Song Chaoyu naturally knew that the upheavals experienced by the Empress Dowager and her entourage back then were real.
Therefore, she was even more perplexed as to why the Empress Dowager had now become the one causing upheaval for others.
Song Chaoyu looked at the Empress Dowager's eyes, which remained as calm as ever: "Your Highness, please hand over the command of those five thousand elite troops."
The Empress Dowager was clearly beyond saving, but she still had one last question she wanted to ask Song Chaoyu: "Aren't you afraid that after all this is settled, I will seek retribution from you? Princess Chang, you intend to kill me now!"
"I am afraid."
Since she had always been honest, Song Chaoyu had no intention of hiding anything with this answer: "But Your Highness, I have people I care about. Just thinking that if I don't accomplish this today, those I care about will suffer tomorrow, and I will fear nothing. I think it's a happy thing to have people you care about in this world, isn't it?"
"Indeed, indeed!"
With things having reached this point, the Empress Dowager had no other words to say, nor any other words she could say.
Song Chaoyu even saw the veins on her forehead twitch.
But in the end, the Empress Dowager sighed. She pulled out the phoenix gold hairpin from her head and dropped it at Song Chaoyu's feet: "Is it not just the command of five thousand elite troops? Take it! Remember to return it to me intact after you're done with it!"
Actually, Song Chaoyu truly hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to compromise so quickly!
At this moment, she couldn't bother with anything else. She crouched down, lowered her head, and picked up the gold hairpin from the ground.
After examining it closely, she realized that this gold hairpin was actually a tiger tally!
This time, Song Chaoyu sincerely knelt before the Empress Dowager and bowed deeply: "Thank you, Your Highness. Please rest assured, Your Highness, we will use this tiger tally in the most crucial places and will not let anyone get hurt."
"It better be so!"
The Empress Dowager waved her hand impatiently at Song Chaoyu: "From now on, I never want to see you again. After this matter is settled, you know what you need to do."
To be hated to this extent by the Empress Dowager, Song Chaoyu felt that this might also be a testament to her own capabilities.
But she still did not hesitate. Picking up the gold hairpin, she walked towards the outside.
At the same time, good news arrived from the front: the Southern Kingdom's army had retreated! Whether it was due to Ti Le or not, the troops supporting Mu Hansu from the Southern Kingdom seemed to have vanished in an instant.
Thus, the northern gate of the palace city, which was still under Mu Hansu's control, now showed a gap, presenting a perfect opportunity for a counter-attack!
Seeing that Song Chaoyu had actually obtained the Empress Dowager's gold hairpin, the Crown Prince repeatedly praised: "Indeed, Princess Chang has her ways! I don't know how many times I pleaded with the Imperial Grandmother before, but she refused to hand over this gold hairpin. I never expected that after you said a few words, she would agree!"
The Crown Prince happily took the gold hairpin, while Mu Changxi frowned and walked towards Song Chaoyu: "You didn't promise the Empress Dowager anything you shouldn't have, did you?"
He truly understood her!
Song Chaoyu gave a wry smile: "It's not exactly a promise. The Empress Dowager just said that after this matter is over, she wouldn't want to see me in the capital anymore."
Mu Changxi raised an eyebrow, then chuckled softly: "That's fine. Then our family will move out of the capital and live among the mountains and rivers."
Song Chaoyu knew that as long as their family was together, it didn't matter where they were.
—
With these five thousand elite troops and Mu Hansu in hand, their chances of victory increased significantly.
The leader of the troops under Mu Hansu was Yuan Daren, the deputy general of the Kyoto Guard Army who had defected.
Yuan Daren had served in the Kyoto Guard Army for half his life, but had never managed to become a general, thus harboring resentment towards the Emperor and the general.
Coincidentally, Mu Hansu wanted to win him over, so he took this opportunity to poison the general and then, using the general's golden seal and tiger tally, completely took over the Kyoto Guard Army and caused this major incident with Mu Hansu.
At this moment, Yuan Daren knew that Mu Hansu had been captured by the Crown Prince and Mu Changxi.
He also agreed to negotiate with the Crown Prince.
The negotiation venue was chosen to be an octagonal pavilion on a water pavilion outside the Guande Hall.
Actually, the location of Guande Hall was not ideal. Normally, the octagonal pavilion was the most deserted place, but today it had become lively.
Song Chaoyu also wanted to accompany them but was afraid it would be inappropriate.
However, Mu Changxi seemed to have seen through her intentions and proactively suggested to the Crown Prince that Song Chaoyu be brought along.
The Crown Prince naturally had no reason to refuse, and was even grateful to Song Chaoyu: "Prince Chang marrying you as his Princess Consort was truly the right choice. With you by his side in the future, I can finally rest assured."
Song Chaoyu knew that no matter when, she would always be by Mu Changxi's side, and that would never change.
—
When they brought Mu Hansu out of Guande Hall, Yuan Daren was already in the octagonal pavilion.
Both sides had agreed that each could bring a maximum of five people.
The five people Yuan Daren brought were clearly elite soldiers, as if he were afraid of being ambushed by them. They stood around Yuan Daren, forming a tight circle around him.
Looking at the Crown Prince's side, besides Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi, he only brought three secret guards. He merely had those three walk behind them, displaying the Crown Prince's demeanor and showing no fear of Yuan Daren.
Upon seeing the Crown Prince and his party arrive, Yuan Daren's expression became serious.
However, the moment he saw Mu Changxi, Yuan Daren was equally shocked: "You... you are Prince Chang?! Your leg..."
"Heh!"
Mu Changxi sneered: "General Yuan still knows my identity?"
Yuan Daren frowned, seemingly understanding why Mu Hansu had been captured.
He glanced at Mu Hansu, whose expression was filled with indignation.
The Crown Prince, however, got straight to the point: "Yuan Daren, now that even Mu Hansu has been captured by us, when do you plan to retreat?"
"Retreat?"
Yuan Daren clearly did not intend to: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you take me for a fool? If I retreat now, will I still have a chance to live? Since I've embarked on this path, I'm afraid there's no reason to stop now!"
He glanced at Mu Hansu again: "Even if Prince Ning is not here, there is still another child of the Emperor. He is still in our hands, and he is also of royal blood, capable of inheriting the throne!"
They had actually found Jiao Niang and that child?
But at Yuan Daren's words, Mu Hansu became somewhat angry: "Yuan Daren, what nonsense are you talking about? Are you planning to treat me as a discarded pawn? Don't forget, you've reached this point thanks to me! Without me, how will you continue?"