The girl’s voice rose and fell rhythmically in the tent, reasonable and persuasive, stirring the heart.

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

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

Ding Dachui’s tension had dissolved, and he even had an amusing thought—these two women were both trying to entice them to do the same thing, and he wondered who would win in the end.

Hmm—did this mean the power to decide was actually in their hands?

If he eventually followed the new boss, they could catch this girl as a big fish. If he truly became this girl’s guard, they could eliminate the new boss together—

Either way, they would receive generous rewards in the end.

Yes, this was like a shrewd hunter encountering two fierce beasts. No need to panic or rush; let the beasts fight each other first.

No matter how fierce or powerful, it was the two women who were competing. He was watching tigers fight from the mountain, reaping the fisherman’s benefit.

Ding Dachui couldn’t help but smile.

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

Xiao Man, who had been turning her head, immediately looked at Ding Dachui, her eyes warning him with a touch of nervousness—he mustn’t say anything he shouldn’t!

Ding Dachui made a sound of surprise and looked at Chu Zhao. “What?”

Had she frightened him? He looked so dumbfounded. Chu Zhao’s expression became gentler as she said sincerely, “I need you all. Are you willing to accompany me to Yunzhong Commandery?”

Ding Dachui made an “oh” sound. How should he respond? Before he could think, another female voice sounded beside his ear.

“Husband.”

Simultaneously, a hand shook his arm.

Ding Dachui snapped to attention, stiffly turning his neck to look at the woman standing beside him—

She still appeared nervous and constrained, only raising her head slightly. Her voice trembled, yet seemed to carry some kind of resolve: “Husband, you should go. Don’t worry about your humble wife. I’ll wait for your safe return.”

Ding Dachui made another “oh” sound and was about to speak when Chu Zhao spoke first again.

“Madam Ding,” she said with a smile, looking at the woman leaning against Ding Dachui, “this journey is very dangerous. If you’re worried, why not come along with us?”

Upon hearing these words, the people who had been wearing various expressions were instantly shocked, even the “Madam Ding” who had been keeping her head down looked up.

…

…

Chu Zhao saw the glances flying between them and their different expressions, but found nothing strange about it. She merely revealed a knowing smile.

She understood this woman’s identity—

She was also a bandit.

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

It was from Ding Dachui and Ge Laosan’s attitudes. This woman wasn’t a dependent; she had clearly “hunted” with them before.

She also understood their thoughts and these flying glances. They were merely trying to figure out her intentions—was it goodwill or a threat?

Taking the whole family along, sharing life and death, binding them together so no one could escape.

But her intention wasn’t that complicated.

Chu Zhao said, “I just think that rather than worrying at home, it’s better to come along. Even if you see the danger firsthand and experience it yourself, it might bring you peace of mind.”

As she spoke, she smiled, looking at the woman. Though the woman had raised her head, Chu Zhao could only see her eyes.

When she looked over, the woman’s eyes also looked at her, then quickly moved away—uneasy, anxious, frightened, and even… ashamed?

Chu Zhao could understand the uneasiness, anxiety, and fear. This situation was indeed unsettling for them.

But shame… why? Because of her bandit identity?

That was overthinking. A woman being a bandit had no reason to feel ashamed.

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

“I think Madam Ding, when staying with Uncle Ding, wouldn’t fear mountains of knives or seas of fire.”

When she heard these words, the woman’s avoiding eyes finally looked back. She looked at Chu Zhao, nodding and then shaking her head: “Yes, I’m not afraid.”

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

The next moment, she lowered her head again, tightly gripping Ding Dachui’s arm.

The power of love, Chu Zhao marveled, women were just like this—loving someone meant willingly going through mountains of knives and seas of fire.

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

Was it his decision? Ding Dachui felt the pressure on his arm, and no one knew better than him how much damage these soft hands could cause—

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

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

“Madam Ding” immediately nodded as well: “Husband, I’ll go with you.”

What else could Ge Laosan say? He promptly declared: “Me too.”

He wasn’t a fool. If he said no now, his life would be over instantly.

Chu Zhao clapped her hands once and smiled: “That’s wonderful.” She bowed again. “Thank you once more, my friends.”

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

Outside, the two of them stood together.

“What are you doing?” Xiao Man said irritably. “I told you these people are not your concern. I can handle them myself.”

Chu Zhao smiled and said, “I was just showing sincerity. When asking people to do something, you need to show enough sincerity.” She winked, with a hint of pride. “See, wasn’t my sincerity adequate? Weren’t they moved?”

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

Later, as she grew up, she learned more and was even responsible for keeping an eye on Chu Zhao at the marketplace—

This girl wasn’t much different from other girls at the marketplace, all having that pampered nature of wealthy young ladies.

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

Then she became Empress, exchanging words with those two formidable ministers in ways Xiao Man couldn’t understand.

Now looking at Chu Zhao again, she seemed different from before—rather foolish.

“Moved,” Xiao Man said, drawing out the word. “I’m moved too.”

Even if not moved, she was certainly affected. This was the first time Xiao Man had spoken to her this way, with emotion in her voice. Chu Zhao thought to herself and said with a smile, “Alright, Xiao Man, you’ve been working hard all this time. Now that we’ve convinced them, you can relax a bit.”

Xiao Man glanced at her: “Yes, I’ll be truly relaxed from now on.” After saying this, she turned her head, snorted, and ran off with loud footsteps.

Her words were so strange. A-Le stepped forward and said, “But Xiao Man does look very happy.”

Chu Zhao’s expression was gratified: “That’s good. She’s still young and should be carefree and happy.”

Although she hadn’t interacted with Xiao Man for very long, this child always had a tense face, appearing deeply resentful—sigh, the person who should truly be resentful was Chu Zhao herself, and yet she didn’t go around with a tense face all day.

A-Le chuckled: “Young miss, you’re a child too.”

Chu Zhao made an “oh” sound and nodded: “That’s right, I should be happy too, cheerful and carefree.”

A-Le laughed heartily.

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

Ding Dachui watched as the woman nervously wrung her hands, pacing back and forth in the room, muttering, “What should I do, what should I do, I have to go with her, I’ll go with her—”

She breathed rapidly as she spoke, as if unable to catch her breath.

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

Before he could finish, the woman interrupted him: “I want to go.”

She turned to face him, her eyes full of excitement.

“I just,” she said, pressing her hand to her chest, “I’m just a bit nervous. I don’t know, I—”

She didn’t finish her sentence either, quickly striding out.

Ding Dachui and Ge Laosan were left standing in shock.

“What does the boss mean?” Ge Laosan couldn’t help asking, “Are we going or not?”

“We’re going,” Ding Dachui nodded. Otherwise, the boss wouldn’t have come earlier to threaten and entice them. But her nervousness and fear also seemed genuine—

Was the girl suddenly wanting the boss to come along a precautionary measure, a threat?

Would the boss be exposed and trapped before this girl, causing her to panic?

This girl was clever, shrewd, and bold. The boss didn’t seem very confident about this deal.

Should they switch allegiance to this young lady now and secure victory?