Ashes to Crown

Chapter 163: Chapter 117: Passing Through the City

He had the face of a Xie, the blood of a Xie, as if he were one of them—

The hand at Xie Yanlai’s side clenched into a fist.

Xiao Yu edged closer to Chu Zhao. ’Is this man my uncle? The uncle my mother spoke of adored me, so why, in this moment, do I only sense killing intent?’

A warm hand wrapped around him.

”You see,” Chu Zhao said with a light laugh, ”the two of you look very much alike.”

Xie Yanlai lowered his gaze and took a step back.

Just then, another group of riders galloped over from the direction of the archery tower. Someone among them shouted, ”I am Qi Xuan, from His Majesty’s side! Open the gate!”

It was an old eunuch, dressed in an exceptionally odd manner. The Imperial Guards behind Xie Yanlai were startled.

Xie Yanlai didn’t even spare the old eunuch a glance. ”Open the gate,” he said.

...

...

”Is His Majesty alright?”

The young officer guarding the gate... ’He must be a young officer,’ Eunuch Qi mused. He didn’t recognize these Imperial Guards, nor could he spot any familiar generals—those familiar faces were likely corpses by now.

In any case, it was clear that the others at the gate deferred to him, so Eunuch Qi addressed him directly.

The young officer glanced over and said, ”I don’t know.”

’I don’t know?’ Eunuch Qi froze. ’What does that mean?’

”We are the Imperial Guards of the city gate. Our duty is to guard the city gate and prevent any rebels from breaking in. As for the situation inside, we are not clear on it, and we will not advance without orders,” Xie Yanlai said.

Eunuch Qi understood. The young officer’s words could be interpreted to mean that the inner areas were under lockdown, and no one was allowed to pry.

If that was the case, it was either extremely dangerous inside or extremely safe.

Eunuch Qi hesitated.

He had never approved of coming to the Imperial City in the first place. The Third Prince’s rebellion was sudden, but the preparations behind it surely took more than a day or two. His mother, the Imperial Concubine, had long held exclusive favor in the deep palace. No matter how careful His Majesty was, it was inevitable that—

’Perhaps His Majesty is already gone.’

They should have left the Capital City and waited for reinforcements from all directions to quell the rebellion. It would be best if General Chu returned with his army.

But Miss Chu had insisted on coming to the Imperial City, and men like Vice General Zhong all listened to her. They had just fought a battle and expended a great deal of energy. Fighting their way back out would surely be more difficult.

”We’ll know once we go in and see,” Chu Zhao said from the side.

Eunuch Qi turned to look at her. Ever since meeting this girl at the Chu Family estate and hearing her declare she was Chu Ling’s daughter, he had trusted her every word without question, moving when she said move and stopping when she said stop. But at this moment, he couldn’t help but voice his doubt. ”Isn’t it too dangerous?”

Chu Zhao understood his concerns. ”Eunuch Qi,” she said softly, ”whether it’s safe or dangerous, we have to take the risk to find out.”

’A risk—’

Eunuch Qi looked at the child in front of Chu Zhao. After the young officer had identified him, the boy had turned around again, hiding his face. Now, as Eunuch Qi and Chu Zhao spoke in hushed tones that others couldn’t hear, their words fell upon the top of his head. But the child showed no reaction, as if he couldn’t hear them at all.

’His Little Highness must be scared senseless.’

The night’s events would have shattered an adult’s spirit, let alone a child’s.

”Miss Chu,” he said, ”His Little Highness cannot endure any more risks.”

Going to the Chu Family estate had already been a huge risk, and it had nearly ended badly. If not for Miss Chu fighting her way out—

Chu Zhao looked at Eunuch Qi. ”I got you out of the risky situation at the Chu Family estate alive. I can do the same with the risks in the Imperial City.”

Under the torchlight, the girl’s eyes were calm, as if there was nothing in this world she feared.

’Is this the ignorance and fearlessness of youth?’ Eunuch Qi didn’t know what to say. What could he say? He was powerless. The Dragon Power Army answered to Chu Zhao, and some impatient young woman from an unknown unit was already shouting, ”Are we going or not? What’s the hold-up?”

Eunuch Qi bowed his head. ”This old servant is at your command, Miss.”

Chu Zhao reassured him, ”Don’t worry. His Majesty is definitely still alive.”

In her previous life, the Emperor had survived long enough to see the Imperial Concubine executed, the Third Prince demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in the Imperial Mausoleum, and Xiao Xun named Crown Prince. The Emperor even outlived the King of Zhongshan, who died of a sudden illness, and lingered on his deathbed for another two weeks before he finally passed.

In this life, the Crown Prince’s fate of death had not changed, so the Emperor’s fate of survival surely wouldn’t change either.

”There are quite a few Imperial Guards in the Inner Palace.”

Xie Yanlai, who had been silent since ordering the gate opened, suddenly spoke.

Chu Zhao looked at him. ”I’m not afraid. If they won’t let me in, I’ll fight my way in.”

She had brought the Dragon Power Army here to storm the city.

She would fight the Third Prince’s men, and she dared to fight the Emperor’s men as well.

Today, she was determined to enter this Imperial Palace and see the Emperor!

Xie Yanlai looked at the ghostly fire burning in the girl’s eyes and snorted inwardly. ’See? This is her true face. Hosting the Chu Garden Literary Meeting and provoking the Third Prince was nothing. She’d charge through a mountain of blades and a sea of fire if she wanted to.’

’It has nothing to do with me. She can do as she pleases.’

Xie Yanlai took another step back, clearing the way.

But Chu Zhao didn’t spur her horse forward. Instead, she lowered her head and softly called to the child in her arms, ”Your Little Highness.”

The child, who had seemed scared senseless in Eunuch Qi’s eyes, immediately looked up.

He tilted his head back to look at Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao said to him softly, ”Your Little Highness, this is your uncle. His name is Xie Yanlai.”

The child turned his head and looked at Xie Yanlai again.

”Don’t be afraid,” Chu Zhao said, dipping her head slightly to look at Xie Yanlai along with the child. ”Your uncle will stop the rebels from breaking in behind us. If there are rebels ahead, he will join us in fighting them. Here in the Imperial City, your uncle will protect you with his life.”

The girl on the horse watched him, her eyes sparkling, a faint smile playing on her lips. She looked pure, lovely, and gentle, but in that instant, the hairs on Xie Yanlai’s arms stood on end.

’Chu Zhao! You’re vicious!’

In the entire Xie family, there was only one person the young prince would call ”uncle” and recognize as such: Xie Yanfang.

Others might be allowed to meet the young prince, but it was impossible for them to be acknowledged as his uncle.

For him, Xie Yanlai, it was absolutely impossible.

And now, Chu Zhao had pushed him in front of the young prince at this critical moment of life and death!

’She didn’t have to say that!’

’This is blatant manipulation!’

As soon as Chu Zhao finished speaking, the child, who had been silent all this time, spoke.

”Uncle,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. He looked at the young officer before him, staring intently at his face as if to carve it into his memory. ”Thank you.”

Xie Yanlai’s hand, hanging by his side, tightened on his saber. He averted his gaze. ”Go!” he said.

At his word, Chu Zhao wasted no more time. Holding the child with one arm, she spurred her horse into a gallop, shooting past like an arrow toward the inner city.

The riders following her became a volley of arrows in her wake.

Xie Yanlai stood before the city gate, feeling the sharp, blood-tinged wind rush past him.

”Yanlai.” The other Imperial Guards now walked over to his side.

They had followed Xie Yanlai out earlier, intentionally hanging back a few steps at first to let the two lovebirds talk. But then they couldn’t get through, blocked by the people around Miss Chu.

These people weren’t wearing military uniforms, but their presence was terrifying.

Now they were finally gone.

”That Miss Chu—” one of the guards said, the fear still lingering in his eyes, ”she actually has so many men—”

Xie Yanlai glanced at them. ’You didn’t expect that, did you?’

”Still thinking about her as my fiancée? Do you think she came looking for me because she cares about me or is attached to me?” he said with a cold laugh.

’Can this girl be judged by ordinary standards? Romantic feelings, ha—’

Ahead, the urgent sound of hooves announced the arrival of another group of riders. Like the last group, they wore no military uniforms.

”Miss—” a man called out, his deep voice echoing through the gate.

Chu Zhao’s voice came from far within the inner city. ”Uncle Zhong, guard the city gate well.”

Hearing this, Zhong Changrong moved to rein in his horse. His gaze fell upon the young officer standing before the gate, and he froze. The scar on his face twitched.

”You!” he shouted, his eyes menacing. ”What are you doing here!”

Xie Yanlai raised an eyebrow, his gaze unflinching. ”Why can’t I be here?” He gave another cold laugh. ”I should be the one asking you that.”

’This punk, what’s with that attitude?’ Zhong Changrong flicked his whip, not striking Xie Yanlai, but cracking it in the air.

’I’ll deal with you later!’

”Since you’re here,” he said gruffly, gesturing outside, ”the archery tower and this gate are your responsibility. I’m heading inside.”

As he spoke, he gestured for his men to split up. The riders instantly divided into two groups. One followed Zhong Changrong at a full gallop through the gate without stopping, while the other half came to a halt, standing solemnly before Xie Yanlai.

It all happened in an instant. Zhong Changrong didn’t even slow down as he charged past.

Xie Yanlai was fuming. He only had time to shout, ”Who do you take me for!”

But it was useless. Zhong Changrong was already through the gate and out of sight.

”Yanlai, you’re that familiar with Miss Chu’s uncle?” a nearby guard asked in surprise. ”Are you two—”

”We have no relationship whatsoever!” Xie Yanlai snapped, his eyebrows shooting up. ”And I’m not familiar with him either!”

The guards let out a collective ”Oh.” ’If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to. It’s your private business, after all.’

Xie Yanlai, annoyed, was about to say more, but the guards quickly changed the subject. Pointing at the soldiers standing at attention, they asked in a low voice, ”What do we do?”

Xie Yanlai looked at the troops before him and vented his frustration with a swing of his saber.

”Follow me to the archery tower!” he commanded. ”Defend the city!”