For the young miss’s sake, the General also couldn’t resign his position.
Although he didn’t understand court matters, even in common folk marrying off daughters, the natal family was very important. Right now the Emperor and Crown Prince were both dead, leaving only this six-year-old child. For the young miss to marry over—she truly had thin power and support—
Wait.
The young miss married a six-year-old child.
Zhong Changrong was stunned again, his mind going blank. Earlier he had only thought about Empress, that the young miss had become Empress, only thinking about the status of Empress. He seemed to have forgotten that becoming Empress meant marrying the Emperor, and now the Emperor was only six years old.
This, this, this—
Was this good or not?
What would the General think? Would the General be very anxious? Would the General disagree?
Although the Emperor’s command couldn’t be violated, the General wasn’t someone who hadn’t violated orders before—
“Uncle Zhong?” Chu Zhao called several times.
Zhong Changrong came back to his senses, his expression somewhat anxious: “I, I’ll send another message to the General.” He started to leave.
Chu Zhao quickly stopped him: “Uncle Zhong, don’t write letters anymore. You should go back and see Father.”
Zhong Changrong froze. Go back?
“Young miss.” He said urgently, then glanced around. The palace halls were deep, with quite a few gazes looking outward from within—
Zhong Changrong couldn’t help but pull Chu Zhao aside to a spot, standing in shadows beyond the lamplight.
He lowered his voice: “How can I leave you alone in the capital now?”
Chu Zhao looked at Zhong Changrong. In the flickering light and shadow, Zhong Changrong’s scarred face appeared even more menacing and terrifying, but she could see the face full of menace and terror was filled with concern.
“Uncle Zhong, with Father and all of you there, no matter where I am, I’m never alone,” she said. “With you all there, I can be secure in the capital. But Father, he—”
Father’s body was failing, his life nearing its end.
“Uncle Zhong, we can’t leave Father alone in the border commandery.”
“Compared to me, Father needs you more.”
Zhong Changrong knew the General’s physical condition better than anyone—it was indeed depleted. Adding this sudden upheaval, who knew if the General would be stimulated to worsen upon receiving the news—
Right now the Dragon Might Army was the young miss’s guarantee. Although those around the General were all reliable people, the current court situation was truly turbulent.
“Also, Prince Zhongshan is the greatest danger. Zhongshan Commandery lies between the border commandery and the capital. If they make moves and trigger turmoil in the border commandery, the capital will also be in danger.”
That’s right. Prince Zhongshan had ambitions. Having operated in the capital for so many years, he naturally could do the same in the border commandery. Who knew if the border commandery was also in turmoil now? Thinking this, Zhong Changrong wished he could sprout wings and fly back to the border commandery immediately—
But he looked at the young girl before him, the girl wrapped in mourning garments appearing even more delicate and small.
“Young miss, you alone—”
Chu Zhao smiled and shook her head: “No, I have Xiao Man.” She pointed to the side.
When they had walked over to talk, Xiao Man hadn’t followed, standing in place with her head turned away. But keenly sensing Chu Zhao mentioning her, she turned her head even further away—
Zhong Changrong’s expression was complex: “She—she’s just a girl.”
But he didn’t say Xiao Man was unreliable.
“And also,” Chu Zhao said, looking past Zhong Changrong toward the front, her eyes brightening with a smile. “There’s A’Jiu.”
A’Jiu?
Zhong Changrong turned his head and saw in the distance at the palace gate a young general walking over unhurriedly, lamplight falling on him, his armor flashing with light.
That boy again!