"Xie Yanfang has already brought the Little Emperor to the front lines."
Prince Zhongshan held a letter in his hand, looking at Chu Zhao.
Though Chu Zhao didn’t hold a letter, a narrow slip lay discarded on the nearby table.
Prince Zhongshan knew that she knew—and Chu Zhao had known even earlier than he did.
This wasn’t the first time. At first, Prince Zhongshan had ordered thorough searches and strict precautions, but now he couldn’t be bothered—Chu Zhao had come fully prepared, and trying to guard against her was futile. Better not to guard at all.
"The Emperor’s personal campaign is praised by all, his momentum unstoppable," Prince Zhongshan said, tossing the letter onto the table. "With such overwhelming force, how could Lord Xie possibly back down?"
He fixed his gaze on Chu Zhao.
"Empress Chu, you once said that your life and death mean nothing to the court, nor to Lord Xie—and your words carry no weight."
He shook his head again.
"So it’s a pity, Empress Chu. Your choice is truly unwise. Had you chosen me, at least there would be two of us."
Chu Zhao smiled faintly. "Even without choosing Your Highness, I am not alone. In this world today, I still have a say."
She pointed to the table.
"Give the order immediately. Otherwise, neither you nor the Heir Apparent will live to see how the Emperor is praised by all, his momentum unstoppable."
Would she kill them, father and son, before the Emperor’s unstoppable advance? Prince Zhongshan sneered coldly. "Empress Chu, you should worry about yourself. You will die before we do."
Chu Zhao paid no heed to the threat, handing the brush to Prince Zhongshan. "Let’s both strive to live. Life is hard enough as it is—and for you, Your Highness, it’s been even harder. Losing a leg so young, abandoned by your own imperial father—would you rest in peace dying at the hands of a mere woman like me?"
Prince Zhongshan laughed in anger, staring at this woman. Was this what they called "the barefooted fear no shoes"?
"Fine," he said, taking the brush. "I’ll wait and see whether you, Empress, can rest in peace when your time comes."
……
……
The commandery city under Xiao Xun’s control was even more heavily guarded than before.
Soldiers and horses raced through the streets day and night without cease.
"Sir—Xie Yanfang has broken through the Vanguard Formation—he’s heading this way!"
A guard rushed up the city wall, only to be kicked down by the garrison commander.
"Shut your mouth," the commander hissed under his breath. "Tell them to hold the line."
The guard clung to his leg. "Sir, the Heir Apparent must show himself. Otherwise, morale will collapse. There have been rumors these past few days—"
The commander glared furiously. "Anyone who spreads panic among the troops will be executed!"
The guard lowered his head, not daring to say another word.
The commander took a deep breath, suppressing his agitation, then turned and descended the wall. He mounted his horse and galloped toward the government office.
Outside the office where the Heir Apparent was stationed, soldiers stood guard like an iron barrel—even the occasional bird flying overhead was shot down.
But inside the courtyard, the officers and soldiers were as restless as caged birds, pacing back and forth. When the garrison commander finished his hushed report, an officer kicked over a chair.
The noise startled the noble families huddled under the corridor. Was the battle starting?
But when they looked over, they saw the officer, as before, charging toward the tightly shut hall door, roaring, "If you have the guts, bring out the Heir Apparent to face that brat! Without seeing the Heir Apparent, we will not cease fighting!"
There was no sound from inside the hall. After a moment, a voice called out, "Send some tea. Good tea."
It was as if they hadn’t heard the officer’s shouts at all.
Or perhaps they had heard but didn’t understand.The officer's face flushed crimson. These petty scoundrels refused to listen to reason, remaining utterly unyielding whether confronted with kind words or threats. They seemed determined to keep the Heir Apparent confined here for a lifetime.
They demanded food and drink while warning against any attempts to poison or drug them.
"I've been playing with poisons and narcotics since I was a child," one sneered.
"Besides, whatever you bring, we'll have your Heir Apparent sample it first."
Swallowing his anger, the officer closed his eyes briefly before barking at his personal guards: "Serve them good tea."
The guards immediately prepared the tea—they had become quite proficient at this over recent days.
"Sir, must we continue waiting?" a deputy commander whispered.
The officer's expression darkened. "The Prince has instructed us to remain calm."
They had sent word to Zhongshan Commandery immediately after the incident. Prince Zhongshan had promptly replied, stating this was all Empress Chu's scheme and that she was now confined within Zhongshan Prince's Mansion. He ordered everyone to maintain composure, hold their positions without attacking.
"We could afford to wait before," the deputy argued urgently, "but now the Little Emperor has come personally!"
Gritting his teeth, the officer felt his rage flare anew. They had enjoyed excellent prospects, only to be disrupted by these contemptible rogues. How infuriating!
"What does the Little Emperor's arrival matter? Their forces are comparable to ours—"
Before he could finish, another messenger came rushing in. "Report—!"
The messenger practically collapsed to his knees, his uniform stained with blood, clearly having fought through great difficulties to get here.
"Our rear has been ambushed—not by imperial troops," the messenger gasped.
An ambush? Not imperial troops? The officer was momentarily stunned, then sneered. "The Xie family indeed—they've been raising private soldiers!"
There had been no such attacks before Xie Yanfang's arrival. Who else could be behind this but the men he brought?
"They accuse our Prince and Heir Apparent of rebellion," the officer mocked. "Look what kind of people fill the court! An Empress harboring petty criminals, an Imperial Uncle hiding private troops. Who's the real rebel remains to be seen."
The logic was sound, but now—the deputy forced a bitter smile. "Sir, let's not dwell on that. The common people only recognize the Emperor."
Whatever the Emperor's wife or maternal uncle did was considered righteous.
"We should focus on what to do now."
The officer snorted coldly. "So what if Xie Yanfang has private troops? Hiding them until now to block us—it won't be that easy! Our Prince has been building strength for decades. Why fear him? As for the Heir Apparent—" He glanced toward the main hall, recalling the Prince's instruction to remain calm.
If the Prince, as a father, could stay composed, why should they worry?
The Heir Apparent had been captured, but not the thirty thousand vanguard troops, seventy thousand rear guards, or hundred thousand main forces!
Although the Heir Apparent had led the troops here, real military authority remained with the Prince.
Did these petty scoundrels think capturing the Heir Apparent could stop the war? They had only trapped themselves—unable to kill him, unable to escape.
They might hold the Heir Apparent for ten days, twenty days, three months, but could they keep him confined for a year or two?
Even with the Heir Apparent captured, the war could still proceed!
Once they killed the Little Emperor, who could stop Prince Zhongshan?
"Beat the war drums—prepare for battle!" the officer commanded. As his deputies moved to obey, he called them back with a vicious grin. "Also, drive the city's commoners out to greet the Emperor. Make the prestigious gentry see whether the Little Emperor truly pities all living beings."
The deputies understood immediately, slapping their hands in approval. "Excellent! An ideal welcoming gift for the Little Emperor."After speaking, the group burst into laughter, causing the nobles huddled in the corner of the corridor to turn ashen-faced—they had earlier regretted coming here to die, but now it seemed they would have died even if they hadn’t come.
War has erupted, and in the struggle for the realm, whether nobles or commoners, all are but ants.
How bitter—
……
……
Cries and shouts filled the spring sky.
After several battles, the green sprouts that had emerged on the roads and fields were trampled bare. Amidst the chaotic footsteps, dust swirled, as if threatening to blot out the sky.
If only it truly could blot out the sky—then no one would have to see these people, old and young, men and women, some in plain clothes, others in fine robes.
Regardless of their status, they were all rushing toward the Capital Garrison’s position. Some ran fast, others slow; some stumbled, others crawled, all shouting the same phrase.
"Your Majesty, save us—"
No matter how faint the voices, when shouted by so many, they rolled like thunder.
The shield-bearing soldiers ahead blocked the view, but they could not block the sound.
Xie Yanfang reached out to cover Xiao Yu’s ears.
"Uncle," Xiao Yu looked up from his embrace, his previously excited eyes now flickering with fear and unease, "What about those people?"
All along the way, the people had been kowtowing to him, thanking him for saving them, but he knew deep down that he hadn’t truly saved them at all.
Now, these people were desperately crying out for him to save them, yet not only was he not saving them—he was about to kill them.
"Your Majesty, do not look at them," Xie Yanfang said softly, helping Xiao Yu stand on the horse’s back. "Look behind them."
Beyond the layers of soldiers, beyond the masses fleeing across the wilderness, a wall of troops like iron could be seen advancing slowly, trailing distantly behind the civilians. Their weapons glinted brightly in the sunlight.
"This is a military strategy, a tactic. They are using these people as shields, as battering rams, to bear the brunt of the attack and disrupt our formations—" Xie Yanfang’s voice murmured in Xiao Yu’s ear.
Xiao Yu could see that the front lines were prepared for battle, but the presence of the civilians had stirred unrest. Archers could not loose their arrows, the shield formations wavered slightly, and drummers and flag-bearers repeatedly shouted, "Civilians, move aside! Move aside quickly—"
The civilians clearly wanted to move aside, and many ran toward the flanks. However, Prince Zhongshan’s troops behind them acted like shepherds; the moment anyone strayed beyond their designated path, arrows immediately shot out, and those who fled fell dead to the ground—
Fleeing meant death, but not fleeing might offer a chance to live. After all, over there was His Majesty, their sovereign, who had come to save them!
Driven by the instinct to survive, the people surged even more urgently forward.
"A little closer, and they will be within range of both sides’ arrows," Xie Yanfang said quietly. "A Yu, I am going to kill people."
He was a child who had experienced life and death; he knew what death meant. He was also a child who had just felt the people’s reverence, admiration, and cheers. In the blink of an eye, he was about to kill these very people who revered him, admired him, and cried out to him for salvation—Xiao Yu stood on the horse’s back, trembling all over, murmuring, "No—"
Qi Gonggong, standing nearby, could not bear to watch. "Lord Xie, quickly bring His Majesty down! Don’t let him see this!"
It was too cruel.
"No, he must see it, A Yu!" Xie Yanfang raised his voice again. "Now look further back—"
Xiao Yu shakily turned to look behind."There are more civilians behind us, waiting for your rescue. If we don't kill, more people will die," Xie Yanfang said sternly.
Xiao Yu looked toward the rear, recalling the cheering civilians he had encountered along the way, and gradually stilled his trembling.
Xie Yanfang drew him into an embrace, his voice softening once more.
"Ah Yu, killing is also saving lives," he said. "You are the emperor of Great Xia, the sovereign of all people. You must look forward and backward, but never focus only on what lies before your eyes."
There was no better place to forge an emperor than the brutal reality of war.
An emperor should be heartless—or if he possesses a heart, it must be hard as iron. He should find joy in sorrow and sorrow in joy, be unpredictable in mood, inconsistent in favors and grudges, and unfathomable in good and evil.
This is what makes an emperor.
And this is what makes a scion of the Xie family.
This time, he would use Prince Zhongshan to mold a Xie-family emperor.
"Ah Yu, your uncle will take you to slay the rebels, protect the living, and honor the dead," Xie Yanfang said, raising his long blade.
Leaning against his chest, Xiao Yu slowly nodded.
A faint smile touched Xie Yanfang's lips as he swung his long blade downward.
War drums thundered in unison.
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