Chapter 285 - 79: Unobstructed

Chapter 285: Chapter 79: Unobstructed

The dispatches were intercepted by the King of Zhongshan, but the court should have resumed contact by now. The Empress is still in the Border County. How could they not inform Empress Chu when something this big has happened?

Zhang Gu said, "The situation on Empress Chu’s side is also critical. What good would telling her do? Have her send troops to reinforce us? What would happen to the Border County then?"

The posthouse soldier fell silent for a moment. It made sense. With General Chu gone, Empress Chu was now facing the King of Western Liang. She must be utterly exhausted, mentally and physically. She truly couldn’t spare any attention for the Capital City.

Zhang Gu looked toward the northwest. "I just hope Empress Chu doesn’t get too worried when she finds out."

The posthouse soldier nodded and sighed. "I hope Wang and Er Xi make it through safely. It’s Er Xi’s first time traveling to the Border County. He’s just a country boy; he doesn’t know much about the world."

Zhang Gu said in a low voice, "He may be young, but he spent many years at a rural posthouse. It’s not that he’s completely ignorant. In fact, not knowing too much might even be an advantage. The roads are full of checkpoints now. The one who looks least like a posthouse soldier might have the best chance of getting through."

Even though the court wasn’t sending word of the Capital City’s crisis to Empress Chu, and even though they themselves worried the news would distress her, both Empress Chu and Xie Yanlai had given clear instructions before they left: no matter what news came from the Capital City, whether the court sent a dispatch or not, Zhang Gu was to relay it to them immediately.

Therefore, sensing the situation was taking a turn for the worse, Zhang Gu had secretly dispatched two posthouse soldiers from the Capital City. He had done so before the Imperial Decree Officer set out and after realizing the official dispatch routes had been severed.

Given the current situation, with war ready to erupt at any moment, the journey was guaranteed to be perilous.

Zhang Gu and the posthouse soldier spoke no more, their gazes fixed on the northwest, filled with both worry and hope.

The New Year festivities had done nothing to dispel the chill. The farther one traveled northwest, the more the early spring wind bit, colder even than the depths of winter.

But a wind that cold still couldn’t freeze the blood that gushed freely.

The young soldier let out a muffled sob, his whole body trembling. He wished he could strip off all his robes to bind his companion’s wounds.

His companion was riddled with arrows; he didn’t even know where to begin.

When they had broken through the checkpoint, his companion had shielded him with his own body, taking the rain of arrows that came from behind.

"Er Xi," his companion said, grabbing his hand. "You’re from the countryside. Haven’t you ever seen anyone get hurt or die? What are you crying for?"

’How could I have seen death and injury at a rural posthouse? We barely saw a soul.’ The young soldier Er Xi whimpered, "Brother Wang, Brother Wang, please don’t die. What will I do if you die?"

Wang cursed, but he was too weak for it to have any force.

He took a few deep breaths. "Never mind whether I live or die. Just go! Or else they’ll catch up, and neither of us will make it out."

Er Xi continued to wrap the wounds haphazardly, shaking his head frantically. "I can’t... I can’t do it alone."

Wang swore. "I swear, you’ll be the death of me." He grabbed Er Xi’s hand. "Kid, you listen to me. Don’t forget who we are. We’re posthouse soldiers. We’re the ones Her Majesty the Empress trusts most. If you were good enough to join our ranks, you’re good enough for this."

Er Xi kept shaking his head. "No, that’s not it. When I joined you, you weren’t trusted by the Empress yet. And Her Majesty doesn’t even know who I am."

Wang laughed, exasperated. "Then this is your chance, kid! Prove to Her Majesty the Empress just how capable you are!" With that, he grabbed the arrow lodged in his chest and shoved it hard. "Now... get the hell out of here!"

With that final shout, his breath gave out, and he went still.

Er Xi let out a scream, pressing his hands to his face as he wept. But a moment later, he scrambled to his feet and, stumbling, plunged into the dense woods, vanishing into the biting wind.

Er Xi didn’t clearly remember what happened after that.

In his dreams, he only relived his past.

He was back at the rural posthouse, squatting and watching the passing posthouse soldiers, who looked so majestic and imposing—though, of course, to everyone else, they were just exhausted, miserable figures caked in dust.

Or he’d dream of the moment he joined the Capital Camp and became a posthouse soldier himself, his heart filled with absolute joy.

He was following Mr. Zhang around the Capital City, seeing the huge crowds and the endless delicious food. He even saw a man being paraded through the streets for a public flogging, another man lashing the youth with a whip.

Mr. Zhang pushed him, telling him to hurry.

’Go where? To the front? I can’t, I’ll get hit by the whip.’

He didn’t want to watch the spectacle anymore. He wanted to go home. He tried desperately to back away, but Mr. Zhang shoved him, and he stumbled forward—right as the man raised his whip and brought it cracking down toward him.

Er Xi cried out, clutching his head as a bone-deep pain shot through him. Someone grabbed his hands, and a cacophony of voices surrounded him.

"—He’s awake."

"He pulled through."

"Quick, go inform the Empress."

’The Empress?’ Er Xi’s mind gradually cleared. ’That’s right, Mr. Zhang told me to find the Empress. What was it for again?’ Er Xi’s hands began to frantically pat his own body. ’The dispatch... where’s the dispatch—’