Having pacified the citizens, the atmosphere in court showed no sign of relief—it grew increasingly tense, with officials overwhelmed with work.
Xie Yanfang practically lived in the imperial city now, only finding spare moments to return home once in a while.
“You’ve come back,” Seventh Master Xie said. “Yanlai has already come back, so I thought you should be back too.”
Xie Yanlai also didn’t return often, but he did return. Each time he came back, he would quarrel and make noise with the family’s younger generation. Seventh Master Xie was so angry his head ached, yet he couldn’t tie him up and beat him—he could only have the other young people avoid him.
“He’s currently in favor, and the nation needs stability. Our own family can’t start making trouble first,” Seventh Master Xie said through gritted teeth. “Endure it a bit longer. By next year, we definitely won’t let him remain so smug.”
Because the others avoided him, when Xie Yanlai came back he couldn’t find anyone to make trouble with or lord over. He tossed out a comment about how boring it was and stopped coming home much, spending his days galloping wildly outside, calling on friends and showing off.
However, after news of the warfare arrived, Xie Yanlai became more restrained. Whether genuinely or just for show, he also became busy.
Though Xie Yanfang was also at the imperial city, most of his official duties had nothing to do with Xie Yanlai, so the two brothers hardly ever saw each other.
“He came back?” he said. “Perfect, I’ll have a few words with him.”
Xie Xiao chimed in from the side: “Third Uncle, you’re finally willing to speak to him. You really should talk to him—he’s completely improper. He’s making our Xie clan lose all face. If this continues, we’ll be worse off than the Zhao clan.”
Xie Yanfang smiled: “What are you saying? How could he alone make us lose all face? He isn’t the entire Xie clan by himself, and the Xie clan isn’t just him alone—there’s also all of you. If face is lost, you can win it back.”
Xie Xiao’s small eyes couldn’t help crinkling into slits with laughter, both pleased and angry: “It’s all because Third Uncle is too good-tempered—he doesn’t fear you at all.”
“I used to be good-tempered,” Xie Yanfang nodded. “But now that I’ve entered court as an official, my temper can’t be too good anymore.”
Xie Xiao was about to say more when Seventh Master Xie drove him away: “Don’t bother him with such trivial matters. He finally came back to rest for a bit.”
Xie Xiao ducked his head and scurried off. At least he’d lodged his complaint.
Seventh Master Xie cursed him internally for being an idiot. Even if the Third Young Master didn’t come back, was there any matter in the household, no matter how small, that he didn’t know about?
“However,” Seventh Master Xie looked at Xie Yanfang, “after coming back, he left in a hurry again, and said he wouldn’t be back for some time.”
His brow furrowed as he spoke.
“What is he up to now?”
Xie Yanfang stopped in his tracks: “Won’t be back for some time?”
No matter how busy state affairs were, didn’t he, Xie Yanfang, still return home?
Where was Xie Yanlai so busy that he couldn’t come home? Or rather, why was Xie Yanlai so busy he couldn’t come home? And he, Xie Yanfang, didn’t even know about it?
“Young master!”
Du Qi came running urgently from outside.
“Xie Yanlai has left the capital.”
Both Xie Yanfang and Seventh Master Xie were stunned. Left the capital?
What was Xie Yanlai leaving the capital for? Had he run away? This thought occurred to Seventh Master Xie, but he quickly dismissed it. He wasn’t the ten-year-old child from years ago. Back then, Xie Yanlai had run away from the Xie family—with nowhere to go, he’d nearly been killed by wild dogs and dragged his injured body back home.
Now, enjoying all the glory and wealth the Xie family brought him, where would he run to?
While Seventh Master Xie’s thoughts wandered, Xie Yanfang had already collected his surprise and asked: “How many troops did he take?”
Du Qi steadied himself and caught his breath: “So far we only know he took two units from the capital garrison.”
Xie Yanfang stood still for a moment, then smiled without speaking and continued walking inward.
Both Seventh Master Xie and Du Qi were stunned, calling out simultaneously: “Yanfang!” “Young master!” What was he going to do?
Xie Yanfang turned back: “Coming home, naturally I’m going to rest.”
This was natural—both Seventh Master Xie and Du Qi knew this—but right now—
“What is Xie Yanlai up to?” Seventh Master Xie asked urgently, his face full of anger. “Not even saying a word—does he have any respect for us at all!”
Xie Yanfang smiled: “He’s not just a Xie family member now, he’s also a subject of the Son of Heaven. Since he didn’t inform the family, naturally he’s doing something for the Son of Heaven, so of course he doesn’t need to show us respect.”
Seventh Master Xie was stunned and about to speak when Xie Yanfang waved his hand to stop him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll rest a bit, then go see His Majesty,” he said. “It’s nothing major, no need to be nervous.”
With that, he walked leisurely inward.
What did it matter if he was a subject of the Son of Heaven? The Son of Heaven was ultimately also a child of the Xie family.
……
……
After washing, changing clothes, and taking a short rest at home, Xie Yanfang came to the imperial city.
Deng Yi had already arrived at the Emperor’s bedchamber. Though Xie Yanlai commanded the Dragon Majesty Army guarding the capital and imperial city, the military power of Da Xia was still in Deng Yi’s hands. Naturally, Xie Yanlai mobilizing troops to leave the capital couldn’t be hidden from him.
The Emperor was still in lessons, so Deng Yi didn’t disturb him and waited here.
As soon as Xie Yanfang entered, he received a knife-like glare from Deng Yi.
“Earlier, court officials were questioning whose court this was,” Deng Yi said coldly. “What use is it whose court it is when outside the court hall, the Xie clan has the final say?”
Xie Yanfang smiled and bowed: “Grand Tutor, please calm your anger. The Xie clan wouldn’t dare.”
Deng Yi said: “The deed is already done—what’s the point of saying you wouldn’t dare?”
They both bore the surname Xie. What Xie Yanlai did, naturally Xie Yanfang would bear responsibility for. Would the court really distinguish between the brothers?
Xie Yanfang didn’t defend himself or claim he didn’t know what Xie Yanlai was doing.
“If something was done wrong,” he only said solemnly, “Xie Yanfang will naturally accept punishment.”
This is what family meant—this was what being family meant.
Deng Yi let out an “oh” and said: “Good. Then please hand over the Dragon Majesty Army command token.”
Deng Yi had never agreed with Chu Zhao giving the Dragon Majesty Army to Xie Yanlai, but though this girl was respectful and close to him, she didn’t truly listen to him in everything.
She had her own ideas.
However, now Xie Yanlai had made his own mistake and given him a handle. One could only blame her for choosing the wrong person—he couldn’t be blamed for seizing power.
Actually— Xie Yanfang’s eyelashes lowered slightly, then he raised his eyes: “Grand Tutor, given what has happened, we indeed need to replace him with someone more suitable to take over. However, the Dragon Majesty Army belongs to General Chu, so the choice of person should still be decided by General Chu.”
And then decide on him? Deng Yi looked at the young gentleman before him and said: “The Dragon Majesty Army is commanded by General Chu, but the Dragon Majesty Army belongs to His Majesty and to Da Xia. General Chu is now engaging Xi Liang in battle—a matter of life and death for Da Xia. He need not worry about matters in the rear.”
Xie Yanfang remained unhurried and unperturbed, only saying with a smile: “In military campaigns, stability in the rear is also crucial.”
The two were at an impasse when footsteps sounded outside, accompanied by Eunuch Qi’s drawn-out announcement: “His Majesty arrives—”
Deng Yi and Xie Yanfang turned to bow.
Xiao Yu stepped in, his gaze sweeping over the two men, his expression somewhat uneasy: “Are you two lords quarreling?”
Xie Yanfang smiled at him: “Your Majesty, the court is like this. Whether during morning court or after, as long as it involves court affairs there will be disputes. Your Majesty must get used to it—don’t worry and don’t be afraid.”
He didn’t casually placate him but earnestly told him the truth. His smile was warm and bright. Xiao Yu turned his gaze to look at Deng Yi.
Deng Yi said: “We were discussing Xie Yanlai’s unauthorized mobilization of troops to leave the capital.”
Xiao Yu made a sound of understanding: “Oh, that matter.” He looked at Deng Yi, his eyes bright. “I ordered Uncle to go.”
Deng Yi frowned.
Xie Yanfang had already guessed this, so he showed no great reaction.
“Grand Tutor, Lord Xie, I ordered Uncle to go bring Elder Sister back,” Xiao Yu continued. “Everyone in court said the situation is very tense and dangerous, so I want Elder Sister to come back. I’m worried she’s in danger. But Elder Sister’s affairs can’t be discussed with others, so I had Uncle help me.”
He looked at the two lords, his expression uneasy, but he didn’t ask if what he’d done was wrong—instead his gaze was resolute.
“I must have Elder Sister safe.”
Deng Yi was silent for a moment, then said: “Your Majesty should refer to yourself as ‘Zhen.’ You should get used to this form of address.”