Ashes to Crown

Chapter 72: Chapter 35: Declaration

The Crown Princess Consort had just seen her cousin off and had no time to relax before two princesses came running to find her.

The Emperor did not have many children—only two Princes and three princesses. One princess was already married, while the remaining two were still unwed.

The Emperor couldn’t be bothered with them, and the two princesses were happy to enjoy their freedom. Why would getting married be as carefree as being a princess?

The Crown Princess Consort came from a great noble family, and her upbringing had been stricter regarding etiquette and decorum. The two princesses didn’t particularly like visiting her; when they did, it was always to ask for a favor.

And just as she’d expected, they had been slighted by the Third Prince.

”Wangchun Garden belongs to Father Emperor. Third Brother is holding a literary gathering there. On what grounds can he forbid us from going?”

”He says he’s inviting all the scholars of the land, but are we not literate?”

The Crown Princess Consort asked, ”Are the princesses the only ones being barred?”

The two princesses’ temperaments were not so different from the Third Prince’s; the siblings loathed the sight of each other. If this were merely a squabble between them, it would have nothing to do with the Eastern Palace.

The princess clearly anticipated this question. She pouted. ’Brother Crown Prince isn’t exactly a kind and affable older brother either.’ Since she dared to come, she had a reason to be confident.

She shook her head and sighed. ”It would be one thing if he just disliked us, but Third Brother is barring all women.”

The Crown Princess Consort tied a knot in her needlework. ”Perhaps he’s worried you’d find it dull. It is a scholarly affair, after all.”

”That’s not it at all! What Third Brother said was horrible,” the other princess interjected. ”He actually said that women who claim to be educated have ulterior motives and only go to literary gatherings for secret trysts with men.”

At this, she started to cry softly.

”This is too humiliating! How could a Prince say such a thing? What will the people of the realm think? How can any woman in the land continue her studies after this?”

The daughters of the great noble families were all expected to be educated, to be knowledgeable and refined.

’If word of the Third Prince’s statement spreads, it will offend all the great noble families, won’t it?’

’Brother Crown Prince will be interested in this, right?’

The words were indeed improper. The Crown Princess Consort frowned. ’The Third Prince’s conduct is becoming more and more outrageous. But what can be done? Am I, his sister-in-law, supposed to reprimand him?’

’It’s best if the Crown Prince doesn’t get involved.’

”What are you crying for!” The Crown Prince’s voice boomed from outside. ”Sniveling like this, what kind of princesses are you! If someone bullies you, just hit them back!”

The two princesses were so frightened they immediately stopped crying. The Third Prince was detestable, but the Crown Prince was one to actually get physical.

”Brother Crown Prince, we could handle anyone else, but we wouldn’t dare hit Third Brother,” they said, their tone a mix of flattery and pleading. ”Only you can, Brother Crown Prince.”

The Crown Prince laughed heartily. ”There’s no need for me to step in.”

The two princesses exchanged a glance. Just as they were about to stir the pot again, they heard the Crown Prince say, ”Someone has already struck the blow for you.”

Who in the world would dare to strike the Third Prince, aside from the Crown Prince himself? Even the Emperor was reluctant to lay a single finger on him. The two princesses were astonished, and the Crown Princess Consort also looked over in confusion.

”The daughter of Chu Ling just defeated her own brother and snatched his invitation to the Wangchun Garden literary gathering,” the Crown Prince said, his expression dripping with scorn before he burst out laughing. ”The ’talents’ my third brother selected for his gathering can’t even beat a single girl. What face does he have to mock women and forbid them from attending?”

He pointed a finger at them.

”Go. Tell him that you wouldn’t deign to attend such a pathetic gathering anyway!”

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Two Eunuchs respectfully escorted Xie Yanfang out. Just as they neared the gate, a Palace Maid came rushing after them.

”Third Young Master, Third Young Master,” she called out urgently.

Xie Yanfang turned back.

”Third Young Master,” the Palace Maid said, catching her breath. ”Why are you leaving already? The Crown Princess Consort has brought the young prince back and is waiting for you to meet him.”

’Ah, the young prince.’ He had genuinely forgotten, for one thing. And for another, it was better not to see him. Xie Yanfang said apologetically, ”I have some business to attend to. I won’t be able to see him this time.”

The Palace Maid let out a small ”ah” and said hurriedly, ”But Third Young Master, you haven’t even met the young prince yet! The Young Lady often speaks of you to him, and he greatly admires you.”

This Palace Maid had been brought into the palace from the Xie family by the Crown Princess Consort. Seeing someone from her home, her old way of addressing her mistress slipped out.

Xie Yanfang smiled. ”The Crown Prince has given me a task, and I must perform it well so as not to disappoint the young prince. Once I have finished my work, I will come back to pay my respects to him.”

By bringing up the Crown Prince, he made it clear he would not be persuaded. The Palace Maid felt a bit helpless. Glancing at the eunuchs who had stepped aside, she lowered her voice and said, ”Third Young Master, you are being overly cautious. The Crown Prince truly wouldn’t blame you for getting closer to the young prince. By avoiding him like this, you make the Young Lady feel so alone in the palace. It’s so sad.”

Xie Yanfang shook his head. ”That’s not why. Please reassure my sister. I’ve already prepared many gifts for the young prince.”

’Gifts can’t compare to a person’s presence,’ the maid thought. But she knew that once the Third Young Master made a decision, he never changed it. Helpless, she agreed, adding with a hint of pleading, ”Then when you’re finished with your business, please don’t rush off. Come back to see the Young Lady and meet the young prince.”

Xie Yanfang agreed before turning and boarding his carriage. At that moment, a magnificent carriage drove out from the palace gates, accompanied by a large retinue of imperial guard eunuchs and Palace Maids.

It was a princess.

Xie Yanfang immediately lowered the carriage curtain.

From inside her carriage, one of the princesses caught a glimpse of the handsome face just as the curtain fell. She exclaimed, ”It’s Third Young Master Xie!”

The other princess immediately squeezed over to the window and leaned out to look.

They had seen him once, years ago, at the wedding of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort. He had been a handsome youth, radiant amidst the splendor of the court. Even for them, who were accustomed to seeing beautiful people, he was unforgettable.

”Xie San actually came.”

”The Crown Princess Consort didn’t even mention it just now.”

One princess looked as if she wanted to jump out of the carriage and drag Third Young Master Xie back into the court. The other held her back. ”Don’t be hasty. Since he’s in the Capital City, he’ll surely come to see the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort again. We’ll have plenty of chances to see him. For now, let’s go settle our score with Third Brother.”

...

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The Third Prince was studying and had forbidden any disturbances, but it was difficult to block the two princesses’ carriage, especially when they returned swaggering triumphantly. One of the princesses was personally whipping the Palace Attendants who tried to stop them.

A short while later, the princesses’ carriage drove out of Wangchun Garden again. The Palace Attendants who had moved to the side could hear the two princesses laughing heartily inside the carriage.

Several Scholars walked into the hall to find the Third Prince sitting on the floor, his face dark and his eyes full of malice.

”The princesses have truly gone too far,” one Scholar said cautiously. ”To think they would dare come and argue with Your Highness.”

They had assumed that after being berated, the two princesses would go crying to the Crown Prince, who would then use the opportunity to reprimand the Third Prince. A quarrel between the Third Prince and the Crown Prince would have served as a nice prelude to the Wangchun Garden literary gathering.

But they never expected the two princesses to come back and argue with the Third Prince themselves.

Arguing with the princesses was pointless.

And from the looks of it, the Third Prince had lost the argument.

The Third Prince patted his knees. ”That nephew of Chu Ling... I originally had no intention of doing anything to him. He just happened to appear before me, so I thought I’d make use of him to liven things up at the Wangchun Garden gathering.”

”I never imagined that before I could even do anything, they would be the ones to slap me in the face!”

”Fine. Just fine. What a ’daughter of Chu Ling.’ And to think they’d say this prince’s invitation is worthless.”

He kicked over the low table.

”Someone!”

One of the Scholars immediately stepped forward to hear the Third Prince’s command.

”Add another trial to the literary gathering—” The Third Prince gave a faint, sinister smile. ”Participants must defeat the Chu Family’s Daughter—”

He paused, realizing he didn’t even know this Chu Family’s Daughter’s name.

More than half the people in the room had no idea either. Who would pay attention to such a minor figure?

Fortunately, one of the Eunuchs had been listening when the princesses came to argue and had remembered it. He stepped forward and reported, ”Chu Zhao.”

The Third Prince reached for a brush and, with a flourish, wrote it down.

”—must defeat the Chu Family’s Daughter, Chu Zhao.”

He finished writing and flicked the paper forward.

”Take this and post it outside the gate. Since this Chu Girl is so capable, I’ll help her become famous throughout the land!”

The Scholar received the notice with both hands and assented.

’This wasn’t making the Chu Family’s Daughter famous, this was making an example of her!’