On the streets of the capital, a team of couriers galloped past, banners inserted on their backs, emblazoned brightly with the large characters “Victory Report.”

“Great victory—” the couriers shouted loudly. “The border army has captured the Xi Liang King alive—the Xi Liang King has been captured—”

They ran even more brazenly than the Dragon Robe Guard, but the people on the streets showed not the slightest panic or avoidance. Instead, they all surged forward, disbelieving.

How could there be another great victory?

Not long ago, couriers had trampled through the capital bringing nightmarish news—Xi Liang soldiers had broken through the border commanderies and even occupied a city in Yunzhong Commandery.

The capital had fallen into chaos. Some people hastily reinforced doors and windows, others prepared to flee south for refuge, as if with Xi Liang soldiers having taken a city in Yunzhong Commandery, they were already not far away.

The Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office had to provide reassurance, explanations, and strict order enforcement. But before this side had settled down, Grand Tutor Deng Yi was raided by the Empress—well, not raided yet, but the Grand Tutor had been escorted back from the imperial city by the Dragon Robe Guard, with Dragon Robe Guards stationed outside his door. A raid was only a matter of time.

The Empress and the Grand Tutor were fighting again!

The news on the streets grew even more clamorous and confused. Some said the Grand Tutor was accusing the Empress of indulging the border army’s laxness, leading to Xi Liang people occupying a city. Others said the Empress was questioning the Grand Tutor’s interference with the border army, causing mistakes. There were even claims that the Grand Tutor had colluded with the Xi Liang people because they had sent him lavish gifts.

This speculation was a bit far-fetched, but it also seemed to have some logic and evidence.

The Grand Tutor did indeed love receiving gifts. They were all gifts—naturally he could accept what Xi Liang people sent too.

For a time, people everywhere were making inquiries, watching outside the Grand Tutor’s manor, too busy to bother fleeing with their families.

How could news of a great victory suddenly arrive, and capturing the Xi Liang King at that!

“I understand now—this is tactics!”

“That’s right. The border army must have begun a general offensive against Xi Liang. With a general offensive, there’s always a desperate, do-or-die spirit. Inevitably there are oversights, which is why Xi Liang had an opportunity to exploit and occupy a city, but—”

“But the border army still broke through to where the Xi Liang King was and captured him.”

“This is perfect. Capture the bandit king—with the Xi Liang King captured, Xi Liang’s days are numbered.”

This time, without anyone from the Military Commissioner’s Office providing reassurance, the people, based on the two reports that came one after another, had completed an entire military campaign strategy.

A great victory—truly a great victory.

The war was really about to end.

The border army is mighty!

The Emperor was so young, and the Empress even dared to personally go to war. Da Xia was in turmoil, yet they could still defeat Xi Liang.

Heaven protects Da Xia!

The Emperor and Empress are mighty!

Shouts rang out one after another through the streets and alleys—adults, children, and some even set off firecrackers.

Little Rabbit crouched on the wall of Chu Garden, watching several children on the street running past pulling firecrackers and shouting “Emperor and Empress are mighty.” He asked the old woman sitting in the corner of the wall making shoe soles, “Granny Rat, you’re really fast. I haven’t even heard Miss Tang’s instructions yet. Did Sister Xiao Man give the order?”

The old woman making shoe soles chuckled, rubbing her needle against the sole, and said, “It wasn’t us. We didn’t get involved this time.”

Little Rabbit exclaimed in wonder, “Then this means we don’t even need to fan the flames anymore. Everyone is already praising Sister Zhao.” As he spoke, he whooshed down from the wall. “I’m going too.”

He made crackling firecracker sounds with his mouth as he chased after that group of children.

Granny Rat smiled and continued making shoe soles, appearing casual but actually watching all the movements around her.

The imperial city began a new round of busyness. Chu Zhao urgently summoned court ministers. Because the Grand Tutor was absent, Xie Yanfang no longer avoided participation, joining and leading the court discussion.

Intelligence reports from the border army continued to arrive in succession. Tonight, the imperial city was destined to be a sleepless night.

As night fell, Xie Yanfang walked out from the duty hall with a junior clerk following behind him. He exchanged smiling greetings with passing officials, walking all the way to outside the city gate before stopping. Old servant Steward Cai waited quietly outside. Seeing him emerge, he quickly presented a food box.

“Seventh Madam prepared a late-night meal for the Young Master and Seventh Master,” he said. “And the medicinal soup Seventh Master needs to take.”

Xie Yanfang nodded. The junior clerk behind him quickly reached out to take it and stepped back several paces.

Xie Yanfang stood with hands in sleeves, looking at the night, when he suddenly cocked his ear to listen. “Listen—firecracker sounds.”

Firecracker sounds generally only appeared in winter. Now, at the end of summer and beginning of autumn, it was still early.

Steward Cai said, “They’ve been going off all day. Everyone is celebrating the border army’s great victory, congratulating the Empress and Emperor.”

Xie Yanfang looked at the night and nodded with a smile. “How wonderful. For an emperor, this is the happiest moment.”

Steward Cai grunted and asked, “Young Master, are you still going to the border commandery? With the Xi Liang King captured, a censor is even more needed.”

Xie Yanfang’s expression was bored. “With him already captured, what’s the point? Just send anyone.”

Steward Cai wanted to say something teasing, but thinking about this matter, he couldn’t laugh either, full of frustration. “How did this happen so suddenly!”

Xie Yanfang murmured agreement. “We were also careless.”

They knew Xie Yanlai was very capable, but they truly hadn’t expected he could be capable enough to kill his way to the Xi Liang King’s tent and even capture the Xi Liang King alive.

The Xi Liang King was fierce yet timid, surrounded by Da Xia’s most formidable soldiers.

“Our Ninth Young Master has truly made us see him in a new light,” Xie Yanfang said with admiration.

“Who knows if he’s dead or half-dead,” Steward Cai said coldly.

Achieving such military results must have come at an enormous cost.

Xie Yanfang said solemnly, “Even if he’s dead, he’s still very impressive.” He never stinted on praise for others. Capable was capable. He then nudged Steward Cai with his elbow and smiled. “Our family’s Ninth Young Master has become so capable—this is a wonderful thing. Be happy about it.”

Steward Cai sneered, “But this good thing always gets in the way.”

“It’s not too much of an obstacle. We can still do what we need to do,” Xie Yanfang said, standing with hands in sleeves looking in another direction. “Let’s send the Grand Tutor on his way. Now is a good time for him to commit suicide out of guilt.”

Du Qi, who seemed to be concealed in the night in that other direction, acknowledged with hands lowered, then truly vanished into the night.

Xie Yanfang looked once more at the night, then thought of something and looked at Steward Cai. “How many portions did Seventh Aunt prepare for the late-night meal?”

Steward Cai was stunned. “Two portions, of course.”

Xie Yanfang made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded. “Never mind then. Let’s go back.” With that, he turned and walked back toward the imperial city.

Steward Cai found this baffling. Whatever—the Young Master was always baffling anyway.

Xie Yanfang walked back to the duty hall and called another junior clerk, having him deliver one portion of the late-night meal and medicinal soup to Seventh Master Xie.

Seventh Master Xie, as an official, was also in the imperial city today, busy discussing matters with officials under his jurisdiction. The junior clerk carried it over.

Xie Yanfang did not enjoy his own late-night meal but instead closed the food box and said to the junior clerk who had been following him, “Take it to the Empress.”

The junior clerk was somewhat surprised. “All this time, it’s been the Empress sending late-night meals to court ministers. You’re the first to send one to the Empress, Young Master.”

Xie Yanfang smiled faintly. “Because besides being the Empress, she is also my family.”

That girl was too lonely. Once she had firmly established herself in court with no more ministers to oppose, she should relax a bit.

People need affection, care, and love.

……

……

The Grand Tutor’s manor was brightly lit, but no longer had the comings and goings of before.

Even the servants didn’t know where they had hidden themselves.

“I knew those outsiders were no good,” a servant complained loudly. “The house hasn’t even been raided yet, and everyone’s hearts have already scattered.”

Speaking these words, he came to Deng Yi’s study. The study was also lit, illuminating Deng Yi’s upright sitting figure.

“Second Master,” he called, knocking on the door. “Old Madam had me bring you a late-night meal.”

Deng Yi said from within, “Leave it outside.”

This was also a scene the servant was accustomed to. However, it had been a long time since he’d seen it. After becoming Grand Tutor, he no longer had the opportunity to deliver late-night meals to Deng Yi. There were plenty of people competing to do this.

The servant set down the food box and advised, “Don’t read too late. Be careful of hurting your eyes. If Old Madam finds out, she’ll scold again.”

Deng Yi made a sound of acknowledgment from within.

The servant turned to leave, then thought of something and stopped, asking, “Second Master, I’ve packed all the luggage. Whether we’re leaving this place or going to prison, it can all be used.”

Deng Yi within seemed helpless. After a moment of silence, a voice finally came out: “Go to sleep.” He added an instruction: “Watch over Old Madam well. Don’t let her get up at night and fall.”

The servant was somewhat unhappy. “You don’t need to tell me, Second Master. I know myself. Those maidservants and servants are just for show—they’re not attentive at all. I’m the one who’s always looked after Old Madam.”

With that, he shuffled away.

Outside the door, quiet returned. The night grew thicker. The night wind occasionally swayed past tree branches, leaving dancing shadows on the windows and ground.

“What are you having me look at?” Deng Yi asked.

He wasn’t talking to himself. He wasn’t the only one in the room. In the shadows of the bookshelf behind him stood a person.

Hearing his question, that person stepped forward and suddenly reached out to cover his mouth and nose.

Deng Yi felt a stinging, pungent sensation between his mouth and nose, not knowing what substance was on the person’s hand. He turned his head slightly, borrowing the light from the desk lamp to see the person standing behind him.

A young man smiled faintly, handsome features, deep dimples—it was truly the long-absent Prince Zhongshan’s heir, Xiao Xun.

Xiao Xun raised his chin toward a section of window in the study.

“Look,” he said softly. “They’ve come.”

Deng Yi looked in that direction, slightly narrowing his eyes. In the interplay of light and shadow, he saw wisps of smoke seeping in through the window cracks.