At the deep autumn palace banquet, there was always a dish of lotus seed soup.

The young Emperor was not a picky eater, but he could eat an extra bowl of lotus seed soup when fresh osmanthus flowers were added.

However, today he only ate a few spoonfuls before setting it down.

Xiao Yu picked up the letter and read it again.

Seeing it was a letter from the Empress, Eunuch Qi did not urge him to eat anymore, and had the palace attendants clear away the dishes.

The Empress was away on campaign, and letters arrived every half month. As the rebellion suppression achieved great victories, the letters came more and more frequently, almost every three to five days.

Ever since learning that Xiao Xun had died and the Empress had achieved great victory, the imperial court had been filled with a joyful atmosphere. Even the young Emperor, who usually kept his emotions hidden with a calm expression, had been constantly smiling with barely suppressed delight.

But now this letter left Xiao Yu’s face without any trace of a smile, his expression sorrowful.

“Alas.” He sighed deeply and said to Eunuch Qi, “How heartbroken Sister Chu must be.”

The latest news delivered was that Xie Yanlai’s corpse had been found.

Previously, along with the victorious report of Xiao Xun’s death came news that Xie Yanlai had led over a dozen people to infiltrate Zhongshan commandery, successfully assassinating Xiao Xun, but Xie Yanlai’s fate was unknown.

In truth, everyone had already speculated that Xie Yanlai was dead, but without finding the body, the Empress refused to believe it.

Now that the commandery city had been conquered, the people of Prince Zhongshan’s mansion confessed that in order to vent their rage, they had chopped up all the assassins’ corpses and buried them in Prince Zhongshan’s mansion garden as fertilizer for the flowers.

Prince Zhongshan’s mansion garden was excavated, and over a dozen corpses were found. Although decomposed, they still tried their best to piece together the dead and make them whole.

Xie Yanlai’s corpse was among them.

Of course, the letter did not describe this scene. Even Xiao Yu, who had witnessed battlefield slaughter, dared not imagine it. He sighed heavily again.

This was already who knows how many times he had sighed today. Eunuch Qi looked at the child’s tightly furrowed brow and also sighed: “Indeed, but what can be done? War always brings death. The Empress’s father also died on the battlefield.”

Xiao Yu shook his head: “Uncle and General Chu were different.”

General Chu, to be precise, died of illness. Sister Chu had been prepared for his departure, but Xie Yanlai was different. From that night when he guarded the palace gate, he had always been brave and skilled in battle, charging at the forefront, helping Sister Chu resolve difficulties.

Sister Chu trusted him greatly and relied on him heavily. Sister Chu surely never imagined there would be a day when he would die.

Just as he had never imagined he would one day lose his parents.

He actually had never imagined Xie Yanlai would die either.

Xiao Yu had not actually seen this uncle for a long time, but whenever he thought of him, a clear impression came to mind: that night at the city gate in the darkness, those eyes that held no emotion toward him; in daily palace encounters, showing him not the slightest bit of respect.

This uncle did not like him.

Or rather, did not like his status as Emperor.

This was completely opposite from his other uncle.

That uncle liked him only because of his status.

But he had no particular affection for the uncle who liked him—after all, he was close to Xie Yanfang only because of Xie Yanfang’s status. Toward Xie Yanlai, this uncle who did not like him, he also felt no aversion.

He had been wondering that if these two completely different uncles were to face off in a life-or-death confrontation, who would win and who would lose. Now he would never see the result.

What a pity.

Xiao Yu sighed heavily once more.

“Your Majesty should bestow generous rewards on General Xie Yanlai,” Eunuch Qi said softly.

Xiao Yu nodded: “Whatever Sister Chu rewards him, I will double it.” After speaking, he asked again, “Is Uncle Yanfang going to Zhongshan commandery? Is he going to bring Sister Chu back?”

Eunuch Qi replied: “He is going to bring General Xie Yanlai’s coffin back to the capital.”

Xiao Yu couldn’t help but sit up straight, his eyes brightening as he said: “Why don’t I go along as well?”

Eunuch Qi’s eyes were also full of anticipation: “To be honest, Your Majesty, this old servant also wants to go.” Then helplessly added, “But with the Empress away and Lord Xie also leaving, the court cannot be without someone in charge. Only if Your Majesty stays in the court will the Empress be most at ease while away.”

Xiao Yu leaned against his chair and glanced at him, saying: “Eunuch Qi, you could just directly say I cannot go. Going in circles and even using Sister Chu as an excuse—I’m not a child anymore.”

Eunuch Qi smiled sheepishly, neither admitting nor denying, only saying: “In this old servant’s heart, Your Majesty will forever be as precious as a child.”

Xiao Yu laughed heartily and waved his hand: “I know your feelings, Eunuch Qi. You are different from others. With me, you don’t need to be so careful with your words. Go attend to your duties. I need to write a reply to Sister.”

Eunuch Qi smiled and acknowledged, but did not leave immediately. He arranged the writing table and also set out two plates of snacks.

“Grandpa Qi, we can do these things,” two palace attendants said with apologetic smiles, stepping forward to help.

The Emperor had many palace attendants around him with detailed divisions of labor. These two specifically served the writing implements.

Of course, before Eunuch Qi, all these attendants had to take a back seat.

However, these young ones were becoming increasingly restless.

“I’ll set it up, and then you can serve. That way I’m more at ease,” Eunuch Qi said with a chuckle, not dismissing them.

The two attendants responded with smiles: “With your guidance, Grandpa, we feel confident in our work.”

Regarding the conversations between the attendants, Xiao Yu acted as if he heard nothing. Holding the letter in one hand and eating a snack with the other, he did not stop Eunuch Qi from working, nor did he stop the attendants from competing to do tasks.

For these people, being able to serve the Emperor was the greatest honor, the Emperor’s grace, the meaning of their existence.

Being an Emperor was very simple.

Just as Xie Yanfang had once said, what an Emperor needs to do is to do nothing at all.

When the Emperor does nothing, others will do things, and will even compete with each other for the chance to do things.

Eunuch Qi took his leave. Walking to the doorway, he turned back to look and saw the two attendants serving the writing implements standing before the desk, attentively asking, “Your Majesty, which brush would you like to use?” “Your Majesty, would you like something to drink?”

Xiao Yu, while reading the letter, answered their questions: “Use this brush.” “Just some water, not too cold or hot, lukewarm water.” “Little Yuan, go change the paper for me, the one with pressed osmanthus flowers from a few days ago.”

The room was bustling and lively.

His Majesty had grown up. He was no longer that child cowering in the darkness, frightened by this world. He was becoming better and better at being Emperor.

Eunuch Qi withdrew his gaze and instructed the attendants standing around: “Listen for His Majesty’s orders. I’m going to rest.”

The attendants responded in a chorus of voices. Two ran over to escort him, while more stood outside the hall without moving—now that the favored person beside the Emperor had finally left, how could they miss this opportunity?

“Grandpa, look at those little brats, getting so bold,” one attendant supporting Eunuch Qi said resentfully, spitting.

Another attendant quickly nodded: “You need to teach them a lesson.”

Eunuch Qi said: “Remember, in this imperial palace, only one person can teach others lessons, and that is the Emperor. No one else should even think about it. The more you think about it, the more lessons you’ll receive.”

“Eunuch, those people want to steal away His Majesty’s closeness to you,” one attendant said in a small voice.

His Majesty used to rely only on Eunuch Qi, but as His Majesty grew up, he needed more and more people around him. A child’s dependence was easy to gain, but also the easiest to change.

Eunuch Qi smiled: “Don’t worry, that won’t happen.”

Since that child was no longer acting like a child, he would not treat him as a child either.

As an old man who had survived so long in the palace, he knew how to gain the Emperor’s closeness: by not being close to the Emperor.

……

……

“Someone come.”

After finishing his letter, Xiao Yu called out.

An attendant outside the door was first to rush in.

“Take this letter to Lord Xie and have him help me deliver it to the Empress,” Xiao Yu said, then asked, “What is your name?”

The attendant hurriedly gave his name.

Xiao Yu nodded and called out his name: “From now on, you will deliver my letters.”

The attendant was overjoyed, loudly acknowledging the order. He received the letter with both hands and left quickly.

Xiao Yu waved his hand at the attendants standing by the desk. The two attendants quickly stepped back. At the doorway, hearing the silence inside, they couldn’t help but raise their heads to look. They saw the young Emperor leaning against his chair, staring at the desk as if lost in thought.

When the young Emperor did not speak, his slowly maturing slender eyes and brows grew increasingly somber, carrying a composure beyond his years.

Suddenly, the corners of his mouth curved up—he smiled.

The two attendants were actually startled and quickly withdrew their gazes.

Xiao Yu looked at the letter on the desk, his smile spreading. Sister Chu would be returning soon.

The Xi Liang Prince had been driven back, the rebellious Prince Zhongshan had finally been eliminated. From now on, Sister Chu would not need to campaign far and wide in warfare, and would never leave again.

……

……

When the palace attendant delivered the Emperor’s letter, Xie Yanfang was already preparing to leave.

“Tell His Majesty to rest assured,” Xie Yanfang said to the attendant with a smile. “I will run faster than the courier soldiers.”

The attendant respectfully bowed and withdrew.

Lord Xie Qi muttered: “The child really misses the Empress.” Watching Xie Yanfang fasten his cloak, he added, “But I didn’t expect that boy Xie Yanlai would die like this.”

Xie Yanfang pressed his lips together. Actually, he too had not expected Xie Yanlai would do such a thing, but it was also not strange that Xie Yanlai would act this way.

This child who had been taken in halfway by the Xie family was raised to be a lone warrior.

The ultimate fate of a lone warrior is to die gloriously.

This was Xie Yanlai’s destined end.

To die for a worthy cause was a happy thing, but—

Xie Yanfang sighed softly: “Who knows how heartbroken the Empress must be.”

That was why he had to personally go receive Xie Yanlai.

Giving the deceased sufficient honor was the best comfort for the living.

After speaking, he asked again: “Are all the preparations for welcoming Yanlai ready?”

Lord Xie Qi nodded: “Don’t worry. Everything along the route has been arranged. We’ll make sure this boy returns in grand style.”

This was also glory for their Xie clan.

Xie Yanfang said nothing more. He took the horse reins, mounted in one leap, and looked ahead, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

The child missed her, and adults missed her too.

All the messy entanglements and complications had been cut away, creating such a unique, unprecedented Empress.

This was the precious treasure that he, Xie Yanfang, had carved and polished.

Time to bring her home.

He urged his horse forward at a gallop. Du Qi and the others followed swiftly behind him.