Chapter 298 - 85: Discussion

Chapter 298: Chapter 85: Discussion

"Your Majesty, you can’t go! If we must talk, we should do it here, in front of the battle lines," Old Bai said anxiously.

"If you enter the Prince Zhongshan Mansion in the County, won’t you become a hostage?"

’What’s there to talk about if I become a hostage?’ Instead, the King of Zhongshan would be the one negotiating with the court. It would be a fatal blow to the Capital City.

"It won’t be fatal," Xiao Man said, turning her head for once. "That Grand Tutor and that Mr. Xie won’t be threatened."

Xiao Man had witnessed how ruthless those two were. ’Although that Mr. Xie isn’t fierce, he seems even more frightening.’

Chu Zhao laughed. "They would say, ’For the sake of the bigger picture, we ask the Empress to take her own life.’"

Ah Le was exasperated. "Miss, you’re still joking at a time like this."

This was truly no laughing matter.

Chu Zhao just smiled and said no more. ’They really would do that, but I don’t blame them.’

She just wouldn’t give them the chance.

It was just as she had guessed—Xie Yanfang and Deng Yi would dig up Chu Lan’s past. She understood their methods. She wouldn’t beg them; she would simply find a way to deal with it.

Her father was gone, but she still commanded troops. She had met with her mother, and Chu Tang was still a resource she could use. She, Chu Zhao, might appear to have a weak family background, but she was not alone and helpless.

In that lifetime, half of Xiao Xun’s power to rule the empire had come from her support.

’Everyone has their own path. In this life, we’ll see who succeeds.’

"Don’t worry," she said, winking at Xiao Man. "After all, I have you to help me."

Xiao Man was about to huff, but when she thought about the message and arrangements Chu Zhao had her relay to the Capital City, she couldn’t help but ask, "I wonder if it’ll even work."

Chu Zhao nodded proudly. "Of course it will. Ah Jiu said I wouldn’t be so unlucky in this life."

’It’ll work just because that Ah Jiu said so? What nonsense.’ Xiao Man huffed, but she didn’t turn away. "Then I’ll go with you."

They wouldn’t let her bring troops, but surely she could bring a maid.

She was the only maid who could hold a pass against ten thousand men.

"The Empress can bring two maids," Ah Le said hurriedly, afraid she would be left behind. Though she wasn’t as skilled as Xiao Man, she could at least act as a human shield to block a blade.

"The Empress should have a guard, too," Ding Dachui said from the side.

When everyone looked at him, he quickly added,

"Captain Xie said so."

His face crumpled with worry again.

"Our lives are in Captain Xie’s hands."

Seeing that Old Bai was about to speak up too, Chu Zhao laughed. "I understand everyone’s intentions, so there’s no need to argue. Ah Le and Da Chui will go with me. Xiao Man and Old Bai will stay outside."

Xiao Man frowned and was about to protest, but Chu Zhao grabbed her arm.

"Xiao Man, whether I make it out safely depends on you," she whispered. "As long as that task is accomplished, even if you aren’t by my side, you will be saving me."

Xiao Man pressed her lips together and said nothing, turning her head away.

Chu Zhao smiled, then turned and strode forward. Ah Le and Ding Dachui hurried to follow.

Old Bai, with his hand on his saber, rode with them to the front of the King of Zhongshan’s formation.

"The Empress is entering the city! Make way, quickly!" he shouted sternly.

Seeing that Chu Zhao had only brought one maid and one guard, the King of Zhongshan’s formation slowly parted. Behind them, the gates of the County city also swung open.

Without looking back, Chu Zhao spurred her horse forward, riding past the silent soldiers and their cold, imposing weapons, heading straight for the Prince Zhongshan Mansion.

The main gates of the Prince Zhongshan Mansion were wide open. Chu Zhao leaped from her horse, studied the plaque above the entrance for a moment, and then walked in with an air of composure.

The King of Zhongshan was standing in the front hall, a smile on his face.

"Miss Chu, we meet again," he said, his expression tinged with emotion. "It has been a year, and Miss Chu has become the Empress."

Chu Zhao’s expression was equally emotional. "Indeed. It has been a year, and the Prince has become a rebel."

...

...

At this same time one year ago, Chu Zhao had also stepped into the Prince Zhongshan Mansion.

Seeing it again now, it felt like so much had changed.

But the girl’s attitude was as impolite as ever. The King of Zhongshan simply smiled, not taking offense, just as before.

"That time I ran into you, Your Highness... that wasn’t a coincidence, was it?" Chu Zhao asked, her curiosity piqued.

This had always been her suspicion. Back then, she hadn’t wanted to come to the Prince Zhongshan Mansion at all. She had only followed along to prevent Deng Yi from forming a connection with the King of Zhongshan. She thought she had blocked any private talks between them, but Xiao Xun later traveled to the Capital City with them anyway. This led her to suspect that Deng Yi and the King of Zhongshan might have known each other all along.

The King of Zhongshan laughed heartily. "Of course it wasn’t a coincidence. It was Deng Yi who informed me that Miss Chu was passing through. I specifically asked him to bring you to my home as a guest. I had originally hoped to form a bond with you and General Chu, but alas, we were not so fortunate. Miss Chu did not think us worthy."

Her suspicion confirmed, Chu Zhao nodded in understanding. "So I was being watched the moment I left the Capital City. It seems that fate in this world is indeed man-made."

The girl was merely sighing with emotion, showing no other reaction. She seemed completely unconcerned that Deng Yi had allied with him long ago. The King of Zhongshan smiled, also feeling a sense of understanding. ’A woman who could persuade Deng Yi to open the gates for her that night, even when I had the upper hand, how could she possibly care about such trivial details?’

’She only uses the man, not his heart. As long as Deng Yi is useful to her, she doesn’t care where his loyalties lie.’

’Miss Chu is so young, yet so broad-minded and experienced.’

"Miss Chu, please, come in," the King of Zhongshan invited, giving the girl a deep look.

Chu Zhao nodded and walked into the hall first. Ah Le and Ding Dachui followed close behind.

"I’ve come today, so I won’t waste time with pleasantries like asking Your Highness why you’re doing this," Chu Zhao said directly as she sat down.

’Why is the King of Zhongshan doing this? To become the Emperor, of course. I’ve already seen his lineage take the throne with my own eyes, so there’s no need for such nonsense.’

Seeing a maid about to serve tea, she raised a hand to stop her. "I won’t be drinking your tea either, Your Highness."

’I already died once from poison at his son’s hands. In this lifetime, I will never touch anything given to me by the Xiao Family.’

Ah Le held up a waterskin. "We brought our own."

The King of Zhongshan laughed again, while the officers and generals behind him sneered. "Empress Chu is so cowardly. What is she even doing here?"

Chu Zhao said, "Caution is not cowardice." She looked at the King of Zhongshan. "I am willing to die fighting you on the battlefield, blade to blade. To die from a cup of poisoned wine would be a true waste."

The King of Zhongshan’s generals grew even angrier. "Who wants to poison you?" One of them reached out, snatched the tea from the maid, and drank it in one gulp. "Such a petty, suspicious mind."

The King of Zhongshan smiled and raised a hand to stop them. "Don’t concern yourselves with such trivial matters." He then looked at Chu Zhao. "Miss Chu is right to be cautious. I do not mind what methods I use to kill people. As long as they die, it is worthwhile. However, at present, I am not willing to harm Miss Chu."

His expression was both emotional and sincere.

"I greatly admired General Chu, and you, Miss Chu, are a case of the student surpassing the master."

’Xiao Xun was reluctant at first, too, but he eventually cast me aside. He wasn’t reluctant to lose me, but my power.’ These sweet words no longer moved the current her. Chu Zhao said, "I came today to ask Your Highness to stand down. This war cannot continue. The casualties among the people are too great, plunging them into misery and suffering. They are innocent in all of this."

The King of Zhongshan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. The generals behind him also roared with laughter, clutching their stomachs.

"Empress Chu, you’ve come to the wrong place," they said. "You should go tell that Xiao Emperor husband of yours to abdicate quickly, for the sake of the people and to avoid widespread devastation."

The King of Zhongshan smiled and once again silenced the crowd. He said to Chu Zhao, "Miss Chu, though you are still young, I do not believe you are naive. You should understand that this is unavoidable."

Chu Zhao was silent for a moment, her gaze falling on the King of Zhongshan’s crippled leg. She said, "Your Highness, is your obsession because your leg was crippled back then?"

The King of Zhongshan did not answer the question, only smiling faintly. "Miss Chu, there’s no need to debate who is right and who is wrong. Even if my crimes are monstrous, it is only temporary. Once I enter the Imperial City and take the throne, history will tell a different story."

Chu Zhao said, "If the court grants Your Highness a golden seal, giving you the power of the Feudal Lords from the early Han dynasty, would you be willing to call a truce?"

’Is she starting to negotiate?’ The generals to the side exchanged glances and chuckled.

They chimed in one after another. "Is this the offer from Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang?" "His Highness can seize the Jade Seal for himself. Why would he want some golden seal?"

The King of Zhongshan looked at Chu Zhao. "This is your own offer, isn’t it? Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang would never say such a thing. They’re even more eager for a war than I am, to build their own awe-inspiring prestige on the flesh and blood of the world’s people, for that little boy and for themselves."

Chu Zhao didn’t answer, only saying, "Your Highness, since I dare to make this promise, I can certainly deliver it."

The King of Zhongshan looked at her, smiled, and waved his hand. The generals standing beside him were taken aback. The King was actually telling them to withdraw.

"Your Highness," one of the generals said. "You mustn’t."

This Chu Zhao came in and wouldn’t even drink the tea, claiming she feared being poisoned. Of course, they also had to guard against her suddenly attacking them. Even though she only had a round-faced girl and a dull-witted guard with her—who knew what dirty tricks they had hidden up their sleeves.

"Miss Chu is not here to kill me," the King of Zhongshan said with another smile. "And Miss Chu knows full well that even if she killed me now, it would be of no use."

He waved his hand again.

"It’s fine. Wait outside the door. I have a few sincere words to say to Miss Chu."

The generals could only obey, retreating to stand solemnly outside the door.

"Miss Chu, I understand now," the King of Zhongshan said. "You didn’t come here as a lobbyist for that little boy, or for Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang. You came only as a lobbyist for the common people of the world. You even dared to promise me the autonomy of a feudal lord. You truly have the heart of a Bodhisattva."

Chu Zhao shook her head. "I don’t have the heart of a Bodhisattva. I am now the Great Xia Empress. I cannot stand by and watch the Great Xia collapse and its people suffer. If I can resolve your grievances and prevent the world from falling into turmoil and the people from becoming displaced, then this is compensation I am willing to give."

’She’s only just become Empress, yet she speaks of the world more freely than a true member of the Imperial Family like myself, as if the world is truly under her control.’ The King of Zhongshan couldn’t help but smile. He said, "Miss Chu, as I said before, I have always admired General Chu and wished to befriend him, and I hold you, Miss Chu, in high esteem as well."

He looked at Chu Zhao and said gravely.

"Miss Chu, would you be willing to join forces with me?"

’So, now it’s the King of Zhongshan negotiating with Miss Chu?’

Chu Zhao smiled. "I have no reason to join forces with Your Highness."

"Miss Chu." The King of Zhongshan leaned forward slightly and said, word by word, "If I ascend the throne as Emperor, then Xun will be the Crown Prince, you, Miss Chu, will be the Crown Princess Consort, and in the future, you will still be the Empress. How does that sound?"

The King of Zhongshan wanted to make Chu Zhao his daughter-in-law? No, that wasn’t the point. The King of Zhongshan was also promising to make Chu Zhao the Empress? Ah Le and Ding Dachui were stunned.

Chu Zhao looked at the King of Zhongshan, her expression also momentarily stunned.