With the face of the Xie family, flowing with the blood of the Xie family, just like the people of the Xie family—
Xie Yanlai clenched his hand hanging at his side.
Xiao Yu moved closer to Chu Zhao. This man was his uncle? The uncle his mother had spoken of, who loved him dearly—why did he only sense killing intent in that moment?
A warm hand wrapped around him.
"Look," Chu Zhao said with a soft laugh. "You two look very much alike."
Xie Yanlai lowered his gaze and took a step back.
Just then, another group of riders galloped from the direction of the watchtower, one of them shouting, "I am Qi Xuan from His Majesty's side—open the city gates quickly!"
It was an old eunuch, dressed in an extremely peculiar manner, startling the imperial guards behind Xie Yanlai.
Without even glancing at the old eunuch, Xie Yanlai said, "Open the gates."
……
……
"Is His Majesty well?"
Although the young officer guarding the gate—he seemed to be a junior officer—Qi Gonggong didn’t recognize these imperial guards and couldn’t spot any familiar commanders. Those familiar commanders might have already turned into corpses.
In any case, the others at the city gate clearly deferred to him, so Qi Gonggong addressed him directly.
The young officer glanced over and said, "I don’t know."
You don’t know? Qi Gonggong was taken aback. What did that mean?
"We imperial guards at the city gate are here to guard it, to prevent outsiders from breaking in. As for the situation inside, we are unaware. Without summons, we will not go there," Xie Yanlai explained.
Qi Gonggong understood. The young officer’s words could also be interpreted as: the inside was under strict lockdown, and no outsiders were allowed to pry.
In that case, it was either extremely dangerous or extremely safe inside.
Qi Gonggong hesitated.
Truthfully, he hadn’t approved of coming to the Imperial City in the first place. The Third Prince’s sudden attack was undoubtedly backed by long-term preparations. His mother, the Imperial Concubine, had long enjoyed exclusive favor in the deep palace. No matter how cautious His Majesty was, it was hard to avoid—
Perhaps His Majesty was already gone.
They should have left the capital, waiting for reinforcements from all sides to quell the rebellion. It would be best if General Chu returned to lead the troops.
But Miss Chu insisted on coming to the Imperial City, and Deputy General Zhong and the others all obeyed her. They had already fought their way here, expending much effort. To fight their way out again would undoubtedly be even more difficult.
"We’ll know once we go in and see," Chu Zhao said from the side.
Qi Gonggong turned to look at her. Ever since meeting this girl at the Chu residence and hearing her claim to be Chu Ling’s daughter, he had trusted every word she said—following her lead without question. But at this moment, he couldn’t help but voice his doubt: "Isn’t it too dangerous?"
Chu Zhao understood his concern and said softly, "Qi Gonggong, whether it’s safe or dangerous, we must take the risk to find out."
Take the risk—
Qi Gonggong looked at the child in front of Chu Zhao. After the young officer had identified him, the child had turned away again, hiding his face. Now, as Qi Gonggong and Chu Zhao spoke in hushed tones, their words, unheard by others, fell upon the child’s head. But the child showed no reaction, as if he couldn’t hear.
The Little Highness must be terrified out of his wits.
The upheavals of this night had shaken even adults to their core, let alone a child.
"Miss Chu," he said, "the Little Highness cannot endure any more risks."
Reaching the Chu residence had already been a great risk, and they had nearly met a terrible end. If not for Miss Chu fighting her way out—
Chu Zhao looked at Qi Gonggong. "The risk at the Chu residence allowed me to bring you out alive. The risk in the Imperial City—I can handle that too."
Under the torchlight, the girl’s gaze was calm and steady, as if there was nothing in this world she feared.Are young people fearless because they are ignorant? Qi Gonggong didn’t know what to say—what could he even say now? There was nothing he could say. The Dragon Guard Army obeyed Chu Zhao, and that girl, whose military affiliation was unclear, was already urging impatiently, "Are we going or not? Stop dawdling."
Qi Gonggong bowed his head. "This old servant listens to you, Miss."
Chu Zhao reassured him, "Don’t worry, the Emperor is definitely still alive."
In that previous life, the Emperor had lived long enough to execute the Imperial Concubine, strip the Third Prince of his title and confine him to the imperial mausoleum, crown Xiao Xun as Crown Prince, and even outlive Prince Zhongshan, who had died from a sudden illness. The Emperor had lingered on his Dragon Body for another half-month before passing away.
In this life, the Crown Prince’s fate of death remained unchanged, so the Emperor’s fate of survival must also remain unchanged.
"The imperial guards in the inner palace are not few in number."
Xie Yanlai, who had fallen silent after ordering the city gates opened, suddenly spoke.
Chu Zhao looked at him. "I’m not afraid. If they won’t let me in, I’ll fight my way in."
She had brought the Dragon Guard Army precisely to storm the city.
She would fight the Third Prince’s men, and she would dare to fight the Emperor’s as well.
Today, she was determined to enter this Imperial Palace and see the Emperor’s face!
Xie Yanlai looked at the girl’s eyes, burning like ghostly flames, and snorted inwardly. See? This was the girl’s true nature. Hosting the Chu Garden Literary Gathering and provoking the Third Prince were nothing to her—she would even charge through mountains of blades and seas of fire.
It had nothing to do with him. Let her do as she pleased.
Xie Yanlai took another step back, clearing the way.
But instead of galloping past, Chu Zhao lowered her head and softly called to the child in her arms, "Little Highness."
The child, who had been frozen with fear in Qi Gonggong’s eyes, immediately looked up.
He tilted his head to gaze at Chu Zhao.
Chu Zhao said to him gently, "Little Highness, this is your uncle. His name is Xie Yanlai."
The child turned his head to look at Xie Yanlai again.
"Don’t be afraid," Chu Zhao murmured, leaning slightly forward as she and the child both looked at Xie Yanlai. "Your uncle will protect us from the rebels trying to break in. If there are rebels ahead, he will join us to fight them. In this Imperial City, your uncle will guard you with his life."
The girl on horseback gazed at him with sparkling eyes, a faint smile gracing her lips—pure, lovely, and gentle. Yet, in that instant, Xie Yanlai felt every hair on his body stand on end.
Chu Zhao! How vicious you are!
In the entire Xie family, there was only one person whom the Little Highness could call "uncle" and recognize as such—Xie Yanfang.
Others might be permitted to see the Little Highness, but none would be acknowledged as an uncle.
For Xie Yanlai, it was absolutely impossible.
Now, Chu Zhao had thrust him before the Little Highness at this critical moment of life and death!
She didn’t need to say those words!
This was a bribe!
As soon as Chu Zhao finished speaking, the child, who had remained silent until then, spoke.
"Uncle," he said, his voice trembling slightly as he stared intently at the young general before him, as if trying to etch his face into memory. "Thank you."
Xie Yanlai clenched the hilt of his sword, withdrew his gaze, and said, "Go!"
At this command, Chu Zhao did not hesitate any longer. Holding the child securely with one arm, she urged her horse forward, galloping past like an arrow shot toward the inner city.
The troops following her surged forth like a rain of arrows.
Xie Yanlai stood at the city gate, feeling the sharp wind and the scent of blood sweep past him.
"Yan Lai." The other imperial guards now approached Xie Yanlai.
Earlier, they had followed him out but intentionally lagged a few steps behind to let the young couple talk. But afterward, they had been unable to approach—the people around Miss Chu had blocked their way.
These men wore no military uniforms, but their aura was terrifying.They were finally leaving now.
"This Miss Chu—" one of the imperial guards stammered, the fear in his eyes not yet faded—"actually has so many troops—"
Xie Yanlai glanced at them. Didn't expect that, did you?
"Still thinking about a fiancée? Did she come looking for me because she cares about me, because she's attached to me?" he said with a cold laugh.
Could this girl be judged by conventional standards? Romance between men and women—ha—
Ahead, another group of riders approached at a gallop, just like the previous ones, not wearing military uniforms.
"Miss—" one of them shouted, his voice deep and resonant, echoing through the city gate.
Chu Zhao's voice came from within the inner city, distant yet clear: "Uncle Zhong, guard the city gate well."
Zhong Changrong, about to rein in his horse, paused as his gaze fell upon the young general standing firm before the gate. He was taken aback for a moment, then the scar on his face twitched.
"You!" he yelled, his eyes fierce. "What are you doing here!"
Xie Yanlai raised an eyebrow, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Why can't I be here?" He sneered again. "If anything, I should be asking you."
This brat, what kind of attitude is that? Zhong Changrong flicked his whip, not striking Xie Yanlai but cracking it sharply in the air.
I'll deal with you later!
"Since you're here," he said irritably, pointing outside, "the arrow tower and this area are yours. I'm heading inside."
As he spoke, he gestured to the troops behind him to split. Instantly, the forces divided into two groups: one followed Zhong Changrong, galloping through the gate without slowing, while the other stood solemnly in front of Xie Yanlai.
It all happened in a flash. Zhong Changrong didn't even slow down before he charged past.
Xie Yanlai was furious, only managing to shout, "What do you take me for?"
But it was useless. Zhong Changrong had already passed through the gate and was out of sight.
"Yan Lai, you're so familiar with Miss Chu's uncle," one of the imperial guards beside him remarked in surprise. "You two—"
"We have no relationship at all!" Xie Yanlai snapped, his brows furrowed. "I'm not familiar with him either!"
The imperial guards hummed in acknowledgment. If you don't want to talk about it, fine—it's your private matter after all.
Xie Yanlai, annoyed, was about to retort when the guards quickly changed the subject. Pointing at the solemn troops, they whispered, "What should we do?"
Xie Yanlai looked at the forces before him, channeling his pent-up frustration into a sharp command.
"Follow me to the arrow tower!" he barked. "Defend the city!"
OpenNovel