She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

Zhang Huazi and Qian Dafu entered the room, immediately kneeling with a heavy thump, their foreheads pressed against the earthen floor, trembling as they pleaded for forgiveness.

"Prince. We deserve to die! We deserve to die! Please, Prince... please spare us this time, we will never dare again!"

Zhang Huazi’s voice was choked with emotion, while Qian Dafu was already in tears, their shoulders trembling as if burdened by the weight of immense guilt.

Zhao Zun watched them quietly, a complex expression flickering in his eyes.

He slowly rose, walked over to the pair, and helped them up. His hands were warm and strong, yet they felt a chill.

"I understand your situation,"

Zhao Zun’s voice was deep and calm, as if stating the most common of truths.

"Your families were taken, held against their will; it’s understandable. But—"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over their faces like a sharp blade.

"As my trusted aides, betrayal is betrayal. I cannot leave my back to those who have once betrayed me."

Zhang Huazi and Qian Dafu’s faces turned pale as paper, as if their last lifeline had been mercilessly cut away.

Their eyes were full of regret, their lips trembling with the urge to speak, yet finding themselves speechless.

Zhao Zun sighed lightly, his gaze softening somewhat, he gently patted their shoulders, his tone carrying a hint of solace.

"Though you can no longer serve as my trusted aides, now is a time of need, I am willing to give you a chance at redemption."

The two of them abruptly lifted their heads, eyes shining with a glimmer of hope, as if seeing a ray of light in the darkness.

Zhao Zun continued, "I intend to rebuild stronger, more practical defensive works outside Weng City. One of you will be responsible for Ling’an City, the other for Yong’an City. Recruit craftsmen and laborers first, and once the plans are in hand, someone will guide you in construction. If you do well, I will assign more important tasks to you in the future."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Huazi and Qian Dafu’s eyes instantly burned with fierce determination.

They knelt again, kowtowed heavily three times, voices firm and strong.

"Rest assured, Prince! We recognize our mistake and will atone, we pledge to build the defenses to the best of our abilities!"

Zhao Zun nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on his face.

He waved his hand, signaling Wan Congfei to take them away for rest.

Wan Congfei stepped forward, speaking softly to them, "Come, rest first, and tomorrow morning we’ll arrange specific matters."

Zhang Huazi and Qian Dafu stood up, respectfully saluted Zhao Zun, and then followed Wan Congfei out.

The tent fell silent once more, with only the candlelight flickering gently in the breeze.

Zhao Zun stood there, his gaze piercing through the tent curtains, looking out at the night sky, already dark.

His expression remained calm, yet deep in his eyes lay a hint of fatigue and contemplation...

The night descended, and the clamor in the Capital City gradually subsided, but the Youjia Inn in Tongzi Lane still shone with dim lights.

Several mysterious guests wearing veils and cloaks quietly stepped into the inn.

The leading man entered, his voice low, "Shopkeeper, we need a few upper rooms."

The clatter of abacus beads suddenly stopped, and Shopkeeper Liu raised his head from behind the counter.

"A few guests, inside..."

Shopkeeper Liu began to greet them but stopped when the man lifted the veil from his head, revealing a familiar tanned face.

Shopkeeper Liu was stunned, then exclaimed, "Mr. Ping?"

Ping Chuan nodded slightly, his expression heavy. They had been following Zhao Zun’s orders, executing missions all the way to the Capital City today.

Shopkeeper Liu’s heart tightened, quickly circling the counter and hurrying to the inn’s entrance.

He anxiously peered outside, confirming no one was tracking Ping Chuan and his companions, and swiftly took wooden boards to seal the doors, ceasing business.

Shopkeeper Liu led them to the back courtyard, after instructing a server to bring some food and drink, he closed the room door.

"Mr. Ping, why have you come?"

Shopkeeper Liu turned, voice low and edged with unease.

Ping Chuan served as the deputy commander among Zhao Zun’s trusted aides, likewise entering the Capital without orders.

They had ventured into the Capital, indicating something significant happened with Zhao Zun in Canzhou.

Ping Chuan did not answer immediately, instead gesturing for his companions to sit and eat. He then pulled out two letters from his chest pocket and solemnly handed them to Liu.

"Mr. Liu, these are letters written personally by the Prince and Princess Consort for you."

Shopkeeper Liu took the letters, fingers trembling slightly.

He first opened Zhao Zun’s letter, reading it carefully. As his gaze moved over the written words, his expression grew ever more serious, brows furrowed, eyes revealing a hint of shock.

"The Prince, he wants to..." Liu looked up, his voice trembling slightly, before finishing, eyes full of inquiry.

Ping Chuan nodded, expression firm, "The Prince’s intentions, you have understood."

Shopkeeper Liu took a deep breath, striving to calm the waves in his heart.

He bowed his head again, carefully rereading the contents of the letter, when he lifted his head once more, his expression was resolute.

"Please tell the Prince, I have served in the Prince Mansion my entire life, thanks to the kindness extended by the Prince’s parents, my family has what we have today. My family lives for the Mansion, and dies as its spirit. Whatever the Prince decides to do, do it boldly, we trust his character. My family will always be ready to serve in the Capital, never failing the Prince."

Ping Chuan, upon hearing this, revealed a hint of a comforting smile.

"Mr. Liu, the Prince certainly hasn’t misjudged you."

Shopkeeper Liu nodded, then opened the second letter, the one from Princess Consort Han Lei.

He read carefully, his expression gradually softening, eyes showing a hint of warmth.

"The Princess Consort still cares so much for me,"

Shopkeeper Liu sighed softly, his tone carrying a bit of wistfulness.

The vivacious and sweet woman, though she stayed at the Mansion in the Capital for only a few days, showed respect and care toward them, never treating them merely as servants.

The Prince and Princess Consort were not yet formally married, but they both liked the sweet and amiable Princess Consort dearly.

Ping Chuan smiled slightly, "The Princess Consort has always kept you in her thoughts, she specifically instructed me to deliver this letter to you by hand."

Shopkeeper Liu put away the letter, eyes full of determination, "Mr. Ping, rest assured, I will not fail the Prince and Princess Consort. Affairs in the Capital will be arranged properly."

Ping Chuan nodded, "With your assurance, we are relieved. The Prince is well in Canzhou; it’s just that the current situation is complex, requiring cautious action."

The two exchanged a glance, each understanding the other without words.

Late in the night, the inn held only weak flickering candlelight, casting solemnity across a few faces.

The wind outside began to rise, as if forecasting a storm soon to arrive.

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