“This must be Xie Yanlai bewitching the Emperor,” Seventh Master Xie said with certainty.
Having returned home from court, Xie Yanfang changed back into his casual robes and sat relaxed by the window. Hearing this, he smiled.
“A’Yu is genuinely worried about Miss Chu Zhao,” he said.
Seventh Master Xie naturally knew about the young Emperor’s feelings toward Chu Zhao. That girl had saved Xiao Yu, and like a fledgling whose parents had both died, the child had latched onto her.
Children were such a bother—unable to distinguish who was family, ignorant of their own status and position. Repaying a life-saving debt with generous treatment as a loyal subject was sufficient. The ones he should truly be close to were the Xie family.
It wasn’t that there was no closeness, but he’d mistakenly grown close to that bastard son—and bastard sons were nothing good. Given any opportunity, they only sought to soar to the heavens.
“Even if A’Yu wanted him to go, what he should have done was advise against it.” Seventh Master Xie slammed the table in anger. “If he couldn’t persuade him, he should have come to tell you. But instead, all he knows is how to curry favor and ingratiate himself—whatever the child Emperor says, he just does! Being the person the child Emperor trusts most—is that something to be proud of? Absurd!”
Xie Yanfang looked at the table and said, “It may not necessarily be flattery. He also wants to go.”
Seventh Master Xie paused, seemingly not understanding. “Wants to go where?”
Xie Yanfang raised his head and said, “Yanlai is worried about Miss Chu Zhao, not much less than A’Yu. After all, compared to A’Yu, he knew Miss Chu Zhao much earlier.”
Seventh Master Xie made a sound of comprehension and blinked, seeming to understand yet not quite, then slammed the table again. “Even more detestable! Flattering both the Emperor and Chu Ling—does he really think these two are his backers? Laughable.”
The young Emperor was still small, with a long road ahead and many changes to come. Just because he could please him now didn’t mean it would last another two or three years.
As for Chu Ling, his life would end this year.
Xie Yanfang smiled. “Three—there’s also Miss Chu Zhao.”
Without Chu Ling, what would Chu Zhao amount to? This Chu Zhao was just like Xie Yanlai—and that Deng Yi too—all petty people achieving success. Seventh Master Xie was about to say something when Xie Yanfang waved his hand.
“Things are already as they are. Seventh Uncle, there’s no need to say more,” he said. “His Majesty doing this is very good. Miss Chu Zhao’s safety is of paramount importance. Moreover, Yanlai is indeed the most suitable person. Otherwise, who else could go?”
He looked at Seventh Master Xie, seemingly joking.
“Me?”
Indeed, that was quite funny. Seventh Master Xie laughed heartily, his anger completely dissipating. He stood up. “You go ahead with your work. I’m just annoyed that these people always act on their own initiative. The nation is unstable—we don’t need them causing more trouble.”
Xie Yanfang said, “No need to be angry. Ever since the Crown Prince passed away and the Late Emperor died, these past years the nation was destined to be unstable. We’ll meet soldiers with generals and water with earth—it will pass eventually.”
Seventh Master Xie nodded and took his leave.
But Xie Yanfang didn’t immediately return to his desk. Instead, he stared into space for a moment, then nodded. “If he’s worried, he should go see her. Actually, it’s that simple.”
With that, he smiled again and looked down at the letter spread on his desk, already half-written with words expressing concern. Next should come the persuasion—
Xie Yanfang picked up his brush, then set it down, calling for Du Qi.
Du Qi came in from outside.
Xie Yanfang stood up and stretched his arms, pointing to the desk. “It’s finished. Send the letter.”
Du Qi walked over to put away the letter and glanced at its contents, unable to help asking, “Young Master, have you finished writing?”
This was what he’d been writing earlier when Du Qi had stepped out. He’d been watching then, and the Young Master had said he’d finish it when he returned.
Xie Yanfang was heading toward the inner chamber and responded with a sound of affirmation.
Very well, the Young Master’s actions weren’t for him to question. If the Young Master only wrote half a letter, he had his reasons. Du Qi packed up the letter properly. As he was about to leave, Xie Yanfang turned back.
“Make it fast,” he said. “The fastest.”
……
……
The Emperor’s edicts, military reports, and official gazettes spread throughout Da Xia through courier soldiers, carrier pigeons, official channels, merchants, private means, and more.
Though still far from the border commanderies with not a hint of warfare, Chen County and its entire domain visibly tensed, especially the military camp.
In this garrison, which housed a modest number of troops, horses galloped day and night.
When dawn light was just breaking, Chu Zhao stood outside her tent and saw a military officer passing by. Recognizing him as the one in charge of courier reports, she quickly called out, “Is there any latest news?”
The officer dismounted and, not concealing the information, said respectfully, “The Prince of Xi Liang has increased his forces by another ten thousand.”
In other words, the Prince of Xi Liang wasn’t just making a show—he truly intended to attack. Chu Zhao thanked the officer.
The officer saw her frown and look toward the border commanderies, and couldn’t help adding, “Miss, Yunzhong Commandery is truly very dangerous. Though the defenses are tight, there are still many scattered Xi Liang soldiers infiltrating, burning, killing, and plundering everywhere. Yunzhong Commandery has already implemented a scorched earth policy. You really shouldn’t go in that direction.”
That day when Chen County’s garrison arrived, Chu Zhao had them handle the cleanup and follow-up investigations but told them not to stay. She’d been about to depart when Chen County’s courier soldiers caught up, saying the Prince of Xi Liang was harassing the border commanderies.
So Chu Zhao had stayed.
She remained to understand the latest developments, then determine a new route before hastening toward Yunzhong Commandery.
Chu Zhao thanked him but didn’t say she wouldn’t go. “The soldiers and civilians of Yunzhong Commandery don’t fear the Xi Liang troops, and neither do we.”
The officer looked behind Chu Zhao, where a group of—not quite guard-like guards—were gathered. Those guards were also staring at him, but when he looked over, their gazes scattered like startled birds—
If they weren’t in a military camp, the officer believed these people would immediately scatter as well.
The officer had long ago discerned these people’s identities—setting aside their bearing, many of their portraits were still posted outside the county yamen. Though upon seeing the soldiers they’d covered their faces with torn cloth claiming injuries, how could that truly hide anything?
However, since this young lady said they were her guards, he wouldn’t pry further.
The officer said to Chu Zhao, “Miss, you still don’t have enough guards, but we have no troops we can assign to you. We’ve just received orders from the court that all garrison forces must strictly defend their local positions.”
They found this order somewhat strange too. Logically, some troops should be dispatched to reinforce the border commanderies.