Chapter 278 - 77: Rockfall

Chapter 278: Chapter 77: Rockfall

The hot-tempered young man walked away. Mu Mianhong and Xiao Man turned to look, only to see the young man over there reach up and press his hand on the Empress’s head.

Mu Mianhong chuckled.

Xiao Man rolled her eyes.

Mu Mianhong smiled and took Xiao Man by the hand. "Come, let’s go get busy."

"Busy with what? We came here to help fight. Now that the battle’s over, I’m not doing menial chores," Xiao Man complained reluctantly. She added, "She has time to joke around with Xie Yanlai, but can’t be bothered to say a word to you."

After receiving Ding Dachui’s message and gathering her subordinates to rendezvous with Chu Zhao, Mu Mianhong had received a formal bow and a "Thank you, Chieftain" from the Empress. But since then, Chu Zhao hadn’t spoken a single private word to her.

And Mu Mianhong hadn’t gone to see Chu Zhao, either.

Hearing Xiao Man’s complaint, Mu Mianhong simply said, "You don’t understand."

Xiao Man retorted, "I’m the same age as her! Why would she understand something I don’t?"

Despite her complaints, she obediently followed Mu Mianhong away.

"Do you even understand what I’m saying?"

Xie Yanlai pressed on Chu Zhao’s forehead.

Chu Zhao laughed. "I get it, I get it, I understand. Liang Qiang is not to be trusted. The grudge is already set in stone; showing him favor would be pointless. It would only make him more resentful."

Xie Yanlai let go of her, his face stern. "Then stop pretending you don’t."

Chu Zhao rubbed her forehead. "I’ve been pretending the whole time. Who do I trust? I don’t trust anyone to begin with." She then added with a smile, "Except for our dear Captain Xie."

Xie Yanlai was immune to her teasing by now. He gave a dry chuckle and even made a formal gesture. "Many thanks for your favor, My Lady." With that, he stood up. "You should return to the main camp swiftly, My Lady. I have work to do."

It had been a move born of desperation for Chu Zhao to lead troops here personally. As the Empress, she could not linger long, lest some accident befall her.

Chu Zhao understood this. She nodded and added, "Remember to bandage your wounds and apply medicine. You have those old injuries to think about."

’She brings up my old injuries day in and day out. It’s not that big of a deal.’ Xie Yanlai said, annoyed, "I’ve been collecting old injuries my whole life. I’ve managed to survive until now; I’m not dead yet."

Chu Zhao laughed heartily and waved him off. "My beloved subject, so willing to sacrifice your body for the nation. Off you go, off you go."

Xie Yanlai scoffed, then turned and strode away. He couldn’t suppress a smile. ’This woman... she’s so damned annoying.’

「By broad daylight」

Chu Zhao returned to the Central Army encampment, and only then could Zhong Changrong let his anxious heart rest—but just halfway.

But there was no time to rest yet.

"A public report of the victory has already been dispatched to the Capital City. That should soothe the people and the sovereign."

"Furthermore, the commendations for this battle must be reported at once to stabilize military morale."

Chu Zhao said, "For the Left Wing Army Department, there will be rewards, but also punishments."

Zhong Changrong nodded. "I know." But there was one thing he needed her instruction on. "Liang Qiang and his father are both in the army."

Before Chu Zhao returned, she had already sent Ding Dachui with a message for Zhong Changrong to investigate Liang Qiang.

Only upon investigating did Zhong Changrong discover that the second master of the Liang Family and his son had enlisted. Not only that, but they had earned numerous merits and rewards, and were now established official generals with real authority.

Zhong Changrong knew about the past conflict between Liang Siqing and the Empress. And while the Liang Family had deserved their imprisonment, he also knew they would inevitably resent the Chu Family for it.

"It’s my fault for not scrutinizing the rosters and letting that father and son distinguish themselves," he said, reproaching himself. He then added in a low voice, "But it wouldn’t be a problem to make them... disappear now."

Chu Zhao shook her head. "The father and son have legitimate military merits. Suppressing them intentionally would only invite trouble. Just give them the credit they are due. You only need to remember to stay vigilant against the Liang Family, Uncle Zhong."

Zhong Changrong acknowledged her order. After a moment’s hesitation, he added, "And... what about the merits of, erm, you-know-who?"

Chu Zhao didn’t immediately understand. "You-know-who?"

Zhong Changrong turned his face away. "Mu Mianhong," he mumbled. "She aided you, which is a meritorious deed. Well, our military discipline is absolute, rewards and punishments are distributed fairly, and we don’t let personal grudges interfere."

’Of course he held a personal grudge. But the other generals had pulled him aside to advise him. The General was gone now. Parents and children shared the same blood, after all. Being too hard-nosed about it was the wrong approach; it would only push his young lady toward that woman, which was exactly what she wanted. Therefore, he had to be clever.’

’Zhong Changrong was a coarse man who had never been subtle a day in his life, but for the General’s sake—and for his own pride—he was trying his hardest to learn how to be.’

’And being clever meant going along with it.’

’If the woman had merits, then reward those merits. If she later demanded more from his young lady, that would be her pushing her luck, and his young lady would finally see how shameless and despicable she truly was.’

Looking at Zhong Changrong’s expression, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but smile.

"It doesn’t count as a merit," she said. "At most, let’s call it atonement. Therefore, no reward is necessary."

Zhong Changrong was overjoyed. "You are right, My Lady!"

"And don’t publicize their identities," Chu Zhao continued.

Zhong Changrong was even more delighted. "Yes, yes, absolutely." ’Since she brought it up first,’ he thought, ’it can’t be too out of line to say one more bad thing about that woman.’ "Their identities are truly sordid," he said. "If it became public knowledge, it would reflect poorly on the General’s reputation as well."