“Previously when you ran from the capital, though you encountered me and were unluckily stopped, after returning to the capital, you experienced so much, yet ultimately you still set out on your journey again.”
“Moreover, this time you even made me your escort.”
“This shows that you, Chu Zhao, are favored by heaven.”
“Think about it again—in the capital you were despised by people and even dogs, yet no one could do anything to you. You even became Empress.”
Hearing this, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but glare: “Nonsense! What do you mean I was despised by people and dogs!”
She raised her head to look up. The young officer gazed ahead—she could only see his chin.
“You’re the one despised by people and dogs.” Chu Zhao said.
Xie Yanlai scoffed: “I’m an illegitimate son—despised by people and dogs. You’re the Empress—” He looked down at the girl before him and raised his eyebrows. “Similarly, despised by people and dogs.”
Chu Zhao laughed. She understood his meaning. Sitting in the position of Empress, many people loathed her. The court officials resented her appearing in court. Even Deng Yi had no choice but to select her. As for Xie Yanfang, he might prefer to choose an empress he could choose.
In that previous life, when she sat in the Empress’s position, she satisfied many people, but she was the only one who suffered misfortune.
In this life, when she sat in the Empress’s position, many people disliked it. Then this time, she wouldn’t be the unlucky one again, would she?
This digression slightly dispersed the tension. Chu Zhao raised her eyebrows with a smile: “Actually, days of being despised by people and dogs aren’t bad.”
Xie Yanlai scoffed: “See, this is exactly how you are. Who wouldn’t despise you after seeing this?”
“My father doesn’t despise me.” Chu Zhao said. “If my mother were alive, she wouldn’t despise me either.” She looked at Xie Yanlai again. “And you—”
Xie Yanlai freed a hand to pull the hood over her head, also blocking her next words. The girl’s voice turned into muffled sounds as she reached out waving her hands, like a cat.
Xie Yanlai curled his lip in a smile, focusing his gaze ahead. Suddenly he pulled the girl’s hood down again: “I told you, people despised by people and dogs will also have good fortune. Chu Zhao, look ahead.”
Chu Zhao looked ahead. Her vision was still somewhat blurred. She hurried to rub her eyes. At the same time, the lead messenger’s shout reached her ears.
“General Chu—General Chu has come—”
Actually, the messenger didn’t need to shout. Chu Zhao had already seen through her fingers the figures ahead. On the vast snowy earth, a group of mounted figures stood still. Who knew how long they’d been there—the heavy cloaks on their bodies had all turned white.
The man at the front sat tall as a mountain on his horse, lustrous white as jade.
……
……
When she saw through her fingers, Chu Zhao wished she could blink once and be before her father.
But when the horse truly galloped near and she could see clearly the man before her—his eyebrows, nose, and eyes—Chu Zhao instead became dazed.
“A’Zhao!” Zhong Changrong called out, somewhat worried yet unable to hide his sorrow.
Xie Yanlai said: “She’s fine.” He gathered the girl and brought her down from the horse.
Chu Zhao suddenly felt the world spinning. She cried out in alarm and came back to herself.
“Frightened our A’Zhao.” Chu Ling sat steadily on horseback and said with a laugh.
Xie Yanlai looked toward him, sensed something wrong, and knitted his brows. Chu Zhao had already rushed forward.
Chu Ling dismounted. Zhong Changrong hurried to extend a supporting hand and said: “Be careful—General, your health isn’t good.”
About to throw herself into her father’s embrace, Chu Zhao forcibly stopped herself and slowly extended her hand, touching Chu Ling’s arm—
“Are you confirming whether I’m real?” Chu Ling said with a laugh, spreading his arms. “Come, though A’Zhao has grown up, your old father can still lift you onto my shoulders.”
Chu Zhao burst into laughter, tears also flying out. Without further hesitation, she threw herself into her father’s embrace.
“Father.” She said chokingly. “It’s been so long—”
“So very long since you’ve seen me, right?” Chu Ling took up her words, saying with a smile, his hand gently patting his daughter’s head. “I know. I know everything.”
Yes, so very long. Having experienced death once before seeing her father again, Chu Zhao felt her father’s embrace that wasn’t warm—who knew how long he’d been waiting here. His robes were bitterly cold, even his hands were icy.
She had finally seen her father.
The scene of father and daughter reuniting moved people to tears. Even Zhong Changrong wanted to cry, except someone was moving back and forth before his eyes—
This damn brat. Zhong Changrong glared at Xie Yanlai. How was it him again!
Xie Yanlai also looked at him, gestured with his head toward Chu Ling’s direction, then pointed at his own eyes with his hand.
This damn brat—nothing could be hidden from him. Even the young lady hadn’t noticed. Zhong Changrong glared at Xie Yanlai once, silently warning: “Shut up.”
Xie Yanlai scoffed and turned his head.
The wilderness was truly too cold. Though the reunion was moving, Chu Zhao hadn’t forgotten about her father’s health. Though her father had personally come to meet her, Uncle Zhong had uncharacteristically urged her to come quickly—it must be extremely serious.
Father came to meet her to prevent her from being frightened, didn’t he?
After a few brief sentences, the group immediately returned to the city. However, because they weren’t far from the city, they hadn’t brought extra horses.
Zhong Changrong was about to have some soldiers dismount and walk, but Chu Zhao had already grabbed Xie Yanlai’s arm and waved her hand: “No need, no need. A’Jiu and I can share.”
Xie Yanlai frowned and shook her off, but didn’t say anything.
Chu Ling, being helped onto his horse by Zhong Changrong, looked over—
Xie Yanlai met his gaze.
Clearly knowing he could no longer see, Xie Yanlai still felt somewhat uncomfortable.