Ashes to Crown

Chapter 83: Chapter 45: The Young Lady

This really didn’t feel like the home Chu Tang knew.

It wasn’t that there were too many people; the Chu Garden had hosted plenty of grand banquets before (though they were usually thrown by other influential figures who borrowed the venue).

The Chu Garden was bustling with servants. When they saw her, they would bow and offer a greeting before hurrying back to their tasks.

It was as if she’d truly become a guest. One servant even said enthusiastically, ”Miss Ah Tang, there’s a pavilion over there that’s perfect for you. It’s close, has a clear view, and isn’t crowded.”

Chu Tang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had the servant lead Qi Leyun and the others to their seats.

”You don’t need to worry about me,” she told the servant. ”I’m going to see Ah Zhao.”

’How ridiculous. I’m a young lady of this house, too. As if I need you to entertain and guide me.’

The servant immediately led Qi Leyun’s group away. Chu Tang could even hear him recommending the day’s refreshments to them.

”...specially supplied by the Drunken Immortal Tower. The young ladies can choose whatever they like, and it will be brought over in fifteen minutes...”

”...Since there are several of you ladies, why not order the full set? It includes tea and all the snacks, and it’s even a bit cheaper...”

These young ladies were all from wealthy families; they cared about novelty, not a bargain. Sure enough, Chu Tang saw several of them take the menu and start pointing at various items—

’Has our home turned into a restaurant? Have the servants become waiters?’

Chu Tang cut through the crowd, walked down a covered corridor, and arrived at Tingyu Hall.

There was a spacious, open-sided hall here that faced the lake. In front of it was a wide platform, and beyond that, the vast, clear water of the pond. It was surrounded by a scattered arrangement of rockeries, corridors, and pavilions of varying heights, ensuring a perfect view of the hall from any angle.

She spotted Chu Zhao at once.

The girl was dressed simply in light pink and cyan, but as she sat in the hall, she seemed to radiate light.

The day’s competition had yet to begin. Some people were chatting and laughing, others were preparing for the contest, and still others were loudly shouting things about Miss Chu.

The girl held a scroll in her hands, reading intently, completely oblivious to the surrounding noise.

As Chu Tang approached, the maids standing guard outside the hall looked both surprised and pleased. ”Miss Ah Tang.”

Chu Tang glanced at the maids and recognized them as Chu Ke’s senior attendants. She smiled. ”You’re all here helping out? Well, I suppose with my brother away, you’d just be idle otherwise.”

One of the maids looked embarrassed. In the past, she would have tearfully claimed that Miss Ah Zhao had stolen her away—which was true. But after being brought over, she had willingly chosen to stay. To blame it all on Miss Ah Zhao again—

’Even for the money I’ve made in this short time,’ she thought, ’I can’t be so heartless!’

”I am the Young Master’s servant. Since the Young Master is not home, it is my duty to do what I can for the family,” the maid said, lowering her eyes slightly.

’Is she being sarcastic? Even the servants are working for the family, while the actual young master and lady are hiding away?’

’Impressive. This maid actually dares to trade barbs with me for Chu Zhao’s sake.’

Chu Tang raised an eyebrow, about to say something, but another maid beside her called out loudly, ”Miss Ah Zhao, Miss Ah Tang is here!”

’It’s better for us maids not to confront a young lady directly. Let the ladies talk amongst themselves.’

The maid’s voice was loud, startling Chu Zhao from her focused reading.

Chu Zhao looked up, her eyes momentarily vacant. Then she saw Chu Tang, and her expression brightened with delight. ”Ah Tang, you’re here! Come, quick.”

Chu Tang hesitated for a moment before walking over with a smile. ”You’ve really caused quite a stir. I heard people talking about it all over outside.”

Chu Zhao nodded curtly, too lazy to offer a polite pretense. ”You’re just in time.” She then turned and called for Ah Le.

She wasn’t alone in the hall. Ah Le was there, along with other maids and servants. Some servants were inspecting the paper, desks, and game pieces for the day’s competition. A few maids were crowded around Ah Le, holding brushes and paper and talking about something. Ah Le looked like her head was about to split, but she didn’t dare disturb her mistress.

Hearing Chu Zhao call her, Ah Le quickly answered, ”Yes!” but her face immediately clouded over with distress. ”Miss, I haven’t finished the calculations yet—”

Chu Zhao smiled and pushed Chu Tang forward. ”You don’t have to calculate anymore. Miss Ah Tang is here. From now on, all of this will be her responsibility.”

Ah Le was overjoyed and immediately escaped from the circle of maids.

The maids were a little surprised, and Chu Tang couldn’t hide her own astonishment.

She forced a smile and said, ”I just came to see how things were going, and you’re already giving me a job? I wouldn’t dare interfere in your affairs.”

The things Chu Zhao was doing were bound to offend the Third Prince.

Chu Zhao understood the meaning behind Chu Tang’s smiling words. In her past life, she had never paid much attention to this cousin of hers and hadn’t understood her. In this life, she saw right through her in a single glance.

’Once you break free from your shackles, you can see the world with perfect clarity.’

”I’m not asking you to do what I’m doing,” Chu Zhao said, pointing at the group of maids. ”I’m asking you to do everything *except* what I’m doing.”