Qiao Chu

Getting involved with this Miss Chu is truly troublesome.

A Jiu wore an expression of pure annoyance, enduring everyone's gazes yet stubbornly refusing to react, as if his name wasn't A Jiu at all.

"A Jiu," Chu Zhao called again, "I want to speak with A Jiu."

The scar-faced officer's stare felt like daggers. Zhang Gu couldn't hold out any longer—after all, as the leader of this courier squad, any trouble would inevitably fall on him.

"Go on," he prodded A Jiu, "don't let this... Miss Chu keep shouting!"

Only then did A Jiu reluctantly walk over.

Chu Zhao grabbed him: "Come with me." Without another word, she dragged A Jiu into the main hall.

The people in the courtyard lost their focus but couldn't openly stare into the hall, leaving their eyes to wander aimlessly.

Deputy General Zhong glanced at Xiao Xun and noticed a faint smile playing on his lips, as if Miss Chu's actions with A Jiu were no surprise—it seemed that aside from hitting Miss Liang, something else had happened to Miss A Zhao?

"Are these the couriers who escorted Miss Chu?" he asked, turning to Zhang Gu and the others.

His schedule was tight; he only needed to confirm the young lady's safety and hadn't intended to interrogate these couriers. In his eyes, they were insignificant.

But now, it appeared they might actually matter.

Zhang Gu hurriedly bowed: "Yes, we were delivering military household registries to Yunzhong Commandery." As he spoke, he started to retrieve the registries from his bag.

General Zhong raised a hand to stop him: "That's not something I'm authorized to see, nor do I dare to investigate." He offered what he thought was a kindly smile. "How did you come across our young lady?"

He had arrived in haste, and Young Master Chu's letter was both rambling and unclear—full of complaints but lacking useful information.

Zhang Gu looked at the scar-faced man's menacing grin and felt miserable.

These soldiers stationed long-term in the border commanderies had survived by licking blood off blades, especially Chu Ling's troops. Their officers were unruly, and the soldiers naturally followed suit. Even the great generals of Yunzhong Commandery kept their distance from Chu Ling. Who would have thought an outsider courier like him would get entangled with Chu Ling? Worse still, his mind was still in a muddle about the whole affair.

How the people in the courtyard made sense of what happened was of no concern to Chu Zhao and A Jiu inside the hall.

"I'm not one to shy away from trouble," A Jiu said bluntly, looking at Chu Zhao. "Even if it's General Chu, I don't care."

Chu Zhao stared at him, seemingly dazed, and said nothing.

"So, you want to create the illusion that we're involved, that we're having an affair," A Jiu said coolly. "I won't mind that. Don't think you can use matters between men and women to threaten me."

Chu Zhao couldn't help but laugh, though she didn't know why she was laughing. It really wasn't the time for laughter.

Truth be told, she didn't know why she had called for A Jiu either. At that moment, it had just slipped out.

"Don't worry," she said. "I have no intention of threatening you. Once my father makes a decision, like not letting me return home, there's no going back."

A Jiu raised an eyebrow. Was this a new tactic to play the victim?

With a mocking smile, he said, "If you didn't want to threaten me, why call me over? There were so many people. You could have called Brother Zhang, thanked him, and if your father's men saw it, they'd remember the favor. That would be a case of good deeds yielding good returns."

Chu Zhao replied, "Even if I didn't say anything, my father would remember his kindness." As for calling A Jiu, perhaps it was because he was the first to see through her.

She had put on so many acts, devised so many plans to get this far, only to end up with nothing—like drawing water with a bamboo basket.She couldn't afford to make any more fuss. Firstly, because of her father's attitude, and secondly, because of what Uncle Zhong had blurted out earlier—if she insisted on going back, the pursuers were already close and would inevitably follow her to the Border Commandery.

Her cousin was of no consequence, a fool, but among the followers were officials from the court, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of the Guards. Who knew what schemes they harbored? If they discovered her father was ill, it would disrupt his plans.

In her previous life, she had already disrupted her father's arrangements and cut off his path to survival. In this life, she couldn't afford to be so reckless again.

But should she just return like this?

Chu Zhao lifted her head and gazed outside. Though it would still take over ten days to travel, for someone who had spent a lifetime—ten years—on the road, it felt as if it were right before her eyes.

Tears slowly streamed down her face.

A Jiu frowned disdainfully. She was putting on a pitiful act again, but this silent sorrow made him deeply uncomfortable. He averted his gaze.

"I don't know you at all," he said. "And don't think too much just because you saw that letter or whatever. I have no connection with General Chu Ling. The matters between you and your father are none of my concern, and I won't interfere."

Chu Zhao asked, "I'd like to write a letter to my father. Could you deliver it for me?"

A Jiu gave a half-smile. "Miss Chu, what are you talking about? Why would you need me to deliver it? Your father's men have come in person."

That was true. Chu Zhao fell silent, then smiled self-mockingly.

"Go ahead and write the letter," A Jiu said magnanimously. "I'll go call that officer for you."

This was a favor he could still do.

He turned to leave, but the girl called out to him again from behind. "A Jiu."

Was there no end to this? A flicker of irritation flashed in A Jiu's eyes. He was no benevolent soul. Just as he was about to retort, the girl's voice reached him.

"Lord A Jiu, I have never seen what it's like for a mother to die with no one to entrust her child to. But I know what it's like for a child to yearn for a parent yet be unable to see them."

Her voice was no longer soft as before; instead, it carried a hoarse quality that felt like a blade scraping against one's ears—what it's like for a child to yearn for a parent yet be unable to see them. He knew that feeling all too well. A Jiu lowered his long eyelashes.

Without looking back, he stepped over the threshold and left.

...

...

Deputy General Zhong didn't overhear any overly dangerous topics. This courier named A Jiu had initially objected to bringing Chu Zhao along, which led to constant arguments with Miss Chu during the journey.

What Zhang Gu said was indeed true. As for those life-and-death remarks by the river, they were also part of the disputes—exactly what the two of them were arguing about was better left for them to explain themselves.

Xiao Xun, for his part, said nothing at all. While the others spoke, he even stepped away, maintaining an attitude of not meddling in others' affairs.

Soon, A Jiu emerged, and Chu Zhao made no further fuss. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Zhang Gu and the others now regarded A Jiu with even greater curiosity. This fellow was truly impressive—who knew what he had said to calm the young girl down? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Girls of that age were like this, only seeing their sweethearts in their eyes.

A Jiu noticed their expressions, rolled his eyes, and couldn't be bothered to explain.

Although Deputy General Zhong found the couriers' behavior somewhat peculiar, he didn't press further and simply invited them to continue the journey together.

Since they were all heading to Yunzhong Commandery, Zhang Gu naturally couldn't refuse.

Chu Zhao wrote a letter and entrusted Deputy General Zhong to deliver it to her father.

"A Zhao, don't worry," Deputy General Zhong said as he took the letter, his heart aching at the girl's unnervingly calm expression. He almost wished she would make a scene instead. "The General will soon come to the capital to reunite with you."Chu Zhao hummed in acknowledgment and nodded. "I will do my best this time and definitely wait for Father."

The words sounded somewhat odd, probably because the girl was in a terrible mood. Deputy General Zhong sighed inwardly, but what could he do? He had to follow the general's orders.

"Miss Chu is entrusted to the Heir Apparent," he said, bowing once more to Xiao Xun.

Just as Xiao Xun was about to speak, Chu Zhao interjected first, "Uncle Zhong, don't worry. My elder cousin has come to fetch me."

Xiao Xun smiled faintly and said nothing more.

General Zhong also remained silent, fearing that lingering another moment might soften his resolve and make him change his mind. He cracked his whip, urging his horse into a gallop, with Zhang Gu and the others following closely behind. Dust billowed along the main road outside the small town.

Perhaps because Deputy General Zhong was present, A Jiu did not take the lead this time. Instead, he rode casually at the rear of the procession. For some reason, he couldn't resist glancing back, faintly catching sight of the girl's figure standing still and gazing into the distance.

She was so far away that her face was no longer visible, but he could sense her profound sorrow.

How absurd! What was so special about sorrow? He was sorrowful too!

A Jiu withdrew his gaze and cracked his whip sharply in the air.

The horse neighed and shot forward like lightning, overtaking the courier, then Deputy General Zhong and his troops, surging far ahead into the lead.