Ashes to Crown

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Biding Time

Although they weren’t afraid, the two of them remained on edge, prepared for anything. But Ah Jiu didn’t cause any trouble. He just kept eating and drinking. That evening, Ah Le even tentatively went over to bring him a basin of water to wash his feet. He was as sarcastic as ever, refusing to let Ah Le get close and complaining that he only had two sets of clothes left. If they got wet again, he’d have to go around naked.

Ah Le ran off, her face red, as the posthouse soldiers laughed and jeered at him.

Neither Ah Fu nor Ah Le slept soundly that night, but it passed without incident.

The next day, with both men and horses having had two days of ample rest, they bid farewell to the hospitable old Posthouse Minister and the group set off again at a gallop.

She didn’t know if it was because her body had finally adapted, or because she was getting farther from the Capital City and closer to her father, but Ah Fu was in high spirits. Riding no longer felt so arduous, and her legs and backside no longer ached from chafing. She lifted her scarf, letting the biting wind whip across her face. It didn’t feel bitter and cold, but invigorating in a way she hadn’t felt for a long time.

In her past life, after arriving in the Capital City, she had given up riding and practicing with swords and spears to become a proper, dignified noble lady. After marrying, she had devoted herself to the art of serving her husband, adopting a soft and delicate demeanor in her speech and actions. She became a "willow-like beauty," so frail that a single push could make her fall and miscarry. In the end, when she was held down and forced to drink poison, when they strangled her with a white silk cord, she didn’t even have the strength to resist.

When she first awoke in this new life, the trauma had left this body weak. Back at the Chu Family’s estate, she had barely been able to climb over a wall.

’Galloping freely on horseback, feeling the strength in my own body... it feels so good.’

’In this life, no one will ever strangle me again. I’ll strangle them first!’

Ah Fu raised her whip and shouted a command to her horse, her voice crisp and clear.

Up ahead, Zhang Gu and the others turned to look. Both sisters were quiet and reserved. Although the younger sister, Ah Fu, was a bit more talkative, this was the first time they had heard her shout like that.

She was just a girl of twelve or thirteen, after all.

"Ah Fu, your riding skills are really good!" a posthouse soldier said with a grin. "Come on, race me."

The others hooted, "Aren’t you a little old for that?" "Have you no shame?"

Ah Fu didn’t say a word. She just whipped her horse and, sure enough, caught up. The posthouse soldiers immediately let out a cheer.

The silence of the winter wilderness was instantly broken by the clamor.

Watching Ah Fu gallop past him, Ah Jiu, who had been leading the group, pursed his lips.

"Well, well, she’s passed you!" Zhang Gu roared with laughter.

"As if!" Ah Jiu snapped. The young man spurred his horse, which shot forward like lightning. He not only overtook Ah Fu but nearly knocked the girl from her saddle—

Furious, Zhang Gu cursed from behind them, "What’s the big idea, competing with a girl!"

It wasn’t as if anyone actually thought he’d lose to her.

’That little punk!’

The posthouse soldier who had been racing Ah Fu—and had intentionally stayed a step behind her—goaded her, "Go on, race him! Piss him off."

Ah Fu glanced at the young Ah Jiu, who was tearing off into the distant wilderness, and smiled. She shook her head. "I can’t beat him."

’This Ah Jiu... I can’t tell if his wildness is genuine or just an act. He’s impossible to read.’

’It seems he really doesn’t suspect anything about the letter.’

"I don’t think he was the one who wrote ’Hehe’ on it," Ah Fu whispered to Ah Le. "Since it’s a secret letter, there must be many decoys. The one you stole was a fake to begin with."

Ah Le guessed, "So he was already carrying a bunch of them, and doesn’t care if one goes missing."

’It didn’t quite add up, but it was the only explanation they had. In any case, as long as Ah Jiu doesn’t ask, I’ll just pretend it never happened. What I’m more curious about is who sent that secret letter to Father.’

’Now, it feels like anyone could be the sender, yet at the same time, every possibility seems incredible.’

’Maybe... it was *him*.’

Ah Fu watched the figure of the young Ah Jiu disappear into the wilderness, a flash of hatred in her eyes.

"Don’t be angry," Ah Le said hurriedly in a low voice when she saw her expression. "I’ll try again. I’ll see if I can get it."

’That’s not why I’m angry,’ Ah Fu thought, lowering her gaze and shaking her head. "Don’t. That kid is extremely sharp. He’ll find out."

’Now that I know the letter exists, I’ll have to see it when I meet Father. He’ll show it to me.’

The thought of her father made Ah Fu’s spirits lift.

"Look!" Zhang Gu shouted from up ahead. "That’s the Little Cave River!"

The posthouse soldiers all cheered.

"Once we cross the Little Cave River, we’ll have officially left the Central Plains!"

Ah Fu knew this, of course. She had passed the Little Cave River on her way to the Capital City in her past life. She had even taken a boat and spent a few days enjoying the river.

Yunzhong County was getting closer, and her father was getting closer.

A smile bloomed uncontrollably on her face.

That night, they camped in the open, falling asleep to the sound of the rushing river. As always, Ah Fu awoke at the crack of dawn.

Ah Le was fast asleep, snuggled in her cotton-padded coat. Ah Fu rose nimbly to her feet.

Seeing her move, the posthouse soldier on watch nodded knowingly and called out a reminder, "Be careful, it’s slippery by the river."

Ah Fu thanked him and headed toward the river with light steps, carrying a wooden bucket.

Once at the riverbank, she followed her usual routine: first, she relieved herself, then she quickly washed her hands and face. By now, she had grown accustomed to the cold water.

The river was called the Little Cave River, but it was not little at all. It was wide and the current was swift, though it calmed slightly in the early morning.

Ah Fu could see her own face in the water. ’It’s strange. I barely recognize my younger self, but I can’t remember what I looked like when I was dying, either.’

’After my miscarriage, my appearance had deteriorated. In my twenties, I was like a withered flower. I even started to grow white hair.’

’I had thought it was just poor health, but looking back now, I realize my medicine must have been tampered with.’

’How could it have come to this? We were husband and wife... how could it have come to this?’

As Ah Fu stared at the girl’s hate-filled face reflected in the water, a sudden WHOOSH cut through the air. A pebble grazed past her and landed in the river, shattering the reflection.

Startled, Ah Fu spun around to see Ah Jiu standing behind her, a slingshot in his hand.

"Sir," she said, scrambling to her feet and grabbing her bucket. "Please, go ahead and wash up. I’ll be heading back."

But with a sharp CRACK, another pebble shot out and struck the wooden bucket.

A jolt of numbness shot through Ah Fu’s hand, and she lost her grip. The bucket fell with a THUD.

Ah Jiu stared at her. His usual sarcastic air was gone, his expression placid and unreadable, his eyes ice-cold. "Who sent you?"

Ah Fu’s heart plummeted. ’So he knew the letter was stolen all along. And he waited until now to say something!’

"What are you talking about?" she said, biting her lower lip. "What new way have you found to bully me?"

Ah Jiu smiled, but it was a chilling, sinister grin. He produced a dagger that was just as cold, resting it on his slingshot and aiming it at Ah Fu.

"I’m not going to bully you," he said. "I’m going to kill you."

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