Xie Yanfang said nothing more, only quietly watching the child in Xie Yanlai’s embrace.
Xie Yanlai, however, seemed quite uncomfortable. He pressed on the child’s shoulders, wanting to lift him away like a cat.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
The eunuchs also gathered around.
“The Young Highness was sleeping and ran out as soon as he woke up.” “His clothes aren’t even properly fastened.” “Young Highness, please be careful not to catch cold.”
Xie Yanlai gripped the child’s shoulders, frowning as he asked, “What do you want to do? Just tell them to do it.”
Xiao Yu raised his head and asked, “Where is Sister?”
Who was Sister? A palace maid who looked after the Young Highness? Xie Yanfang thought to himself on the side, but still said nothing, only watching Xiao Yu and Xie Yanlai.
Xie Yanlai clearly knew who the sister he mentioned was. He frowned at the eunuchs. “Where is she?”
The eunuchs naturally also knew who it was and quickly said, “Just now His Majesty summoned her.”
But the eunuch from His Majesty’s side had just said His Majesty was resting. Both Xie Yanlai and Xie Yanfang looked at that eunuch.
The eunuch hastily said, “She left. After speaking, she left. Where she went, we don’t know.”
Xie Yanlai snorted. “Running around everywhere.” Then thinking of something, he pursed his lips. “She’s probably with Minister Deng.” He patted Xiao Yu. “You go back. I’ll go call her back.”
Xiao Yu nodded, released his hands, and no longer resisted the eunuchs, allowing them to wrap him in robes.
Xie Yanlai turned to leave, then his toes pivoted on the ground and he turned back around.
“Your Highness,” he said, his expression between smiling and not, pointing at Xie Yanfang. “This is Third Young Master, Xie Yanfang. You know him, right?”
Xiao Yu glanced at him, then lowered his head and bowed to Xie Yanfang. “I have met Third Uncle. Thank you for looking after my father and mother, Third Uncle.”
By the last sentence, the child’s tender voice had become hoarse.
A clever child naturally knew who Xie Yanfang was and could naturally deduce what this third uncle had gone to do. He was unwilling to face him directly because he didn’t want to face the tragic fate of his parents, right? Xie Yanfang walked before him and crouched down, looking up at the child’s face.
“Your Highness, they were my elder sister and brother-in-law,” he said gently. “You should go rest properly first. I will come again to tell you about matters. A’Yu is a brave child and should know and remember what happened.”
Xiao Yu nodded.
Xie Yanfang said no more and stood up. “Yanfang takes his leave.”
Xiao Yu didn’t linger and left with the eunuchs.
Watching Xiao Yu leave, Xie Yanlai finally spoke again. “Third Brother, go see the Grand Tutor.”
Xie Yanfang nodded and, bringing Du Qi, followed Xie Yanlai back toward the outer hall.
The two brothers walked one in front of the other, somewhat silent, though this wasn’t strange—even at home in the past, they wouldn’t exchange more than a few words, especially since Xie Yanlai came and went alone.
“Seeing the Young Highness safe, I’m relieved,” Xie Yanfang said. “What Elder Sister was most reluctant to leave behind before she died was him.”
Xie Yanlai made a sound of acknowledgment. “The eunuchs have checked. The Young Highness is perfectly well.”
Xie Yanfang asked, “How is His Majesty?”
The question was direct enough.
Xie Yanlai looked back at him, leaned his shoulder over, and said in a low voice, “Not very good, whether in spirit or body.”
His answer was direct enough too.
Xie Yanfang nodded. “I understand. When I see His Majesty, I’ll be careful with my words.”
Xie Yanlai turned his head, then turned back and smiled. “Perhaps not necessary. After seeing the Grand Tutor, you probably won’t need to see His Majesty.”
These words— Xie Yanfang was thoughtful and probably understood. Though he had only inquired about Deng Yi when paying attention to Chu Zhao, fortunately his memory was very good—he never forgot what he saw or heard. This Deng Yi was a Palace Gate Official.
In a single night, he had transformed into the Grand Tutor, and could even decide whether someone could see His Majesty.
Clearly he had already gained His Majesty’s deep trust and been entrusted with great responsibility.
The master of this palace, at this very moment, was Deng Yi.
Deng Yi. Xie Yanfang silently repeated this name in his heart, somewhat amazed. Among the court’s illustrious high officials and the imperial relatives showing off their power, who could have imagined that a minor official whom no one gave a second glance would soar to the heavens in one leap?
Life was like this—seemingly unchanging, but in reality, you never knew what would happen the next moment. Changeable, unpredictable. This was also the pleasure of being human.
He asked nothing more, and Xie Yanlai didn’t volunteer to say more either. The two brothers passed through the imperial guards and came to the front hall. The front hall had fewer guards and more officials, coming and going with hurried steps. Their expressions ranged from wooden to terrified, and some whispered to each other in discussion—the atmosphere tense yet strange.
“…Where is Grand Tutor Liao? Did he wisely choose not to come?”
“…What wisely? Whether wise or not, he had to be wise. Grand Tutor Deng directly sent troops to tell him not to come…”
“…Does he really have the final say?”
“…He’s currently investigating the Third Prince and the Zhao family’s remaining associates. Do you think he has the final say? If he says you are one, then you are, even if you’re not. Who dares not listen?”
“…Why are there so many more troops? They don’t quite look like imperial guards.”
“…The Capital Garrison came in? Impossible—the gates weren’t even opened.”
Seeing the armored Xie Yanlai approaching, the officials gathered in discussion immediately stopped. Then seeing Xie Yanfang, they became excited.
“Third Young Master Xie!”
“Third Young Master Xie is still here!”
“Third Young Master Xie is indeed safe and sound!”
Xie Yanfang kept his eyes straight ahead, not chatting with any official, following Xie Yanlai in quick strides.
Arriving before a hall, the guards here were far fewer than at His Majesty’s bedchamber earlier, but Xie Yanlai, who had been proceeding unobstructed all along, stopped his steps early.
“Report to the Grand Tutor,” he said loudly to the guards at the door. “The younger brother of the Crown Princess, Xie Yanfang, has returned and requests an audience.”
…
…
Inside the Grand Tutor’s hall, there was no gathering of officials.
At this moment, there were only Deng Yi and the young lady.
Deng Yi sat flipping through documents while Chu Zhao paced back and forth with furrowed brows.
“Miss Chu,” Deng Yi said, “what are you so anxious about?”
Chu Zhao stopped. “How can I not be anxious? Xiao Xun has escaped!”
Once matters in the palace had somewhat settled, her first action was to immediately have Uncle Zhong go arrest Xiao Xun. But when Uncle Zhong rushed to the postal station, there was only a floor full of corpses—Prince Zhongshan’s heir and his party were nowhere to be seen. After searching the city, they finally discovered that near the city gate in a certain residence, there was a hidden passage. Prince Zhongshan’s heir had escaped through there—
“What’s strange about Prince Zhongshan’s heir escaping?” Deng Yi said. “He’s not stupid, and his father is even less so. Since they dared to come, they naturally had a way to retreat unscathed.”
That was true. Xiao Xun’s luck was quite good. Chu Zhao sighed. “He poses a threat to the Young Highness. Minister Deng—”
Deng Yi raised his eyes and saw the young lady’s hopeful gaze—whether genuine or not.
Chu Zhao said, “The Young Highness’s safety rests on you, Minister.”
Deng Yi said, “It seems Her Majesty the Empress’s safety doesn’t require this official’s concern.”
Chu Zhao shook her head and said with a smile, “This subject lady is not yet Empress. The Grand Tutor may simply address me as Crown Princess.”
This time Deng Yi couldn’t hold back and laughed aloud—a somewhat complex laugh. Looking at the young lady before him, he recalled what had happened earlier in the hall.
She had stormed the city with troops. Though it was quite unexpected, upon learning that Chu Ling had unknown military forces, this matter wasn’t so surprising.
But she said she wanted to become Empress.
Did she know what she was saying?
Did she know to whom she was speaking?
In that instant, Deng Yi, who thought he had seen much that was unexpected, was shocked beyond words.