Ashes to Crown

Chapter 237: Chapter 56: Holding the Fort

But not everyone was Liang Qin.

Even Chu Zhao couldn’t just hit and curse people as she pleased now.

Being the Empress was her glory, and also her shackles.

To say nothing of Chu Tang, who was a nobody!

”We’re just speaking the truth,” a girl said angrily.

Chu Tang’s gaze immediately shot to her. ”What truth? Seeing is believing. Did you personally witness my uncle’s defensive lapse? Did you see the Western Liang people break through?”

Of course she hadn’t. The girl choked on her words. ”But it’s a fact that Western Liang people appeared behind the lines in Yunzhong County.”

”It’s a fact that Western Liang people appeared behind the lines, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it was my uncle’s fault,” Chu Tang said. ”Do you know how large Yunzhong County is? Do you know how many generals are involved in a single campaign? Do you know that Western Liang and Great Xia trade with each other, and how many Western Liang people travel back and forth?”

They didn’t know, of course. But another girl piped up, ”But your uncle is the main general. Since he’s the main general, he has to take responsibility! Otherwise, what’s the point of him being the main general at all!”

Chu Tang looked at her. ”That’s where you’re being presumptuous. Who said the main general won’t be held responsible? Once the court investigates the matter, it will determine my uncle’s guilt or innocence. But before then, you cannot convict him with empty words—”

The girl was about to say more, but Chu Tang’s voice had already risen.

”There’s an old saying: ’A general in the field is not always bound by his sovereign’s orders.’ Once a war starts, the situation is volatile and complex; even the Emperor’s commands might not be obeyed. And you know nothing about what truly happened in Yunzhong County. How can you just parrot rumors and even criticize the war at the front?” Her gaze swept over everyone present. ”Of course, it’s not unheard of for us young ladies to speak carelessly—we’re young and don’t know any better. But one has to worry that someone with ill intentions might use this as an opportunity to stir up trouble, disturb the peace on the home front, and in turn affect the battle lines. After all, the turmoil in our Capital City has only just passed.”

As she reached the end, she lowered her voice but added weight to her words. With another sweep of her gaze, her meaning became clear to everyone present, even the young girls.

Western Liang spies, remnants of the Zhao Family, and the like.

Being slapped with a label like that would lead to a fate far more tragic than that of Liang Siqing’s family.

The noble ladies could no longer stand by and watch the drama unfold. Chu Tang was not a girl to be taken lightly, and then there was Chu Zhao. If the Empress truly flew into a rage, her own virtue might be questioned, but they could lose their lives.

”Miss Chu, you’re taking this too seriously,” one of the ladies said hurriedly, restraining the girls beside her. ”They are only repeating rumors they’ve heard. They aren’t declaring General Chu guilty, merely pitying the common folk.”

”Miss Chu, you needn’t be so worried either,” another lady said softly from her seat, holding her teacup. ”Idle gossip like this won’t disrupt the court. The people are its children, and the court is their parent. When something happens to the children, it’s only natural for them to complain about the parent. The court is merciful to its subjects; it won’t hold it against them.”

’A parent who punishes people just for being the subject of gossip is not fit to be the Queen Mother.’

’Do they think that just because she’s the Empress, they can flaunt their power and be omnipotent? Do they think they can be as prominent as the Yang Family and the Zhao Family?’

The ladies looked at the girl sitting by the card table, faint smiles playing on their lips. ’The Chu Family,’ they thought, ’has no real foundation.’

There was Chu Lan, a nobody; the Jiang Family, from a minor household; and only Chu Ling of any note.

’With a military background and a poor reputation, what kind of backing could an Empress Clan like that possibly have?’

”That’s right. You’re all young and have loose tongues, you think in simple terms. But don’t overthink things, either,” the other ladies chimed in. ”If you have something to say, say it nicely. What does it look like, all this arguing and fighting?”

They directed their words at the girls beside them, but their gazes were fixed on Chu Tang.

The front hall was full of people, yet in that moment, Chu Tang was as if stranded on a deserted island.

The girls who had originally been on Chu Tang’s side were now held back by their families, unable to step forward or speak. They could only watch, anxious and sighing.

’Chu Tang, you should just go—’

’It would have been better if you’d left earlier. Why did you have to come here and pick a fight? Chu Zhao is the Empress, high and mighty within the Imperial City. No one dares to argue with her. But you, Chu Tang, you served yourself up on a platter. How could they possibly let you go?’

Qi Leyun felt a little bewildered. It was as if Chu Tang had suddenly become a fool. The old her would never have acted this way.

The Chu Tang of the past would have been grieving over the situation along with everyone else. She would have uttered a few words of self-blame, perhaps even shed a tear, and then shut herself away at home. And everyone would have comforted and sympathized with her—

The ladies would have taken her hand and said, ”Child, this has nothing to do with you.”

Not like now, where they hurled words at her like stones and pierced her with gazes as sharp as knives.

Chu Tang was the best at sizing up a situation and turning a disadvantage into an advantage. They all thought she was too foolish to see through their machinations, but of course, she understood. Even if she didn’t grasp it in the moment, after it happened a few times, she would eventually figure it out in hindsight.