Ashes to Crown

Chapter 164: Chapter 118: Looking Down

The night was receding like rippling clear water, and the layered palaces gradually emerged from the gloom.

But Chu Zhao could not break through.

As they drew near, a dense volley of arrows flew from the palace ahead.

”Fall back!”

Fortunately, even while galloping through the palace grounds, the Dragon Power Army maintained formation, protecting Chu Zhao at their center. Eunuch Qi, however, grew excited at the sight of the palace gate and charged forward, nearly getting skewered by the volley.

Eunuch Qi looked down at the arrow quivering in the crack between the bricks by his feet, a mix of anger and terror welling up inside him.

He was angry because, while it was understandable that the Imperial City guards might not recognize him after so many years, how could the guards of the Inner Palace not know who he was?

His terror stemmed from the mercilessness of the arrows. ’Has something happened to Your Majesty?’

”I am Qi Xuan, Eunuch Qi!” he shouted again. ”Go and report to His Majesty that this servant has returned—”

The palace gate opposite them remained unresponsive.

But he knew that if he dared to step forward again, the arrows would fly once more. He had been shouting his name as he charged forward before, after all.

It was useless.

Even if the Imperial Guards recognized him, they would not open the gate without an order.

Eunuch Qi retreated step by step. Shouting his own name was useless, and he couldn’t announce the young prince’s arrival. Even if His Majesty was alive and well, who knew what treacherous plots were brewing behind those sealed gates?

His only hope now was that the Imperial Guards would report his presence to the Emperor, and that the Emperor would understand the significance of his return. After all, he had been sent by His Majesty to serve and look after the young prince.

They advanced no further, and no more arrows flew from within the palace gate. Nor did anyone emerge to fight them.

”Now I understand what Young Master Xie meant,” Eunuch Qi said helplessly, looking at Chu Zhao beside him. ”Let’s just wait, then.”

In any case, there was no more danger from the Imperial City Gate.

’Wait?’

Chu Zhao stared at the palace gate ahead, her horse pacing back and forth.

”Eunuch Qi, there’s another possibility besides the Palace Gate Guards not recognizing you and only following His Majesty’s orders,” she said. ”Someone else is in control of the Inner Palace.”

’Someone else is in control of the Inner Palace? Could it be the Imperial Concubine and the Third Prince’s people?’

’Then we can’t stay here!’

’The people in the Inner Palace know I serve the young prince. Once word of our arrival gets inside, it will surely trigger a massacre!’

’I told you this was a gamble! We have to turn back now—’

Before Eunuch Qi could say a word, he saw the young woman urge her horse forward.

”Lord Deng—” she shouted. ”Lord Deng, it’s me, Chu Zhao—”

’Lord Deng?’

Eunuch Qi was stunned. ’Who is this Lord Deng? I know a Deng Yi, whom I even recommended to His Majesty, but how could a mere Clerk take control of the Inner Palace?’

...

...

The walls of the inner palace gate were not as high or thick as those of the Imperial City.

Deng Yi was in the duty hall behind the palace gate when the girl’s voice drifted through the azure mist.

An Imperial Guard entered just then to ask for instructions. ”Grand Tutor, someone is calling for you. How should we proceed?”

Deng Yi had given the order to kill without mercy anyone who approached the Inner Palace, whether they claimed to be protecting the Emperor or inquiring about His Majesty’s safety.

’As for that Eunuch Qi, so what if he’s the Emperor’s personal eunuch?’

’The Third Prince is the Emperor’s own son, and Consort Zhao is the woman who shares his bed.’

However, the newcomer wasn’t shouting to see His Majesty. Instead, she was calling for ”Lord Deng.” And her proclaimed identity was not a member of the Royal Family or a palace servant, but the name of a girl who had never before appeared at court.

This was not a scenario they had anticipated, so the Imperial Guards had no choice but to seek instructions.

’Chu Zhao?’

Deng Yi looked up at the high palace walls, somewhat surprised. He knew many people would come to the Imperial City, but he never expected this girl to be the first to arrive.

Then he chuckled, his surprise fading. It wasn’t so strange, he supposed. The Chu Ling whom both the King of Zhongshan and the Xie family sought to befriend was clearly no ordinary person.

”There are a lot of them, and they’re no rabble,” the Imperial Guard continued. ”They move with discipline. Their strength cannot be underestimated.”

Moreover, their aura was unfamiliar, not the kind they were used to from a trained army.

The unfamiliarity was frightening.

Deng Yi said, ”Don’t be afraid.” He set down his documents and stood up. ”I’ll go take a look.”

...

...

A figure appeared on the gate tower of the Inner Palace. He waved his sleeve, seemingly dispersing the azure mist.

Even though it wasn’t winter, and he wasn’t wearing a dark, gold-trimmed fur coat, nor was he surrounded by a dark mass of retainers in iron armor with golden swords, Chu Zhao recognized him at a glance.

She was seeing Grand Tutor Deng again.

Grand Tutor Deng wore an official robe of such a deep red it was almost black. With no Imperial Guards by his side, he stood alone atop the palace gate like a solitary crane.

’Just like in her past life, he had become the Grand Tutor after all.’

’And he was in control of this Inner Palace.’

”Lord Deng,” Chu Zhao shouted, a smile blooming on her face. ”Lord Deng, it’s me, Chu Zhao!”

Standing on the gate tower, Deng Yi could already make out the girl through the hazy mist. Even if he couldn’t see her clearly, he would have recognized her.

He nodded. ”Miss Chu.”

His expression and voice were calm, as if he were merely greeting an acquaintance on the street, showing no surprise or joy.

Chu Zhao’s smile became a little awkward. ’Right, we don’t really know each other. Our only real interaction was when he was escorting me. Why should I be happy to see he’s become the Grand Tutor?’

’If Deng Yi has become the Grand Tutor as destiny dictated, then his next step will be to welcome Xiao Xun as the new Crown Prince.’

”Lord Deng,” Chu Zhao said quickly, placing her hands on the shoulders of the child in front of her. ”I’ve brought the young prince.”

’In this life, the young prince is still alive. The Crown Prince still has an heir. His Majesty doesn’t need to adopt Xiao Xun to be the next Crown Prince.’

Deng Yi looked down and saw the child in front of Chu Zhao. His expression remained unchanged, showing neither excitement nor doubt.

”It is wonderful that the young prince is with you, Miss Chu,” he said. ”In that case, please continue to protect him. It is not safe here. You should take the young prince and leave.”

’What?’ ℴ

’He actually—’

Chu Zhao froze, surprised, yet somehow not surprised at all.

Eunuch Qi was shocked. When he first saw Deng Yi appear, he had been even more delighted than Chu Zhao. ’This young man is more capable than I imagined! The reason I promoted him to the Emperor was because I thought he could be useful, though I hadn’t yet figured out how.’

’I never expected something like this to happen.’

’And amidst the chaos, Deng Yi had risen to prominence.’

’This must be what they call a matter of timing and fate.’

’Regardless, Deng Yi must know who granted him this opportune moment. Back when the Crown Prince was passing by and Eunuch Zhu intended to use the chance to teach Deng Yi a lesson, it was I who stepped in to stop it. Deng Yi understood at the time and even bowed to me in thanks.’

’This is great. When Deng Yi sees the young prince and me, he’ll surely know what to do!’

’But what is this?’

’How could Deng Yi look upon the young prince with such indifference and even try to send him away?’

”Deng Yi!” he stepped forward and bellowed. ”Are you mad? This is the young prince!”

Deng Yi looked at him. ”Eunuch Qi, it’s even better that you are here. With you looking after the young prince, His Majesty can rest even more assured.”

Having been immersed in the politics of the Imperial City for so long, Eunuch Qi understood immediately.

His face turned deathly pale.

’His Majesty might be safe, but the Inner Palace truly has a new master.’

’Deng Yi!’

’Whose man is he?’

’The Imperial Concubine’s?’

Hearing the exchange between Deng Yi and Eunuch Qi, Chu Zhao’s heart sank. She understood now. It seemed Deng Yi had already chosen Xiao Xun to be the next Crown Prince.

’Back on the road, she had watched Deng Yi speaking with the King of Zhongshan. They must have already been old acquaintances back then.’

’How else could it be such a coincidence that he was the one sent to pursue her, and the King of Zhongshan was the one who intervened to stop her?’

Chu Zhao gazed at the inner palace gate. It was within arm’s reach, yet she could not enter.

She pulled the child in front of her closer. ’Even after rescuing this child from Xiao Xun, can I still not prevent Xiao Xun’s destiny to become Emperor?’

”Miss Chu, let’s go—” Eunuch Qi hissed through gritted teeth, shooting a hateful glare at the man standing on the gate tower.

’In truth, it wasn’t even certain they would be allowed to leave.’

’Since Deng Yi refused to let the young prince see His Majesty, would he really spare the Crown Prince’s orphaned son? Eradicating the threat completely was the safest option.’

’Perhaps he lacked the ability to attack them. Defending a city is easy; fighting an open battle is not. They had to escape now, while Deng Yi was willing but lacked the strength to stop them.’

’As long as they were alive, there was hope.’

Deng Yi, on the gate tower, seemed to see right through his thoughts. He smiled, then turned to leave.

He was leaving.

Just like that, he was leaving.

’I can’t let him go!’

”Deng Yi!” Chu Zhao yelled. ”You still owe me a meal!”

’Owe her a meal?’

Eunuch Qi was flabbergasted. ’What is she talking about at a time like this? What does one meal matter? What could two or three meals possibly change?’

On the gate tower, Deng Yi, who had turned and begun to walk away, stopped in his tracks.