Officials stood on the high platform of the drill field, watching the commotion before them.
Xie Yanlai’s one statement had stirred up the capital soldiers, and they could no longer stop it; otherwise, wouldn’t the soldiers’ resentment turn against them?
“The Xie family’s sons are all the same,” Director Zhu said indifferently. “Troublesome.”
The Third Young Master Xie was a refined gentleman, yet troublesome. This Ninth Young Master Xie was troublesome in his roguishness.
“Sir, more and more civilians are coming after hearing the news,” someone looked toward the distance. The Capital Garrison wasn’t located in a remote wilderness; the commotion here would inevitably disturb the surroundings, especially since it had already attracted attention earlier.
“Sir, should we set up a cordon to block them?” someone requested instructions.
Director Zhu sneered: “Block what? With the fighting like this, if we block the civilians, don’t you believe rumors will spread that the capital soldiers are rebelling? The dynasty is still unstable. The Prince of Zhongshan has already declared himself king. If he weren’t concerned about Xiao Xun being held as a hostage, he would march on the capital.”
Now there were certainly many of the Prince of Zhongshan’s spies in the capital, ready to fan the flames.
“Let everyone come and see!” Director Zhu pointed, “The Xie fellow is fighting with the capital soldiers.”
Look at what the Xie family is doing!
Being imperial relatives was the same; what difference was there between the Xie family and the previous Yang and Zhao families?
Why does Xie the Third pretend to be refined and elegant? Why should he have power, influence, and a good reputation?
The officials beside him understood his meaning and all nodded in agreement.
“Sir, someone has already gone to report to the Grand Tutor,” an official said in a low voice. “And also requested the Imperial Guard to come.”
It would be best to get the Grand Tutor’s written order and directly arrest this Xie Yanlai.
His words had barely fallen when an official beside him exclaimed, “He’s down!”
The surrounding officials were startled. What was down? The Xie family?
“Xie Yanlai,” the official laughed, pointing to the drill field. “The one being beaten has fallen!”
The officials hurriedly looked over and indeed saw that the previously domineering young commander was stumbling and kneeling on the ground, his topknot disheveled, his hair hanging down, looking utterly wretched.
With his fall to his knees, the previously noisy surroundings actually quieted for a moment.
“Young Master!” The border soldiers exclaimed in shock, seeming about to rush forward, but were blocked by the officials and officers at the front maintaining order.
“Good!” Cheers arose from the capital soldiers, but the sound wasn’t very loud or numerous, seeming to come from only two or three people. When they cheered, the gazes of their comrades around them all turned to them—
It was somewhat strange, and the few soldiers who had cheered inexplicably felt guilty and stopped.
Xie Yanlai paid no attention to his surroundings and didn’t struggle to stand up. Instead, he simply sat down, wiped the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth with his hand, and looked up at the soldier in front of him.
“Not bad. You look thin, but your kung fu is quite solid, kid,” he said, raising his eyebrows. “I’ll admit you’re formidable.”
The soldier’s face was flushed as he panted, but he didn’t excitedly cheer. Hearing these words, he gritted his teeth: “I’m not formidable. This doesn’t count. Next time, you fight just me alone.”
Xie Yanlai snickered: “Who are you to deserve a fight with me, the Young Master? If you miss this chance, when would people like you ever get a chance to fight me? People like you, I wouldn’t even bother to glance at on the street.”
These words caused a stir in the previously quiet surroundings, with curses ringing out.
Standing in the crowd, Zhang Gu shook his head helplessly. A-Jiu’s mouth was truly asking for a beating.
Although many cursed, this time when Xie Yanlai propped himself up from the ground and called for the next challenger, no one stepped forward.
“What? Already admitting defeat?” Xie Yanlai retied his disheveled hair with his hand, revealing his face. The bruises had already appeared, and along with the blood that hadn’t been wiped clean, he looked quite frightening.
An officer from the capital soldiers stepped forward and said, “Commander Xie, we’re not admitting defeat, but we can’t bully you. You’re fighting alone, we can’t continue to compete with you.”
He cupped his hands in salute.
“I acknowledge your prowess.”
No one among the capital soldiers behind him objected, clearly agreeing with the officer’s statement.
But Xie Yanlai didn’t agree, scoffing: “What do you mean ‘acknowledge my prowess’? I am indeed formidable. What, not convinced? Don’t rush, it’s not over yet.”
It’s not over yet? This time, before Officer Niu could speak, the other border soldiers all called out: “Young Master, let me come!”
The soldiers behind surged forward, and the officers at the front could hardly hold them back. It was Xie Yanlai who spread his hand and waved.
“What’s the rush!” he commanded. “Stand properly.”
The surging soldiers stopped.
Xie Yanlai looked again at the capital soldiers on three sides and said, “If you’re not convinced by one-on-one combat, next, let’s have our two armies compete against each other.”
He retied his disheveled sleeves and robe.
“Don’t worry, as visitors from afar, we’ll make sure you lose fair and square!”
What a statement! The previously quiet capital soldiers boiled over again.
The border soldiers had already shouted in unison, “Let’s compete, let’s compete!”
The capital soldiers naturally wouldn’t be outdone: “Come on! Come on!”
Outside the drill field, spectators had already gathered densely. Many couldn’t hear or see the details inside clearly, but when news spread that they were going to continue fighting, many people fighting together, making it more exciting, they immediately became excited too: “Fight, fight!”
Standing on the high platform, Director Zhu flicked his sleeve and sneered: “Good, good!”
…
…
The streets of the capital became even more noisy, with troops galloping, along with a group of officials among them, followed by the Imperial Guard.
The officials wore heavy official robes and had grave expressions, looking quite frightening, but the common people were no longer alarmed.
The news had already spread—there was fighting in the Capital Garrison.
This news was brought by people who had come from outside the capital, who had passed by and witnessed it firsthand, as well as by wealthy households in the city who had sent attendants to investigate.
The streets and alleys, teahouses and taverns were all discussing it.
Once it was confirmed that it was a fight, not a battle, there were even idle people riding horses and carriages to watch the excitement outside the capital. Many people also began to express dissatisfaction.
“It’s truly inappropriate. How can they fight in the Capital Garrison? Don’t these border soldiers know what they’re here for?”
“Border soldiers? They’re here to showcase their military achievements.”
“What kind of achievement is it to fight your own people?”
“Haven’t you heard? The commander of the border prefecture who came is Xie Yanlai, the Ninth Young Master of the Xie family, the younger brother of the Third Young Master Xie.”
This statement made the teahouse even more lively.
“The Imperial Uncle? Then it’s not surprising—showing off his might—”
“Imperial Uncles differ from one another. The Third Young Master Xie is never like this. Don’t put his brother’s actions on him.”
“They are indeed different. Have you forgotten what kind of person this Xie Yanlai is?”
Xie Yanlai? It seemed they had indeed somewhat forgotten.
The Xie family had Xie Yanfang, who overshadowed everyone else. But after all, as sons of the Xie family, quite a few people remembered—
“He used to always fight in the Capital Garrison and Imperial Guard. My nephew in the military said that this boy was quite hated, but no one dared to provoke him.”
“Have you forgotten what happened three years ago? The Xie family disciplined their son in public, and the one who was whipped was Xie Yanlai.”
“I remember now! It seems he caused the death of an entire village!”
“Yes, yes, why is such a person still alive?”
“Because his surname is Xie, he’s an Imperial Uncle.”
“The Third Young Master Xie is truly unfortunate to have such a brother.”
“A misfortune for the family.”
“—Eunuchs from the Imperial Palace have also come out—”
Hearing this, people in teahouses, taverns, streets, and alleys stopped their discussions and ran out to look. Indeed, they saw three palace servants escorted by Imperial Guards coming from the direction of the Imperial Palace, galloping toward the outskirts of the city.
“The Emperor has also heard the news. Is he sending someone to meet his uncle?”
“Look, that eunuch is wearing a red robe, he’s a first-class grand eunuch who serves by the Emperor’s side.”
“Let’s disperse, there’s nothing more to see. The Emperor will protect his uncle, after all—there are only these few uncles.”
…
…
“Sister,” Xiao Yu stood in the hall and called out.
Chu Zhao, standing outside the hall, turned around and beckoned to him.
Xiao Yu happily walked over and held Chu Zhao’s hand.
“Sister is borrowing Eunuch Qi for a while,” Chu Zhao said. “To do something for me.”
“What’s mine is my sister’s. No need to talk about borrowing,” Xiao Yu said, then curiously asked, “Has uncle returned? Earlier, during rest time, I heard the teachers discussing in low voices.”
But the teachers didn’t dare to talk much in front of him, so he hadn’t heard very clearly.
Chu Zhao smiled: “Do you still remember that uncle?”
It had been more than two years since Xie Yanlai and Xiao Yu had seen each other.
Xiao Yu also smiled: “Sister, two years ago I was six years old, not an infant who couldn’t remember things.”
He didn’t know what other children’s lives were like at six, but for him, from then on, he forgot nothing that he had seen.
Moreover, this was a very special uncle who didn’t like him and seemed to have no interest in being his uncle.
…
…
When Eunuch Qi arrived at the Capital Garrison, he could hear the noise from afar. The spectators had brought their entire families, swarming like a dense crowd, with many vendors calling out their wares, tea, snacks all available—even livelier than during the New Year celebrations.
He found it both exasperating and amusing. What kind of situation was this?
But this was also good. Sometimes absurdity could actually reassure the people and prevent rumors and chaos.
Watching this spectacle now was better than having people living in fear.
The officials were all on the high platform. Seeing Eunuch Qi arrive, some hurriedly bowed and greeted him, some merely nodded indifferently, and others wore grim expressions.
“Why has Eunuch Qi come?” Director Zhu asked curtly, pointing to the officials and guards beside him. “The Grand Tutor already knows and has made a decision.”
For state affairs, there was the Grand Tutor; the Emperor, who hadn’t yet personally taken charge of governance, had no right to speak.
Before Eunuch Qi could speak, Director Zhu pointed to the high platform below and said: “Seventh Master Xie from the family has also come personally.”
Eunuch Qi looked over and saw many people standing below the platform, neither wearing official robes nor being guards. Besides the Xie family young masters from earlier, there was also the Seventh Master Xie.
Seventh Master Xie had already seen Eunuch Qi and raised his hand in greeting.
Eunuch Qi hurriedly returned the greeting.
He understood Director Zhu’s meaning—with an elder present, the Emperor, as a junior, didn’t need to inquire.
Eunuch Qi wasn’t surprised by Director Zhu’s attitude. Although he was just a minor director, he had the Grand Tutor’s backing.
The court was a place of fluctuating power, where even the Emperor, the supreme ruler, had to play a game of wits and courage with his officials, and officials treated the Emperor differently based on who he was.
A weak monarch and strong ministers, indeed.
Eunuch Qi didn’t mind or get angry, saying with a smile: “It was the Empress who sent this servant to take a look, after all, it’s a matter concerning the border army.”
Director Zhu paused. This, indeed, was beyond reproach. The Empress had personally led the border army in battle, so she certainly had the right to inquire about border army matters.
“Take a look then,” he changed the subject, pointing forward. “Has the Empress ever seen such an absurd border army?”
Eunuch Qi looked ahead and saw officials and soldiers fighting in a melee, indistinguishable from one another as they grappled together. Their clothes were torn, and they were almost bare-chested.
“This is a brawl,” Eunuch Qi laughed.
As his words fell, the sound of drums rang out chaotically, and a soldier was lifted up by several people, holding a command flag in his hand—
It turned out that the two sides were fighting to capture each other’s command flag.
“We’ve got it!”
“We’ve won!”
“We’ve won again!”
With the cheers, the losers also began to curse, cursing both their opponents and their people. Those being cursed responded with equal vehemence. A storm swept across the drill field—cursing and swearing, unbridled and offensive to the ears.
However, despite the intense cursing, the soldiers grappling with each other all separated as the command flag waved, each reforming their ranks.
Xie Yanlai stood swaying at the front of the formation. He wasn’t much better off than the others, his upper garments long gone, covered in dirt. Looking at the officer opposite him, he smiled: “There’s no way around it. Look, you’ve lost again.”
The officer still had a short jacket on his upper body. He turned his head and spat, ejecting a mouthful of bloody water.
“What do you mean?” he said. “You’ve lost too.”
“Three to two,” Xie Yanlai held out his fingers to him. “Formation battle, you lost. Siege battle, you lost again. You only won the ambush battle because you were familiar with the terrain—”
“Stop talking nonsense,” the officer interrupted with a snort. “It was clearly because you were slow to react!”
With the dialogue between the two, the soldiers behind them also shouted, “How about that?” “We’re just better than you.” “What are you boasting about after losing!”
However, they didn’t rush up to fight—military competitions had rules, and the commanders hadn’t given the order yet.
“Not convinced?” Xie Yanlai raised his eyebrows. “Then let’s compete again. This time, you choose what we compete in.”
But the officer didn’t immediately accept as before. After hesitating, he said, “Let’s leave it for now.” He looked toward the high platform. “Too many people have been disturbed. If we continue fighting, no one will have a good outcome.”
On the high platform stood people in red, purple, and blue robes, and outside the drill field, voices clamored. Looking up, there were heads everywhere.
Xie Yanlai sneered: “What is there to fear? It’s just fighting, isn’t it?” Then he added, “Besides, it was the officials who instigated the fight.”
He pointed at himself and, without waiting for the officer to speak, strode toward the high platform.
“Gentlemen,” Xie Yanlai walked to the foot of the platform and said loudly, “Now, the fighting is over.”
The officials on the platform looked at him indifferently.
Director Zhu said coldly: “Then take him away.”
The Imperial Guards standing around immediately stepped forward. Xie Yanlai didn’t speak, but noise erupted behind him.
“There’s no need to take him away.”
“We were just having military competitions.”
“Then, are you going to take all of us away?”
Xie Yanlai turned his head and reproached them impatiently: “What does it have to do with you? It was me fighting alone, and when I wasn’t satisfied, I let you all fight together—”
His words were not finished. It turned out that behind him were not only border soldiers, but also capital soldiers had followed.
The leading officer looked at him and sneered: “If you said fight and we didn’t respond, could you have started a fight? How can you say it has nothing to do with us?”