Ashes to Crown

Chapter 181: Chapter 12: Relying on Each Other

So much had happened in such a short time.

The Third Prince had rebelled, the Crown Prince had died, the Emperor had passed away, and the six-year-old Imperial Grandson had ascended the throne as the new emperor.

But while all this was shocking, it was still acceptable to the common people and the officials. After all, they were shocked by the events, not the people involved.

However, Chu Zhao becoming the Empress was bound to spark a great deal of controversy.

This was not just about the event, but about the person chosen.

Her appointment was simply too sudden, too unexpected.

The Imperial Grandson was only six, yet he had a thirteen-year-old Empress. This fact alone was enough to fill people with suspicion toward her.

Chu Zhao didn’t need to look outside; the gazes of the officials these past few days were telling enough.

If it weren’t for Deng Yi’s menacing watch, if it weren’t for the murderous aura of the soldiers within the palace, they would have probably started questioning her on the very day the Emperor passed away.

Chu Zhao nodded. ”With Third Master here, I am very much at ease.”

Xie Yanfang said, ”It’s not because of me. It’s because the things Miss Ah Zhao has done have earned her people’s trust.”

Chu Zhao smiled. ”Even if the things I’ve done weren’t worthy of trust, I believe Third Master could certainly make them so.”

If a suspicious person heard this, they might think she was implying he could twist right and wrong. After all, if he could turn black into white, he could also turn white into black. It was a potentially tricky remark to answer. Yet, Xie Yanfang simply smiled and nodded decisively. ”I will certainly do so.”

Xie Yanfang was not a suspicious man. He was genuinely intelligent, and such people have no need for duplicity.

Chu Zhao didn’t elaborate, saying seriously, ”Everything happened so suddenly, and it’s been chaotic afterward. I haven’t had a chance to explain it to you properly, Third Master. I asked His Majesty to make me the Empress.”

Xie Yanfang nodded seriously in return. ”I know. This must have been Miss Ah Zhao’s own wish. You are not someone who can be forced into doing something against your will.”

Chu Zhao couldn’t help but smile. ”I clearly said that I coerced the late Emperor, so why is Third Master still praising me?”

Xie Yanfang shook his head. ”How could it be you coercing the late Emperor? It was the late Emperor who was coerced first. We are all being coerced.”

’Talking to a smart person is so easy; you don’t need to explain everything.’ Chu Zhao continued, ”The late Emperor and my father secretly established a military force called the Dragon Power Army. It’s a force that answers only to my father. Most of them are in the Border County, but some are hidden in the Capital City as well. This matter is top secret. And because of a disagreement between my father and His Majesty twenty years ago, the force was never mobilized again, so even fewer people know about it.”

Xie Yanfang had already guessed something along these lines, and now it was all clearer.

”So that’s how it is,” he said.

No wonder Eunuch Qi brought the young prince to the Chu Family. And looking further back, no wonder Xiao Xun had that attitude toward Chu Zhao, trying every possible way to get involved with her.

”The King of Zhongshan and his son probably guessed that my father held a special place with His Majesty, but they didn’t know about the Dragon Power Army,” Chu Zhao said. She touched her chest and gave a self-deprecating smile. ”If they had known, Yu and I wouldn’t be alive today.”

Xie Yanfang was silent for a moment. ”I don’t know whether to say it’s thanks to His Majesty’s blessing or that we were fortunate to have General Chu.”

That Xiao Yu had managed to survive this crisis was, in hindsight, an extremely narrow escape. It was because of the plans made by His Majesty and General Chu years ago, and also because of their later estrangement. Then there was the timely return of General Chu’s daughter—the Deputy General—to the capital. This chain of events... every single one was indispensable. The slightest misstep, or even the absence of a single person that night, and Xiao Yu probably wouldn’t exist anymore.

Chu Zhao thought for a moment. ’I suppose I should say it’s fortunate that I’ve died once before.’

Of course, she couldn’t say that out loud.

Xie Yanfang continued, ”So, Miss Ah Zhao, you acted decisively and asked His Majesty to grant you the title of Empress. This is the best way to protect Yu and secure his position on the throne.”

Chu Zhao nodded. ”Only in this way can the Dragon Power Army be controlled by the Emperor. After all, after this turmoil, there are few trustworthy military forces left. The King of Zhongshan has already revealed his ambitions, and he will act without restraint. The Emperor is dead, the Crown Prince is dead, and my father... is also dying.”

The girl lowered her eyes slightly, her hands on her lap clenching into fists.

’She had been so tense and busy these past few days that she suddenly remembered: her father was dying too. How could she go see him?’

’Could she even leave the Capital City anymore?’

’At least, not right now.’

’Who would have thought? She hadn’t married Xiao Xun, but she had still become the Empress. And still, she couldn’t leave the Capital City—’

A warm touch on her hand—

Chu Zhao came back to her senses and saw a warm teacup being offered to her.

She looked up and met Xie Yanfang’s gentle, concerned gaze.

”Miss Ah Zhao,” he said. ”The worst of the danger is over. You were able to save Yu’s life; there’s nothing you can’t do. No matter how difficult things get, there is always a way.”

Chu Zhao clasped the warm teacup and nodded. ”Yes.” She then tilted her head back and drank the tea in one gulp.

The sound of soft footsteps came from outside the door, accompanied by a small voice. ”Sister—”

Chu Zhao turned her head and saw a small figure in mourning clothes behind the swaying white curtain at the doorway.

”Yu,” she called, waving him over. ”Quick, come here.”

Xiao Yu stepped out from behind the curtain. Xie Yanfang rose and bowed. ”Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Although the enthronement ceremony had not yet been held, Xiao Yu was already the new emperor.

Xiao Yu walked to Chu Zhao’s side with his eyes lowered. Chu Zhao took his hand. ”I was discussing the current situation with your uncle.”

Xiao Yu hummed in acknowledgment, then looked at Xie Yanfang. ”Third Uncle, you may dispense with the formalities.”

Xie Yanfang straightened up and looked at the child standing beside Chu Zhao. Having suffered one tragedy after another, on top of mourning for the late Emperor, the six-year-old’s complexion was very poor.

But what could be done? Things had come to this point; he just had to endure it.

Xie Yanfang poured a cup of tea and offered it to him with both hands.

Xiao Yu shook his head. ”Thank you, Third Uncle, but I just had some tea.”

Without a word, Xie Yanfang put the teacup down.

”Are you hungry?” Chu Zhao asked, holding his hand. ”If you’re tired, sit for a while. You don’t have to kneel so straight. Grandfather won’t blame you.”

Xiao Yu nodded, then shook his head and said in a small voice, ”Eunuch Qi gave me some snacks. He also drew the curtains and let me lie down for a bit by Grandfather’s side.”

When he woke up and found Chu Zhao gone, he had come looking for her.

’With Eunuch Qi taking care of him, I can rest assured.’ Chu Zhao had Xiao Yu sit down beside her and said, ”For now, just focus on seeing Grandfather, Father, and Mother off.”

The funerals for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort were being held together with the Emperor’s.

She looked at Xie Yanfang.

”Your uncle will handle everything else. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

Xiao Yu nodded at Xie Yanfang again, but said nothing.

Xie Yanfang lowered his eyes. ”Yu, it was your uncle’s incompetence. I failed to protect your father and mother.”

Xiao Yu still said nothing, but he leaned closer to Chu Zhao, as if to avoid something.

Chu Zhao noticed his movement and gently patted Xiao Yu’s shoulder to comfort him. ’For a child, confronting the brutal death of his parents is a terrifying and cruel thing.’

But he couldn’t escape the truth, either.

”That night, the Heir of Zhongshan King came to my house personally. He threatened and bribed my uncle to kill Yu,” she continued the topic. ”He left no loose ends—no witnesses, no evidence. And now, because of my position, I can’t have my uncle confess and testify against them. For now, this threat from the King of Zhongshan and his son will be difficult to eliminate.”

Xie Yanfang said, ”I will do everything in my power. Rest assured, the King of Zhongshan and his son will never threaten Yu again.”

Chu Zhao gave him a solemn nod. ”I believe in you, Third Master.”

’She truly believed him. In her past life, Xie Yanfang had cornered Xiao Xun, even as a branded rebel. In this life, with their roles reversed, Xiao Xun’s days were sure to be even more miserable.’

Hearing Chu Zhao’s words, Xiao Yu looked up at Xie Yanfang and added, ”I’ll be troubling you, Third Uncle.”

This was the first time the child had truly looked at him since they met. Xie Yanfang moved in front of him, knelt on one knee, and reached out to gently stroke his face.

Xiao Yu leaned toward Chu Zhao, but he didn’t pull away from Xie Yanfang’s hand. He didn’t avert his gaze either, instead looking at the face before him—

This face resembled his mother’s, but it was much more beautiful. Xie Yanfang’s skin was as fair as porcelain, his eyes were long and slender, his nose was high-bridged, and his gaze was gentle and clear—

”It’s no trouble,” he said softly. ”Xie Yanfang only wishes to have no more heart-wrenching regrets.”