Ashes to Crown

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: On the Way

Chu Ke had originally shared a carriage with Miss Chu. But after Xiao Xun joined their party, he mostly rode on horseback, so Chu Ke took to riding as well.

This way, he could ride alongside Xiao Xun and strike up a conversation.

For the past two days, however, Chu Ke had suddenly stopped riding. It wasn’t that Xiao Xun particularly cared about Chu Ke; he was just exceptionally sensitive to anything out of the ordinary, so he had Tie Ying go and inquire.

Because of Miss Chu’s attitude, Xiao Xun kept his distance, but that didn’t mean he ignored her affairs completely.

The entire traveling party was now under his control.

Tie Ying quickly got to the bottom of it. Chu Ke had started having diarrhea the night they stopped in the city to change their horses and carriage. It wasn’t severe, but it was enough to keep him from riding as he pleased, forcing him to lie down in his carriage instead.

The physician from the Prince Mansion who was traveling with them had already examined him and confirmed it was nothing serious. However, a guard told Tie Ying he had seen Miss Chu’s handmaid sprinkle something into Chu Ke’s meal.

There was no doubt it was Miss Chu’s doing.

”She did it just to stop Young Master Chu from speaking with you, Princely Heir,” Tie Ying said, his voice a mixture of anger and disbelief. ”This Miss Chu is so young and pretty. How can she be so vicious?”

Assaulting someone in the Capital City, stealing money and fleeing, changing her identity to trick people along the way, getting into a scuffle with a posthouse soldier, and now drugging her own cousin... How is everything she does so shameless?

Xiao Xun was also at a loss for words. His royal father often said in private that Chu Ling was a rare talent, accomplished in both civil and military arts, brilliant and honorable. The King held Chu Ling in the highest esteem.

How could Chu Ling have raised such a daughter?

Xiao Xun turned his head to look at Miss Chu’s carriage. The weather had grown warmer, and the window curtain was rolled up, letting the spring breeze drift in. The girl sat by the window, her chin propped in her hand, looking as if she were either lost in thought or admiring the scenery.

Her face was like white jade, and her dark hair was pinned up, but her features still held a touch of childishness.

Sensing his gaze, the girl’s vacant expression instantly sharpened, her eyes piercing like arrows as she looked back at him.

Xiao Xun wasn’t wearing his usual splendid robes, but a simple, slightly worn, thin tunic. His entire being seemed bathed in the light of spring.

’He’s so handsome.’

In her past life, her heart would race whenever she saw him.

That heart had died in her past life.

Now, when Chu Zhao faced him, she couldn’t feel her heart beat at all.

Chu Zhao retracted her gaze and, with a sharp SNAP, pulled the curtain shut.

His view was abruptly cut off. Xiao Xun paused, slightly taken aback. He glanced down at the hand holding his reins; the fine hairs on the back of it were still standing on end.

’Strange... The moment our eyes met, why did I sense killing intent from her?’

”Princely Heir?” Tie Ying asked, noticing something was off with Xiao Xun.

Xiao Xun grunted in acknowledgment, tightened his grip on the reins, and said, ”It’s nothing.”

Tie Ying was about to fall back, but Xiao Xun called out to him again.

”This Miss Chu is a troublemaker. Keep a close watch on her.” He added with a small smile, ”I’d rather not get drugged and end up with diarrhea, unable to make it to the Capital City.”

Tie Ying understood. Miss Chu opposed their escort; a poor attitude was one thing, but if she was capable of drugging people, they had to be on high alert.

”Rest assured, Princely Heir,” he said in a low voice. ”She will have no opportunity whatsoever to get near Your Highness’s food, clothing, or lodging.”

Tie Ying fell back. As Xiao Xun rode on, his usually placid eyes grew heavy with thought.

’Her terrible attitude could be ignored, but if she harbors killing intent, that’s another matter entirely.’

’Is this killing intent her own, or does it come from Chu Ling?’

The convoy had four carriages. In addition to Chu Zhao’s and Chu Ke’s, Deng Yi and Xiao Xun each had their own. The fourth carried travel supplies for Xiao Xun’s retinue.

But Deng Yi rarely used his carriage, especially after Xiao Xun began traveling with them.

He rode his horse at the head of the procession.

A guard rode up beside him, speaking in a low voice.

They too were discussing Chu Ke.

Deng Yi had known from the start that Chu Zhao had drugged Chu Ke, but as it had nothing to do with him, he had, of course, paid it no mind.

Young Master Chu looked much better today than he had the past two days. After what sounded like another argument with Chu Zhao inside the carriage, he loudly called for a servant to bring his horse. He then climbed out of the carriage and onto the saddle. Deng Yi watched with amusement as he urged his horse onward to catch up with Xiao Xun.

Deng Yi was used to this sight. Chu Ke had never before had the chance to interact with the Royal Family, so now that he’d met a princely heir, he was desperate to curry favor.

The Princely Heir was a refined gentleman, pleasant to everyone, and certainly wouldn’t be cold to a young man who so clearly admired him.

This time, however, before Chu Ke could reach Xiao Xun’s side, a guard stopped him. The guard gestured toward the Princely Heir, who was surrounded by several other guards speaking in hushed tones, seemingly indicating that Chu Ke should not interrupt.

Chu Ke hastily backed away, waiting on horseback within the procession. But just as Xiao Xun’s guards dispersed, before Chu Ke could approach, the Princely Heir dismounted and entered his carriage.

The carriage of the Heir of Zhongshan King was large and magnificent. Without an invitation from the Princely Heir, he could not climb aboard.

Chu Ke rode back and forth a few times, but seeing no invitation from Xiao Xun, he could only give up in disappointment.

It continued like this for the next few days. It was as if everyone had suddenly remembered there was a member of the Royal Family in their midst. Xiao Xun had adopted the full bearing of a Princely Heir, flanked by guards, aloof and unapproachable to commoners.

The guard murmured to Deng Yi, ”Miss Chu must be satisfied now. The Princely Heir is utterly disgusted with her and her cousin.”

He was never overly warm, but at least he’d been polite. Now, his distance was completely undisguised.

Deng Yi laughed. ”That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

’How is that a good thing?’ the guard wondered, confused.

’She manipulated someone into disliking her, just as she wanted. For her, that is a good thing.’ Deng Yi tightened his grip on the reins and glanced toward Chu Zhao’s carriage.

Chu Zhao was gazing out the window. ’This girl is always so quiet, unless she’s about to make a move—’

The thought had barely crossed his mind when the girl’s gaze shifted to him. A smile bloomed on her face as she rolled up the curtain.

”Lord Deng! Lord Deng!” she called, waving him over.

Deng Yi slowed his horse, allowing Chu Zhao’s carriage to draw alongside. ”What is it, Miss Chu?” he asked.

Chu Zhao took a small porcelain vial from her handmaid, Ah Le. ”Lord Deng, this is my family’s secret ointment for frostbite. The late spring chill can be fierce, and I noticed an old scar on your hand. You should apply some of this to protect it.”

Deng Yi glanced at his hand. On the back of it was an old scar, indeed left by a past case of frostbite.

”Very well,” he said, reaching out to accept it. ”My thanks, Miss Chu.”

Chu Zhao shook her head. ”It’s only right.”

’Only right?’ Deng Yi almost laughed out loud. He had also disrupted her plans, so why was she being kind to him? Why did he deserve it, but Xiao Xun didn’t?

’This young lady certainly knows how to make enemies, but she also knows how to win people over.’

’But why me?’

’In terms of status, looks, or age, it makes no sense to choose me over Xiao Xun.’

’Interesting.’ He spurred his horse forward with a smile.

Lying in his carriage, Chu Ke had watched the entire exchange. He waited until Deng Yi had ridden off before demanding with a cold sneer, ”How is it ’only right’ for him? And why not for the Princely Heir?”

He wasn’t a fool; he had noticed Xiao Xun’s aloofness and naturally guessed it was Chu Zhao’s fault. Chu Zhao had offended the Princely Heir, and now the Princely Heir despised him by association, ignoring him completely.

He was so furious he could feel his teeth grinding.

”Because he’s the one who personally arrested me,” Chu Zhao said casually. ”Of course I have to get on his good side. My case has nothing to do with the Princely Heir.”

”Are you an idiot?” Chu Ke snapped. ”If you want to avoid punishment, you should be sucking up to the Princely Heir! Deng Yi is just a Commander, and this case isn’t even under the Weiwei Mansion’s jurisdiction. He’s just an errand boy! But the Princely Heir is different. He has high status and standing. Even if this matter doesn’t concern him, a single word from him would be far more effective than anything that Deng Yi could do.”

Chu Zhao glanced at him. ”You’re wrong. Lord Deng is the one who’s truly powerful.”