Chapter 279: As Expected of the First Empress, So Terrifying

Chu Yungui knelt and kowtowed. Seeing this, Chu Lingyi also struggled to get to the ground.

Her injured leg gave way, and she collapsed.

"I, Chu Lingyi, thank you, young lady, for saving my life."

Xiao Li’s gaze swept over Chu Lingyi’s leg. "That’s enough. Help your sister up."

Chu Yungui rose to help Chu Lingyi to her feet as Xiao Li asked, "What happened to her leg?"

Chu Lingyi looked embarrassed. She clutched Chu Yungui’s sleeve before whispering, "By my... I mean, it was broken by someone..."

Chu Yungui quickly changed the subject. "May I ask for our benefactor’s honorable name?"

Xiao Li waved her hand dismissively. "That’s not important. The time is about right. I’d like you to see something interesting."

As she finished speaking, a low rumble echoed from the distance, and thick smoke began to rise from a specific location.

It was coming from the center of Changzhou City.

Chu Yungui spoke, his expression thoughtful. "Is that the Prince Xian Mansion?"

Xiao Li nodded. "You guessed it."

Chu Yungui said, "From the sound of it, that must be gunpowder."

’But how much gunpowder would it take to cause such a massive commotion?’

Chu Yungui sized up Xiao Li’s expression. The faint, satisfied smile on her face made her look as if she were admiring her own masterpiece. "Do you have a grudge against King Xian, miss?"

Xiao Li replied, "You could say that."

Xiao Li had sent men to toss bombs into the Prince Xian Mansion—enough to level the entire estate.

’Now let’s see how this lot plans to fight me.’

’She wondered if that last shot had killed King Xian. She’d actually been tempted to shoot Xu Nianqing, but she was afraid of a repeat of what happened with Liu Xueyin. It would be so awkward if she failed to kill her target. Shooting at King Xian was a much safer bet.’

’A guaranteed hit!’

Xiao Li prepared to lead her people back to the military camp, but this wasn’t the right time to be taking these two siblings with her.

"We’ll part ways here. You two should go on your own."

As Chu Yungui watched Xiao Li vault onto her horse to leave, he suddenly spoke up. "Your Majesty, you’re letting us leave, just like that?"

Xiao Li turned back in surprise. "Oh? So you recognized me?"

With a steady gaze, Chu Yungui said, "The man with Your Majesty earlier was Rong Qing, wasn’t he? I haven’t seen him in over a decade, but I could still vaguely recognize him."

Everyone knew who Rong Qing was now. And there was only one woman in the world whom he would serve as a guard.

Most importantly, Xiao Li’s regal air was not something an ordinary woman could possess.

’He hadn’t been certain of Rong Qing’s identity before, only finding him familiar. Besides, he had been completely focused on saving his sister and had no attention to spare for anything else.’

’But now, the various clues clicked into place, leading him to a bold conclusion. And apparently, he was right.’

’The most impossible answer had turned out to be the correct one.’

Xiao Li chuckled. "Rong Qing’s eye for people is still a bit lacking, then. He only recognized your weapon, not you."

’So, the Empress had only stepped in to help because she recognized him.’

"My sister and I are eternally grateful for Your Majesty’s rescue. Though I am unworthy, I, Yun Gui, wish to pledge my life in service to Your Majesty."

’Xiao Li understood. He felt uneasy because he had been saved by the Emperor and couldn’t repay this debt of gratitude.’

’After what he’d just gone through with King Xian, being saved by the Emperor would inevitably make him overthink things.’

Xiao Li held up three fingers. "I saved you for three reasons. One, I admire your skills. Two, I hate King Xian. Three, I was in a good mood."

"Chu Yungui, if you are willing to become my General, of course I’d be happy. But I won’t use this debt of gratitude to coerce you."

’She was indeed short on talent—both civil servants and military generals. But she wanted followers who came to her willingly. There was no point in coercing them.’

"The Changying Marquis Mansion has guarded Longsheng Heavenly Gate Pass for centuries. With utmost loyalty and courage, their contributions have been immense. The Chu Family has done more than enough for this realm. I will not exploit the descendants of heroes."

"I don’t know the full details of what happened to the Chu Family back then, but I am willing to believe in your family’s innocence. However, I don’t care for ancestral laws, nor will I carry the burden of my forefathers’ sins and feel that I owe you anything."

"Consider my saving you today as a gesture of respect for the generations of loyal Chu Family generals who died defending our gates."

She finished speaking and glanced at Chu Lingyi, who was stunned speechless. "A young lady shouldn’t have to walk with a limp. If you can’t find the best doctor, go to the Capital City and look for Imperial Physician Ning Chong. That little old man has a knack for bones. For my sake, he’ll give you a twenty percent discount."

With that, she flicked the reins and galloped away with a flourish.

The others hurried to follow, leaving the two siblings behind with a fine steed.

Even long after the riders had disappeared into the distance, the two siblings still hadn’t fully come to their senses.

Chu Lingyi was utterly stunned. "Brother... was that the Empress? A female Emperor?"

’A woman as Emperor. The very idea was shocking enough to hear, but she had just seen one with her own eyes.’

’Rumor had it that the Empress was cruel, vicious, cold-blooded, and merciless—a wanton killer who sounded like a ten-handed, fang-baring, man-eating monster.’

’But the beautiful, dashing woman from just now... she was the Empress...’

Chu Yungui remained silent, but Chu Lingyi knew her brother. He was always quiet and aloof, but she knew his mind could not possibly be calm right now.

The two of them utterly despised the Xiao Imperial Family. Years ago, their grandfather had been forced to take his own life. Their father and uncles were murdered. The two siblings were whisked away before they could even attend the funerals, surviving several assassination attempts on the run. They had escaped with their lives only after enduring incredible hardships, forced to live in hiding under false names.

The Chu Family had been unwaveringly loyal, their achievements monumental. Yet, because of a foolish, incompetent Emperor, they had met such a tragic end. How could they not feel hatred?

But this Empress had overthrown the Imperial Power when she was still a Princess. It was said she had even disavowed her own ancestors.

She said she wouldn’t exploit the descendants of heroes. She said saving them was a gesture of respect for all the loyal martyrs of the Chu Family.

It was impossible to hate an Empress like that.

But the incompetent Emperor who had brought such tragedy upon the Chu Family was her father. That was a blood feud, an irreconcilable hatred.

In silence, Chu Yungui lifted Chu Lingyi onto the horse. Just as she got her balance, she spotted a pouch hanging from the front of the saddle.

She took it, and upon opening it, found it was full of gold beans.

"Brother! Look!"

Chu Yungui saw them. He said nothing, simply putting the gold beans back in the pouch and stowing it safely.

"I’ll take you to see a doctor."

’In Military Strategy, capturing the heart is the highest victory.’

’King Xian’s methods were crude. He had his son enact a tired drama with Chu Lingyi—a hero saving the damsel, vows of eternal love—all to recruit Chu Yungui into his service.’

’Who would have thought that Chu Yungui would rather disown Chu Lingyi than take part in a rebellion.’

’So they showed their true colors: they broke Chu Lingyi’s leg and tortured her to force Chu Yungui out of hiding.’

’Crude tactics, and an even cruder character.’

’The Empress, however, was different. She acknowledged the Chu Family, elevated them, bestowed favor without asking for repayment—a strategic retreat to achieve an advance.’

’Even if you knew it was merely her Emperor’s Skill at play, you couldn’t help but acknowledge it, couldn’t help but be won over by her capability.’

’Top-tier tactics, and a character one could not help but admire.’

’And this was only their first meeting.’

’Truly, the first Empress lived up to her name. She was terrifyingly capable.’

Xiao Li: ???? What the heck?