Ashes to Crown

Chapter 247: Chapter 60: Actions (Part 2)

Everyone looked at him.

”Don’t forget,” Deng Yi said, ”Your Majesty was saved by Empress Chu herself, who rode into battle and killed the enemy.”

He swept his gaze over the officials present.

”Our Great Xia is already unstable, and absurdities abound. If Empress Chu can personally slay traitors to protect Your Majesty, then she can certainly go to the border to defend our lands.”

”For Great Xia to have such an Empress is a blessing in disguise. What right do any of you have to question it!”

”Now that you’ve heard the news, you call it absurd and claim you’ll go fight the enemy yourselves. Why didn’t you say so before?”

”Of course, it’s not too late to say it now—”

Deng Yi’s gaze fell upon the old official.

”If you wish to follow the Empress’s example, to go into battle and defend our lands, then please, head to the border at once.”

The entire court erupted in an uproar. This was a threat!

The old official was both furious and frantic. ”You audacious Deng Yi! I shall remove my official robe this instant and go to the border to kill the enemy.” Then he rallied the others, ”Let us all go! We will die for Great Xia, and this court can be left to the Grand Tutor alone!”

In the great hall, many officials immediately took off their official hats. Some were indignant, others wept for the late Emperor, and chaos ensued.

This was the first time Xiao Yu had witnessed such a scene since ascending the throne. Sitting high on the dragon throne, he looked past the officials and seemed to see that night—that night had been chaotic like this, too. No, that night hadn’t been chaotic. That night, there was only darkness, weapons, and firelight.

Xiao Yu reached to clutch the bamboo tube he always held, but his hands found nothing—he had left it in his bedchamber.

’What do I do? The bamboo tube is gone, and Sister Chu is gone, too—’

”Yu.” A voice called out.

’That voice... it sounds like my mother’s, but it’s different. I’m starting to forget what my mother sounded like.’

Xiao Yu followed the sound and his gaze met a pair of bright, warm eyes.

”Yu,” Xie Yanfang said. ”Do you remember what your uncle told you?”

...

...

「Before court began」

Xiao Yu had walked out of his bedchamber to see Xie Yanfang standing at the door. He never summoned this uncle, and this uncle never came before him.

It was as if he didn’t exist.

But he did exist. Xiao Yu would see him in the throne room, just like the other officials and courtiers.

That’s right, just another courtier.

Xiao Yu said nothing, waiting for him to bow.

”Yu.” But Xie Yanfang didn’t bow. He knelt down to look at him. ”I know you don’t trust me or like me, but you must listen to what I’m about to say. This is to protect your Sister Chu.”

’Is this uncle going to persuade me to bring Sister Chu back? This uncle is very clever; he must have guessed my and my other uncle’s true intentions.’ Xiao Yu’s lips moved. ”Sister Chu won’t be in any danger. I trust her. The Western Liang Soldiers can’t harm her. You need not worry, Mr. Xie.”

Xie Yanfang looked at him. ”I know. The Western Liang Soldiers can’t harm her, but these people in the court can. Harm isn’t always physical; it can be to one’s reputation. Yu, you must protect her reputation. Just as she went to see her father to ease his worries, you must now ease her worries from the rear.”

”I failed to protect your parents, and I failed to protect you. It is my incompetence, my inability to protect those I want to protect. But you, Yu, are different.”

”You, Yu, can now protect the one you want to protect.”

...

...

Xiao Yu looked at Xie Yanfang standing below. Amidst the clamor of the court, his voice reached Xiao Yu’s ears with perfect clarity.

He withdrew his gaze and stood up.

”Silence!” he said.

The boy’s voice was childish and not loud amidst the clamor filling the hall.

But he was the Emperor.

The Emperor had spoken. Eunuch Qi immediately shouted, ”Silence!” He was followed by the Imperial Guard on duty in the hall, who roared in unison, ”SILENCE!” while striking their weapons, the sound rolling like thunder.

The noise from the officials in the hall stopped instantly. Only then did they see the Emperor, who was now standing.

’The Xiao Emperor... has spoken?’

The Xiao Emperor rarely spoke. Aside from the initial ”You may dispense with courtesies and rise” and the final ”Court is dismissed,” he only ever listened during council sessions.

’Did the chaotic debate frighten the boy? Is he displeased?’

”Your Majesty.” The crowd bowed. Some begged His Majesty to quell his anger, while others wept sorrowfully.

”My beloved ministers, please hear me out,” Xiao Yu said.

The small child’s voice was immature, but none of the officials present laughed. All of them raised their heads to look at him.

”The Empress is the head of the Six Palaces, and she should embody the virtues of a mother to the nation,” Xiao Yu said. ”But my Empress is different from those of the past. I survived the turmoil only because of her protection. Empress Chu is the daughter of General Wei, Chu Ling. Though a woman, she is brave and skilled in battle. That is why my Grandfather named her Empress—so she could continue to guard my safety. The people of Great Xia and I are one body. Their safety is tied to my own. As the supreme ruler, I must remain in the Imperial City. I cannot personally go to the border to save the country and protect our people. Therefore, I asked the Empress to go to the border to resolve this crisis on my behalf. This is not an absurdity. It is in accordance with the late Emperor’s final decree.”