Actually, it wasn’t that there had been no clamor and noise. Before the Emperor’s edict had even left the imperial city, the Xie family had already received the news. The uproar had nearly overturned the estate.
“Crown Princess!”
“How can the Crown Princess be decided now? The Young Highness is only six years old!”
“Chu Zhao? That Chu Zhao is already thirteen years old.”
“It’s not a matter of age—what gives her, Chu Zhao, the right!”
“The Young Highness’s marriage—were we consulted?”
This was the most crucial point. They were also the Young Highness’s relatives, and with both the Crown Prince and Crown Princess gone, they were the Young Highness’s only imperial relatives.
In such a lifelong matter, how could they not consult the Xie clan?
“Third Brother, Third Brother, did you know about this?”
People and voices surged toward where Xie Yanfang was, but they were all stopped by Du Qi.
“All of you be quiet!” Du Qi stood in the corridor, rebuking coldly. “You’re not permitted to disturb Third Young Master’s rest.”
Everyone instantly quieted, but they refused to disperse.
“Does Third Young Master know about the Crown Princess matter?” everyone asked urgently.
Du Qi said, “He knows.”
He knows—that’s good. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Since Third Young Master knew, either he didn’t object, or he had a response prepared. Everything was still under the Xie clan’s control.
Watching everyone withdraw, Du Qi stood in the corridor without saying more. What he meant was that Third Young Master Xie now knew about this matter.
Just like everyone else, he had just found out.
Inside the room, Xie Yanfang sat by the window, slowly drinking tea from the cup in his hand.
“What does His Majesty mean by this?” Steward Cai sat across from him, his expression somber. “What does Chu Ling mean by this?”
Xie Yanfang lowered his eyes, his eyelashes casting shadows on the teacup. Suddenly he laughed softly, and the clear tea water rippled.
He said, “Steward Cai, when the Liang family made their fuss, there were rumors about me and about Yanlai having unclear relationships with Miss Chu. In the end, Miss Chu became Crown Princess—no one expected that, did they?”
Steward Cai didn’t find it funny at all.
“Young Master, whether the world is shocked or their jaws drop, they can laugh it off and treat it as entertainment. But our Xie clan cannot.” His voice carried anger. “Where does this place the Xie clan!”
Xie Yanfang drained his tea in one gulp: “Whatever status my Xie clan has before His Majesty is the status we have before the Young Highness.”
All were subjects, all were commoners. If they treated you as relatives, you were relatives. If they didn’t treat you as relatives, you were nothing.
He placed the teacup on the desk.
“Steward Cai, this matter probably isn’t what the Emperor thinks, and it isn’t what Chu Ling thinks either. Rather, it’s what Miss Chu thinks.”
Steward Cai was stunned. What did that mean? This was Chu Zhao’s idea? How could that be? How could she—
Of course she could.
Xie Yanfang looked toward the window, his eyes bright and shining.
Because if it were him, he would think the same way. He would definitely do the same.
That girl truly was somewhat like him.