Deng Yi said, “Your Majesty, Miss Chu has escorted the Imperial Eldest Grandson back.”
The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment and only then looked at the child beside Chu Zhao, reaching out his hand: “A’Yu—”
Xiao Yu stood without moving, staring blankly at the Emperor, as if he hadn’t heard.
Chu Zhao gently pushed him: “A’Yu, it’s His Majesty. You’re safe now.”
Hearing these words, the blank child finally rushed toward the Emperor on the dragon bed, burying his head in the Emperor’s embrace and sobbing, “Imperial Grandfather—”
The Emperor stroked the child: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Imperial Grandfather is here.”
Deng Yi glanced at Chu Zhao. Chu Zhao noticed and thought this probably meant she could speak and give her account.
“Your Majesty, Eunuch Qi brought the Young Highness back to the capital in time and came to my home to take shelter,” Chu Zhao said. “It happened that my father had sent Vice General Zhong Changrong back to the capital. In the chaos, he mobilized the Longwei Army to escort the Young Highness into the palace.”
The Emperor gently patted the child in his embrace, his gaze on the girl standing before him, seeming both distracted and very focused. After hearing her words, he smiled.
“The Longwei Army—I had forgotten about them,” he said. “Your father actually still remembered.”
Chu Zhao said, “My father never mentioned the Longwei Army to me.”
Never mentioning didn’t mean forgetting—it could even be said he remembered constantly.
“When Uncle Zhong told me, I was startled. I always thought my father was nothing in the border commandery. I never imagined he had actually been entrusted with such an important mission by Your Majesty.”
These were Chu Zhao’s sincere words. She hadn’t known in her previous life, and had only just learned in this life.
The Emperor laughed with a “ha.” His hand was still patting the child in his embrace, though actually Xiao Yu had already stopped crying.
The Emperor laughed, his voice cold: “General Chu is capable in both civil and military affairs, omnipotent. Now, I am indebted to him for preserving my imperial grandson.”
By rights, when an emperor said such words, they carried great weight. But strangely, Chu Zhao didn’t feel frightened at all. She raised her head.
“Your Majesty,” she couldn’t help but say, “please don’t be angry.”
The Emperor froze, as if seeing that military general standing before him again. No matter how he lost his temper and scolded, the general only listened silently, not defending himself, not afraid. After listening, he raised his head and said, “Your Majesty, don’t be angry.”
Don’t be angry, don’t be angry—it made him so angry!
The general used to anger him, now it was his daughter’s turn!
The Emperor was about to stand up and rebuke this girl, but the moment he moved, his vital energy surged, his throat turned sweet, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
“Your Majesty!”
Chu Zhao was startled and rushed forward.
Xiao Yu, lying in the Emperor’s embrace, also sat up.
But only Deng Yi showed no surprise. This was right. How could His Majesty be that spirited? He had already been poisoned and couldn’t hold on much longer.