Xie Yanfang stood still, draped in his cloak.

The maidservant quietly withdrew, not daring to disturb the young master’s contemplation.

But Steward Cai didn’t care, knowing he was thinking about that girl.

“Stop thinking about it. Miss Chu has certainly played a role,” he said. “But the Chu family’s foundation is weak. Everyone avoiding her won’t solve the problem. We still need to arrange for Seventh Madam to step forward.”

Xie Yanfang shook his head. “Seventh Madam doesn’t need to step forward.”

Steward Cai was somewhat surprised. Had the young master reached enlightenment?

“Have other people step forward,” Xie Yanfang said, turning to smile at him. “Not in the name of our Xie clan.”

Ha, so it was still the same as before—cheering and supporting that girl without leaving their name.

Truly raising a child.

Hopefully they wouldn’t raise an ungrateful wretch!

“Yes, I understand,” Steward Cai said, then cleared his throat lightly. “The others are easy to deal with, but this one—”

He pointed to a name on the paper, his expression between a smile and not.

“I’m afraid even if you step forward personally, Young Master, it won’t work.”

Xie Yanfang lowered his eyes slightly, seeing the two characters on the paper: Deng Yi.

……

……

The Imperial City in winter was much more gloomy and cold, but the great hall where the Grand Tutor resided was warm as spring.

Deng Yi raised his head from a desk piled with documents, looking at Xie Yanfang standing before him.

“This roster of military transfers was issued by the Grand Tutor, wasn’t it?” Xie Yanfang said with a smile, handing over a scroll of documents on which the jade seal’s great stamp was clearly visible.

Deng Yi’s expression was between a smile and not. “Where did Lord Xie obtain this document? By rights, this order should have left the capital by now.”

Intercepting court edicts was a grave crime.

Xie Yanfang said frankly, “I intercepted it.”

Deng Yi looked at the young lord whose face was more radiant than spring flowers and asked coldly, “What does Lord Xie mean by this?”

Xie Yanfang removed his cloak and sat down opposite Deng Yi, saying, “The meaning is, I disagree.” His slender fingers lightly tapped the document on the desk. “Therefore, it won’t be sent out.”

Persuade him? Deng Yi might be persuaded by others, but he would never be persuaded by him.

So he wouldn’t waste words trying to convince him.

He only needed to make it impossible for him to carry it out.

The Grand Tutor could make final decisions in the court, but things weren’t accomplished just by saying so—they also had to be executed through countless people.

Xie Yanfang withdrew his hand, gently stroking his own fingers. Though he didn’t have the qualification to hold the jade seal in court and speak with absolute authority, his hands pulled the strings of countless court officials.

Deng Yi naturally knew this. Since becoming Grand Tutor, he had experienced it—doing things was hindered everywhere, someone was clearly making trouble behind the scenes, but there was no evidence. Even investigating couldn’t trace it back to Xie Yanfang.

“Is Lord Xie relying on his status, thinking this official cannot hold you accountable?” Deng Yi said.

Xie Yanfang was the Emperor’s uncle, but he wasn’t indispensable to the court. If they really wanted to drive him from the court, it wasn’t impossible.

“I know the Grand Tutor can,” Xie Yanfang said, looking at Deng Yi. “But I advise the Grand Tutor not to do so. If you and I both suffer defeat, Da Xia will be in peril.”

Deng Yi laughed. “Third Young Master, since you know this, why don’t you advise yourself?” His hand struck the document heavily. “You, Xie Yanfang, aren’t afraid of Da Xia being in peril—should I, Deng Yi, be afraid?”

This sound made the atmosphere in the room suddenly tense.

Actually, after Xie Yanfang entered, the officials in the room had all withdrawn. Hearing the noise from inside, the officials hiding in the corridor and peeking immediately retreated further—a fight had broken out! Stand far away to avoid getting burned.

Xie Yanfang’s expression remained peaceful as he addressed the Grand Tutor: “I know the Grand Tutor isn’t afraid, but the reason I dare to act this way is because stopping the Grand Tutor at this time won’t put Da Xia in peril.”

“That’s right, one Xi Liang troop raiding the rear won’t put Da Xia in peril,” Deng Yi said coldly. “But if Chu Ling dies hastily and the troops of Yunzhong Commandery fall into chaos, that’s when Da Xia will be in peril. Others may not know, but you and I both know—once Yunzhong Commandery descends into chaos, what will Prince Zhongshan do?”

He pressed his hand on the document, leaning forward slightly.

“Third Young Master Xie won’t allow me to appoint new generals. You speak so righteously, but it’s only because these people aren’t your people.”

“Does Third Young Master Xie think that by stopping me, you can insert your own people?”

“You dare not fear Da Xia being in peril—what do I, Deng Yi, have to fear?”

“I, Deng Yi, can be Grand Tutor to anyone. You, Third Young Master Xie, can’t be uncle to everyone.”

These words were truly crude and vulgar—but there was no helping it, that’s how upstarts were. Xie Yanfang reached out to press Deng Yi’s hand, also leaning forward slightly. “The Grand Tutor doesn’t trust me, and I don’t trust the Grand Tutor either. So we must trust Chu Ling.”

Trust Chu Ling? Deng Yi looked at Xie Yanfang.

“Believe that before Chu Ling dies, he will certainly make arrangements and won’t trigger chaos or give the Xi Liang bandits an opportunity to exploit,” Xie Yanfang said, his expression sincere. “Grand Tutor, if Da Xia is in peril, we ourselves are in peril. General Chu is the same as us. If Da Xia is in peril and his daughter is Empress, she has only death ahead. He won’t let his daughter fall into danger.”

Deng Yi met his gaze for a moment, then sat upright. “The officers of Yunzhong Commandery cannot be transferred, so the officers outside Yunzhong Commandery also cannot be transferred. Lord Xie, the troops your family privately raises must also not enter Yunzhong Commandery.”

If he couldn’t replace the officers, the Xie clan shouldn’t think about inserting troops either.

Xie Yanfang also sat upright, not disputing the accusation of privately raising troops, only saying, “Although there are unexpected circumstances outside Yunzhong Commandery, I believe General Chu will quickly resolve these Xi Liang scattered soldiers and wandering bandits. Other troops won’t be needed.”

……

……

The atmosphere in the room returned to being warm as spring. Xie Yanfang donned his cloak, bowed in courtesy, and took his leave.

“Lord Xie,” Deng Yi called out to him again, asking, “Where does your Xie family’s Yan Lai plan to abduct the Empress to?”

After the attack, Chu Zhao refused to return. Now that Xi Liang even had scattered soldiers crossing beyond Yunzhong Commandery, there was still no news of Chu Zhao’s return.

That Xie Yanlai, who supposedly went to fetch the Empress on the Emperor’s orders, also had no news.

“Third Young Master, controlling the Son of Heaven can command the feudal lords. Controlling the Empress can only command General Chu Ling, and the gains don’t outweigh the losses. You should understand this very clearly.”

Xie Yanfang turned back, smiled, and said, “The Grand Tutor worries too much. We only want to ensure the Empress’s safety.”

With that, he said no more and walked away at a leisurely pace.

Standing outside the hall, the cold wind dispelled the warmth and also cut off Deng Yi’s line of sight. Xie Yanfang smiled. Actually, Deng Yi was wrong—it wasn’t their Xie family’s Yan Lai who abducted the Empress. It should be the Empress who abducted the Xie family’s Yan Lai.

Xie Yanlai left the capital without regard, falsely invoking the Emperor’s orders—how could it be to bring her back?

If one cherishes her, naturally one would also cherish what she wishes for.

……

……

Dense snow pellets fell from the sky. The Northwest welcomed its first snow, but there was no joy about auspicious snow presaging a good harvest—people didn’t even notice it was snowing.

Torches were scattered along the city wall, residual fires sending up smoke. Blood-stained soldiers squatted among them, listlessly gnawing on dry cakes. Who knew how long it had been since they’d eaten, but having received rations, they didn’t feel particularly hungry. It seemed it didn’t matter whether they ate or not.

Clang clang clang—the gong sounded several times, accompanied by shouts of “The Xi Liang bandits are coming again!” The soldiers gnawing on dry cakes jumped up and rushed toward the wall.

A group of men and horses charged across the earth like wolves and tigers, shouting and yelling. Snow pellets on the ground and in mid-air flew and scattered everywhere.

“These damned Xi Liang bandits,” an officer murmured. “They’re determined to take us.”

An official beside him with his arm wrapped in bandages shouted, “Where are the reinforcements? When will the reinforcements arrive?”

The officer looked toward the rear. “The reinforcements from Yunzhong Commandery are too far. At the fastest, it will take six days.”

The official grabbed him with his uninjured hand. “I’m asking about the nearest reinforcements, not Yunzhong Commandery. Yunzhong Commandery is too far—I never counted on them. The nearest place—what about Taiyuan Commandery? It doesn’t take six days to get here from there.”

The officer looked at him, his cracked lips moving. “None.”

What did “none” mean? The official looked at him.

“Aside from Yunzhong Commandery, troops from other places haven’t moved—they’re staying put at their posts,” the officer said plainly. “My lord, besides defending to the death and waiting for reinforcements from Yunzhong Commandery, we have no other choice.”

The official looked at him, seeming to both understand and not understand.

“Six days?” He lowered his voice and roared, pointing at the city wall. “Look how many of us are left! Why don’t you just say directly that besides death, we have no other choice?”

The officer followed his gesture and looked. The dozen or so people remaining on the city wall also looked at him. Everyone was numb, their eyes already devoid of life.

“Correct,” the officer nodded. “My lord speaks correctly. Besides death, we have no other choice.”

He raised the blade in his hand.

“Brothers, we must hold the city. Otherwise, if the Xi Liang people seize the city, not only will we die, everyone in the city will die. Not only will the people in our city die, many in the surrounding cities will also die—”

The numb soldiers raised their weapons. “Die—”

Their throats were already so hoarse they couldn’t even shout the word “defend.” The official with the injured arm smiled bitterly. “Is there really no solution?”

The officer looked at him. “Don’t worry. Even if the city is seized by the Xi Liang people, when General Chu’s reinforcements arrive, they can take it back.”

The official suddenly wanted to laugh. Yes, he wasn’t worried. When General Chu’s reinforcements arrived, the city would certainly be recaptured. The court would eventually drive out the Xi Liang bandits and avenge everyone—

But they, so many people, once dead, were just dead—

He wasn’t afraid of death. He was just unwilling, unwilling!

The official suddenly turned and stood before the war drum, using his uninjured arm to strike it, raising his head to let the snow pellets strike his face and eyes—icy cold and stinging.

Accompanied by the war drum, the Xi Liang soldiers in the distance had already drawn their bows. Arrow feathers wrapped in snow pellets spread toward the city wall.

……

……

After a rain of arrows, several more people were wounded. And taking advantage of the arrow rain, the Xi Liang soldiers drew closer to the city wall. Behind them, they were actually dragging siege ladders—

“Have the civilian laborers prepare to defend the city,” the officer ordered.

Who knew how many of the civilian laborers climbing the wall this time would survive.

The crying sounds from within the city seemed to suddenly grow louder. The officer standing on the city wall had ringing in his ears.

“Lord Li!” He couldn’t help but roar angrily. “Just because you injured one arm, do you have no strength to beat the drum?”

The official’s drumming had indeed stopped. He gripped the drumstick, staring blankly toward the distance outside the city.

“Look, are those reinforcements?” he said.

Reinforcements?

The officer looked disbelievingly and hurriedly gazed out. Sure enough, in the distance, snow mist was rising from the earth, as if thousands of troops and horses were charging forth.

A great banner emerged from the snow mist, unfurling in the wind. In the vast white heaven and earth, the Chu character in black with gold thread broke through the clouds like sunlight, shining brilliantly.

Chu!

“General Chu’s reinforcements!”

“General Chu has arrived!”

The originally numb soldiers on the city wall burst into shouts. The shouts swept through like a violent wind, causing the Xi Liang troops approaching the wall to instantly waver and sway, their formation falling into chaos.

General Chu?

Chu Ling had come?!

……

……

The snow pellets turned into snowflakes in the fierce wind. The distant earth was covered with a layer of white gauze, but not here in front of the city gate.

Horse hooves, flashing blades and swords, flying flesh and blood—the snowflakes couldn’t even fall.

But the battle wasn’t that intense either. The official still gripping the drumstick on the city wall thought so, because from the moment the Chu banner appeared, the thundering troops had reached them in the blink of an eye.

Some wore armor, some didn’t. Those at the front were better off, with complete swords, spears, and halberds. Those behind had a chaotic mix of sabers, spears, sickles, and hammers—all sorts of things.

There was no real strategy either—just a crowd surging forward, cutting down anyone they saw—

But this fierce fighting style caught the Xi Liang soldiers, who were best at outdoor combat, completely off guard. They transformed from a pack of fierce beasts into chickens and ducks, running and jumping in chaos with no ability to resist.

So it didn’t look that intense.

But actually it was very intense, especially one young officer. That young officer wielded a war lance, and wherever it passed, the flesh and blood of Xi Liang soldiers danced together with snowflakes, radiating an eerie glow.

The sounds of slaughter were deafening, yet seemed to end in the blink of an eye.

The Xi Liang soldiers who had charged to the city were slaughtered to the last man. The fleeing Xi Liang soldiers also couldn’t save their lives. In the distance, another group of troops was observing the battle. That Chu banner flew among them. This group of troops was even more peculiar—not only were there those without armor, there were also women among them.

The fleeing Xi Liang soldiers thought they’d found a breakthrough point and charged forward with their last strength. But one of the girls rode forward to meet them, cutting the Xi Liang soldier from his horse with one slash. The others then swarmed up, finishing off the Xi Liang escapee in just a few moves. The remaining troops then spread like eagle wings in all directions, fanning out to block all escape routes.

The battle was over.

The official stood on the city wall, looking at the others around him. Everyone was draped with a layer of white snow like cloaks.

“You—” The officer stepped forward, shaking off the snow on his body and shouting loudly. “Are you reinforcements sent by Guardian General Chu Ling?”

Below the city gate, the young officer gripping the war lance raised his head. Against the backdrop of bloody corpses, snowflakes dancing between them, his phoenix eyes flew up, the corners of his mouth curved in a smile. “No.”

No?

The officers and soldiers on the city gate were all stunned—whether stunned by seeing this young officer or by hearing these words, no one knew.

The young officer waved his war lance, pointing toward the distance, calling out loudly, “It’s Empress Chu.”

Empress Chu?

The people on the city gate were even more dazed. Their gazes followed the war lance in the young officer’s hand toward the distance. The troops that had been standing there earlier were now charging toward them. At the forefront of the horses was a woman—black horse, black cloak, face as white as snow.

The Empress?

The Empress!