For the common people, the Empress was both strange and not strange.
The court’s proclamations had already spread far and wide. Everyone knew the Late Emperor had passed away, the new Emperor had ascended the throne, and there was a new Empress.
This Empress was the daughter of Guardian General Chu Ling.
However, they had no specific thoughts about it—she was just the Emperor’s wife in the distant Imperial City.
At this moment, the city’s people who had narrowly escaped death all surged out, watching the troops and horses entering through the city gate, watching the woman riding at the forefront—she appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old. She carried a crossbow on her back, a blade hung from her horse, her robes were simple and covered in bloodstains.
She was General Chu’s daughter—the tiger’s cub was no dog.
She was Da Xia’s new Empress, but she wasn’t distant or high above.
General Chu guarded the border commandery at Yunzhong, blocking the Xi Liang army. His daughter came from the distant Imperial City to this place and killed the Xi Liang scattered soldiers.
They had thought they’d been abandoned, never expecting the Empress herself would come to rescue them.
“Empress!”
“The Empress is mighty!”
“We kowtow in gratitude for the Empress’s life-saving grace!”
Countless voices swept across the city like snowflakes, overwhelming everything.
Walking in the formation, Ding Dachui’s legs went weak. Fortunately, someone beside him promptly supported him.
Ding Dachui turned to see it was his “wife.”
Aunt Ding’s face was still covered. The dancing snowflakes made her features even more blurred.
“You, you,” Ding Dachui couldn’t help but say in a low voice. “Did you guess that she, she—”
This girl was actually the Empress.
The Empress!
When charging at the Xi Liang soldiers earlier, his legs hadn’t weakened in the slightest. But hearing the overwhelming shouts of “Empress,” he really wanted to kneel.
This girl had said her family was vast and prosperous. He’d guessed that was true, but no matter how much he guessed, he couldn’t have guessed the family was vast and prosperous to this extent!
What should he do now?
Could this big fish still be caught?
Hmm—
Ding Dachui straightened his body again, looking at the woman supporting his arm. If he immediately pressed this woman to the ground and exposed her identity and malicious intent, wouldn’t that count as atoning for crimes through meritorious service before the Empress?
……
……
After entering the city, Xie Yanlai led troops to eliminate nearby Xi Liang scattered soldiers, while Chu Zhao went with officials to comfort the wounded civilians. Fortunately, the city hadn’t fallen, so casualties weren’t too severe.
Chu Zhao personally dressed and bandaged the wounds of the injured.
The girl rolled up her sleeves, showing no fear whatsoever of wounds with exposed flesh and blood. The injured, upon learning her identity, couldn’t even feel their pain and thanked her in trepidation.
It wasn’t until dusk fell that Chu Zhao returned to the government office. She had just washed and changed when Xie Yanlai arrived, covered in thick snow.
“Have you eaten? Have your wounds been bandaged?” Chu Zhao asked in rapid succession.
Xie Yanlai glanced at her, refusing to answer these useless questions. He only said, “The surrounding area has been cleared. About a hundred Xi Liang soldiers in total.” He scoffed again. “Truly laughable—a mere hundred able to wreak havoc for so long.”
Chu Zhao sighed softly. “After all, they haven’t experienced war in a long time and were caught off guard.” She raised her head to ask, “Your wounds—”
“Haven’t eaten, wounds are treated,” Xie Yanlai impatiently interrupted her, then asked, “Is there anything else? If not, this officer takes his leave.”
As he spoke, he turned to leave.
Chu Zhao reached out to grab his sleeve. “There is, there is, there is.”
Xie Yanlai looked at her sideways and didn’t take another step.
“Why didn’t you say earlier that we were reinforcements sent by my father?” Chu Zhao asked with a smile.
At that time, she hadn’t yet approached, but Xie Yanlai had already called out her identity to the city’s officials and officers.
She had concealed her identity all along the journey. Even when she was hesitant and couldn’t proceed, she hadn’t told the local garrison. Yet now when things were going smoothly, he revealed her identity?
“I’m not blaming you,” Chu Zhao added. “I’m saying that way would have enhanced my father’s reputation more.”
Xie Yanlai scoffed. “Do I fear your blame?” He looked down at the girl from his superior height and said coldly, “Your father is your father, you are you. Although you’re father and daughter, you’re not one entity. Moreover, your father is about to die. Once dead, reputation is gone. You’re still alive and must continue living. Compared to your father, you need reputation more.”
With that, he shook his sleeve free from Chu Zhao’s hand and strode out.
Chu Zhao watched the swaying door curtain, stunned and dazed.
She had always thought herself unfortunate. Even after awakening to live again, she’d been holding her breath. Until this very moment, that breath gently released.
She was fortunate. In this life, she could meet someone who thought of her welfare.
She raised her head and called out, “Someone come.”
Old Bai responded and entered, bowing to await orders.
Chu Zhao said, “Transmit the order. Issue a victory bulletin reporting the Empress’s great victory in eliminating Xi Liang soldiers at Wang City.”