The rough palm brushed across the tender cheek, leaving a chilling sensation.
The child stiffened, motionless.
His eyes stared directly at Xie Yanlai, his lips moving slightly as if wanting to say, “Uncle, I don’t understand what you’re saying,” but he said nothing.
Xie Yanlai didn’t speak further. He withdrew his hand, stepped back once, twice, then bowed to the motionless child: “I take my leave.”
Without waiting for permission, he turned and strode out.
Seeing him exit, Qi Gonggong quickly bowed with a smile: “Safe travels, Commander.”
Xie Yanlai left without even glancing at him.
Qi Gonggong, unbothered by his attitude, hurried into the hall and immediately noticed Xiao Yu standing by the table, looking disturbed.
“Your Majesty,” he rushed over and called softly, “are you all right?”
Xiao Yu turned to look at him. Qi Gonggong saw that the child’s tender right cheek was slightly red, and his heart sank. Had this Xie Yanlai struck the Emperor?
Though Xie Yanlai had defended the palace that night and now commanded the Dragon Might Army guarding the imperial city, and though Lady Chu trusted him completely, Qi Gonggong felt uneasy about him.
He was certain that Xie Yanfang was wholeheartedly devoted to His Majesty, but about this Xie Yanlai, he dared not assume the same.
Though they shared the surname Xie, though both were the Emperor’s uncles, though their status and future honor were tied to the Emperor—
This Xie Yanlai remained somewhat inscrutable.
He seemed to care about nothing—
Qi Gonggong knelt on one knee and carefully asked: “Your Majesty, what happened?”
If this Xie Yanlai had truly been defiant and struck His Majesty, he would have told Lady Chu Zhao.
Xiao Yu looked at him, his eyes slightly reddened: “Uncle said Sister was ambushed.”
Qi Gonggong was startled, but also relieved. So that was it.
Xie Yanlai indeed cared little for others’ feelings or status, but his heart was honest. This was well-intentioned—though His Majesty was a child, one shouldn’t merely placate him with pleasant words. Telling His Majesty the truth was best for him.
And if he could mention the danger, it meant the danger had passed.
“Ah!” Qi Gonggong feigned shock, falling to his knees and grabbing Xiao Yu’s arm, his voice quavering, “What shall we do! What shall we do? Your Majesty, quickly order the Imperial Tutor to dispatch troops!”
Xiao Yu was amused and hurried to help Qi Gonggong up, saying: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Sister is fine now. Sister isn’t afraid at all and is continuing her journey.”
Qi Gonggong still appeared shaken: “Really? But what exactly happened?”
Xiao Yu said: “I don’t know much either. Uncle just received the news, and we’ll have to wait for a more detailed report.”
Qi Gonggong patted his chest: “How frightening! This old servant said from the beginning she shouldn’t go.”
He sighed and lamented.
Xiao Yu comforted him, also speaking up for Chu Zhao: “How could Sister be the kind of person who abandons her mission at the first sign of danger? If she were, she wouldn’t have saved me that day.”
That night, Lady Chu could have chosen not to save them. With the Dragon Might Army under Chu Wei’s command, if she had allied with Xiao Xun, he would have made Lady Chu an empress. As an adult, Qi Gonggong understood this clearly.
“Yes,” he knelt on one knee, stroking Xiao Yu’s arm. “Lady Chu is brave, and her courage is for those she cares about. Your Majesty, you and Lady Chu’s father are both people she would protect and worry about, undaunted by any danger.”
Xiao Yu nodded: “I know I am in Sister’s heart.” He placed his hand on his heart. “And Sister is in mine.”
Qi Gonggong bowed: “Your Majesty is wise.” He then rose and took Xiao Yu’s hand. “Your Majesty, please finish your meal, then begin your studies.”
……
……
Xie Yanlai walked through the palace with a calm expression, not feeling that his previous actions toward the Emperor had been inappropriate.
Emperor? So what if he was the Emperor? Just a little brat.
Whether he would even survive remained uncertain.
Besides, many people were dissatisfied with him. If the little brat wanted revenge, he might not even get the chance.
Xie Yanlai’s lips curled in mockery, his eyes cold.
Also, the little brat was indeed worthy of having Xie family blood. Such a devious mind at such a young age.
Could Chu Zhao see it? If he told her, would that dead girl scold him again? “What kind of life did you live in the Xie family to be so suspicious of a child?”
At this thought, he sneered coldly. He wouldn’t meddle in unnecessary affairs. Wasn’t Chu Zhao also devious at a young age? Let those two devious minds deal with each other.
He strode forward quickly. Two men came hurrying from the opposite direction—one imperial guard and one military official. The guard was composed, but the official seemed flustered, as if entering the palace for the first time. Though moving quickly, his steps were unsteady—
“Zhang Touer,” Xie Yanlai stopped and called out.
Only then did the guard and Zhang Gu notice him. They hurried over faster. “Commander Xie.”
News already? Xie Yanlai’s cold gaze dissipated as he looked at Zhang Gu: “Let’s sit inside to discuss.”
How they were ambushed, how it was investigated, the attackers’ identities, the new guards—all these details would take at least half a day to explain thoroughly.
But Zhang Gu didn’t follow his steps. Instead, he stepped forward urgently: “A-Jiu, something has happened.”
This inappropriate form of address momentarily took Xie Yanlai’s breath away.
What happened? How could something happen to her? Nothing should happen to her—
“—The Western Liang troops have invaded our borders,” Zhang Gu continued.
Xie Yanlai felt air rush into his lungs, his foot landing firmly on the ground. He raised his eyebrows and rebuked: “So what if they’ve invaded? What’s there to panic about?”
Zhang Gu was stunned. Such a major event, and he wasn’t worried?
Looking at the young commander’s wooden expression, he marveled: Indeed, A-Jiu was extraordinary—steady in the face of crisis, unmoved even with a mountain crashing down.
Zhang Gu quickly regained his composure and said loudly: “The Commander’s rebuke is justified.”
Xie Yanlai glanced at him and asked in a deep voice: “What happened? Explain in detail.”
……
……
“The Western Liang envoy said they came to pay respects to the late Emperor and congratulate the new Emperor on his ascension.”
“But they brought tens of thousands of troops.”
“General Chu Wei directly beheaded the Western Liang envoy, saying the people need not come, just sending the head would suffice.”
By this time, Xie Yanfang had also received the news in the great hall and immediately summoned the Imperial Tutor and court officials. The young Emperor, who had been eating, was urgently called to sit on the dragon throne.
Listening to the dispatch, the officials were shocked.
“This—” an official couldn’t help saying, “General Chu is too—he should be more cautious. Doesn’t this provoke war?”
Xie Yanfang said: “General Chu made a decisive move to intimidate them, turning defense into offense. Since the Western Liang envoy came with troops, they came for war. No amount of caution could have avoided it.”
Indeed, if they truly came to pay respects, why bring tens of thousands of troops?
“The King of Western Liang is truly insatiable in his greed!” an official said angrily. “After being beaten into submission and hiding for so long, now that he sees our Great Xia Dynasty in turmoil, he immediately emerges with ill intentions!”
The officials in the hall clamored angrily about the despicable Western Liang thieves.
Deng Yi silenced everyone: “There’s no need for such anger. The King of Western Liang has always been this way. We know his ambitions never died, which is why we’ve kept strong forces stationed at the border prefectures. Since he dares to come now, let’s teach him another harsh lesson.”
He turned to bow to the Emperor on the dragon throne.
“Your subject requests Your Majesty to issue an edict to the realm, to meet Western Liang in battle.”
Xiao Yu sat on the dragon throne, showing no reaction either to the initial dispatch or to the officials’ anger. The officials assumed the child didn’t understand or comprehend the severity of the situation, or perhaps he was frightened.
Upon hearing Deng Yi’s words, Xiao Yu finally nodded and said: “I must certainly meet them in battle. Great Xia has never feared a fight.”
The officials were surprised—the child understood and knew what to say.
A smile appeared on Xie Yanfang’s face. A child who had experienced his parents’ brutal deaths and nearly been assassinated himself—how could he fear such things? He bowed and said: “Your subjects, for Great Xia, fear not death.”
The officials hesitated no longer and prostrated themselves in unison: “For Great Xia, we fear not death.”