The girl’s voice rang out in the tent, rhythmic and well-reasoned, moving and compelling.

Ding Dachui was somewhat distracted, probably because he’d already heard similar words once before.

In any case, both women were persuading them to serve as guards, not avoiding the fact that this was dangerous, but promising generous rewards.

Ding Dachui’s tension dissipated, and he even had an amusing thought—these two women were both trying to win them over and bewitch them into doing the same thing. Who knew which one would win in the end?

Hmm—didn’t this mean the decision was actually in their hands?

If he listened to the new boss later, he could catch this big fish that was the girl’s family. If he truly became the girl’s guard, they could take down the new boss together—

Either way, in the end they’d receive generous rewards.

That’s right, this was like a shrewd hunter encountering two fierce beasts—no need to rush or panic, first let the two beasts fight each other.

So what if they were fierce and had great wealth? They were the ones fighting—he was sitting on the mountain watching tigers fight, reaping the fisherman’s profit.

Ding Dachui couldn’t help but smile.

“Uncle Ding?” Chu Zhao asked. “Do you have something to say?”

Xiao Man, who had turned her head, immediately looked at Ding Dachui with warning eyes that also carried some nervousness—he’d better not say what he shouldn’t!

Ding Dachui made a sound of surprise, looking at Chu Zhao. “What?”

Had she frightened him? He seemed dazed. Chu Zhao’s expression became even more amiable as she said sincerely, “I need you all. Are you willing to go to Yunzhong Commandery with me?”

Ding Dachui made a sound of understanding. How should he respond? Before he could think, another female voice sounded beside his ear.

“Husband.”

At the same time, a hand shook his arm.

Ding Dachui started, turning his stiff neck to look at the woman standing beside him—

She still appeared nervous and constrained, only slightly raising her head, her voice trembling yet seemingly having made some resolution. “Husband, you go. Don’t worry about this humble woman. This humble woman will wait for you to return safely.”

Ding Dachui made another sound of understanding. He wanted to speak, but Chu Zhao across from him spoke first again.

“Aunt Ding,” she said with a smile, looking at the woman leaning against Ding Dachui’s side. “This journey is indeed very dangerous. If you’re worried, why not come along together?”

Hearing this, the several people with their various expressions were instantly shocked. Even Aunt Ding, who had been keeping her head lowered, looked up.

……

……

The glances flying between them, their various expressions—Chu Zhao saw it all, but wasn’t surprised. She even showed a knowing smile.

She understood this woman’s identity—

Also a bandit.

This wasn’t a judgment based on law, where a bandit’s wife would be punished as a bandit too.

It was based on Ding Dachui and Ge Laosan’s attitudes. This woman was no dependent—clearly she must have “hunted” together with them.

Their thoughts, the glances now flying about—she understood those too. Nothing more than speculating about her intentions: goodwill or coercion?

Bringing along family members too, to live and die together, binding hearts as one—no one could escape.

Actually, her meaning wasn’t that complicated.

Chu Zhao said, “I just think that rather than worrying at home, it’s better to travel together. Even personally witnessing and experiencing danger would be more reassuring.”

She smiled, looking at the woman. Though the woman had raised her head, only her eyes were visible.

When she looked over, the woman’s eyes also looked at her, then immediately looked away—anxious, uneasy, panicked, and even ashamed?

Anxious, uneasy, and panicked—Chu Zhao could understand that. This matter was indeed unsettling for them.

But ashamed… why? Because of their bandit identity?

Actually, she was overthinking it. Women who were bandits didn’t need to feel ashamed of themselves.

Chu Zhao’s smile became more gentle as she looked at the woman.

“I think if Aunt Ding stays together with Uncle Ding, you won’t fear even mountains of blades or seas of fire.”

Hearing these words, the woman’s averted gaze finally looked back. She looked at Chu Zhao, nodded then shook her head. “Yes, I’m not afraid.”

Her voice was very soft, but Chu Zhao could clearly feel her determination.

The next moment she lowered her head again, only gripping Ding Dachui’s arm forcefully with her hand.

The power of love! Chu Zhao sighed. Women were like this—when they loved someone, they’d willingly go through mountains of blades and seas of fire.

“Uncle Ding,” Chu Zhao said sincerely. “That’s all I have to say. Whether you come with me or not is ultimately your decision. After all, this is your life—only you can decide.”

His life, his decision? Ding Dachui felt the force transmitted through his arm. No one knew better than him how much destructive power that soft hand possessed—

That hand shook, reminding him how to choose his own life and death.

Ding Dachui looked at the girl and nodded. “I’ll go with you.”

“Aunt Ding” immediately nodded along. “Husband, I’ll go with you.”

What else could Ge Laosan say? He immediately declared his position. “Me too.”

He wasn’t a fool. If he said he wouldn’t go at this moment, his life would immediately be sent away.

Chu Zhao clapped her hands with a smile. “That’s truly wonderful.” She then bowed again. “Once again, I thank you all, fellow villagers.”

She seemed about to say something more when Xiao Man grabbed her and pulled her away.

After leaving, the two stood outside.

“What are you doing?” Xiao Man said irritably. “I told you these people don’t need you to manage—I can handle it myself.”

Chu Zhao smiled. “I came to express sincerity. When asking people to do things, one must show sufficient sincerity.” She winked with a bit of pride. “See? My sincerity was good enough, right? They were all moved, weren’t they?”

Xiao Man suddenly felt like laughing. Though this was her first real interaction with Chu Zhao, she actually wasn’t unfamiliar with her. Since being held in her aunt’s arms, she’d watched Chu Zhao in the marketplace. Though she’d been too young then to remember much.

Later when she grew up she learned about it, and later still she was responsible for watching Chu Zhao in the marketplace—

This girl was no different from other marketplace girls, all with that kind of pampered young lady temperament.

Of course, after coming to the capital, she’d also witnessed the girl’s courage—in that she resembled her aunt.

Then after becoming Empress, going back and forth with those two apparently formidable ministers, saying things she couldn’t understand.

At this moment looking at Chu Zhao again, she was different from before—silly.

“Moved,” Xiao Man drawled. “I’m moved too.”

Whether moved or not, she was certainly affected. This was the first time Xiao Man had spoken to her like this, with emotional fluctuation in her voice. Chu Zhao smiled. “Alright, Xiao Man, you’ve worked hard along the way. Now that we’ve persuaded them, you can relax a bit too.”

Xiao Man glanced at her. “Yes, I’m truly relaxed now.” With that, she turned her head, snorted, and ran off with quick steps.

Speaking so strangely. A’Le stepped forward and said, “But Xiao Man does look very happy.”

Chu Zhao’s expression was gratified. “As long as she’s happy. This child is still young—she should be carefree and happy.”

Though she hadn’t been in contact with Xiao Man for very long, the child always kept a tense face, looking bitter and resentful—ah, the one who truly should be bitter and resentful was her, Chu Zhao, yet she didn’t go around with a tense face all day.

A’Le giggled. “Miss, you’re also a child.”

Chu Zhao made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded. “That’s right, I should also be happy, cheerful and carefree.”

A’Le laughed heartily.

The laughter outside the tent faded away. Inside the tent, the atmosphere had become somewhat tense.

Ding Dachui watched the woman nervously clasp her hands together, pacing back and forth in the room, muttering “What to do, what to do, I have to go together, I’m going with her—”

As she spoke, her breathing became rapid, as if she couldn’t catch her breath.

Was she this frightened? Ding Dachui couldn’t help but say, “Boss, if you don’t want to go—”

Before he finished speaking, the woman interrupted him. “I want to go.”

She also turned to look at him, her eyes full of excitement.

“I’m just—” She pressed her chest. “I’m just a bit nervous. I don’t know, I—”

She didn’t finish her words either, lifting her feet and rushing out in quick steps.

Leaving Ding Dachui and Ge Laosan standing dumbfounded.

“What does the boss mean?” Ge Laosan couldn’t help asking. “Go or not go?”

“Of course we have to go.” Ding Dachui nodded. Otherwise, the boss wouldn’t have come earlier to coerce and entice them. But the nervousness and fear also seemed genuine—

That girl suddenly wanting the boss to go along—was it wariness, precaution, or coercion?

Would the boss therefore be exposed before the girl’s eyes and become trapped, causing her to panic?

That girl was smart, shrewd, and bold. The boss seemed to lack much confidence in this business deal.

Should they switch sides to the young lady now and seal the victory?