Ashes to Crown

Chapter 201: Chapter 30: Palace Banquet

Qi Leyun was nervous and apprehensive. She didn’t dare lift her head to look around, nor did she speak with the other young ladies standing with her. Standing before the palace was sheer torture.

”Why haven’t they let us in yet?” she couldn’t help but whisper to her mother, her expression anxious. ”Is she punishing me on purpose?”

It was just like when she made a mistake at home. Her grandmother was fond of summoning her, then ignoring her, making her stand in the doorway.

Although Mrs. Qi had just been stern with her daughter, her heart softened seeing the girl’s pale face. ”The Empress wouldn’t be so petty. She isn’t a child, after all.”

What she meant was that even if Chu Zhao was just a girl, now that she was the Empress, she could no longer act like one.

If she did, the ladies-in-waiting would look down on her.

Her ascension to the throne was already a point of contention, and there were many malicious rumors circulating.

As the mother and daughter spoke in hushed tones, a eunuch’s voice rang out, announcing that the Empress had taken her throne and the ladies-in-waiting were to be granted an audience.

The ladies pushed aside their thoughts and filed into the Queen’s Palace. Inside, eunuchs and Palace Maids stood in neat rows. Seated on the Empress’s throne, flanked by ceremonial fans and incense burners, was a girl with a gentle smile on her face.

Standing in attendance below her was a woman whom most hadn’t recognized before, but they all knew who she was now—the Empress’s older cousin, of course.

”Long live the Empress,” the ladies chorused, kneeling and kowtowing in unison.

A clear, bright female voice drifted down from above.

”You may rise.”

....

....

Palace Maids filed in, filling the banquet tables with delicacies. The ladies-in-waiting, however, couldn’t simply sit down and enjoy the feast. First, a few Marchionesses were called before the Empress. After exchanging a few words, they were granted seats. Then, more of the ladies-in-waiting were summoned one by one.

”I arrived in the Capital City only recently, and being so young, I am not yet acquainted with you all,” Chu Zhao said with a smile. ”So I wanted to take this opportunity to meet everyone.”

The Marchionesses who had been granted seats smiled and began to introduce the nearby ladies-in-waiting, pointing them out and stating which family they belonged to and what their names were.

Chu Zhao would then exchange a few words with each lady.

Watching this, Qi Leyun grew both nervous and excited. After a long wait—’it couldn’t be helped, with her father’s low official rank’—it was finally their turn. Mrs. Qi shot her daughter another warning look as she rose, then walked forward with trepidation.

From a distance, she could see the girl smiling. Up close, her eyes were bright, her teeth like pearls, and her demeanor was poised and graceful. Though clearly a young girl, she didn’t seem immature or naive in the slightest. No one would dare to underestimate her—’perhaps it was thanks to her ceremonial robes as Empress.’

Mrs. Qi bowed her head, curtsied, and announced her name and house.

Just as the nearby Marchionesses were about to make the introduction, Chu Zhao spoke first. ”I know this one,” she said. ”Miss Qi and I have gotten into mischief together before.”

The ladies were taken aback for a moment, then couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

The ladies, of course, knew what ”mischief” she was referring to—the Chu Garden Literary Meeting.

Qi Leyun’s face lit up, and she was so excited she nearly stepped forward. Thankfully, her mother, anticipating this, discreetly stepped on the hem of her skirt.

”My Lady... you still remember,” she stammered, looking at Chu Zhao.

The girl on the throne, adorned with a crown of gold and jade, looked as solemn and magnificent as a temple idol. But then she gave a sudden wink, and for an instant, it was like a falling star. ”What are you talking about, Miss Qi? Is my memory really that bad? I certainly haven’t forgotten that you lost far more than I did.”

Qi Leyun’s face flushed red. She wanted to laugh but also argue, and in the end, she stammered, ”I-I’ll study harder! In the future, I’ll... I’ll compete with you—My Lady—again.”

Chu Zhao smiled. ”I’ll look forward to it.” After speaking, she turned her gaze to Mrs. Qi, her smile once again becoming perfectly composed. ”Mrs. Qi, you have raised Miss Qi very well.”

Mrs. Qi quickly curtsied in thanks. ”The Empress is too kind.”

Chu Zhao said no more, simply smiling and nodding. Mrs. Qi then took Miss Qi’s arm and took her leave. After they had departed, Chu Zhao turned back to the seated Marchionesses and said with a smile, ”I grew up without a mother and had no sisters in the Border County. After coming to the Capital City, I was so happy to find companions. To be able to see them again after surviving this recent disaster truly brings me joy. I hope you ladies don’t find me silly.”

How could they laugh? They couldn’t be more pleased to have an Empress who so valued old friendships. The Marchionesses all rose to their feet. ”My Lady is too modest.” ”It was because of My Lady’s courage that so many were spared from the disaster.”

Chu Zhao then looked to Chu Tang. ”Now that I am in the palace, my cousin is left all alone at home. My uncle and aunt are not in good health, either. I hope that you ladies will look after her in the future.”

Chu Tang curtsied to the Marchionesses.

The Marchionesses rushed to return the gesture and help her rise, immediately inviting Chu Tang to join them at their table. Chu Tang accepted without protest, following them with a smile.

Thanks to these small interludes, the atmosphere in the Queen’s Palace grew relaxed and pleasant. One girl even dared to stand up, offer the Empress a cup of tea, and ask in a trembling voice, ”My Lady, will you hold literary meetings in the future?”