Ashes to Crown

Chapter 44: Chapter 8: Young Master

The Dongyang Xie Family’s Third Young Master Xie, the Crown Princess Consort’s cousin.

Unlike the ostentatious and powerful Yang and Zhao Families, the Xie family was rarely a topic of discussion in the Capital City. However, the Crown Princess Consort’s cousin was widely acclaimed.

He was exceptionally learned, strikingly handsome, and, most importantly, of upstanding character.

The Xie family was a major clan in Dongyang, so it was inevitable that some members would act arrogantly. Third Young Master Xie’s father was the clan leader, and from a young age, the son managed affairs on his father’s behalf, never showing mercy to clansmen who bullied others by relying on their family’s influence.

Because of his discipline, the Xie family’s prestige in Dongyang grew even greater. Not only did they not abuse their connection to the Crown Princess Consort, but they actually enhanced her good name.

After exchanging a few words with the Eunuchs, Third Young Master Xie lowered the carriage curtain. The Eunuchs bowed, took their leave, and departed ahead. Only after they were gone did Third Young Master Xie’s carriage slowly begin to move.

The crowd before the city gate finally breathed again, their faces a mixture of shock and admiration.

”So that was a young master from the Xie family,” the people murmured. Recalling the earlier incident, one person clapped their hands and exclaimed, ”Ah! In that case, he really could have played the hero and taught those arrogant servants a harsh lesson.”

Those other servants were arrogant, but Mr. Xie’s servants had the right to be arrogant too.

It seemed that to truly be a hero, one needed the power to back it up.

Someone nearby shook their head. ”That’s not Third Young Master Xie’s way. He’s modest and gentle; he would never do such a thing.”

That was true. If he really intended to be ostentatious, he wouldn’t have entered the Capital City with only a single carriage and servant. Look at that group from before—it was just a few young ladies going out of the city for fun, yet they had made such a grand display.

The crowd looked ahead, but Third Young Master Xie’s carriage had already merged into the bustling market streets and vanished without a trace.

Third Young Master Xie’s carriage did not go to the Eastern Palace. Though he was her cousin, he was also a subject and could not enter and leave the Eastern Palace as he pleased.

The Xie family’s residence in the Capital City was also in a remote area. The gate was unassuming, with only two old servants there to greet him. As the carriage drove in, seven or eight young men were already standing in the courtyard. Seeing Third Young Master Xie alight, they all swarmed forward, calling out ”Third Brother,” ”Third Younger Brother,” ”Uncle,” and other various titles.

A portly man, dressed in brocade so tight the patterns on his clothes seemed ready to burst, pushed past the others to stand beside Third Young Master Xie. ”Third Uncle, you should have told us you were coming earlier so we could have gone to meet you—”

Third Young Master Xie brushed a hand across his forehead and inspected the cosmetic powder on his fingers. ”Is this the fashion in the Capital City? Ah Xiao, you certainly learn fast.”

His chubby nephew, Xie Xiao, looked embarrassed. He scrubbed his face hard with his sleeve, muttering, ”Why isn’t it washed off? Those little hussies are useless.”

Third Young Master Xie didn’t press the matter. He wiped his fingers on his nephew’s shoulder and walked slowly forward.

”Third Uncle, Third Uncle,” Xie Xiao said, hurrying to catch up. ”The Crown Princess Consort has asked several times when you’ll go see her.”

”Third Brother,” someone else asked, ”Liang Siqing also wrote a letter asking to see you. We intercepted it.”

The others also produced calling cards; a great many people from various families wanted to see Third Young Master Xie.

Third Young Master Xie didn’t slow his pace or take the cards. ”Who told people I was coming to the Capital City?”

Xie Xiao chuckled sheepishly. ”Third Uncle, it wasn’t us. The news spread as soon as you left Dongyang. Everyone’s watching. We’ve been very low-key in the Capital City, hardly ever going out or attending social events.”

Third Young Master Xie had already reached the inner courtyard. Compared to the simple, narrow main gate, the inner courtyard opened up dramatically, with rows of buildings and scattered pavilions and verandas. In the spring, it was lush with green shade and red flowers, and groups of beautiful maids milled about.

Third Young Master Xie glanced at the young men beside him.

The young men grinned sheepishly at him.

Third Young Master Xie said nothing more, his gaze sweeping past the calling cards in their hands without lingering.

”Where is Yanlai?” he asked. ”Have him come see me.”

With that, he stepped inside.

”Third Uncle,” Xie Xiao said, lifting his foot to follow. ”When will you go to the Crown Princess Consort’s—”

The others also raised their calling cards and started to follow, but Du Qi stepped forward, blocking the doorway with his longsword in his arms. ”The Young Master is going to rest.”

Xie Xiao and the others stopped immediately, not daring to advance further. They craned their necks to peer inside, but in the end could only shout, ”Rest well, Third Uncle!”

The group walked away reluctantly, looking at the calling cards in their hands.

”What’s with the Third Young Master?” one of them muttered. ”He won’t see all these important people, but the first person he asks for is Yanlai.”

”Exactly,” another said, his face full of displeasure—not directed at the Third Young Master, of course, but at Yanlai. ”That punk didn’t even come to greet Third Brother on his own initiative.”

Another person looked at Xie Xiao and teased, ”You should hurry and ask your Uncle Jiu to come.”

The flesh on Xie Xiao’s face twitched. ”He’s a nobody! If it weren’t for Third Uncle’s kind heart, that bastard—”

Someone coughed. ”All right, now. After all, he calls the Third Young Master ’brother.’ If you keep calling him a bastard, you’re insulting the Third Young Master too.”

Xie Xiao gritted his teeth and swallowed his words. He flicked his sleeve angrily. ”I’ll go find him. I’ll ask him if he’s learned his lesson and knows what’s good for him now.”

The wind outside the Capital Camp no longer held any chill, nor did it cut at one’s face like it had on the road and in the Border County.

But Zhang Gu and the others, having just handed over their duties, still kept their faces wrapped in scarves. It wasn’t until they had walked out of the military camp that they let out a cheer, unwrapping them and tossing them into the air.

”Ah Jiu,” Zhang Gu said, looking back at Ah Jiu, who was still wrapped up. ”This is our tradition.”

’Our tradition,’ Ah Jiu thought. He hated the word ”tradition,” but right now, he felt no aversion to it at all. He smiled, reached up to unwind his scarf, and tossed it high into the air.

”I’m going to see my mother first.”

”My wife will definitely love this fur cloak I bought for her.”

The posthouse soldiers chattered excitedly about their homecoming plans, but Ah Jiu, who was usually the noisiest of them all, remained silent.

”Ah Jiu,” one of the posthouse soldiers called out, ”what are you going to do later?”

Before Ah Jiu could speak, another soldier nudged him with a wink. ”Miss Chu arrived in the Capital City long ago. Aren’t you going to pay her a visit, Ah Jiu?”

The previously quiet Ah Jiu’s almond-shaped eyes flashed. ”Visit her my ass! Who the hell is she to me?!”

The posthouse soldiers all burst out laughing.

Zhang Gu laughed along with them, then added, ”That’s right. We don’t know any Miss Chu. We only know Ah Fu.”

Ah Fu was gone, reduced to nothing. Miss Chu was not someone they could joke about or discuss lightly.

The posthouse soldiers all understood and stopped joking about it.

Ah Jiu snorted. ”So what if we talk about it? She did what she did. Are other people not allowed to mention it?”

Zhang Gu shot him a look. ”You and your temper haven’t improved one bit. You’re coming home with me today. I’ll let my mother teach you a proper lesson.”

It was a kind gesture. He knew Ah Jiu had no home to return to and was deliberately taking him in. Ah Jiu understood, but just as he was about to say something, a Soldier from the camp shouted, ”Ah Jiu! Ah Jiu! Captain Zhu is looking for you.”

This was the commander of the Posthouse Soldier Camp, a man whom low-ranking soldiers like them rarely saw. Hearing Ah Jiu’s name being called, everyone’s expression turned sympathetic.

Captain Zhu’s attitude toward Ah Jiu was very respectful, which had startled everyone at first. But whenever he sought Ah Jiu out, it was never for anything good.

It was an arrangement made by Ah Jiu’s relatives. No matter how respectful Captain Zhu was, he couldn’t do anything about it.

He’d just gotten back and was already being summoned again. Who knew what kind of grueling task awaited him this time.

’What on earth did this kid do to anger both heaven and men? Could it just be for being disobedient?’

Ah Jiu’s expression was calm. He jumped off his horse and started to walk away, but Zhang Gu grabbed his arm, urging him, ”Just lower your head and admit you’re wrong. Don’t be so stubborn anymore. What’s the point of all this suffering!”

Ah Jiu just smiled without replying. With a wave of his hand, he strode away with a swagger in his long-legged gait.