Ashes to Crown

Chapter 243: Chapter 59: Knowing Full Well

To the citizens, the Empress was both a stranger and not a stranger.

An earlier notice from the court had already been widely circulated. Everyone knew the late Emperor had passed away, the new emperor had ascended the throne, and there was a new Empress.

This Empress was the daughter of General Wei, Chu Ling.

But they had no concrete thoughts about her; she was simply the Emperor’s wife in the distant Imperial City.

At this very moment, the citizens who had just escaped death by a hair’s breadth poured out of the city. They watched the group of riders enter through the gates, their eyes fixed on the young woman leading them—she looked to be only fourteen or fifteen. A crossbow was slung across her back, a sword hung from her saddle, and her simple robes were covered in bloodstains.

She was General Chu’s daughter, a true daughter of her father.

She was the new Empress of the Great Xia, but she was not some distant, lofty figure.

General Chu guarded the Border County in Yunzhong County, holding back the main Western Liang army, while his daughter had come here from the distant Imperial City to kill the scattered Western Liang Soldiers.

They had thought they were abandoned, but they never expected the Empress herself would come to save them.

”Empress!”

”All hail the Empress!”

”Thank you, Empress, for saving our lives!”

Countless voices, like falling snow, swept over the city, blanketing everything.

Walking in the procession, Ding Dachui’s legs suddenly went weak, but luckily, someone beside him caught him in time.

Ding Dachui turned his head and saw it was his ”wife.”

Aunt Ding’s face was still covered, and the swirling snowflakes made her features even more indistinct.

”You, you...” Ding Dachui couldn’t help but whisper, ”Did you guess that she, she’s—”

That girl was actually the Empress.

The Empress!

His legs hadn’t gone weak in the slightest when he was charging at the Western Liang Soldiers, but now, hearing the overwhelming shouts of ”Empress,” he felt a real urge to drop to his knees.

’The girl said her family was powerful and influential, and I’d guessed it was true. But I never could have imagined her family was *this* powerful and influential!’

’What am I going to do?’

’This big fish... can I still reel her in?’

Hmm—

Ding Dachui straightened up again, looking at the woman holding his arm. ’If I pin this woman to the ground right now and expose her identity and malicious intent, wouldn’t that count as atoning for my crimes by rendering a great service to the Empress?’

...

...

After entering the city, Xie Yanlai took his soldiers to clear out the scattered Western Liang Soldiers nearby, while Chu Zhao and the officials went to comfort the citizens and tend to the wounded. Fortunately, the city had not been breached, so the casualties were not too heavy.

Chu Zhao personally dressed the wounds of the injured.

The young woman rolled up her sleeves, showing not the slightest fear of the gruesome, mangled wounds. This, in turn, made the injured, who now knew her identity, forget their pain and thank her in a state of reverent awe.

Chu Zhao didn’t return to the government office until dusk. Just as she had washed up and changed her clothes, Xie Yanlai strode in, covered in a thick layer of snow.

”Have you eaten? Have you had your wounds treated?” Chu Zhao asked in a rush.

Xie Yanlai shot her a glance, ignoring her useless questions. He said only, ”The surrounding area has been cleared. We counted about a hundred Western Liang Soldiers.” He then sneered, ”It’s ridiculous. A mere hundred of them were able to run rampant for so long.”

Chu Zhao sighed softly. ”They haven’t seen battle in a long time. They were caught off guard.” Looking up again, she asked, ”Your injur—”

”Haven’t eaten. Wounds are treated,” Xie Yanlai cut her off impatiently. He then asked, ”Is there anything else? If not, this general will take his leave.”

With that, he turned to leave.

Chu Zhao reached out and grabbed his sleeve. ”Yes, yes, yes.”

Xie Yanlai gave her a sideways glance and stopped walking.

”Why didn’t you say we were reinforcements sent by my father earlier?” Chu Zhao asked with a smile.

At the time, she hadn’t even gotten close yet when Xie Yanlai had already shouted her identity to the city’s official generals.

’I’ve hidden my identity this whole journey. I didn’t even reveal it to the local garrisons when I was faltering and unable to advance. So why did he reveal it now, when the path was clear?’

”I’m not blaming you,” Chu Zhao added. ”I’m just saying, that would have boosted my father’s reputation even more.”

Xie Yanlai scoffed. ”Am I afraid of you blaming me?” He looked down at the girl and said coldly, ”Your father is your father, and you are you. You may be father and daughter, but you are not one and the same. Besides, your father is about to die. When he’s dead, his reputation will be gone. You’re still alive, and you have to keep living. Compared to your father, you’re the one who needs the reputation more.”

With that, he flung his sleeve, breaking free from Chu Zhao’s grasp, and strode out.

Chu Zhao stared at the swaying door curtain, stunned and dazed.

’I always thought I was unfortunate. Even after waking up and being given a new life, I’ve been holding in a breath of pent-up resentment. Only now, at this very moment, have I finally let that breath out.’

’I am lucky. In this life, I’ve met someone who truly has my best interests at heart.’

She lifted her head and called out, ”Someone!”

Old Bai entered at the call, bowing to Chu Zhao to receive his orders.

Chu Zhao said, ”Send out an order. Issue a public proclamation announcing the Empress’s great victory over the Western Liang Soldiers at Wang City.”