Qiao Chu

Night fell, draping the Imperial City in a blanket of stark white, as if veiled by snow.

Qi Gonggong entered and gently laid a thin quilt over Xiao Yu, who had fallen asleep leaning against her.

"Your Highness, please attend to your duties," Qi Gonggong whispered. "I will watch over things here."

Chu Zhao did not decline. She softly stroked Xiao Yu’s head, settled him into Qi Gonggong’s arms, then rose and walked out.

Outside, numerous officials and noblewomen knelt in vigil. Though the wailing had ceased after nightfall, the watch was still exhausting—physically and emotionally.

At the sound of footsteps, the officials and noblewomen looked up and saw the young girl emerge.

Over the past few days, she had become a familiar presence. Though not officially appointed, the daughter of the Chu family appeared wherever the Crown Prince’s grandson was.

She was also exceedingly busy.

Deng Yi sought her out, Qi Gonggong consulted her, Xie Yanfang met with her—

In contrast, the Crown Prince’s grandson merely knelt before the Emperor’s coffin with nothing to do. A six-year-old child naturally had no responsibilities, so this Empress would inevitably act on his behalf. And in the future—

The girl undoubtedly sensed the surrounding gazes but walked forward without glancing sideways. Behind her followed a girl dressed as a palace maid but whose demeanor and expression were anything but servile.

She was about the same age as Chu Zhao. Unlike Chu Zhao’s composed focus, this girl met every stare with a fierce glare of her own, her almond-shaped eyes flashing with menace.

While other maids kept their hands clasped and heads bowed, she held her chin high, hands resting on her waist as if ready to draw a blade at any moment.

Though no one believed the girl would actually resort to violence, it was better to avoid trouble. The officials and noblewomen averted their eyes one by one.

Chu Zhao stepped outside the main hall. The summer night breeze offered little refreshment, but it allowed her to exhale a soft sigh of relief.

"Where is Uncle Zhong?" Chu Zhao asked Xiao Man in a low voice.

Xiao Man tilted her chin toward the sky. "How should I know? I’ve been with you the whole time."

That night, after the Dragon Guard Army arrived, Uncle Zhong assigned Xiao Man and the others different tasks, ordering them to remain at Chu Manor. However, Xiao Man refused to stay behind herself.

"—The General," the girl gritted out through clenched teeth, "ordered me to keep an eye on her."

Uncle Zhong glared at her but, likely recognizing the weight of the General’s command, eventually relented.

Xiao Man had stayed by her side ever since, day and night, never leaving—though her attitude remained far from warm, and she spoke little.

Having witnessed the girl’s formidable skills and knowing she was, in essence, the savior of both her and Xiao Yu, Chu Zhao and A Le did not find her behavior strange. Nor did they treat her as a mere guard to be ordered about.

A Le went out of her way to please her and lift her spirits.

Though Xiao Man seemed difficult to win over, she was actually quite easy to get along with. She spoke sparingly, only occasionally fixing Chu Zhao with a thoughtful, scrutinizing gaze—

Chu Zhao smiled at Xiao Man’s response and did not press further. Instead, she summoned a guard, gave a few instructions, and watched as the guard hurried off. Turning back, she noticed Xiao Man studying her again. Their eyes met, and Xiao Man immediately averted her gaze to the sky.

"Xiao Man, do you dislike my father?" Chu Zhao asked with a light laugh.

Her question was direct. Xiao Man turned to face her. "Yes."

Chu Zhao was not angered. Her gaze softened further as she asked, "Are your parents still alive?"

Xiao Man’s eyes instantly turned fierce. She spat out three words through gritted teeth: "They’re gone."

So it was as she suspected. Chu Zhao murmured softly, "So all of you are family members of the sacrificed soldiers, aren’t you?"If that's the case, it's understandable that they don't like Father and don't treat Uncle Zhong well either.

"After all, it was my father who caused you to lose your loved ones."

As a general, he had to send soldiers into battle, and battles always result in deaths. Soldiers are people too, with families of their own.

Chu Zhao knew that in Luocheng, there were settlements where the families of fallen soldiers gathered—elderly parents and young children. Her father had specifically allocated military funds to care for them and helped them find livelihoods.

But no matter how well they were cared for, they had still lost their loved ones. Especially the children, who must harbor resentment in their hearts.

Hearing Chu Zhao's words, Xiao Man's expression turned peculiar. She suddenly smiled, but her eyes quickly regained their gloom.

"That's right," she said. "It was your father who made us lose our loved ones."

Just as Chu Zhao was about to respond, Zhong Changrong strode over. Seeing the two of them talking, he immediately glared at Xiao Man with suspicion.

"Don't speak nonsense," he warned sharply.

Xiao Man snorted, turned her head away, and looked up at the sky.

Chu Zhao quickly tried to calm Zhong Changrong: "We weren't saying anything important. Miss Xiao Man isn't much of a talker. I was just asking her if she's accustomed to life in the palace."

Zhong Changrong scrutinized Xiao Man with a stern look and said, "What does it matter if she's accustomed or not? If she can adapt to the army camp, she can certainly adapt to the palace."

His words sounded odd too. It seemed that back in the Border Commandery, Xiao Man and the others never concealed their dissatisfaction with Father. Of course, dissatisfaction aside, they still carried out their duties efficiently and reliably. Otherwise, Uncle Zhong wouldn't have assigned Xiao Man to accompany her.

Chu Zhao tugged at Zhong Changrong's sleeve, deciding not to dwell on the topic any longer.

"Uncle Zhong, have you sent word to Father?" she asked.

Since that night, everyone had been extremely busy. Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang were occupied with purging the court, while Uncle Zhong was responsible for the security of the entire capital.

After Xie Yanfang returned, the city gates were reopened, and they had to investigate and reorganize the Capital Garrison. Even with the Dragon Guard Army, Zhong Changrong was swamped with work. Thankfully, Xie Yanlai was guarding the Imperial City, or else he would truly be stretched too thin—but why say "thankfully" when it came to Xie Yanlai?

That kid wasn't reliable either!

Zhong Changrong shook off his wandering thoughts and took a deep breath. Of course, no matter how busy he was, he had immediately sent news of such an important matter to the General.

"I told the General that the resignation is definitely off the table now," he said quietly.

For the young lady's sake, the General couldn't resign from his post.

Although he didn't understand the intricacies of court politics, even in common folk marriages, the bride's family was crucial. Now that the Emperor and the Crown Prince were both dead, only this six-year-old child remained. If the young lady were to marry into such a situation, she would truly be isolated and vulnerable—

Wait.

The young lady was marrying a six-year-old child.

Zhong Changrong froze again, his mind going blank. Earlier, he had only thought about the Empress—the young lady becoming the Empress—only about the identity of the Empress. It seemed he had forgotten that to become the Empress, one had to marry the Emperor. And now, the Emperor was only six years old.

This, this, this—

Was this a good thing or a bad thing?

What would the General think? Would the General be anxious? Would the General disagree?

Although the Emperor's command could not be defied, the General had defied it before—

"Uncle Zhong?" Chu Zhao called out several times.

Zhong Changrong snapped out of his daze, his expression growing anxious. "I—I'll send another message to the General," he said, turning to leave.

Chu Zhao quickly grabbed his arm. "Uncle Zhong, don't write any more letters. Go back and see Father in person."

Zhong Changrong was stunned. Go back?"Miss," he said urgently, glancing around at the deep halls of the Imperial Palace where numerous gazes watched from within—

Zhong Changrong couldn't help but pull Chu Zhao aside, positioning them both in shadows untouched by lamplight.

Lowering his voice, he said, "How can I possibly leave you alone in the capital now?"

Chu Zhao looked at Zhong Changrong. In the flickering light, the scars on his face appeared even more fearsome and terrifying, yet she could see genuine concern written across that intimidating countenance.

"Uncle Zhong," she said, "with Father and all of you by my side, no matter where I am, I'm never alone. With you here, I can remain secure in the capital. But Father—"

Father's health was failing, his life nearing its end.

"Uncle Zhong, we can't leave Father alone in the Border Commandery."

"Father needs you more than I do."

No one understood the general's condition better than Zhong Changrong. His vitality had indeed been completely depleted, and with this sudden turn of events, who knew if receiving the news might worsen his condition—

Now the Dragon Guard Army was the young lady's safeguard. Although the general was surrounded by trustworthy people, the current situation at court was truly unstable.

"Moreover," she continued, "Prince Zhongshan poses the greatest threat. With Zhongshan Commandery situated between the Border Commandery and the capital, if they make any moves that cause unrest in the border regions, the capital will be endangered too."

She was right. Prince Zhongshan harbored ambitions. Having operated in the capital for so many years, he naturally had influence in the border regions as well. Who knew if the Border Commandery was already in turmoil? The thought made Zhong Changrong wish he could sprout wings and fly back immediately—

But then he looked at the young girl before him, wrapped in mourning clothes that made her appear even more delicate.

"Miss, you alone—"

Chu Zhao shook her head with a smile. "Not alone. I have Xiao Man." She pointed to the side.

When they had moved aside to talk, Xiao Man hadn't followed, remaining where she stood with her head turned away. Yet sensing Chu Zhao's mention, she turned her head even further aside—

Zhong Changrong's expression grew complicated. "She—she's just a young girl."

But he didn't say Xiao Man was unreliable.

"And," Chu Zhao added, looking past Zhong Changrong with bright eyes and a smile, "there's A Jiu."

A Jiu?

Zhong Changrong turned to see a young officer approaching leisurely from the distant palace gates, lamplight washing over him, his iron armor glinting.

That kid again!