Ashes to Crown

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Hard to Defy

Chu Zhao wasn’t actually surprised by Vice General Zhong’s words, but hearing them still left her with complicated feelings.

"That place isn’t my home," she said, shaking her head.

Vice General Zhong was a sworn brother of Chu Ling, so he admonished Chu Zhao like an elder. "Nonsense. How is it not your home? It’s where your grandparents’ spirits rest, and your uncle guards the family gate." He then looked at Ah Le. "How are you serving your lady? You don’t even try to persuade her."

Ah Le had been quiet and reserved in the Capital City and on the road, terrified of saying the wrong thing and embarrassing her mistress. But she wasn’t the least bit timid in front of Vice General Zhong, retorting with conviction, "When have I ever tried to persuade my lady?"

Vice General Zhong was left speechless. ’That’s right,’ he thought. ’This girl has always done exactly as her mistress commands. She’d be the first to charge forward at a single order; when would she ever try to persuade anyone?’

"I’ll deal with you later," he could only say, making an empty threat.

Chu Zhao said, "Uncle Zhong, that’s just the Chu Family’s house, not my home. My home is where my family is, where my father is."

Looking at the girl’s red-rimmed eyes, Vice General Zhong couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. ’If it weren’t absolutely necessary—’

He suppressed the thought and tried to persuade Chu Zhao again. "The General knows about the incident with Miss Liang. He has already sent letters to both Lord Liang and the Ministry of Justice. It’s been resolved. You don’t have to be afraid. Just go home and rest easy."

"I’m not afraid of the Liang Family," Chu Zhao said, looking at Vice General Zhong with tears in her eyes. "I just want to go back and see my father, because he’s sick."

Vice General Zhong’s face turned grim. His eyes sharpened, and the scars on his face suddenly looked ferocious.

"Who’s been spreading nonsense in the Capital City?" he demanded. Before Chu Zhao could answer, he immediately added, "My lady, don’t listen to rumors. The General is perfectly fine."

’That’s not it at all. She wasn’t the thirteen-year-old Chu Zhao anymore. She was the Chu Zhao who had experienced her father’s death and been reborn.’

’Based on my calculations, Father should already be critically ill at this very moment.’

Chu Zhao shook her head tearfully. "It’s not a rumor. Uncle Zhong, how can you be so cruel? What if I never get to see Father again?"

Vice General Zhong’s hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists. He was in turmoil. Firstly, because of Chu Zhao’s sorrow and the thought of her and the General never seeing each other again. In truth, the General had considered this. After much deliberation, he had concluded that as long as his daughter could avoid being dragged into the vortex and live a life of peace and happiness, it would be worth it, even if father and daughter never met again in this life.

Secondly, other thoughts were racing through his mind. ’The young lady is right. The General is indeed critically ill.’

’How did this happen? Has the news already spread in the Capital City? It’s true that various factions are trying to spy on the Border County, but this shouldn’t have happened. The news couldn’t have leaked.’

’Was the conflict between my lady and Miss Liang an accident, or was it orchestrated?’

’Are they using my lady to probe for information?’

’Also, the reports say that the people sent from the Capital City to pursue my lady were from the Weiwei Mansion, led by a Small Minister of low birth surnamed Deng—but with figures from the Capital, you can never be sure who is pulling the strings.’

His mind a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts and various conspiracies, Vice General Zhong no longer had the capacity to attend to the girl’s sorrow.

"Ah Zhao, don’t be sad," he said. "The General is fine, and nothing will happen to you when you return to the Capital. After some time, the General will personally come to the Capital to see you."

With that, he turned to walk away.

"The General has already written to the King of Zhongshan, entrusting him to send people to escort you to meet up with Young Master Chu and the others."

Chu Zhao cried out, "Father won’t come to see me at all! If I don’t go back now, I’ll never see him again—"

Before she could finish, Vice General Zhong spun around, grabbed her, and covered her mouth.

"Ah Zhao!" His eyes were sharp as he hissed in a low voice, "If you cause a scene about going back now, you might *really* never see the General again! Do you want the court to find out he’s sick?!"

Chu Zhao froze, stunned.

The moment the words left his mouth, Vice General Zhong felt a pang of regret.

"I don’t know where you heard these rumors, my lady, but they are compelling you to return to see the General. Once you actually go back, you’ll be confirming the rumor is true," he said through clenched teeth. "The General has stood guard over the Border County for decades, shouldering a grave responsibility for His Majesty. He will absolutely not allow the slightest bit of turmoil in the Border County."

Chu Zhao stood there, stunned, yet it seemed she was also beginning to understand.

’Father hid the news of his illness to prevent turmoil in the Border County—or perhaps not just in the Border County, but turmoil in the court and across the land. After all, the struggle between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince didn’t just happen overnight; the undercurrents have been surging for a long time, exemplified by the surface-level conflicts between the Empress Clan, the Yang Family, and the Imperial Concubine’s Zhao Family.’

’Uncle Zhong’s words only further confirmed my suspicions.’

’I originally thought Father was a disgraced, punished, and discarded official. This status made me looked down upon by the other noble ladies in the Capital City. My aunt’s complaints were constant. After marrying Xiao Xun, I often blamed myself for my status and family background, feeling I could only be a burden and never a help. I even resented Father for his supposed misconduct.’

’Before I died, Princess Consort Liang gloated, "Now, all your father’s men belong to our Liang Family. You’re useless now."’

’At that time, Father had already been dead for nearly ten years, yet Princess Consort Liang still brought him up—’

’And now even Uncle Zhong says the news of Father’s illness would cause turmoil in the Border County.’

’Father is just a General Wei. In the Border County’s hierarchy, there’s a Prefectural Governor and four Great Generals above him. Any random Colonel could replace him. Whether he’s there or not, how could the Border County possibly fall into turmoil?’

’What kind of grave responsibility does Father hold?’

’Uncle Zhong’s words now seemed to confirm that Father was not the ordinary figure I had thought him to be—’

’In that case, did Father really do *that*?’

’*That* thing that caused me, the Empress, to be cursed as the Evil Empress, that made the Dongyang Xie Family raise the banner of rebellion, their slogan of "punishing the treacherous and eliminating evil" half-aimed at me, a member of the Chu Family—’

Seeing Chu Zhao’s dazed expression, Vice General Zhong felt a twinge of compassion. "Ah Zhao, don’t worry, the General will be fine. I’ll tell you some good news."

Chu Zhao looked at him.

Vice General Zhong gave a gentle smile and said in a low voice, "Once the General has settled matters in the Border County, he will resign from his post and return to the Capital City to reunite with you, my lady. From then on, you’ll never be separated again."

’So that was Father’s original plan?’

A look of grief crossed Chu Zhao’s face, and tears instantly fell.

’But because I married Xiao Xun, and Xiao Xun became the Emperor... for my sake, and for my husband’s, Father didn’t resign. He exhausted the last dregs of his life in the Border County?’

’If not for my business with Xiao Xun, Father would have returned to the Capital City to live a peaceful, secluded life. He might have lived for several more years. The turmoil of the Great Xia, the conflict between Xiao Xun and the Dongyang Xie Family—none of it would have had anything to do with us.’

"I don’t want ’later’!" She grabbed Vice General Zhong’s arm. "I want to go back and see my father now! Uncle Zhong, I have so many things, so many important things, to tell him—"

They were speaking in the main hall. Zhang Gu and the other posthouse soldiers had stepped out to give them privacy, and Xiao Xun’s group hadn’t come inside either, waiting instead in the courtyard. But the inn wasn’t large, and as their voices grew louder, the people in the courtyard couldn’t help but look over.

Vice General Zhong noticed the gazes from outside. He held Chu Zhao’s arm and chided in a low voice, "Stop making a scene. Don’t you know the General’s temper? Once he makes a decision, no one can defy it. Don’t make things difficult for me. I will not take you back." Then he called out, "Ah Le!"

Ah Le stepped forward nervously.

"Look after your lady," Vice General Zhong said. "You’ve both grown up. It’s time you acted like adults."

At this, he looked at Chu Zhao and said gravely, word by word.

"Ah Zhao, you must believe that the General is doing this for your own good."

He then pushed Chu Zhao’s hand away and, to keep himself from softening again, turned and strode out.

Ah Le muttered something under her breath and quickly took Chu Zhao’s arm, feeling how cold her hand was.

Vice General Zhong came out and bowed to Xiao Xun. "This humble general greets the Princely Heir."

Xiao Xun nodded.

General Zhong said, "I must trouble the Prince and the Princely Heir to look after my young lady. On behalf of the General, I thank you, Your Highness."

Xiao Xun smiled. "General, you are too kind. Please rest assured, I will deliver Miss Chu safely into Young Master Chu’s hands. Tie Ying," he said, turning his head, "where are Young Master Chu and his party now?"

Tie Ying replied, "They will arrive in another ten days."

Xiao Xun said to General Zhong, "I will personally escort Miss Chu to rendezvous with Young Master Chu."

General Zhong bowed again. "Thank you, Princely Heir."

It seemed the situation was now irreversible. Chu Zhao stood at the entrance to the hall, watching General Zhong and Xiao Xun speak—one bowing respectfully, the other affable and kind. ’Just like in my previous life—’

Her eyes couldn’t help but turn red.

"Ah Jiu!" she suddenly shouted.

Ah Jiu, who had been happily watching the drama unfold from the side, jumped in fright. He immediately cursed inwardly, ’This girl is like a persistent ghost! Why is she dragging me into this again?!’

Sure enough, with Chu Zhao’s shout, every gaze in the courtyard turned to Ah Jiu. General Zhong, who hadn’t known who Ah Jiu was, immediately found him by following everyone’s line of sight.

General Zhong looked at the young man. ’Why did my lady call his name?’ He was puzzled for a moment, but then immediately became wary.

’This young man looks dangerous.’

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