Ashes to Crown

Chapter 134: Chapter 90: Sit and Wait

The Crown Prince’s arrest of a group of scholars did not plunge the Capital City into a panic. The Third Prince’s counterattack was to announce the official start of the literary gathering at Wangchun Garden, drawing even more people into the city.

The literary gathering was the next day.

Compared to her past life... Chu Zhao thought for a moment, but couldn’t recall if it was the same or not.

In her past life, none of the girls had participated. The most that came of it was a few curses, but no one paid it any mind. She, least of all, had cared. Back then, she was busy preparing for her engagement to Xiao Xun. Her heart and eyes were filled with him and him alone; she wouldn’t have cared even if the sky were falling.

Chu Zhao didn’t dwell too much on the matter of the literary gathering.

She had no choice in the matter. Although the Third Prince’s days were numbered, if she dared not to go now, he could end her life first.

The girls gathered as they usually did, sometimes at Chu Garden, other times at a teahouse, poring over records of previous competitions to refine their skills.

"The Liang Family’s sentence is passed. They were all spared, at least," Qi Leyun said, bringing the latest news. "Exiled to the Border County."

To the young ladies, this was hardly better than death. Someone even murmured that if it were them, they’d rather die and get it over with.

"Once they leave, I’m afraid they’ll never be able to return to the Capital City in this lifetime," someone lamented.

Chu Zhao sat off to the side, her expression unchanging. But when she heard that, she glanced at the girl who had spoken.

The other girls noticed immediately, and one of them nudged the speaker.

"What are you saying?" "Who can they blame but themselves?" "They’re the ones who committed crimes." "While the women of the family are pitiful, they once enjoyed the glory, so they must now endure the calamity."

The girls chimed in one after another.

They thought she was upset to hear someone sympathizing with the Liang Family. After all, one of their crimes was spreading malicious rumors and carrying out a personal vendetta—specifically, the rumors about Chu Zhao and the Xie Family’s son.

Chu Zhao smiled, her feelings complicated. Of course she didn’t pity the Liang Family. What right did she have to pity anyone else? In her past life, when she met such a miserable end, she wondered if anyone had pitied her even once.

The reason she’d glanced at the girl was because she remembered that in her past life, the Liang Family was convicted and driven out of the Capital City, but they still managed to return. Not only did they return, but they soared to great heights and even became part of the Royal Family.

’And in this life—’

Chu Zhao gently stroked her teacup. ’Who could say?’

"The Wangchun Garden literary gathering starts tomorrow," she said to the girls. "But many things have happened in the Capital City recently, and the situation is different from before. All of you must be cautious in your words and actions, lest you bring disaster upon your families."

The girls nodded.

Qi Leyun snorted. "Chu Zhao, you’d do well to remember that yourself. You’re the one who stirs up the most trouble, aren’t you?"

She sat down next to Chu Zhao.

"When the time comes, don’t you go picking a fight with the Third Prince."

The girls all burst out laughing. Chu Zhao laughed too, poking Qi Leyun’s shoulder.

"I know," she said with a laugh. "A wise person knows when to advance and when to retreat. I know when to stand my ground and when to yield. I’m well aware of what to do."

Zhou Jiang, the Go expert—except for when she was playing, the young girl was just as she’d always been: unassuming in a crowd, quiet, and easily overlooked. She rarely spoke, but she did now. "We’ve already proven ourselves at Chu Garden and shown the world not to look down on us. That’s enough. We don’t need to fight over every little thing. To do so would be beneath us, and we’d just be mocked again for being ’mere girls’ after all."

At this, the young girl paused to think for a moment, then nodded.

"But if it’s Go, I absolutely must win."

The girls, who had been about to nod in agreement, instead collapsed with laughter.

"Ah Jiang! Are you trying to guide us or lead us astray?"

But the two bouts of laughter dispelled the heavy atmosphere from before.

"We’re going to Wangchun Garden tomorrow," Chu Zhao said. "Everyone should go home early and get some rest today."

Qi Leyun laughed again. "Rest? What for? I have to go prepare my clothes and accessories. The jewelry my mother ordered for me has arrived, and I need to go try it on."

The other girls chimed in, laughing about how their own dresses were ready and their new ornaments had been crafted. The atmosphere grew lively—they were, after all, just teenage girls.

"Is that so," Chu Zhao said, also smiling. "In that case, I’ll go for a stroll and buy a few nice things myself."

The girls dispersed from the teahouse and went their separate ways. As expected, Chu Zhao didn’t go straight home, instead taking Ah Le out for a stroll.

Ah Le said, "Miss Ah Tang has already prepared clothes and jewelry for you, miss. But of course, you can buy more if you like."

"I’m not buying clothes or jewelry," Chu Zhao said. "We’re going to browse the apothecaries."

Ah Le froze for a second, then realization dawned. "Is this for Ah Jiu? He hasn’t even finished the pills from last time. Besides, taking too much of this medicine won’t make him recover any faster."

’Actually, I’m not buying medicine for Ah Jiu. I’m buying medicinal herbs to keep at home as a precaution. After all, the great turmoil between the Princes is about to begin after the Wangchun Garden literary gathering ends. Although I’ve warned Xie Yanfang, even if the Crown Prince strikes first and gets rid of the Third Prince, the upheaval will still be considerable—’

’It’s better to be prepared.’

Chu Zhao was just about to explain when a familiar figure flashed past her—

"Ah Jiu!" she blurted out.

Before Ah Le could even react, she saw Chu Zhao take off running, and she hurriedly chased after her.

....

....

’I was just crossing a main street, moving from one alley to another. It was only a few steps, how could I have been spotted?’

He frowned at the girl blocking his path.

"What do you want?" he said irritably.

Chu Zhao sized him up. The young man wore robes of a dark, reddish-black fabric, his belt embroidered with gold thread. It was a style that looked simple yet was subtly luxurious—a favorite among the sons of aristocratic families.

’Completely different from how he looked as a posthouse soldier.’

’This is the first time I’ve seen him dressed properly. The other two times, once he was stripped and being beaten to a pulp, and the other he was recuperating in bed, his simple clothes hanging loosely on him.’

"Clothes certainly do make a difference," Chu Zhao said with a smile.

’What kind of thing is that to say!’ Xie Yanlai sneered. "For Miss Chu to recognize me even with clothes on, you must really be unable to forget me."

Ah Le, who had just caught up, heard this and was stunned. ’What kind of thing is that to say!’

"Ah Jiu," Ah Le said angrily, "our Miss has been worried about your injuries. We were just on our way to buy medicine for you."

Chu Zhao just smiled, not denying it.

Xie Yanlai’s phoenix eyes lifted as he looked at the girl. "Is that so? Good, good. Buy plenty, serve this young master well, and you’ll be rewarded."

Chu Zhao immediately reached out and produced a letter. "Excellent. In that case, I’ll have to trouble you to deliver this letter to my father for me."

Xie Yanlai was both annoyed and amused. "You actually carry a letter around with you? Were you that certain you’d run into me anytime, anywhere?"

Chu Zhao smiled. "When I do run into you, I don’t let the opportunity pass."

Xie Yanlai scoffed. Without taking the letter, he waved his hand dismissively. "Move, move. I’m still an injured man. I need to go back and rest."

Chu Zhao didn’t block him, taking a step to the side.

"Why did you come out?" she asked, looking at the young man’s back.

The young man’s shoulders were straight, and he didn’t turn his head. "So Miss Chu could catch me, of course."

’A person like him probably doesn’t even have the authority to decide whether he can go out or not.’ Chu Zhao didn’t tease him any further.

"Does it hurt?" she asked softly.

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