One meal owed.
Deng Yi looked at the girl below the city gate tower and laughed.
"Indeed, no meal in this world comes without a price," he said. "I thought Miss Chu was quite generous."
Chu Zhao looked at him: "I am generous. When I have a request, I do not hesitate to offer rewards. You have witnessed along the way, Lord Deng, that I have never shortchanged those who helped me."
This girl had deceived and acted her way along the journey, and indeed, she had been lavish with her rewards.
But—
"Miss Chu," Deng Yi looked at her, "rather than calling it a reward, it would be more accurate to call it a bribe. Without those rewards, you would not have been able to compel them to act."
He smiled at this point.
"Miss Chu is indeed generous, but a single meal is not enough to bribe me, Deng Yi."
He raised his hand and waved lightly.
"Miss Chu, since you have managed to come here, I will not stop you from leaving. So, go now."
Qi Gonggong was already very anxious and urged Chu Zhao, "Hurry and leave."
Deng Yi had made it very clear: he knew that Chu Zhao had reached this place by relying on the hidden capabilities of Chu Ling, and out of consideration for Chu Ling, he would not make things difficult for them but would let them go.
Go. As long as they lived, there would always be opportunities.
His Majesty was still alive, General Chu had the Dragon Guard Army, and although the Yang Family had fallen, the Xie family still had its foundations. The Little Highness still had a chance.
Chu Zhao gripped the reins, watching Deng Yi on the city gate tower as he turned to leave again. Her horse, as if sensing her mood, snorted and shifted restlessly in place.
She could indeed leave the Imperial City and the capital smoothly, even return to the Border Commandery and her father's side. But what then?
What would happen after Xiao Xun ascended the throne as emperor?
Not to mention the awkward status of the Little Highness—how could Prince Zhongshan and his son possibly let him live?
If Xiao Xun was destined by fate to become emperor, then wouldn't the Little Highness, and she herself, also be destined to die?
She absolutely could not leave!
"Lord Deng," she called out again, "when I invited you to a meal, it was not to bribe you, but to offer a gift. I know that you, sir, were born extraordinary. I hoped that one day, you might lend a hand and help me secure a path to survival."
Qi Gonggong was stunned beside her. Was this flattering Deng Yi? Wasn't it a bit late to say such nice words now?
Deng Yi, who had turned away on the city wall, couldn't help but laugh. He looked back at the girl below the city gate tower. So, that meal was not just a meal—it was an act of recognizing a hero.
Seeing him turn back and smile, Chu Zhao quickly looked at him with eager eyes. "Lord Deng, that meal cost only a few taels of silver, hardly worth mentioning. But at that time, it was the greatest sincerity I, Chu Zhao, could offer. Lord Deng, I, Chu Zhao, am never stingy. Even if I was bribing others along the way, I still gave everything I could."
Deng Yi looked at the girl below the city gate tower, at the plea in her eyes, and the determination.
The sincerity she could offer at that time was a meal.
The sincerity she could offer in the future would be far more than just a meal.
Deng Yi's gaze finally fell on the child leaning against her chest.
"Do you truly wish to enter?" he asked.
Qi Gonggong was startled and looked at Deng Yi in disbelief, his mind racing with chaotic thoughts—
Chu Zhao, without hesitation, nodded: "Yes!"
Deng Yi said, "Only you and the Little Highness may enter. If you wish to come, approach now."
With that, he said no more and turned to leave.
This time, no shout came from the girl below the city gate tower.
But after Deng Yi had taken a few steps, a eunuch came forward and blocked his path.
"Grand Tutor," he said in a low voice, "you have already promised the Crown Prince of Zhongshan. At this time, allowing others to enter..."
He looked up at Deng Yi."Is the Grand Tutor going back on his word?"
……
……
Deng Yi looked at this eunuch, naturally recognizing him as the one who had spoken on behalf of Prince Zhongshan.
He smiled faintly: "I let someone else in, but that doesn't mean I'm refusing the Heir Apparent entry."
But that "someone else" was no ordinary person—it was the Imperial Grandson!
A flicker of annoyance flashed in the eunuch's eyes, followed by helplessness: "Lord Deng, now that Little Highness has arrived, is there still any need for the Heir Apparent to come?"
Deng Yi stopped smiling: "What? The Heir Apparent isn't afraid of the Crown Prince and Third Prince's swords and spears, but would fear a mere child? With such cowardice, how can he speak of protecting His Majesty?"
He glanced at the eunuch.
"In that case, there's no need for the Heir Apparent to come at all."
Having said this, he turned to leave but paused as if remembering something.
"Moreover, if we're talking about keeping one's word—in this matter, Miss Chu sent me gifts earlier than Prince Zhongshan did."
After saying this, he paid no further attention to the eunuch and strode downstairs.
The eunuch stood rooted to the spot, his face alternating between pale and flushed, feeling both angry and puzzled. What did he mean? Miss Chu sent gifts earlier than the Prince? What gifts? A meal?
But he wasn't wrong. The eunuch's expression gradually calmed. A six-year-old child—even if he is the Imperial Grandson, what does it matter? The Crown Prince is dead, the Third Prince has been deposed, and the Emperor is on his deathbed. This empire is destined to belong to the Heir Apparent.
Just as Deng Yi was being intercepted by the eunuch, outside the city gate, Chu Zhao was also being stopped by Qi Gonggong and Zhong Changrong.
"No, you cannot take Little Highness into the palace alone," Qi Gonggong said urgently. "Who knows what the situation inside is like?"
Given Deng Yi's attitude, the palace was clearly dangerous.
Little Highness must not be exposed to further risks.
Chu Zhao looked at Qi Gonggong: "Qi Gonggong, if we don't take this risk, Little Highness will forever remain in constant danger."
Qi Gonggong was taken aback. He understood Chu Zhao's reasoning, but—
Understanding was one thing; avoiding immediate danger was still preferable. This Miss Chu, he had come to realize, was just like her father—truly both brave and stubborn. Once she set her mind to something, not even ten oxen could pull her back!
"Then may I trouble you, Miss Chu, to see His Majesty alone. This old servant will wait outside with Little Highness," he said directly, reaching out to the child on horseback. "Little Highness, come—"
But the child on the horse remained unmoved, leaning against Chu Zhao as if he neither saw Qi Gonggong nor heard his words.
Zhong Changrong overheard this and grew displeased. This old eunuch actually wanted to let the young lady face danger alone. The people in the palace were truly heartless.
"Young lady, I will go with you," he said. "I have seen His Majesty before, back when I accompanied the General."
In the past, the General had brought him to see the Emperor, so he was familiar with such occasions. Now, he could bring the young lady to see His Majesty.
Chu Zhao dismounted and smiled: "No need, Uncle Zhong. It's already quite an achievement to persuade Lord Deng to let me and Little Highness enter. Don't worry."
Zhong Changrong smiled bitterly. How could he not worry? But if it came to a fight—
He looked at the tightly shut palace gates, the hidden blades on the city walls. It wasn't that he feared those blades, but if he were to lead his men into a confrontation here, what would happen to the Emperor inside? With a single order, they would be branded as rebels.
Chu Zhao dismounted and reached out to the child on the horse. Without hesitation, the child threw himself into her arms, and Chu Zhao lifted him down to the ground.
"Little Highness—" Qi Gonggong reached out again to take the child.
But the child avoided his hand, clinging tightly to Chu Zhao's side.
Qi Gonggong froze in surprise.The palace gate slowly opened a crack at that moment, just wide enough for one person to pass through.
"Miss Chu, please," a cold voice from the imperial guard sounded inside the gate.
Chu Zhao tightened her grip on the child's hand and glanced at Qi Gonggong beside her: "Qi Gonggong, you had the courage to bring Little Highness charging out, now you should also have the courage to watch me and Little Highness fight our way back in."
She then gave Zhong Changrong a meaningful smile before leading the child toward the palace gate, quickly passing through it.
The heavy palace gate closed the moment they stepped through. Ahead lay the dark imperial city, where the glint of blades, spears, and crossbows flickered in the swaying torchlight.
Chu Zhao felt the child's hand trembling slightly.
She knelt down to meet his gaze at eye level.
This was the first time she had truly looked at this child. In the dim blue light, the child's eyes glistened with moisture.
"Lit—" she began to speak.
"My name is Xiao Yu," the child suddenly said, his voice quivering slightly, "A'Yu."
Chu Zhao smiled and called him: "A'Yu."
She took his hand and clasped it firmly in her own.
"Your life and mine are bound together. If you die, I die too. So trust me - I will do everything in my power to keep us both alive."
Xiao Yu looked at the girl before him and nodded vigorously.
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