Qiao Chu

The room was not large, divided into three sections with a bedroom, a living area, and a study.

This was the humblest dwelling Chu Zhao had ever lived in, in both her past and present life.

"We rushed for two months and finally finished it on time," Mu Mianhong had told her at the time, letting out a sigh of relief as she tightened Chu Zhao's cloak and gently stroked her cheek. "I was worried there wouldn't be a place for my dear child to stay."

Throughout the journey, Chu Zhao had been hearing her mother use various terms of endearment for her. Now, with her mind clear, she felt a bit embarrassed, thinking she was regressing in maturity.

"Wherever Mother is, there will always be a place for me," she replied, uttering words that made her equally self-conscious.

Xiao Man had rolled her eyes at the two of them.

Chu Zhao smiled at the memory as she sat down at the table. Xiao Man ran out again to bring in the mutton.

"Help yourself," Xiao Man said. "You're better now, so don't expect me to feed you anymore."

Chu Zhao quickly replied, "I can feed you instead."

Her gaze fell on Xiao Man's right shoulder. Though it was no longer bandaged, Xiao Man had been using her left hand for everything—cooking, serving dishes, chopping firewood, and even mounting horses.

She had even started practicing with swords using her left hand.

Xiao Man shot her a glare, scooped rice with her left hand, and began eating heartily.

Chu Zhao chuckled and served herself some rice. Footsteps sounded outside, and Mu Mianhong entered.

"I could smell the aroma from outside," she said with a smile, taking off her cloak and washing her hands in the nearby copper basin before sitting down.

Both Xiao Man and Chu Zhao stood up, but upon seeing the other rise, they sat back down.

"Xiao Man, serve Auntie some rice," Chu Zhao said with a laugh.

Xiao Man kept her head down, eating meat, and replied, "I've been serving Auntie for a long time. Now it's your turn to show filial piety."

Mu Mianhong laughed. "You've both suffered enough. Let me take care of you." She broke the steamed bread on the table and gave a piece to each of them.

Chu Zhao accepted it with a smile, and Xiao Man took hers, lowering her head with a giggle.

The three of them sat around the table, eating and chatting.

"We've reestablished contact with Xiao Tu and the others," Mu Mianhong said. "Should we bring A Le here?"

Although the court had officially withdrawn its investigation into Empress Chu's relatives, it didn’t mean the Xie family and their followers would give up.

Though Chu Lan and the others hadn’t been arrested, they were still under surveillance in secret, as Empress Chu was accused of treason and remained at large.

Chu Zhao shook her head. "No, I’ll write her a letter and let her stay outside."

Xiao Man couldn’t help but interject, "She’ll probably cry every day out there."

"It’s fine. Once she knows I’m safe, she’ll stop crying. I’ll write to reassure her. Besides," Chu Zhao said, grinning at Xiao Man, "I have Xiao Man and Mother here with me. She doesn’t need to come keep me company—she’s more useful outside."

Xiao Man pursed her lips. Useful how?

She knew the situation was still precarious and that Chu Zhao was afraid of causing trouble for everyone.

But it wasn’t just A Le; Ding Dachui was also still outside. Auntie had said not to bring him back, so he could live a stable life from now on.

Xiao Man fell silent and focused on her meal.

After eating, Chu Zhao and Mu Mianhong cleaned up together, letting Xiao Man rest. Then Chu Zhao took Xiao Man’s hand and said, "Auntie has something to tell you."

Xiao Man glanced at Chu Zhao, feeling a bit awkward. "Auntie, just say whatever you have to say."

Although she found the mother-daughter duo overly affectionate and felt a twinge of jealousy, she didn’t think it was necessary for Auntie to single her out for a private chat, as if she felt neglected.

After all, she had been close to Auntie for over a decade, while Chu Zhao had only been around for a few months.Mu Mianhong smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, saying, "Come quickly with your aunt." Then she whispered in her ear, "Zhong Changrong has been squatting outside for half the day. Let's make way for him."

Xiao Man snorted, "He comes to our place and still looks down on us. Why should we give way to him!"

Mu Mianhong laughed, "Alright, all visitors are guests. Be kinder to them."

The two walked away chatting and laughing. Chu Zhao stood at the door watching them leave, then glanced toward the back of the house, where she spotted Zhong Changrong squatting in his fur coat.

"Uncle Zhong," she called out happily. "Come quickly, I saved some food for you."

Zhong Changrong had arrived earlier than her—this very house had been built under his personal supervision.

After the court announced Empress Chu's rebellion and escape, Zhong Changrong wasn't surrounded by troops like Chu Lan's family. Out of respect for the Chu family's prestige, the court only reinforced troops outside Yunzhong Commandery to prevent Border Army unrest.

But Zhong Changrong didn't even have time to start a rebellion before his own guards forcibly took him away.

Xiao Shan was the mastermind behind it.

"The Empress is in trouble. You definitely won't let it go, and the court won't let you off either. To avoid conflict and trouble, Commander Zhong, you should lay low for now," he reassured.

Zhong Changrong had been drunk, tied up, and cursing these brutes for betraying him.

"No, no, Commander Zhong, don't you trust me?" Xiao Shan thumped his chest and declared, "I'll guard the Border Army well for you. At this moment, it's more appropriate for me to handle this—you're not in a position to."

Zhong Changrong fumed, "Appropriate, my foot! What? You think just because you've latched onto the Xie family, you can do anything?"

Xiao Shan corrected him, "I've latched onto A Jiu. It has nothing to do with the Xie family."

Isn't A Jiu part of the Xie family? Zhong Changrong wanted to curse, but then he thought of something: "Did that brat A Jiu put you up to this?"

Although the news of Xie Yanlai and Xiao Xun perishing together had spread far and wide, Chu Zhao had already told Zhong Changrong the truth. But how did Xiao Shan know?

Chu Zhao wouldn't have told Xiao Shan—it must have been A Jiu!

But Xiao Shan refused to say, putting on an air of tight-lipped obedience as he handed Zhong Changrong over to Mu Mianhong's people—even though Mu Mianhong hadn't returned yet, and the garrison was still surrounded by troops.

No sooner had Zhong Changrong been taken away than news came that the Border Army reported him as having fled to avoid punishment. They selected a general to temporarily command the Border Army while awaiting the court's investigation and appointment of a new commander. The troops surrounding the Border Commandery then withdrew.

The Border Army heavily reinforced its defenses, seemingly to guard against Zhong Changrong, but in reality, they were building a barrier to avoid detection—Mu Mianhong's forces could still travel to and from Yunzhong Commandery for trade as usual. As long as they came from this side, even if carrying weapons, the guards pretended not to see.

Zhong Changrong suppressed his frustration and waited for Chu Zhao's return. After she came back, he focused entirely on guarding her as she recovered from her injuries. It wasn't until deep winter that she finally regained her health.

Considering himself a guest under someone else's roof—and that of the deeply resented Mu Mianhong, no less—Zhong Changrong refused to interact with the locals. He set up a shed outside the village, raised a few sheep, and kept to himself.

Chu Zhao was both exasperated and amused.

"Uncle Zhong, you're really being foolish. Don't you realize? Nearly fifty thousand troops here were given to Mu Mianhong by you," she said. "This is clearly your territory. You're the boss here."

Zhong Changrong scooped up a few mouthfuls of rice and shook his head. "A Zhao, don't try to comfort me."Chu Zhao laughed. "A few days ago, I overheard some people complaining to the chief, saying there are no Western Liang people around anymore, and they have nowhere to rob—they're almost forgetting they're mountain bandits and horse thieves. They urged the chief to take a trip to where the Western Liang people have settled now, but the chief refused, saying he's too tied up with other matters."

She winked at this point.

"Uncle Zhong, why don't you take some men and go?"

Zhong Changrong's eyes flickered with interest, but he shook his head. "I'm also tied up with duties. I'd rather stay and guard you."

Chu Zhao raised her arm and waved it. "I'm fine now. I've fully recovered."

Zhong Changrong gazed at her thin arm, his eyes filled with affection.

"A Zhao, don't worry about me. I'm doing well, and life is actually quite good now," he said, his expression turning resentful. "What's so great about being this Empress? Over the years, you've fought everywhere, protecting the country and its people, and what did it get you? Instead, you became a thorn in others' sides, with everyone eyeing you, scheming against you, harming you. Let's forget this lousy Empress title and let them fight among themselves like dogs."

Then he sighed.

"I understand A Jiu's intention. He's built a barrier out there, making this place independent and carefree, so we don't have to be troubled by those messy affairs anymore."

At this, he snorted.

"That A Jiu has a conscience after all, not wasting all the kindness you've shown him."

Chu Zhao rested her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling as she asked, "Uncle Zhong, can you tell I've been good to him?"

"No one has been better to him than you!" Zhong Changrong exclaimed, widening his eyes. "I could see it from the first time I met him."

The first time—back when she didn't even know he was Xie Yanlai. Chu Zhao smiled faintly and shook her head. "Actually, I haven't been that good to him. Since he met me, he's had even worse luck."

In the past, Zhong Changrong would have argued back, but at this moment, he didn't feel like complaining about that lad.

If it weren't for that lad noticing in time and bringing Mu Mianhong and the others to the capital, A Zhao might have died at Xie Yanfang's hands.

"If he hadn't met you, he wouldn't have known what sweetness is. Without knowing sweetness, he wouldn't recognize bitterness—it's not that his life wasn't bitter before," he muttered.

If one can taste sweetness, even if life is hard, looking back can still bring joy.

Though he wasn't cursing the lad, he didn't want to dwell on the topic, lest it upset A Zhao.

"This braised lamb is quite good," he said, holding up his bowl with his single arm. "A Zhao, give me another bowl."

Chu Zhao replied, "Don't eat too much. It's late at night—be careful of indigestion."

"I'm not that fragile," Zhong Changrong retorted, his spirits lifting. "The sheep I raise are excellent. Braised, they'd definitely taste even better than this." Then he frowned. "But it's a pity to slaughter them; they've even learned to understand my commands and form battle formations."

Chu Zhao burst out laughing. "Then don't eat them, Uncle Zhong. Keep raising them and let them charge into battle."

...

...

As night fell, Zhong Changrong left, and Xiao Man hadn't returned yet. Chu Zhao's residence grew quiet.

She stood under the eaves, looking around. The houses were scattered, with lights glowing in every home. On the streets, playful children ran back and forth—no different from common villages inland. But gazing into the distance, she saw patrols of men and horses passing by, and farther off, the newly built watchtowers flickered with lights, marking this as no ordinary village.

"What are you doing out here in the cold wind so late at night?"

Deng Yi's voice came from next door.Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze and looked at him, noticing Deng Yi holding a scroll in his hand.

"You truly never let books leave your hands," she said with a laugh. "Be careful not to strain your eyes staying up so late."

Deng Yi replied, "Miss A Fu worries too much. To ensure I can serve as a proper tutor, the chief has provided me with ample lamp oil—bright as daylight, enough to burn through the night."

Chu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Living quite comfortably, I see. I suppose you're in good spirits, Zhu Er?"

A cold smile touched Deng Yi's lips. "I'm not like you. I came here as a prisoner. Do you know how a prisoner feels?"

Chu Zhao laughed softly. "How a prisoner feels? I actually do know."

She turned her gaze to the night.

In that previous life, she had been imprisoned in the Imperial City, living a fate worse than death.

In this life, it was A Jiu confined there now.

She took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"What are you doing?" Deng Yi frowned. "It's late at night—don't wander around recklessly."

Chu Zhao said, "I'm not wandering recklessly. I'm just walking around the house." She gestured in a circular motion with her hand.

Deng Yi was puzzled. "Why walk around the house?"

Chu Zhao had already started moving, glancing back with a smile. "Exercising."

Exercising? Deng Yi watched her. Chu Zhao had already turned away, wrapped in her cloak, moving slowly and unsteadily with each frail step.

Frail? Deng Yi's lips twitched. He had seen it clearly moments ago—the flickering light in the girl's eyes, brimming with killing intent.