“Your Majesty, you cannot go. If you want to talk, just talk at the front lines,” Old Bai urged anxiously.

“If you enter the Zhongshan Prince’s residence in the city, won’t you become a hostage?”

As a hostage, what would there be to discuss? Instead, the Zhongshan Prince would have leverage to negotiate with the court—a fatal blow to those in the capital.

“It won’t be fatal,” Xiao Man unusually turned her head to say. “That Grand Tutor and that Master Xie would never be intimidated.”

Xiao Man had witnessed how formidable those two were—though Master Xie didn’t seem fierce, he appeared even more frightening.

Chu Zhao laughed heartily: “They would say, ‘Empress, for the greater good, please take your own life.'”

A-Le sighed: “My lady, how can you joke at a time like this?”

This matter was truly no joke.

Chu Zhao smiled without saying more. They would indeed do so, but she didn’t blame the two men.

She just wouldn’t give them the opportunity.

Just as she had anticipated that Xie Yanfang and Deng Yi would dig up Chu Lan’s past affairs, she understood their approach. She wouldn’t beg them; she would find her way to deal with it.

Though her father was gone, she still commanded troops. She had met with her mother, and she could use Chu Tang. Though the Chu family seemed humble, she, Chu Zhao, was not without support.

In that lifetime, Xiao Xun’s ability to sit on the throne was half supported by her strength.

Each person has their path. In this lifetime, let’s see who would find the way.

“Don’t worry,” she winked at Xiao Man. “After all, I have Xiao Man’s help.”

Xiao Man was about to snort, but, thinking of the messages and arrangements Chu Zhao had asked her to deliver to the capital, she couldn’t help but ask: “I wonder if it will work.”

Chu Zhao nodded proudly: “Of course it will work. A-Jiu said I wouldn’t be that unlucky in this lifetime.”

It would work because A-Jiu said so? What nonsense. Xiao Man snorted but didn’t turn away: “Then I’ll go with you.”

She might not be allowed to bring troops, but surely she could bring a maid?

She was the only maid who could hold back ten thousand enemies.

“The Empress can bring two maids as well,” A-Le quickly said, fearing being left behind. Though not as capable as Xiao Man, she could still serve as a human shield to block blades.

“The Empress should have a guard too,” Ding Dachui said from the side.

Seeing everyone look at him, he quickly added:

“That’s what Commander Xie said.”

Then he frowned worriedly.

“Our lives are all in Commander Xie’s hands.”

Seeing Old Bai about to speak as well, Chu Zhao laughed: “I understand everyone’s concerns. There’s no need to argue. A-Le and Dachui will come with me, while Xiao Man and Old Bai will stay outside.”

Xiao Man frowned, about to speak, when Chu Zhao grabbed her arm.

“Xiao Man, my safety depends on you,” she said softly. “As long as that matter is accomplished, even if you’re not by my side, you’ll be saving me.”

Xiao Man pressed her lips together without speaking and turned her head away.

Chu Zhao smiled, turned, and stepped forward. A-Le and Ding Dachui hurriedly followed.

Old Bai, hand on his sword, accompanied them on horseback to the front of the Zhongshan Prince’s army.

“The Empress enters the city. Make way at once,” he commanded sternly.

Seeing that Chu Zhao brought only one maid and one guard, the Zhongshan Prince’s troops slowly parted. Behind them, the city gates gradually opened.

Chu Zhao didn’t look back. She spurred her horse forward, passing through the solemn ranks of soldiers and cold weapons, heading straight for the Zhongshan Prince’s residence.

The gates of the Zhongshan Prince’s residence were wide open. Chu Zhao dismounted, examined the gate plaque, and walked in calmly.

The Zhongshan Prince stood in the front hall, smiling.

“Miss Chu, we meet again,” he said, his expression somewhat nostalgic. “A year without seeing you, and Miss Chu has become the Empress.”

Chu Zhao also spoke with emotion: “Indeed, a year without seeing you, and Your Highness has become a rebel.”

…

…

A year ago, Chu Zhao had also entered the Zhongshan Prince’s residence.

Meeting again now, much had changed.

However, this girl’s attitude remained uncompromising. The Zhongshan Prince smiled, not taking offense, just as before.

“When I met Your Highness then, was it… not a coincidence?” Chu Zhao asked curiously.

This had always been her suspicion. She hadn’t wanted to come to the Zhongshan Prince’s residence at that time, only accompanying Deng Yi to prevent him from establishing a relationship with the Zhongshan Prince. She had thought she’d prevented Deng Yi from private talks with the Prince, but later Xiao Xun still traveled to the capital with them, making her suspect Deng Yi and the Zhongshan Prince might have known each other earlier.

The Zhongshan Prince laughed heartily: “Of course it wasn’t a coincidence. Deng Yi informed me that Miss Chu was passing by, and I specially asked him to bring you to my home as a guest. I originally wanted to establish a connection with Miss Chu and General Chu, but unfortunately, we lacked the fortune—Miss Chu wasn’t interested.”

Chu Zhao’s suspicion was confirmed. She nodded with acceptance: “So I was targeted as soon as I left the capital. The connections in this world are indeed man-made.”

The girl merely mused, showing no unusual reaction, seemingly unconcerned that Deng Yi had long been associated with him. The Zhongshan Prince smiled, also at ease. She had managed to persuade Deng Yi to open the gates for her that night despite his advantage; how could she care about such minor details?

She only used this person, not his heart. As long as Deng Yi worked for her, it didn’t matter where his loyalties lay.

Miss Chu, though young, was both open-minded and seasoned.

“Miss Chu, please come in.” The Zhongshan Prince gave her a deep look and invited her.

Chu Zhao nodded and walked into the hall first, with A-Le and Ding Dachui following closely.

“I won’t waste time today asking Your Highness why you’re doing this,” Chu Zhao said directly after taking her seat.

Why the Zhongshan Prince was doing this—of course, to become emperor. She had personally witnessed the Zhongshan branch of the family becoming emperors before, so there was no need for empty talk.

Seeing a servant about to serve tea, she raised her hand to stop them. “I won’t drink Your Highness’s tea either.”

She had already died once from drinking poison from his son’s hand. In this lifetime, she would never touch anything given by the Xiao family.

A-Le held up a water pouch: “We brought our own.”

The Zhongshan Prince smiled again. The officials behind him sneered: “If the Empress is so timid, why come here at all?”

Chu Zhao replied: “Caution is not timidity.” She looked at the Zhongshan Prince. “I can die fighting Your Highness with real weapons, but dying from a cup of poisoned tea would be worthless.”

The Prince’s officials grew angrier: “Who would poison you?” One grabbed the tea from the servant and drank it in one gulp. “Such a petty mind.”

The Zhongshan Prince smiled and raised his hand to stop them: “Don’t mind these minor matters.” He looked at Chu Zhao again. “Miss Chu is right to be cautious. I don’t mind what methods I use to kill someone—as long as they die, it’s worthwhile. However, at present, I would be reluctant to harm Miss Chu.”

His expression was both nostalgic and sincere.

“I greatly admired General Chu, and you, Miss Chu, have surpassed even your father.”

Xiao Xun was initially reluctant too, but later he wasn’t, because what he was reluctant to lose wasn’t her as a person but her influence. Such flattering words now left her unmoved. Chu Zhao said: “I came today to ask Your Highness to stop. This war cannot continue. The civilian casualties are too great, the devastation too severe. How innocent they are.”

The Zhongshan Prince was stunned for a moment, then laughed heartily. The officials behind him also roared with laughter.

“Empress Chu, then you shouldn’t have come here,” they said. “You should tell that little emperor husband of yours, for the sake of the people, to avoid devastation, he should quickly abdicate.”

The Zhongshan Prince smiled and again stopped everyone, saying to Chu Zhao: “Miss Chu, although you are still young, I don’t believe you are naive. You should understand that this is inevitable.”

Chu Zhao was silent for a moment, her gaze falling on the Zhongshan Prince’s crippled leg. “Your Highness, is it because of your injured leg from that year that you are so obsessed?”

The Zhongshan Prince didn’t answer this question but smiled faintly: “Miss Chu, there’s no need to debate right and wrong. Even if I am full of evil, it’s only temporary. Once I enter the imperial palace, there will be a different narrative.”

Chu Zhao said: “If the court were to grant Your Highness a golden seal and ribbon, with authority like the kings in early Han, would Your Highness cease hostilities?”

Was she negotiating terms? The officials looked at each other, amused.

They said among themselves: “Is this condition offered by Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang?” “His Highness can hold the jade seal himself; why would he need a golden one?”

The Zhongshan Prince looked at Chu Zhao: “This is your proposal, isn’t it? Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang would never suggest this. They desire this battle even more than I do—to forge awe-inspiring authority for that child and themselves with the blood and flesh of the world’s people.”

Chu Zhao didn’t answer but said: “Your Highness, since I dare to make this promise, I can certainly fulfill it.”

The Zhongshan Prince looked at her, smiled, and waved his hand. The officials standing beside him were surprised—the Prince was asking them to withdraw.

“Your Highness,” one official said, “you must not.”

Since Chu Zhao had refused to drink tea for fear of poison, they naturally were wary of her making a sudden move to harm the Prince. Although Chu Zhao only had a round-faced maid and a dull-looking guard with her, who knew what underhanded methods they might be hiding?

“Miss Chu didn’t come to kill me,” the Zhongshan Prince said, then smiled again. “Miss Chu also knows clearly that even if she killed me now, it would be of no use.”

He waved his hand again.

“It’s fine. Wait outside the door. I have a few sincere words to say to Miss Chu.”

The officials could only acknowledge and withdraw, standing solemnly outside the door.

“Miss Chu, I understand now,” the Zhongshan Prince said. “You didn’t come as an emissary for that child, Deng Yi, or Xie Yanfang. You came only as an advocate for the common people. You even dared to offer to let me establish myself as an independent feudal lord. You truly have the heart of a bodhisattva.”

Chu Zhao shook her head: “I don’t have a bodhisattva’s heart. I am now the Empress of Great Xia. I cannot watch as Great Xia falls into chaos and the people suffer without doing anything. If I can resolve your discontent and prevent the realm from turmoil and the people from displacement, I can offer these compensations.”

She had just become Empress, yet she spoke of the realm with ease, more relaxed than he, a true royal descendant, as if the world was truly in her control—the Zhongshan Prince couldn’t help but smile and said: “Miss Chu, I said earlier that I’ve always admired General Chu and wanted to associate with him. I also admire you.”

He looked at Chu Zhao and said solemnly:

“Miss Chu, would you be willing to join forces with me?”

So now the Zhongshan Prince was negotiating terms with Miss Chu?

Chu Zhao smiled: “I have no reason to join forces with Your Highness.”

“Miss Chu,” the Zhongshan Prince leaned forward slightly and said deliberately, “If I ascend the throne as emperor, then A-Xun will be the Crown Prince, and Miss Chu will be the Crown Prince’s consort. In the future, you will still be Empress. How does that sound?”

The Zhongshan Prince wanted Chu Zhao as his daughter-in-law? No, that wasn’t the key—the Zhongshan Prince was promising that Chu Zhao would become Empress? A-Le and Ding Dachui were stunned.

Chu Zhao looked at the Zhongshan Prince, her expression also showing slight surprise.