Xie Yanfang placed the letter on the table and tapped it with his finger.
“This letter appears not to be persuading them. Xiao Xun isn’t asking them to do anything. But at this moment, when the powerful aristocratic families do nothing, that itself means they’ve sided with Prince Zhongshan!”
Deng Yi looked down at the letter on the table and asked: “Is Lord Xie’s meaning that we should confirm Prince Zhongshan’s treasonous intent?”
“Only this way can the world know there’s no retreat, no escape.” Xie Yanfang said. “Stop thinking about self-deception. And these aristocratic families—if they do nothing, if they receive Xiao Xun’s letter but don’t report it, don’t express indignation or outrage, they share the guilt. Only this way, when this battle begins, will it be righteous, without concerns about the rear, and will make all under heaven submit. A-Yu’s position as emperor will never again be questioned by anyone.”
Deng Yi looked up and asked: “Then how do we confirm Prince Zhongshan’s treasonous intent?”
Xie Yanfang looked at him and asked: “What did Xiao Xun write in his letter to the Grand Tutor?”
…
…
“After all this talk, Lord Xie actually wants me to confirm Prince Zhongshan’s treasonous intent.” Deng Yi smiled and leaned back in his chair. Looking at Xie Yanfang, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a letter. “I think what Lord Xie actually wants to ask isn’t what Young Master Xiao wrote to me now, but what he wrote to me earlier, during the capital’s military rebellion. No—perhaps even earlier than that, such as letters showing how I colluded with Prince Zhongshan, correct?”
Deng Yi wasn’t a fool. Of course, the biggest problem now was who would expose the father and son’s wolfish ambitions.
Have him, Deng Yi, expose it?
If Prince Zhongshan and his son had long colluded with Deng Yi, and Prince Zhongshan harbored treasonous intentions, then what were his, Deng Yi’s, intentions?
“Third Young Master, whether it’s a righteous army or whether the cause is just—the Emperor cares, but I don’t.” Deng Yi said. “I, Deng Yi, can even not care whether this battle is won or lost.”
These words were truly disgraceful. As Grand Tutor of the dynasty, he actually said he didn’t care about the court’s victory or defeat in this battle.
“That’s right, I, Deng Yi, am exactly this kind of petty person.” Deng Yi said coldly. “I don’t care about propriety, righteousness, integrity, or shame. Since I’ve sat in this position, don’t think you can bind or manipulate me with reputation.”
He looked at Xie Yanfang and smiled again.
“Third Young Master, you’re not doing this to give the court a just cause—you’re just using this opportunity to threaten me.”
“If you truly wanted a just cause, you should seek out your nephew’s wife.”
“You know I have history with Prince Zhongshan. Don’t you know why Empress Chu left the Chu family with the Young Emperor?”
Back then, when Chu Zhao protected Xiao Yu and fought their way into the Imperial City to see the Emperor, she was subsequently given to the Crown Prince by the Late Emperor, who then ascended the throne. Everyone knew Xiao Yu was entrusted to the Chu family because Chu Ling, deeply trusted by the Emperor, had hidden a private army. No one inquired further into other matters.
For instance, if the Chu clan with their hidden private army was so reliable, why did Chu Zhao have to leave the Chu family with Xiao Yu?
And she had to fight her way out.
Why had Chu Lan been confined to the family estate with illness ever since? Why, as the imperial maternal family, did only the young girl Chu Tang appear in public among the Chu clan?
That young lady had never told him, and he didn’t press to ask, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know.
Xie Yanfang certainly knew.
Xie Yanfang’s expression remained gentle as he said: “Because to prevent the Chu family’s affairs from implicating the Empress, we must drag Grand Tutor down with them as well.”