember them all, so wooden clappers were used instead.

Ding Dachui and his men hurried back to the stronghold to find the new boss emerging with the girl.

Standing closer, they could see the girl’s bedraggled appearance, her body spattered with blood.

“Brothers,” the new boss spoke softly, yet clearly reached everyone’s ears, “a big opportunity has arrived. Let’s all go make our fortune.”

…

Night fell, and the mountains seemed instantly swallowed by darkness.

It was as quiet as if no one existed.

Only those nearby could hear each other’s breathing.

A-Le stood up slightly, looking ahead. There were no more arrows, fire, or shouting from before. After the fierce battle to cover Xiao Man’s escape, the enemy seemed to have retreated.

This appeared to be a good opportunity to leave, but neither Old Bai nor Chu Zhao suggested it.

A scout was quietly remarking to Old Bai, “The young lady is truly composed.”

Although Chu Zhao was the Empress, since that night when they discovered she was General Chu’s daughter, they had grown accustomed to calling her “young lady.” The Dragon Might Army wasn’t the Great Xia’s regular troops but the private forces of the late Emperor and General Chu.

The Empress belonged to the people of the realm, but the young lady was their young lady—they were different.

“That goes without saying,” Old Bai said quietly. “You’ve seen the young lady’s valor before.”

Although that night’s situation hadn’t been as dangerous as this.

The scout said softly: “Of course I know the young lady is valiant, but I mean she’s valiant without being reckless.”

Since encountering the bandits, Chu Zhao had followed their advance and retreat, avoiding detection without saying an extra word or giving commands. Even though the enemy seemed to have withdrawn, she hadn’t even asked once if they should break through—

While these two spoke in hushed tones, on the other side, Chu Zhao reached out to push A-Le down: “Don’t stand up, beware of hidden arrows.”

A-Le once again took cover with Chu Zhao behind the rocks.

“I wonder how Xiao Man is doing,” A-Le couldn’t help whispering.

Chu Zhao replied: “Don’t worry, though she’s young, she’s very steady and measured in her actions.”

A-Le nodded. She didn’t speculate that Xiao Man had died or fled, but firmly believed that Xiao Man was their hope.

Old Bai moved over from the side and said quietly: “From here to the nearest government office is half a day’s ride at full gallop, plus the return journey—Your Highness, if we can make it through tonight, we’ll be fine.”

This night would not be easy to endure. Chu Zhao nodded, then, realizing Old Bai couldn’t see, added a sound of agreement: “Tonight will certainly be a fierce battle.”

They were waiting for reinforcements, and the enemy would naturally guard against reinforcements, certainly trying to finish them off before help arrived.

At that moment, a fire arrow suddenly flashed.

Like a beam of light tearing through the night.

Old Bai shouted, “Enemy attack!”

Firelight devoured the mountain night, but the continuous mountains acted as a barrier, isolating everything within the deep valleys.

On the plains far from the mountains, even standing on the highest tower, one couldn’t see what was happening in the mountains.

“I wonder how it’s going,” Xiao Xun muttered to himself.

Tie Ying frowned: “It’s taken so long, and they still haven’t captured them. They don’t even have many people.”

Xiao Xun turned to look at him: “Tie Ying, you’re underestimating her again. Have you forgotten why we’re here?”

In the lamplight of the high tower, one could see Tie Ying’s face instantly flush red—shame, but even more so, grief and anger.

Xiao Xun looked away from him, gazing into the night: “At this moment, I should be in the imperial palace. In the imperial garden, there’s a Linglong Mountain with a Linglong Pavilion atop it. When I was a child in the palace, I especially loved to play there. Standing in the Linglong Pavilion, one could see the entire imperial city—”

His gaze grew distant.

“The imperial city, so vast.”

As a child, he had feared this enormous imperial city, thinking how difficult it would be to leave.

Back then, his fear came from his youth, from ignorance.

Now, of course, he wasn’t afraid. Instead, he thought how good it would feel if he could rise above the imperial city, to be its master.

It was a pity he was one step short.

Tie Ying clenched his fist: “All because of what that Chu woman did! I’ll go capture her right now!” With that, he was about to jump down from the high tower.

Xiao Xun held him back: “What’s the rush? When she’s captured, we’ll go rescue her. Wouldn’t that be better?”