Ashes to Crown

Chapter 172: Chapter 5: Palace Night

Deng Yi withdrew his gaze and nodded at Xie Yanfang. ”As it should be. The Third Prince’s crimes are unforgivable.”

Xie Yanfang stood up and added, ”I have already killed the Third Prince.”

Deng Yi’s reaction was calm. Xie Yanfang wanted to save the Crown Prince; to do so, he would dare anything. In his eyes, the Third Prince was a mortal enemy who had to be killed.

Chu Zhao, however, was surprised again. ’In the last life, the Third Prince didn’t die—to think that in this life, Xie Yanfang killed him directly.’

In that life, things had happened too suddenly, and Xie Yanfang never had the chance. If he had, he surely would have killed the Third Prince with his own hands.

”I ask the Grand Tutor to help conceal this matter as well.” Xie Yanfang bowed again.

Although the Third Prince’s crimes were punishable by death, he was, after all, the Emperor’s son. Only the Emperor could order his execution.

Even if there were extenuating circumstances for Xie Yanfang killing the Third Prince, it was inevitable that the Emperor would hold it against him.

Chu Zhao quickly looked at Deng Yi as well. ”Grand Tutor, Third Young Master Xie is right. For the sake of the young prince, this must be kept secret.”

It was clear she also knew how to protect someone so devoted to the young prince’s safety and honor.

Deng Yi ignored her, merely looking at Xie Yanfang and nodding. ”As it should be,” he repeated.

Xie Yanfang bowed respectfully. ”On behalf of my brother-in-law and sister, I thank you, Grand Tutor.”

He held no official position. The Grand Tutor’s decision was a major state affair, and he was in no position to praise it, as doing so would seem like he was overstepping his bounds.

But as the closest relative of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort, it was perfectly reasonable for him to express thanks on their behalf.

’Third Young Master Xie is truly sophisticated in the ways of the world,’ Deng Yi thought with a small smile, nodding in return. ”It is my duty.”

Xie Yanfang dropped the pleasantries. ”The Third Prince bribed half of the Capital Camp. I fought a chaotic battle outside the city all night and have more or less cleaned things up. From here, I’ll have to ask the Grand Tutor to take charge.”

Deng Yi said, ”There are still many remnants of the Third Prince’s and the Zhao Family’s factions at court, and we are short on manpower. Regarding the Capital Camp, I must still trouble you, Third Young Master Xie.”

Xie Yanfang agreed. ”It is my undeniable duty.”

Chu Zhao, who had been listening from the side, spoke up. ”Third Young Master, we also need to hunt down the Heir of Zhongshan King.”

Xie Yanfang looked at her.

”Bringing the young prince to the Imperial City was actually a huge risk,” Chu Zhao told him.

Xie Yanfang nodded. He could imagine how dangerous it must have been, with the city full of the Third Prince’s men. ’However, for Miss Chu to dare take such a risk, she must have been confident. What did Chu Ling leave behind for her?’

Of course, he wouldn’t ask this question out loud.

”But I had no other choice at the time,” Chu Zhao said. ”Not because of the Third Prince, but because the Heir of Zhongshan King, Xiao Xun, had come to surround and kill the young prince.”

Xie Yanfang understood immediately. He sighed softly. ”That’s not surprising. How could the Heir of Zhongshan King miss such a golden opportunity? In fact, I believe it’s highly likely that the Crown Prince’s assassination was his handiwork.” At this, he bowed to Chu Zhao again. ”If it weren’t for you, Miss Ah Zhao, I don’t know how I would have faced this situation.”

’It wouldn’t have actually changed much,’ Chu Zhao mused with a small smile. ’In the last life, he handled it brilliantly, making life very difficult for Xiao Xun. With my help in this life, let’s make Xiao Xun’s life even more miserable.’

”Just now, when Yanlai and I were going to the rear palace, we saw the young prince run out looking for you,” Xie Yanfang said. The guard who had stepped aside was still standing at the door, waiting for them to finish talking before approaching. Since he knew who the ”sister” the young prince was talking about was, he naturally brought it up first.

Chu Zhao let out a small ”Ah.” ”Yu is awake.”

’He must not be sleeping soundly.’

”I’ll go check on him,” she said, glancing at Deng Yi and then at Xie Yanfang. ’With these two here, the court will be stable, and Xiao Xun can forget about having an easy time.’

She curtsied to them both.

”I will leave the matters of the court to you, Grand Tutor and Third Young Master.”

’The way she said that, it’s as if she’s already the matriarch of the Dynasty,’ Deng Yi thought. But he said nothing, only glancing at Third Young Master Xie—

’Third Young Master Xie doesn’t yet know that Miss Chu has become a member of the imperial family.’

’Miss Chu seems so sincere and reliant on Xie Yanfang, looking out for him at every turn, yet she hasn’t mentioned this one thing—it seems she isn’t being completely open with him.’

Deng Yi’s lips twitched into a tight line. He gave a slight nod. ”Please, go ahead, Miss Chu.”

He, of course, wouldn’t mention it either.

’It has nothing to do with me. This is a matter between Miss Chu and the Xie family.’

Although Xie Yanfang found Deng Yi’s faint, unreadable smile a bit strange, he didn’t dwell on it. Everything was different now, but he, Xie Yanfang, was still here. The young prince, who carried the blood of the Xie family, was still here. Therefore, everything was still all right.

”Thank you for your hard work in taking care of Yu,” he said with a bow.

Chu Zhao sighed softly. ”It is my honor.”

’Being able to save Xiao Yu in this life is truly my good fortune.’

...

...

Xie Yanfang watched as Chu Zhao walked out. He saw the surrounding guards bow to her. Then she gestured for a guard to approach, said something he couldn’t hear, and the guard departed to carry out her orders—

’These unfamiliar guards seem to know Chu Zhao well—this must be the secret force Chu Ling left behind.’

’It seems this palace isn’t solely under Deng Yi’s control.’

”Third Young Master Xie,” Deng Yi said.

Xie Yanfang withdrew his gaze.

Deng Yi gestured with his hand. ”Please, sit and talk.”

Xie Yanfang acknowledged and walked over to take a seat as instructed.

...

...

Chu Zhao walked past layers of guards toward the rear palace, not overly concerned about Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang.

’No matter how brilliant Xie Yanfang is, Deng Yi is the kind of man who would even dare to slap the Emperor across the face.’

’And no matter how formidable Deng Yi is, Xie Yanfang is the kind of man who would dare to rebel—’

Neither of them was someone to be trifled with.

A clash of titans like this was a good thing for the current young monarch.

Seeing Chu Zhao return, the eunuchs standing before the hall all breathed a sigh of relief and quickly gathered around her. ”Miss Chu, you’ve returned.”

No one dared to question why she had left the young prince or why she had been gone for so long.

Thanks to Xie Yanlai’s words, Xiao Yu had been persuaded back into bed, but he wasn’t asleep. The moment he saw Chu Zhao walk in, he jumped down from the bed.

”Don’t run, don’t run.” Chu Zhao reached out, catching Xiao Yu and pulling him into an embrace. Before he could speak, she proactively explained, ”His Majesty summoned me to speak with him. Afterward, I went to see Grand Tutor Deng. You were asleep then, so I didn’t wake you or tell you. Don’t be angry.”

Xiao Yu shook his head, then nodded, but said nothing.

Chu Zhao led him to the bedside. ”You haven’t slept for a whole day and night. The Imperial Physician said you need to rest. You must regain your strength.”

Xiao Yu nodded but didn’t let go of Chu Zhao’s hand. He said in a low voice, ”You haven’t slept either. And you rode a horse and killed people. You need to rest and regain your strength too.”

Chu Zhao smiled. ”Yu is right.” She gestured to Xiao Yu. ”Quick, get into bed. I’ll rest with you.”

Only then did the child’s tense little face relax. He obediently climbed into bed. As Chu Zhao was tucking him in, her hand hit something hard. She saw a bamboo tube.

This bamboo tube was not unfamiliar to Chu Zhao.

She had noticed it the first time she held Xiao Yu at Chu Garden. The little boy had clutched the bamboo tube tightly in his arms, never letting go for a moment.

The situation was critical back then, so she hadn’t asked about it, even suspecting it might be an important state treasure he had brought with him.

’He still has it in his hands, even hugging it while he sleeps.’

”What’s this?” she asked curiously.

Xiao Yu quickly hugged the bamboo tube to his chest, his eyes downcast. ”It’s nothing.”

Chu Zhao said, ”Oh,” and didn’t press further.

But Xiao Yu looked at her again and said, ”I... I cut it... on the mountain.”

The child still tried to explain it to her. Chu Zhao gently stroked his head, her heart aching. For this child, who should have been happily playing with his parents, who could have imagined they would be separated by death in the blink of an eye, leaving only this bamboo tube in his hand.

”Then you must keep it safe,” she said, lying down on her side next to him. She gently patted Xiao Yu and the bamboo tube. ”You can’t lose something this precious.”

Xiao Yu said no more, slowly closing his eyes to the rhythm of Chu Zhao’s patting.

Chu Zhao watched the child’s fluttering eyelashes and felt the tense body beneath the quilt. She sighed internally but didn’t call him out for pretending to be asleep.

In her last life, she was never able to have children of her own. She used to think it was because of her poor health and even blamed herself. Of course, now she knew it was because Xiao Xun would never have allowed her to have a child.

’It’s better this way.’

Chu Zhao gazed at Xiao Yu’s innocent face. ’Given the fate I suffered, if I had left a child in this world, how would they have survived? It would have been too cruel, too pitiful.’

Stroking Xiao Yu, Chu Zhao slowly drifted off to sleep herself.

She hadn’t closed her eyes for a day and a night either.

After she became still, Xiao Yu, who had been pretending to be asleep, opened his eyes. He stared blankly at the canopy of the bed, clutched the bamboo tube in his arms tighter, and curled into a ball.

....

.....

Night fell upon the Imperial City once more. It was brightly lit, with Imperial Guards standing sentry everywhere.

Xie Yanlai dismounted his horse, unbuckled his sword, and strode into the palace, a hint of displeasure on his face. When he was stopped, however, his brows relaxed.

”What are you doing?” Vice General Zhong barked, his face grim. ”Weren’t you told to guard the city gates? Why are you running around—”

Before he could finish, the young man cupped his fist in a salute. ”Very well. Please inform Miss Chu for me, Vice General Zhong. I will take my leave.”

With that, he turned to leave.

”Halt!” Vice General Zhong shouted in irritation. Thankfully, his hearing was sharp, and he had caught the word ”Miss.” Though reluctant, he continued, ”Since Miss Chu has summoned you, what are you waiting for? Run along now.”

Xie Yanlai said, ”Why don’t you go in and ask, Vice General Zhong? Perhaps Miss Chu was worried you were busy and didn’t get a chance to tell you. After all, you are the most reliable one for getting things done.”

Vice General Zhong certainly knew he was the most reliable, but since Miss Chu was looking for this brat—

”Cut the crap,” he hissed under his breath. ”Get in there. Now.”

Xie Yanlai raised an eyebrow and said in a low voice, ”It’s so late at night. How inconvenient—”

A scar on Vice General Zhong’s face twitched. He whispered, ”Your nephew is inside. Your nephew is looking for you. What’s so inconvenient about that?” With that, he grabbed the young man’s arm and flung him inward.

He wanted to give him a kick for good measure, but he was a step too slow. The young man had already leaped away and was striding off.

Vice General Zhong stared at the young man’s back and snorted to himself. ’Miss Chu is only looking for him because of the young prince. That brat had better not get any ideas.’