The battle in the Western Regions saw Li Xiuning's reappearance. The moment Chai Yue saw her, she felt something was inexplicably amiss.
After returning to Chang'an, she had quietly visited Li Xiu Ning's tomb. Upon seeing the remains in the tomb, she realized that the Li Xiu Ning summoned by the system was a fake.
Yet, this fake mother looked identical to the real one, acted the same, and even possessed the same memories, leaving no trace to prove she was an impostor.
Just as with Li Shimin, the real Li Xiu Ning had been dead for many years. Chai Yue also yearned for her mother's resurrection, to experience her mother's nurturing care once more.
Therefore, to solidify this mother's authenticity, she had preemptively moved Li Xiu Ning's remains from the tomb and reburied them in the mausoleum.
This was the nameless grave before her eyes!
Of course, none of this could have been accomplished without help, especially while keeping it hidden from the world.
The female generals from the Women's Army had become her greatest allies.
When Li Xiu Ning passed away, it was these female generals who escorted her body back to the capital. After that, they vanished from public sight, secretly becoming Chai Yue's retainers.
The fake mother treated her no differently than the real one.
As the long-lost maternal love enveloped her, she gradually lost herself in it.
Maternal love was like a cup of rich, fragrant tea, offering its aroma when she was parched.
Maternal love was like a vibrant rainbow, bringing hope when she was disheartened.
Maternal love was like a blazing sun, bringing warmth when she was cold.
Maternal love was like a towering lighthouse, guiding her way when she was lost.
Over the years of their coexistence, she had come to regard the current Li Xiu Ning as her true mother, treating her with filial piety.
But when she discovered Chai Shao's strangeness, a nerve within her finally snapped!
Fake, was indeed fake!
Even if it could replicate the real one, providing the paternal and maternal love she desired, it was still ultimately a falsehood!
Her mother was gone, and her father had been replaced.
Then what had she become?
An orphan without parents?
The more she thought about it, the deeper she sank, buried under a sorrow like an avalanche.
She knelt before the grave, weeping her heart out.
"Mother!"
"Tell me, is Father alive, or is he dead!"
"Husband cherishes his daughter and did not wish for me to face the reality of losing Father, so he brought another back from another world."
"But where did my real Father go?"
"If you are watching from the heavens, tell your daughter, where should I go to find him..."
This question was one that even Fang Er, who had experienced that great battle, could not answer, let alone the pile of dry bones in the grave.
Chai Yue, prostrate on the ground, trembled. After a long while, she slowly rose.
Wiping the tears from her face, her eyes, already red and swollen from resting the previous night, once again became inflamed.
After bowing again to the tomb, she turned and walked towards the mausoleum.
In that instant, the childish demeanor she had displayed moments before vanished completely, replaced by an innate dignity.
The dignity of a female general from a military family!
Outside the mausoleum, the four maids, Bing, Xue, Yu, and Lu, lowered their heads in unison as they saw her return.
"Miss!"
"Go find someone for me!"
Chai Yue approached Bing'er and whispered a name in her ear.
"Yes, this servant will attend to it immediately!"
Bing'er bowed, stepped back three paces, and then turned, hurrying away.
They then stayed at the old residence in Fang Family Village for two days until Bing'er returned with a woman.
"Return to Australia!"
Chai Yue said nothing to the woman, merely issuing a simple command.
Their return was sudden, and their departure was just as abrupt; she did not even meet the old man Mala who came to pay his respects.
However, while they returned as five masters and servants, they left with an additional 305 valiant female soldiers.
These female soldiers were all former subordinates who had followed Li Xiu Ning in battle, and they had been carefully selected, with the oldest not exceeding thirty years of age.
Besides these women, two other figures appeared in the convoy.
Chai family's eldest son, Chai Zhewei.
Chai family's second son, Chai Lingwu.
With such a large number of people, the previous few gold-mining ships would certainly not be enough. Chai Yue, using her status as the matriarch, ordered twenty helicopters from Shenyang.
The convoy was to first fly to Hainan, then transfer to warships to return to Australia.
Once on the helicopter, Chai Zhewei began to sense that something was amiss. He, as the eldest son of the Chai family, had military duties. Why was the helicopter heading south?
"Sister, where are we going?"
Chai Yue smiled and replied, looking at the white clouds outside the cabin.
"Anzhi has opened a passage to another world in Australia. It is much more prosperous than the Great Tang, and there are many new and strange things there."
"Since your official positions are not particularly important, and there is nothing else to do, Sister will take you to see it."
Upon hearing this, Chai Lingwu immediately became excited. He heavily slapped the armrest of his seat and exclaimed, "Second Lord, this is great!"
Chai Zhewei, however, frowned. "Does Uncle know about this?"
As a subject, one must be loyal to the emperor.
Without an imperial decree or even an oral command, to leave one's post like this, was it truly acceptable?
Chai Yue said indifferently, "Don't worry, I have everything arranged."
Chai Zhewei fell silent for a moment, then pointed at the female soldiers on the same helicopter and asked.
"If I remember correctly, isn't that Miss Liuyun who used to be by Mother's side?"
"And Miss Muxiang, Miss Lanyu..."
"Where did you find them?"
Chai Yue, however, directly avoided the question, simply replying with a smile, "Don't mind the details, I'll tell you later."
"Just, please, elder brother and second brother, do not mention their matter to anyone for now."
"As for Father and Mother, I will report to them personally later."
Seeing her attitude, Chai Zhewei did not press further, merely looking at his sister, feeling that she had changed somehow.
But he couldn't pinpoint how she had changed.
After transferring from helicopters to warships, they safely arrived at an Australian port a few days later. Upon disembarking, the female soldiers disappeared into the bustling city.
Chai Lingwu was carefree and didn't bother to ask about the female soldiers' whereabouts. He merely pestered Bing, Xue, Yu, and Lu about what fun things there were in the main world.
Chai Zhewei said nothing about this either, but the cloud of suspicion in his heart grew thicker.
What exactly was his sister trying to do?
Why did the matter of these female soldiers need to be kept secret from their parents, and even from her husband?