Ashes to Crown

Chapter 179: Chapter 10: Whispers

When Xie Yanfang arrived at the Imperial City, he saw more soldiers and tighter security than before. But with a steady stream of officials rushing in, the atmosphere was tense rather than intimidating.

Xie Yanfang spotted Xie Yanlai at a glance. Clad in armor and bearing arms, he stood ramrod straight at the city gate. He seemed to be watching the officials, yet at the same time, he looked as if he held everyone in contempt. Every official who passed him couldn’t help but quicken their pace.

”Why are you on guard duty here?” Mr. Xie asked in a low voice as he walked over to him.

Xie Yanfang hadn’t come to the palace alone this time. In the Capital City, Mr. Xie was, after all, his elder.

Xie Yanlai glanced sideways, his long eyes narrowing slightly. ”Then where should I be?”

’He should be with the Emperor, of course! At a time like this, how can the Xie family not be by His Majesty’s side?’ Mr. Xie gritted his teeth. Xie Yanfang patted his arm. ”Seventh Uncle, let’s hurry inside. We shouldn’t waste any time. Yanlai is on duty; we shouldn’t disturb him.”

Mr. Xie averted his gaze, and with a flick of his sleeve, he strode past Xie Yanlai and headed inside.

Xie Yanfang gave Xie Yanlai a nod and followed.

”What an attitude! What’s he so smug about?” Mr. Xie muttered indignantly, glancing back at Xie Yanlai. ”So what if he’s guarding the Imperial City? So what if he’s distinguished himself? Does he really think he can turn the world upside down?”

Xie Yanfang said, ”Seventh Uncle, if he can’t turn the world upside down, then what’s the harm in helping him rise even higher? I know not everyone is happy about his good fortune, but the fact is, he is incredibly lucky. It’s a gift from the heavens. We’re a family. We should be sharing in this luck, not trying to drive him away.”

Mr. Xie paused, stunned, then gave a wry smile. ”You’re right. I was wrong. I lost my composure.”

Xie Yanfang said, ”Those who are fortunate can afford to be proud and defiant. In the future, Seventh Uncle, so can you.”

Mr. Xie chuckled. ”Now that you put it that way, the boy suddenly doesn’t seem so bad after all.” As he spoke, he glanced back again.

The throng of officials behind them blocked his view.

Xie Yanfang shushed him, gesturing that this was no time for laughter. Though the summoning eunuch hadn’t stated the reason for their visit to the palace, Xie Yanfang had already received word before his arrival: the Emperor was on the verge of death.

Even without the Crown Prince, the Xie family was not without its eyes and ears in the Imperial City.

Mr. Xie’s smile vanished, replaced by a solemn expression. The two of them followed the crowd toward the depths of the palace.

The Inner Palace was also lined with soldiers, and not all officials were permitted to enter. Eunuchs holding rosters called out names one by one, but the summons weren’t based on official rank.

Several high-ranking ministers were stopped outside, their faces grim.

”We are not even permitted to have an audience with His Majesty?”

”Who compiled this list?”

”In the past, we could see His Majesty even without a summons!”

Despite their words, a commotion began to stir. The rows of soldiers rested their hands on their hilts, and their blades slid halfway from their scabbards, revealing flashes of cold steel.

Times had changed.

The Third Prince had committed treason, the Crown Prince had met a violent end, and a new Grand Tutor had appeared out of nowhere. He was hunting down the remaining conspirators everywhere. Even after the entire Zhao Family was executed to the ninth degree, he hadn’t stopped. Day after day, arrests were made left and right, and many officials had their homes ransacked while they slept.

’I don’t think he’s hunting down the Third Prince’s remnants. He’s trying to blot out the sky with one hand, using his position to settle personal scores and framing innocent people left and right.’

Someone muttered under their breath, but that was all they dared to do. What other choice did they have? The new Grand Tutor held the Jade Seal in one hand and the Tiger Talisman in the other. The Emperor was clearly on his deathbed, the young prince was only six years old... in this Great Xia, he truly could blot out the sky with one hand.

So, despite their anger and dissatisfaction, they could only swallow their pride for the time being.

Fortunately, the eunuchs then called for the Xie family. Otherwise, Mr. Xie truly didn’t know what he might have done. Only one person, however, was permitted to enter.

Under the many dark, uncertain, and complicated gazes from outside the palace gate, Xie Yanfang strode inside.

There were even more soldiers in the Inner Palace, and the air was more chilling.

Xie Yanfang reached the Emperor’s bedchamber. The officials who had been summoned were still only standing outside the hall, their expressions a mixture of anxiety and grief.

Xie Yanfang was about to take his place among them when a eunuch hurried over.

”Third Master,” he said. ”Their Highnesses, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort, said that since you’ve arrived, you are to go in at once.”

Xie Yanfang nodded to the eunuch and headed inside.

The hall was filled with people. Imperial Physicians and Deng Yi were gathered around the Emperor’s dragon bed. The girl and the child, however, were standing toward the back. They turned at the sound of his approach.

”Third Master.” Chu Zhao greeted him, leading Xiao Yu by the hand.

Xie Yanfang bowed to them. ”Greetings, Your Highnesses.”

Chu Zhao said, ”There’s no need for such formalities. We’re family.” As she spoke, she gave the child’s hand a little shake.

The child beside her looked at Xie Yanfang and said, ”Third Uncle.”

Xie Yanfang knelt on one knee and nodded at him. ”I am here.”

The child, his expression dazed and wooden, lowered his gaze and gave a quiet ”mhm.”

Xie Yanfang reached out and gently patted the child’s shoulder. He then rose to his feet, looked at Chu Zhao, and asked in a hushed voice, ”His Majesty...?”

Chu Zhao shook her head. ”The Imperial Concubine has been poisoning His Majesty for many years,” she said softly.

Xie Yanfang lowered his gaze. ”The Zhao Family deserved to be exterminated to the ninth degree.”

Chu Zhao let out a soft sigh.

As the two spoke in low voices at the back of the room, Deng Yi turned from the dragon bed.

”Let everyone come in,” he said.

The eunuchs acknowledged with a ”Yes, sir” and immediately went to relay the message. Chu Zhao and Xie Yanfang fell silent and took their places near the dragon bed. The officials outside surged in, their faces etched with grief. Tears were already streaming down many of their cheeks.

”Your Majesty—” they cried, their voices choked with emotion. ”We, your humble subjects, have failed you—”

The Emperor was propped up on the dragon bed, leaning against a pile of thick cushions. His face had a rosy flush, and he looked remarkably vigorous, just as he had when holding court many years ago.

Seeing the Emperor like this, memories of bygone days flooded the minds of the officials present. For a moment, they were overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. Those who had been feigning their tears began to cry for real, and those whose tears were genuine cried with even greater sorrow.

”Enough. Stop your crying,” the Emperor commanded. ”I am out of time, and I have matters to entrust to you.”

Everyone in the room fell to their knees.

The Emperor’s commands were simple. Pointing to Xiao Yu, he declared that the Crown Prince would ascend the throne immediately. Pointing to Chu Zhao, he ordered that the imperial wedding of the new Emperor and Empress take place at the same time. Finally, pointing to Deng Yi, he named him the Grand Tutor, protector of the realm and regent.

”I know many of you are dissatisfied, and many ministers have memorials to present, but today My word is law and will not be challenged.” The Emperor spoke each word with deliberation. ”I shall act the part of a foolish, stubborn ruler one last time.”

The officials prostrated on the floor, weeping. ”Your Majesty is wise and brilliant!”

The Emperor burst into laughter, but as he laughed, his body slumped. The eunuchs and Imperial Physicians cried out in alarm and rushed forward, carefully laying him back down on the bed. In that brief instant, the Emperor’s earlier vitality vanished, and he seemed to wither before their very eyes.

”All of you... withdraw,” the Emperor rasped, gasping for breath. ”I... I don’t want you... watching...”

The officials were weeping too hard to rise, so it was Deng Yi who ordered them all to withdraw.

”Your Majesty, allow the Crown Prince to remain here—” Deng Yi added.

The Emperor seemed to lack the strength to speak. He simply shook his head.

Deng Yi said no more, immediately requesting that Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu withdraw as well.

Suddenly, the Emperor raised a hand. ”Come... come here...”

Deng Yi hurried forward.

”Zhong... Zhong...” the Emperor managed to say. It was difficult to tell if it was due to his lack of strength or if he was struggling to recall the name.

For a moment, Deng Yi didn’t understand.

Chu Zhao froze, then blurted out, ”Does Your Majesty wish to see Vice General Zhong?”

The Emperor nodded slowly, a faint smile gracing his lips.

The officials were perplexed. ’Who is this Vice General Zhong?’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Deng Yi turned and ordered a eunuch, ”Summon Vice General Zhong.”

...

....

The officials who had withdrawn outside the hall watched as an unfamiliar, scar-faced general walked inside. They exchanged puzzled glances.

Most of them had no idea who this man was.

’No matter who he was, it was strange. On his deathbed, His Majesty wouldn’t even allow the young prince to remain by his side, nor did he spare him another glance. Yet, he insisted on seeing this man.’

’It was truly bizarre.’

Chu Zhao watched Vice General Zhong’s retreating figure. ’I think I know why,’ she thought. ’The one His Majesty wants to see... is my father.’

....

...

Vice General Zhong stood numbly before the dragon bed. A thousand thoughts seemed to race through his mind, yet it was also completely blank. He had no idea what he was supposed to do or say.

”I... will not be able to see... Chu Ling one last time,” the Emperor said, looking at him.

Looking at the Emperor’s unfocused gaze, Vice General Zhong’s eyes stung. He dropped to one knee, his voice choked with emotion. ”Your Majesty, do not fret. The General... will soon... follow you.”

The Emperor let out a dry laugh. ”That’s right. He’s dying, too.”

The Emperor’s gaze traveled past the kneeling Vice General Zhong, across the vast, deep hall, and out into the distance.

”I... want... to see... the Flame Order... one time.”

’The Flame Order?’

Vice General Zhong looked up, his lips moved, and he managed to force out a sentence. ”Your Majesty... the General said... the Flame Order is not... a toy.”

The Emperor smiled again, but the effort made it even harder for him to breathe.

”Don’t be afraid,” he said. ”When he dies, and I see him... I won’t let him... punish you. If he wants to curse someone... let him curse Me.”