Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Chapter 1588 Father and Daughter Reunited After a Long Separation

The sky of Jizhou City was dyed dark red by the flames of war. The moment the Chu cavalry broke through the city gate, the entire city trembled.

Chu Ning was wearing black armor with dragon patterns, holding the Emperor's Sword, and riding into the city surrounded by his personal guards.

His eyes were as sharp as torches as he scanned the city that was about to surrender to him.

"Pass on my order to seal the four gates. No one is allowed to enter but no one is allowed to leave!"

Chu Ning's voice echoed in the city gate with unquestionable majesty.

Chu Ning looked up at the tallest building in the city - Jizhou City Defense Mansion, which would become his temporary palace.

He had to stay in the center and wait for the most important news.

Zhao Yu led three thousand elite soldiers to begin a carpet search.

The soldiers knocked on doors from house to house, searching for the seven-year-old girl in every street, every house, and every corner where people might be hiding.

"By order of the Emperor of Chu, we are searching for Princess Xiuning! Anyone who provides clues will be rewarded with 100 taels of silver!" The soldiers' shouts echoed in the city.

In a restaurant in the south of the city, the owner received the searching soldiers with trepidation.

In the red building in the west of the city, the beautiful girls were frightened by the sudden search.

At the same time, Chu Ning's dragon flag had been raised high at the four city gates. The flag with a golden dragon on a black background fluttered in the wind, announcing to everyone that the city had changed hands.

In a dilapidated beggar's den in the north of the city, a little girl wearing a tattered straw hat curled up in the corner.

The coarse linen clothes she wore were stained, but they could not hide her bright eyes.

The beggars around did not know that the little girl who suddenly appeared among them a few days ago was the jewel in the eye that the Emperor of Chu had been searching for.

"Little girl, where are you from?" The old beggar handed over half a hard steamed bun.

Wu Xiuning took the steamed bun and nibbled on it, a sly look flashing in her eyes. "Old man, if I say I'm a princess, do you believe me?"

The old beggar laughed heartily: "If you were a princess, I would be the emperor!"

Wu Xiuning also laughed, but was thinking in her heart.

She had heard the news that the Chu army had entered the city, and had also seen the Chu dragon flag flying in the city.

But she had to be careful - the big men and assassins who were chasing her might still be lurking in the city.

As the sun set, Wu Xiuning finally made up his mind.

She said goodbye to her friends in the beggars' den and quietly headed towards the city lord's mansion.

There were several times more Chu soldiers patrolling the streets than usual, so she had to walk in the alleys.

When the tall gate tower of the City Lord's Mansion appeared in front of him, Wu Xiuning took a deep breath, straightened his worn clothes, and walked forward with his head held high.

"Stop! This is where His Majesty is staying. No outsiders are allowed to enter!" The white horse cavalry crossed their spears, blocking her way.

Wu Xiuning raised her head slightly, the sunlight shining on her dirty but delicate face. "Is it His Majesty the Emperor of Chu?"

"Exactly. If you have nothing to do, leave immediately!"

The cavalry frowned at the ragged little girl and was about to drive her away when he saw that she took off her straw hat.

The face that was about 70% similar to Chu Ning made the cavalry stunned for a moment.

Especially those eyes - the same phoenix eyes as His Majesty's, revealing a determination and wisdom that is not in line with his age.

"I'm the person you're looking for." Wu Xiuning smiled sweetly, revealing two cute dimples.

The cavalryman nearly dropped his spear. "You...are you really Princess Xiuning?"

"Is that true? Take me in and you'll know." Wu Xiuning tilted her head, with a hint of mischief in her tone.

The cavalrymen did not dare to neglect and quickly bowed to lead the way: "Princess, please follow me!"

Chu Ning was in the living room. The battles and worries of the past few days had made the wrinkles between his brows deeper.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside.

"Your Majesty, the princess... the princess has been found!" The guard's excited voice came from outside the door.

Chu Ning paused, he slowly looked up, thinking he was hallucinating - that dirty little girl standing at the door, wasn't she the daughter he had been thinking about day and night?

"Could it be that I miss you too much and have hallucinations?" Chu Ning murmured to himself.

"You big bad guy!" Wu Xiuning's clear voice broke the silence.

She rushed in like a little swallow and grabbed Chu Ning's hand: "I'm back!"

The real warmth in his palm finally made Chu Ning sure that this was not a dream.

He stood up suddenly, hugged his daughter tightly in his arms, and said in a choked voice: "Xiuning...it's really you!"

After calming down, Chu Ning personally washed and dressed his daughter.

When Wu Xiuning changed into a clean dress and turned back into the delicate little princess, Chu Ning asked her about her experience in detail.

It turned out that Wu Xiuning was besieged by at least a hundred elite Han troops.

She was able to break out of the encirclement with the help of the black iron armor given by Chu Ning and the divine horse "Zhuiyue" given by the Queen of the Great Zhou.

But Zhuiyue was eventually shot by a poisonous arrow and died of exhaustion after safely sending her to the outskirts of Jizhou City.

"I didn't dare wear my armor after entering the city, so I changed into this outfit."

Wu Xiuning tugged at his coarse cloth and said, "I live with the beggars in the city. They are very kind and give me the best place to sleep."

Chu Ning felt heartbroken as he listened to his daughter's story.

A seven-year-old child could face such a life-and-death crisis alone and still be so calm and resourceful, which made him feel both distressed and proud.

"Don't worry, I won't let you suffer like this again."

Chu Ning stroked his daughter's hair and made an important decision in his heart - it was time to make public his relationship with Wu Zhao, the empress of the Zhou Dynasty, and officially incorporate the Zhou Dynasty into the territory of the Chu State.

Just as Chu Ning was lost in thought, Wu Xiuning's stomach suddenly growled.

She covered her stomach embarrassedly and said, "Bad guy, shouldn't you treat me to something to eat? I've been hungry for several days."

Chu Ning then remembered that his daughter might not have had a proper meal for a long time, and he felt distressed:

"Come on! Prepare the food and drinks immediately! No, serve some easily digestible snacks and hot soup first!"

Soon, a sumptuous imperial meal was served. Wu Xiuning's eyes sparkled, but she still maintained her princess's etiquette and ate in small bites.

Chu Ning kept picking up food for her, his eyes full of love.

"Eat slowly, don't choke."

Chu Ning said softly, "From now on, I will never let you out of my sight again."

Wu Xiuning stuffed his mouth with food and mumbled, "Then I want to eat all the delicacies in the world!"

"Okay, when the world is at peace, I will take you to taste the delicacies of all nine kingdoms."

Chu Ning promised with a smile, and had already started planning the next strategy in his mind - the Han Dynasty must pay the price for this assassination.

It was late at night, and Wu Xiuning, who had eaten and drunk her fill, fell asleep peacefully under Chu Ning's protection.

Chu Ning gently tucked the quilt for his daughter, turned around and walked out of the room.

"Call Zhao Yu." He whispered to the guard at the door.

When Zhao Yu hurried over, Chu Ning had already been standing in front of the military sand table, thinking for a long time.

"Your Majesty, is Princess Xiuning well?"

Chu Ning nodded: "Thanks to you for searching the whole city."

He said in a deep voice: "Pass on my order and rush to the Zhou army camp immediately tonight."

Zhao Yu was in high spirits: "Your Majesty wants to..."

"If the Han Dynasty dares to attack Xiuning, they must be prepared to bear my wrath." Chu Ning's voice was as cold as ice.

The moonlight shines through the window lattice onto the king and his minister.

Chu Ning knew that from tonight he would embark on a new journey.