Ashes to Crown

Chapter 192: Chapter 22: The Telling

The doors and windows were opened and the curtains pulled back, allowing morning light to flood the room. Maidservants laid out a dazzling array of food on the table, each one stealing an excited and happy glance at Xiao Xun.

”Young Master, you’ve gotten thin.”

”But you’re still very handsome, Young Master.”

Listening to the maidservants’ lighthearted chatter, Xiao Xun laughed and touched his face. ”Of course. I look good no matter what.”

The King of Zhongshan, sitting opposite him, hummed in agreement. ”Only in Miss Chu’s eyes are you not handsome.” He shook his head, his face full of regret. ”If that young lady had taken a liking to you, our Princely Heir wouldn’t have wasted away from worry.”

Xiao Xun smiled. ”Father, the reason Miss Chu doesn’t like me isn’t because of my looks.”

That was true. The King of Zhongshan was only teasing; he knew full well that while looks could make someone fall for you, there were countless reasons they might not.

He waved his hand, and the maidservants all withdrew.

”Have something to eat,” he said.

Xiao Xun reached for his bowl and chopsticks and began to eat and drink heartily. ”I really was starving.”

The King of Zhongshan smiled. ”On this trip, you’ve tasted every kind of hardship. In life, one must taste a bit of everything.”

Xiao Xun tilted his head back and poured a bowl of soup into his mouth, then said, ”It’s enough that I’ve tasted it. You shouldn’t have to, Father.”

The King of Zhongshan chuckled. ”The coming days will be very interesting. A little Emperor, a little Empress, a little Grand Tutor, a little Imperial Uncle—”

This ”little” he spoke of wasn’t just about age; it was more about their lack of fame, humble origins, and background.

The Chu Family’s Daughter was not only young but also little-known; the Chu Family had been obscure in the Capital City for over a decade.

The Grand Tutor was not young, but his origins were humble—he was an obscure clerk.

The Imperial Uncle’s Xie family had long been prominent, but Xie Yanfang himself had always kept a low profile, only to be hastily appointed Imperial Uncle.

Overnight, the Great Xia Country had fallen into the hands of these few minor figures.

”It was my oversight,” the King of Zhongshan sighed.

Xiao Xun said softly, ”Father, you weren’t careless. You guessed everything, and you made overtures to Deng Yi and Chu Ling ahead of time. We even did our best to build a relationship with Miss Chu. But no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t overcome their ulterior motives. If we’re to speak of an oversight, it would be that we overlooked the ambition of these minor figures, and the Emperor’s madness.”

A Grand Tutorship... the Emperor actually dared to offer it, and that clerk Deng Yi actually dared to accept it.

The title of Empress... the Emperor actually dared to bestow it, and that girl actually dared to take it.

The King of Zhongshan chuckled. ”Still, we were careless. We underestimated them. If I had known earlier, forget their ambition, I wouldn’t have even let them exist.”

As he spoke, he crushed a piece of pastry in his hand.

”But no matter.” He gently brushed the crumbs away, looking at the tabletop. ”The Emperor has gone mad, so we can go mad too. We’ll see who’s the last one standing, Xun—”

He raised his head and looked at the person across from him. The young man who had been eating and drinking heartily was now slumped motionless on the table.

The King of Zhongshan shot to his feet.

”Xun!” he called out, anxiously reaching out to touch the young man’s face.

The face was warm, long eyelashes fluttered, and a soft snore could be heard.

’He’s asleep.’

’He really was exhausted. Now that he’s finally home, he just couldn’t hold on any longer.’

The King of Zhongshan breathed a sigh of relief. He gently laid Xiao Xun down on the mat, his heart aching with both rage and pity. His son, whom he had so carefully raised, had been trampled on by these nobodies!

The King of Zhongshan’s usually gentle face turned savage. If they didn’t want to die with dignity, then he would dispense with the courtesies.

Ning Kun entered at that moment, looking even worse than Xiao Xun. ”Prince, it’s all that scoundrel Deng Yi’s doing! He’s vicious and faithless—”

The King of Zhongshan already knew what Deng Yi had done. He chuckled. ”I really wasn’t wrong about that petty man. Truly black-hearted.” Then he asked, ”What about that imperial edict? Let me see it.”

Ning Kun said, ”The Princely Heir has already burned it.”

A smile touched the King of Zhongshan’s eyes. He glanced at Xiao Xun sleeping soundly on the mat and chided, ”What did he burn it for? It might have been useful someday.”

Ning Kun said, ”The Princely Heir is too filial to look at such a thing. I offered to keep it for you to see, Prince, but he wouldn’t allow it.”

The King of Zhongshan smiled. ”Alright, you go and rest too. Whatever there is to say can wait until you’ve both recovered. You’re home now. There’s nothing to worry about.”

He nodded.

”Even if the court’s grand army bears down on us, my Zhongshan County has no need to worry.”

Ning Kun smiled. ”The court’s grand army didn’t dare to march on us before, and they won’t dare to in the future.” He added, ”Nor can they.”

The King of Zhongshan gave a slight smile, said nothing, and waved his hand.

Ning Kun said no more, bowed, and withdrew.

The King of Zhongshan fetched a thin blanket to cover Xiao Xun, then sat down beside him and continued to slowly eat the food on the table.

...

...

While the King of Zhongshan was feeling relieved at his son’s return, in the Capital City, the new Emperor, having finished the mourning period after his enthronement ceremony, was holding his first court session.

After kowtowing and hailing the Emperor, the court officials, who had not seen an emperor on the Dragon Throne for a long time, were stunned before they even had a chance to feel excited.

An Emperor was seated on the Dragon Throne, but behind the Dragon Throne, someone else was seated as well.

Behind a hanging screen, the figure of a girl was faintly visible.

”What is this!” The court officials erupted. ’Why is that girl here again!’

’It was one thing for her to accompany the Emperor to the enthronement ceremony, but how could she also attend the court session? What is this? Ruling from behind the curtain?’

’This is unacceptable!’

The court instantly broke into an uproar.

The Imperial Censors had to shout repeatedly to quiet everyone down.

Deng Yi said, ”This was my arrangement.”

A court official said angrily, ”Grand Tutor, this is absurd! The late Emperor made you Regent. Do you even understand what being a Regent means?”

Many in the ranks of officials exchanged glances, revealing a hint of schadenfreude. This Deng Yi, a mere clerk, was also standing in the imperial court for the first time.

Deng Yi showed not the slightest fear. ”As Regent, I am merely overseeing the state. His Majesty will eventually have to rule in his own right, so he must attend court—”

’What nonsense!’ another official thought, stepping forward. ”It is proper for His Majesty to attend court, but by what rule does the Empress attend?”

Deng Yi looked at him. ”Because His Majesty is still young. The Empress is with His Majesty day and night and must guide him. I am not just the Grand Tutor; I am also the Regent. My primary duty is to handle court affairs on His Majesty’s behalf, not to teach him at every moment. For the stability of the country, and to help His Majesty quickly grow familiar with matters of state, is there anyone more suitable than the Empress?”

This was still a flimsy argument. Any minister in the court could teach His Majesty. The officials wanted to say more, but Deng Yi’s patience had run out.

”Since you all know that I am the Regent, my presence in this court is sufficient,” he said coldly. ”If you believe the Empress’s presence breaks the rules, then His Majesty need not attend court for now. Let him preside over the court only after he has been properly taught.”

’That’s even worse! Wouldn’t this court become Deng Yi’s personal domain?’

The court officials immediately erupted into a clamor again.

”If you have business to report, do so now!” Deng Yi shouted. ”If not, court is dismissed!”

At his voice, the Imperial Guards standing at attention in the hall slammed the butts of their long spears on the ground and shouted in unison. Their fierce gazes were fixed on the noisy officials, waiting only for the order to swing their weapons and strike.

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Deng Yi repeated in a heavy voice, ”If you have business to report, do so now. If not, court is dismissed.”

After a moment of silence, an official stepped out from the ranks.

”I have a memorial to present.”

Everyone looked and saw that it was none other than Xie Yanfang.

Deng Yi nodded. ”Speak.”

Xie Yanfang then began to speak eloquently. Surprisingly, he didn’t mention a single word about the appropriateness of the Emperor and Empress’s arrangement, nor did he question the Imperial Tutor. He spoke only of urgent court matters.

Seeing this, what was there for the other officials not to understand? The Xie family wasn’t objecting, so why should they ask for trouble? The other officials reined in their criticism and stood with their eyes lowered.

The commotion in the court subsided. Sitting on the Dragon Throne, Xiao Yu let out a breath of relief. ’That was so scary.’

A hand reached out from behind him and poked his arm.

It seemed to say, ’Don’t be afraid.’

Xiao Yu grinned, but beside him, Eunuch Qi gave a soft cough, signaling that he shouldn’t. The child wiped the smile from his face, put on a serious expression, and sat up straight.