Ashes to Crown

Chapter 212: Chapter 37: Quietly Waiting

”You’re doing so well, Xiao Man. You’re doing so, so well.”

The gentle female voice repeated in her ear, like a lullaby hummed in her childhood.

Xiao Man buried her face in the warm embrace, crying until her nose stung.

Before she left, her aunt had said she would place people along the route, just in case Xiao Man needed them.

Just now, with Chu Zhao and that General, Old Bai—though no one had said a word—Xiao Man could see they had already prepared to die.

If Chu Zhao died here—

She had charged out recklessly, calling out the hideout’s secret signal over and over like a chicken with its head cut off.

She hadn’t actually expected a response.

Their departure from the Capital City had been rushed. They had constantly changed their route, sticking to remote areas. After leaving the Border County, she had come to realize just how vast the Great Xia was—

When she truly heard a response, she couldn’t believe it, let alone now, seeing her aunt.

Her aunt had come in person. Her aunt was here. Her aunt was right here.

She had always thought she was so capable. At such a young age, she could ride and kill, dared to lead a group away from familiar surroundings to the Capital City, and had even fought her way into the Imperial Palace.

’I, Xiao Man, fear nothing under the heavens.’

But at this very moment, collapsing into her aunt’s arms, she realized just how helpless and terrified she was. She had always been the child protected by her aunt.

”I didn’t expect to run into you either,” her aunt’s voice explained softly, her hand patting the girl’s back. ”Ever since I received your letter... well, I’ve never been an official, but I know that great power and high status are always accompanied by danger. So, I came out myself. By taking over a few more hideouts along the way, we can be better informed—”

”Don’t be afraid, Manman. Even if you hadn’t met me, you would have surely run into someone else. All our people have come out. There are our people on every road from the Capital City all the way home.”

’I knew I probably couldn’t make it all the way to the Capital City, so I just tried to get a little farther down the road. The closer I got to that girl, the more at ease I felt.’

Xiao Man suddenly sat up in her aunt’s arms—this was no time to be indulging in the comfort of family.

There were others in mortal danger.

”Aunt,” she said, grabbing the woman’s arm. ”Quick, Chu Zhao is being besieged.”

The woman looked at her and nodded. ”I know.” She reached out to wipe the blood from Xiao Man’s face.

’Xiao Man didn’t need to look down to know how terrifying she must look right now, covered in blood. Seeing her like this, her aunt must have guessed something had happened, yet she still held her and comforted her—’

Chu Zhao had never had this opportunity.

’I can’t let Chu Zhao be deprived of this chance forever!’

”Their numbers aren’t that great, but they’re incredibly skilled. Chu Zhao and Old Bai said they’re government soldiers, hand-picked elites sent to assassinate her.”

”We’ve already retreated to this position.”

Xiao Man drew a map of their position on the ground. Though tear tracks still stained her face, her voice was clear again. The woman didn’t speak, watching intently as she drew the topographical map.

Three or four other men also flew in from a distance, standing by with solemn expressions as they watched and listened to Xiao Man speak.

...

...

When he saw the girl collapse into the new boss’s arms, sobbing, Ding Dachui led his men away.

Her own people had arrived, so it was none of their business.

Ding Dachui took his brothers to bring back the wild boar they had dropped earlier, intending to let the new guests have a taste of their mountain delicacy—

The thought made him chuckle to himself.

’Was he trying to show off? To let these people know how worthy his hideout was of being taken over?’

But Ding Dachui and his men hadn’t gotten far when a series of urgent bird calls echoed through the hideout, accompanied by a sharp CLANGING—

It was the signal to assemble.

The bird calls were the method these newcomers preferred, but they hadn’t been here long, and the signals were too numerous for Ding Dachui and the others to remember. That’s why they used the wooden bell.

Ding Dachui and his men hurried back to the main camp and saw the new boss emerge with the girl.

Up close, they could see the girl looked disheveled and was covered in bloodstains.

”Brothers,” the new boss’s voice was soft, yet it carried clearly to every man’s ears. ”A big score has just come our way. Let’s all go get rich.”

...

...

「Night fell.」

The mountains seemed to be instantly swallowed by darkness, falling so quiet it was as if no one was there. You could only hear the breathing of the person right next to you.

Ah Le rose slightly to peer ahead. The earlier rain of arrows, the firelight, and the roars were all gone. After the fierce battle to cover Xiao Man’s escape, the enemy seemed to have retreated.

It seemed like a perfect opportunity to leave, but neither Old Bai nor Chu Zhao said a word about it.

A Scout even whispered to Old Bai in admiration, ”The Miss is truly composed.”

Although Chu Zhao was the Empress, ever since they saw that she was General Chu’s daughter that night, they had gotten used to calling her ”Miss.” The Dragon Power Army was not part of the Great Xia’s military; they were the private army of the late Emperor and General Chu.

The Empress belonged to everyone in the world, but the Miss was *their* Miss. It was different.

”Goes without saying,” Old Bai said in a low voice. ”It’s not like you haven’t seen the Miss’s bravery before.”

Though the situation that night hadn’t been as perilous as this.

The Scout whispered, ”Of course I know the Miss is brave. I’m saying she’s brave, but not reckless.”

Ever since they encountered the bandits, Chu Zhao had followed their advances and retreats without saying an extra word, let alone giving commands. Even though it clearly looked like the enemy had retreated, she hadn’t even asked if they should try to break out—

As the two men were whispering, Chu Zhao reached out and pushed Ah Le back down. ”Don’t stand up. Watch out for hidden arrows.”

Ah Le once again hid behind the rocks with Chu Zhao.

”I wonder how Xiao Man is doing,” Ah Le couldn’t help but whisper.

Chu Zhao said, ”Don’t worry. She may be young, but she is very level-headed and knows what she’s doing.”

Ah Le nodded. She didn’t speculate about whether Xiao Man was dead or had run away. Instead, she firmly believed that Xiao Man was their only hope.

Old Bai shuffled over from the side and whispered, ”It’s half a day to the nearest government office by fast horse, and that’s just one way—Your Majesty, we just have to survive tonight.”

’This will be a hard night to get through.’ Chu Zhao nodded, then, realizing Old Bai couldn’t see her, she hummed in agreement. ”Tonight is bound to be a vicious battle.”

They were waiting for reinforcements, and the enemy would naturally be on guard for them too. They would definitely try to finish them off before any help could arrive.

Just then, a flaming arrow suddenly appeared.

It was like a streak of light tearing through the night.

Old Bai roared, ”Engage the enemy!”

The blaze of fire devoured the darkness in the mountains, but the continuous mountain range acted like a barrier, isolating the entire scene deep within.

On the plains far from the mountains, even standing on the tallest tower, one could not see what was happening inside.

”I wonder how it’s going,” Xiao Xun muttered to himself.

Tie Ying frowned. ”It’s been this long and they still haven’t been taken down? Their numbers aren’t even that large.”

Xiao Xun turned to look at him. ”Tie Ying, you’re underestimating her again. Have you forgotten why we are here in the first place?”

In the faint light of the lamps inside the tower, Tie Ying’s face could be seen flushing red in an instant, his expression a mixture of shame and indignant grief.

Xiao Xun looked away from him, gazing out into the night. ”Right now, I should be in the Imperial Palace. In the Imperial Garden, there is a Linglong Mountain, and on that mountain is the Linglong Pavilion. When I was a child in the Imperial Palace, I loved to play there. Standing in the Linglong Pavilion, you can see the entire Imperial City—”

His gaze grew distant.

”The Imperial City... it’s so big.”

’When I was a child, I was afraid of this vast Imperial City, always thinking how difficult it would be to get out.’

’Back then, I was afraid because I was small, afraid out of ignorance.’

’Of course, I’m not afraid anymore. Instead, I think about how big the Imperial City is, and how good it must feel to stand above it, to be its master.’

It was just a pity he was one step away.

Tie Ying clenched his fists. ”This is all the Chu Family’s Daughter’s doing! I’ll go capture her right now!” With that, he prepared to leap from the tower.

Xiao Xun held him back. ”What’s the hurry? Isn’t it better if we wait for her to be captured, and then we go ’rescue’ her?”