Even if they fought, a three-way melee would be better than being silently surrounded and killed now.
The more chaos, the more chance of survival.
But having barely spurred the horse a few steps, urgent hoofbeats sounded from the street ahead. Clearly more people were coming.
Since Xiao Xun had decided to kill, he naturally laid an inescapable net around the Chu residence.
Having schemed for so long, how could the Prince of Zhongshan and his son let her easily escape with her life?
“Miss Chu—” the old woman said in a trembling voice, seemingly wanting to ask what to do.
Chu Zhao gripped her blade, looking ahead: “I don’t know what to do, and I don’t know if I can lead you to escape. The only thing I can promise is—”
“Before you die, I’ll die first.”
If this was the young prince’s fate, if this was Xiao Xun framing Father, if this was Chu Lan’s moment of bewitchment, then this time she would die together with them.
The only regret was that in this life reborn, she still hadn’t managed to see Father even once.
This was all A’Jiu’s fault!
If he’d sent her letter to Father earlier, or if he hadn’t been so whiny on the road back then, she would already be in the border commandery now, staying by Father’s side—
The child before her pressed tightly against her. Chu Zhao could feel the child trembling.
Ah well, at least she was still in the capital. Even if she still died, dying together—at least this child wouldn’t hate her father and could die knowing clearly who had harmed him.
Chu Zhao held the child protectively with one hand and raised her long spear with the other.
“A’Le,” she called. “What we learned as children, we’ll use today.”
A’Le raised her bow and arrow, galloping at her side: “Miss, this time it’s not for fun.”
Having said this, with a twang, twin arrows left the bowstring like shooting stars.
From the opposite side came a clang, as if arrows striking iron.
To actually deflect arrows with a weapon? So formidable.
A’Le and Chu Zhao’s faces paled slightly, but they showed no fear. A’Le cast aside her bow and arrow, drew her long spear, and Chu Zhao’s horse galloped even faster.
From the darkness ahead came a shout.
“A’Le, you dead girl,” a male voice scolded. “How many times have I told you—on the battlefield use single arrows, no showing off. The ones that kill are the most impressive skills!”
A’Le froze. Chu Zhao was already wild with joy.
“Uncle Zhong—” she shouted loudly, her voice hoarse from shouting.
Uncle Zhong! Uncle Zhong had come!
That’s right—this life was different from the last. Uncle Zhong had come to the capital, and moreover, Uncle Zhong was in the capital today.
Zhong Changrong reined in his horse, watching the girl galloping toward him. The girl’s eyes sparkled, as if flowing with tears. His own eyes stung, and he nearly shed tears too.
Thank goodness, thank goodness. Zhao was alright.
“Uncle Zhong came late,” he said, his expression filled with self-reproach. “You must have been terrified.”
The situation had been too sudden. He’d been kept overnight by an old friend. Though he’d declined repeatedly, he’d still drunk a little and slept rather deeply. By the time he realized what was happening, the capital was already in complete chaos.
His old friend had wanted him to hide in the house, but he was truly worried about Chu Zhao. He’d managed to find a way to cross the city to get here.
And indeed he saw fighting over there—
Who were those people?
No matter who they were, anyone threatening Miss must die!
Zhong Changrong’s eyes turned fierce: “Zhao, you all fall back.”
He gripped his blade and was about to advance.
Chu Zhao hurriedly moved aside. Thinking of something, she added: “Uncle Zhong, those people—did you arrange for them to protect me?”
Zhong Changrong paused. What? Only then did he notice that there were clearly two sides locked in combat over there. Because one side was blocking, the other side couldn’t even exit the alley.
He was just about to say no when he saw a figure running over from that direction.
This was a girl gripping a blade, seemingly thinking Chu Zhao’s side was under attack and coming to the rescue.
Now running closer, she also saw Zhong Changrong. The girl’s steps immediately halted, and she retreated a bit, as if not wanting him to see her face.
But feeling retreat was shameful, she stopped, tilted her head to one side with a somewhat haughty air, and looked toward the other direction.
Although it was only half her face, under the leaping torchlight, Zhong Changrong recognized her at a glance. His expression changed and he barked: “You people!”
The words reached his lips and stopped.
Chu Zhao looked at him, then at that girl. Only now could she see clearly—the girl was about her age, wielding a large saber almost as tall as herself—
When had Uncle Zhong acquired such young girls as subordinates?
Or perhaps, not?
“Uncle Zhong, is she—are they your people?” Chu Zhao asked again.
Zhong Changrong’s expression shifted for a moment, then forced out a smile: “Yes, yes, I arranged for them to be here.”
He said this in response to Chu Zhao, but his gaze was fixed on that girl over there, his eyes issuing a fierce warning.
That girl snorted and turned her head even further away, her slender neck nearly twisted off.