When Empress Zhao Shuhua led the main army to the outskirts of Chongzhou City, Zhao You's forces were still in a standoff with the troops inside the city. As soon as Zhao Shuhua arrived ten li outside the camp, someone came to receive her. The one who came to meet her was named Sun Qi, another senior general under Zhao You's command. This man enjoyed Zhao You's deep trust, which was why he had been sent.
Upon seeing Zhao Shuhua, Sun Qi requested to speak with her privately. Once they had moved aside, Sun Qi lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, the general received news early this morning. As soon as he heard about the incident in Cangzhou, he fell gravely ill. Now, the camp is only being managed by the young general and myself. When you see the general later, Your Majesty, you must persuade him to take care."
Zhao Shuhua immediately furrowed her brows, then after a long moment, she acknowledged with a sound. She then led the main army to join Zhao You.
Upon reaching the camp, Zhao Jing was waiting at the entrance. When the siblings met, Zhao Jing only inquired about the situation in Fengzhou before heading to the central command tent. Inside the tent, they indeed found Zhao You bedridden with illness.
It had been several months since they parted in Cangzhou. The last time they met, Zhao You had been full of vigor, but now his hair was graying at the temples, and his complexion was haggard, as if he were on the verge of collapse. Hearing the footsteps, Zhao You opened his eyes. Seeing Zhao Shuhua, he showed no joy on his face and instead sighed softly, "Was the journey safe?"
Even as the Empress, Zhao Shuhua was still a daughter before Zhao You. Zhao Jing pulled over a stool, and after Zhao Shuhua sat down, she said, "Father, rest assured. The journey was very safe. The main army has now entered the camp, and General Sun is organizing the troops. Father, how are you?"
Zhao You shook his head, "I'm fine. This morning, I heard from scouts that the barbarians have already moved south."
Zhao Shuhua had taken three days to travel from Cangzhou to Chongzhou, and during those three days, the barbarians had naturally not remained idle.
Zhao Shuhua replied, "I already know about that, Father. You needn't worry. For now, just focus on recovering. Now that I'm here, and with Generals Sun and Cheng, military affairs are being handled and taken care of. Please rest and recuperate with peace of mind."
Zhao You looked at Zhao Shuhua but did not respond. Instead, he asked, "What do you plan to do next?"
This question stumped Zhao Shuhua. "This matter... still needs to be discussed with all the generals and with you, Father. At the moment, I have no plans."
Zhao You stared intently at Zhao Shuhua, then after a long while, sighed. "You are my daughter. When you were young, you were my only child, and I raised you myself. I understand your thoughts better than anyone... There's no need to deceive me. I know you already have an idea in mind. I only need to tell you that I do not agree with your idea. Now, with two hundred thousand barbarians and Cangzhou already turned into a sea of blood, I absolutely cannot let you act for personal gain at such a time... cough cough cough..."
Before Zhao You could finish, he was seized by a violent coughing fit. Though his words were left unfinished, their meaning was clear. While instructing Zhao Jing to fetch tea, Zhao Shuhua sighed and said, "Since Father knows my thoughts, you shouldn't—""Listen to me!" Zhao You abruptly cut off Zhao Shuhua, "Back when I received your letter, I didn't hesitate even if it meant risking the entire Zhao clan. But now... I've started to fear. Shu'er, the Northern Garrison Army has defended the northern border for over a decade - when have we ever made such a grave mistake? The hundreds of thousands of civilians in Cangzhou have all become wandering ghosts. When I descend to the netherworld, I'll have no face to meet them. At this point, all blame rests on me. But you, Che'er, and the other officers and soldiers - how can we compound our errors?"
Zhao You pleaded bitterly, refusing even tea. Zhao Shuhua sighed upon hearing this, "Father, we're not at fault. The emperor is the one who's wrong."
Zhao You said helplessly, "The current emperor is indeed wrong, but haven't we also committed errors? Shu'er, listen to me - if the barbarians retreat, I won't oppose whatever method you use to contend for the throne. But now, how can we let the northern territories of Great Zhou fall into barbarian hands?!"
Zhao Shuhua pressed her lips together in silence. Zhao You began coughing violently again. Seeing this, Zhao Shuhua had no choice but to say, "Alright, father, I'll listen to you. Please don't agitate yourself. With so many people gathered here, we must carefully discuss our strategy. Don't upset yourself. Che'er and Chao Yu are outside - shall I have them come in to pay their respects?"
After recovering for a moment, Zhao You finally nodded. Then Yan Che and his wife entered to pay respects to Zhao You. After exchanging a few words with them, Zhao You rested.
After leaving the main tent, Zhao Jing led Zhao Shuhua to the tent prepared for her.
Zhao Jing was Zhao You's son born in his later years, only a few years older than Yan Che. Zhao Shuhua was almost like a mentor to Zhao Jing, so he usually obeyed her completely. Upon entering the tent, Zhao Shuhua asked, "How is father's condition?"
Zhao Jing replied, "It's acute anger affecting the heart. Combined with his advanced age, the exhaustion of this campaign, and the recurrence of old injuries - all these factors triggered the illness. The army physicians have examined him and say it's quite serious. He absolutely must not become agitated from now on."
Zhao Shuhua sat down, her expression dark. Seeing her demeanor, Zhao Jing knew she didn't intend to follow Zhao You's advice. Frowning, he said, "Elder sister doesn't understand - father is a proud man. Being branded a rebel is already hard for him to accept, let alone the massacre of Cangzhou. The Northern Garrison Army has been in Cangzhou for years. Not just father, even I can't bear hearing this news. Now with father's anger and guilt combined, he naturally can't overcome this psychological barrier."
Zhao Shuhua remained silent with a grim face. Zhao Jing continued, "Actually... I've always had a question. Elder sister, is this really only for the Crown Prince?"
Zhao Shuhua glanced at him, her gaze making Zhao Jing somewhat nervous. Withdrawing her gaze, she said, "You needn't ask about that. Just know I have my reasons." After a pause, she looked toward the south, "What's the situation in Chongzhou city?"
Zhao Jing quickly responded, "The city currently has over thirty thousand troops. We've clashed twice before - their city defenses are extremely well-prepared. We've come from afar without siege engines, so naturally it's difficult to attack. No matter how we try to lure them out, they refuse to deploy troops, stubbornly holding out. Father is unwilling to use suicide squads to press the assault, so we've reached a stalemate."Zhao Shuhua sighed, "Father has always been too soft-hearted towards the Zhou people!"
Zhao Jing seemed on the verge of speaking but ultimately remained silent. Zhao Shuhua waved her hand dismissively, "I need to rest for a while. Go assist General Sun in settling the troops, and we'll talk later."
Zhao Jing accepted the order and left, first checking on Yan Che and his wife before proceeding to reorganize the army. They had arrived just at sunset, and by the time the entire army was settled, the sky had long since darkened. Having traveled through the night, the first priority upon entering camp was naturally rest. Yet Zhao Shuhua slept for little more than half an hour before rising again.
After a simple meal, Zhao Shuhua summoned the generals for a council. As they entered the meeting hall, it was clear everyone had already learned about the barbarians' massacre of Cangzhou. The atmosphere grew heavy with tension. Those who followed Zhao You still retained some courage and conscience, and the news of Cangzhou's slaughter could not leave them unmoved. Observing this, Zhao Shuhua withheld further discussion of the matter, focusing instead on how to first capture Chongzhou City.
Whether to resist the barbarians or continue southward, passing through Chongzhou was an unavoidable hurdle.
The generals did not oppose this objective, but Chongzhou's defenses were formidable. Taking the city without significant casualties seemed nearly impossible.
While they were still debating, a scout suddenly arrived with a report.
"Your Majesty, the Empress! The army in Chongzhou City has retreated!"
Shock rippled through the assembly. The Empress frowned, "Retreated?! Did they head west?"
With Yue Qiong likely stationed in Fengzhou, was it possible he had withdrawn these troops to bolster defenses against the barbarians?
The scout shook his head, "No, they marched south out of the city and have set up camp twenty li beyond the walls!"
Hearing this, Zhao Shuhua's brow furrowed deeply. Camping twenty li outside the city clearly indicated they were still monitoring their movements—not granting them free passage south. Yet they had inexplicably yielded Chongzhou City. What was the meaning of this...?
A tremor passed through Zhao Shuhua's pupils, followed by a cold laugh. This Yue Qiong—he was forcing her to confront the barbarians!
With those thirty thousand troops blocking the way, any attempt to advance south would entail days of fierce combat. By then, the barbarians might already be at their doorstep. Under such circumstances, how could they avoid battle?!
Zhao Shuhua laughed bitterly, momentarily at a loss for words.
Yue Qiong had indeed acted as she predicted, but she never imagined he would use such tactics to compel her to fight!
Zhao Jing, still perplexed, asked, "Elder sister, what does this mean? What should we do now? Could this be a trick to lure us in?"
Zhao Shuhua pressed her lips together, "It's no trick—this is a strategic retreat to advance!"
Her expression turning stern, she continued, "The Anyang Marquis knows our intentions. He's giving us Chongzhou City. Since it's offered, we have no reason not to take it. Send a hundred scouts to investigate the city first. The rest of you, prepare the troops to enter in separate groups. Regardless of what comes next, we are taking Chongzhou City!"At Zhao Shuhua's command, everyone naturally complied. She then went to Zhao You's camp. Though bedridden, Zhao You was surrounded by his trusted officers and had already learned of the news from Chongzhou City, as well as Zhao Shuhua's orders. When he saw her, Zhao You said, "Yue Qiong is a man of principle. By acting this way, he's giving us room to join him in fighting the barbarians. Shuhua, since he has taken a step back, let us ally with him."
Seeing Zhao You's earnest and solemn demeanor, Zhao Shuhua couldn't help but sigh. "Father, even if we turn our blades now, it's too late. Once we set foot on this Path, everything is irreversible. At this moment, the Emperor in Lin'an must wish to have me torn limb from limb. How can we prepare the Wedding Gown for him?"
Zhao You closed his eyes, his breathing becoming labored. "But if we abandon the northern territories and march south, I absolutely cannot agree. If you wish to go south, go ahead. Leave me in Chongzhou City. This old bones no longer seeks to be an imperial father-in-law or a new emperor's grandfather. Just let me remain in the north."
Hearing this, Zhao Shuhua felt a pang of sorrow. "Why say such things, Father? How could I leave you alone here?"
Zhao You waved his hand, signaling for Zhao Shuhua to leave, and spoke no more. Seeing his ragged breath and paper-white complexion, Zhao Shuhua grew concerned. "Father, why don't we enter the city first? I won't rashly march south. Let's assess the situation in the north before deciding, alright?"
Only then did Zhao You open his eyes. He had feared Zhao Shuhua would immediately order a southern advance amid the chaos in the north. If that happened, the defenses of Chongzhou would be torn open. Zhao You sighed, "That's more like it. With us in Chongzhou, we will never let the barbarians easily march south. But I wonder how Wuzhou is faring."
Zhao Shuhua sighed, "Father, you still have the heart to worry about such matters? Your health is poor—you must not overexert yourself. Starting tomorrow, your aides are forbidden to report military affairs to you. If there's anything, I will inform you myself."
Zhao You would not agree, and the father and daughter argued again, but Zhao Shuhua ultimately yielded to him.
Meanwhile, troops were sent into the city to investigate. After half a day of reconnaissance, they found nothing unusual. At daybreak, the army began entering the city. The people of Chongzhou had long known the Empress had rebelled and that Zhao You's forces were poised outside. Thus, when the Northern Garrison Army entered, most citizens were terrified. A once-thriving city fell silent as everyone shut their doors and hid indoors, fearing plunder. However, the Northern Garrison Army maintained strict discipline, and after a day in the city, no chaos erupted. By evening, everything was settled.
Though ill, Zhao You ordered Sun Qi and Cheng Wei to personally reinforce the city walls against a potential barbarian surprise attack. Only after giving many such instructions did Zhao You rest. Seeing his stubbornness, Zhao Shuhua felt helpless. She could be ruthless toward anyone, but her deep respect for her elderly father prevented her from being entirely cold-hearted. At midnight, hearing the city defenses were fully deployed, Zhao Shuhua took Yan Che and Qin Chaoyu in a carriage to the city gates.
Accompanied by Cheng Wei, the three ascended the watchtower. In the vast darkness, the wilderness beyond Chongzhou City lay especially still.Yet Zhao Shuhua knew all too well that to the south, thirty thousand troops blocked their path, while to the north, jackals and tigers were charging toward them.
"Che'er, what do you think we should do now?"
After a long silence, Zhao Shuhua asked Yan Che. Yan Che hesitated briefly before replying, "Whatever Your Majesty commands, this subject shall obey."
Zhao Shuhua frowned and shook her head. "I don't want to hear such formalities. Just speak what's truly in your heart."
Yan Che's eyes darkened. "My thoughts are in turmoil, and I have no decision at present."
Zhao Shuhua's brows knitted in apparent displeasure, but Yan Che continued, "All along, Your Majesty's will has been my will. Thus now, I cannot distinguish which carries more weight. Whatever Your Majesty desires is what I desire."
Yan Che spoke without a trace of resentment, instead with utter tranquility.
Hearing these words, Zhao Shuhua felt an inexplicable sting in her nose. The reprimands she had intended for Yan Che vanished instantly. As she continued gazing into the vast, starless night outside, her once steadfast hatred suddenly began to waver.
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