Chapter 171 Chu Siheng Leads the Army
In the days that followed, Zhao Xiaoling kept bringing Chu Huaiyu news about Chu Siheng, but most of it was fabricated by Zhao Xiaoling in order to incite Chu Huaiyu's indignation.
Zhao Xiaoling told Chu Huaiyu that the court in the capital was in turmoil, and that Chu Siheng, believing slander, had executed several senior officials, causing widespread resentment throughout the court and the country.
Zhao Xiaoling also said that disasters frequently occur in various prefectures and counties, and Chu Siheng only cares about enjoying himself and does not do a good job in disaster relief, so the people's hearts have been lost.
Chu Huaiyu stood atop the mountain, gazing in the direction of the capital.
He clutched the gilded tiger tally tightly in his hand, the scar on his neck still throbbed faintly, and those blurry fragments of memory flooded his mind once more.
This time, Chu Huaiyu did not shy away from the pain. Instead, she transformed all her confusion, bitterness, and resentment into fierceness and determination in her eyes.
"Zhao Xiaoling, pass down the order to gather the old troops and launch an attack on a chosen day."
Chu Huaiyu's voice was deep and powerful, piercing through the autumn wind in the mountains, carrying an undeniable authority.
"This empire was taken from me by Chu Siheng, and I will take it back! The woman on the empress's throne is my wife, and she too will return to my side!"
"I will definitely get back everything I've lost, with interest!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaoling knelt down and kowtowed, his voice firm and resolute: "As Your Majesty commands! We swear to follow Your Majesty to the death and help Your Majesty regain the throne!"
The autumn wind rustled Chu Huaiyu's robes. Standing atop the mountain, Chu Huaiyu's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, looking towards the distant capital.
Chu Huaiyu had no idea what kind of past the beautiful figure deep in his memory held, nor did he know what kind of ending this uprising in the name of revenge would ultimately lead him to.
But one thing Chu Huaiyu knew was that from this moment on, his life would be about revenge and reclaiming what he had lost, with no way out.
...
The morning bell tolled through the morning mist of the Forbidden City, making the vermilion palace walls resonate. Civil and military officials stood solemnly below the steps according to their rank.
Chu Siheng sat upright on the dragon throne, listening to the Minister of War kneeling and reporting on the war in the south, his brows gradually furrowing.
"Your Majesty, a sudden mutiny has occurred in the south. The rebels are advancing with unstoppable momentum and have already captured the three cities of Xunyang, Linjiang, and Suzhou!"
"Wherever they went, they posted notices pointing out His Majesty's incompetence and declaring that they would enter the capital to purge the court of corrupt officials and execute the incompetent emperor."
The Minister of War's voice was filled with barely concealed fear, and cold sweat soaked the ties of his court hat.
The officials in the hall were in an uproar, and whispers rose and fell. Chu Siheng, however, felt a strange unease in his heart, which made him suspicious.
The court session ended hastily, and Chu Siheng did not return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation but went straight to the Grand Council.
The hall was brightly lit by candles, and the guards were already waiting inside. Upon seeing him enter, they immediately knelt down and presented the secret letter with both hands.
"Your Majesty, the identity of the rebel leader in the south has been confirmed; it is indeed... Chu Huaiyu."
Chu Siheng stared at the handwriting on the secret letter, a cold smile curving his thin lips. His laughter gradually grew louder, carrying a hint of unbelievable absurdity.
"Chu Huaiyu?"
Chu Siheng repeated the name, clearly not expecting it.
"Wasn't he already dead? That day, in front of me and Zhaoxue, he drew his sword and committed suicide, his blood splattering everywhere. Could that be faked?"
Chu Siheng pondered it carefully, and the more he thought about it, the more something seemed off.
The guards lowered their heads and dared not answer, only reporting the scattered clues they had gathered. They mentioned that all of Chu Huaiyu's former subordinates had responded and were well-equipped, so it did not seem like a hasty uprising.
After listening with a sullen face, Chu Siheng dismissed the guards. He already understood most of the situation. There must be a meticulous plan behind this, which could not be explained by a simple "death and rebirth".
By the time the mountain of military affairs was dealt with, dusk had already painted the sky.
Chu Siheng dismissed the palace servants and stepped into Chengqian Palace alone. The palace was warm and cozy, and Lu Zhaoxue was sitting on a soft couch with Chu Lingyang, practicing calligraphy.
The little boy held a brush and drew a small sun crookedly on the rice paper. When he saw Chu Siheng come in, he immediately dropped the brush and rushed over, calling out "Father Emperor" in a soft and sweet voice.
Chu Siheng bent down and picked up Chu Lingyang, pinching her soft cheeks, and then had the palace servants take Chu Lingyang to a side hall to rest.
When only Chu Siheng and Lu Zhaoxue remained in the hall, Chu Siheng slowly sat down on the brocade stool opposite Lu Zhaoxue and recounted in detail the war events and secret reports from the Military Affairs Office that he had heard during the morning court session.
Finally, Chu Siheng specifically mentioned that the rebel leader was none other than Chu Huaiyu.
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoxue's gentle smile vanished instantly, replaced by disbelief and astonishment.
"Chu Huaiyu?!"
"How is this possible?! He clearly committed suicide in front of us that day, we saw it with our own eyes, how could he suddenly come back to life?"
"Moreover, several of Chu Huaiyu's generals personally handed over their military tallies that day. The tiger tallies were sealed in the warehouse and were all inspected by special personnel. Without the tiger tallies, how could he mobilize his old troops and launch such a large-scale mutiny?"
Lu Zhaoxue was completely baffled.
Chu Siheng remained silent for a moment, his eyes filled with unfathomable contemplation. His speculation from the Military Affairs Department had become clear.
"Presumably, when Chu Huaiyu committed suicide that day, he used the method of 'escaping like a cicada shedding its shell,' or perhaps he used a substitute, a trick to fake his death, which deceived you and me, as well as the entire court."
"As for the military tally... I suppose the few that were handed over were all forgeries; they had already prepared a backup plan."
Chu Siheng paused, recalling the generals who had followed Chu Huaiyu in the past. Although they appeared respectful on the surface, their eyes concealed resentment, and they had already made up their minds.
"Or perhaps, even if Chu Huaiyu really did commit suicide that day, his former subordinates may not have truly submitted. They were merely lying low due to the circumstances, and now that Chu Huaiyu has 'come back to life,' it has become a perfect excuse for them to raise an army."
Lu Zhaoxue's heart sank upon hearing this. Just as she was about to say something more, Chu Siheng added firmly, "This matter is of utmost importance. Chu Huaiyu has captured three cities in succession, and his arrogance is rampant. If we do not stop him in time, it may endanger the capital region."
"Zhaoxue, tomorrow I will personally lead the army to meet him and settle all grievances once and for all."
"The emperor personally leading the expedition?"
Lu Zhaoxue's heart clenched suddenly. Almost instinctively, she stood up, walked quickly to Chu Siheng's side, and reached out to tightly grasp his wrists.
"Siheng, you absolutely mustn't! If your guess is true, Chu Huaiyu's cunning is far beyond what you or I can match! Besides, the battlefield is dangerous, swords have no eyes, and there are many generals in the court. Why must you go there in person?"
"I...I'm really worried about you."
After saying these words, Lu Zhaoxue's eyes were already moist. Over the years, she and Chu Siheng had gone through countless hardships and finally settled down.
Now that they have Zhaozhao, she can no longer bear the fear of being separated from Chu Siheng, let alone sending him to the battlefield of swords and shadows.
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