Chapter 321 - 102: Accounting

Chapter 321: Chapter 102: Accounting

Whether it was the message Chu Tang sent by capturing him, or the one conveyed by the King of Zhongshan’s own generals, the reason was clear: the King of Zhongshan had to halt his troops because Xiao Xun was a captive.

Xiao Xun himself had always said as much, even blaming his own carelessness for causing his father’s grand plan to fall short at the final hurdle.

’Why is he suddenly asking something like this now?’

Ning Kun couldn’t help but lower his gaze, sighing softly. "The Princely Heir’s safety is the greatest threat against the Prince."

Xiao Xun did not speak.

The silence in the room was suffocating.

Xiao Xun suddenly laughed. "I shouldn’t have asked you. You were captured with me and sent to the Capital City with me. You don’t know anything about what’s happening with my father, and you can’t go back." He stood up, walked over to Ning Kun, and patted his arm gently. "Uncle Kun, you’ve been dragged into this because of me. You’ll be stuck here in the Capital City with me, and all your immense talents will go to waste."

Ning Kun quickly replied, "Princely Heir, please don’t say that—"

Xiao Xun cut him off with a nod. "We won’t speak of it. Regardless, I’ll write to my father and have him bring you back. It’s enough for me to be a prisoner in the Capital City alone. Uncle Kun, I’m going to help Tie Ying heat some water." He added with another smile, "I’m actually quite good at taking care of myself."

With that, the young man strode out.

Ning Kun stood in the hall, his expression shifting, and lowered his eyes with a soft sigh.

...

...

The night was heavy, but the Emperor’s sleeping palace was brightly lit. The eunuchs and Palace Maids moving about had a spring in their step and smiles on their faces.

The Emperor was back. Though just a child, his return set everyone’s mind at ease.

"Your Majesty was completely victorious. There should be a celebratory banquet."

"There’s still a war going on in the Border County."

"Besides, the high officials at court don’t seem happy."

It seemed to be over the King of Zhongshan’s admission of guilt and the title he was granted. When His Majesty was being escorted into the Inner Palace, several officials almost started a fight. Good thing the public couldn’t see it, deep within the Imperial City.

The common people only saw that the war had stopped and felt relieved, but in reality, the matter was far from over.

And besides—

"Your Majesty is back, but the Empress isn’t."

To be honest, no one had felt strongly about the Empress before. She had been in the palace for such a short time before leaving the Imperial City again. But unexpectedly, after she left, they had only grown more familiar with her, missed her, and looked forward to her return.

"That’s right, when is the Empress coming back? She still has to handle the aftermath with the King of Zhongshan, right?"

"Maybe the Empress has to go to the Border County—she might not come back until Western Liang is pacified."

"How long will that take? A year? Two years?"

Just as the Palace Maids’ whispers reached this point, the sound of a teacup shattering echoed from within the hall. A moment of silence fell over the bedchambers, inside and out, before Palace Maids and Eunuchs swarmed in.

"Your Majesty—"

Inside the bedchamber, Xiao Yu, having washed up for the night, stood before a table in his inner robes, his hair unbound. On the floor lay a shattered teacup.

"Your Majesty." Eunuch Qi was the first to rush in.

He had just been in the inner room, tidying the Emperor’s clothes.

Xiao Yu looked at the water stain on his sleeve. "I wanted a drink of water and lost my grip."

The Eunuchs and Palace Maids immediately dropped to their knees, begging forgiveness.

"It’s not your fault," Xiao Yu said. "I was the one who told everyone to leave me be while I rested."

Eunuch Qi waved at everyone, and the Eunuchs and Palace Maids all withdrew. Eunuch Qi refilled a cup of tea for Xiao Yu and offered it to him.

Xiao Yu slowly took a sip.

"Your Majesty, you’ve been weary from travel for days. Please, get some rest," Eunuch Qi gently urged.

Xiao Yu nodded, but remained standing.

"Your Majesty—" Eunuch Qi said again.

"I know!" Xiao Yu raised his voice, interrupting him.

Eunuch Qi froze. It was the first time Xiao Yu had ever shown him any impatience. He hastily bowed his head and knelt. "This servant is at fault."

A brief silence filled the hall.

It seemed as if a long time passed, yet it also felt like only the blink of an eye.

"Eunuch Qi, please get up," came the child’s voice, and a small hand reached out to tug on his sleeve. "I know I should rest, and I truly am exhausted, but... I can’t stop thinking about Sister Chu. I just wanted to write her a letter."

Eunuch Qi raised his head to look at Xiao Yu and said softly, "Sister Chu will be back very soon. Your Majesty can rest assured."

Xiao Yu looked at him and nodded. "So I won’t write it. I’ll go to sleep now."

"If Your Majesty sleeps well and regains your strength, when the Empress returns, she’ll see you’ve grown taller and be quite surprised." Eunuch Qi gestured to show the height.

Children do indeed grow fast. A year older, Xiao Yu had also grown a bit taller.

A smile appeared on Xiao Yu’s face.

Eunuch Qi took his hand, helping him to his feet and leading him further into the room. "Your Majesty, with the Empress not yet back, and Mr. Xie also not having returned from handling the aftermath, should this old servant leave all the lamps lit as you sleep?"

Xiao Yu shook his head. "I have been to the battlefield. I’m not afraid of anything now. Put out the lights."

Eunuch Qi agreed. He accompanied Xiao Yu into the bedchamber, and after a moment of thought, placed the bamboo tube by Xiao Yu’s side before lowering the bed curtains.

"Your Majesty, this old servant is really putting out the lamps now," he asked again.

The child within hummed in agreement.

"Your Majesty," Eunuch Qi said again, "This old servant will be right nearby. Call for me if you need anything."

The child inside again hummed in agreement, and even chuckled. "Don’t worry, Eunuch Qi. I’ll be fine."

Eunuch Qi chuckled. "This old servant is being fussy." With that, he bowed and took his leave.

The lamps in the hall were extinguished one by one.

Standing outside the palace, Eunuch Qi let out a soft breath into the heavy night air.

"After personally leading a campaign, His Majesty has really gotten braver," a Little Eunuch said happily beside him.

Eunuch Qi ignored him, gazing at the palace shrouded in darkness.

’Is getting braver a good thing, or a bad thing?’

....

....

The fanfare of the Emperor’s triumphant return and the court’s arguments over the King of Zhongshan were already settled matters for Chu Zhao, who was still in Zhongshan County.

The King of Zhongshan picked up a King’s Seal from the table and examined it.

Chu Zhao, meanwhile, held half of an order token. It represented the hundred thousand soldiers the King of Zhongshan had surrendered—or rather, the hundred thousand he had put on display. As for the other hundred thousand, the court was pretending they didn’t exist.

"However, the Grand Tutor trusts that the Prince knows his place," the Imperial Decree Officer from the court said coldly.

The King of Zhongshan looked at him and smiled. "Mr. Huang, did you put your affairs in order before you came?"

He was referring to the three Imperial Decree Officers who had been cut down by the Heir of Zhongshan King.

’A threat?’

Mr. Huang’s expression was grim. "I thank the Prince for his concern. This official has already done so."

The King of Zhongshan laughed out loud. "Don’t be so tense. I’m not going to cut off your head." He then turned to Chu Zhao, who was seated nearby, with a sly grin. "The Empress is here, after all."

Chu Zhao smiled and put away the order token.

"That’s right," she said. "Until Mr. Huang departs, I will remain right here in the Prince Mansion to keep an eye on the Prince."

Although he held some reservations about this Empress Chu, the experience of entering Prince Zhongshan Mansion—or more accurately, Zhongshan County itself—had changed his perspective. Seeing the ubiquitous Soldiers, the tense standoffs with swords drawn, and the terrified populace in every town and village along the way... It was nothing like sitting in the court in the Capital City. The tension there was real, but it was completely different from being here in person.

This tension was suffocating. It left one at a loss, on the verge of madness.

But this girl had been sitting here for a long time, alone.

Mr. Huang looked toward Chu Zhao and bowed. "Besides delivering the decree, this official is also tasked with escorting Your Ladyship back to the palace. Therefore, this official will not leave first."

In truth, the court had not ordered this. Escorting Her Ladyship back to the palace was his own addition to his duties.

Chu Zhao smiled. "In that case, Mr. Huang will have to wait a little longer. I still need to wait for news from the Border County."

Mr. Huang agreed.

The King of Zhongshan tapped on the table. "Don’t you two, ruler and minister, start discussing state affairs in my home. Off with you, go on."

...

...

The great doors slowly closed. Having stepped over the threshold, Chu Zhao did not continue forward, but stood still and took a deep breath.

"Now that I’m out of the King of Zhongshan’s territory, even the air feels fresher," she remarked.

Mr. Huang, at her side, said, "Your Ladyship, he should be addressed as King Zhen now. Also, we are still within his domain here in the County."

Chu Zhao chuckled. ’I can’t believe Deng Yi actually granted the King of Zhongshan a new title, creating this "King Zhen." I wonder how many people think the King of Zhongshan bribed Deng Yi again?’

She glanced around at the surrounding soldiers with their hostile attitudes. The King of Zhongshan had only taken one step back—a step back from outside the Capital City. Zhongshan County was still the King of Zhongshan’s domain.

Before, he had to be somewhat covert, but now, he no longer needed to hide his power.

Chu Zhao looked at the horses being brought to her. "I will first head out of the city to meet with the main general."

Mr. Huang bowed. "This official will go to the Government Office to look into the county’s affairs."

"Da Chui," Chu Zhao called.

Ding Dachui stepped forward and acknowledged the call.

"This is my most capable guard, who has been through hell and back with me," Chu Zhao said. "I am lending him to you, Mr. Huang."

Mr. Huang bowed again. "Thank you for this gift, Your Ladyship. This official will not disappoint." He then turned and left.

Ding Dachui was a bit slow to react and stood rooted to the spot until Ah Le gave him a shove. "Are you dazed? Get going!"

Ding Dachui was a bit dazed. ’The Empress just called me... what was it? Her most capable guard!’

However, dazed as he was, there was one thing he still remembered.

"Captain Xie and the Boss both told me to protect the Empress—" he couldn’t help but mutter.

Chu Zhao overheard and smiled. "Don’t worry. I’m on my way to see your boss right now. I’ll let her know for you. As for Captain Xie—"

Chu Zhao winked at him.

"He’s far away, so he won’t know."