Having finished this sentence, he paid no more attention to the eunuch and strode downstairs.
The eunuch stood in place, his face alternating between pale and flushed, somewhat annoyed. What did that mean? Miss Chu gave a gift one step earlier than the Prince? What gift? A meal?
But he wasn’t wrong either. The eunuch’s eyes regained their calm. A six-year-old child—even if he was the Imperial Eldest Grandson, so what? The Crown Prince was already dead, the Third Prince already deposed, the Emperor dying. This realm was destined to be the heir’s.
Just as Deng Yi was being stopped by the eunuch, outside the city gate Chu Zhao was also stopped by Eunuch Qi and Zhong Changrong.
“No, you can’t take the Young Highness in alone,” Eunuch Qi said urgently. “Who knows what the situation is inside the palace?”
Looking at Deng Yi’s attitude, the palace interior was truly perilous.
The Young Highness couldn’t face more danger.
Chu Zhao looked at Eunuch Qi: “Eunuch Qi, if we don’t take this risk, the Young Highness will be in danger every moment, forever.”
Eunuch Qi was stunned. He knew the logic in what Chu Zhao said, but—
Understanding was one thing, but if they could temporarily avoid danger, they should! This Miss Chu—he had seen clearly now—was just like her father, truly both brave and stubborn. Once she set her mind on something, even ten oxen couldn’t pull her back!
“Then please trouble Miss Chu to go see His Majesty. This old servant and the Young Highness will wait outside.” He simply reached out toward the child on horseback. “Young Highness, come—”
But the child on horseback remained motionless, only leaning against Chu Zhao, as if he couldn’t see Eunuch Qi or hear his words.
Zhong Changrong heard it and was displeased. This old eunuch actually wanted Miss to go risk danger alone! The people in this palace were all heartless and disloyal.
“Miss, I’ll go with you,” he said. “In the past, I’ve accompanied the General to see His Majesty.”
In the past, the General had brought him to see His Majesty. He had been through such occasions. Now he could bring Miss to see His Majesty.
Chu Zhao dismounted with a smile: “No need, Uncle Zhong. Being able to persuade Lord Deng to let me and the Young Highness enter is already very good. Don’t worry.”
Zhong Changrong smiled bitterly. How could he not worry? But if they really started fighting—
He looked at the tightly shut palace gate. On the palace city gate tower, blades were hidden in darkness. He wasn’t afraid of those blades, but once he led people to fight here, what would happen to the Emperor inside? With one order, they would become rebels.
Chu Zhao dismounted and reached out to the child on horseback. Without hesitation, the child fell into her hands and was lifted down by Chu Zhao and placed on the ground.
“Young Highness—” Eunuch Qi reached out again to pull the child.
But the child dodged his hand and clung tightly to Chu Zhao’s side.
Eunuch Qi couldn’t help but be stunned.
At this moment, the palace gate slowly opened a crack, just wide enough to allow one person through.
“Miss Chu, please,” a guard inside said coldly.
Chu Zhao gripped the child’s hand tightly and looked again at Eunuch Qi beside her: “Eunuch Qi, you had the courage to fight your way out with the Young Highness. Now you should also have the courage to watch as the Young Highness and I fight our way in.”
She smiled and nodded at Zhong Changrong, then led the child toward the palace gate. They quickly passed through.
The heavy palace gate closed the instant they crossed the threshold. Ahead, the palace city was pitch black, and in the swaying torchlight, the cold gleam of swords, spears, bows, and crossbows flickered.
Chu Zhao felt the child’s hand tremble slightly.
She crouched down to be at eye level with him.
This was the first time she had looked seriously at this child. In the hazy blue-green light, the child’s eyes gleamed with moisture.
“Little—” she was about to speak.
“My name is Xiao Yu,” the child suddenly said. His voice was soft and trembling. “A’Yu.”
Chu Zhao smiled and called him: “A’Yu.”
Chu Zhao lifted his hand and held it in her own.
“Your life and my life are bound together. If you die, I die too. So trust me—I will certainly strive to keep us both alive.”
Xiao Yu looked at the girl before him and nodded vigorously.