Ashes to Crown

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Misfortune

Ah Fu didn’t know why she was laughing either.

It was hardly a time for laughter.

She had fled the Capital City to see her father, and also to escape the fate of her past life. She and Xiao Xun had met in the Capital City: she fell into the water, he saved her, she fell in love at first sight, and they were deeply in love—

Of course, it wasn’t until she was on her deathbed that she learned it was all a lie.

Princess Consort Liang had sneered, "Mutually in love? Empress, please. How could your meeting with His Majesty be such a coincidence? He just happened to visit your home, and you just happened to fall into the water? Wake up already. Take a good look at your Chu Family’s status. How could you be so lucky? It was nothing more than a transaction."

The words of a girl barely fifteen or sixteen, as delicate as a flower, were like daggers twisting in her heart. Just when she thought she had accepted Xiao Xun’s heartlessness, the pain was like having her flesh carved from her bones all over again.

’So that life-saving rescue, that love at first sight... was it all just my imagination?’

’Xiao Xun never liked me at all? Was marrying me just a transaction? A transaction with whom?’

Just as Princess Consort Liang had said, the Chu Family’s status was worse than common. Her father was a branded criminal, a man everyone shunned.

’How could they possibly have the means to make a deal with anyone, let alone the Heir of Zhongshan King?!’

Princess Consort Liang had said many other strange things. She didn’t just mention the evil deed her father had supposedly committed; she also brought up her mother—

’But my mother died when I was born!’

’Why was her mother being mentioned so many years later?’

But she never had the chance to find out. They wouldn’t let her ask any more questions, only hurried her toward her death. Once she was dead and the position of Empress was vacant, Princess Consort Liang could be enthroned without delay.

She had died in a daze and woken up just as bewildered. Her only choice was to flee the Capital City immediately, to avoid falling into that bizarre transaction again. She had to find her father and ask him all the questions that plagued her.

But she never expected that after leaving the Capital City, in a place so remote, she would fall into the water again—and that Xiao Xun would be the one to save her. Again.

’This... this couldn’t be part of someone’s transaction, could it?’

There was no one else here besides her and Ah Jiu.

She couldn’t figure out Ah Jiu’s identity. He had nearly killed her, but she was fairly certain he didn’t know Xiao Xun.

’It’s a pity I can’t kill Xiao Xun now that he’s right in front of me. The only thing I can do is avoid any connection with him.’

The simplest, most direct way to avoid getting entangled with Xiao Xun was to get entangled with someone else.

’And it would also help hide my identity from him.’

That was why, just as Zhang Gu was about to reveal their origins, she had shouted those words and thrown herself at Ah Jiu.

Just as she’d planned, Xiao Xun didn’t give her a second glance, and he didn’t even bother asking who the posthouse soldier was.

Thinking about how she’d narrowly escaped disaster, Ah Fu couldn’t help but laugh.

Ah Jiu stared at her coldly. "Did you get water in your brain? How dare you use me for your little drama? Have you forgotten who I am? I’m the one who tried to kill you."

’This girl actually wants to put on a show with me? Shouldn’t she be throwing herself into that other young man’s arms, thanking him for saving her life while pointing me out as the would-be murderer?’

’Either this girl is insane, or she and that man are accomplices, putting on an act to deceive me.’

But even though he couldn’t figure out her origins, he was fairly certain this Ah Fu didn’t know the other man.

Why would she dare put on an act with him? Ah Fu smiled again. ’Because that man would kill me, too. In fact, he already has, once before.’

’Faced with two men who want to kill me, of course I’d choose Ah Jiu. Strictly speaking, he only tried to kill me because of a misunderstanding.’

"Young Master Ah Jiu," she said. "My name is Chu Zhao. Chu Ling is my father."

...

...

Ah Jiu’s expression faltered for a moment.

"What nonsense are you spouting now?" he said, frowning. "Trying to trick someone with a new identity again?"

’She saw me with the letter for General Chu Ling, so now she’s spinning this story. This girl lies without even blinking.’

"I’m not lying to you," Chu Zhao said, raising her voice to call outside. "Ah Le."

Ah Le, who was guarding outside the tent, hurried in.

"You guessed right. She’s not my sister. She is indeed a maid," Chu Zhao said.

Ah Le bowed to Ah Jiu. "Young Master Ah Jiu, please forgive my earlier impertinence."

Ah Jiu was expressionless.

Chu Zhao continued, "You probably know that my father has only one daughter, and that he sent me to the Capital City just last year."

Ah Jiu’s expression remained cold. "What I’m supposed to know, the whole world knows. Telling me this is meaningless, and I don’t have time for your nonsense."

With that, he turned to leave.

"Young Master Ah Jiu," Chu Zhao stood up. "You keep my identity a secret, and I’ll keep yours."

Ah Jiu turned back, his gaze sharp and cold. ’Look at that. This girl spouts lies and threats as easily as she breathes.’

"You said you used the secret letter to lure me into revealing myself on purpose," Chu Zhao said, "but your wariness can’t be for nothing. Your trip to Yunzhong County must have something to do with my father."

Ah Jiu gave a dry chuckle, said nothing, and strode away.

The tent flap billowed, letting in a gust of cold wind. The sudden chill made Chu Zhao cough.

Ah Le quickly helped her sit down in front of the brazier and asked in a low voice, "Miss, he doesn’t believe you?"

Chu Zhao watched the billowing tent flap. "It doesn’t matter. Even if he doesn’t believe me, he’ll keep me with him to prevent me from revealing anything about that secret letter."

’This Ah Jiu is both ruthless and cautious. The moment he confirmed his suspicion, he was ready to kill me to silence me, without a single question. Now that he can’t kill me, he won’t abandon me either, not if he wants to keep his identity secret. Dealing with someone like him is actually simple. It’s all about leverage.’

Ah Jiu was no longer the main concern. The real problem was Xiao Xun, who was still out there.

"Miss, do you know that gentleman?" Ah Le asked curiously. Besides, it seemed her miss was afraid of him, yet at the same time, she looked like she wanted to kill him...

Chu Zhao didn’t want to say his name. "Whether I know him isn’t important. What’s important is that he must not recognize me."

’Xiao Xun showing up here... it can’t be a coincidence.’

"We need to leave quickly."

...

...

Zhang Gu was also called into the tent. Facing the girl again, he felt a little awkward and didn’t know how to act.

The girl didn’t cry to him about her romantic troubles. She just said she wanted to set out as soon as possible.

She lowered her head. "I don’t want to face so many people. That gentleman saw... what happened. I’m so ashamed."

Zhang Gu wanted to ask what "what happened" was, but seeing the girl’s mortified expression, he couldn’t bring himself to. ’What is there to ask anyway? They’ve already... done that sort of thing.’ ’That Ah Jiu is a real scoundrel!’

"But," Zhang Gu said, "that gentleman is your savior, after all. Ah Fu, you can’t be so rude."

Chu Zhao lowered her head. "I will repay his great kindness in the future."

’They’re just strangers who met by chance. What "future" is there to speak of?’ Zhang Gu didn’t press the girl any further. ’She’s so young, her family has suffered a great disaster, and she has no parents to rely on. Her spirit must be fragile.’ ’That brat Ah Jiu is a beast!’

"Alright, I’ll go thank that gentleman, and we’ll leave immediately," Zhang Gu said.

As he turned to leave, the girl tugged at the corner of his tunic and said plaintively, "Uncle Zhang, please don’t leave me behind."

Zhang Gu shook his head and sighed. ’I couldn’t abandon her before, and I certainly can’t now that this mess with Ah Jiu has happened. How could I ever face her parents?’

"Don’t you worry," he said. "No matter what, I’ll see you two sisters safely to your father."

’Then I’ll let the girl’s father deal with that Ah Jiu. I can’t handle it anymore.’

Zhang Gu went outside and ordered his men to pack up. The posthouse soldiers had no objections. When Ah Jiu started to speak, Zhang Gu cut him off with a harsh glare. "Don’t you say a single word! I’m not getting involved in this mess. My only concern is our military orders. I won’t go easy on anyone who delays our schedule."

Ah Jiu watched as the two girls emerged from the tent, now dressed in thick, padded clothes and carrying their bundles. A wry smile touched his lips. He simply pointed a finger at Chu Zhao, a clear sign that he knew she’d manipulated Zhang Gu.

But, as expected, he didn’t voice any objection and simply sauntered away.

...

...

Tie Ying entered to find Xiao Xun drying his hair, which exuded a faint scent of green tangerine.

"Those posthouse soldiers are leaving," Tie Ying said. "That Leader Zhang came to bid farewell and thank you, Young Master. I sent him away without revealing our identities."

He had initially been very courteous toward soldiers from the Capital City. But the thought of these posthouse soldiers traveling with girls, getting into some shady, life-and-death drama... how could they call that official business?

"Have the court’s soldiers really fallen to this state?" he sneered.

Xiao Xun glanced at him. "Don’t mistake a part for the whole. It was just an isolated incident."

Tie Ying scoffed. "It’s not just one or two incidents. The capital’s army has practically become a playground for the imperial in-laws. The Yang Family and Zhao Family are making a complete mess of things—"

Xiao Xun rebuked him, "Shut up. Do not discuss matters of state."

Others might be able to discuss such things, but it wasn’t appropriate for people of their status. If the local Supervisor were to find out, it would lead to trouble.

Tie Ying quickly bowed his head. "This subordinate accepts his fault."

Xiao Xun didn’t scold him further. "The winter river scenery is quite beautiful, isn’t it? It’s much more interesting to admire the view."

Tie Ying muttered, "Yes, and Your Highness getting berated for saving someone from the river was also ’quite interesting.’"

Xiao Xun laughed heartily. He heard the commotion outside as the posthouse soldiers mounted up and rode away, but he had no interest in even glancing in their direction.

"We should get back on the boat and continue our excursion," he said.

But before he could walk out of the tent, a guard strode in.

"Princely Heir," he said, handing over a small scroll of paper. "A carrier pigeon message from the Prince."

Xiao Xun took the scroll and unrolled it. His expression froze for a moment. He seemed to ponder something, and then he smiled.

"Interesting," he said.

...

...

As the posthouse soldiers galloped down the main road once more, the atmosphere was strange. No one seemed to know how to act around the two girls anymore.

Zhang Gu’s thoughts were a tangled mess. One moment he was cursing Ah Jiu, the next he was blaming Ah Fu, and then he was blaming himself. He cracked his whip loudly. ’Just get to the Border County faster! I need to get rid of this trouble!’

Hooves thundered against the ground as if everyone was desperately trying to outrun something.

But then came the sound of more hooves from behind, approaching quickly.

"Wait a moment!" a chorus of voices shouted.

Zhang Gu froze, glancing back. He saw a large contingent of riders. From a distance, they looked like a dark, oppressive cloud. He recognized their attire—they were the guards of that young gentleman from before.

’What’s going on? Surely they haven’t come to get revenge for the girl’s rudeness?’

"Ignore them!" Chu Zhao shouted. "Faster!"

She cracked her whip, urging her horse on. She shot past the other posthouse soldiers like a bolt of lightning, taking the lead, but she couldn’t escape the thunderous pursuit.

"Miss Chu—"

"Please wait—"

Chu Zhao closed her eyes. ’I knew it. Meeting Xiao Xun is my curse.’

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