No matter how the court officials clamored, objected, and questioned, how could they possibly stop Xie Yanfang?
When Xie Yanfang decided to do something, who could block him?
Xie Yanfang mounted his horse while holding Xiao Yu.
Since the Crown Prince’s death and the new emperor’s ascension, in the eyes of the world, Xie Yanfang remained an elegant gentleman and the emperor’s only relative, his most trusted uncle. Having entered the court as an official and holding a stable high position, no one could compare to him.
But to him, he was still stuck in that night.
He was still wearing the undergarments he’d awakened in from sleep, holding a long blade, blood covering him from head to toe.
He had helplessly watched the Crown Prince die, watched the Crown Prince’s consort die, watched the young prince be rescued by others, watched an obscure nobody leap above him in status.
Young Master Xie had never been so wretched in his life.
How could he be content!
Finally, tempted by external threats, Prince Zhongshan personally delivered himself. In this battle, Young Master Xie would avenge his humiliation, establish his might, secure his reputation, and reclaim the child’s heart.
Xie Yanfang looked down at the child seated before him.
Xiao Yu was wrapped in a cloak. Under the illumination of torches, his jade-white face shone with radiance.
All around, hoofbeats thundered. The imperial guards loudly shouted “His Majesty personally leads the campaign,” the cry echoing through the capital’s streets. The people who had been hiding in their homes heard this call with disbelief. At first, those along the streets peered through cracks in doors and windows and indeed saw a child. Though many hadn’t seen the young emperor, who else but the young emperor could sit before Xie Yanfang? In no time, they all surged out. More and more people gathered, and the entire capital instantly boiled over.
“I will personally go question Prince Zhongshan—why, when claiming to protect Da Xia, does he harm my subjects? If he shows no remorse, I will personally execute him myself.” Xiao Yu shouted loudly to the crowds surging from the street sides.
The child’s voice was tender, and his words somewhat childish, but they made everyone even more excited.
“Everyone please rest assured, my personal campaign doesn’t mean we’ve reached a critical moment.” Xiao Yu continued. “The Empress can lead troops to personally campaign in the border commandery against the King of Xi Liang, so naturally I won’t just sit safely in the imperial palace either.”
The child threw off his cloak. His small hand raised a sword almost as tall as himself.
“Those who violate Da Xia—execute them.”
“Those who harm my subjects—execute them.”
The child’s voice was tender but loud and stirring. No one treated this child as a child—this was the emperor, this was the Son of Heaven, this was their sovereign. The people along the streets were moved to tears, shouting “Execute them!” with hoarse voices.
The capital’s gates, closed for many days, opened. Countless citizens followed the emperor’s troops, wanting to accompany His Majesty to the front lines.
Bright torches made the entire capital burn.
Xiao Yu looked up at Xie Yanfang. His eyes sparkled and his cheeks flushed: “Did I say it correctly?”
Xie Yanfang nodded: “You spoke very well. Without my teaching you, with Miss Chu teaching you instead, you’re much better than I anticipated.”
Sister Chu? Of course Sister Chu was excellent. A smile bloomed on Xiao Yu’s face.
“Now that Sister Chu isn’t here, I’ll teach you.” Xie Yanfang continued, swinging the long blade in his hand. “This time I’ll teach you how to kill enemies. A’Yu, this time, I want you to personally kill someone.”
He looked down at Xiao Yu.
“A’Yu, do you dare?”
Xiao Yu was so excited even his ears turned red. He nodded forcefully: “Uncle, I dare.” He also raised the long sword in his hand just like Xie Yanfang’s blade.
The sincere uncle had finally arrived. Next, he would make the word “uncle” even more heartfelt and irreplaceable.
Xie Yanfang laughed heartily, raised his blade and spurred his horse. The horse neighed and galloped forward.
“This won’t do!” “How can this be allowed!” “Grand Tutor—”
In the clamorous calls, the officials’ voices continued creating a cacophony.
Deng Yi stood before the palace gates watching them depart. From the moment Xie Yanfang finished speaking and the young emperor shouted “Uncle, I’m willing,” he hadn’t said another word, nor had he tried to stop them. At this moment, officials surged forward following Xie Yanfang’s party, leaving only a few people beside him.
Deng Yi stopped everyone’s clamor and smiled slightly.
“Originally I was indeed somewhat worried. Prince Zhongshan has accumulated power for so long—this battle wouldn’t be so easy to win. But now that Xie Yanfang has stepped forward, I’m no longer worried.” He said, looking at the capital clamoring and burning like fire. “Prince Zhongshan has always believed this is his opportunity, but actually he’s merely Xie Yanfang’s opportunity.”
……
……
When dawn once again illuminated the earth, the local clan heads waiting outside the government office all awakened from their stiffness. The sons and nephews accompanying them carefully massaged their elders.
“Father, can you still hold on?” they inquired in low voices, their expressions worried.
The elders were all over sixty or seventy years old and hadn’t suffered such hardship in many years.
“Hardship?” a clan head said quietly. “Compared to those families who had their heads cut off and now lie quietly on the ground, it’s a bit hard, I suppose.”
This joke wasn’t funny at all. The sons and nephews smiled bitterly, unable to hide the fear in their eyes.
Who could have imagined that the polite crown prince with deep dimples when he smiled would kill at the drop of a hat?
“What’s unimaginable about it?” another elder said flatly. “With strong troops in hand, saying they’re asking us to uphold justice is merely a polite phrase.”
While they spoke in low voices here, over there a general walked out from within the government office. Seeing them, he seemed quite surprised: “You haven’t gone home yet?”
A clan head quickly stepped forward and bowed: “We urgently seek an audience with the Crown Prince.”
The general nodded: “The Crown Prince just woke. Follow me in.”
So he was willing to see them. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, bowed again, and followed the general to enter. Just after walking a few steps, soldiers rushed up from behind.
“Sir.” He held a letter in his hand and whispered a few words in the general’s ear.