Ashes to Crown

Chapter 175: Chapter 7: Trivial Matters (2)

This came as no surprise. To have safely escorted the young Prince into the palace, she naturally had forces at her disposal.

The Imperial City was now under her control.

There was nothing wrong with that. In fact, this was how it should be.

Xie Yanfang closed his eyes again, lay back down, and drifted into a deep sleep.

Only then did the servant girls seem to come to life again. They gently smoothed their young master’s scattered hair. The room was utterly silent, save for the occasional soft CRACKLE of cinnamon bark from the incense burner, which released a faint, clean fragrance.

...

...

A heavy rain fell that night.

The Capital City was washed clean, the aftermath of the great fire and the bloodstains nearly invisible. The burned-down houses, however, could not be restored so easily.

Most families could make do with repairs, but Qi Leyun’s family had been particularly unlucky. Their house was burned to the ground, and unlike the Xie family, they didn’t have numerous other residences to simply move into.

Their friends and relatives in the city had all suffered losses of their own, and with panic in the air, there was no room to take in so many people. Then, Qi Leyun had a stroke of genius: she would take her family to ask for shelter at the Chu Garden.

Qi Leyun arrived with her father. The exterior of the Chu residence was completely unscathed, looking as if it had been entirely unaffected by the chaos.

’And to think I was worried Chu Zhao would suffer retaliation,’ she thought. ’It seems she’s too insignificant for the Third Prince to even bother with.’

The area outside the Chu Mansion was also more crowded than elsewhere. Old women sat sewing shoe soles, and children ran back and forth, even calling out greetings when they saw them.

”What are you here for?” one child asked, eyeing them up and down.

With that expression, he looked for all the world like a beggar who hadn’t eaten in days.

Mr. Qi was about to take out some money to give as alms, but thankfully, Qi Leyun stopped him. The child’s clothes were not shabby at all, and he even wore a golden neck ring—

Children don’t understand the world’s sorrows and joys; they just play without a care. Qi Leyun waved the boy away and knocked on the Chu Family’s door. She knocked until her hand felt like it would break before someone finally responded from within. When they heard she was asking to see Mr. Chu, they immediately refused, saying he wasn’t seeing visitors. From the sounds of it, they were even about to add several more bolts to the door—

’What in the world? Are they really that cowardly?’

Qi Leyun quickly said she wanted to see Chu Zhao.

The movements inside stopped, but the door remained shut. A moment later, light footsteps approached, and a woman’s voice called out, ”Who is it? Qi Leyun?”

It was Chu Tang! Though annoyed that Chu Zhao hadn’t come herself, Qi Leyun swallowed her irritation and banged on the door. ”Open up, and then we can talk.”

But Chu Tang still wouldn’t open the door, claiming it wasn’t safe.

”What are you afraid of?” Qi Leyun said, half-amused and half-annoyed. She pointed outside. ”There are old women and children playing right out here.”

She banged on the door again, hurrying her.

”Have you forgotten how I treated you when you came to stay at my house, afraid that Chu Zhao would cause trouble and get you involved?”

The door swung open. Chu Tang stood in the doorway and immediately clamped a hand over Qi Leyun’s mouth, her expression slightly panicked. ”Don’t shout! Stop shouting! Someone will hear you.”

’So what if someone hears?’

’Besides, there’s hardly anyone out here—just the elderly, women, and children.’

’What is there to be afraid of!’

Qi Leyun pushed away the hand covering her mouth.

”Why are you such a coward? My entire house was burned down! You can’t even imagine what I went through last night, and I’m not scared. You’re perfectly safe and sound here, so what are you so afraid of?”

Chu Tang looked at her with a complicated expression and gave a dry laugh. ”You’re really something.”

Not wanting to get into a verbal spat, Qi Leyun introduced her father. Mr. Qi stepped forward to state their purpose: he wished to see Mr. Chu. After all, a matter of this magnitude required a discussion between the heads of their respective families.

But Chu Tang curtsied and said, ”Uncle, my father was badly frightened and has fallen ill. He cannot receive guests.”

Qi Leyun scoffed. ”You people are unbelievably timid!”

Chu Tang looked at her and sighed softly. ”Alas... to be honest, I never knew I could be this brave.”

’What does that mean?’ Qi Leyun was confused.

Chu Tang didn’t elaborate. ”Our home is intact,” she said, ”but I’m afraid it would be inconvenient for you to stay. Uncle, perhaps you should—”

Qi Leyun grew displeased. ”Chu Tang, is this really how you treat me?” Her eyes darted around. ”Besides, you’re not the one in charge here. Where’s Chu Zhao?” With that, she pushed Chu Tang aside and tried to force her way in. ”I refuse to believe Chu Zhao would turn my family away when we’re in distress.”

Chu Tang quickly grabbed her. ”Chu Zhao was scared too! She’s sick and can’t see anyone.”

Qi Leyun’s eyes widened. ”How is that possible? It’s no surprise your father got scared, but how could Chu Zhao possibly be scared?”

’What an outrageous thing to say!’ Mr. Qi coughed behind her, scolding his daughter. ”If it’s inconvenient for them, then let it be.”

Angry and hurt, Qi Leyun looked at Chu Tang. ”I get it now. So much for the bonds of sisterhood.”

Chu Tang sighed. ”This isn’t a safe place. I’m doing this for your own good.”

Qi Leyun sneered. ”You’re always so good with words. You always have to be the one who’s right.”

Chu Tang let out a laugh. She glanced outside, a flicker in her eyes. ’If that’s how it is, then don’t blame me for what happens next.’