Qiao Chu

The imperial edict burned in the brazier, sending up black smoke that smudged the faces of those in the tent as dark as a pot's bottom.

The quiet camp tent was not occupied by Xiao Xun alone; three court officials stood opposite him.

They had known Xiao Xun’s intentions were hostile, but they never expected him to burn the imperial edict right before their eyes.

This was an outright, face-slapping rupture of decorum.

“Heir Apparent!” the leading official shouted sharply. “How dare you!”

Xiao Xun smiled, his dimples deepening. “Your Excellency, if I weren’t bold, would I have come this far? Did you truly think Xiao Xun was timid? You know full well why I am here, just as you know why you are here.”

He pointed at the burning edict.

“Did you think this piece of paper could stop me?”

One official said sternly, “Xiao Xun, you and your father are truly defying the sacred decree and committing treason?”

Xiao Xun sighed softly. “What is a sacred decree, and what is treason? Have you forgotten that I, too, bear the surname Xiao? My father is of royal blood. The late emperor was depraved and incompetent, failing to guide his heir, committing atrocities against human morality. The throne should have been ceded to the virtuous and capable. To let a child sit on the throne, to allow a low-born clerk and Imperial Relatives to control the court—that is the true treason.”

“Would the virtuous and capable act as you do? Bullying a newly orphaned child who has just inherited the throne?” the official retorted coldly. “Would the virtuous use the common people as human shields to threaten the court?”

Another official added gravely, “This edict was meant to spare you and your father disgrace, to urge you to turn back from this misguided path. It is not too late.”

Xiao Xun laughed heartily. Tie Ying stepped forward, his blade aimed at the official.

The official’s face paled, but he straightened his back and did not retreat.

“Don’t kill him yet,” Xiao Xun said. “It’s not time.”

Tie Ying sheathed his sword and stepped back.

“Bullying a child,” Xiao Xun murmured. “Wasn’t my father also a child back then?”

He looked at the three officials.

“Using the people as shields—that’s not just me, but you as well.”

“Who is this edict for? Not for me, but to deceive the masses.”

“The Capital Garrison’s hundred thousand troops are arrayed ahead, and over a hundred thousand provincial soldiers surround us on all sides, waiting for me to refuse the edict, to disobey, so they can declare war on charges of treason. When blades know no mercy and iron hooves trample the people, it will no longer be the court’s fault.”

Here, Xiao Xun smiled.

“But don’t worry. I won’t let the court’s intentions go to waste.”

“I accept the edict. I will obey its command and defend the capital.”

“However, there’s one thing you must not forget.”

“A general in the field is not bound by orders from the sovereign.”

With that, he signaled to Tie Ying.

“Let the three officials rest.”

Before the three could react, Tie Ying stepped forward, drew his sword, and with three swift strikes, knocked them unconscious. They collapsed to the ground.

Without a glance, Xiao Xun stepped over them and walked out.

“Everyone, these three officials will remain with us to defend the capital,” he announced to the gathered crowd outside the camp. “Even if Garrison General Chu Ling is not here, Western Liang shall not set foot in our Great Xia, nor harm a single one of our people.”

The crowd cheered loudly.

Amid the cheers, Xiao Xun turned to the officers behind him. “Break camp tomorrow. Divide the troops into four routes and continue toward the capital.”

The officers acknowledged the order.Xiao Xun turned to look northwest again. What a pity that girl couldn't witness with her own eyes how he would conquer the capital.

......

......

The Capital Garrison remained active deep into the night.

Zhang Gu stood outside the camp, lost in thought.

"Boss," a fellow courier ran over and whispered, "Something's not right here."

"Of course it's not right," Zhang Gu glared at him. "Are you stupid? Did you actually think everything was normal?"

The sudden large-scale mobilization of Capital Garrison troops, claiming it was the court deploying Prince Zhongshan to jointly protect the capital with the garrison—such words could only fool commoners. Where would Prince Zhongshan get troops from? For a feudal prince to amass soldiers was a capital offense.

Moreover, with so many troops moving eight hundred li outside the capital, the courier camp hadn't received any notification.

Clearly, Prince Zhongshan's forces had evaded the court's surveillance.

What these troops intended to do required no guesswork.

The courier whispered, "Boss, what I mean is, the court isn't right either."

Zhang Gu looked at him. "The court can only do this much now—try to stop it. But if they can't stop it... the troops are already deployed outside the capital."

Forces from various provinces and commanderies were also on standby, long prepared to deal with internal threats.

"No," the courier said urgently, "I mean the court still hasn't sent word to Empress Chu. They're keeping it from Empress Chu."

Although communications had been intercepted by Prince Zhongshan's side, the court should have restored them. The Empress was still in the Border Commandery—with such major events unfolding, why hadn't they informed Empress Chu?

Zhang Gu said, "Empress Chu faces her own critical situation there. What would telling her accomplish? Have her dispatch troops for reinforcement? What would happen to the Border Commandery then?"

The courier fell silent for a moment, recognizing the logic. With General Chu gone and Empress Chu battling the King of Xiliang, she must be mentally and physically exhausted—the capital's affairs were indeed beyond her capacity to handle.

Zhang Gu gazed northwest. "I hope Empress Chu won't be too anxious when she learns the news."

The courier nodded and sighed. "I hope Old Wang and Erxi succeed. This is Erxi's first time going to the Border Commandery—that country boy doesn't know much about anything."

Zhang Gu murmured, "He's young, but he's worked at the rural courier station for many years. He's not completely ignorant. In fact, appearing ignorant might work to his advantage now. With numerous checkpoints along the route, those who look least like couriers have the best chance of getting through."

Although the court wasn't informing Empress Chu about the capital's crisis, and though they worried the news might distress her, both Empress Chu and Xie Yanlai had instructed before their departure that regardless of what happened in the capital or whether the court sent messages, Zhang Gu must relay information to them promptly and without delay.

Therefore, sensing the situation turning sour and before the imperial envoys set out, despite the communication breakdown, Zhang Gu had privately dispatched two couriers who had already left the capital.

Given the current tensions and the impending conflict that could erupt at any moment, the journey would undoubtedly be difficult.

Zhang Gu and the courier fell silent, their gazes fixed northwest with both worry and hope.

The New Year festivities had done nothing to dispel the cold. The further northwest they traveled, the more biting the early spring winds became, colder even than the depths of winter.

But no chill could freeze the blood that flowed freely.

The young soldier choked back sobs, his entire body trembling as he desperately wished to strip off all his clothing to bandage his companion's wounds.

His companion was riddled with arrows—there was no place to even begin dressing the wounds.

When they had charged through the checkpoint, his companion had shielded him closely from the front, taking the rain of arrows meant for his back."Er Xi." His companion grabbed his hand. "You country bumpkin, haven't you seen death and injury before? Why are you crying?"

How would a rural courier station ever witness death and injury? They hardly saw any people there. The young soldier Er Xi sobbed twice: "Brother Wang, Brother Wang, don't die. What will I do if you die?"

Courier Wang cursed, but with no strength left, it carried no force.

He took several deep breaths and said, "Never mind whether I die or not. Hurry and go, otherwise they'll catch up and none of us will escape."

Er Xi was still haphazardly bandaging the wound, shaking his head desperately. "I can't do it alone. I can't."

Old Wang swore: "You'll be the death of me." He grabbed Er Xi's hand. "Listen, boy, don't forget what kind of couriers we are. We're the ones the Empress trusts most. Since you could come to our station, you're capable enough."

Er Xi continued shaking his head. "No, when I joined you, you weren't yet trusted by the Empress. The Empress doesn't even know me."

Old Wang laughed in frustration. "Then prove yourself to the Empress this time! Show her how capable you are!" With that, he pressed hard on the wound in his chest. "Now get out of here!"

With that final shout, his breath cut off, and there was no more sound.

Er Xi let out a cry, covering his face as he wept bitterly. But the next moment, he stumbled to his feet and vanished into the dense forest amid the cold wind.

What happened afterward, Er Xi couldn't quite remember clearly.

In his dreams, he only relived the old days.

Squatting at the rural courier station, watching the couriers pass by with imposing airs—though in others' eyes, couriers were just dusty, exhausted figures.

Or dreaming that he himself had joined the Capital Garrison, becoming a courier, filled with boundless joy.

Following Head Zhang to explore the capital, seeing countless people and delicious food, even witnessing public punishments where a man whipped a young fellow.

Head Zhang pushed him, urging him to go forward.

Go where? To the front? Impossible—he might get whipped too.

He didn't want to watch the spectacle anymore. He wanted to go home, retreating desperately backward. But Head Zhang kept pushing him, and he stumbled forward. The man raised his whip and lashed out at him—

Er Xi screamed, covering his head as searing pain shot through him. Someone grabbed his hands, and noisy voices surrounded him.

"—He's awake."

"He's come back to life."

"Quick, inform the Empress."

The Empress? Er Xi's mind gradually cleared. Right, Head Zhang had told him to find the Empress. What was it about? Er Xi frantically patted himself down—the dispatch, where was the dispatch—

Someone else grabbed his hand.

"I've received the dispatch," a clear female voice said. "Rest assured."

Received it?

Really received it?

Brother Wang died! Brother Wang died! He wasn't capable enough—how could he have delivered it alone?

Seeing the courier growing agitated again, Chu Zhao held his hand and said to the physicians, "Let him rest some more."

The physicians stepped forward to administer medicine, watching as the courier slowly sank back into deep sleep.

"Miss, A Jiu has returned," A Le whispered at the doorway.

Chu Zhao took one last look at the sleeping courier before stepping out.

Xie Yanlai was already striding over. "From Zhongshan Commandery to the capital, all the courier stations have been taken control."

He glanced toward the inner room.

"For this kid to have slipped through—not easy."

This was the first time she'd heard him praise anyone. Chu Zhao looked at him, only to hear his next words.

"If it were me, I wouldn't have been so slow."Chu Zhao felt both exasperated and resigned as she interrupted him, "How are things in the capital?"

Xie Yanlai replied, "Don't worry. No matter how sudden Prince Zhongshan's moves are, the court has long been prepared."

It could be said that from the moment the war with Western Liang began, while the Border Commandery faced Western Liang, the court had been preparing to confront Prince Zhongshan.

Although Prince Zhongshan's tactics were more formidable than expected—breaking through military encirclements, cutting off communications, and charging toward the capital—the court was far from caught off guard.

Zhong Changrong studied the sand table and said, "There's no need to worry. The Capital Garrison has a hundred thousand troops, and the fastest reinforcements from other provinces can muster another two hundred thousand. It won't be easy for Prince Zhongshan to break into the capital."

Chu Zhao remained silent.

Xie Yanlai curled his lip and said, "Don't worry about the Little Emperor. Even if you can't trust others, can't you trust Xie Yanfang? With him in the capital, who could possibly breach it?" He chuckled at this point, "Perhaps he's been looking forward to this battle all along."

During the last capital upheaval, Xie Yanfang suffered a great loss—the renowned young master ended up empty-handed. This time, he was bound to reclaim his honor.

Chu Zhao said, "I'm not worried."

Back then, when Xiao Xun held all the advantages of timing, terrain, and popular support, Xie Yanfang still managed to rebel and drive Xiao Xun into retreat. Now, with Xie Yanfang defending the capital and possessing those very advantages, it would be even more impossible for Xiao Xun to defeat him.

But—

This was war.

Battling Western Liang was, after all, confined to the borderlands, where population was sparse.

But if Prince Zhongshan and the court clashed, it would be in the heart of the Central Plains, a region of prosperity—

The scenes of besieging cities, seizing territories, with iron hooves and gleaming blades—how devastating it would be.

And there was another danger—

Chu Zhao suddenly raised her voice and called out, "Xiao Man!"

There was no response from outside, and Chu Zhao didn't call again. Shortly after, Xiao Man entered reluctantly.

"What do you want?" she snapped, turning her head away.

"The courier communication between the capital and here has been cut off," Chu Zhao said.

Xiao Man snorted, "Your official troops are so useless."

Zhong Changrong glared at her angrily, while Xie Yanlai chimed in, "They really are quite useless."

Unfazed by their remarks, Chu Zhao said, "I'd like to ask you to re-establish contact with the capital."

Xiao Man turned her head away and remained silent.

Zhong Changrong said coldly, "We don't need outsiders. We'll reopen the lines ourselves—it's not like we lack the manpower."

Chu Zhao addressed Zhong Changrong, "Our people will naturally handle their tasks, but some things Xiao Man and her group are better at." She lowered her head in thought for a moment, then picked up a brush and wrote a short letter, even stamping it with the Phoenix Seal. After sealing it, she handed it to Xiao Man, "Disregard other matters for now. Just deliver this letter to Chu Tang."

Though Xiao Man kept her head turned and didn't speak, she snatched the letter, turned around, and left.

Zhong Changrong ignored the young girl and asked Chu Zhao, "Are you worried that the elder master's family is in danger?"

Surely not. Chu Lan's entire family was in the capital. If the capital remained secure, what could possibly happen to them?

Beside them, Xie Yanlai let out a few understanding sounds.

"The army of justice," he said, raising an eyebrow at Chu Zhao with a smirk, "You're in for it."