Ashes to Crown

Chapter 82: Chapter 44: Master of the Garden

Morning light shone on the bed curtains. Chu Lan, sleeping within, rolled over and covered his face with his sleeve, but it was no use.

He sat up in a rage.

’How did the night pass so quickly? Day is here again, and countless people will swarm into the Chu Garden once more.’

"Servants! Servants!" he shouted, furious.

He shouted for what felt like an eternity before a young manservant ran in, not one of the maids he usually had by his side. The boy fumbled about, pouring tea and helping him with his shoes, but he was so clumsy he even put them on the wrong feet. Enraged, Chu Lan kicked the servant to the ground.

"Where’s Cai Feng?" he demanded. "Has she learned to slack off?"

The young servant replied plaintively, "Master, Cai Feng was also called away to the Chu Garden by Miss Ah Zhao."

Chu Zhao had been commandeering the household servants. Initially, the higher-status maids who served the master, the madam, and the young masters and misses ignored her. But Ah Le was so intimidating, she simply started grabbing people directly.

Ah Le was strong and nimble. No matter where they hid, she found them. And once she found them, she’d drag them into the Chu Garden.

And the master and madam didn’t dare go to the Chu Garden to demand their servants back.

And so, more and more servants were taken, until the master and madam had hardly anyone left to attend to them.

Even his favorite maid had been taken, but Chu Lan didn’t storm into the Chu Garden to demand her back. He merely slammed his fist on the table. "Who is the master of this family? Who’s in charge here?"

The young servant kept his head down, thinking, ’The master certainly talks a big game, but when it comes to Miss Ah Zhao, his words mean nothing.’

"When is this going to end?" Chu Lan shuffled outside, his shoes barely on his feet, and stood under the eaves of the veranda. Even over the high wall, he could hear the lively din from the Chu Garden.

Fortunately, the Chu Garden had a separate entrance.

Chu Lan had deliberately sealed that gate in the past, forcing visitors to pass through the main residence to create the impression that the Chu Family was bustling with honored guests.

Now, Chu Lan wanted nothing to do with the Chu Garden. He had the sealed gate reopened and ordered the Chu Family’s main gate to be barred shut.

Jiang Family came over with a maidservant, her face etched with worry.

"All these people every day... how much must it cost to feed and water them all?" This was her main concern. "They’re going to squander our entire family fortune."

Chu Lan, who had nothing to do with the family’s finances, grew even angrier. "They’re getting food and drinks, too? Aren’t they here to compete?"

Jiang Family replied helplessly, "Not everyone is here to compete, and they don’t do it all at once. There are only a few participants at a time. The rest are just spectators."

In fact, more than half of the attendees are now just here for the spectacle.

And since they were there for the spectacle, they might as well see the garden. The beauty of the Chu Garden was famous, so people took the opportunity to stroll through and admire the scenery.

And when one strolls and admires the scenery, one naturally wants tea and snacks—

"And we’re paying for all of it?" Chu Lan asked in shock.

"Well, not quite... We don’t know yet," Jiang Family said hesitantly.

’What’s that supposed to mean?’ Chu Lan looked at Jiang Family.

"It just means the food and drinks aren’t from the family’s kitchens," the maidservant couldn’t help but interject. "Miss Chu Zhao has people buying them from outside."

Chu Lan frowned. "Buy them? Where would she get money?"

’Chu Ling gave me all his money when he entrusted his daughter to my care, as he should have! Was he hiding money for her? Was he trying to guard against me, his own older brother? If that’s the case, Chu Ling should have just entrusted his daughter to someone else!’

"Is she buying on credit?" Chu Lan asked.

’If she’s buying on credit, the merchants will just come to me for payment. No one would recognize a mere girl as the master of the Chu Garden.’

Chu Lan was about to slam his fist into a pillar, but the maidservant hastily added, "Master, it’s not on credit, either."

’Then what is it? Did she steal money again?’ Chu Lan’s eyes widened in fury.

His young manservant blurted out, "No, that’s not it! Miss Ah Zhao has the guests pay for it themselves, and then we go and buy it for them."

In reality, it was a bit more complex than that.

First, Chu Zhao informed the local restaurants that the Chu Garden required food, tea, and wine. She promised that if they offered a favorable price, she would send her people to buy from them exclusively.

The Chu Garden event was now known throughout the Capital City as the "Little Wangchun Garden Literary Meeting." The merchants knew how many people that involved. This wasn’t a small transaction; it was big business. They agreed immediately.

Then, after the garden opened each day, Chu Zhao had the servants put out a display board listing the available teas and food items—everything except wine.

"The Young Miss says she banned wine to ensure the fairness of the competition," the young servant said, now speaking with animated excitement. "But everyone knows it’s really to stop people from getting drunk and causing trouble. That’s why the garden doesn’t serve wine, and guests aren’t allowed to bring their own, either."

Being unable to drink wine could be rather dull for scholars when their spirits were high, so they ordered tea and snacks instead—especially when they saw that those refreshments came from some of the most famous restaurants in the Capital City.

For a small delivery fee, treats they could normally only enjoy by visiting the restaurants themselves were delivered right to them in the Chu Garden. Sitting, eating, and watching the competition—it was the very picture of refinement.

Chu Lan and Jiang Family were left dumbfounded. Chu Lan was one thing, but Jiang Family was in charge of household finances. She instinctively held out her hand, gesturing as if counting on an abacus. ’They’re not losing money on this, they’re making it!’

"And the money?" she couldn’t help but blurt out.

’Is it all in Chu Zhao’s hands?’

The young servant’s expression turned wistful. "The Young Miss said that she isn’t a family elder, and the Chu Garden wasn’t meant for hosting literary meetings. Forcing the servants to work here isn’t part of their regular duties, so—"

Jiang Family’s hand tightened into a fist. "So, what?"

The young manservant fell silent, but the maidservant beside Jiang Family spoke up softly. "The Young Miss distributed all the money among the servants who did the work."

The rules for dividing the money were simple: no distinction was made between men and women, young or old, or based on seniority. It didn’t matter if you were a menial servant who swept the grounds or a pampered maid who served the master and madam. There was only one rule: the more you worked, the more you earned.

And the amount of money being distributed was growing larger every day.

Looks of both envy and regret appeared on the faces of the manservant and the maidservant. Miss Chu Zhao hadn’t "kidnapped" them, too. If she had, they could have earned a small fortune.

’When it comes to getting things done, we’re the master and madam’s most capable servants, better than anyone else in this household! If we’d gone over there, we would’ve earned the most money for sure!’

’Unfortunately, it was precisely because we’re so indispensable to the master and madam that Miss Ah Zhao didn’t take us. She is a junior, after all. She wouldn’t go so far as to strip her elders of all their personal attendants.’

SIGH.

Chu Lan thought his ears were playing tricks on him. It sounded like the two servants standing before him were sighing in regret.

’This is infuriating! So that’s her game. Chu Zhao is buying loyalty with money! No wonder my favorite maid hasn’t tried to sneak back after being "stolen"!’

Jiang Family clenched and unclenched her fists, her hands still making calculating motions. She tallied up how much money was earned, then tallied up how much was given away. Her breathing grew ragged, then hitched as if she were suffocating. She didn’t know what to say, muttering only, "She’s actually giving it all away! How can she just give it all away!"

’Maybe... I should just take over. I’m the true mistress of the Chu Garden, after all.’

...

...

Qi Leyun lifted the carriage curtain and peered ahead, her expression surprised. "There are so many people near your home," she said to Chu Tang.

Chu Tang looked out as well and nodded. "That’s not surprising."

The news had spread all over the city. On their way over, they had overheard the name "Little Wangchun Garden Literary Meeting" several times.

"So which entrance should we use?" Qi Leyun asked. "There’s a gate on the Chu Garden side."

Chu Tang thought for a moment. "We’re here for the literary meeting, so let’s use the Chu Garden entrance."

Another girl looked worriedly at the scholars coming and going. "What if they don’t let us in?"

The Third Prince’s Wangchun Garden Literary Meeting didn’t permit women. Two princesses had even argued with the Third Prince about it, but to no avail.

Chu Tang laughed. "What are you worried about? The whole point of this event is a competition against a woman. How could they possibly bar women from entering?"

True. The girls all laughed at their foolishness, then disembarked from the carriage and followed Chu Tang inside.

Ten servants stood outside the Chu Garden gate, responsible for guiding guests and checking them in. Unlike the Wangchun Garden Literary Meeting, there was no talent-based test for entry, but they still had to ask for a guest’s name.

Seeing Chu Tang, a servant recognized her and bowed hastily. "Miss Ah Tang."

Because they were a group of young women, the scholars coming and going glanced over at them, but no one said anything.

Chu Tang said, "I’m just showing my friends around. You don’t need to pay any attention to me."

The servant hesitated for a moment, then took her at her word. "Miss Ah Tang knows the way, so I won’t trouble you with my guidance," he said with a smile. With that, he turned away from Chu Tang and hurried back to his duties.

’The rule is "more work, more pay." Guiding one less person means one less share of money... and Miss Ah Tang is family, so she doesn’t count for payment.’

While Chu Tang truly hadn’t intended for a servant to wait on them, she hadn’t expected him to be quite so blunt about it, abandoning her the moment he said he would.

One of the girls beside her stifled a laugh. "Ah Tang, this doesn’t even feel like your home anymore."

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