Ashes to Crown

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Delivering the Letter

Vice General Zhong stood in the courtyard, watching as a young man, flanked by armored and armed soldiers, was escorted in. The youth showed not the slightest hint of nervousness. He strode forward, and upon seeing Vice General Zhong, even raised a hand in greeting. ”Vice General Zhong, we meet again.”

His smile in the night revealed a flash of white teeth, a stark contrast to his grimy soldier’s uniform.

The scar on Vice General Zhong’s face twitched. ”What are you doing here?” he asked, his teeth clenched.

Ah Jiu walked up to him and said, ”I’m here to see General Chu, of course.”

Vice General Zhong was about to say more, but Ah Jiu cut him off. ”Vice General, some things are best not said in public.”

’Is that a threat? Is he going to ruin the young miss’s reputation if he speaks publicly?’ Vice General Zhong glared at him. ’You just try it, kid!’

”Has the man arrived?” Chu Ling’s voice came from inside.

Vice General Zhong knew this was a reminder to him. With a cold snort, he stepped aside. ”Go on in. The General will see you.”

Ah Jiu gave Vice General Zhong a smile and strode inside.

...

...

The room was brightly lit. For Ah Jiu, it was like stepping from one world into another. This place was warm and bright, and the most luminous thing in it was the man sitting at the desk.

He wore an old, faded robe, but his shoulders were broad and his back straight, his frame tall and powerful.

Hearing someone enter, he looked up, a gentle smile on his face. ”You must be Ah Jiu.”

Ah Jiu nodded. As he took in Chu Ling’s face, he found he didn’t much care about the stories of this General Wei—his early fame or the sudden downturn of his fate. He had no particular thoughts on the matter, save for one that flashed through his mind: ’That Chu Zhao really takes after her father.’

’Especially their spirit. They seem gentle and harmless, but their eyes hold a fierce glint—’

”General Chu,” he said, offering a salute.

”My young daughter traveled with you for a time. Thank you for looking after her,” Chu Ling said.

Ah Jiu shook his head. ”There’s no need for thanks. We didn’t want to bring Miss Chu along. We were tricked into it.”

Chu Ling let out a laugh. ’This kid is certainly direct.’ ’In that case, he isn’t—’

Just as the thought began to form, Ah Jiu took a step forward and pulled a letter from his robes, placing it on the desk.

”I’m here to deliver a letter for someone,” he said.

But the moment the words left his mouth, a sudden gust of wind rushed toward him. ’Not good,’ Ah Jiu thought. He sank his hips and twisted backward, but he was a step too slow. With a BANG, he crashed into a bookshelf, a hand like an iron clamp seizing his throat.

”General?” Vice General Zhong heard the commotion from outside and called out immediately.

Chu Ling’s voice was gentle. ”It’s nothing. No need to come in.”

Vice General Zhong’s voice vanished.

Ah Jiu felt his own breath about to vanish. The hand on his neck loosened slightly, and he managed to suck in a desperate gasp of air, his breathing ragged.

”Young man,” Chu Ling said, his face still gentle as he looked down at him, ”I don’t care which family you’re from. There’s only one path for those who lure my daughter into being their shield: death.”

He’d had his suspicions after receiving the news. Chu Zhao hadn’t left the Capital City just because she got into a fight with Miss Liang; she must have been manipulated. And now, this young man in a posthouse soldier’s uniform producing a secret letter undoubtedly confirmed his guess.

He had sent his daughter to the Capital City to shield her from the coming storm, yet those people had dared to target her—

’He, Chu Ling, wasn’t dead yet.’

Watching the malice in the man’s eyes deepen, Ah Jiu squeezed out his words through his constricted throat. ”General Chu, you’ve guessed wrong. In fact, your daughter used this very letter to threaten me.”

Chu Ling smiled faintly. ”Is that so? And how did she threaten you?”

He sounded like a familiar elder inquiring about a youngster’s amusing antics. He would have seemed even more amiable if his hand wasn’t still tight around Ah Jiu’s neck. Though breathing was difficult, Ah Jiu managed to force out a sneer. ”She discovered my letter. First, she tried to steal it. When I caught her, she blackmailed me into taking her back to the Border County. If I didn’t, she’d tell everyone I was delivering a secret letter to you. General Chu, I’m just a messenger. Meeting Miss Chu was an accident.”

Chu Ling gave the young man a long, deep look, then released his hand and stood up straight.

Leaning against the bookshelf, Ah Jiu gasped for air, letting out a few coughs.

The letter was plucked from his hand by Chu Ling, who casually opened it and glanced at the contents. ”The Dongyang Xie Family. You’re one of them?”

Ah Jiu grunted in affirmation.

Chu Ling smiled. ”This letter... is it from the Crown Prince, or the Crown Princess Consort?”

The Crown Princess Consort hailed from the Dongyang Xie Family. The Xie family had always remained aloof from the powerful nobles of the Capital City. The Crown Princess Consort was young and, compared to the clans of the former Empress’s Yang Family and the currently favored Imperial Concubine’s Zhao Family, she kept a low profile.

Of course, that was clearly just a facade.

When not a single letter or person had arrived from the Yang Family, the Zhao Family, or even the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, a letter from the Xie family was already in his hands.

’The Xie family actually thought to send a letter of goodwill to a forgotten man like him. How shrewd.’

”It’s from Third Young Master Xie,” Ah Jiu said.

Third Young Master Xie. Chu Ling raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at the signature: Xie Yanfang.

Even in his remote post, Chu Ling had heard of this Third Young Master Xie. His father was the Crown Princess Consort’s uncle and the current head of the Xie family.

Xie Yanfang himself was known for his exceptional looks, talent, and virtue—a renowned and debonair young nobleman.

’It was Third Young Master Xie’s own idea?’

The letter didn’t say much. It only mentioned his long-held admiration for the General and expressed a desire to befriend him.

”I’ve delivered the letter. I don’t know what he meant by it, nor do I know the contents,” Ah Jiu said. He coughed once, his hoarse voice mostly recovered. ”I was just here to deliver it. Now that it’s done, my mission is over.”

Chu Ling looked at him. ”The trade routes here are well-traveled, and Yunzhong County is crawling with officials. Delivering a letter would be easy enough. Posing as a posthouse soldier, on the other hand, is a bit conspicuous.”

Ah Jiu chuckled. ”You might not believe me, General, but delivering this letter to you was my punishment.” He waved his hand dismissively. ”It doesn’t matter. Think what you will. Can I go now? I have to get back before dawn. Otherwise, if I’m discovered, I’ll be a dead man without you even having to lift a finger.”

”A punishment?” Chu Ling sized him up. ”You’re not very well-liked at home, are you, young man?”

Ah Jiu’s expression was lazy. ”If there’s anything you want to know, General, just ask Third Young Master Xie. He’ll tell you whatever you ask, without holding anything back.”

Chu Ling asked, ”Do you like my Ah Zhao?”

Ah Jiu, who had just gotten his breathing back to normal, felt as if a hand had suddenly clamped around his throat again. He choked and coughed a few times, glaring at Chu Ling. ”Hey, what is wrong with you and your daughter? Why do you both love to sully people’s good name? You think you can blackmail me with that?”

Chu Ling roared with laughter.

The sound echoed through the room and spilled outside.

Vice General Zhong, who had been blocking the door, ready to rush in and silence the witness at a moment’s notice, was somewhat surprised. ’Why is he laughing? And so heartily?’ ’The General hasn’t laughed like that in a long, long time—’

As the thought crossed his mind, the closed doors swung open. The young man strode out, his face dark and displeased. Ignoring Vice General Zhong’s strange look, he walked past him and headed outside.

Vice General Zhong ignored him in turn, hurrying inside to ask what had happened.

The low murmur of voices rose from the main hall. Ah Jiu couldn’t make out the words and couldn’t be bothered to try. He strode outside, but for some reason, his steps grew slower and slower. He felt as if something was left undone.

’That can’t be right. I was only here to deliver a letter. Once it was delivered, my part was over.’

Ah Jiu clenched his teeth and forced himself to take a heavy step forward.

’Everything else is none of his business!’

One step, two steps, three. Walk away. Get out, get on his horse, and ride back to Yunzhong County.

He looked ahead into the thick darkness, where torches flickered like scattered stars, faintly outlining the face of a girl. She was looking at him, large tears rolling down her cheeks—

’This is so damn annoying!’

The soldiers in the courtyard stared at the young man, not quite understanding why he looked like he bore a world of suffering. The next moment, they saw his raised foot stomp down hard. He spun around and walked back.

”General Chu!”

Ah Jiu strode back into the hall.

Chu Ling and Vice General Zhong, who were in the middle of a conversation, looked over in surprise.

”Did you lose something?” Vice General Zhong asked, his eyes wide. ”What are you back for?”

”There’s one more thing,” Ah Jiu said, his face a mask of impatience. ”General Chu, when are you going to bring your daughter back?”

Vice General Zhong’s eyes went round. ’So, this kid’s visit really was about Ah Zhao!’

Chu Ling was stunned for a moment. He looked at the young man, then smiled, a hint of melancholy instantly coloring his expression.

’Even a stranger is worried about Ah Zhao. How could he, her father, not be?’

’His Ah Zhao... how is she doing now?’