Ashes to Crown

Chapter 165: Chapter 119: Please Come In

One meal owed.

Deng Yi looked at the girl below the gatehouse and smiled.

”As expected, there’s no such thing as a free lunch,” he said. ”And here I thought Miss Chu was so generous.”

Chu Zhao looked at him. ”I am generous. When I ask for something, I am not stingy with the reward. Lord Deng, you have seen for yourself along the way—I have never short-changed anyone who has helped me.”

It was true. The girl had lied and put on an act the entire journey, but she had indeed been generous with her money.

But—

”Miss Chu,” Deng Yi said, looking at her, ”rather than calling it a reward, it would be more accurate to call it a lure. Without those rewards, you wouldn’t have been able to command them.”

He chuckled at this.

”Miss Chu is very generous, but a single meal is not enough to lure Deng Yi.”

He waved his hand dismissively.

”Miss Chu, you managed to get here on your own. I won’t stop you from leaving, so go on.”

Eunuch Qi was already growing anxious. He urged Chu Zhao, ”Let’s go, quickly.”

’Deng Yi’s meaning was clear. He knew Chu Zhao had made it here by relying on Chu Ling’s hidden forces, and out of consideration for Chu Ling, he wouldn’t make things difficult for them. He was letting them go.’

’Let’s go. As long as we’re alive, there’s always a chance.’

’Your Majesty is still alive, General Chu has the Dragon Power Army, and though the Yang Family has been destroyed, the Xie family still has its foundations. The little prince still has a chance.’

Chu Zhao gripped her reins, watching Deng Yi on the gatehouse as he turned to leave again. As if sensing her mood, her horse snorted and shifted restlessly in place.

’I can indeed leave the Imperial City and the Capital City smoothly. I can even return to the Border County, back to my father’s side. But what then?’

’What happens after Xiao Xun ascends the throne?’

’Setting aside the little prince’s awkward position, how could the King of Zhongshan and his son possibly spare him?’

’If Xiao Xun is fated to take the throne, then isn’t the little prince—and I myself—fated to die?’

’I absolutely cannot leave!’

”Lord Deng,” she called out again. ”When I treated you to a meal, it wasn’t a lure, it was a gift. I know Your Lordship is an extraordinary man. I was hoping that one day in the future, you might lend a hand and help me find a path to survival.”

Eunuch Qi was stunned. ’Is she flattering Deng Yi? Isn’t it a little late for sweet talk?’

On the city wall, Deng Yi, who had already turned away, couldn’t help but laugh. He looked back down at the girl below the gatehouse. ’So, it wasn’t just a meal. It was her keen eye recognizing a hero.’

Seeing him turn back and even smile, Chu Zhao quickly looked at him with pleading eyes. ”Lord Deng, that meal cost but a few pieces of broken silver, hardly worth mentioning. But at that time, it was the greatest sincerity I, Chu Zhao, could offer. Lord Deng, I, Chu Zhao, am never stingy. Even if I was luring others along the way, I still gave everything I possibly could.”

Deng Yi looked at the girl below the gatehouse, at the plea in her eyes, and at her determination.

The sincerity she could offer then was a single meal.

The sincerity she could offer in the future would be much more than just a meal.

Deng Yi’s gaze finally fell on the child leaning against her.

”Do you really want to come in?” he asked.

Eunuch Qi jumped in fright, looking at Deng Yi in disbelief as a thousand thoughts raced through his mind—

Chu Zhao had already nodded without hesitation. ”Yes!”

Deng Yi said, ”Only you and the little prince may enter. If you want to come, approach the gate now.”

With that, he said no more and strode away.

This time, the girl’s voice did not ring out from below the gatehouse. ℴℴ𝘮

But after Deng Yi had taken a few steps, a eunuch came forward and blocked his path.

”Grand Tutor,” he said in a low voice, ”you have already made a promise to the Heir of Zhongshan King. To let others in at this time...”

He looked up at Deng Yi.

”Surely the Grand Tutor doesn’t intend to go back on his word?”

...

...

Deng Yi looked at the eunuch, recognizing him as the one who had spoken on behalf of the King of Zhongshan.

He smiled. ”I’m letting others in, but that doesn’t mean I’m not letting the Princely Heir in.”

’But those ’others’ weren’t just anyone—it was the Imperial Grandson!’

A flash of anger crossed the eunuch’s eyes, quickly replaced by exasperation. ”Lord Deng, if the little prince is here, is there any need for the Princely Heir to come?”

Deng Yi’s smile vanished. ”What? The Princely Heir isn’t afraid of clashing with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, but he’s afraid of a small child? With such cowardice, how can he even speak of protecting Your Majesty?”

He shot the eunuch a look.

”In that case, there’s no need for the Princely Heir to come at all.”

He turned to leave, then stopped as if remembering something.

”And another thing. When it comes to keeping one’s word, Miss Chu gave me her gift a step ahead of the King of Zhongshan.”

After saying this, he ignored the eunuch and strode down the stairs.

The eunuch stood frozen, his face ashen and his expression furious. ’What does he mean? Miss Chu gave him a gift before the Prince did? What gift? A meal?’

’But he’s not wrong,’ the eunuch’s gaze returned to a calm state. ’So what if he’s a six-year-old child, even if he is the Imperial Grandson? The Crown Prince is dead, the Third Prince has been deposed, and the Emperor is on his deathbed. This world is destined to belong to the Princely Heir.’

Just as Deng Yi was being stopped by the eunuch, outside the city gate, Chu Zhao was being blocked by Eunuch Qi and Zhong Changrong.

”No, you can’t take the little prince in there alone,” Eunuch Qi said urgently. ”Who knows what the situation is inside the palace?”

’Just look at Deng Yi’s attitude. It must be incredibly dangerous inside the palace.’

’The little prince can’t take any more risks.’

Chu Zhao looked at Eunuch Qi. ”Eunuch Qi, if we don’t take this risk, the little prince will be in constant danger, every moment of every day.”

Eunuch Qi froze. He understood her logic, but—

’Understanding is one thing, but if we can avoid danger for now, we should! I’m starting to understand this Miss Chu. She’s just like her father—brave and stubborn. Once she gets an idea in her head, not even ten bulls could drag her back!’

”Then I’ll trouble Miss Chu to go see His Majesty. This old slave and the little prince will wait outside.” He then reached for the child on horseback. ”Little prince, come—”

But the child on the horse remained impassive, only leaning against Chu Zhao as if he hadn’t seen or heard Eunuch Qi.

Zhong Changrong overheard this and his expression soured. ’This old eunuch actually wants to let the Young Miss go in and face the danger alone. These palace people are all heartless and disloyal.’

”Young Miss, I’ll go with you,” he said. ”I have accompanied the General to see His Majesty before.”

’In the past, the General took me to see His Majesty, so I’ve been through this kind of scene before. Now, I can be the one to take the Young Miss to see His Majesty.’

Chu Zhao dismounted with a smile. ”There’s no need, Uncle Zhong. Convincing Lord Deng to let me and the little prince in is already a great achievement. Don’t worry.”

Zhong Changrong gave a wry smile. How could he not worry? But if a fight really broke out—

He looked at the tightly shut palace gate, at the hidden blades on the gatehouse. It wasn’t that he was afraid of those blades, but if he were to lead his men into a fight here, what would the Emperor inside do? A single order would brand them as rebels.

After dismounting, Chu Zhao reached up to the child on the horse. The boy threw himself into her arms without hesitation, and she lifted him down to the ground.

”Little prince—” Eunuch Qi reached for the child again.

But the child dodged his hand and clung tightly to Chu Zhao’s side.

Eunuch Qi couldn’t help but be taken aback.

At that moment, the palace gate slowly creaked open, leaving a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

”Miss Chu, if you please,” an Imperial Guard said coldly from within.

Chu Zhao tightened her grip on the child’s hand, then glanced at Eunuch Qi. ”Eunuch Qi, you had the courage to fight your way out with the little prince. Now you should have the courage to watch us fight our way in.”

She gave Zhong Changrong a reassuring smile, then led the child toward the palace gate and quickly passed through it.

The heavy palace gate slammed shut the moment they were through. Ahead, the palace was a pitch-black expanse, the cold glint of swords, spears, and crossbows flickering in the light of swaying torches.

Chu Zhao felt the child’s hand trembling slightly.

She knelt down to look him in the eye.

This was the first time she had truly looked at the boy. In the dim, hazy light, his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

”Little—” she began to say.

”My name is Xiao Yu,” the child said suddenly, his voice trembling slightly. ”Yu.”

Chu Zhao smiled and called his name, ”Yu.”

She took his hand and held it firmly in her own.

”Your life and my life are tied together. If you die, I die too. So, believe in me. I will do everything I can to make sure we both stay alive.”

Xiao Yu looked at the girl before him and nodded with all his might.