Ashes to Crown

Chapter 250: Chapter 61: Identity (2)

”Let’s not worry about who’s pulling the strings.” Xiao Xun slapped the railing and stood up straight. ”If Miss Chu were unwilling or afraid, not even Xie Yanfang could force her hand.”

And though his attendant refused to believe it, he himself was convinced. This was all that girl’s own doing.

Of course, the rumors circulating now might be due to Xie Yanfang. But he wasn’t manipulating her; he was trying to curry favor with her.

’So what if he’s Third Young Master Xie? He can’t just play the hero and save the damsel in distress—’

At this thought, Xiao Xun couldn’t help but laugh.

”—To have such an Empress is a blessing upon our Great Xia!” the storyteller in the main hall declared, punctuating the statement with a snap of his paper fan.

The listening crowd roared their approval.

’Great Xia aside, they were thinking of themselves.’

Who wouldn’t want an Empress who, upon hearing that her people were suffering, would charge out of the Imperial City to save them? This time it was the people of that distant city; next time, it could be them.

Life is hard. Who could guarantee they’d never face danger? To have an Empress so martial and devoted to her people was truly a blessing for everyone.

”When you talk about Empress Chu, she truly proves the old saying: a tiger doesn’t give birth to a dog. Back in his day, General Chu Ling—”

After a brief pause, the teahouse patrons didn’t disperse, nor did the storyteller leave the stage. Instead, he began a new tale.

After all, when the subject was a figure like Empress Chu, there was more than one story to tell. There was the Empress herself, her family—

Xiao Xun smiled, pulled the hood of his cloak over his face, and headed downstairs and out of the teahouse.

Tie Ying followed, his expression grim.

The crowd, listening intently to the heroic deeds of General Wei, Chu Ling, paid them no mind as master and servant crossed the main hall.

”So General Chu’s troubles are just being swept under the rug,” Tie Ying said.

Forget the fact that they hadn’t found any problems yet. Even if they had, with a daughter like her—and she didn’t do it by relying on her status as Empress, but by fighting the enemy with cold, hard steel. She atoned for any crime through meritorious service, easing the worries of her father, her country, and her people. Who under heaven could possibly hold him accountable now?

Xiao Xun glanced back at the teahouse. ’With a daughter like that, what’s a father to worry about?’

A fierce wind howled across the wasteland, filling the eyes and mouths of the soldiers lying prone in the withered grass with dirt and sand.

Liang Qiang couldn’t suppress a cough.

”Hey, kid—” someone growled from nearby as a scabbard slammed into him. ”Are you trying to get us all killed?”

Liang Qiang stifled his cough, remaining perfectly still even as the scabbard struck his back.

He fell silent, but the others started to relax. Someone lying in the grass struck up a conversation. ”Did you hear? Empress Chu personally killed those Western Liang bandits behind the lines.”

’Empress Chu!’ Liang Qiang’s fists tightened. ’She’s... here?’

”I thought we didn’t have any reinforcements. Even with this happening, the troops outside Yunzhong County still can’t be mobilized.”

”Yeah, that’s what I heard. Empress Chu brought soldiers from the Imperial City herself and charged right over.”

”Incredible. Who would’ve thought an Empress would know how to lead troops and kill the enemy?”

”Hah, what’s so surprising about that? Empress Chu is no ordinary empress. She’s General Chu’s daughter.”

”That’s right. Miss Chu grew up in military camps. She inherited all of General Chu’s skills. She’s got brains and brawn.”

The chaotic chatter about Miss Chu filled Liang Qiang’s ears, yet it was as if he heard nothing at all—

”All right!” someone yelled, cutting through the chatter and snapping Liang Qiang out of his daze.

A soldier with a head full of dry grass pushed himself to his feet.

”Mission complete for today. Back to camp.”

The soldiers scattered throughout the dry grass rose to their feet, relaxed and cheerful. ”Back to camp, back to camp!” ”Wonder what’s for dinner tonight?” They joked and laughed as they fell into formation.

Liang Qiang stood woodenly at the end of the line. He wore a tattered uniform, carried a shabby bow, and had a battered sword on his back.

’The girl who once praised my courage is now so courageous that the entire world knows her name.’

’And here I am, risking my life to rush to the front lines, and I haven’t just failed to fight any Western Liang Soldiers—I haven’t even seen one. Every day is just this, lying on the ground playing lookout—’

’—and just a stationary watchman at that, not even a real scout.’

’After losing my status, I don’t even have the right or the opportunity to be brave.’

Men and horses galloped through the camp. The passing troops reeked of blood—some their own, some the enemy’s.

Walking among them, Liang Qiang couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

’He hoped he too could soon be cloaked in that smell of blood, instead of the stench of dirt.’

”Ah Qiang,” a voice called out.

Liang Qiang looked up to see a cavalry squad galloping toward him. His father was among them, and he hurried forward.

This squad was made up of high-ranking generals, each one with a commanding presence. His father, a scholar by trade, was dressed in a General’s Robe and looked no less impressive.

Second Master Liang exchanged a few words with the Generals beside him. They looked over at Liang Qiang, nodding and smiling. ”A father and son marching to war together.”