Chapter 258: - Qiao Chu

Qi Leyun was not only slow-witted but also had poor eyesight.

This was the outfit she had carefully selected, with makeup designed to present a heroic image—one who had endured hardship yet retained dignity, understated yet striking.

How could she possibly look like an escorted fugitive!

Chu Tang shot an aggrieved, reproachful glare at the girl upstairs.

Fortunately, the other girls quickly caught on.

"She isn't riding in a prisoner's cart!"

"The fabric and pattern of her clothes are the latest spring release!"

"She's wearing peach blossom powder on her eyes—a product that only became available in the capital this spring. How could a prisoner get her hands on it?"

"And her—her father has recovered from his illness!"

The girls shifted their gaze from Chu Tang to another figure nearby. Dressed in a brand-new scholar's robe and hat, with a neatly trimmed beard and a stern face, he held the reins, gently swaying. Though he tried to keep his eyes forward, they involuntarily darted from side to side, diminishing his air of elegance—

Although many of the girls had never met Chu Lan, walking alongside Chu Tang, the father-daughter resemblance was unmistakable at a glance.

Chu Lan was actually riding on horseback as well. Previously, when Chu Zhao was enthroned as Empress, Chu Lan hadn't shown his face, claiming illness. But judging by Chu Tang's cheerful demeanor every day, it was clear he had been feigning.

And now, with the arrest warrants still posted at the yamen, Chu Lan was brazenly riding into the city on horseback—

One girl leaned forward to get a better look: Chu Lan wasn't wearing shackles on his feet.

"He's not a prisoner." Qi Leyun finally snapped out of her daze, pointing at the layers of imperial guards and officials surrounding Chu Lan and Chu Tang, all smiling and chatting with Chu Lan. "What's going on here?"

The commoners on the street were also captivated by the father-daughter pair. Many didn't recognize them, but the name Chu Lan was well-known in the capital.

"The Empress's uncle!"

"That fugitive!"

"Did he collude with Prince Zhongshan and flee?"

"Has he been captured now?"

Whispers and exclamations swept through the crowd like a tidal wave. Compared to the true Son of Heaven, the upstart Grand Tutor, the elegant young nobleman, or the disgraced Heir Apparent, the Empress's maternal relatives—ordinary yet extraordinary—were far more tantalizing topics.

Those blocked at the back, unable to see and catching only fragments of conversation—"fugitive," "Empress's uncle"—found it both thrilling and shocking. Anxious for details, they tugged at those in front, asking about the prisoner's uniform, the size of the shackles, how badly the criminal had been beaten—

But soon, explanations emerged from the crowd: elderly men, old women carrying baskets, even children holding candy figures while watching the excitement.

"Stop the nonsense! Master Chu is no fugitive."

"Master Chu was acting under imperial orders, tarnishing his own reputation to deceive the Crown Prince of Zhongshan—"

"This time, the Crown Prince of Zhongshan was captured by Master Chu himself!"

The uproar on the street grew even louder—such a legendary tale!

The girls could no longer content themselves with crowding by the window. Maids ran up and down, breathlessly bringing the latest news from the streets.

"It's true! They say Chu Lan captured Xiao Xun."

"Actually, it was Miss A-Tang who made the move herself."

"With a single knife—"

One young maid even mimed a sudden drawing motion, startling the girls who were listening intently.

"—Miss A-Tang held the knife to the Heir Apparent's throat," another maid cut in, raising her voice to imitate Chu Tang's tone. "You villain! By the Empress's command, I arrest you—"

Qi Leyun burst out laughing. "Really? Is that what she said? Probably to make sure Xiao Xun seeks revenge from Chu Zhao instead of haunting her, right?"The previously tense girls couldn't help but giggle at this.

This was exactly the kind of thing Chu Tang would do.

However, that Chu Tang could actually do such a thing still came as a surprise. The girls turned again to look at Chu Tang amidst the surging crowd on the street.

The girl sat on her horse, swaying gently like a tender willow branch.

Chu Tang, always timid, cautious, and most adept at self-preservation, had actually done such a thing.

Many men couldn't even accomplish this.

"So she didn't run away—she went to be a hero," Qi Leyun murmured. "I never knew she could be this remarkable."

A girl beside her sighed in admiration: "The Empress is so formidable; naturally, her sister is the same. They are family, after all."

Qi Leyun cleared her throat lightly: "Actually, as a lodger staying with the Empress's family, I think I'm quite remarkable too—"

The girls burst into laughter again.

Zhou Jiang suddenly called out: "Scatter flowers for Miss Chu Tang!"

Hearing this, the girls in the hall looked toward the flower baskets. These freshly picked flowers from this morning were originally prepared for the Empress, but now—

Chu Tang deserved them too.

"Scatter—" everyone shouted with laughter. They took the flower baskets and tossed handfuls of petals from the windows.

"Congratulations on Miss Chu Tang's heroic return!"

The girls' clear voices sounded like celestial music.

Countless flower petals drifted down. The crowd looked up, shouting and laughing, while children jumped and reached out to catch them. The street erupted into even greater commotion.

Chu Tang raised her head, caught an apricot blossom, and tucked it behind her ear. A radiant smile spread across her face.

Being a hero felt truly wonderful.

......

The Emperor, important ministers, imperial clan members, and heroes gradually faded into the distance. The girls watched them depart, then turned to gaze toward the city gate with some regret.

"What a pity we didn't get to see the Empress."

Earlier, the maids had inquired on the streets and learned that the Empress hadn't returned yet. She was currently still in Zhongshan Commandery handling aftermath matters and would only return after finishing her work.

Miss Ning waved her hand grandly: "No matter. When the Empress returns, we'll spend extravagantly to create a shower of flowers throughout the sky to celebrate her."

......

Entering the post station, the street noise was cut off.

Xiao Xun stepped down from the carriage and looked at this familiar place. The post station where he had previously carried out a massacre was now filled with officials again.

"Heir Apparent, please," an official said with a cold expression.

Several minor officials didn't even try to conceal their hatred. Everyone at the post station had been killed during the night of chaos. They had initially thought it was the Third Prince's men causing trouble, but now it was perfectly clear who the real murderer was.

Xiao Xun paid no attention to the officials' hostility. He passed through them with his attendants and entered—his retinue consisted only of Tie Ying and Ning Kun.

As Xiao Xun entered, the post station doors were locked one after another, with two layers of guards patrolling inside and out. Unauthorized persons were not permitted to approach.

Tie Ying looked at the desolate room—not even hot water was provided—and kicked over a bronze basin in frustration.

"Are they treating you like a prisoner, Your Highness?" he cursed.

Xiao Xun sat down on a chair, completely indifferent to the dust covering it, and chuckled lightly: "The victor becomes king, the defeated becomes a bandit. What courtesy does a bandit deserve?"

Mentioning this only made Tie Ying's eyes redden with anger. The one who should have entered the city with great fanfare was the Heir Apparent! The one who should have received the people's cheers was the Heir Apparent!

It shouldn't have been stones thrown at them, nor should there have been waves of curses!

All because of!

Chu Zhao!

Chu Zhao used the Heir Apparent as leverage, forcing the Prince to withdraw troops. All their efforts had come to nothing at the last moment. Tie Ying gritted his teeth: "But don't worry, Your Highness. The Prince said that despite everything, no one in the capital can harm or humiliate you!""I know," Xiao Xun said with a laugh. "Otherwise, how could I be sitting here so peacefully? I'd truly have been thrown into a prison cell."

As he spoke, he waved his hand dismissively.

"With no maidservants around, I'll have to trouble you, Tie Ying, to boil some water so I can wash up."

"When I used to accompany the Heir Apparent on his travels, we never needed maidservants," Tie Ying replied. "I alone can ensure the young master eats well and sleeps soundly."

With that, he gripped his sword and stomped out.

Xiao Xun chuckled. "Our Tie Ying truly fears neither hardship nor fatigue."

Ning Kun, standing nearby, murmured quietly, "It is the Heir Apparent who maintains a calm and steady demeanor, broad-minded and composed."

Leaning back in his chair, Xiao Xun laughed heartily. "When I first entered the capital, I was the Crown Prince of Zhongshan. Now, returning to the capital, I am the Heir Apparent to the King Who Pacifies the Country. This could be considered a step up—a joyous matter worth celebrating."

Ning Kun said, "If the Heir Apparent can think this way, His Highness the Prince will be at ease."

Xiao Xun looked at him and suddenly remarked, "However, there is one matter I'd like you to look into for me, Master Ning."

Ning Kun promptly responded, "Please speak, Heir Apparent."

"How did Chu Zhao negotiate with my father?" Xiao Xun said slowly, resting his hand on the table and tracing a line through the dust, his eyes lowered. "Aside from using me to threaten my father, what other threats did he employ?"