Ashes to Crown

Chapter 154: Chapter 108: Fate

To the right of the outer hall, in the most central of the grand halls, was where the Grand Tutor typically conducted his business.

The current Grand Tutor was appointed by the Emperor. The Emperor was in poor health; after naming the Crown Prince and selecting a Grand Tutor to assist him, he concerned himself with little else.

However, ever since the Crown Prince became Regent, he had favored the Mounted Archery Officer he appointed. Coupled with Prince Yang taking charge of everything, the Grand Tutor was a Grand Tutor in name only. In reality, he bowed to Prince Yang, obeying his every command.

The Grand Tutor’s duty office was rather cluttered because Prince Yang also spent a lot of time here, claiming it was for the sake of efficiency—multipurpose use of a single hall.

Lamps were lit, and eunuchs and several officials scrambled to tidy up the place.

Deng Yi paid them no mind, casually sitting in a large chair and flipping through documents.

”My lord, no one has come from the outer city wall,” an official said in a low voice.

They were already very close to the outer city. With the lamps lit and people moving about, anyone over there would surely be able to see them.

At this moment, Imperial Guards were scattered all around, crossbows in hand, ready for an attack.

But no one came. Not even a scout.

Deng Yi looked up from the document in his hand and smiled. ”It seems there’s a clever one over there.”

Coming to report information to show loyalty, or to ask for help and gather news, would have been the logical and expected thing to do. He hadn’t expected someone to actually resist the temptation and remain perfectly still.

’Still, there are plenty of clever people in the world, and being clever doesn’t guarantee good fortune. Take Third Young Master Xie Yanfang, for example—’

’The Crown Prince is dead. All his efforts have come to nothing.’

Deng Yi paid it no more mind and went back to his documents. He had much to learn. Though a reckless mounted archer could become an official, and though ability wasn’t the most important thing at this moment, to do a fine job of it, he couldn’t rely on luck and brute force alone.

The officials didn’t dare disturb Deng Yi. They quietly withdrew to guard the door as a show of loyalty, leaving only a few busy eunuchs inside the hall.

One eunuch brought over more lamps, while another brewed tea and served it.

Deng Yi casually picked up the cup and took a sip.

”Is the tea to your liking, Lord Grand Tutor?” the eunuch asked.

’This eunuch hasn’t withdrawn yet? And he’s asking questions?’ Deng Yi looked over, teacup in hand. He saw a eunuch in his fifties, ordinary and unremarkable.

This was one of the eunuchs who had followed them from the Emperor’s bedchambers. An old timer who had served in the Emperor’s chambers for so many years could hardly be ordinary.

His gaze sharpened.

Faced with that sharp gaze, the eunuch didn’t flinch in the slightest, seemingly oblivious. He said, ”There is no good tea here. This old slave specially brought this from His Majesty’s side. It’s just that the water was prepared in a hurry.”

Deng Yi grunted an ”oh.” ”It’s fine.”

With that, he lowered his gaze and continued to read.

The eunuch still didn’t leave. He gently wiped the dust from the desk with his sleeve and said in a low voice, ”The Heir of Zhongshan King wishes to enter the Imperial City to protect His Majesty—”

Deng Yi’s hand, holding the document, paused slightly.

”—Please, Lord Deng, act as you promised.” The eunuch kept his head low as he whispered, ”Open the gates.”

After saying this, the eunuch bowed his head and withdrew.

Deng Yi sat in silence, document in hand, then suddenly laughed.

’The King of Zhongshan... could he be the one who is both clever and lucky?’

...

...

Hoofbeats rang out urgently as Xiao Xun galloped through streets shrouded in a mixture of thick darkness and fire, returning to the post house.

A battle had clearly taken place here as well. Surrounding houses were still burning, and the streets were littered with corpses—officials, soldiers, and commoners alike.

Xiao Xun dismounted, ignoring the sight, and walked into the post house.

Inside the post house, the officials and Servants who had once greeted the Princely Heir with smiling faces were all gone. Or rather, not gone—they had all become corpses lying on the ground. There wasn’t a single living thing in the entire post house. This, of course, was not the Third Prince’s doing.

’Of course, in the end, the blame will fall on the Third Prince’s head.’

Xiao Xun stepped over a corpse and ascended the stairs into the building.

”Why did we even have to leave? We could have just handled it ourselves at the Chu Family’s estate,” Tie Ying said, following behind with a puzzled frown.

He really didn’t think much of Chu Lan.

”He looks more likely to ruin things than to accomplish anything.”

Ning Kun smiled. ”Don’t underestimate scholars. When a scholar becomes consumed by wild ambition and greed, there’s no telling what terrifying things he might do. No matter how noble your status or how skilled you are in martial arts, you can still die at their hands.”

He emphasized the words ”skilled in martial arts” as he looked at Tie Ying.

Tie Ying snorted.

Xiao Xun placated him. ”Don’t worry. Our men are there too. If he can’t do it, we’ll step in.” He then explained, ”Making him do it with his own hands is a way of forcing him to pledge his allegiance. That’s how I’ll control him in the future.”

Tie Ying said, ”Even without that pledge, a man like Chu Lan would still obey Your Highness’s every word.”

”Mere obedience isn’t enough. I need him to proactively take up a blade for me, to kill and charge into battle,” Xiao Xun said. ”You said it yourself, Chu Lan is an unreliable man. If I don’t put a leash on him, he won’t risk his life for me.”

Ning Kun nodded. ”The Princely Heir has a thorough understanding of people.” He added, ”It’s good that we returned to the post house. It’s closer to the Imperial City, which will make it more convenient to enter the palace when the time comes.”

Xiao Xun gazed toward the Imperial City, his usually placid face showing a complex mix of emotions.

The world had been turned upside down overnight.

It was just as his father, the King, had said: the Capital City was very dangerous. But it was also just as his father had wished: the most dangerous place is also where the greatest opportunities lie.

When the Crown Prince suddenly decided to go hunting and began recruiting strongmen just like the Third Prince had, he immediately had his own men infiltrate the group. After all, who didn’t have a few powerful heroes at their disposal?

The Third Prince wanted to kill his brother, so he just gave him a helping hand.

At this thought, Xiao Xun smiled, his dimples deepening.

’The Crown Prince is dead. Whether the Third Prince is torn apart by the mad dogs of the Xie family or held accountable by the Emperor, he’s as good as dead himself.’

’Once the Crown Prince’s son is eliminated, the Emperor’s only bloodline will be severed. The throne of Great Xia can then only belong to our Zhongshan line.’

’Father will finally be able to take back everything that belongs to him.’

’Father spent years cultivating connections. Father carefully taught me since I was a child. Father sent me to the Capital City at just the right moment.’

It all looked like luck, but it was actually the result of his father’s keen intellect and painstaking efforts.

Thinking of this, Xiao Xun’s eyes filled with admiration.

”All of this should belong to Father.”

’Who else but Father!’

”The only regret is that we failed to establish a connection with Chu Ling,” Ning Kun said with a sigh full of meaning. ”Princely Heir, now you see just how powerful Chu Ling’s hidden status is, don’t you?”

In the face of this sudden upheaval, with all the powerful and noble figures in the city, the Crown Prince’s orphaned son actually sought refuge with Chu Ling, trusting only her.

’Oh, and Father also told me about a secret passage in the Capital City. Tonight, I personally saw a eunuch emerge from it, carrying a child.’

’It was a secret only the Emperor knew. Back then, the late Emperor cherished Father and told him about it—’

’Clearly, in the late Emperor’s eyes, the throne was always meant for Father.’

”His Majesty’s trust in Chu Ling, and Chu Ling’s loyalty to His Majesty, are truly extraordinary,” Ning Kun lamented. ”If Your Highness could marry Miss Chu, His Majesty would be even more certain of you.”

Xiao Xun smiled. ”No matter. When I see His Majesty, I will tell him of the fate that binds me and Miss Chu, and then I will ask His Majesty to grant us a marriage.”

Ning Kun clapped his hands. ”Excellent, excellent. That would be for the best.”

’Not only would His Majesty be at ease, but Chu Lan would also be at ease. As for Chu Ling, she would have no choice but to become the Princely Heir’s person. Her network would belong to him, while any infamy would fall upon her.’

Looking at the faint smile on Xiao Xun’s face, Ning Kun felt a pang of sympathy.

”It’s just unfair to Your Highness,” he said. ”With a wife like that, life won’t be easy.”

’At least for a while, life will be difficult. After all, it would be a marriage granted by the Emperor. It wouldn’t be so easy to get rid of this wife.’

Xiao Xun smiled and looked out at the night. The darkness was heavy and cold, just like the look in that girl’s eyes when she looked at him.

’With a wife like that, life will certainly be interesting.’

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Tonight, the night seemed exceptionally long. The inky darkness refused to dissipate.

’It feels like so much time has passed. Why isn’t it dawn yet?’

’But I’m also terrified of the dawn.’

’If the sun rises, this will no longer be just a nightmare.’

The small child squatted amidst a pile of firewood, head buried in his knees, squeezing his eyes shut.

CREAK. The door was pushed open. A lamp cast its light inside, its dim yellow glow piercing through the firewood, through his knees.

’So bright! I hate it!’

The child wanted to scream and shout. In the past, he would have. Everyone around him was afraid of him; no one would ever dare to disobey him. But now, he could only squeeze his eyes and mouth shut, curl up as tightly as possible, and even hold his breath to avoid being discovered.

”Are you in here?” a girl’s soft voice sounded. She seemed unsure of who she was looking for. After a pause, she said, ”I am Chu Zhao, daughter of Chu Ling.”

’Chu Zhao, daughter of Chu Ling.’

The child slowly opened his eyes and peeked through the gaps between his fingers. Through his fingers, through the pile of firewood, he saw a figure standing in the dim yellow lamplight.

She seemed very tall, yet also not that much older than him. She had dark hair, skin as fair as jade, and eyes that shone like stars.