Ashes to Crown

Chapter 37: Chapter 1: Taken Away

Although Chu Lan was furious with Chu Zhao for causing trouble, he never intended to actually hand her over to the government.

It wasn’t out of any affection for Chu Zhao, but because their fates were intertwined. If one daughter of the Chu family was imprisoned, all the other Chu children would face public scrutiny and gossip.

He had brought her back with the intention of handing her directly to the Liang Family. Bypassing the authorities and settling the matter privately would have been for the best.

’How dare this Deng Yi say such a thing? Does he even know what his job is?’

Of course, Chu Lan objected, invoking the Liang Family’s name. "This is Liang Siqing’s wish. Lord Liang is still waiting."

But Deng Yi paid him no mind. "Liang Siqing is the one who reported this to the authorities. The Minister of the Imperial Court then ordered me to apprehend her. If Liang Siqing wants to see her, he’ll have to go to the Ministry of Justice first."

"Lord Deng, you can’t—" Chu Lan stepped forward to block him.

But he had barely taken a step when Deng Yi’s smile vanished. His expression darkened, and the whip in his hand came cracking down—

"Insolent! You dare obstruct an official investigation."

Caught off guard, Chu Lan saw the whip flash before his eyes, barely grazing the tip of his nose. The rush of cold air stung his skin, making it feel as though he had been struck across the face.

’Such humiliation.’

"You! You!" he yelled, pointing a finger at Deng Yi.

Chu Ke was also startled and rushed to support his father. He had seen with his own eyes how Deng Yi treated the local officials during their journey. The man was quick to violence and turned hostile in an instant, showing no fear even when confronted by local strongmen.

He had once said brazenly, "Either you kill me, or you stay out of my way."

Who would risk their lives over such a trivial matter? So, the local strongmen would back down, quietly nursing a grudge to be settled in the future.

Back then, Deng Yi had been handling his family’s affairs. All the enmity was directed at Deng Yi, so Chu Ke had been happy to watch the drama unfold.

But now that the drama had come to his own family, it wasn’t nearly as entertaining.

"Father, Father," he said, pressing down Chu Lan’s hand. "Don’t get into a conflict with Lord Deng. He’s just following orders, he can’t disobey them. Let’s talk about this when we get back home."

Chu Lan was not an impulsive man, so he didn’t rush forward to argue further with Deng Yi, only shouting indignantly, "How preposterous!"

Deng Yi didn’t raise his whip again. As long as no one obstructed his work, he reverted to his gentle demeanor. With a single command, he spurred his horse forward, and Chu Zhao’s carriage naturally followed.

In the blink of an eye, the commotion on the roadside died down, returning things to how they were before.

Chu Lan, who had been waiting to take custody of her, stood rooted to the spot. He had woken up so early and traveled so far, all for nothing.

The Heir of Zhongshan King had stormed off, infuriated by Chu Zhao.

And Chu Zhao had been taken away by Deng Yi.

"That Deng Yi!" he said, trembling with rage as he pointed at the departing procession. "The absolute nerve of that man."

Chu Ke nodded in grim agreement. "He really is audacious. Father, you don’t realize how much danger you were in just now." He then recounted Deng Yi’s behavior during their journey.

When he finished, Chu Ke asked curiously, "This Lord Deng, what’s his story? Who is his patron?"

Chu Lan was surprised to hear this, but then he sneered. "Success has certainly made the scoundrel arrogant."

He had, of course, already made some inquiries about this Deng Yi. A failed scholar, Deng Yi had worked as a minor clerk in a county just to make a living. He had clawed his way up the ladder, finally making it to the Capital City last year to join the Weiwei Mansion.

"What connections did he use?" Chu Ke was even more surprised. For someone who sounded so ordinary to not only avoid fading into obscurity but also make it into the Capital City’s court was truly a rarity.

Chu Lan scoffed. "Connections? He relied on bribes and gifts. They say that just to become a minor clerk, he pawned his padded winter coat to pay for a gift, stuffing his clothes with hay to ward off the cold. His recent entry into the Capital was through a connection to the Yang Family."

The Yang family he referred to was that of the Imperial Uncle. Although the Empress had passed away many years ago, the Second Prince she had borne was now the Crown Prince, so the Yang Family’s position remained secure.

’So he really does have a powerful patron.’

Chu Ke understood. With a hint of lingering fear, he urged his father, "Dad, don’t get into it with him. He’s not someone we can afford to provoke."

But Chu Lan just laughed, his expression full of contempt. This wasn’t because of some scholarly magnanimity, but rather because—

"That scoundrel Deng Yi is shameless. No sooner did he latch onto the Yang Family than he wormed his way into the Zhao Family’s household."

After the Empress passed away, the Emperor never appointed a new one. Imperial Concubine Zhao enjoyed his exclusive favor in the inner palace, carrying herself as the de facto Empress. As for her maternal family, the Zhao Family, nearly all of them, from grandfathers and uncles down to sons and nephews, had been granted titles. They were privately called the New Imperial Uncles, and their influence was even greater than the Yang Family’s.

’That’s an even more powerful patron.’

But for one person to try and rely on two patrons—especially two who are as incompatible as fire and water—there is only one possible end: being crushed to a pulp.

Chu Ke was dumbfounded. "Is this Deng Yi stupid, or has he gone mad?"

’Scoundrels may be despicable, but even they should have their own code of conduct.’

Chu Lan said mockingly, "That’s why he’s caught in the middle, pleasing no one. He can barely keep his footing in the Weiwei Mansion."

The current Minister of Imperial Guard is close to the Yang Family; there’s no way he’d tolerate a scoundrel who greedily tries to have it both ways.

’That must be why he was assigned this thankless, arduous task.’

’And yet this Deng Yi dares to brandish a chicken feather as if it were a token of command.’

"I’d like to see if he dares to crack his whip at Liang Siqing."

Chu Lan flicked his sleeve in disgust.

"Let’s go."

...

...

Chu Zhao couldn’t care less how angry Chu Lan was behind her. In her past life, her uncle’s family had always been angry with her and her father, blaming the pair of them for every misfortune in their own lives.

If she couldn’t bring them what they wanted, they would never have a single kind word to say.

And they could never be satisfied. They would only demand more, and then complain more.

Deng Yi took her to the Weiwei Mansion and actually put her in a jail cell.

The head jailer was rather shocked to see them bring such a young girl to the cells.

It wasn’t that the Weiwei Mansion’s cells had never held female prisoners, but that "privilege" was typically reserved for the female relatives of officials whose entire clans had been exterminated.

Although Chu Ling had once shown great disrespect toward the Emperor, the Emperor had neither confiscated his property nor exterminated his clan. In fact, his position as General Wei had remained secure for many years.

’For his daughter to end up here... wasn’t she just asking for bad luck?’

"Miss Chu, you requested this yourself. Don’t blame me," Deng Yi said.

Chu Zhao had already stepped out of the carriage. "How could I possibly blame you, Sir? You agreed to my request; on the contrary, I am indebted to you. I’ve also made you take on this responsibility for me." With that, she gave him a solemn bow.

Deng Yi smiled. ’Bringing her to a cell was indeed beyond my official duties. She ought to be grateful.’

’I took a hefty sum of money from this girl, but that was for her to ride in the carriage. That transaction is over. She doesn’t think that because I took her money, I’m now responsible for her indefinitely. She’s very sharp and understands how things work. I’m quite satisfied.’

He nodded and said, "It’s been a pleasure dealing with you, Miss Chu. I hope we’ll have the chance to meet again."

’What kind of talk was that?’ the jailer thought, his eyes widening again. ’Who would want to have dealings with a Commander from the Weiwei Mansion? It’s never for a good reason.’ But he saw the girl showed not a shred of fear or panic. Instead, she smiled. "To have been under Lord Deng’s care on this journey has been a great fortune amid my misfortune."

Deng Yi let out a hearty laugh. "On account of Miss Chu’s kind words, Head Jailer, arrange a good cell for her. I’ll owe you a favor for it."

The head jailer scoffed. "Who’d want a favor like that from you? Enough of your nonsense. Go make your report."

Deng Yi said no more and strode away.

"It’s just your bad luck, Miss Chu, to run into him on duty," the head jailer said, shaking his head helplessly as he led Chu Zhao to a cell. "Deng Cheng is not an easy man to get along with."

Chu Zhao followed him. She couldn’t care less whether Deng Yi was easy to get along with; she had no intention of befriending the man.

She only hoped to avoid offending him, so that in the future, when he ascended to power as he was fated to in her past life, he could be the one to deliver a vicious slap to Xiao Xun’s face.

This time, she would feel no pity or heartache for Xiao Xun. She would only clap and cheer.

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