At the break of dawn, galloping horses and riders wove through the capital garrison.
Horses and riders had been constantly galloping through the capital garrison. The noisy chaos hadn’t stopped since that night when the upheaval began.
Compared to the upheaval in the capital city, the capital garrison’s upheaval had started even earlier. In the middle of the night, troops were suddenly mobilized, and suddenly fighting broke out—
Recalling the events of that day, Zhang Gu still broke out in waves of cold sweat. Formerly familiar comrades-in-arms slaughtered each other, then were killed by soldiers who came from outside. Later, strange imperial troops came to surround the capital garrison, and many more were killed—
Zhang Gu stood outside the camp, watching the pale light at the horizon’s edge. He didn’t know about other camps, but in his courier soldier camp, half of the familiar faces were now gone.
His superior had been cut down with a single blade on the night of the upheaval. The superior had been the Crown Prince’s man, and with his death, the courier soldier camp was classified as part of the Third Prince’s faction.
They were fortunate not to have been beheaded immediately. Now detained awaiting judgment, they didn’t know if they would even be allowed to continue serving as soldiers in the future.
“Zhang Tou’er.”
A voice called softly from behind.
Zhang Gu turned around and saw a courier soldier shuffling over.
At least all the men in his squad were still alive.
“Here.” His comrade pressed a pot of hot tea into his hands.
Zhang Gu took it and drank a large mouthful, dispelling the cold from his body. He said, “Don’t worry. I can see things have settled down. Those who needed to be dealt with have been dealt with. We should be fine. As long as we’re alive, even if we can’t be soldiers anymore, we can count ourselves fortunate.”
He was trying to comfort his brother, but his comrade’s expression showed no fear or anxiety. Instead, his eyes were excited. “Boss, Boss, do you know who’s in charge now? The court’s man, the Emperor’s man—do you know who it is?”
With all the killing that had gone on in the capital garrison, the one now controlling it was said to be the Emperor’s personal guards, or perhaps the Shadow Guard Army. Naturally, the leader was the Emperor’s man, though lowly people like them weren’t qualified to meet him.
Zhang Gu didn’t care either. Whoever it was, what did it have to do with them?
“Boss, it’s someone we know.” His comrade said excitedly.
Someone they knew? Zhang Gu was somewhat puzzled. How could insignificant courier soldiers like them know someone from the Emperor’s inner circle?
“Not the Emperor’s man—someone from General Chu’s people.” His comrade said in a low voice. “That Vice General Zhong.”
Zhang Gu didn’t immediately understand who he was talking about.
His comrade gestured on his face. “Scar-face, Miss Chu, A’Fu. We met on the road journey to the capital. At that time, A’Fu—”
A’Fu, scar-face, General Chu. In an instant, Zhang Gu had a sudden revelation as memories flooded back—actually, this matter hadn’t happened that long ago.
“Him?” He was somewhat surprised. “It’s actually him?”
Though it wasn’t so strange. Chu Ling had once been the person the Emperor trusted most. Perhaps the Emperor had been prepared for this incident all along and had General Chu send people back—
Zhang Gu’s thoughts wandered as he heard his comrade speak another sentence in a low voice.
“I also heard that General Chu’s daughter is now the Empress.”
General Chu’s daughter—that would be A’Fu! Zhang Gu snapped back to attention with another start. A’Fu had become Empress? Then—
Suddenly a sharp call interrupted the two men huddled together.
“Zhang Gu!” The newcomer shouted sternly. “Come out.”
Zhang Gu and his comrade trembled slightly at the shout. Was it his turn now—
Zhang Gu raised his head and saw several military officers standing not far away in the dim morning light. His gaze involuntarily fell on one of them. The young officer wore iron armor, arrows on his back, and a blade at his waist. He was tall and thin—
Both familiar and dazzlingly unapproachable.
He stood there stupidly without moving.
It was the young officer who spoke first.
“Zhang Tou’er,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”
……
……
The new recruit in the courier soldier camp sat on the ground secretly wiping away tears. Life was truly unpredictable. Originally, he had thought that leaving the countryside and entering the capital garrison meant a bright future ahead, establishing merit and making his name. But what happened? Never mind making his name—his head was about to roll.
How unlucky to encounter an imperial prince’s rebellion!
Even more unlucky was that he hadn’t done anything at all—
The new recruit grieved silently, but was soon interrupted. First, a comrade ran over, grabbing others and whispering something. The others immediately boiled over like water coming to a boil, bubbling excitedly.
“It’s really A’Jiu?”
“A’Jiu became an official?”
“He still remembers us!”
“He does! He called Zhang Tou’er over. Don’t know what they’re saying. Only the two of them.”
Seeing these men’s animated expressions, the new recruit couldn’t cry anymore and couldn’t help asking, “Is there more bad news?”
Those men turned to look at him. “Kid, you’re in luck.”
The new recruit was astonished. What good luck? Being detained waiting to be executed?
Zhang Gu returned at this moment. Seeing him, everyone crowded around, excitedly asking, “Boss, what did A’Jiu come to do?”
Zhang Gu looked at everyone. “Get ready. We’ve got a mission.”