Ashes to Crown

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Paying Respects

Chu Zhao stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the Prince Zhongshan Mansion.

The King of Zhongshan was the late Emperor’s youngest son. He was originally supposed to remain in the Capital City after breaking his leg, but he insisted on leaving, saying he didn’t want to spend his entire life there. Helpless, the late Emperor could only grant him the title of King and allow him to depart.

After leaving the Capital City, the King of Zhongshan never returned, remaining in this mansion until the day he died.

As the King of Zhongshan’s daughter-in-law, she had never been to the Prince Mansion either.

In that lifetime, she and Xiao Xun were married in the Capital City. Before they could return to the Prince Zhongshan Mansion, a rebellion among the princes broke out. The Capital City was put under lockdown, and soon after, Xiao Xun was named the Crown Prince.

Once he became the Crown Prince, his primary status was that of the Emperor’s son, distancing him from the King of Zhongshan. They never returned to the Prince Zhongshan Mansion again.

"Impressive, isn’t it?" Chu Ke said with a snort. "The late Emperor personally drew the blueprints for the Prince Zhongshan Mansion. It’s like a miniature Imperial City."

Chu Zhao glanced at him. "You say that as if you’ve ever seen the Imperial City."

The Chu Family’s standing wasn’t high enough to grant them entry into the Imperial City. ’We should have had the right, but it was all ruined by that second uncle of ours. How dare she bring it up!’ Chu Ke fumed. "You don’t have to see the Imperial City to know it’s magnificent!"

Deng Yi cleared his throat from the side. ’These two cousins start arguing the moment they open their mouths. They really don’t get along. Perhaps that’s another reason why Miss Chu ran away from the Capital City without telling anyone.’

"Let’s go inside," he said. "The King is probably waiting."

Chu Ke quickly agreed, shooting Chu Zhao a glare and warning in a low voice, "You’d better behave. Don’t embarrass us here in the Prince Zhongshan Mansion."

Chu Zhao said nothing. After entering, she was perfectly composed, keeping her head lowered and her eyes downcast. Even when she felt the King of Zhongshan’s gaze fixed on her, she pretended not to notice.

"Miss Chu, it must have been a long journey," the King of Zhongshan said, turning to her after exchanging pleasantries with Chu Ke and Deng Yi.

Chu Zhao kept her head lowered. "I’m not the one who’s been troubled. The King and the Princely Heir are the ones who went through all the effort."

Xiao Xun, standing to the side, suppressed a laugh and gave his father a meaningful look. He had told him already: this Miss Chu was not the least bit grateful to them. If it hadn’t been for them, her plan would have succeeded.

’This girl really dislikes us.’

The King of Zhongshan looked at the girl, who remained a small, huddled figure with her head bowed. He chuckled. "My apologies. I received a letter stating someone had gone missing and simply offered my help in the search. I was not aware that you were only trying to visit your father."

Chu Ke shot to his feet. "Your Highness, you are too kind! There is no need for apologies. This is all my cousin’s fault for being mischievous."

Xiao Xun couldn’t resist teasing from the side, "So, Miss Chu was forced to come by the Young Master. She told me earlier that she wouldn’t be coming."

’That wretched girl, how dare she say something like that!’ Chu Ke glanced at Chu Zhao, mortified, and wracked his brain for a way to smooth things over. ’Sigh, this is my first time traveling so far from home, and my first time meeting nobles like a King and a Princely Heir...’

"I wasn’t forced," Chu Zhao spoke up first. She raised her head, but instead of looking at Xiao Xun or the King of Zhongshan, she turned to the seated Deng Yi. "If it were just my cousin and I, we would naturally avoid visiting the King and the Princely Heir to prevent any impropriety. But with Lord Deng, a court official, present, there is no need for such propriety."

’When he first heard that Miss Chu was avoiding the Prince Mansion to prevent impropriety, Deng Yi had actually believed it was an order from Chu Ling. But after hearing her explanation, he knew this was just another excuse she had invented on the spot.’

’She simply didn’t like the King of Zhongshan and his son.’

’It was his first time meeting a girl like this.’ Deng Yi suppressed a smile and didn’t correct her. Xiao Xun didn’t seem to mind either, as he was already well-acquainted with her temperament. The King of Zhongshan, after a moment of stunned silence, burst out laughing.

"I see," he said, clapping his hands and nodding. "Miss Chu is very thorough in her considerations."

Chu Zhao replied, "Thank you, Your Highness," and then lowered her head, falling silent once more.

Chu Ke, terrified, bowed from the side. "Your Highness, please forgive her. My cousin is just this mischievous. Sigh... if she weren’t so unruly, we wouldn’t have troubled you this time."

The King of Zhongshan waved his hand with a smile. "Young Master Chu, there’s no need to be so formal. It’s nothing. And as for being unruly, my own children are certainly no slouches." With that, he called out to an attendant. "Since they are here, have them meet my children and see the sights of the mansion. It must be terribly dull just sitting here."

The mansion’s steward said with a smile, "The Princess Consort is already waiting with the others."

Chu Ke was both surprised and overjoyed. ’Meeting the Princess Consort and the young masters and misses of the mansion... that would count as forging a connection, wouldn’t it?’ He quickly stood up.

But Chu Zhao remained seated, her gaze fixed on Deng Yi.

Deng Yi noticed her gaze and asked, "Miss Chu, what are your orders?"

"Are you going?" Chu Zhao asked.

Deng Yi chuckled. How could he, a male guest, enter the inner quarters of the mansion? He was neither a female relative nor a child. "I’m not going."

Chu Zhao nodded, seemingly relieved. "Then I won’t go either."

All eyes in the room turned to her once more. Chu Ke’s face flushed crimson; he wished he could just kick her upright. ’I never used to pay this cousin of mine any mind. I never realized how infuriating she was.’

"Forgive me, Your Highness," Chu Zhao said, standing up. "As you probably know, I committed an offense in the Capital City, which is why Lord Deng was sent to pursue me. Therefore, I am technically a prisoner at the moment, and it would be improper for me to leave Lord Deng’s side. Furthermore, I am in no mood to meet the Princess Consort and the other ladies. It would only make for an awkward conversation."

As she said this, she glanced at the King of Zhongshan.

"If I am fortunate enough to return and see this matter peacefully resolved, and should I have the chance to meet Your Highness again, then I will certainly pay my respects to the Princess Consort."

Her earlier words were still feigning propriety, but this last sentence was completely undisguised. The King of Zhongshan understood. His mansion had played the part of an accomplice in this girl’s capture, and she was in no mood to pay respects and make small talk with her adversaries.

’Chu Ling’s daughter is like a little wild beast,’ the King of Zhongshan thought, momentarily stunned. He found he could barely recall what Chu Ling looked like. ’He was much the same, wasn’t he?’ Handsome and refined, he seemed a gentle soul, but his words were as sharp as a blade. Otherwise, he never would have won their Imperial Brother’s favor. A general with that kind of ferocity in his bones—that was exactly the type his Imperial Brother liked best.

He had wanted to meet this Miss Chu out of curiosity about her appearance, but now that he had, he hadn’t paid any attention to her looks. She didn’t remind him of her mother; she reminded him of Chu Ling.

The King of Zhongshan nodded. "Miss Chu is right. I was being inconsiderate. This is indeed not a suitable time for socializing."

Chu Ke said hastily, "Your Highness, you are too polite! Please don’t pay any mind to her nonsense."

The King of Zhongshan chuckled. "It is Young Master Chu who is being too polite. Miss Chu," he said, ignoring the young man and looking only at the young lady, "please understand. I am a King of the Great Xia. When entrusted with a task by a court official, I must do my best. It is not that I hold any personal prejudice against you."

Chu Zhao bowed respectfully to the King of Zhongshan. "To accept a ruler’s stipend is to be loyal in his service. Your Highness did nothing wrong. This humble girl does not hold any resentment toward you. If anyone is to be blamed—"

"You must mean me, I suppose?" Deng Yi, who had been silent until now, suddenly interjected.

’Look at that! The wretched girl has managed to offend both sides at once!’ Chu Ke was about to die of anger. He truly regretted bringing Chu Zhao to the Prince Mansion. Who could have imagined she would dare to spout such nonsense in front of a powerful man like the King of Zhongshan?

"Of course I don’t blame Lord Deng either," Chu Zhao said, turning to him with a smile. "In this matter, the first person to blame is me, for hitting someone. The second person to blame is me, for running away without a word. And finally, the blame falls on me for having a plan full of holes and lacking the skill to execute it properly, which led to me being caught. So, it’s all my fault. I have no one to blame but myself."

Deng Yi burst out laughing. The King of Zhongshan roared with laughter as well. To the side, Xiao Xun pressed his lips together, his two deep dimples appearing on his cheeks.

Chu Ke just stood there, stunned. He didn’t know if he should laugh or not. ’What are they all laughing at?’

"I came today to thank the King and the Princely Heir for your assistance," Deng Yi said, turning to the King of Zhongshan and bowing.

The King of Zhongshan nodded with a smile. "Lord Deng, you are too kind. Please send my regards to Zhou Weiqing."

Deng Yi acknowledged the request and straightened up. "The culprit has been apprehended. I came to report this to Your Highness, and now, I shall take my leave."

As he said the word "culprit," he pointed a finger at Chu Zhao.

This time, Chu Ke understood. His face went stiff. ’Damn you, Chu Zhao! All that big talk, and now they’re really treating you like a criminal!’

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