“I mean, Deng Yi didn’t consult with me,” Xie Yanfang said, entering the room and removing his court robes.
Steward Cai was even more puzzled. Then who? Deng Yi’s subordinates? He knew many in the court had already pledged themselves to Deng Yi’s faction, but did this rabble already dare run before Xie Yanfang to talk nonsense?
“Steward Cai, don’t be angry,” Xie Yanfang tossed aside his court robes and turned back with a smile. “It was Chu Zhao, our Empress.”
Steward Cai was stunned, then flew into a rage.
“Audacious!”
“What does she want to do!”
……
……
Audacious?
Xie Yanfang thought about being summoned into the palace, listening to the girl sitting opposite him speak those words. His feelings—surprise, yet also not surprising.
The girl still wore ordinary dress, no different from the Miss Chu who had intruded into the Xie residence wanting to see him before.
Her expression was still as spirited and clear as before, only with some additional radiance.
This kind of radiance wasn’t unfamiliar to Xie Yanfang either. Back when he was thirteen years old, when he heard the Crown Prince was coming to hunt and climbed the mountain with his longbow to look down, his eyes must have sparkled with this same radiance.
That was—eager to try.
He wasn’t surprised, nor did he immediately express compliance. He calmly asked his confusion: “Why?”
The girl looked at him and calmly said, “Because I don’t want A Yu to depend on Deng Yi. I want him to stand independently in the court hall.”
Xiao Yu was still a child. Whether it was Deng Yi or some court official who instructed him, it would make him develop dependent feelings. If a ruler developed dependent feelings toward court officials, he would inevitably be constrained by them.
Of course Xie Yanfang understood this principle. But when Chu Zhao said this, she was telling him that she didn’t trust Deng Yi.
“I want to accompany A Yu. I’ll teach him.” She said, then bowed deeply to Xie Yanfang. “Please, Third Young Master, allow me to do this. Entrust A Yu to me.”
She was requesting this of him.
Xie Yanfang smiled, withdrawing his thoughts. He picked up the tea from the table and discussed with Steward Cai: “Of course I cannot entrust A Yu to Deng Yi, so entrusting him to her is most appropriate.”
After listening to his explanation, Steward Cai’s expression changed repeatedly. “It sounds reasonable when you put it that way. It’s just that this girl’s intentions—”
Ever since learning that this girl’s position as Empress was something she herself had requested from the Emperor, he couldn’t help being vigilant when looking at her.
This was the position of Empress.
Now she also wanted to attend court with His Majesty.
This girl’s appetite was too large.
“What else then? She risked life and death just to help strangers in distress?” Xie Yanfang smiled, passing over his teacup to indicate Steward Cai should add more tea. “Attending court is really so tiring. Standing before people is so tiring. Having to say so many words.”
Steward Cai helplessly poured him tea. “You don’t say fewer words at home either.”
Xie Yanfang drained the tea in one gulp.
“I’m not afraid of what intentions she has. Right now her only intention can be: if A Yu is well, she’ll be well,” he said. “For A Yu to be well, we must treat her well.”
Steward Cai set down the teapot. “Fine, fine. If you say it’s good, then naturally it’s good.” After speaking, he stood up. “You should rest a bit. There are still many things for you to do behind the scenes.”
Xie Yanfang watched the old servant withdraw, then reclined and lay down. Suddenly he opened his eyes again.
He had been persuaded by that girl.
But what about Deng Yi?
How did that girl persuade him?