Ashes to Crown

Chapter 227: Chapter 50: Returning Home

’Who is that man?’

Xiao Man, who had been smiling, heard the question. Following the woman’s gaze, she looked over and let out a soft ”Oh.”

”Him?” she said. ”That’s Ah Jiu.”

’Ah Jiu? That must be a nickname. Even Xiao Man knows it, so he must be someone Chu Zhao is very familiar with. A guard? Impossible. Chu Zhao would never act like this in front of a guard—’

The woman narrowed her eyes, thinking.

”He’s not a guard, nor is he a posthouse soldier. He’s a young master of the Xie family, the Emperor’s own maternal uncle,” Xiao Man continued, telling her everything she knew. She then snorted. ”He’s in the same clique as that Zhong fellow. The Dragon Power Army—that Zhong put him in charge of it.”

’The Xie family, the Emperor’s uncle... so he’s a noble son from an Aristocratic Family.’ The woman was surprised. ’And he was able to take over from Zhong Changrong. In that case, the General must know him, be acquainted with him, and approve of him.’

’If the General approves of him, then he must be a good person.’ A smile touched the corners of the woman’s lips.

”That guy is really fierce,” Xiao Man said with a pout. ”He argues with Chu Zhao all the time and never listens to her.”

’Is that so? Really fierce? Doesn’t listen to Chu Zhao?’ The woman smiled as she watched the young man and woman standing over there.

...

...

The young man looked annoyed.

’What’s with the ”again”? She needs to stop acting like she knows me inside and out.’

Xie Yanlai sneered, but his downcast, phoenix-like eyes flicked back up to look at the girl blocking his path.

”Back by the river, when I figured out your identity and wanted to kill you, I really tried to,” he said. ”You pleaded with me time and again to let you see your father, and I told you it had nothing to do with me and ignored you. And I really did ignore you. When have I, Xie Yanlai, ever not done what I said I would?”

Chu Zhao nodded. ”Yes, yes, you’re right about everything.”

’That’s way too perfunctory.’ Xie Yanlai was about to say something more, but Chu Zhao cut him off by taking a step closer.

”How many men did you bring?” she asked in a low voice. ”If we really run into an assassination attempt by the King of Zhongshan, do we have a chance?”

’How can she be so certain I’m not here to drag her back?’ Xie Yanlai felt a lump of frustration lodge in his chest. ’What gives her the right to be so sure!’

”I’ve been delayed here for a long time.” The girl looked at him, her eyes red-rimmed. ”The latest news is that Western Liang has sent more troops. The entire Yunzhong County has become a battlefield. I don’t know how my father is doing now.”

”Xiao Man helped me find some men, about thirty or so, but they’re just for show. They don’t have much real fighting power.”

”Just now, the local garrison told me they can’t spare any men to escort me. The court has ordered them to remain stationed here.”

”I was just wondering what I should do next.”

As she said this, a starlight glimmer appeared in her reddened eyes.

”And then you showed up, Ah Jiu!”

”It’s so good that you’re here, Ah Jiu.”

’Good my ass.’ Xie Yanlai turned his head and exhaled sharply. ”As long as the King of Zhongshan doesn’t dare to openly rebel, he’s not a threat.”

The girl before him broke into a smile and stepped forward again—

Xie Yanlai reached out a hand, pressing a single finger against the girl’s shoulder and holding her in place, as if pinning down a cat.

”Stay away from me,” he said coolly. ”Being seen in a compromising position with the Empress is much more serious than being seen with Miss Chu.”

Chu Zhao bent over with laughter. ”I just wanted to thank you.”

Xie Yanlai said, ”Thank me from a distance.”

Still smiling, Chu Zhao bent at the waist and gave him a deep bow. ”Thank you, Young Master Jiu.”

...

...

Men and horses gathered once more in the military camp, but this time, it was finally their turn.

Mounted on her horse, Chu Zhao looked all around. The outermost layer of their formation was the armored soldiers Xie Yanlai had brought. The next layer was Xiao Man and her enthusiastic ”hunters.” Old Bai and the surviving soldiers of the Dragon Power Army formed Chu Zhao’s last line of defense.

”No, I am!” Ah Le protested, raising the bow in her hand upon hearing her lady’s mutterings.

Chu Zhao looked at her and smiled. ”Ah Le isn’t the last line of defense. Ah Le and I are one and the same.”

Ah Le smiled too and nodded. ’That’s right, the young miss and I will live and die together.’ She looked ahead, her eyes falling on the young general at the very front—

Under the early winter sun, the young man stood tall and slender like a pine tree. A bright red cloak was draped over his armor, a stark contrast to his cold face. He was as aloof as a snowy mountain, yet as scorching as a flame.

”Miss,” Ah Le moved closer to Chu Zhao and whispered, ”you’re amazing. You convinced him to help us with just a few words.”

She then recalled the past with a wistful sigh.

”Being the Empress certainly gets you different treatment than being Miss Chu.”

’Back then, she and the miss had gone to great lengths to use those posthouse soldiers to get to the Border County. He had been wary, exposed them, and even when the miss cried in front of him, he had remained cold and indifferent.’

Chu Zhao said, ”That’s not it. In Ah Jiu’s eyes, the Empress and Miss Chu are the same.” She glanced toward Xie Yanlai at the front and smiled. ”Besides, I wasn’t the one who convinced him.”

The moment her gaze fell on him, the young general sensed it and looked back with a frown.

Chu Zhao beamed at him.

The young general lifted his chin arrogantly.

”He came here to help me in the first place,” Chu Zhao continued, speaking to Ah Le.

’Huh? He came to help from the start?’ Ah Le was surprised. ’That can’t be right. Why would Ah Jiu come to help? And he came right after Third Young Master Xie sent that letter. Didn’t he also say that Third Young Master Xie told him to capture her and take her back?’

”Don’t listen to what he says,” Chu Zhao said with a smile. ”Just watch what he does.”

Ah Le gave a little ”Oh.” ’If the miss says so, it must be true. Whatever the reason, as long as the miss gets her wish, that’s all that matters.’

CRACK! The sharp sound of a whip echoed.

”Move out!” Xie Yanlai lowered his proud chin, cracked his whip in the air, and with a sharp cry, spurred his horse into a gallop, taking the lead.

Behind him, the crowd roared and moved as one.

Chu Zhao was among them, shouting along with Ah Le.

”Let’s go—”

’I’m going home.’

’I’m going to see Father.’

’I’m going to do the things I couldn’t do in that lifetime.’

Dust billowed on the main road as the armored soldiers galloped onward, not slowing down in the slightest when encountering carriages or pedestrians.

”Urgent court military business!” the lead officer shouted. ”Clear the way immediately! Anyone who obstructs us will die!”

The soldiers galloped on.

They took main roads and side paths alike, whether in the Border County or the interior.

The war in the Border County had the entire Great Xia on edge. More and more troops were appearing outside Zhongshan County. However, since this was Zhongshan County, perceptive commoners began to speculate.

”What are so many troops doing coming to Zhongshan County?”

”Don’t tell me they’re here to attack the King of Zhongshan—”

”I heard the Emperor is displeased that the King of Zhongshan didn’t attend the court assembly.”

”How could the Prince go to the assembly? He’s cried his eyes nearly blind over the late Emperor’s death.”

”People from the Prince Zhongshan Mansion are out looking for doctors every single day—”

”This is going a bit too far. No matter what, the King of Zhongshan is His Majesty’s only living elder.”

This talk made the populace nervous, and they began to look at the soldiers with suspicion. Some local scholars even went to ask the soldiers what they were doing there.

However, the government soldiers did not arrest these bold scholars, only stating that military and state secrets were not to be pried into.

Although they were told not to pry, some other scholars soon figured it out on their own.

”This is strategic positioning,” a scholar in a roadside teahouse said, dipping his finger in tea and drawing winding lines on the table. ”Zhongshan County is the most critical defensive line for the Capital City. Stationing troops here is ideal. In retreat, they can defend the Capital City; in advance, they can reinforce Yunzhong County.”

The people gathered around, listening with a mixture of confusion and skepticism.

’Is Zhongshan County really such a strategic military location? Why wasn’t it before—’

”Why wasn’t it before?” The scholar stroked his beard with his wet fingers, his gaze distant. ”Why do you think Emperor Jingtai enfeoffed the King of Zhongshan in Zhongshan County back then? Emperor Jingtai had difficulty siring heirs, and in the end, only the late Emperor and the King of Zhongshan were left. At that time, Western Liang was ferocious, ravaging the Border County and nearly invading the heart of the Central Plains. To secure the Great Xia, Emperor Jingtai chose the crucial location of Zhongshan County and had the King of Zhongshan station his forces there, to forge a solid line of defense in times of crisis—”

’So that’s how it is.’ The people around him had a sudden realization. ’Emperor Jingtai truly was farsighted.’

Hearing this, Xiao Xun pulled his bamboo hat down a little lower, though even that couldn’t hide the smile playing on his lips.

”It’s great when people are dead. Now even Grandfather can be called ’farsighted’,” he said in a low voice. ”It would be more accurate to say Grandmother was the farsighted one.”

After saying this, Xiao Xun’s smile deepened, showing no sense that he was mocking his elders.

’Grandmother could personally harm an Imperial Family child, and Grandfather, knowing full well, said nothing. He didn’t punish Grandmother, nor did he console my father. He just banished Father to Zhongshan County to fend for himself.’

’Elders who are unjust to their children and grandchildren do not deserve to be his, Xiao Xun’s, elders.’