Was it true or false?

The minor official listened in bewilderment. A mere form of address had such a significant difference?

“What if you had really gone, my lord?” the minor official asked.

Would the Emperor cry and make a scene to embarrass him?

“Of course not,” Xie Yanfang smiled. “His Majesty would discuss some trivial matters with me, and then after I left, he would have a eunuch go invite his uncle again. This time, he would directly specify that he wanted to see Xie Yanlai—”

He paused here and shook his head.

“No, he probably wouldn’t say anything at all. He would directly run out, with the eunuchs following behind at a loss, and he would run all the way to where Xie Yanlai was, then throw himself at him and call out ‘Uncle, I need to see you.'”

That would be enough.

Seeing this scene, the eunuchs would be surprised and reflect—so His Majesty wasn’t looking for Xie Yanfang, but for Xie Yanlai? Or rather, even after speaking with Xie Yanfang, His Majesty would still seek out Uncle Yanlai to talk—

Then Uncle Yanlai’s position in His Majesty’s heart was self-evident.

“Young master,” he couldn’t help but say, “aren’t you overthinking this?”

The Emperor was only a six-year-old child. What was all this scheming about? Besides, why was it necessary? They were family!

Xie Yanfang smiled. It wasn’t that he was overthinking—though the Emperor was a six-year-old child, he was also a member of the Xie family.

The Xie family had always been this calculating.

Though the minor official seemed unrelated to the Xie family, he had actually been placed in his current position by the Xie clan. He was in truth a Xie family servant and knew very well what the Xie family was like.

Since Xie Yanfang had said this, he thought seriously for a moment and said: “Is it because Xie Yanlai rendered meritorious service defending the city that day, and His Majesty wants to elevate him?”

But even if Xie Yanlai had merit in defending the city and protecting His Majesty, his status and position in the eyes of the world couldn’t compare to Xie Yanfang’s.

So, His Majesty was deliberately stepping on Xie Yanfang, using Xie Yanfang to let everyone know Xie Yanlai’s position.

The minor official’s eyes immediately sharpened. He didn’t believe this was something His Majesty had thought up himself. No matter how scheming a child was, someone else must have instigated it!

This Xie Yanlai thought that by seizing the great merit of rescuing His Majesty, he could be endlessly greedy?

Absurd, ridiculous.

Did he know that even with the merit of rescuing His Majesty, a single word from Xie Yanfang could make him disappear from this court, make him disappear from the family?

What “Xie Yanlai’s great rescue merit”—it should be “the Xie clan’s great merit in rescuing His Majesty.”

Seeing the minor official’s expression, Xie Yanfang smiled.

“No, no,” he shook his head. “His Majesty isn’t doing this for Xie Yanlai’s sake, nor is he being particularly good to Xie Yanlai. Rather, he’s doing it to let me know about this.”

That’s why the eunuch had come before him, cheerfully saying the Emperor requested his presence.

The minor official was stunned. This, this—he really didn’t understand now. What was all this?

Xie Yanfang pressed his lips together, his eyes showing both amusement and helplessness.

That child hated him.

He had known it since that morning when he came to the palace and Xiao Yu called out “Uncle” while rushing past him toward Xie Yanlai.

Overnight, the child had lost both parents. Fear and hatred needed an outlet, and this hatred wasn’t only directed at enemies—it could also be directed at relatives.

Especially relatives he had always admired and looked up to.

Unable to save his parents, unable to protect him in danger.

However much he had admired him before, that was how much he hated him now.

And he made no attempt to hide it, using these clumsy methods to let him know.

Of course, for a six-year-old child, to accomplish this much was already quite good.

Truly worthy of being a member of the Xie family.

Xie Yanfang looked at the minor official and said: “This matter ends here. Don’t mention it again, and especially don’t make things difficult for Xie Yanlai.”

The minor official’s expression was admiring: “Young master truly has the magnanimity to tolerate others.”

Xie Yanfang smiled: “Such a small matter, just a child’s tantrum.”

Of course he could also be intolerant, but neither the child nor Xie Yanlai had yet earned that distinction.

“How is the Empress?” Xie Yanfang asked the minor official.

The minor official said: “We asked just the day before yesterday—all is safe and smooth.”

Xie Yanfang said: “Ask again today.”

The minor official smiled: “The Empress’s journey truly makes one worry. Young master really shouldn’t have agreed to it. It’s nerve-wracking, and you still have to face the Grand Tutor’s cold expression. If anything were to happen, the Grand Tutor would certainly make things difficult for you.”

Xie Yanfang smiled: “The Grand Tutor’s cold face toward me and his making things difficult for me isn’t because I agreed to the Empress’s journey.”

The minor official said no more. The young master had the magnanimity to tolerate others; he couldn’t be presumptuous and joke without restraint: “I’ll go ask personally. Please wait a moment, my lord.”

Xie Yanfang nodded as he watched the minor official leave. He didn’t immediately lower his head to handle government affairs, but instead said thoughtfully to himself: “If I went to His Majesty now, I could immediately learn news of her.”

He smiled at his own words and shook his head.

The child was rarely happy—better not to disturb him.

……

……

Outside the Emperor’s bedchamber, eunuchs and Imperial Guards stood solemnly in complete silence.

Inside the hall, a child’s “Ah!” of alarm was exceptionally clear and piercing.

But whether it was Eunuch Qi or the guards, all stood motionless, as if they hadn’t heard.

“Uncle,” Xiao Yu grabbed Xie Yanlai’s arm, his small face full of terror. “What happened to that elder sister?”

Xie Yanlai felt the child trembling all over and said: “She was injured a little—flesh wounds, nothing life-threatening. She’s continuing her journey now.”

The child’s eyes were somewhat dazed, not yet recovered from his fright: “She, she’s continuing the journey?”

Xie Yanlai sat with one hand holding a teacup, his expression half-smiling: “Of course. What else? Come crying back? Is that elder sister of yours that kind of person?”

Xiao Yu gripped his arm in silence for a moment. Elder Sister Chu Zhao certainly wasn’t that kind of person. When she had protected him before, when enemies caught up, she went up and killed them, then took him on horseback and rode forward, always forward. Even though this uncle’s arrows had been aimed at them then, even though the Grand Tutor’s palace gate was tightly closed and drove them away, Elder Sister had shown no fear—

“Elder Sister isn’t afraid,” he said. “Elder Sister is the most capable.”

Xie Yanlai scoffed: “Not afraid, sure, but most capable is going too far. Average at best. She just has good luck.”

Xiao Yu retorted: “Good luck is also a capability, and not everyone has it.”

Xie Yanlai snorted and withdrew his arm.

“Has Elder Sister written any letters back?” Xiao Yu asked again, his eyes fixed intently on him. “Let me see them.”

Xie Yanlai immediately shook his head: “No. Urgent courier reports—where would she have time to write letters?”

Xiao Yu looked disappointed, then asked: “Then can I write letters to Elder Sister?”

Xie Yanlai said: “The courier soldiers traveling the roads don’t have time to receive and read letters either.” However, he glanced at the child looking up at him eagerly and didn’t completely refuse: “The letters you write can only reach her after she arrives at Yunzhong Commandery.”

The child’s eyes bloomed with joy: “That’s fine too, that’s fine too. Elder Sister can read many of them all at once.”

Xie Yanlai stood up: “If there’s nothing else, this subject takes his leave.”

The child took his hand and called out: “Uncle, if it were someone else, they definitely wouldn’t tell me that Elder Sister was attacked. They would only say everything is fine.” Looking up at Xie Yanlai, his face full of trust, “Uncle is the person I trust most.”

Xie Yanlai looked down at the small child who wasn’t even as tall as his leg, the corner of his mouth curving: “This matter was inherently risky. Saying pleasant words can’t put one’s mind at ease. Knowing the true situation is what brings peace of mind.”

He reached out and stroked the child’s cheek.

This was probably the first time Xie Yanlai had been so intimate with him. Xiao Yu seemed surprised and stiffened. When he threw himself at Xie Yanlai, hugging his waist or arm, Xie Yanlai always disdainfully avoided or shook him off.

This uncle was even better-looking than that other uncle, but his aura wasn’t as pleasant as that other uncle’s. His hands were clearly very pale, yet when they touched his face, they felt like rough stone.

“Since you know I can set your mind at ease, don’t play little tricks in the future,” Xie Yanlai said in a low voice. “Little fellow, if you don’t like Xie Yanfang, go tell him directly. Don’t use me as a tool. Once or twice is enough—don’t do it endlessly.”