It was finally time to travel to Xuzhou. All my things had been packed my eunuch, Bao Jing. The only thing remaining was Li Juan. I couldn't sleep all through the night. Traveling always made me sleepless. I was busy waiting for Li juan outside capital gate with the ministers and the soldiers.
"The empress dowager arrives!!!" Someone said
Of course my mother will come to bid me goodbye. She always worried whenever I was traveling. I climbed down from my horse to greet her.
"Greeting mother!"
"Greetings Empress Dowager." The ministers said kowtowing.
"Raise!! All of you please raise"mother said.
"Thank you mother" I said standing up. Mother came to my side, holding my hands.
"Hui'er, take care of yourself. Be careful on the road. And remember to make sure nothing happens to Li juan. The duke must be waiting for a chance to accuse you of something."mother said.
"No need to worry mother. I have taken the imperial seal to your palace. I know that you will choose a good successor should anything happen to me. Take care of yourself mother." I said.
"Don't speak like that Hui'er. If anything happens to you, I will not survive it. You must be careful. I and your citizens are waiting for you to return triumphantly." Mother said.
"Young general arrives!!!"
She climbed off her horse and kowtowed.
"Greetings to you, Your Majesty. Greetings to you, Empress Dowager" she said.
"Raise! Juan'er, you must take care of yourself. Make sure you defeat those bandits in Xuzhou and return triumphantly." Mother said.
"I will do you have said. Take care of yourself Empress Dowager." She said.
"The auspicious time has come!!!!" Someone announced.
"Time for us to take our leave mother." I said.
Mother nodded her head at me. I quickly climbed my horse.
"Respectfully bidding his majesty farewell" the ministers said as we left.
On the road, we saw many commoners leaving in search for shelter. The once upon a time, Xuzhou was now desolate. This pained my heart. I definitely would not spare those bandits. Night was fast approaching.
"We will make camp here and sleep." I said.
"Your Majesty, let's reach an inn. We can rest there."General Nan said.
"The soldiers are tired. Besides we have been riding from the capital for hours. We can enter Xuzhou tomorrow."I said.
"But your majesty is not used to a life of hardship. Am sure we can endure till we reach Xuzhou." A solider said.
"That's what you all think. We will camp here. Young general will take the first watch." I said as I saw her eyes widen.
When the tents were set, most of the soldiers quickly went to sleep. The royal soldiers were a group of highly trained soldiers who could be only led by the king. They were also my loyal soldiers.
I couldn't sleep knowing someone would take this opportunity to get rid of me. I purposely kept Li juan to stay the first watch in order to test her level of martial arts.