Ashes to Crown

Chapter 235: Chapter 54: Fanning the Flames

Xiao Xun glanced toward the city gates in the distance. The gates of Yunzhong County’s seat were even more chaotic than before, with countless people outside trying to squeeze their way in.

More troops were stationed there, and the number of unfamiliar generals had increased. They glared menacingly at every person who passed by, looking as if they wanted to dismantle every cart for inspection.

”Everyone, remain calm!” A few officials were shouting. ”Western Liang has not invaded! We in Zhongshan County are safe!”

But their words did nothing to soothe the crowd.

”Those Western Liang Soldiers have already appeared outside Yunzhong County!”

”So many villages and towns have been pillaged and razed!”

”The Border County has already fallen!”

”Don’t just stand guard here! Go reinforce the Border County!”

”Let us in—”

The clamor grew even louder, and the soldiers looked ready to draw their weapons and make arrests.

Xiao Xun looked away and turned back toward the Prince Zhongshan Mansion.

The atmosphere inside the Prince Zhongshan Mansion seemed different as well. The King of Zhongshan sat in the Daoist temple, his expression grim as he stroked his injured leg.

It was a habit of his when he was deep in thought.

”Father, the Western Liang people are truly uncouth,” Xiao Xun said.

The King of Zhongshan replied, ”They are barbarians. It’s not surprising they would do something like this.”

Xiao Xun frowned. ”They have no regard for us at all, nor do they care if this causes us trouble.”

’The sudden appearance of Western Liang Soldiers outside of Yunzhong County will surely trigger an investigation. How did these people bypass our defensive lines and get this deep into our territory?’

’Even though I trust Father to be thorough, any action leaves a trail, especially with these unreliable Western Liang people. And what’s more, there are two very troublesome individuals in the court—’

’If they find anything, all our plans will be thrown into disarray.’

The King of Zhongshan smiled. ”Don’t worry. It won’t affect us. Someone else is in more trouble than we are. All we need to do is fan the flames and direct all the trouble his way.”

...

...

Although there was no official announcement that areas outside Yunzhong County had been attacked by Western Liang, the news couldn’t be suppressed. Carried by the private correspondence of the Aristocratic Families and the urgent dispatches of traveling merchants, it reached the Capital City in just three or four days.

The sudden appearance of Western Liang people in Upper Commandery shattered the public’s trust in Chu Ling with shock and fear.

In the blink of an eye, no one was saying, ”With Chu Ling here, we have nothing to worry about from a Western Liang invasion.” Instead, they were asking, ”Why, after more than a decade, is Chu Ling still the one leading troops to defend Yunzhong County?”

Now, if someone were to ask who Chu Ling was, they would be told he was a disgraced official, punished by the late Emperor to serve in the Border County for over a decade. And after all that time, he was still just a General Wei.

”Why let a disgraced General Wei face the Western Liang grand army!”

”Because his daughter became the Empress!”

Discussions swelled in the Capital City’s taverns, teahouses, and streets, while whispers echoed through the inner courtyards of the great Aristocratic Families.

Now, during a time of war and national crisis, all garden parties and amusements had been canceled. Yet, the Aristocratic Families were visiting one another more frequently than ever. For one, the more tense the situation, the greater the need to exchange information. For another, the transition from the old court to the new required the forging of new alliances.

The winter chill was so biting that even cloaks couldn’t keep it at bay. A group of young ladies ran laughing and chatting from the garden into a heated hall.

Inside the hall, four or five other girls were already gathered around a brazier, their expressions a mixture of anger, contempt, and disdain. When they saw the new arrivals, their conversation abruptly ceased.

The atmosphere felt slightly off.

Chu Tang stopped in her tracks.

One girl stood up, curtsied with a smile, and said, ”Miss Chu.”

But two other girls remained seated, even turning their heads away as if disdaining the very sight of her.

This was a rare occurrence. Even back when Chu Tang was just a daughter of the powerless Chu Family, people were still kind to her—she had no power or influence, so she wasn’t worth antagonizing. To be treated this way now that her cousin was the Empress was unheard of.

’How could they dare treat her so poorly now that she had suddenly gained power and status?’

Qi Leyun couldn’t fathom what these girls were thinking. ”What is the meaning of this?”

The two girls weren’t even afraid of Chu Tang, let alone Qi Leyun. One of them smirked. ”What about us? Why are you so angry? Is it because we didn’t curtsy to Miss Chu Tang?”

Before Qi Leyun could speak, the other girl turned her head, her gaze sharp. ”And why should we curtsy to Miss Chu Tang? In terms of age, we are peers. In terms of family status, we are daughters of officials, whereas Miss Chu Tang’s family holds no official rank—”

She shot a glance at Chu Tang.

”The Chu Family has an Empress, yes, but Miss Chu Tang herself has not been granted any title.”

”We bow deeply when we see the Empress. Is it a crime to not bow to Miss Chu Tang?”

It was common for girls to bicker and say nasty things to each other, but never before had anyone thrown around words like ”crime.” Qi Leyun was stunned. ’Why are they talking about this stuff—’

This made her even angrier. ”Is that what I meant? I’m asking what you mean by acting like this, and you know perfectly well what I’m talking about.”

The two girls said, ”No, we don’t.” With that, they stood up. ”We’ll be leaving now.”

And with that, they left. The lively hall fell silent in an instant. Although there were still seven or eight people with Chu Tang, the air felt strangely desolate.

Qi Leyun glared. ”I’m furious! If they have something to say, they should say it to our faces. What kind of people whisper behind your back?”

Chu Tang hadn’t said a word from beginning to end. She hadn’t lost her temper, but she also didn’t wear her old look of anxious, pitiable grievance that used to make others take pity on her.

She smiled. ”It’s fine. By whispering behind my back, they’re at least saving me some face. If they’d said it to me directly, wouldn’t I have been put in an impossible position?”

”I feel like something’s wrong,” one of the other girls said. ”Their attitudes have gotten so strange.”

Chu Tang said, ”It’s because they believe my uncle is guilty.”

”How can they blame your uncle?” Qi Leyun’s eyes widened. ”Besides, are they idiots? Even if your uncle were guilty, what’s there to be afraid of? Chu Zhao is the Empress.”

’Guilty or not, it shouldn’t matter.’

’Have they all lost their minds?’

”They haven’t lost their minds.” Zhou Jiang’s voice came from behind the heated hall, and she emerged moments later.

Qi Leyun and the others jumped in surprise. ”What are you doing here?”

Zhou Jiang waved her hand dismissively. ”I was just quietly studying a chess manual. That’s not important.” She walked in and sat opposite Chu Tang, her young face serious. ”It’s precisely because Chu Zhao is the Empress that your uncle is in such big trouble this time.”

’Big trouble even for the Empress?’

’Her position is so exalted.’

The girls didn’t understand. They stared at Zhou Jiang, pressing her, ”What do you mean?”

Zhou Jiang said, ”Because for many people, especially the powerful nobles in the court, having an Empress with a moral failing is a good thing. It means they can control her.”

Chu Tang sighed softly, her thoughts drifting to what Chu Zhao had told her in the palace before.

Chu Zhao had said, ”For the court, the turmoil is over. But for our family, it’s just beginning.”

’Sure enough,’ she thought. ’The turmoil has already begun.’

”So it’s all aimed at Chu Zhao?” Qi Leyun slammed her hand on the table. ”Chu Tang, hurry to the palace and tell Chu Zhao! Have her give these people a good scolding and see if they still dare to scheme.”

Chu Tang picked up a pastry that had been dislodged by the jolt. ”And what would that look like? Abusing her power to bully people? That’s exactly what they’re all waiting for her to do.”

She lowered her gaze, pretending to blow on the pastry.

’Besides, Chu Zhao couldn’t do it even if she wanted to. She’s not even in the Imperial Palace, a fact no one knows.’

’If they found out, wouldn’t that give them even more reason to condemn her?’

Zhou Jiang nodded. ”Of course she can’t do that. The Empress can certainly display her authority, but never to protect herself or her family. Besides, General Chu is indeed at fault this time. The Western Liang Soldiers broke through the defensive line. As the main general, he bears an inescapable responsibility.”

Qi Leyun looked dejected. ”Then there’s nothing to be done this time. We can only let things run their course.”

Zhou Jiang added, ”But don’t worry too much. Those people just want to solidify General Chu’s fault to weaken his power and reputation, which gives them leverage over the Empress. They won’t actually condemn him or anything, much less bring harm to your family.”

Chu Tang nodded and thanked Zhou Jiang. ”Ah Jiang, you’re so incredibly smart, and so kind-hearted.”

Zhou Jiang just said, ”Oh. It’s not really that. I just find analyzing these things as interesting as a game of chess. Besides, I have nothing to fear. If something happens to your family, it has nothing to do with me.”

Qi Leyun glared, but the other girls couldn’t help but laugh, breaking the tense atmosphere.

”You really are a chess fanatic,” Qi Leyun said with a wave of her hand. She looked back at Chu Tang and thought for a moment. ”Why don’t you just stay home and lie low for a while? Out of sight, out of mind. It’ll save you a lot of trouble.”

Chu Tang nodded. ”I understand.” She added with a small smile, ”Perhaps a lot of people are waiting to provoke me, hoping I’ll make a fool of myself or make a mistake.”

The other girls nodded in agreement.

”Let’s go, then,” Qi Leyun said, standing and pulling Chu Tang by the arm. ”Let’s leave right now.”

Chu Tang left the garden and approached the main hall. From a distance, she could see it was bustling with activity. The madams of the various families were there, as were the girls who had avoided her in the garden. They were gathered together, laughing periodically, and the name ”Chu” was occasionally audible in their chatter.

She couldn’t make out whether they were saying Chu Tang, Chu Zhao, or Chu Ling, but in any case, it was a ”Chu” from her family.

It wasn’t just the young ladies; the married women were also whispering amongst themselves, their expressions a mixture of gravity and disdain—

Seeing this, Qi Leyun pulled Chu Tang to a stop. ”Don’t go in there. You’re the Empress’s cousin. You can arrive uninvited, and you can certainly leave without saying goodbye.”

At this point, whether they considered her polite or rude had little to do with her actual conduct. Chu Tang murmured her agreement and turned to leave. One step, two steps, three... but even as she walked away and the distance grew, the voices from the hall, which should have faded, instead grew clearer in her ears.

Chu Ling.

Chu Zhao.

The Chu Family.

She stopped in her tracks.