Ashes to Crown

Chapter 67: Chapter 30: And Dispersed

He glanced toward a spot on the second floor. The girl sat leaning against the railing, her expression serene, her beauty radiant. He hadn’t noticed before just how lovely she was.

’What a pity.’ Liang Qiang felt a flicker of regret. Miss Chu admired him, but he would never marry her.

It wasn’t because of her feud with his uncle and cousin, but because the Chu Family’s standing was too low.

Chu Ling’s influence was waning, Chu Lan was a good-for-nothing, and Chu Ke’s talents were mediocre at best. The Chu Family’s legacy would end with this generation.

’I wonder what sort of family this Miss Chu will marry into.’

’Once her family falls into ruin, her marriage prospects will be dismal, won’t they?’

’If they met again after she was married and living in misery, he would surely disregard the feud between their families and offer his help—all for the admiration she showed him in this moment.’

Liang Qiang made a silent promise to himself, then retracted his gaze. He quickened his pace to catch up with his companions and left.

The servant boy didn’t understand his master’s sudden, smug expression, but at least he wasn’t angry about the Liang Family being ridiculed. When the master was in a good mood, his servants had an easier time of it. He hurried to catch up.

It was as if Third Young Master Xie’s departure had emptied the once-bustling pavilion.

A few young men finished the last pot of wine and called out to one another, "Time to go, let’s go."

They were still on duty. Though their superiors wouldn’t give them trouble for this, they could easily get caught in the crossfire if two high-ranking officials were fighting.

"Especially you," one of them said. "You’re a Xie. The Yangs and the Zhaos don’t like any of you."

The young man under the tablecloth remained perfectly still, his voice muffled. "They dislike me anyway. Nothing I do will change that, so why should I care about them? I’m not leaving. I’ll wait until everyone else in this pavilion is gone before I go."

’What’s gotten into him now?’

He didn’t want to come in the first place, and now he refused to leave.

...

...

Chu Zhao was also getting ready to leave.

She and Ah Le finished the rest of their food, split another pot of wine between them, and happily settled the bill.

The waiter, who had been hovering nearby, was also delighted and personally saw them out. "Please come again, Miss Chu!"

Chu Zhao thought for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the bustling room. She sighed. "I can come often for a little while longer. But after that, it’ll be a long time before I can come back."

’After the conflict between the Third Prince and the Crown Prince erupts, the Capital City will be under a strict curfew for a long time. Many of the pavilions and teahouses will even be closed during the day. With the borders unstable and the Xie family rebelling, the Capital City will nearly fall. The people will live in a state of constant panic. This prosperous, leisurely atmosphere will be gone.’

The waiter didn’t quite understand but didn’t press the issue. He just assumed it would be difficult for the young lady to go out for a while. ’It makes sense,’ he thought. After publicly beating her own cousin to a pulp, she was sure to be scolded and confined to her home, or maybe even sent back to her father.

After that spectacle, all the waiters knew who this Miss Chu was. The name Chu Ling, which had been obscure in the Capital City for years, was suddenly on people’s minds again.

When Chu Zhao stood up to leave, the girls on the third floor noticed at once. They nudged each other. "She’s leaving."

"Let her leave," Qi Leyun huffed. "We’re leaving too."

Third Young Master Xie was already gone, they’d witnessed the spectacle of Chu Zhao’s fight, and they’d heard all about Liang Qin’s embarrassing story. The girls were thoroughly satisfied with their day’s outing. Eager to rush home and share the gossip with their parents and siblings, they all began to get up as well.

For a moment, a cascade of colorful silks seemed to float down from the third floor of Yaqug Pavilion, a truly eye-catching sight. Countless gazes from around the establishment turned in their direction.

"Some of those young ladies are quite pretty."

"I wonder which families they belong to."

The group of young men seated inside were also laughing and joking amongst themselves. Only Xie Yanlai remained hidden, moving slightly beneath the tablecloth.

"Yanlai!" one of the young men exclaimed, reaching out to tug at the tablecloth. "Your third brother is gone! You don’t have to feel so inferior anymore. What are you still hiding for?"

Xie Yanlai clutched the tablecloth, his voice faint. "My third brother is gone. I’m afraid if I show my face, I’ll make everyone else feel inferior."

The young men erupted in a mix of laughter and playful curses. A few even kicked at him. Their corner of the room instantly grew rowdy.

The commotion drew the girls’ attention. Seeing it was just a group of young men roughhousing, they gave a single, haughty glance before turning away.

’After seeing Third Young Master Xie, everyone else was just rubble.’

They deliberately jostled Chu Zhao as they pushed their way outside.

"There’s plenty of room! Why are you shoving?" Ah Le fumed, her hand reaching for the washing bat in her basket.

Chu Zhao motioned for her to ignore them. She didn’t step aside, nor did she lose her temper. But the next person who tried to shove her found she wouldn’t budge. In fact, they were the ones sent stumbling back. Qi Leyun was even tripped, and she would have fallen flat if her maid hadn’t caught her in time.

Chu Zhao burst out laughing.

"Chu Zhao!" Qi Leyun shrieked. "What do you think you’re doing?"

Chu Zhao grinned at her. "Watching you make a fool of yourself."

"Me? A fool?" Qi Leyun pointed at her own chest. "You’re the disgrace here!"

Chu Zhao’s smile widened. "But I’m not afraid of making a scene. Are you?"

’Look at her, acting like some village shrew!’ Just as Qi Leyun was about to retort, Chu Zhao’s expression turned cold.

"I’m not afraid of a scene, and I have no problem beating you up right here," she said. "If you’re not afraid of being embarrassed, then by all means, give it a try."

The girl who had been all smiles a moment ago now looked utterly chilling. Qi Leyun was used to squabbling with her own sisters; there was no end to the harsh words she’d thrown around. But in that instant, she was so frightened that she took an involuntary step back.

It wasn’t the fight she feared, nor the embarrassment. But... she didn’t know what it was she feared—

"Miss," her maid, terrified, grabbed her arm. "Let’s go, please."

When the other girls saw this, they realized a real fight was about to break out. They would be disgraced along with her. They rushed forward to pull Qi Leyun away.

"Let’s go, let’s go." "Hurry up and go home." "Your parents will be furious if you’re late! Didn’t you say your father told you not to provoke Chu Zhao?" "They might not let you leave the house again!"

They all dragged Qi Leyun away. But this time, their placating words were aimed only at Qi Leyun. No one said a word of blame to Chu Zhao, and the open disdain from before was gone.

In a flash, the girls were gone, leaving only Chu Zhao and her servant standing in the foyer.

When the girls had first started shoving, the rowdy group of young men inside had perked up. "Ooh, a fight’s breaking out!" "That little lady is fierce!" "Hey, you don’t think she’s the one they were talking about, who got in a fight upstairs?"

’A man fighting a woman was nothing special, but a fight between noble ladies? That was a rare sight!’

"Yanlai, Yanlai, get up and look!" one of them urged, shaking the phoenix-eyed youth.

He’d barely gotten the words out before Xie Yanlai twisted his arm and pinned him to the floor.

Xie Yanlai’s other hand kept the tablecloth clamped to his head. His voice came out even more muffled than before. "What are you shouting for? Stop it! If you annoy her, she’ll come over and fight you. How humiliating would that be!"

The young man on the floor was confused. "It’s not like she goes around beating up everyone she sees, is it?"

While the two were still wrestling, another of their friends said, "Relax, she’s gone."

The young man on the floor was released. Xie Yanlai finally lifted the tablecloth and peered toward the entrance. As expected, the girl was nowhere in sight.

He let out a long breath, tossed the tablecloth aside, and snatched up a wine jug. After giving it a shake, he tilted his head back and began to drink.

’The Capital City is a huge place. How did I manage to run into her? That was terrifying!’

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