Righteous army? Zhong Fujiang was confused. What did that mean?

“Uncle Zhong,” Chu Zhao explained to him, “I saved Xiao Yu because the Prince of Zhongshan persuaded my uncle to kill him. Now the Prince of Zhongshan and his son are intimidating the court under the pretext of protecting the capital. The people are deceived. If the court wants to tell the world about the Prince of Zhongshan’s ambitious and vicious intentions, who would be the most suitable and convincing witness?”

Zhong Fujiang’s face instantly paled.

“Who knows about this?” he asked.

Chu Zhao said: “I told the Third Young Master Xie.”

Beside her, Xie Yanlai snorted.

Chu Zhao ignored him and said to Zhong Fujiang: “Although I didn’t tell Deng Yi, Lord Deng should be able to guess.”

Zhong Fujiang muttered: “Then we’re finished. Those two aren’t easy to deal with. They’ll make this public.”

“If they do so, I can understand,” Chu Zhao said. “Given the current situation, it’s the wisest choice. Besides, it’s the truth—we can’t blame others.”

Zhong Fujiang sighed deeply: “This matter has nothing to do with you, the young lady, or the General.”

He should have sent Chu Lan’s family to the border region, where he could watch over them. He would never have let them contact outsiders again, keeping them isolated from the world for the rest of their lives.

Chu Zhao shook her head: “Uncle and I are family. Even if we separate ourselves, others won’t separate us.”

“Don’t worry,” Zhong Fujiang said, pacing around the sand table. Damn it, he could deploy troops and kill enemies, but he didn’t know how to handle such matters. “The Elder Master can say he was coerced by Xiao Xun, that he cleverly played along while finding a way for you to rescue the young prince.”

That should work, right? It would prove Xiao Xun plotted against the Emperor while maintaining the Chu family as loyalists who saved the Emperor.

“Others won’t believe it,” Chu Zhao said. “Even if they believe it now, in the future, it will transform into all kinds of rumors.”

How fearsome are people’s words, and how frightening are people’s hearts! Especially with the young lady being Empress and the General gone—who knew how many people were waiting to take advantage of the young lady? Zhong Fujiang looked at the sand table, his expression both angry and helpless.

Why was the young lady so unlucky?

“I’ll return to the capital now,” Chu Zhao said.

Zhong Fujiang was startled, then overjoyed: “Yes, right! I was confused. Young lady, you should return immediately with troops to save the capital from danger and execute the Prince of Zhongshan and his son.”

Such a great achievement would be enough to counter all rumors and slander.

Since the decision was made, there was no time to waste.

Zhong Fujiang immediately went to arrange the troops.

“Don’t bring too many—just Old Bai, Ding Dachui, and an additional hundred men will be enough,” Chu Zhao said. “The provincial and capital garrisons have sufficient troops. My return now isn’t to reinforce with troops but to boost morale with my presence.”

Zhong Fujiang understood, both worried and reluctant to part: “A-Zhao will have to rely on herself from now on.”

Chu Zhao smiled: “Uncle Zhong will also have to rely on himself from now on. But my father’s coffin is here—if you suffer a defeat, you can go to his grave and cry secretly.”

Zhong Fujiang couldn’t help but laugh.

Chu Zhao then took his hand and said softly: “This time, Xie Yanlai will also stay here—”

Zhong Fujiang raised an eyebrow: “I don’t need him—”

“Uncle Zhong, please guide him, temper him, make him more formidable,” Chu Zhao cut him off, speaking sincerely. “He’s young and lacks battle experience. If you train him, I’ll be more at ease using him in the future.”

At this point, she sighed lightly.

“I don’t have many people I can use.”

Zhong Fujiang swallowed his objections. Indeed, he couldn’t act on impulse. With the General gone and the young lady being Empress, without a prestigious family to rely on, she needed to use everyone available.

“Young lady, don’t worry,” he said solemnly, clenching his fist tightly as he looked at Xie Yanlai, who stood nearby toying with the sand table. “Even if he’s a piece of scrap iron, I’ll forge him into a precious blade.”

Chu Zhao smiled again: “He’s young, Uncle Zhong, don’t bully him too much. He’s had a difficult life—”

He hadn’t even started training yet, and Zhong Fujiang felt uncomfortable. He didn’t want to discuss this topic further with the young lady: “I’ll go prepare the troops.” With that, he walked out.

Only Chu Zhao and Xie Yanlai remained in the room.

Chu Zhao turned with a smile and called: “Commander Xie.”

Xie Yanlai rose from the sand table, saying lazily: “What does Her Majesty command? This subject will not obey.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily, walked to him, and bowed solemnly: “Thank you for bringing me to see my father. I have no regrets in this life. Now I ask you to stay at the border, fight against Western Liang, protect Great Xia’s stability, and also protect my father’s life’s work.”

Xie Yanlai raised an eyebrow: “Didn’t you say you have no regrets in this life? Why are you still planning for what comes next?”

Chu Zhao smiled again, mimicking his raised eyebrow: “To have no regrets in the next life.”

Indeed, after her rebirth, her greatest wish was to see her father and ensure he died peacefully. In this life, she had not only seen her father but also become Empress, met her mother, and led troops in battle. Her wishes had been greatly fulfilled.

But Xiao Xun’s arrogance remained unchecked, and the court was still unstable. What she had gained could be lost at any moment. To avoid regrets in her next life, she still had much to do.

“A-Jiu, my father is gone. Things are fine for now, but there will inevitably be changes in the border army’s personnel,” Chu Zhao continued. “Uncle Zhong alone cannot keep everything in check. I have no one else to rely on, so I can only entrust this to you—”

She bowed solemnly.

Xie Yanlai understood her meaning. The border army was very tempting—countless people had previously fought over it. Especially in recent years, with the Third Prince and Crown Prince competing, the Zhao and Yang families hungered for power. Except for Chu Wei guarding Luo City like an iron barrel that no one could penetrate, the other five grand generals all had their allegiances, and their armies were filled with a mix of loyal and disloyal elements.

Not just the Zhao and Yang families—the Xie family surely had their arrangements too. He didn’t know the details, but take himself, for instance: wasn’t he placed among the courier troops, personally coming to the border region to deliver messages to Chu Wei?

Right after Chu Zhao became Empress and the Emperor expressed his intention to entrust the orphaned heir to her, Western Liang soldiers infiltrated the Upper Commandery to cause trouble. The court tried to hold Chu Wei accountable and proposed appointing a new commander.

Only because Chu Zhao personally came to lead the army did she, with her authority as Empress, temporarily replace Chu Wei, preventing anyone else from taking over.

But Chu Zhao was the Empress—she couldn’t remain with the army forever.

Just as before in the imperial palace, when Zhong Fujiang left, she had entrusted the Dragon Might Army to him.

Previously, even with large numbers, the Dragon Might Army in the imperial palace was only a few hundred strong.

Now, the border army numbered one hundred thousand—

Xie Yanlai looked at the girl before him and said: “Chu Zhao, I’m one of those ‘others’ too.”

Chu Zhao looked at him and smiled: “You might be better than the other ‘others.'”

The Liang father and son had already begun accumulating military achievements, the Prince of Zhongshan had raised an army, Deng Yi sat firmly as Imperial Tutor, and Xie Yanfang supported the young Emperor. She had witnessed the behavior of these “others,” but she hadn’t seen what this Xie Yanlai would do.

“Didn’t you say it yourself?” Chu Zhao raised an eyebrow. “I, Chu Zhao, won’t always have bad luck.”

Xie Yanlai made an “oh” sound: “But I, Xie Yanlai, have always had bad luck.” With that, he walked away.

Though his words weren’t pleasant, he had agreed. Chu Zhao smiled and said after him: “That’s fine too. Even if you’ve always had bad luck, you’ve still made it this far, haven’t you?”

The curtain fell, separating inside from outside. From beyond, she heard Xie Yanlai spit derisively.

Chu Zhao laughed to herself for a while, then looked at the sand table again. Originally, only the border region had dense troop formations, but now troops were also gathering near the capital, standing out starkly among the densely packed cities.

Heavy footsteps sounded, and someone lifted the thick curtain to enter. Seeing Chu Zhao lost in thought before the sand table, she coughed loudly.

Chu Zhao lifted her head and asked: “Xiao Man, what is it?”

Xiao Man turned her head away: “Are you returning to the capital? Are you going to fight the Prince of Zhongshan’s troops? Let us go with you.” At this point, she snorted. “Your troops don’t seem very capable.”

That last sentence was surely her addition. Chu Zhao smiled and shook her head: “No need. You don’t need to come with me.”

Xiao Man perhaps hadn’t expected to be refused. She turned to look at Chu Zhao: “Hey, when you get there and regret it, even if Ding Dachui blows his whistle until it breaks, no one will come to help.”

Chu Zhao smiled and said: “Really, there’s no need. This time, you don’t need to march and fight with me because there are enough troops there. However, this time I need you to help me relay messages, and also—”

She walked over and said softly to Xiao Man:

“My victory or defeat in this venture depends crucially on you all.”

Depends on them? Relaying messages? Xiao Man frowned. How could victory in battle depend on message delivery? Even bandits knew that taking a mountain stronghold required real blades and spears, piling up flesh and blood.

Chu Zhao had already whispered in her ear. After finishing, she patted Xiao Man’s arm: “Go tell her.”

Xiao Man avoided her hand, snorted, and strode away.

After walking some distance, Xiao Man came to her senses. What did she mean by “go tell her”?

“Xiao Man,” a voice called from ahead.

Xiao Man looked up to see Mu Mian Hong beckoning from behind a tent in the distance. She hurried over.

“What did she say?” Mu Mian Hong asked.

Hearing this, Xiao Man felt both angry and amused. Chu Zhao had said, “Go tell her,” and now her aunt was asking what she said. Both were in the camp, yet neither would see the other. Chu Zhao also clearly knew who was speaking—

“Would it kill her to talk to you directly?” Xiao Man couldn’t help complaining.

Mu Mian Hong stroked her arm and smiled: “It’s not convenient. At this time, let’s not trouble her.”

Xiao Man sighed, seeing the expectation in Mu Mian Hong’s eyes, feeling somewhat reluctant.

“She said she doesn’t need us to go,” she said.

The light in Mu Mian Hong’s eyes instantly dimmed.

Xiao Man quickly added: “But, Aunt, she said her victory or defeat depends entirely on us.”

The light returned to Mu Mian Hong’s eyes. Taking Xiao Man’s hand, she said: “Is that so? Tell me what her arrangements are.”

Xiao Man snorted but obediently let Mu Mian Hong lead her into the tent.

……

……

Preparations were swift. Having decided to leave during the day, by sunset, Chu Zhao was already riding out of the central camp. Ahead was Old Bai leading the troops, behind was Ding Dachui, and on her left and right were A-Le and Xiao Man.

Although she hadn’t allowed Mu Mian Hong’s people to follow, Xiao Man had insisted on coming, and Chu Zhao hadn’t refused again.

The troops along the way all bowed to her, showing no surprise. Empress Chu often did this—she could lead troops on inspection or lead them into battle against enemies.

News of the Prince of Zhongshan surrounding the capital had not been announced.

Chu Zhao looked back and could see Uncle Zhong’s figure. To avoid speculation, he couldn’t see her off beyond the camp.

As for Xie Yanlai, he had disappeared somewhere.

Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze, whipped her horse, and urged it forward, not noticing the young commander standing alone on the high hill to the left of the camp, gazing intently.