Qiao Chu

The wooden door swung open, letting in the night. The oil lamp flickered, casting the figure seated at the table into a shadowy silhouette.

The figure was slender, as if a gust of wind could scatter it like dust.

The girl who had rushed in halted her steps, softening her breath and lowering her voice. "Aunt, it's confirmed—Zhong Changrong is heading to the capital. I also inquired in the prefectural city. The officials there are cursing General Chu, saying he doesn't know his place and is going to the capital to anger His Majesty again."

The figure at the table remained silent for a moment. "It's been many years since he last sent anyone to the capital."

Her voice was soft and pleasant to the ear.

The girl clenched her hands and snorted. "Whether he sends people to the capital or not, no one else would know. His true capabilities—those officials in the prefectural city have no idea."

The woman chuckled lightly. "Xiao Man, what I mean is, he hasn't sent Zhong Changrong to the capital all these years. Zhong Changrong is his right-hand man, someone he rarely lets leave his side."

Xiao Man let out an "oh" but didn't seem particularly cheered. She muttered under her breath, "It's been so many years, and there's been no contact. Who knows if Zhong Changrong is still his right-hand man?"

The figure under the lamp fell silent.

Xiao Man immediately panicked, cursing herself inwardly. She hurriedly searched for something to say. "Then... what is Zhong Changrong going to the capital for?" A thought struck her. "Is he going to fetch Chu Zhao?"

Her expression brightened, proud of her own cleverness.

"That's right, he must be going to fetch Chu Zhao."

"Aunt, Chu Zhao is coming back."

The figure under the lamp shook her head. "When A Zhao left, he didn't have Zhong Changrong escort him. Even if he's being brought back now, there's no reason to specially send Zhong Changrong. If Zhong Changrong is going to fetch him, the matter is definitely not that simple."

The figure swayed and stood up.

"There must be something else, something crucial, perhaps even a threat to A Zhao. That's why he sent Zhong Changrong."

As she spoke, she paced around the room, stirring a breeze. The feeble oil lamp sputtered and went out, plunging the room into complete darkness.

Xiao Man slapped her own face. Why did she have to mention Chu Zhao!

"Aunt, aren't you overthinking it? What could possibly happen?"

"Even back then, nothing happened."

The figure in the darkness halted her steps and murmured faintly, "Back then, even in such circumstances, he didn't send Zhong Changrong to the capital to see the Emperor."

With that, she moved toward the door.

"No, I have to go ask him what's going on."

But as one foot crossed the threshold, the other remained rooted in place. Her tall, slender figure stood motionless in the night.

"I said I would never set foot in Luocheng again in this lifetime, never see him again."

Her voice was a low murmur.

"He kept his word and raised A Zhao. I must keep mine too."

This keeping of promises had truly worn her aunt down with suffering.

To be honest, Xiao Man didn't quite understand it. Keeping one's word—for people like them, wasn't it just something said casually? She and her siblings made promises hundreds of times a year and broke them over nine hundred times.

But thinking of the history between her aunt and that man, she didn't dare say or ask too much.

Yet, just by looking at the back of the figure standing at the threshold, even carefree young Xiao Man could feel the sorrow.

"Aunt," she called out, "let's go to the capital instead."

The rigid figure stirred. Go to the capital?"'We said we wouldn't set foot in Luocheng, but we never said anything about the capital.' Xiao Man grew increasingly pleased with her own idea, her face lighting up with excitement. 'Let's go to the capital too. By keeping an eye on Zhong Changrong, we'll know what he's up to, and we can also see Chu Zhao.'

See Chu Zhao.

Counting the days, it had only been a little over a year since they left, yet it felt like a lifetime.

Go to the capital—

Her other foot lifted and stepped over the threshold, one step, two steps, three steps, faster and faster, her slender figure like a sharp sword slicing through the night.

The mountain path was rugged, but to her, it was as easy as walking on level ground.

Xiao Man had to run to keep up.

'Auntie, slow down,' she couldn't help calling out.

As her voice faded, the running figure came to a halt.

'Xiao Man,' she said, 'I can't go.'

Why had she told her to slow down? Xiao Man raised her hand and slapped herself again. Was it really like Third Brother said—that she was a jinx, ruining everything she mentioned?

'Auntie,' Xiao Man hurriedly said, 'don't worry about the stronghold. Everyone is here, nothing will go wrong. Those officers are stupid; they only dare to shout and won't even enter the mountains. When we came out, they ran away instead.'

'I'm not worried about the stronghold,' the figure said softly. 'I... can't leave.'

Then what was she worried about? Could there be something more worrying to Auntie than Chu Zhao? Xiao Man was puzzled.

But the figure said no more. She turned around and took Xiao Man's hand. 'Xiao Man, take some people and go to the capital.'

Xiao Man gasped. 'Me? I can't do it.'

'Xiao Man, Auntie knows it's hard on you,' the woman's voice was low, filled with apology. 'You've never traveled far, and the road is so long.'

Xiao Man scoffed. 'Auntie, what are you talking about? I'm not afraid of hardship. Besides, how can you say I've never traveled? I've run all over the eight cities and twenty-nine strongholds of the Border Commandery. Put together, it's enough to go back and forth to the capital twice.'

The woman laughed. 'I know, Xiao Man is very capable.'

Xiao Man felt a little embarrassed and held the woman's soft, boneless hand. 'Auntie, what I mean is, wouldn't it be better if you went yourself?'

The woman shook her head. 'No, it wouldn't. I... can't face her.'

Xiao Man sighed inwardly. What a tragedy—to yearn for someone day and night, yet be unable and afraid to see them.

'Alright,' she nodded. 'Auntie, I'll take people there. You can trust me to handle things.'

The woman tightened her grip on Xiao Man's hand and gently shook it. 'Though Xiao Man is young, I trust her the most with tasks. And Auntie is very grateful to you. It's because of A Zhao that I'm putting you through this. You're still a child—'

Xiao Man stamped her foot. 'Auntie, don't say anymore. I'm not angry at all.' She reached out and hugged the woman. 'Auntie, you worry about A Zhao, but for over ten years, it's me who has enjoyed your love. When I cried at night as a baby, it was you who held me all night long. When I was little and didn't want to eat, it was you who fed me bite by bite. You taught me to ride horses, taught me martial arts, taught me to read and write, made me new clothes, and dressed me up. Everything you've given me is something A Zhao never had.'

Before the woman could say another word, she let go and ran off.

'Auntie, just wait. I'll go see A Zhao for you.'

In the pitch-black night, on the rugged mountain path, the young girl leaped like an agile deer and soon disappeared.

Bird calls rose from the dense mountain forest, growing more and more until they formed a continuous chorus, making the towering, massive mountain seem to tremble."The night breeze gently stirred her dress, her slender frame seeming as if it might be lifted and carried away at any moment.

Yet the woman stood steadily, gazing obsessively into the distance beyond the layered mountain shadows.

"A Zhao, your mother has failed you," she whispered softly. "I abandoned you when you were young, and now I must abandon you again. It's not that I don't worry about you, but I worry more about him—"

First he sent our daughter to the capital, then dispatched his most trusted and reliable brother to the capital as well. Is he about to face some disaster?