Chapter 266 - 69: Not Waking Up

Chapter 266: Chapter 69: Not Waking Up

The rumor in the Capital City was that Chu Ling had become infatuated with a simple village woman, a modest beauty. While not exactly respectable, it was a common enough affair. Many a noble son from the Aristocratic Families had been bewitched by a pretty face in his youth, only to become a laughingstock.

But in reality, it wasn’t some simple village woman or modest beauty—it was a bandit chieftain, the kind who murdered and plundered.

The General sent to suppress bandits falling for a beautiful bandit chieftain... If word of that got out, it wouldn’t just be a joke. It would be a scandal.

He could even be condemned and impeached.

This must have been the cause of the rift between the Emperor and Chu Ling.

"Father, you were bewitched by a bandit, let her escape, and then you blamed the Emperor. Now I see that His Majesty has been truly lenient with you," Chu Zhao said. "You really are a headache of a court official."

Chu Ling laughed heartily. "When I was young, I was much more remarkable than Ah Jiu."

’We’re talking about our family’s business, why bring Ah Jiu into this?’

Chu Zhao smiled. "Ah Jiu isn’t nearly as capable as you, Father. With his temper, any female bandit who met him would only think of how to hack him to death, not end up falling in love with him for real."

Chu Ling smiled. "The connections between people are unpredictable. There are no set rules. When it happens, it just happens." He reached out and grabbed Chu Zhao’s arm. "Ah Zhao, don’t overthink it. Mu Mianhong and I... we loved, we hated, and I don’t regret any of it in this life. The bonds between people—"

Before he could finish, his voice stopped abruptly, and his hand slipped away—

Chu Zhao cried out in alarm, "Father!"

Xie Yanlai burst in. Seeing Chu Zhao shaking Chu Ling’s shoulders, he spun around and shouted, "Doctor! Doctor!"

The doctor arrived quickly, and Zhong Changrong came running back as well.

Chu Ling was not dead. He was still breathing, but he didn’t wake up again.

The recent exchange had taken too much of a toll on him, draining the last of his strength.

Zhong Changrong first struck himself a few times, then kicked a pillar, and was about to punch Xie Yanlai. "Who told you to let her in! You don’t understand anything! What business is it of yours! Who do you think you are!"

Xie Yanlai had never been one to stand there and take a beating, and he immediately retaliated. "You’re the one who did something stupid, so why are you taking it out on me! Who let her in? If General Chu hadn’t given the order, could anyone have gotten in? Who do you think you are, with your self-righteous, nonsensical accusations!"

Whether it was due to a rush of anger to the head or something else, Zhong Changrong actually staggered back from the young man’s punch.

"Uncle Zhong, Ah Jiu," Chu Zhao cried. "Stop fighting."

The two of them stopped.

"This isn’t anyone’s fault," Chu Zhao said. "Father wanted to see her. And seeing her made him happy."

’Happy? I couldn’t see any happiness at all! What was there to be happy about!’

Chu Zhao said nothing, her gaze falling upon Chu Ling on the bed. Even in his coma, a faint smile graced his lips. Perhaps he was reliving the spectacular moments of his youth.

In his youth, he hadn’t been a withered figure lying in bed.

The young Chu Ling, saber in hand and astride his horse, could ride into the Imperial City, could conquer Western Liang, was like a brother to the Emperor, and could make the female bandit chieftain sent to assassinate him fall hopelessly in love.

...

...

A troop of cavalry galloped across the open plains, kicking up a gust of wind that made a group of training soldiers waver on their feet.

"Look! It’s Miss Chu!" a soldier gripping a long spear shouted excitedly.

Among the galloping troop was a figure wrapped in a cloak, a sword and arrows slung across their back. Though dressed like the other soldiers, even the thickest cloak could not conceal her petite frame.

They had heard that Miss Chu was patrolling on General Chu’s behalf, but she had always stayed within the Central Army Camp. This was the first time the front-line troops had seen her.

"I can’t believe Miss Chu dares to come here," a soldier said.

This was the area closest to the conflict. Western Liang Soldiers could pop up at any time, and a battle could break out in an instant.

Another soldier immediately retorted, "Why would Miss Chu be afraid? She’s fought the Western Liang people herself."

A man nearby brandished his longsword. "You’re both wrong."

The first two soldiers looked at him. How were they wrong?

The man grinned. "We should call her the Empress, not Miss Chu."

A new clamor erupted on the training ground over whether to call her Empress or Miss Chu. It was a rare moment of amusement amidst the tedious training and the uncertainty of whether they would live to see another day.

A soldier turned his head and saw his companion standing motionless, bow in hand, his gaze following the departing cavalry.

"Liang Qiang." He nudged his companion with his elbow.

Liang Qiang turned to look at him, a dazed expression in his eyes, as if he didn’t know what was going on.

"Well, well," the soldier teased with a grin. "Never seen such a pretty girl before, have you?"

’He had not only seen such a pretty girl before, but this very girl had once publicly praised his valor. Liang Qiang smiled to himself. He’d already heard the news of her arrival, but he hadn’t expected to see her in person.’

’Liang Qiang was also relieved. Seeing her now was much better than before. At least now he had killed enemies and could be considered valiant—’

At this thought, he gave a self-deprecating smile.

’What did his valor, or lack thereof, have to do with her?’

’He hadn’t forgotten how his Liang Family had been forced to leave the Capital City, nor the relationship between Chu Zhao and the Xie family. Before his departure, he had seen with his own eyes—’

Liang Qiang tightened his grip on his crossbow.

’His father had written to say their commendations had been approved. This approval had come about by a stroke of luck—Chu Ling’s health was poor, and preoccupied with the war, he hadn’t personally reviewed the list of commendations. Once it was sent to the Capital City, a power struggle between Xie Yanfang and the Grand Tutor meant that one dared not openly oppose it, while the other had a mind to deliberately promote them. That was the only reason everything had gone so smoothly.’

’If Chu Ling, or Chu Zhao, found out that the Liang Family was about to make a comeback, they would surely stand in the way.’

’Even if the court approved it, in the Border Army where Chu Ling’s influence covered the heavens, getting rid of him and his father would be child’s play.’

’Now was not the time.’

’He would wait until his promotions and commendations grew, until they were so great that not even the Imperial Consort General or the Empress herself could touch him. Then he would stand before her and show her just how valiant he, Liang Qiang, truly was.’

"Alright." He tossed aside the crossbow and picked up his longsword. "Enough idle chatter. Every extra swing of your sword is another chance to stay alive."

"Listen to Xiao Liang General!" a soldier shouted, taking the initiative to start sparring with the man beside him.

The others quickly followed suit.

"Xiao Liang General is valiant!"

"This is how Xiao Liang General trains to be victorious in every battle!"

The sounds of laughter and teasing were gradually drowned out by the shouts of combat.

A moment later, the wailing of an alarm horn sounded.

"Western Liang Soldiers spotted to the Northwest!"

"Form ranks!"

"Vanguard Camp, form ranks!"

...

...

Hearing the alarm, Chu Zhao reined in her horse and looked back.

"Has fighting broken out?" she asked.

"Miss." An officer listened intently to the horn. "It’s still far from here. Our scouts spotted Western Liang Soldiers on the move, so they’re mustering troops to give chase."

Chu Zhao murmured in understanding, watching as a contingent of soldiers assembled and shot off toward the northwest like a sharp arrow.

"There’s no need to worry, Miss," the officer said. "It’s just a small-scale skirmish."

’Worrying would be useless anyway. It’s not like I can actually go onto the battlefield and fight. My purpose is to stand in for my father, to stabilize and bolster the army’s morale. I know what I’m supposed to do, and I won’t act rashly.’

"When the soldiers return victorious, all who have taken the head of a Western Liang soldier will be rewarded with a jug of wine," Chu Zhao announced.

The officer acknowledged the order and loudly relayed it to the men.

"Miss, we should be heading back," a soldier said quietly beside her.

Chu Zhao glanced at the soldier—Ding Dachui.

Seeing her gaze fall on him, Ding Dachui shrank back slightly and said in a small voice, "General Xie said... that you shouldn’t stray too far."

Chu Zhao didn’t say anything. She truly couldn’t go far. Her father could wake up at any moment... or, he could draw his last breath.

She retracted her gaze, then flicked her reins and urged her horse onward.

...

...

The soldiers pursuing the Western Liang contingent didn’t know that a reward of wine awaited them for a victory in this battle.

But even if they had known, a single thought would have crossed their minds at this very moment: this reward would be hard-earned.

The enemy force they were pursuing was larger than the scouts had anticipated. When the two sides finally met, the ensuing battle was a chaotic and brutal affair.

A longsword scraped past the tip of Liang Qiang’s nose. An inch closer, and he would have lost it entirely.

Liang Qiang threw himself backward, raising his own sword to meet the Western Liang soldier’s. The blades collided, and sparks flew before his eyes.