Ashes to Crown

Chapter 149: Chapter 103: Three Statements

’The Heavenly Ladder...’

Under the dim light, Chu Lan’s expression flickered.

Whether it was because a thin veil had been subtly pierced or because the initial shock had passed, Chu Lan found his mind settling.

’It’s not like I’m some country bumpkin! I’m a well-read man; I’ve seen plenty of bloodshed and intrigue in the history books!’

He picked up his teacup and sighed. ”You jest, Princely Heir. For a family like mine, what Heavenly Ladder could there be?”

Xiao Xun smiled. ”Mr. Chu, the status your Chu Family has now was earned by climbing the Heavenly Ladder. Otherwise, how could you be sitting comfortably at home today, with a harmonious marriage, carefree children, and a life of simple means and contentment?”

Chu Lan grew angry. ”I don’t understand what you mean by that, Princely Heir. I, Chu Lan, have never committed any crimes. Can I not even live as a commoner? Just because of my brother, I can’t even live with dignity in the eyes of the world?”

With that, he slammed the teacup down on the table.

Xiao Xun said, ”Whether you can or not, you know very well in your heart. Besides, Mr. Chu, is the life you’re living now the one you truly want?”

He also placed his teacup on the table—gently, slowly, silently. Yet Chu Lan’s heart trembled.

”When your brother was glorious, you were a nobody in the eyes of the world. Anyone who saw you would only call you ’Chu Ling’s older brother.’ Your immense scholarship and talent were useless.”

”When your brother fell from grace, you became an accomplice in the world’s eyes, forced to endure contempt and humiliation. Your immense scholarship and erudition were still useless.”

”Mr. Chu, in the eyes of the world, you will always be just ’Mr. Chu,’ ’Chu’s elder brother.’ No one remembers your name.”

”My visit today, and my previous visits, were all because of Chu Ling. Surely, Mr. Chu, you don’t think I’ve come because I admire your scholarship?”

Chu Lan’s face flushed red, then turned pale. His scholar’s pride could take no more. He stood up. ”If that’s the case, then please see yourself out, Princely Heir. I, Chu Lan, am unworthy of your great esteem.”

Xiao Xun laughed. ”Mr. Chu, don’t be angry. The truth and reality are often hurtful.”

Chu Lan sneered, ”My fate is poor. I suppose I deserve this humiliation.”

Xiao Xun’s voice was slow. ”It’s not that your fate is poor, Mr. Chu. After all, you and Chu Ling are full brothers. You were raised by the same parents in the same environment. You pursued literature while he pursued martial arts. He is brave and cunning; you are the descendant of a famed Chief of Staff. He won merits and established a career; you founded a school and taught disciples. He has immediate, visible fame; you have the merit of educating others for a hundred years to come. You two brothers each have your own strengths. How can you say your fate is poor?”

It wasn’t that Chu Lan had never heard praise before. He turned his head away and said faintly, ”You flatter me, Princely Heir. I am unworthy of such praise.”

”But a good fate is useless,” Xiao Xun said. ”You still ended up in your current situation—ignored by all, barely surviving.”

”Princely Heir, did you come here tonight to protect me or to kill me?” Chu Lan slammed his hand on the table in anger. ”I’m already just trying to survive. Just leave me alone!”

Xiao Xun burst out laughing, then said meaningfully, ”Mr. Chu dares to slam the table at me now. It seems your destiny is already changing.”

A flicker of unease crossed Chu Lan’s eyes. He lowered his gaze and bowed. ”Young Master, Chu Lan thanks you for coming to protect me. However, I know my own inadequacies. I beg for the Young Master’s pity.”

Xiao Xun said, ”I wasn’t finished. Your fate isn’t poor; you just never encountered a Heavenly Ladder. Chu Ling met His Majesty and ascended to the heavens in a single step. From then on, you could only live beneath him. No matter what you did, you could never outshine him.”

Chu Lan clenched his fists, looked up, and sighed. ”That is still a poor fate. Thank you, Princely Heir, but this matter—”

”Well, now you have that fate,” Xiao Xun interrupted, looking at him. ”Do you want to step onto this Heavenly Ladder?”

Under the dim light, the young man’s dark eyes stared at him, seemingly peering into his very soul. Chu Lan couldn’t help but clench his hands tighter, forcing a smile. ”What are you talking about, Princely Heir? I don’t understand at all. Alas, the world is in such chaos. What Heavenly Ladder could there be?”

Xiao Xun smiled and retracted his aggressive gaze. He lowered his eyes to his own hands, stroking them gently.

”The Crown Prince is dead,” he said.

Chu Lan let out a gasp, his voice trembling. ”This... this—”

”The Third Prince probably won’t survive either,” Xiao Xun continued. ”Even if he does, His Majesty will not make him the Crown Prince. That’s just how His Majesty is. When he’s feeling affectionate, his indulgence knows no bounds. When he’s feeling heartless, he won’t even acknowledge his own flesh and blood.”

Chu Lan’s throat went dry. ”Ah, this... A commoner like me—”

Xiao Xun interrupted him again, looking up at him. ”Mr. Chu, do you think this means I can become the Crown Prince?”

Chu Lan stared at him in shock, unable to make a single sound this time.

”Oh, that’s not right. The Crown Prince’s son is still alive,” Xiao Xun said, looking at Chu Lan with a faint smile. ”With him around, I can’t become the Crown Prince.”

The words struck him like a physical blow. Chu Lan could no longer bear it and stumbled back two steps.

’He knew it. Things were never that simple.’

’He knew it. Chu Ling would only ever bring trouble.’

’Gods, Chu Ling was really going to get him killed.’

Chu Lan stood frozen like a wooden post, his mind a chaotic mess of thoughts, yet at the same time, a complete blank.

The room was silent, but no one burst in with flashing blades and flying gore.

The young Princely Heir sat calmly, pouring tea for himself and also for Chu Lan.

”Mr. Chu,” he said. ”Sit down. Let’s talk.”

Chu Lan stood dumbfounded. ’Sit, or not sit? Can I even make that choice myself anymore?’ He sat down woodenly.

”Have some tea, Mr. Chu,” Xiao Xun said.

Chu Lan picked up the tea and took a sip. ’What should I do? What can I do? I don’t want to die—’

Seeing the man return to his previous dazed and distraught state, no longer scowling or slamming the table, Xiao Xun smiled. ”Mr. Chu, you are different from Chu Ling—”

Hearing this now, Chu Lan wasn’t angry at all. He murmured, ”Yes, I’m different from him. I’m not his equal. I don’t know anything about his affairs—”

Xiao Xun cut him off. ”What I mean is, you are different from Chu Ling because Chu Ling is about to die, whereas you, Mr. Chu, still have a long time to live.”

Chu Lan froze. ’What does that mean? Does it mean... he’s not going to kill me?’

”Princely Heir—” he called out, but hesitated and swallowed the words he was about to say.

It wasn’t that he was being noble by staying silent; he was just scared. ’Speaking out means death, and staying silent also means death. I don’t want to die yet, so for now, I can only play dead.’

Xiao Xun paid his hesitation no mind, instead raising a hand to gently stop him. ”Mr. Chu, you don’t need to speak yet. First, listen to what I have to say. After I’m finished, you can judge whether I’m right or not.”

’I’m supposed to judge if he’s right or not?’ Chu Lan was even more bewildered.

”As I said before, the Crown Prince is dead, and the Third Prince is finished. The Crown Prince’s son is only six years old this year. He is of the Crown Prince’s bloodline, the logical successor. But His Majesty has neglected the court for many years and his health is poor. An old, weak emperor and a child Crown Prince—is this a good thing for the Great Xia?”

”Will the realm become more peaceful because of this, or will it fall into even greater turmoil?”

”Mr. Chu, you are a learned scholar, well-versed in the annals of history. You must have a judgment in your heart.”

Chu Lan remained silent. ’Even if I weren’t a well-read scholar, I’d know how to judge the situation after hearing all this. I’m not an idiot.’

Xiao Xun didn’t press him for an immediate answer.

”As for you, Mr. Chu, I’ve said it before: the reason I can set foot in the Chu Family home and speak with you is not because of you, but because of Chu Ling.” He looked at Chu Lan and gave a meaningful smile. ”It’s true for me, and it’s true for everyone else.”

Chu Lan lowered his gaze even further, like an old monk deep in meditation, as Xiao Xun’s voice slowly drifted over.

”Therefore, anything you do now, Mr. Chu, will only be seen as the result of Chu Ling’s power, his merit. It will have nothing to do with you.”

”I also said before that you and Chu Ling are different. Chu Ling is about to die, while you, Mr. Chu, still have a long time to live.”

”So, for the Mr. Chu who still has a long time to live, how do you want to live? Like you are now—nameless, obscure, and just barely surviving?”

”Or—”

Xiao Xun’s voice paused, and he held a cup of tea out to Chu Lan.

”Will you step onto the Heavenly Ladder with me, and together, ascend to the Heaven Gate?”

’Step onto the Heavenly Ladder together?’

’Ascend to the Heaven Gate... together?’

Chu Lan raised his head and looked at Xiao Xun.

He felt as if he understood, yet at the same time, he didn’t. His heart pounded in his chest.

He heard his own voice, trembling, hoarse, and respectful. ”I... don’t quite understand your meaning, Princely Heir.”