The rain pounded on the carriage, clamorous yet isolating them from heaven and earth.
Xiao Xun reached to pull out a sheet of paper from beneath him. This was a government proclamation, with the latest news written on it.
The Emperor had died, the new Emperor had ascended, the Empress had been invested.
That girl had become Empress.
Her becoming Empress wasn’t actually strange. If he had entered the palace, she would have been Empress too.
Xiao Xun crushed the proclamation in his hand. He had thought she would only counterattack—he hadn’t expected she would also seize opportunities.
She had snatched this opportunity from his hands.
“I still underestimated her,” he said.
Under the dim lamplight, the young man’s face wore a smile, his dimples shallow, appearing pleasing to the eye. But the old woman’s expression held some fear. She said in a small voice: “Your Highness, we had wanted to change to official status at the post station. What should we do now?”
Xiao Xun had left the capital quickly enough, but the pursuit was even faster.
Though there was no official warrant, soldiers under the pretext of hunting Zhao clan remnants were secretly investigating his whereabouts. Even more were unofficial people, emerging from all directions, making his journey extremely difficult. Circling and detouring, he had yet to return within Zhongshan Commandery’s borders.
But Xiao Xun wasn’t angry or worried. He still smiled and said: “As long as they haven’t caught me, as long as they don’t dare openly condemn Father and me for even one day, they cannot do anything to us for that day.”
The carriage curtain was lifted. Tie Ying, wrapped in rain cloth and wearing a rain hat, said: “Ning Kun says we should switch to the waterway.”
Xiao Xun asked: “What does Father say?”
Tie Ying’s voice held some helplessness: “The Prince says—you should figure out your own way back. He wants to see if you’ve gained any ability from this journey outside.”
Having said this, without waiting for Xiao Xun to speak, she expressed her dissatisfaction.
“At a time like this, the Prince is still making such jokes.”
Xiao Xun sat up: “If Father can still joke with me, that means Zhongshan Commandery is safe and sound.”
The new Emperor had already ascended. The matter of persuading Chu Lan to kill the Imperial Grandson had no evidence, and this Empress surnamed Chu would not announce it to the world. But the new Grand Tutor and the Xie clan certainly knew. While pursuing him, they would inevitably also reach toward Zhongshan Commandery—
Reach out. Xiao Xun smiled. As if it were that easy. A petty official Grand Tutor who appeared out of nowhere, a dying general from a border commandery, an external relative who had kept a low profile but suddenly and unexpectedly stood before the world—did they truly think themselves omnipotent?
Father hadn’t been killed when he was young, hadn’t been killed after living all these years, and now wanting him dead wouldn’t be so easy either.
“Let’s go,” Xiao Xun said. “Tie Ying, we cannot let Father laugh at us.”
The old woman handed the rain cloak to Xiao Xun. Xiao Xun put it on and stepped out of the carriage in one stride. The old woman also put on rain cloth, wrapping herself and the child, and they disappeared into the rainy night. In the mountains, only one carriage traveled alone. Not long after, it rushed toward a cliff and disappeared.
……
……
The night rain didn’t stop everyone. Some fled, some pursued, and some raced carrying official documents on their backs.
Day rose and set, clear weather alternated with rain. The imperial dynasty’s changes spread to every corner of Da Xia.
The border commanderies were no exception.
In fact, they learned of it even earlier.
Moreover, turmoil had also occurred in the border commanderies. The scene was extremely perilous. If Chu Ling hadn’t suddenly appeared leading troops, who knew what state Yunzhong Commandery would be in.
Chu Ling was currently still stationed in Yunzhong Commandery.
Previously some people might have been dissatisfied, but now absolutely no one was.
Never mind Yunzhong Commandery—even if he went to command in the capital, no one would have objections.
His daughter had become Empress. Chu Ling had become the National Uncle.
It was truly unbelievable. Never mind in the capital—even in Yunzhong Commandery, Chu Ling was rarely mentioned. Who would have thought that overnight, everywhere people were talking about Chu Ling and Chu Ling’s daughter.
“That Miss Chu, I do have some impression of her. She always came to play in the commandery city. Apart from being rather pretty, I didn’t notice anything special.”
“I noticed she had a bad temper, very spoiled. She quarreled with several young ladies, and even said she was from the capital and looked down on them.”
“To think she could become Empress.”
“They say she saved the Imperial Grandson.”
“Well, that’s quite possible. After all, she’s Chu Ling’s daughter. General Chu is very brave. His Majesty trusted him extremely, bestowing rewards pile after pile—a very, very long time ago.”
Vice General Zhong galloped on horseback through the bustling street. Since approaching Yunzhong Commandery, he had no other thoughts, only thinking of Chu Ling, especially after hearing that turmoil had also occurred in Yunzhong Commandery—
Vice General Zhong burst into the room.
“General!” he shouted loudly, his gaze searching wildly. Whether from being too tense or the environment being unfamiliar, for a moment he actually didn’t see Chu Ling’s figure.
General—was he already unable to rise?
“Changrong.”
A gentle male voice came from the side.
Vice General Zhong quickly looked over. Only then did he see Chu Ling and several military officers standing by the wall, looking at the campaign map hanging there.
Everyone seemed to have been startled by Vice General Zhong.
“Old Zhong, why did you come back?” someone asked urgently. “How can the young miss be alone in the capital?”
These were all Chu Ling’s trusted confidants. Everyone was here. Zhong Changrong’s heart settled halfway.