Chu Zhao knew this day would come.

But she had never imagined what it would actually be like when this day truly arrived.

Previously, when staying by Father’s side, every time Father closed his eyes in sleep, she would be so frightened her heart would stop beating. Only after confirming Father’s pulse was still moving would her heartbeat resume.

At this moment, she held Father’s wrist, unable to feel any pulse. All she could hear was her own heart pounding loudly.

Zhong Changrong’s voice came, now distant, now near.

“—The General had been relying on medicine to sustain his body all along. There was one last dose of medicine remaining.”

“It was said before that this medicine was kept for emergencies. After taking it, a withered tree could briefly return to spring, but only briefly.”

“Without taking the last dose of medicine, even in a coma, the General would have persisted for a long time.”

“Earlier, the General instructed me. He said he wanted to die on the battlefield.”

At this point, Zhong Changrong shed tears, his voice choked.

“Miss, please forgive me for not telling you, for making this decision on my own.”

Chu Zhao turned to look at him: “Uncle Zhong, you didn’t make the decision on your own. This was Father’s choice. Look.” She looked at Chu Ling again. “How happy Father is.”

“Father didn’t just die on the battlefield.”

“He also fought against Prince Xiliang and once again defeated Prince Xiliang.”

“And moreover—”

She looked back at Zhong Changrong, breaking into a smile.

“There’s me. I fought alongside him, shoulder to shoulder.”

“Father’s final journey was thoroughly satisfying.”

Zhong Changrong roughly wiped his tears with his large hands and nodded: “Yes, that’s right. The General was very happy. With Miss by his side, going to battle together with the officers and soldiers, defeating Xi Liang once more—the General has no regrets in this life.”

She too had no regrets. This time she had made it to Father’s side, accompanied Father, went to battle together with Father, let Father see her heart, know that this daughter had not been raised in vain, and also see how capable she was, how fearless. Even when Father departed, he could be at peace.

“Issue the proclamation.” Chu Zhao raised her hand and closed Chu Ling’s still-open eyes. “Guard General Chu Ling has passed away.”

Zhong Changrong hesitated somewhat and asked: “Now? Is that alright?”

Although Prince Xiliang had withdrawn from this battle, hostilities had not yet ended. Announcing Chu Ling’s death—would military morale waver?

Chu Zhao knelt before Father’s knees and said: “Right now. Let the officers and soldiers know that the General fought alongside them and died on the battlefield. With such a general, even though he is gone, in the hearts of the soldiers he remains present. Even if Prince Xiliang immediately returns, the soldiers will be fearless.”

The General had used the last strength of his life to repel Prince Xiliang. Announcing his death at this moment would not bring panic.

Sorrow would transform into strength.

Fearless and invincible.

An army driven by grief is certain to prevail.

Zhong Changrong responded yes, stood up, and personally walked to the war drum to sound it.

The soldiers and officers who were regrouping and recovering all froze at this sudden drumbeat. This was not a war drum—this was a funeral drum. Everyone looked in shock toward the source of the drum sound. Nearby, command flags rolled and tumbled, and shouts spread accordingly.

“Send off Guard General Chu Ling’s heroic soul!”

The soldiers on the ground surged toward the central military formation like dark clouds, accompanied by thunderous shouts.

“Guard General Chu Ling!”

“Send off the General’s heroic soul!”

Thunder rumbled, shaking half the sky.

Standing on a distant hillside, horses that had been calm grew restless, but the riders forgot to soothe them.

Xiao Man, who had been deliberately looking away, now turned her head, her expression shocked: “Chu Ling is dead? Real or fake? Is this a military strategy to deceive the Xi Liang people?”

Before she could say more, someone beside her glared at her, signaling her to stop talking.

Xiao Man fell silent and looked toward the woman before her.

The woman had not moved for a long time. Whether it was the thunderous sounds or the trembling ground beneath her feet, she seemed unaware of it all.

As cold wind blew past, she raised a finger and wiped away a pearl-like teardrop from the corner of her eye, gently brushing it away.

“A’Mian, send off the General.”

……

……

Chu Ling’s funeral would await the end of hostilities and, after the court received the news, officials would bring posthumous honors before formal burial could proceed.

These past two days, Chu Zhao seemed very busy, yet also not busy.

She sat in Father’s position, discussing military affairs with the generals and officers, but only listened without speaking. The specific matters were all decided by Zhong Changrong.

She inspected the wounded soldiers’ camp, comforting the injured.

At night, she personally patrolled the great camp.

Everything was just as if Father were still here.

Standing in the wilderness, Chu Zhao felt the bitter cold wind. Footsteps sounded behind her.

Chu Zhao didn’t turn around, seemingly unaware, until the person called out.

“Your Majesty the Empress is diligent in military affairs, but you cannot go without even eating,” Xie Yanlai said.

Chu Zhao said: “Her Majesty is not hungry. Her Majesty’s whole heart is for nation and people—drinking wind and dew water is enough.”

Xie Yanlai couldn’t help almost laughing aloud. This girl was just like this—able to speak frivolously with you anytime, anywhere, even at a time like this—

He suppressed his smile and stood beside her, tossing something into her arms.

“This humble general offers tribute to Her Majesty. Please graciously accept it,” he said.

Chu Zhao picked it up and opened the paper wrapping to find a roasted chicken leg. She made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded: “My dear minister is thoughtful. A’Le, reward him.”

A’Le laughed and responded beside her.

Xie Yanlai didn’t express thanks either, giving two dry laughs and turning his head to look at the thick ink-like darkness beside them. In the darkness, the city’s scattered lights flickered like stars.

Beside him, the girl quietly ate the chicken leg.

“If your heart is sad, have a good cry,” Xie Yanlai suddenly said.

Chu Zhao looked up at him while biting the chicken leg, arguing indistinctly: “What are you talking about? I’m not sad. I told you already, I was prepared long ago.”

Xie Yanlai looked down at her: “What good does being prepared do for something like a parent’s passing?”

The moment of loss still pierces the heart.

Preparation is merely helplessness—it doesn’t mean there’s no pain.

No regrets for the general, Father was happy—wearing these reasons like armor on body and heart, yet not even daring to enter the room where Father had stayed while alive.

Simply not daring to face that empty room, not daring to think about the person who could never be seen again.

Under the clear, cold moonlight, large tears rolled from the girl’s eyes. She hugged her knees and began to cry silently.

A’Le also began crying, wanting to complain that Xie Yanlai was truly annoying, able to make Miss cry with just one sentence. But she also felt relieved. When the General died, Miss had been calm and composed, fortifying defenses against Xi Liang, sending messages to the court, preparing the memorial ceremony—everything orderly and admirable. But she knew Miss wasn’t right like this, Miss’s emotions weren’t right at all.

When playing hide-and-seek as a child and unable to find Father, Miss could cry for ages.

Now he could never be found again—how much pain must Miss’s heart be in?

But she didn’t dare say it, didn’t know how to say it.

Fortunately, there was this Xie Yanlai who never knew how to speak properly.

Only he could make Miss cry.

A’Le watched as Xie Yanlai’s feet shuffled and he sat down beside Miss. She let out a long breath and backed away.

……

……

When Chu Zhao woke, the sky was already bright. Looking around, she was momentarily dazed, then recognized it as Father’s room.

She was still sleeping on the small couch beside the bed, but the bed no longer held her slumbering father.

Gone.

In this life too, she no longer had a father.

Chu Zhao’s heart suddenly stabbed with pain, a raw ache. She couldn’t help bending over to press her chest, when suddenly she felt something greasy. Something rolled from her collar—

The half-eaten chicken leg.

Chu Zhao froze, both annoyed and amused: “A’Le, A’Le!”

A’Le came running in from outside: “Miss is awake?”

Chu Zhao held the chicken leg and asked: “What’s going on? Not helping me change clothes or wash up is one thing, but why did you let me sleep clutching a chicken leg?”

A’Le laughed: “That’s not my fault.” She pointed outside, tattling: “It was Xie Yanlai who wouldn’t let me. He said to let you sleep like that, not to move you.”

Last night—Chu Zhao remembered she had been crying, and cried herself to sleep. Actually, ever since seeing Father, she hadn’t slept soundly.

“When you fell asleep, Xie Yanlai carried you back,” A’Le said. “He wouldn’t let me change your clothes either. He just removed your cloak and shoes, covered you with the quilt, and said everything else could wait until you’d slept well. That guy—”

Before she finished speaking, heavy footsteps came from outside.

Xie Yanlai walked in, saying coldly: “What about this guy?”

A’Le pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Chu Zhao smiled: “My dear minister is excellent.”

Did Xie Yanlai fear this? He was long accustomed to it. He gave two dry laughs: “Your Majesty is wise and brilliant.”