Chapter 299 - 86: Power

Chapter 299: Chapter 86: Power

The King of Zhongshan actually wanted Xiao Xun to marry her so she could become the future Empress.

Her, as Xiao Xun’s Empress?

’I never thought I’d hear those words again in this lifetime.’

Chu Zhao was stunned for a moment, but then she smiled. It wasn’t surprising. In her past life, Xiao Xun’s marriage to her was likely also the King of Zhongshan’s scheme.

The father and son had always coveted her power.

They were just going about it differently this time.

In the last life, all they needed were sweet nothings to coax her. In this life, the King of Zhongshan was openly discussing benefits with her.

This, too, was because her power was different now.

Seeing Chu Zhao smile, the King of Zhongshan smiled as well.

"I suppose Miss Chu means to say she is already an Empress and has no need for what this Prince can give," he said. "Then allow this Prince to make another promise. What you have now, you will continue to have. In addition, you, Miss Chu, will have full command of the Border Army, independent of the court’s Tiger Talisman."

Military authority. Military authority independent of the court. Chu Zhao stared at the King of Zhongshan.

’So becoming Xiao Xun’s Empress could be exchanged for this kind of power.’

’How could I have been so foolish in my last life?’

She hadn’t dwelled on her past life for a long time, as her wishes in this life had already been fulfilled. But being reminded of it now, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

’Things could have been so much better for me. I might have been the one slapping Xiao Xun.’

"Miss Chu, what do you say?" the King of Zhongshan asked. "This Prince is not joking."

Chu Zhao snapped back to the present, her expression full of emotion. "I know. Your Highness is completely sincere. But, it’s a pity..."

She would never be Xiao Xun’s Empress again.

A flicker of regret also appeared in the King of Zhongshan’s eyes. "Is my promise not enough? If there is anything else Miss Chu desires, please feel free to ask."

"Your Highness," Chu Zhao said with a smile, "my only demand is that you cease this war."

The King of Zhongshan’s smile vanished. "Miss Chu, this Prince can persuade you, but you are not yet qualified to persuade this Prince."

Chu Zhao smiled. "I’m not here to persuade you, Your Highness. I’m here to threaten you."

Threaten?

The King of Zhongshan found it amusing. "And how will Empress Chu threaten this Prince?"

Chu Zhao took the waterskin from Ah Le, lifted it for a sip of milk tea, then looked back at the King of Zhongshan, her bright, dark eyes glinting with a smile. She spoke a single name: "Xiao Xun."

The King of Zhongshan froze, the smile fading from his face.

...

...

As the last ray of twilight vanished from the land, the fighting at the city walls came to an end.

The bodies of the defending soldiers were carried away, and the royal banner of the King of Zhongshan now flew above the city gate.

"Give the local Aristocratic Families a deadline of three days to come and pay their respects," Xiao Xun said, striding into the government office.

The government office had not yet been cleaned. The bodies of constables and officials were scattered on the floor, and the stench of blood filled the air. Xiao Xun paid it no mind, stepping over corpses and through blood as he entered the main hall.

"I will promise them that control of this city will be handed over to their sons and nephews," Xiao Xun said.

The attendants by his side nodded.

"Of course," Xiao Xun added with another smile, his dimples deepening, "those who refuse to obey my command need not be left alive."

His attendants nodded again. One General gave a cold smirk. "Rest assured, Princely Heir. Mr. Ning has already provided a list of all the Aristocratic Families along the route. We guarantee not a single one of them will escape."

Xiao Xun reached out, pulled up an overturned chair, gave it a cursory wipe, and sat down.

"How many troops are up ahead?" he asked.

Several soldiers unfurled a map. A General stepped forward, pointed, and said, "Ten thousand of them fled earlier. However, the County ahead has a garrison of nearly twenty thousand. The Capital Camp is also rushing to provide reinforcements. But even with fifty thousand troops, they are nothing to fear. We need only crush them in one battle, and then we can drive straight into the Capital City."

Xiao Xun laughed. "Then we can send a message to my father now. Tell him to prepare to enter the Capital."

The Military Generals all laughed heartily.

"No rush. When the time comes, we’ll have that little whelp personally invite His Highness."

"That little whelp has probably already gone into hiding, scared out of his wits."

....

....

Late at night in the Capital City, troops and horses galloped through the streets. The dense thudding of hooves pounded on the hearts of every man, woman, and child huddled behind their tightly shut doors and windows.

The Imperial City was ablaze with light and bustling with people. An incessant clamor filled the main hall as countless new reports were delivered to Deng Yi. He consulted with the Military Generals, then sent out a new stream of countless orders.

"The next battle is of the utmost importance."

"Communications with the Border County have been re-established. In General Chu’s absence, the army’s morale has remained stable. In fact, their momentum has grown even stronger. They’ve already achieved three major victories in a row and nearly surrounded King Western Liang’s position."

"Empress Chu is leading two contingents to besiege Zhongshan County and is also sweeping through all opposition."

But no one showed any sign of relief. Instead, their faces grew even graver.

The good news from the Border County and Western Liang did nothing to pacify the populace. And Empress Chu’s siege of Zhongshan County had no effect on Xiao Xun; on the contrary, it deprived the Capital City of two columns of reinforcements.

Through their clashes, the court had come to understand the private army of the King of Zhongshan—they were even more elite than anticipated.

It even stirred memories in some of the old ministers. As a child, the King of Zhongshan had been exceptionally brilliant. The emperor at the time would hold him on his lap, and he could understand battlefield formations. He would often play war games with the eunuchs and Palace Maids around him. This greatly displeased the Empress Dowager, who said the boy’s martial inclination meant he was not of a kind sort. Later—alas, after the Prince’s legs were broken, he never played again.

But no one expected that this crippled Prince, decades later, would once again command troops with the force of an overwhelming, unstoppable tide.

However, Deng Yi soon had these old ministers locked up on charges of disrupting public morale with defeatist talk, and the stories of the King of Zhongshan’s past were silenced along with them.

But the facts could not be ignored.

The next battle was crucial.

If the King of Zhongshan’s army advanced any further, they would truly be at the gates of the Capital City. Once that happened, the people’s will would shatter, and the court would be in grave danger.

The hall buzzed with discussion. Deng Yi accepted a cup of tea from a Clerk. He had just taken a sip when his gaze swept across the room and noticed someone was missing.

"Where is Mr. Xie?" he asked.

An official who knew hurried to answer, "Mr. Xie went to see Your Majesty."

With the entire court in a frenzy, there were no set times for assembly. They worked day and night. The young Emperor couldn’t be of much help, nor was he needed to make decisions. The Grand Tutor had originally told him he didn’t need to attend court, but not only did the young Emperor insist on attending, he watched the entire progression of the war. Even if he didn’t understand it, he would stay up all night watching as they stayed up all night deliberating.

However, the young Emperor was very quiet. He didn’t ask questions about what he didn’t understand, and he never questioned any decisions. So, the Grand Tutor no longer tried to stop him, letting him be.

Xie Yanfang, on the other hand, was quite willing to explain things to the young Emperor. ’He’s probably off talking strategy on paper with the young Emperor again, just to humor the child, right?’

"Grand Tutor, Grand Tutor!" a Eunuch came running in, out of breath. "Mr. Xie is trying to take His Majesty away!"

Take His Majesty away?

The Civil Servants and Military Generals in the hall were stunned, then horrified. Did he know the situation was dire and was trying to flee with the young Emperor?

"Absurd," Deng Yi said. With that, he rose and strode outside, the officials scrambling to follow.

Before they even reached the rear palaces, they saw Xie Yanfang walking out with Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu was in his sleepwear, clearly having just been woken from his dreams.

"Mr. Xie, His Majesty should be seated in the Imperial City!" an official was the first to shout. "Where are you taking His Majesty?"

Xie Yanfang said, "I was just about to inform everyone." He looked at Deng Yi. "I wish to request that His Majesty personally lead the expedition."

Personally lead the expedition?!

That was even more terrifying than taking the emperor away from the Capital City to seek refuge.

Everyone was even more shocked. Fleeing the capital would earn a terrible reputation, but while personally leading an army would sound better, it was far too dangerous.

"Absolutely not."

"Mr. Xie, stop this nonsense!"

"He must have learned this from Empress Chu."

Hearing the chaotic objections, Deng Yi raised a hand to silence them. "Mr. Xie, you are aware of how dangerous the current situation is, are you not?"

Xie Yanfang smiled. "I am. But it is precisely because it is dangerous that His Majesty should lead the expedition." He looked at the child standing beside him. "The King of Zhongshan surely had a hand in the Crown Prince’s death that night, and the Heir of Zhongshan King came to hunt down Yu. That father and son are Yu’s sworn enemies. Before, Yu was helpless and unable to fight back. But it’s different now. He is the Emperor. He has thousands of soldiers before him and you, his loyal ministers and renowned scholars, behind him. He should go and personally defeat his own enemies. This is what an emperor must do for his people, and what a son must do for his father."

He then looked at Deng Yi.

"Grand Tutor, please rest assured. I will personally take His Majesty to the front lines. He is my sovereign, and he is also my nephew. I, Xie Yanfang, will never allow his life to be endangered."

He called out for Du Qi.

Du Qi stepped out from the ranks of the Imperial Guard, holding a long saber with both hands.

Xie Yanfang reached out, took it, and looked at Xiao Yu again.

"Yu, are you willing to go to the front lines and slay our enemies with me? I guarantee that I can help you cut down your foe with your own hands."

As his words fell, Xiao Yu’s eyes burned like fire in the dark of night. He declared loudly, "Uncle, I am willing."

Xie Yanfang let out a great laugh. Holding the saber in one hand and taking Xiao Yu’s hand with the other, he said, "Good. We will go and slay our enemies together."