So although the streets looked terrifying, the atmosphere wasn’t so panicked.
The court had already mobilized. It truly was safe now. Xie Yanfang withdrew his gaze and galloped forward.
Approaching the palace, there were even more troops, standing dense as a forest. This area had also been cleaned up—there were no corpses, fires, or chaos, only occasional traces of blood stains visible on the ground.
Seeing the three approaching, the guards signaled for them to identify themselves. Xie Yanlai raised his token and also said, “Xie Yanlai.”
Those guards then let them through without questioning the other two.
This of course wasn’t because they recognized Xie Yanfang, but because they trusted Xie Yanlai.
Xie Yanfang looked at Xie Yanlai again. This was probably the most he’d looked at this younger brother since he’d entered the family.
Xie Yanlai sensed his gaze and looked back.
Xie Yanfang smiled at him. He didn’t ask why, though from the moment they’d met at the gate, he’d had many questions. He only said, “Yanlai has truly impressed everyone this time.”
Xie Yanlai also smiled. He didn’t say much, nor did he avoid the topic. His phoenix eyes tilted up, and he only said, “This palace—last night—I was the one who defended it.”
One sentence was enough to answer everything. One sentence was also enough to summarize everything.
Defended the palace? Really? Du Qi frowned. This palace couldn’t be defended by one person alone.
Xie Yanlai was brave and fierce, but among the palace gate guards, because of his status and the Xie family’s deliberate arrangements, he was just an ordinary person. How could it be his turn to command a response from everyone?
Even if there were many of the Crown Prince’s people among the palace gate guards, when the Third Prince seized the city, the first thing he would have done was eliminate these people.
Honestly, Du Qi was somewhat surprised that Xie Yanlai was even alive.
Sons of the Xie family would have been the first to be eliminated.
Xie Yanfang showed not the slightest doubt and praised him, “Yanlai is formidable. Just as you said yourself, you can do more important things.”
When he’d refused the marriage alliance with the Liang family, his stated reason was that he was very capable and could do more important things for the family. Xie Yanlai smiled but didn’t take up this topic, only saying, “Let’s go.”
Relying on the token and Xie Yanlai’s name, they passed through without obstruction, entering the palace and proceeding directly to the inner palace.
“Third Young Master has arrived!”
Upon entering the inner palace, Xie Yanfang finally felt a sense of familiarity, because many people recognized him, calling out his name with excited expressions, though he didn’t recognize any of these people.
This eunuch was nearly in tears. However, he didn’t lead them to see His Majesty.
“His Majesty is resting. The imperial physicians have instructed that he must not be disturbed.”
“Then we’ll wait until His Majesty awakens to speak with him,” Xie Yanfang said quickly.
What he had to say wasn’t good news anyway. His Majesty would inevitably be upset.
So next—
Xie Yanlai said from the side, “Third Brother should go see the Grand Tutor first. The matter concerning the Crown Prince is also a great matter of state. You should tell him in detail.”
The Grand Tutor? This was the second time the title of Grand Tutor had been mentioned. Xie Yanfang naturally knew of the Grand Tutor, but the Grand Tutor was practically nonexistent. With the Yang family present, the Grand Tutor was just an appendage.
The Crown Prince was gone, the Yang family was gone—could the Grand Tutor now issue orders?
Xie Yanfang asked, “Has Minister Liao already arrived?”
Xie Yanlai looked at him, smiled, and said, “Not Minister Liao. It’s Minister Deng.”
Deng? The Grand Tutor had been changed? But that wasn’t strange either. After such chaos, His Majesty would inevitably replace many people. Xie Yanfang nodded and said “Good,” then asked, “Which Minister Deng?”
He knew all the high-ranking officials and important ministers in the court, knew their dispositions and temperaments. When he met with them shortly, he could respond appropriately.
Xie Yanlai smiled. “Deng Yi, Minister Deng.”
Deng Yi? Xie Yanfang’s expression showed slight surprise. He had naturally heard this name, and recently at that, but this person wasn’t any important minister or high official.
That minor official who had climbed up through gift-giving had actually become the Grand Tutor?
The hall fell quiet for a moment, but the next moment the quiet was broken by chaotic footsteps coming from within.
“Young Highness, Young Highness, please don’t run!” The eunuchs’ anxious shouts followed.
Young Highness!
Xie Yanfang quickly looked ahead.
After he’d entered the city, Xie Yanlai hadn’t voluntarily mentioned it, and he hadn’t brought up the Young Highness either. The palace maid had said Eunuch Qi had taken the Young Highness to the Chu family. He’d thought that either Eunuch Qi had successfully reached the Chu family—in which case, unless the situation became completely stable, Eunuch Qi wouldn’t rashly emerge, and he would go directly there to search later—or Eunuch Qi hadn’t been able to successfully reach the Chu family—in which case, he would need to consider matters more carefully.
He hadn’t expected that the Young Highness had already returned to the palace.
He couldn’t help but step forward and saw a child running out from within the hall.
The child wore only an inner robe, his hair was loose, and he clutched a bamboo tube tightly in his arms. His small face was pale, his eyes full of terror, but even so, he was a beautiful child, delicately carved like jade.
He looked more like someone from the Xie family.
“A’Yu,” he called.
The child stopped and looked at the person before him.
This was his first time seeing the Imperial Grandson, and he hadn’t expected it to be under such circumstances. Life was truly so unpredictable. Xie Yanfang said gently, “A’Yu, I am Xie Yanfang.”
Xiao Yu looked at him and suddenly said, “Uncle.”
After calling out, he rushed over.
Xie Yanfang quickly reached out, preparing to lift him up, but the child rushed past him and threw himself into another person’s embrace.
Xie Yanfang turned his head.
“Uncle.” Xiao Yu hugged that young man, not at all minding his cold, piercing armor.
Uncle. Xie Yanfang looked at this scene. This night, heaven and earth had been turned upside down inside the city as well.