Ashes to Crown

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Nightfall

Having said his goodbyes, Deng Yi departed with the siblings Chu Zhao and Chu Ke.

The King of Zhongshan did not press them to stay. He had his steward see them out and, leaning on Xiao Xun for support, stood outside the hall to watch them go. He remained motionless even after their figures had vanished from sight.

"What did you think, Father?" Xiao Xun asked with a smile.

The King of Zhongshan chuckled, nodding. "Charming. Captivating, even. Quite something. If her mother was like her, I can see why Chu Ling was so hopelessly devoted."

Xiao Xun hadn’t expected such an assessment from his father. It didn’t sound entirely like a joke. He glanced toward the doorway, not finding the girl particularly captivating himself.

The King of Zhongshan shook his head again. "It’s truly a pity."

’A pity about what?’ Xiao Xun was even more puzzled.

"A pity she doesn’t seem to like us," the King of Zhongshan said with a laugh, looking at Xiao Xun.

Xiao Xun smiled. "It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have seized Miss Chu."

The King of Zhongshan said, "If you hadn’t seized her, we would have had no way of meeting her. Dislike is a kind of fate, too."

’Judging by the way Father is talking, does he really want some sort of connection with Miss Chu?’ Xiao Xun asked, "Father, are you truly captivated by that Miss Chu?"

The King of Zhongshan laughed heartily, clapping him on the shoulder and using the momentum to turn around. "How long has it been since our Prince Mansion had a happy occasion? If you don’t get married soon, your old man will have to take another wife just so everyone can celebrate at a wedding banquet."

Xiao Xun chuckled and said, "Alright, then," supporting his father as they walked inside, chatting and laughing.

Whether Miss Chu was defiant or arrogant, whether she was deliberately provoking them, it didn’t matter to the father and son. So what? They were the ones who could dictate her mood and attitude, not the other way around.

It was like an adult watching a child’s tantrum—amusing, and nothing more.

.....

.....

Chu Ke was furious now.

"Are you satisfied now?" he snapped. "Wasn’t the trouble you caused in the Capital City enough? Do you have to offend everyone along the way?"

Chu Zhao was unfazed by his anger. Without even glancing at him, she said, "What do you know? Offending people isn’t necessarily a bad thing."

’In my last life, I didn’t offend Xiao Xun, and he still wiped out my entire family.’

’Now I’ve been disrespectful, but the King of Zhongshan hasn’t done anything to me.’

’In the end, it’s not a matter of words or attitude. It’s a matter of whether they can, and whether they need to.’

’Though I wish I could just kill Xiao Xun and be done with it, I’m here to change my destiny, not to die taking him with me.’

’If I kill Xiao Xun, the King of Zhongshan has other sons. I can’t possibly kill all of his sons by myself.’

’As long as I can stop Xiao Xun from becoming the Emperor, it’ll be fine.’

’But that’s not something I have control over, either.’

’That will be a storm that sweeps up many people, and in that storm, I am truly insignificant.’

’Right now, all I can do is stay far away from Xiao Xun... and get closer to someone who can control him. Someone like Deng Yi.’

She glanced at Deng Yi, who was walking behind them. He was speaking with two guards, but the moment she looked over, he sensed it immediately and met her gaze. His gloomy, fierce eyes instantly brought back memories from her past life.

She forced a smile and quickly looked away.

...

...

At this point, a trip to the Border County was out of the question. Chu Zhao had no choice but to head back to the Capital City for the time being.

Chu Ke was in a terrible mood. He was both eager to get back and dreaded the hardships of the journey. He was full of complaints and wanted to curse Chu Zhao, but every time he opened his mouth, Chu Zhao cursed him back. What’s more, Chu Zhao looked ready for a fight, and her maid, Ah Le, was cracking her knuckles. Infuriated, Chu Ke could only throw himself into bed and try to sleep.

As night fell, the posthouse grew a little quieter than it had been during the day, but people and carriages still came and went from time to time.

After his meal, Deng Yi stood in the covered corridor speaking with a subordinate. He saw several carriages pull in. The people with them greeted the Posthouse Minister warmly before heading toward the stables in the rear courtyard. The Posthouse Minister then walked over to Deng Yi, bowed with a smile, and said, "Lord Deng, the carriage and horses you’ll need for tomorrow are all ready. Would you care to inspect them?"

Deng Yi nodded, and the Posthouse Minister quickly led the way toward the rear courtyard.

He had just left when Ah Le, peeking from around a corner, drew back and darted toward the room.

"Miss," she said in a low voice. "Lord Deng has gone to see the carriage and horses."

Chu Zhao was combing her hair in front of a mirror. "Who did he go with?" she asked.

"With the Posthouse Minister, of course," Ah Le said. "And his guards."

’What a strange question,’ Ah Le thought.

Chu Zhao turned to explain. "Was there anyone else? Someone from outside, like... from the Prince Zhongshan Mansion?"

The Prince Zhongshan Mansion? Ah Le was beginning to understand. "Miss, are you worried that people from the Prince Zhongshan Mansion will come for revenge?"

’Of course not.’ But it was too complicated to explain. Chu Zhao nodded. "Yes. So, I’m worried they might be meeting in private."

Ah Le nodded. "I understand." With that, she turned to leave.

"Ah Le," Chu Zhao called out to stop her. "Be careful. Don’t get caught. Your safety is more important to me than getting this done."

Ah Le was both amused and pleased. "Don’t worry, Miss," she said, then darted out with light steps.

’The Miss not only knows how to trick people now, but she also knows how to say such sweet things.’

Chu Zhao watched Ah Le’s figure disappear out the door. ’In truth, this is just a guess. I always thought Deng Yi had no dealings with the Prince Zhongshan Mansion. Back then, choosing Xiao Xun as the Crown Prince was the Emperor’s decision; Deng Yi was merely the one to carry it out. But this time, running into both Xiao Xun and Deng Yi here one after another... it just feels too coincidental.’

’And then there’s the memory of Deng Yi daring to slap Xiao Xun’s face when he was already the Emperor—’

’Why was he so audacious? And why did Xiao Xun endure such humiliation?’

’Could Xiao Xun’s rise to the throne have had something to do with Deng Yi?’

’That’s why today, when Deng Yi said he was going to the Prince Zhongshan Mansion, I immediately insisted on going too. I wanted to see if there was something between them. And when the King of Zhongshan tried to send me and Chu Ke away... I don’t know why, but I just had a gut feeling he was trying to get rid of us to speak with Deng Yi alone. That’s why I refused at once.’

’Maybe I’m overthinking it.’

’But right now, I have to overthink everything.’

...

...

The posthouse stables were even livelier than the front courtyard. There were more people tending to the horses than there were horses, as the animals were, after all, the main driving force for travel from the posthouse.

Several carriages entered the stables, and the horses were led away.

"Lord Deng," the Posthouse Minister said respectfully, stopping in his tracks. "Please take a look at this carriage."

Deng Yi walked to the front of the carriage. The driver standing beside it opened the door, and for a moment, the dim stable seemed to brighten.

Inside the carriage were several chests, all open now, their contents of gold, silver, and jewels shimmering with a dazzling light under the torchlight.

"This is a token of the Prince’s gratitude to you," the Posthouse Minister said softly.

Deng Yi studied it, scrutinizing the contents. Light and shadow flickered across his face. Then, the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.

"How very generous," he said, looking at the Posthouse Minister. "Please relay to the Prince that I am very satisfied. My thanks."

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