Ashes to Crown

Chapter 56: Chapter 20: Securing the Home Front

Chu Zhao had said what she did in the garden to get those young ladies to cool their heads.

And even if they didn’t, they would at least go ask their families.

Their families were more worldly and knew more about past events. Coupled with the fact that she had previously made a public spectacle of herself, raining down curses before Liang Siqing’s gates, only for him to have no reaction and simply close his doors, letting the matter drop without another word—thinking about all this, their families should calm down. They would realize that her father, General Wei, Chu Ling, despite his poor reputation, was not someone to be trifled with.

Chu Zhao couldn’t yet see the effect her words had on the young ladies outside, but she certainly experienced it at home that evening.

Several extra dishes appeared at dinner.

Chu Tang’s maid, Linglong, came to serve the dishes personally. ”This is Miss Ah Tang’s favorite,” she said. ”But the kitchen staff are lazy and will only make it once every three or four days. Tonight, Miss Ah Tang specifically ordered them to prepare it for you to try, Miss Ah Zhao.”

Chu Zhao said nothing and simply took a bite.

”Miss Ah Tang wanted to come in person, but after thinking about her past actions, she was afraid it would make you uncomfortable,” Linglong said frankly. ”So she sent me to express her apologies.”

In this, Chu Zhao had to admire Chu Tang. People always said apologies should be made in person to show sincerity, but in reality, doing so could often turn into a form of coercion, making the other party feel obligated to accept and leaving them even more panicked and angry.

An indirect approach like this was far more suitable for young ladies.

The fact that Chu Tang could associate with and befriend young ladies in the Capital City who outranked her in status and family background proved she was a clever girl indeed.

’And an extremely ruthless one.’

Chu Zhao looked at the dishes that had been sent over. ’When there was nothing to gain, she didn’t treat me like family. But the moment she realized the stakes were high, she immediately humbled herself.’

’But in my past life, after I became the Empress, Chu Tang never grew closer to me. She always wore a cold, disdainful expression whenever she saw me. Later, when our family fell into ruin, she didn’t come crying to me for help. Instead, she tried to kill me—’

’Clearly, the Chu Tang of that life didn’t consider me to have any real power or influence.’

’That must be why Chu Tang said, ”If it weren’t for my father, do you think you could have become the Empress?” as she tried to kill me.’

’Did I marry Xiao Xun because of my father, or because of my uncle?’ Chu Zhao wondered, her mind drifting.

”Miss Ah Zhao.” Seeing her silence, Linglong grew even more cautious. ”Is there anything you wish to say? Miss Ah Tang said to please speak your mind. If you’d like to see her, she will come over at once.”

Chu Zhao shook her head. ”There’s no need. Tell her that I understand her intentions. And now that she understands, I can rest easy.”

Linglong let out a breath of relief and replied with a series of smiling agreements. ”Miss Ah Tang said that Miss Ah Zhao was unspoiled and natural, poised and graceful. It’s truly so.”

’Is that so? The clueless, foolish country bumpkin has now become ”unspoiled and natural,” has she?’ Chu Zhao smiled and picked up her chopsticks, taking a bite. ”These dishes really are delicious. Please thank Ah Tang for me. I accept her kind gesture.”

”That’s wonderful!” Linglong said happily. ”Miss Ah Zhao, if there’s anything you’d like to eat or need, please don’t hesitate to say so.” She didn’t linger, tactfully taking her leave.

Only after leaving the small courtyard did the smiling Linglong finally let out a breath and relax her shoulders.

The young maid lighting the path with a lantern giggled. ”Sister, were you actually nervous?”

’All you had to do was put on an act and humor the country girl.’

Linglong had originally thought the same, but as they spoke, both her own feelings and the country girl’s reactions were different from what she’d expected.

It was as if she were facing an adult, one who could see right through her with a single glance.

’Perhaps it’s just psychological,’ she thought. ’But Miss Chu Zhao’s recent bearing and words... it’s as if she’s backed by a great mountain, giving her an incredibly imposing air.’

Chu Tang didn’t eat with her parents either. She and her mother, Lady Jiang, had not seen eye to eye, and their conversation had ended unpleasantly. She couldn’t be bothered to speak any more with her mother. As for her father—

Chu Tang pursed her lips. ’Does Father truly not know, or is he just playing dumb? All to maintain his image of being the unfortunate one, dragged down by Chu Ling.’

When Linglong returned, Chu Tang had already finished her meal. She was lounging by the window, holding a book she was only idly glancing at, while listening to a young maidservant muttering in a low voice beside her.

”—as you instructed, Miss, I didn’t say a word. I deliberately let Qi Leyun’s maid speak first, and then I just repeated it with a gasp of disbelief—”

”—that way, no one would think it came from me—”

Seeing Linglong enter, the young maid stopped talking. She flashed a sweet smile, called out ”Sister,” and then eagerly poured Linglong a cup of tea.

’Every single one of them is trying to climb up to the head maid’s position, seizing any chance they get to cozy up to the young miss.’ Linglong pursed her lips, shooed the younger maid out, and said to Chu Tang, ”Everything has been handled.”

After listening to Linglong’s report, Chu Tang laughed, still holding her book. ”Miss Ah Zhao is truly different from before. I thought she was a simple-minded, foolish girl, but it turns out she was just playing the fool.”

Linglong asked, ”So, what should we do next?”

Chu Tang shifted, leaning back against a pillow as she went back to her book. ”We don’t need to do anything. Just listening to her will be enough.”

...

...

Chu Tang didn’t come looking for her again, nor did any of the other young ladies visit. Her aunt and uncle were intentionally giving her the cold shoulder, so Chu Zhao was perfectly content to stay secluded in her own quarters.

But she was by no means cut off from information.

She knew that Miss Ah Tang spent her days reading and writing, while Young Master Ao Ke was out and about every day.

Ah Le said, ”Young Master Ao Ke has been spending his days in taverns and teahouses with a group of other young masters. Today he went to Wangchun Garden and managed to get entry, so he can attend the Third Prince’s literary gathering.”

The Third Prince’s literary gathering. Chu Zhao remembered it now. There had been such an event in her past life.

It was a grand affair. Scholars from all over had flocked to the Capital City, hoping to gain entry into Wangchun Garden.

The young ladies had talked about it for a long time back then, but the Third Prince only allowed men to attend.

A few noblewomen managed to persuade two princesses to approach the Third Prince and ask that women be allowed to participate as well. In response, the Third Prince berated them for having ”improper intentions,” mocking that the women only wanted to come to the gathering to look at men, which would sully the integrity of his event.

The two princesses, furious, ran crying to the Emperor, who of course paid them no mind. Then they ran crying to the Crown Prince, who gave the Third Prince a harsh dressing-down.

After that fiasco, even if the Third Prince had allowed women to attend, they would have avoided the literary gathering like the plague. In private, they all cursed him.

But the scholars lauded the Third Prince even more for it, calling it a demonstration of true scholarly principle.

’In truth, the Third Prince wasn’t a scholar at all. He was a thug.’

’This same Third Prince, who always postured as a man of letters, was the one who ambushed and tried to kill the Crown Prince, who set fire to the Eastern Palace and massacred everyone within, not even sparing a single cat or bird.’

’That assassination attempt destroyed the Crown Prince, destroyed the Third Prince himself, and shattered the Great Xia’s facade of peace and prosperity, heralding an era of turmoil and division.’

Chu Zhao gazed out the window. ’The literary gathering at Wangchun Garden is the prelude to that conspiracy.’

’And the prelude to my own entanglement in it.’

’It was precisely when the entire Capital City’s attention was on the literary gathering that I met Xiao Xun and fell in love with him. Then, my marriage to him was announced amidst the celebrations for the Third Prince’s successful event, passed off as just another happy occasion for the royal family.’

Chu Zhao’s hands clenched into fists.

”After getting permission to enter Wangchun Garden, Young Master Ao Ke also went to the post house to pay a visit to the Heir of Zhongshan King,” Ah Le continued. ”He wasn’t able to see him, though. It’s not clear if the Heir of Zhongshan King was out, or if he simply wasn’t receiving visitors.”

’In my past life, I hadn’t assaulted anyone and fled, so Chu Ke was still stuck on gate duty at his academy. He never returned to the Capital City and thus had no chance to attend this literary gathering.’

’But in this life, because of me, Chu Ke is now idling around the Capital City—’

Chu Zhao slammed her fist on the table. ’Maybe I should just break his legs and lock him up at home.’