The ill-tempered young man walked away. Mu Mian Hong and Xiao Man turned to look in the other direction, only to see the other young man pressing his hand on the Empress’s head.

Mu Mian Hong burst into laughter.

Xiao Man rolled her eyes.

Smiling, Mu Mian Hong took Xiao Man’s hand. “Come, let’s go get busy.”

“Busy with what? We just came to help with the battle. Now that it’s over, we’re not doing chores,” Xiao Man replied reluctantly, then complained, “She has time to fool around with Xie Yanlai but can’t spare a moment to speak with you.”

After receiving Ding Dachui’s message, Mu Mian Hong had gathered her people to join Chu Zhao. Chu Zhao had bowed and thanked the leader, but hadn’t spoken privately with Mu Mian Hong since.

Nor had Mu Mian Hong approached Chu Zhao.

Hearing Xiao Man’s complaint, Mu Mian Hong simply said, “You don’t understand.”

Xiao Man retorted, “We’re the same age. How could I not understand what she understands?”

Despite her complaints, she obediently followed Mu Mian Hong away.

“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Xie Yanlai pressed his hand against Chu Zhao’s forehead.

Chu Zhao replied with a smile, “I understand, I understand. Liang Qiang cannot be trusted. The grudge is formed, and showing kindness won’t help—it will only make him resent me more.”

Xie Yanlai removed his hand, his face stern. “Stop pretending you don’t understand when you do.”

Chu Zhao rubbed her forehead. “I’ve been pretending all along. Whom do I trust? I don’t trust anyone.” Then she smiled again. “Except for our Commander Xie.”

Xie Yanlai was no longer affected by such words. He chuckled twice and bowed. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s favor.” He then straightened up. “Your Majesty should return to the main camp quickly. I have work to attend to.”

Chu Zhao’s leading troops personally had been a desperate measure. As Empress, she couldn’t stay long, lest something happen to her.

Chu Zhao understood this reasoning and nodded, then added, “Remember to bandage your wounds and apply medicine. You have old injuries.”

Always mentioning old wounds as if they were a huge concern—Xie Yanlai said irritably, “I’ve had old wounds all over my body since childhood. I’ve lived until now and haven’t died yet.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily and waved her hand at him. “My loyal minister sacrifices himself for the country. Go quickly, go quickly.”

Xie Yanlai spat derisively, turned, and strode away, unable to suppress a smile. This woman was truly infuriating.

By the time daylight fully broke, Chu Zhao had returned to the central army camp, and Zhong Fujiang could finally put down half of his worries.

But there was no time to rest yet.

“The victory announcement has already been sent to the capital via express messenger. It will reassure both the people and the Emperor.”

“And the rewards for this battle must be approved immediately to stabilize army morale.”

Chu Zhao said, “The left flank will be rewarded but also punished.”

Zhong Fujiang nodded. “I understand.” But there was something he needed to ask about. “Liang Qiang and his father are both in the army.”

Before Chu Zhao’s return, she had already sent Ding Dachui to deliver a message to Zhong Fujiang to look into Liang Qiang’s situation.

Upon investigation, Zhong Fujiang discovered that the Liang family’s Second Master and his son had joined the army, earned multiple merits, and received many rewards. Now they were both well-known officials with real authority in the military.

Zhong Fujiang also knew about the past conflict between Liang Siqing and the young lady. Although the Liang family’s imprisonment was deserved, he knew they would surely harbor hatred toward the Chu family.

“It’s my fault for not checking the roster carefully, allowing father and son to emerge,” he blamed himself, then added in a low voice, “But making them disappear now wouldn’t be a problem.”

Chu Zhao shook her head. “They have genuine military achievements. Deliberately suppressing them would only cause trouble. Give them the merits they deserve. Uncle Zhong, just remember to remain cautious with the Liang family.”

Zhong Fujiang acknowledged with a yes, hesitated for a moment, then added, “Then, what about… that person’s merits? How should we handle them?”

Chu Zhao didn’t immediately understand. “Which person?”

Zhong Fujiang turned his face away and said, “Mu Mian Hong. She helped you, so… our military rules are absolute, rewards and punishments are clear, and we don’t consider personal grudges.”

He certainly remembered personal grudges, but the other officers had pulled him aside and advised him that the General was gone, and children and parents were of the same blood. Taking a hard stance wouldn’t work; it would only push the young lady toward that woman, playing right into that woman’s hands. So they needed to be clever about it.

Zhong Fujiang, a straightforward man, had never been clever in his life, but for the General’s sake, for the sake of his indignation, he was trying to be clever.

Being clever meant going along with things.

If this woman had performed meritorious service, then reward her for it. If she later asked the young lady for more, that would be her overreaching, and the young lady would see her despicable nature.

Chu Zhao looked at Zhong Fujiang’s expression and couldn’t help but smile.

“They haven’t earned merit,” she said. “At most, it’s… atonement, so no rewards are necessary.”

Zhong Fujiang was delighted. “The young lady is right.”

“Their identities should not be made public either,” Chu Zhao continued.

Zhong Fujiang was even more pleased. “Good, good, good.” Since the young lady had brought it up herself, he could add one more negative comment about that woman without it being excessive. “Their identities are truly disgraceful. If people knew, it wouldn’t reflect well on the General either.”

Mentioning the General made Zhong Fujiang heartsick.

“She is so heartless; we need not be righteous toward her.”

Chu Zhao opened her mouth but swallowed her words.

That wasn’t what she meant. The reason for not revealing Mu Mian Hong’s identity wasn’t about reputation or honor, but for her self-interest.

In her previous life, Mu Mian Hong’s forces had been secretly taken by Xiao Xun for his use without her knowledge. In this life, she would keep them hidden from everyone, to be used when needed.

In truth, she was the heartless one.

Zhong Fujiang left, telling her to rest well, leaving behind the merit award document for Mu Mian Hong. Chu Zhao looked at it for a moment, then picked it up and threw it into the fire basin. Walking to the bed, she collapsed onto it and fell into a deep sleep.

……

……

Warfare didn’t distinguish between day and night, and wartime post stations operated around the clock with messengers rushing in.

In the middle of the night, several postal couriers burst into a station.

“Victory report—”

Along with this shout, the entering couriers were met with cheers.

The station masters and attendants all ran out, thanking various gods and Buddhas: “Finally, a victory report.”

The couriers were both amused and annoyed. “What are you talking about? We’ve been sending victory reports all along.”

The station master sighed. “But General Chu is gone now, and our hearts have been in our throats.”

The attendants all nodded in agreement. “The people are terrified, too. The prefectural cities have cleared the fields and strengthened their defenses.”

The couriers understood. At a crucial point in the war, losing the commander-in-chief was truly terrifying.

But thankfully, even with the commander dead, victories continued to be reported.

“This victory proclamation comes at the perfect time. It will surely reassure the people,” the station master exclaimed happily. “Go, make the banners even larger so everyone can see them. Provide ten fine horses and ten men to create a grand procession to spread the news throughout the land.”

The post station was filled with joyous laughter.

The couriers ate quickly, rested briefly, and then set off with larger banners and more men prepared by the station master. They passed through cities and towns, spreading news of the great victory, letting everyone know that even without General Chu Wei, the border army was still winning victories, and the dynasty remained secure.

They rode through the night, and at dawn, they passed through a mountain valley.

“There’s a city ahead,” the lead courier said, turning back and pointing to several men. “You all enter the city to announce the victory report. Have the local officials spread it throughout their jurisdiction.”

The couriers all responded in unison.

“The rest of you follow me—” the lead courier continued, but before he could finish, he suddenly trembled, his eyes bulging as he looked at the couriers behind him.

The couriers stared at him, seeing an arrow protruding from his throat.

The next moment, the courier vanished from sight, falling from his horse.

The next moment, countless arrows flew from the mountain pass like rain. The soldiers couldn’t even cry out before they were struck by arrows and fell from their horses.

The valley echoed with the sound of arrows cutting through the air and horses neighing.

Moments later, silence returned, with only scattered banners and the corpses of men and horses lying on the ground.

Black-clad men slid down from the cliff, and several carts raced in from outside the valley. The black-clad men loaded the corpses onto the carts and took them away, then set fire to the scattered banners.

Flames rose in the morning mist, only to be swallowed by it.

Here and there, the sound of firecrackers echoed through villages and towns.

The fifth year of Yongning had finally passed, and a new year had arrived. A few days ago, a new era name was announced: Xingping.

Although the war with Western Liang continued, victory reports had been frequent. Along with the new year, people prayed for better times ahead. Originally, each region had been planning celebrations, but then came terrible news.

The commander-in-chief of the border army, Defender-General Chu Wei, was dead.

He had died valiantly, fighting the Western Liang King before his death and driving him back.

But no matter how bravely he died, it didn’t help—the man was gone, ceased to exist. What would happen next?

The people panicked, once again fleeing with their families to cities and fortresses, forgetting the New Year festivities.

Of course, not everyone retreated to cities or mountains. Some couldn’t bear to leave their land, and others didn’t care.

Several old men stood at the village entrance with a few children, lighting bonfires and throwing bamboo tubes into them to listen to the popping sounds.

“There’s no need to panic,” one old man said. “Just because General Chu is gone, does that mean our Great Xia is doomed to lose? That would be laughable.”

Another old man nodded. “That’s right. Young people haven’t experienced much. General Chu has been guarding the border for so many years—surely he made plans for this.”

“General Chu was so valiant; the soldiers and officers he trained must be formidable too,” the first old man said to the children around him. “There’s an old saying: a bear’s cubs are all bears. If a general is capable, naturally his whole family is capable.”

The other old men laughed along, their expressions confident. “Just wait. Before long, new victory reports will arrive. Even without General Chu, the Western Liang people won’t gain any advantage.”

The children all laughed, throwing more bamboo tubes into the bonfire and dancing around it.

Crack-pop-pop, laughter, and shouts—the village entrance finally had a New Year atmosphere.

One old man suddenly looked at the ground. “Why do I feel the earth trembling?”

Was it the children jumping around too much, or was it his aging body trembling?

No other old man answered him. The children stopped their play. Everyone looked toward the road outside the village. Not just on the main road, but on small paths and through fields, large numbers of troops appeared.

These soldiers wore armor and carried weapons, with banners like clouds among their formations.

Who were these people?

Although this place was far from the border region, it was understandable that troops might pass through during mobilization.

But these troops were heading in the wrong direction.

Besides the assembled troops, scouts were galloping in all directions. Several scouts approached the village, and one old man gathered his courage to ask, “Where are you soldiers from? Are you going to reinforce the border?”

The scout looked at them and waved the banner behind him.

“We are troops from the Prince of Zhongshan’s estate,” he said. “Old uncle, the border situation is critical. We’re going to protect the capital. Stay in your homes and don’t wander about, to avoid danger.”

With that, he galloped away.

The old men and children stood dumbfounded. The border situation was critical? Troops were being sent to protect the capital? How dire was it? Had the Western Liang forces broken through as soon as General Chu died?

Heavens—

The children, unaware of the world’s sorrows, dared not play anymore. They wailed and ran back to the village crying, “Father—Mother—”

The old men, who had seen much suffering in the world, trembled in body and spirit, forgetting to add wood to the nearly extinguished bonfire.

Heavens—

The previous Emperor was dead, Chu Wei was also dead. Was Great Xia’s sky finally going to collapse?

Who could hold up Great Xia’s sky now?

Wait, what did that soldier just say?

Were they troops from the Prince of Zhongshan’s estate?

That’s right—the previous Emperor was dead, Chu Wei was dead, but the previous Emperor still had a brother, the Prince of Zhongshan.

They watched the seemingly endless troops outside the village, spreading like dark clouds across the sky.

……

……

The imperial palace was even more silent at night than during the day.

There was no atmosphere of New Year celebration in the palace, let alone the sound of firecrackers. Originally, several ornate palace lanterns had been added, but after receiving news of Chu Wei’s death, Xiao Yu had ordered them taken down.

When Qi the eunuch entered, Xiao Yu was writing something, his small brows furrowed, occasionally sighing.

“What homework is giving our Emperor such difficulty?” Qi asked with a smile.

Xiao Yu replied, “Homework can’t stump me. I’m writing a letter to Sister Chu.” He looked up. “How should I comfort Sister Chu? This kind of thing—no words of comfort help. I know—”

At this point, the child’s voice lowered, and gloom spread in his eyes.

Because he, too, had lost his parents.

And the loss had been brutal. Qi the eunuch’s heart trembled. This was a topic he dared not touch. He knelt halfway and said, “Your Majesty, Lady Chu already understands all these principles. You don’t need to persuade her. Just tell her that you’re always there, let her know that even without her father, she still has you—you are also her family.”

The gloom in Xiao Yu’s eyes dispersed, replaced by a smile. “Right, Sister Chu still has me.”

And he still had Sister Chu.

Only Sister Chu now.

Qi the eunuch breathed a sigh of relief and personally ground the ink. Just as Xiao Yu was about to take up his brush to write, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and a eunuch ran in.

“Lord Xie seeks an audience,” he said.

Both Xiao Yu and Qi the eunuch paused, but Xiao Yu quickly resumed writing and said, “Tell Lord Xie that I have retired for the night. I will see him tomorrow.”

Qi the eunuch looked at the eunuch, gesturing for him to go deliver the message quickly, but the eunuch didn’t move. He stammered, pointing outside, “L-Lord Xie has already entered.”

Qi the eunuch was startled. He looked toward the door and indeed saw Xie Yanfang walking in, wearing a cloak and carrying a sword.

“Lord Xie,” he was frightened and hurriedly said, while standing in front of Xiao Yu, his eyes fixed on the sword in Xie Yanfang’s hand. “What are you doing?”

Qi the eunuch knew that the imperial palace, though nominally the Emperor’s home, was controlled by Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang. However, the palace guards here belonged to Chu Zhao and did not take orders from Deng Yi or Xie Yanfang.

Of course, Deng Yi could enter with the imperial seal.

But how did Xie Yanfang get in? Did he force his way in with a sword?

This—

Xie Yanfang knew what he was thinking and returned the sword to his side. “I didn’t force my way in with a sword. I snuck in by climbing over the walls.”

Climbed? Qi the eunuch was shocked. This was even more frightening than forcing entry with a sword.

The guards hadn’t even detected him.

Xie Yanfang was that skilled—

Xie Yanfang didn’t elaborate further. “Eunuch Qi, I have urgent matters to discuss privately with His Majesty. Please withdraw with everyone else.”

Before Qi could respond, Xiao Yu behind him spoke up.

“Everyone else withdraw. Lord Xie is my family,” Xiao Yu said, then added, “Eunuch Qi, bring tea.”

Qi acknowledged and turned to pour tea, while the other palace servants bowed and left.

Xie Yanfang looked at Xiao Yu standing behind the desk. He didn’t ask Qi to leave as well, but strode forward quickly. “A-Yu, don’t be frightened by what I’m about to tell you.”

Xiao Yu looked at him and said, “Lord Xie, please speak freely. I’m not afraid of anything.”

Xie Yanfang said, “The Prince of Zhongshan has assembled troops eight hundred li from the capital.”

Qi, who had just turned around with the tea, was startled. His hand loosened, and with a crack, the teacup shattered on the floor.

The stone that had been hanging over their heads had finally fallen.