Ashes to Crown

Chapter 139: Chapter 95: Prepared

Xie Yanfang... Eunuch Qi smiled. ’What an aloof young master.’

"Your uncle is very capable, so he must be busy with other matters," he said, comforting the young prince. "He’ll come see you once he’s finished. We’re going to be here playing for three days."

Xiao Yu didn’t nod obediently as he usually did. Instead, he shook his head. "That’s not true. You all say that. Father often says he’ll come see me when he’s done, but he’s never done. If he really wanted to see me, he would, no matter how busy he was."

’Children who grow up in the Imperial Palace aren’t easy to fool.’ Eunuch Qi sighed. "There’s also another possibility. A person of Your Highness’s status can’t be seen by just anyone who wishes to. Your uncle is your uncle, but he is also a subject of the court."

’That’s true,’ Xiao Yu thought for a moment before replying, "But subjects can see their sovereign. Plenty of people want to see Father and Grandfather every day, and they always find a way. If someone doesn’t come, it’s because they don’t want to."

The little boy was still indignant, but he was no longer as dejected as before.

Eunuch Qi smiled and nodded. "Yes, yes. This old servant will have Third Young Master Xie come pay his respects to the young prince."

Xiao Yu’s eyes lit up. He pulled on Eunuch Qi’s hand. "Then can I summon him to the Imperial Palace?"

Eunuch Qi didn’t scold the young prince for overstepping his authority. Instead, he nodded readily. "Of course! This old servant will go summon him personally!"

A smile finally bloomed on Xiao Yu’s face, exceptionally bright.

’Children really are adorable,’ Eunuch Qi mused. ’No wonder the Emperor wants to keep the young prince by his side.’ But then another thought occurred to him: every adult was once a child—

He sighed inwardly, ’I hope the young prince doesn’t turn out like those other two princes when he grows up.’

"Alright," Eunuch Qi said with a smile, taking Xiao Yu’s hand. "Your Highness, let’s head back to the camp. There are many snakes and insects on the mountain."

Xiao Yu tilted his head back. "I’m not afraid of snakes and insects! I’m very brave."

Eunuch Qi chuckled and said in a low voice, "Then how about we catch a snake or an insect and bring it to the Crown Prince to see if it scares him?"

Xiao Yu giggled. "Father wouldn’t be scared! He’s very strong."

Despite his words, the little boy was already excited. He pulled Eunuch Qi along and called out to the surrounding attendants to catch snakes and insects.

The hillside grew lively.

...

...

Outside the Capital City, the civil and martial gatherings were each bustling with their own excitement, seeming to have drawn half the city’s population away. Inside the Capital City, it had become very quiet.

The alley where Deng Yi lived was in a remote location. It was usually full of idle loiterers, but at this moment, they had all run off to see the spectacle. It was a rare moment of quiet, so much so that a carriage could drive right in.

Unfortunately, it still couldn’t pass through the gate.

The driver sized up the entrance with some regret. "Lord Deng should find a better place to live."

Deng Yi’s young servant rubbed his nose. "There’s no need."

’If they got a better place, it might just get pawned off one day. It’s better to just hole up somewhere simple. Less trouble, less worry.’

Of course, the driver hadn’t come to critique someone’s home. He smiled and called the young servant over to help him carry the chests down from the carriage.

The unremarkable-looking chests were heavy, and the scrawny young servant struggled a bit. A glint of light could be seen through the cracks in the wood—gold, silver, or jewels of some kind.

But the young servant’s expression was nonchalant as he carried the chest into a storage room.

"Just throw it on the floor," he said.

The driver gave the young servant a look. The boy looked like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world. He couldn’t help but remind him, "The things inside are very valuable."

The young servant just grunted in acknowledgment. ’So what?’ he thought. ’It won’t be long before it’s all carried out again. I’ve seen too many of these chests coming and going. I’m numb to it.’

Meanwhile, in the only other room that could be considered a parlor, Deng Yi sat across from the Scholar, Ning Kun.

Ning Kun said with a smile, "This is a token of our Prince’s goodwill, to congratulate Lord Deng on his promotion."

Deng Yi chuckled. "It’s hardly a promotion. I’m merely a Gatekeeper now."

Ning Kun replied, "How is it not a promotion? Lord Deng has escaped the shackles of the Zhao and Yang Families to become an attendant at His Majesty’s gate."

He finished with a meaningful smile.

Deng Yi picked up his teacup and took a sip. "The Prince is truly well-informed to know of such a small matter."

Ning Kun simply smiled without answering the question.

Deng Yi wasn’t particularly concerned about the King of Zhongshan’s operations in the Capital City. ’If even a minor figure like me has caught his attention,’ he thought, ’who knows how many people the King of Zhongshan has recruited.’

"What does the Prince want from me this time?" he asked, setting down his teacup.

Ning Kun was just as direct. "The Prince has but one request. He asks that if danger arises in the future, Lord Deng open the gate for the Princely Heir."

Deng Yi froze for a moment. ’What does that mean? Is he worried the Princely Heir will be murdered by the Crown Prince or the Third Prince?’

’The Princely Heir’s reputation has been on the rise in the Capital City lately.’

’He used to hide away in the post house, acting as if he didn’t exist in this world. But recently, he’s attended the Chu Garden Literary Meeting several times, even bravely saving someone there and being gifted one of Miss Chu’s maids—’

At this, he couldn’t help but smile. ’Others might not know, but as soon as I heard, I guessed it. The Princely Heir probably wanted to be gifted more than just a maid.’

’Now everyone in the Capital City is talking about the Princely Heir. I’ve heard the Third Prince is displeased with his visits to Chu Garden and his association with the Chu Family. The Crown Prince is also unhappy about his involvement in the Third Prince’s affairs. And His Majesty, in his moments of confusion, occasionally asks a eunuch, "Why is everyone talking about Xun? Is Xun in the Capital City?"’

’The conflict between the Third Prince and the Crown Prince is now out in the open. When the time comes, it’s highly likely that Xiao Xun will be made an example of—the chicken killed to warn the monkeys.’

’If it really comes to that, given the cruelty and ruthlessness of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, coming to the Emperor would indeed be his only chance to survive.’

Deng Yi nodded. "Alright." Then he added, "But the old rules apply. This money is just for opening the gate. As for anything else—"

’For instance, whether the Princely Heir can stay alive after entering the gate, or even make it before the Emperor—’

"—that’s a separate price."

Ning Kun smiled. "But of course."

With that, he rose, bowed, and took his leave. Deng Yi didn’t try to keep him, and walked out to see him off.

"Ah Er, oh, Ah Er, you’re back—" a frail, elderly woman’s voice called from a nearby room. "Ah Er, your father’s and your brother’s graves need tending. Don’t you forget."

As she spoke, a blind old woman felt her way out of the room.

Deng Yi called out a confirmation and went to support her. "Mother, I remember. I’ll have Ah Cai send money back right away."

The young servant, Ah Cai, nodded along beside them. "Yes, yes, Old Madam, don’t you worry. The second master has money now."

The blind old woman finally let out a sigh of relief. She held Deng Yi’s hand and reached out to pat his head. "Good boy, Ah Er—"

Treating him as if he were still a mischievous child.

Deng Yi showed no sign of embarrassment. On the contrary, he lowered himself so his mother could reach his head.

"This is my mother," he said, holding the old woman’s hand. He introduced her to Ning Kun, then said to his mother, "We have a guest. I’m just seeing him off."

The old woman said hurriedly, "Oh, a guest! Guest—would you like to stay for a meal?"

The guest, Ning Kun, quickly bowed to the old woman. "Thank you, Old Madam, but I am in a hurry to return this time. I appreciate the kind offer."

The old woman didn’t insist. Her blind, aged face was full of warmth. "Alright, alright. Come for a meal next time."

Though the old woman couldn’t see it, Ning Kun bowed respectfully once more. He then gestured to Deng Yi not to see him out any further and walked briskly away.

Deng Yi didn’t follow. As Ning Kun settled into his carriage, he could hear the lively sounds from the small courtyard.

"—Mother, what would you like to eat? I’ll have Ah Cai make it."

"That’s right, Old Madam! We have money today, so let’s eat something good. Who knows if we’ll have any tomorrow!"

Ning Kun signaled to the driver. The driver urged the horse on, and the carriage creaked its way out of the narrow alley.

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