Ashes to Crown

Chapter 255: Chapter 63: Before One’s Eyes (Part 2)

”I can still hold on long enough for her to see me,” he said. ”Unfortunately, I can no longer see her face with my own eyes.”

Zhong Changrong froze. ’That sounds like—’

Chu Ling looked at him, his gaze calm. ”Changrong, I’ve gone blind.”

Zhong Changrong’s breath hitched.

...

...

A city emerged from the vast, snowy landscape. Chu Zhao couldn’t help but pull off her hood and point excitedly.

”Look,” she said. ”That’s the County.”

Xie Yanlai, a short distance behind her, didn’t even raise an eyelid at her words. ”Lady, I’m a posthouse soldier. There isn’t a place I don’t know.”

’Oh, right. He’s been here before,’ Chu Zhao thought with a smile. ”Well, you don’t know it as well as I do. I grew up here. I used to come here to play almost every day.” She reined in her horse, waiting for Xie Yanlai to draw near. ”Don’t be fooled by how remote our County is. There are lots of fun things to do. Once we push back the Western Liang Soldiers, I’ll give you a proper tour.”

Xie Yanlai scoffed, spurred his horse forward, and with a flick of his hand, flipped Chu Zhao’s hood back onto her head.

”Miss Chu, you should probably focus on the here and now,” he tossed over his shoulder.

Amused and annoyed, Chu Zhao yanked her hood back down. Xie Yanlai had already galloped toward the city gates, where a group of officials and soldiers was approaching to greet them.

Chu Zhao rode up, exchanged formalities with the officials, and politely declined their invitation.

”I won’t enter the city,” she said. ”I’m going straight to my father’s position.”

The officials glanced at the sky. ”It will certainly snow tonight. It’s too dangerous for you to travel overnight, Lady. Why not stay for one night and depart tomorrow?”

Chu Zhao glanced at the sky. ”There’s still some time. If I push on to Luocheng by nightfall, I can make better time tomorrow.”

Though she was just a young woman, she was also the Empress. The officials didn’t dare object and simply agreed.

”There’s no need to provide me with an escort,” Chu Zhao added. ”Don’t disrupt your military arrangements on my account.”

The officials agreed once more. They presented them with hot tea, ginger soup, and beef and mutton that had been stewed until tender, allowing them to rest briefly and regain their strength for the journey ahead.

Chu Zhao didn’t refuse this time. She had everyone dismount and rest on the spot, accepting a bowl of mutton soup from Ah Le.

”Ah Jiu and Xiao Man tested it themselves,” Ah Le whispered. ”It’s all safe.”

Chu Zhao smiled, but she didn’t say their precautions were unnecessary. After all, she had been poisoned to death in her past life. She’d been poisoned several times—first, it caused her to miscarry, then it ruined her health, and finally, a cup of poisoned wine had finished the job.

The two were sipping their mutton soup when Aunt Ding approached.

”Aunt Ding,” Chu Zhao called out warmly. ”Come and try some of our local mutton soup. It’s absolutely delicious.”

Aunt Ding nodded. ”Alright.”

Then, a thought occurred to Chu Zhao. She pointed to a nearby makeshift shelter and whispered, ”Aunt Ding, you can drink over there to have some privacy.”

She was mindful of such details, as Aunt Ding had mentioned her facial injury made her reluctant to be seen. A gentle smile rippled in Aunt Ding’s eyes. ’Ah, what a good girl.’

’Even a single moment by her side makes this life worthwhile.’

”Lady,” Aunt Ding said, lowering her gaze in a bow. ”I’m not feeling well. I’d like to rest here in the County and not continue on to Luocheng.”

...

...

The bowl of hot mutton soup warmed her to the core. Astride her horse, Chu Zhao found the biting wind was no longer unpleasant, but refreshingly crisp.

”Takes one to know one, I suppose.” Xie Yanlai rode past, and with another flick of his hand, plopped the hood back on Chu Zhao’s head.

Chu Zhao yanked the hood off and urged her horse forward to catch up with him.

”And I suppose that means a liar thinks everyone else is a liar,” she retorted. ”Is it so wrong for Aunt Ding to want to rest for a night?”

Xie Yanlai scoffed. ”She hasn’t stopped to rest this entire time, but suddenly she needs to stop here.” He waved his hand dismissively. ”Either there’s something up ahead she’s afraid of, or there’s something she wants here.”

Chu Zhao laughed. ”So basically, you can’t trust anyone in the world.”

”Exactly,” Xie Yanlai said. He shot Chu Zhao a look, a ghost of a smile on his lips. ”And the Empress knows that better than anyone.”

’This girl might not say it, but who does she really trust in her heart?’

Chu Zhao arched an eyebrow at him and grinned. ”You’re right, you’re right. But I prefer to see things and not say them. You’re happy, I’m happy, everyone’s happy.”

Xie Yanlai spat disdainfully and turned his gaze back to the road ahead.

Chu Zhao glanced back at the County’s gate. She saw that Ding Dachui, after a reluctant farewell to Aunt Ding, had already caught up with his men and was following them.

”Whatever her reasons, her men are still with us,” she said. ”It doesn’t affect our journey. Everyone has their secrets. I’ll just take what I need from the situation, and that’s enough.”

”You’re certainly good at being content with what you’ve got,” Xie Yanlai said. ”But don’t forget that life is unpredictable. Things won’t always go your way.”

Chu Zhao nodded. ”Then I’ll just do my best and leave the rest to fate.”

With that, she cracked her whip.

”Xie Yanlai, if we’re talking about riding, I might not necessarily lose to you!”