Resumo do episódio 16 de Ashes to Crown
> Resumos de Ashes to Crown
Xiao Xun continued his march towards The Capital. When he stopped to rest at the Luocheng courier station, Tie Ying compiled a list of influential families along the route, intending to coordinate with them from both inside and outside. Tie Ying also reported that Chu Zhao had gone to Xiaonan alone to persuade Xiao Hong to withdraw his troops by using Xiao Xun's safety as leverage.
Meanwhile, Xie Yanfang had drafted an imperial decree to execute Chu Lan's entire family, but held back from issuing it. As for Chu Lan's family, they suddenly disappeared in the night. Xiao Xun suspected that Chu Zhao must be plotting behind the scenes, so he ordered that Chu Lan must be captured to give himself more bargaining chips.
Deng Yi received a message that Xiao Xun was marching towards The Capital, and commoners along the way were joining him one after another. Xie Yanfang brought Xiao Yu to the court and asked Deng Yi to draft an imperial decree announcing to the world that the Emperor would personally lead the campaign. If Xiao Xun was sensible enough to withdraw his troops, it would be treated as a campaign against the Northern Desert.
If Xiao Xun persisted in his ways, they would directly eliminate the rebel faction. Deng Yi secretly watched the drama unfold, thinking that while Xiao Xun believed his plan was flawless, Xie Yanfang was reaping all the benefits for free. Tie Ying intercepted Chu Lan's family as they were heading towards Cangmu Stronghold and brought them to Luocheng. As soon as Chu Lan saw Xiao Xun, he cried out about his grievances.
Xiao Xun arranged for the family of three to temporarily stay in Luocheng, claiming he could protect them, but he was curious about where Chu Tang got the news to take her parents away. Chu Tang informed him that Chu Zhao had sent a message, making Xiao Xun harbor even deeper hatred in his heart. Chu Zhao accompanied Xiao Hong in a game of chess, asserting that Xiao Xun would not be able to realize his ambition.
However, Xiao Hong disagreed, believing he knew his son's methods and disposition best. At the Luocheng courier station, Xiao Xun promised Chu Tang that if she could persuade Chu Zhao to change her mind, Chu Tang would become his Crown Princess once his father became Emperor in the future. Chu Tang began to feel tempted and repeatedly asked Xiao Xun if he was being sincere. Xiao Xun egged her on further with promises.
To prevent Chu Tang from betraying him like Chu Zhao had, he demanded that Chu Tang kill Chu Lan with her own hands. Chu Tang trembled with fear. A moment later, brothers from Cangmu Stronghold burst into the courier station. Together, they tied up Xiao Xun and Tie Ying. Chu Tang found out where the official seal was kept and stamped the documents.
She even thanked Xiao Xun for his ruthlessness, saying that otherwise, she could not have put on such a realistic performance. Xiao Xun still tried to sow discord between Chu Tang and Chu Zhao. Fearing she might waver, Chu Tang simply slapped Xiao Xun across the face. As Tie Ying clamored from the side, Xiaoman directly knocked him unconscious. The outside of the courier station was crawling with Xiao Xun's men, and Chu Tang could not get out at all.
Xiaoman was unable to deliver the letter to Chu Zhao. At the Xiaonan inn, Xie Yanlai was already pacing restlessly, but Chu Zhao was certain that Chu Tang would not lose and that she only needed to wait a little longer. Xie Yanlai understood that Chu Zhao was waiting for Xie Yanfang's imperial expedition. He noticed that Chu Zhao and Xie Yanfang shared a perfect tacit understanding; even though they were far apart, they knew exactly what each other meant.
His words carried a trace of sour jealousy. Chu Zhao stared directly at Xie Yanlai, making it clear that she did not care in the slightest for Xie Yanfang's sincerity, leaving Xie Yanlai even more flustered with nowhere to look. At the Xie Residence, the housekeeper reported that the soldiers recruited by Xiao Xun were mostly commoners from along the way and possessed little strength.
On the contrary, the Xie family's personal troops departing from Gaoyang were a force to be reckoned with. The next day, Xie Yanfang was already poised and ready to go. Xiao Hong lamented that Xiao Xun was too impatient and had ruined his grand plans. However, having seven children in total, he did not care even if he lost Xiao Xun. Chu Zhao understood that the imperial family was the most ruthless.
Nevertheless, she pointed out that losing Xiao Xun's life was a minor issue; currently, the rebel army was leaderless, and once the Emperor mobilized his troops, they would instantly turn against Xiao Hong. By then, it would be difficult for Xiao Hong's family to even keep their bodies intact. If he withdrew his troops immediately, she promised, by the authority of the Grand Princess Token, that he would still enjoy the status of a prince.
Xiao Hong was still unwilling, but Chu Zhao made it clear that he had no choice left. She demanded that Xiao Hong withdraw his troops immediately, with Xiao Xun remaining in The Capital as a hostage, in exchange for granting Xiao Hong the title of the Prince of Zhenguo. Xiao Hong had no choice but to compromise. Deng Yi received a letter in which Chu Zhao requested a pardon for Xiao Hong's rebellion.
Although the imperial court currently had the capability to contend with Xiaonan, the Northern Desert was watching like a tiger eyeing its prey. If Xiao Hong were pushed too far, he might completely turn against them and join forces with the Northern Desert to fight against Great Chu, which would make things even more troublesome. As the Grand Preceptor who enjoyed everyone's respect, Deng Yi's status relied entirely on the support of a peaceful and prosperous era.
Caring most about his own future, Deng Yi ignored the opposition of several ministers and immediately drafted and issued the decree. Xiao Xun received the decree to remain as a hostage. Knowing that his father had long since abandoned him, he could only hate Chu Zhao even more. In the imperial court, Xiao Yu announced that Xie Yanfang would head to Xiaonan to handle the aftermath.
Deng Yi felt that it seemed inappropriate for Xie Yanfang to make decisions alone, but Xiao Yu explained that Xie Yanfang was a close relative of the imperial family, and they were completely at ease with him in both reason and affection. Deng Yi dared not object further and set about arranging accommodations for Xiao Xun.
