Zhong Changrong examined the new official document on the desk, looking it over from all angles, trying to find some problem with it. But regardless of the wording or format, as a military man, he could find no fault.
Pretend not to understand? That wouldn’t work either. The Grand Tutor had been considerate of military officers like them, writing very plainly.
“Liang Qiang, son of Left Wing Army Historian Liang Ji, First Line Military Marquis, is to report to the Military Department in the capital for orders,” Zhong Changrong read through gritted teeth.
Even the father’s name was written out. It would be impossible for him to find another person surnamed Liang with the given name Qiang from the front-line troops.
“By what right does Deng Yi—” Zhong Changrong grabbed the document, about to tear it.
His deputies quickly stopped him. “General, it bears the imperial jade seal. It’s equivalent to an imperial edict. It cannot be desecrated.”
Indeed, with the Grand Tutor governing the country, in the current Great Xia, the Grand Tutor’s word was law. Zhong Changrong angrily slammed the document on the table.
“General, don’t be hasty. Our lady must know about this,” one deputy consoled him. “Didn’t our lady say that she succeeded with the Grand Tutor’s help?”
“Yes, perhaps our lady hasn’t had time to write to us yet,” another deputy said. “Perhaps this is also our lady’s intention.”
After Chu Zhao became Empress, the Grand Tutor had often protected and even indulged the Empress. Beyond attending court alongside the Emperor and pacifying the Prince of Zhongshan incident, Zhong Changrong knew more than others. When the young lady had escorted the young prince into the imperial palace in those days, Deng Yi had been guarding the palace gates and initially refused to open them, but the young lady had persuaded him.
Even earlier, when the young lady had left the capital, it was Deng Yi who had brought her back.
The young lady and Deng Yi had known each other for a long time, and their relationship was not shallow. Logically, he should feel at ease, but who among those sitting in such high positions in court could truly be trusted?
“General, we’re overthinking,” a deputy said. “We’re only focusing on the past grudges between the Liang and Chu families, but the Xie family has an even deeper enmity with the Liang family. Grand Tutor Deng naturally wouldn’t want to see the Xie family grow strong in the military, so he deliberately appointed a Liang family member.”
Everyone in the hall suddenly realized this made sense.
So that’s it, Zhong Changrong’s expression softened slightly.
“This is a good thing,” a deputy smiled. “We don’t need to reconsider. We can proceed as previously planned.”
A good thing? Everyone looked at him.
The deputy explained with a smile: “The Grand Tutor wants Liang Qiang to go, but the court document allows us to decide for ourselves. So let’s send both Xie Yanlai and Liang Qiang. That way, it has nothing to do with us—it becomes a matter between the Xie and Liang families.”
Let them fight it out.
Brilliant! Everyone in the hall began to laugh, and Zhong Changrong nodded as well. This way, the young lady could watch the tigers fight from a safe distance. He glanced at the document on the desk.
However, his brow remained furrowed. After pondering for a moment, he looked up and ordered: “Call for Inspector Xie.”
…
…
Xie Yanlai strode into the hall, bringing a gust of wind with him.
“Commander Zhong, our Luo City—” he began irritably.
Before he could finish, Zhong Changrong interrupted: “Yes, yes, I know. Your Luo City is very busy and far away. I’m making you run back and forth for my amusement.”
Xie Yanlai hooked his foot around a chair, pulled it over, and sat down lazily. “It’s good that the Commander understands. Since you’re tormenting me like this, I won’t hold it against you—just allocate an extra hundred war horses to us.”
“A hundred horses?” Zhong Changrong sneered. “For you to ride around for fun?” Seeing that Xie Yanlai was about to say something more, he slapped the table. “Stop the nonsense. I called you here to discuss something important—about going to the capital.”
Hearing this, a mocking smile flashed across Xie Yanlai’s lips. The next moment, he lowered his eyes to look at his fingers and said: “Hasn’t the matter of going to the capital already been decided? What else is there to discuss?”
Indeed, it had been decided, but Zhong Changrong seemed distracted and didn’t answer. After hesitating, he asked: “What arrangements has your family made for you?”
Family? Xie Yanlai glanced at him: “What do you mean?”
Since coming to the border army, he hadn’t returned home, and the Xie family hadn’t said anything. They had sent over a dozen servants to attend to his daily needs.
Zhong Changrong was very vigilant and had discovered that these dozen servants were carefully selected, both literate and skilled in martial arts. Once when Xie Yanlai had been trapped in battle with no news, the servants had accompanied soldiers to search for him. They encountered an ambush, and three servants killed twenty Western Liang scouts.
The Xie family had sent these servants to Xie Yanlai not just to attend to his daily needs, but to assist him in establishing military achievements and planning for him.
Zhong Changrong hadn’t driven away the Xie family’s servants, turning a blind eye as long as their planning focused on establishing military achievements.
“Regarding this trip to the capital,” he looked at Xie Yanlai and asked, “What has your family said about it?”
Xie Yanlai replied lazily: “What does going to the capital have to do with my family?”
Zhong Changrong impatiently slapped the table: “Don’t play dumb with me. For such a good opportunity, wouldn’t your family have made arrangements?”
Xie Yanlai smiled even more: “So this is a good opportunity?”
Of course, it was a good opportunity—an imperial audience, presenting oneself at court, reporting military achievements, receiving titles and promotions. Zhong Changrong sneered: “Whether it’s good or bad is for your family to decide.”
Xie Yanlai gave an ambiguous smile: “Then I don’t know. My family hasn’t said anything. My family doesn’t interfere with my affairs here.”
Doesn’t interfere? Zhong Changrong was startled and asked: “Your family hasn’t told you to go to the capital?”
“I came here by imperial order, and naturally I would return by imperial order,” Xie Yanlai said impatiently. “Commander Zhong, stop bringing up my family with every other breath.”
Then he raised an eyebrow mockingly.
“Commander, do you care so much about other people’s families? Do you always make decisions based on what other families want?”
After he finished speaking, he noticed that Zhong Changrong, rather than cursing back as usual, showed no signs of anger. Instead, he appeared distracted.
“Hey,” he had to remind him irritably.
Zhong Changrong responded with an “Oh,” glancing at him: “That’s all. You can return to Luo City.”
A flash of surprise passed through Xie Yanlai’s dark eyes. He swung his long legs but didn’t stand up to leave. Instead, he shifted his sitting position.
“What’s going on?” he frowned. “Why are you sending me back to Luo City again? Wasn’t the matter of going to the capital already decided?”
He had asked this question when he first entered, saying it was already decided.
But he hadn’t specified who had decided it, since in the end Second Master Liang had produced the Grand Tutor’s directive, designating Liang Qiang to go to the capital.
Zhong Changrong glanced at him and said: “Yes, it’s been decided. Liang Qiang will go.”
Xie Yanlai let out a cold laugh: “Well done, Zhong Changrong. You do make decisions based on what other families want.”
Zhong Changrong shouted angrily: “What are you raving about? When have I ever made decisions based on what other families want?”
“You don’t? Then why did you say I would go, but as soon as someone presents a handwritten order from the Grand Tutor, you immediately bow and scrape and change your mind?” Xie Yanlai said.
Zhong Changrong slapped the table: “You insolent fool, what are you saying!”
“I don’t care whose lead you follow. You said I would go, so I absolutely must go now.” Xie Yanlai flung his sleeve and rose to leave.
“You troublemaker,” Zhong Changrong also stood up and blurted out, “This isn’t even a good opportunity. Why are you so eager to go?”
Xie Yanlai paused in his steps and laughed: “How is it not a good opportunity now?”
But without waiting for Zhong Changrong to speak, he tossed back a parting remark.
“That’s even better. I, Xie Yanlai, have only this one preference—the more troublesome something is, the more I want to join in the excitement.”
With that, he strode out.
Zhong Changrong stared after him angrily, his expression complex. He wanted to say something more, but finally only muttered, “That troublesome boy.”
…
…
“Young Master,” Xiaoshan entered carrying a bundle as tall as a mountain. He peeked out from behind it with a fawning look. “The journey is long, so I’ve prepared your luggage. Take a look—”
Xie Yanlai was crouching in front of a chest, searching for something. He commanded troops in Luo City, but because he had previously stayed in the prefecture’s government office when he came with Chu Zhao, he still had a room here. Whether through oversight or indifference, it had been left untouched until now, though it was covered in dust from long disuse.
Hearing Xiaoshan’s voice, Xie Yanlai didn’t turn around and simply said: “Get out.”
Xiaoshan didn’t argue at all. He dropped the luggage on the ground and darted out, leaving only a choked “Young Master, I’ll miss you.”
Xie Yanlai spat in disgust and continued searching. Soft footsteps sounded behind him.
“Young Master,” someone called.
This time, Xie Yanlai still didn’t turn around, but he didn’t tell the person to get out either. Instead, he asked: “What is it?”
Behind him stood an attendant in blue clothing. This was Xie Yanlai’s true personal servant. He hesitated for a moment, then said softly: “The family’s instruction is that you needn’t return yet. You’re still young and not in a hurry for rewards. Focus on your work. Step by step is how one reaches a thousand miles—”
Before he could finish, Xie Yanlai turned his head with an ambiguous smile: “Spare me these lectures. Remember this: I came here not because of the family, but because of the Emperor. If you want me not to seek merit and rewards, if you want to tell me how to act, let the Emperor tell me himself. Anyone else, don’t try to lecture me.”
The servant lowered his head and didn’t say more, only responding: “Yes, Ninth Young Master. I obey.”
Xie Yanlai said: “You may leave.”
The servant immediately withdrew.
Xie Yanlai turned around and sat on the ground, stirring up dust. He shook his sleeves and leaned against the chest, silent.
From the moment the Liang fellow had produced Deng Yi’s handwritten order, he had known that the so-called return to the capital to report would become a contest for rewards and honors.
He also knew that what had originally been Zhong Changrong’s private desire to send him had immediately transformed into a situational necessity.
For Zhong Changrong, sending someone with the surname Xie was the most advantageous choice.
This way, the Chu family could watch the tigers fight from a safe distance—all benefit, no drawback.
When he was called in the second time, he had been prepared to hear Zhong Changrong make excuses about why he should go, but he hadn’t expected—
Zhong Changrong had changed his mind and told him not to go.
This—Xie Yanlai clenched his fist and hissed through gritted teeth, “That simpleton!”
With the situation so clear and the choice so simple, Zhong Changrong had asked one unnecessary question about whether the Xie family had told him to return, and upon hearing there were no such instructions, he had decided not to send him!
This Zhong Changrong, always brainless at critical moments, dithering and fussing, who knew what he was thinking? Just like his foolish young lady Chu Zhao!
Xie Yanlai’s clenched fist slowly relaxed.
Of course, he knew what Zhong Changrong was thinking. Deng Yi wanted Liang Qiang to go to the capital, and the Xie family surely knew this, but they had neither written an order for Xie Yanlai to return to the capital nor privately instructed him to go back. They were avoiding conflict this time.
If Xie Yanlai returned to the capital when the Xie family was avoiding conflict, it would cause the Xie family some trouble. If the Xie family faced trouble, he, Xie Yanlai, would become the sinner, to be reprimanded, blamed, or even punished by the family.
Thinking of this, Xie Yanlai found it amusing. Though his surname was Xie, they always regarded him as separate from the Xie family. Chu Zhao did this, and now Zhong Changrong did the same.
He raised his hand before his eyes, looking at a tiger-head pendant he was holding.
This had been seized from one of the Western Liang King’s camps. Although they hadn’t captured any Western Liang nobles at the time, they had fled in such a hurry that they left behind exotic treasures. The other gold, silver, and jewels were nothing special, so he had allowed the soldiers who followed him to divide those among themselves.
Only this tiger head, carved from some unknown material, was remarkably lifelike and interesting. He had kept it, intending to give it to—
Setting aside all these confusing matters, he hadn’t seen her for a year.
He wanted to go, to see her, even if just for a glance.
Return to the capital.
Return to the capital!
Regardless of trouble or conflict! He wanted to see her once!
Xie Yanlai clenched his fist and sprang to his feet like a fish leaping from water.