Like a stubborn child insisting on determining a winner.
She wasn't wrong - she would die without regrets.
But what about him? After half a lifetime of planning and accumulation, with his own death and his son's death, there would be nothing left.
This was indeed his defeat.
Prince Zhongshan looked at the girl and smiled faintly.
The deathly silence in the hall was broken at this moment as officers and guards erupted in uproar.
"Your Highness, don't listen to her nonsense!"
"No matter how many private soldiers they have, they can't threaten our Zhongshan Principality!"
"Take Empress Chu to the front lines! If they want to attack the city, they'll have to step over Empress Chu's body first!"
For a prisoner who wants to die, it's never that easy - there are countless ways to torture and humiliate—
But Prince Zhongshan didn't let them continue, raising his hand to stop them. He looked at Chu Zhao and sighed deeply.
"Chu Zhao," he said, "What exactly do you want?"
Chu Zhao said calmly: "Withdraw your troops, cease the war. You remain as Prince, but the Heir Apparent Xiao Xun must go to the capital as a hostage."
Prince Zhongshan's eyebrows shot up as he said coldly: "Chu Zhao, this isn't what you promised earlier."
What was promised earlier was the golden seal and princely authority.
Now not only was the golden seal and princely authority gone, but the heir apparent had to be sent as a hostage.
Chu Zhao smiled: "Your Highness, if you had agreed earlier, it would have been a win for both of us. If you agree now, it means you've lost."
When you lose, you naturally have to pay the price.
"As for the Heir Apparent," Chu Zhao continued, "Earlier you didn't say you didn't care about this son. Now that I know your true feelings, I think it's better to keep the Heir Apparent in the capital, lest he hear rumors and create discord between you two. I can't bear to see father and son become enemies."
Prince Zhongshan sneered: "The Empress is truly thoughtful."
Chu Zhao looked at him and said: "This way, both I and Your Highness can continue living. I remain as Empress, and you remain as Prince."
Prince Zhongshan laughed heartily, then abruptly stopped.
"Empress, you're speaking too soon," he said, looking at the girl. "The Empress may be brave, but you're still just the Empress. This world isn't yours to command alone. At this point, even if I'm willing to retreat, others won't let me."
Chu Zhao understood his meaning. Although Prince Zhongshan's troops claimed to be seeking forgiveness from the Emperor rather than openly rebelling, their true intentions were already known throughout the land. How could the imperial court let him off?
Moreover, there was still Xie Yanfang in the world.
......
......
Xie Yanfang reined in his horse on a barren hill, looking ahead.
Ahead lay a city and wilderness. Banners flew above the city walls, while military camps were stationed across the wilderness - this was where the Capital Garrison was headquartered.
Galloping cavalry was approaching from that direction, with commanding officers leading the way.
"Welcome Your Majesty!" they shouted repeatedly.
Behind them, the city gates were opening as countless commoners poured out. Even from this distance where faces couldn't be clearly seen nor words distinctly heard, one could feel the overwhelming joy.
"The Emperor has arrived—"
"Welcome Your Majesty—"
Xiao Yu sat on his horse, looking up at Xie Yanfang. Although every place they passed through had been like this, his eyes still shone as brightly as the first time he witnessed it.
"Uncle," he said, "Everyone is truly happy to see me."
Previously, as the Crown Prince's eldest son and the Emperor's eldest grandson, he had been coddled in the palace. Everyone cherished and respected him, but he had never experienced the people's love.
This was a feeling he had never known before."Because you came to their side in a moment of danger," Xie Yanfang said. "The people genuinely felt Your Majesty's care. At this moment, even though you are merely a seven-year-old child, you have become the true sovereign in their hearts."
Xiao Yu nodded. "I will definitely be a good emperor."
Xie Yanfang patted Xiao Yu's shoulder and said, "Your Majesty, remember this moment. Keep the reverence and love of the people forever in your heart."
Whether you become a good emperor or not doesn't matter.
As long as you remember this moment, feel the authority of the emperor, experience the power of the sovereign, and cultivate the heart of an emperor, you will also develop the desires of an emperor.
Only then will the Little Emperor understand who is dedicating their efforts to his imperial throne, and only then will he guard against those who seek to diminish his imperial power, such as Deng Yi, or—
Xie Yanfang lowered his gaze.
The child in his arms looked up again.
"Uncle," Xiao Yu asked, "but why does it seem less tense than expected?"
Although he had never been on a battlefield, the atmosphere of life-and-death struggle had been etched into his memory from the night he charged through the chaos.
Here, troops were everywhere, formations stood like a forest, and the atmosphere was tense, but there was no aura of death.
Xie Yanfang frowned slightly. "You're right. The situation is not as it should be."
They had already received news on the way: two armies were confronting each other, and a battle seemed imminent, but aside from a few small-scale clashes at the beginning, there had been no life-or-death struggle.
Especially in the messages received over the past few days, Prince Zhongshan's army had shifted to a defensive stance, as if waiting for something.
Waiting for reinforcements?
Xiao Xun had executed three imperial envoys and, using the excuse of wanting to enter the capital to see the Emperor, had surged forward—only to stop and let his momentum dissipate. This was not a wise move.
"The traitor, upon hearing of Your Majesty's personal campaign, is too afraid to approach," an official declared loudly.
This statement was immediately met with a chorus of agreement. The common people, held back and kneeling, could not hold back their tears. It was true—otherwise, they would have already become corpses by now.
"Your Majesty's personal campaign is invincible!" countless people knelt and shouted.
Xiao Yu could not help but look up at Xie Yanfang. "Uncle, is it really so? Has the traitor Xiao Xun surrendered?"
The idea that the Emperor's authority was invincible was something a child might believe, but Xie Yanfang naturally did not.
"The traitor's fear is inevitable," Xie Yanfang said quietly. "But if he truly admitted his guilt, he should have bound himself and come out of the city to kneel and welcome Your Majesty."
Xiao Yu nodded. "I understand. The traitor must be plotting something." He tightened his grip on the reins, his small face stern. "No matter what he plans, I am not afraid."
Xie Yanfang laughed heartily. "Exactly, Your Majesty need not fear. Your Majesty will only make them afraid. Come, follow me—"
With these words, Xie Yanfang urged his horse forward at a gallop.
The soldiers and officials were caught off guard.
"Your Majesty?"
"Lord Xie, where are you going?"
"The Imperial Residence in the city has been prepared—"
...
...
The thunderous footsteps on the streets and city walls could not drown out the shouts from outside the city.
It seemed as if thousands of troops were roaring in unison outside.
"His Majesty has arrived in person!"
"Xiao Xun, come out quickly to see His Majesty!"
"Xiao Xun, you arrogantly demanded to see the Emperor. To spare you the hardship of carrying thorns and traveling to plead guilty, His Majesty has specially come in person."
"Xiao Xun, His Majesty is right here at the front lines. If you have grievances to voice, come and voice them! If you have complaints to make, come and make them!"
"Xiao Xun, His Majesty is only seven years old this year, yet he dares to come to see you. You dared to kill imperial officials and lead troops to pressure the palace—do you not dare to face His Majesty at the front lines?"The officer on the city wall gazed into the distance, watching the troops arrayed far ahead. Amid a sea of dragon banners, a single rider stood out—a man in plain robes with dark hair, unarmored yet holding a long blade, resembling the bright moon in the night sky. Seated before him was a child clad in a Dragon Robe, also brandishing a small long blade.
Though they had never seen the Little Emperor and could not discern his features, there was no mistaking it.
"That’s Xie Yanfang," another officer murmured under his breath. "Only he would dare bring the Little Emperor here."
"What if we shot that child dead—" a third officer couldn’t resist raising his crossbow, only to lower it regretfully.
Xie Yanfang would never truly let the Little Emperor remain within their range.
"Even if the Emperor is here, so what?" someone sneered coldly. "The Emperor can’t turn beans into soldiers. Our forces are more than enough to engage them in battle."
At the mention of battle, all eyes turned to the commanding general.
"Why hasn’t the Heir Apparent given the order yet?" they asked.
By all reasoning, the attack should have commenced long ago. Had they advanced a few days prior, the Little Emperor might have turned back to the capital midway, never reaching this place.
The commanding general withdrew his gaze and said, "The Heir Apparent has his own plans."
Hearing this, the officers dared not press further, but exchanged knowing glances among themselves. Something must have gone wrong on the Heir Apparent’s side.
Whether the commanding general was too preoccupied to notice their looks or simply no longer cared to conceal the situation, he summoned his personal guard and ordered, "Report to the Prince at once."
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