When night fell, Xie Yanfang returned to the Xie family residence.
It wasn’t the previous Xie residence.
That estate had been the first to be surrounded and burned last night, though of course, the Xie family members had already left before that.
The Xie family naturally didn’t have only one residence in the capital.
Seeing Xie Yanfang walk in, the people in the household were excited, shouting “Third Brother,” “Third Uncle,” “Third Young Master” in chaos. The Xie family offspring were still numerous, completely unharmed.
Xie Yanfang wore blood-stained clothes. Seeing this scene, his cold gaze softened somewhat. Although this was a tragic affair, in this sudden chaos, the Xie clan members had not only escaped unscathed but had also killed the Third Prince, avenging themselves on the spot.
And the people in the household, looking at Third Young Master Xie, were all wildly joyful.
The young master wore blood-stained clothes, his face paler than usual. Last night, Third Young Master Xie had fought his way out of the city, killed his way to the hunting grounds, and killed his way back again—one could imagine how perilous his experience had been.
They had truly been worried, not daring to imagine what they would do if anything happened to Xie Yanfang.
“It’s good that you’re unharmed,” several young men couldn’t help but shed tears.
Xie Yanfang smiled: “Even if something happened to me, you’re still here. As long as one person of the Xie family remains, the Xie clan still exists. Don’t worry.”
These words excited everyone even more.
“Third Brother! How can we compare to you?” “Third Uncle, we only regret we couldn’t help you more.”
Xie Yanfang said, “Each does what they can. Those who can fight enemies alongside me are a help; those who can preserve their lives in chaotic battle are also a help.”
At this point, Du Qi stepped forward: “Enough, Third Young Master should rest. Whatever matters there are, we’ll discuss later.”
Xie Yanfang hadn’t closed his eyes for a day and a night. Everyone hastily made way.
Xie Yanfang walked past them toward the interior. Thinking of something, he turned and called to someone: “Seventh Uncle.”
Seventh Master Xie quickly responded.
“Does Yanlai know the address of the new house?” Xie Yanfang asked.
Seventh Master Xie said, “We haven’t told him yet. After the incident, we’ve kept our doors closed. Before your return, we didn’t act rashly.”
Xie Yanfang nodded and said, “Yanlai has merit in defending the imperial city. He now commands the city gate guards. Remember to tell him the family’s address, so he doesn’t lose his way home.”
Seventh Master Xie’s expression was shocked, as were the others.
Xie Yanlai?
Merit?
Xie Yanlai was actually still alive?
“Also,” Xie Yanfang continued, calling out “Steward Cai,” pressing his hand to his brow. Having held on for a day and a night, now that he was home, exhaustion swept over him. “Pass the order to all quarters: from now on, Yanlai is to be treated the same as I am.”
Everyone was even more shocked. The same as Xie Yanfang meant that whatever Xie Yanfang could know, Xie Yanlai could also know; whoever Xie Yanfang could command, Xie Yanlai could also command; whatever orders Xie Yanfang could issue, Xie Yanlai could also issue—
“What gives him the right!”
Many people blurted out.
Steward Cai wouldn’t question it. Xie Yanfang didn’t explain further to everyone either. Du Qi shouted at everyone to stop making noise and accompanied Xie Yanfang away.
What gave him the right? Xie Yanfang thought as he walked. Just because the Young Highness had embraced him and called him “Uncle.”
Xie Yanfang closed his eyes again. The affairs of this world were truly miraculous.
To accomplish things, he had deliberately avoided the Young Highness. He hadn’t expected that this avoidance had now become a regret.
“Young Master, stop thinking,” Du Qi said. “You must rest.”
Whether body or spirit, the impact of this day and night had been too great.
Xie Yanfang opened his eyes. Yes, no need to think anymore. These things didn’t matter. The Young Highness was still here; everything could be resolved.
People go from strangers to familiar, and people can also go from familiar to strangers.
He arrived at his room, removed his blood-stained clothes, walked naked into the bathing room, lifted a bucket of cold water and poured it over his head. After doing this three times, he dried himself, wrapped himself in a white robe, and threw himself onto the bed.
Maids approached and gently dried his scattered long hair with warm air.
The room was quiet and silent. The young master fell into deep sleep.
But the next moment, Xie Yanfang suddenly opened his eyes wide and propped himself up. The maids, caught off guard, nearly pulled his hair. They knelt trembling in fear and unease.
The young master paid them no attention.
“Something’s still not right,” he said.
The young master was thinking about matters. The maids didn’t dare disturb him, kneeling on the ground, holding their breath in silence.
Many things, many people flickered through his mind. He pushed them aside one by one, until only a small figure remained.
The girl had seen him and welcomed him happily, her eyes full of concern.
He closed his eyes, pushed aside the girl’s face, and replaced it with what the eunuchs had said, what the Young Highness had said, Deng Yi’s eyes—
When Deng Yi spoke to him, he would look at the girl, as if watching for her reaction.
He opened his eyes, swept these aside, leaving only one final scene: the girl walking out of the great hall, moving calmly among the imperial guards. With a raise of her hand, someone came forward to receive orders—
This wasn’t strange. To escort the Young Highness safely into the palace, she naturally had troops under her command.
The current imperial city was under her control.
There was nothing wrong with this either. This was how it should be.
Xie Yanfang closed his eyes again, lay back down, and fell into deep sleep.
Only then did the maids come back to life, gently stroking the young master’s scattered long hair. The room was silent, with only the cinnamon bark in the incense burner occasionally crackling softly, emitting a faint, clear fragrance.
……
……
That night, a heavy rain fell.
The capital was washed clean. The fires and bloodstains were almost invisible, but the burned houses couldn’t yet be restored.
Most households could still live in their homes with some repairs. The Qi Leyun family was rather unlucky—their house had been completely burned down, and unlike the Xie clan, they didn’t have many residences to simply switch to another.
Their relatives and friends in the city had all suffered losses, people were anxious, and their homes couldn’t accommodate so many people. Qi Leyun had a flash of inspiration and led her family to borrow Chu Garden.
Qi Leyun came with her father. Outside the Chu family gate, everything was intact, looking completely unaffected.
She had worried in vain that Chu Zhao would suffer retaliation. It seemed that in the Third Prince’s eyes, Chu Zhao wasn’t worth mentioning.
Outside the Chu residence, there were also more people than elsewhere. There were elderly people sitting and making shoe soles, children running around. Seeing them, they even greeted them.
“What are you here for?” a child asked, staring at them and scanning them up and down.
That manner looked just like a beggar who hadn’t eaten in days.
Old Master Qi nearly took out money to give as charity, but was fortunately stopped by Qi Leyun. This child wasn’t poorly dressed at all—he even wore a gold collar around his neck.
Children didn’t understand the sorrows and joys of the world and still played carefree. Qi Leyun waved her hand to shoo him away and knocked on the Chu family door. She knocked until her hand nearly broke before someone inside responded. Hearing they wanted to visit Old Master Chu, the person inside immediately refused, saying he wouldn’t see them. From the sounds, they were even going to add more door bolts—
What was this? Were they that timid?
Qi Leyun quickly said she wanted to see Chu Zhao.
The movement inside the door stopped, but they still didn’t open. Not long after, footsteps sounded lightly, and a female voice came: “Who is it? Qi Leyun?”
It was Chu Tang! Although dissatisfied that it wasn’t Chu Zhao who came, Qi Leyun still controlled her temper and knocked on the door: “Open the door first, then we’ll talk.”
Chu Tang wouldn’t even open the door at the entrance, saying something about it not being safe.
“What are you afraid of?” Qi Leyun said, both annoyed and amused, pointing outside. “Old grannies and children are running around and playing outside.”
She knocked rapidly on the door, urging her.
“When you were afraid that Chu Zhao would cause trouble and implicate you, you came to stay at my house. Have you forgotten how I treated you?”
The door opened in response. Chu Tang stood at the entrance and covered her mouth with one hand, her expression somewhat panicked: “Don’t shout, don’t shout anymore or people will hear.”
So what if people heard?
Besides, there weren’t many people outside—just old, weak, women, and children.
What was there to fear!
Qi Leyun pushed away Chu Tang’s hand covering her mouth.
“Why are you so timid? My house was burned down. You can’t even imagine what I went through last night. I wasn’t afraid. Your side is safe and sound—what are you afraid of?”
Chu Tang looked at her with a complex expression, laughed dryly twice, and said, “You’re amazing.”
Qi Leyun didn’t bicker with her, but introduced her father. Old Master Qi stepped forward to state his purpose—he wanted to see Old Master Chu. After all, such a big matter required the two household heads to sit down and discuss.
But Chu Tang curtsied: “Uncle, my father was frightened and has fallen ill. He cannot receive guests.”
Qi Leyun scoffed: “You’re all too timid!”
Chu Tang looked at her and sighed softly: “Actually, I want to say, I didn’t even know my courage was this great.”
What did that mean? Qi Leyun didn’t understand.
Chu Tang said no more: “My family is indeed intact, but if you move in, I’m afraid it won’t be convenient for you. Uncle, you should still—”
Qi Leyun was displeased: “Chu Tang, is this how you treat me?” Her eyes rolled. “You’re not the one who makes decisions in this household anyway. Where’s Chu Zhao?” She reached out to push Chu Tang aside, about to walk in. “I don’t believe Chu Zhao would turn away my family in distress.”
Chu Tang quickly grabbed her: “Chu Zhao was also frightened and has fallen ill. She can’t see people.”
Qi Leyun’s eyes widened: “How is that possible? It’s not strange for your father to be frightened, but how could Chu Zhao be frightened?”
What kind of words were these! Old Master Qi coughed from behind, scolding his daughter: “Since it’s not convenient, then let it be.”
Qi Leyun was both angry and sad, looking at Chu Tang: “Now I understand—sisterly bonds are unreliable.”
Chu Tang sighed: “This place isn’t some good place. I’m doing this for your own good.”
Qi Leyun sneered: “You’re good at saying pleasant words. You always have reason on your side for everything.”
Chu Tang smiled wryly, glanced outside, her eyes flickering slightly. Since that was the case, don’t blame her then.
“Well then,” she said, looking at Old Master Qi. “Chu Garden is still empty. If Old Master Qi doesn’t mind, you can stay there.”
Before Old Master Qi could speak, Qi Leyun hugged Chu Tang happily: “I knew it. All the friends I, Qi Leyun, make are very loyal.”
Chu Tang said with a complex expression, “As long as you’re happy.”
……
……
After arranging for Chu Garden to be lent to the Qi family, Qi Leyun and her father left. Chu Tang breathed a sigh of relief and glanced outside.
The ten-year-old boy squatting at the street corner grinned at her, tossing a small knife up and down in his hand. The old woman sitting opposite also looked at her, the needle in her hand flashing with cold light. She couldn’t help but shiver and slammed the door shut with a bang.
“Add two more door bolts,” she instructed the servants.
The heavy door bolts clanged, bringing Chu Tang some peace of mind. That foolish Qi Leyun—what “outside is safe,” what “old people and children are out playing”—were those old people and children? Those were people who could kill!
And were they playing? They were watching the Chu family!
What “the Chu family side is safe and sound”—what the Chu family side experienced was something none of you could imagine.
Actually, even now, she didn’t quite understand what had happened. How suddenly Chu Zhao had left, how suddenly there was killing everywhere outside, how half-grown children and white-haired old women jumped into the house, how suddenly many strangers appeared in the house, how the children and old women killed all those people—
Later, horse hooves and footsteps thundered heavily underfoot, people flew across the eaves and walls on the roof, and it seemed as if thousands of troops had gathered outside the Chu residence. Later still, the thousands of troops left, but the Chu residence didn’t become quiet.
It was still that group of old, weak, women, and children, moving in and out as if no one else existed, cleaning up corpses.
They even found her hiding place in the artificial hill.
“Miss Chu Tang, Sister A’Zhao says the family matters are left to you. Comfort your father and mother well,” that half-grown boy had said, squatting on the artificial hill, swinging a small knife in his hand with a grin. “We’re guarding outside to keep you safe, but if your father and mother run out, then we won’t be polite.”
What “keeping them safe”—this was clearly imprisonment!
Sister A’Zhao’s instructions—
This Chu Zhao, where did she get this kind of younger brother—
But since she had instructed it, then it should be… all right, shouldn’t it?
Chu Tang pulled herself together to discipline the servants, comforted the people hiding in Chu Garden, then went to check on her father and mother. Her father had already fainted from fright—this time he really fainted, it wasn’t an act. Jiang Shi was also badly frightened, saying that when the killing began outside, Chu Lan had shouted “My life is over!” and fainted dead away.
Chu Tang had servants cook ginseng soup and pour it into Chu Lan. Although he hadn’t yet regained consciousness, his breathing was stable. She repeatedly comforted Jiang Shi that the government troops were eliminating rebels and everything was fine now. She personally locked the door, leaving Jiang Shi and her father inside.
After doing all this, dawn broke. Then that half-grown boy—
“I’m called Little Rabbit,” the boy said.
This Little Rabbit told her that government troops had taken over the capital and the capital was now stable. Chu Tang then ran around again telling the people hiding in Chu Garden. The people worried about their relatives and homes tentatively came out and saw old, weak, women, and children cleaning the street in front of their doors—indeed it was safe. So they all left one after another.
A day and a night passed.
Outside the Chu residence, it seemed as if nothing had happened.
The capital also seemed to have returned to normal. Even Qi Leyun could come running to borrow lodging.
There was no news from Chu Zhao.
Chu Tang pressed her hand to her heart. She seemed not too worried—no news was good news.
The things Chu Zhao was doing were becoming more and more frightening.
She really didn’t know what would happen next.
……
……
The Qi Leyun family moved into Chu Garden, making the area outside the Chu residence even livelier.
Although living in Chu Garden, they still had to repair their old residence and procure daily necessities themselves. The adults bustled in and out.
By comparison, the Chu residence kept its main gate tightly shut, looking very strange.
“Chu Tang,” Qi Leyun couldn’t knock the door open, so she simply found a ladder to prop against the wall, called Chu Tang over to talk. “Why are you still so afraid? Everything’s fine now. How is Chu Zhao? Open the door, I’ll have a particularly good doctor my family knows examine her.”
Chu Tang shook her head and waved her hands: “No need, no need. She doesn’t need to be seen. Rest and recuperation is enough.”
Qi Leyun draped her arms over the top of the wall, looking smug: “See who’ll still say she’s fierce in the future. She’s clearly as timid as a mouse.”
Chu Tang laughed dryly.
“Zhou Jiang and the others have come out and had someone send their regards to me,” Qi Leyun said, leaning on the wall. “Fortunately, everyone’s safe. Just a few sisters injured their legs while running and hiding at home. But everyone’s not afraid anymore either. We’ve agreed that once the curfew is lifted, we’ll go to a restaurant together to drink and celebrate this narrow escape from death. Ah, if Chu Zhao still isn’t well by then, that would be embarrassing. I won’t be able to cover for her anymore—”
She chattered away. Chu Tang suddenly pricked up her ears.
“Listen, outside there’s… the sound of horse hooves,” she said.
Qi Leyun’s voice stopped. She indeed heard the urgent sound of horse hooves outside, growing more and more dense, as if many horses were galloping.
The nightmare of that night was still deeply imprinted in her heart. With the urgent sound of horse hooves, it boiled up and instantly swallowed her. The girl’s face immediately turned white. Her hands clutched the top of the wall tightly, her eyes full of fear.
What was happening?
Could it be that again—
“His Majesty has issued an edict—”
A shrill, high-pitched voice came, one after another.
……
……
In the summer of the fifth year of Yongning, the Third Prince Xiao Zhu committed treason, murdered his brother, slaughtered the Yang clan, brutalized the capital. Thousands died or were injured. Heaven could not tolerate this.
Xiao Zhu was stripped of his status and reduced to a commoner. The Zhao clan was to be executed in its entirety, nine degrees of kinship exterminated.
The Chu clan’s daughter was brave and intelligent, holding a blade and riding a horse to protect the Imperial Grandson.
For the eternal stability of the nation, the Imperial Grandson Yu is specially designated Crown Prince, and the Chu clan’s daughter Zhao as Crown Princess.
By this edict.