Eunuch Qi looked left and right, then took out a bamboo tube and pressed it into Xiao Yu’s hands: “Your Majesty, this old servant brought it for you.”
When Xie Yanfang had earlier led Xiao Yu out of the imperial city in haste, Eunuch Qi hadn’t brought anything except stuffing the bamboo tube in his belongings. However, after leaving the palace, with Xie Yanfang resting beside Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu slept very soundly, so he hadn’t taken it out.
Now seeing the child confused and vacant, unable to be comforted by words, Eunuch Qi brought out the bamboo tube. Sure enough, when Xiao Yu saw it, his vacant eyes brightened and he hastily clutched it tightly to his chest.
Eunuch Qi also breathed a sigh of relief. Although he still seemed somewhat uneasy, at least his spirit had returned. But what should they do next? He raised his head—through the tent he could see Xie Yanfang’s figure outside.
“Aren’t they reinforcements?” Xie Yanfang asked the general.
“They are indeed reinforcements, but they have no intention of attacking,” the general said in a low voice. “They’ve even recalled the previous troops and set up a defensive formation outside the city. We’ve provoked them several times with scouts and vanguards, but they just retreat and hide.”
“They’ve even started breaking camp and retreating,” another general said quietly.
Retreating?
Retreating—
Xie Yanfang’s eyes sharpened: “Continue attacking.”
The commander was startled—now?
“Of course now,” Xie Yanfang said. “The battle has been provoked—how can it end just because they retreat?”
This matter absolutely could not end here.
This battle absolutely must be fought!
……
……
“This battle must not be fought.”
In the thick night, the imperial city was brightly lit. The Grand Tutor’s hall was even more crowded with people watching Deng Yi hold up a letter, open it, and read out this line.
The Emperor personally led the expedition, but the court remained.
Although many officials clamored to accompany the Emperor on his personal expedition, ultimately not many went.
Deng Yi’s people naturally wouldn’t go to bolster Xie Yanfang’s prestige, and Xie Yanfang’s people wouldn’t leave the court to Deng Yi either. The imperial seal and the late Emperor’s regency decree were in Deng Yi’s hands. To put it disrespectfully, whether the Emperor was present or not made no difference—Deng Yi sat firmly in the court.
These past days, the court had been bustling day and night, watching for news from His Majesty’s side while not forgetting the border army. Since Empress Chu led troops to besiege Zhongshan Commandery, Prince Zhongshan had been too busy to attend to anything else, and the severed postal stations had been restored to smooth operation.
Letters flew in like snowflakes.
The Grand Tutor didn’t need to personally handle everything—various matters were dealt with by others—except for the Empress’s personal letters.
Deng Yi didn’t continue reading the letter. He asked the person beside him: “The Empress’s letter didn’t come through the postal relay?”
A young official beside him nodded: “Captain Li of the postal soldier camp said it was placed directly on his desk. After confirming the Empress’s seal was authentic, he immediately sent it to you, but they didn’t see who delivered it.”
Another slightly older official speculated: “Could Prince Zhongshan be sending you letters in the Empress’s name?” He also sighed. “Prince Zhongshan’s people are truly everywhere.”
The Empress had been captured by Prince Zhongshan—according to the intelligence reports, the Empress had walked into Prince Zhongshan’s estate herself, attempting to persuade him to surrender.
This act appeared brave to the world, but was truly laughable, absurd, and childish—a lamb walking into a tiger’s den, adding trouble for the court.
So, was Prince Zhongshan writing to Deng Yi to use the Empress as leverage?
“Grand Tutor,” an official said gravely. “Even if Chu Ling were alive and encountered this situation, he should place righteousness above family.”
Moreover, Chu Ling was no longer alive.
“If Prince Zhongshan dares harm the Empress, all under heaven will know his treasonous heart,” others nodded in agreement.
Deng Yi paid no attention to these words. He knew that girl wouldn’t care about them either. When she entered Prince Zhongshan’s estate, she wasn’t relying on the court’s care and concern for her.
And if Prince Zhongshan wanted to write to him, he could deliver it through palace eunuchs—Prince Zhongshan’s people were indeed everywhere. He swept his gaze across the hall—bright lamplight, minor officials and guards standing attendance, eunuchs weaving among them carrying tea, snacks, and late-night refreshments from the imperial kitchens.
Actually, Empress Chu’s people were also everywhere. Deng Yi looked down at the letter. To prevent it from falling into anyone else’s hands, it was placed directly on Captain Li’s desk—she even knew this captain was his, Deng Yi’s, man.
The decisive statement at the beginning was also that girl’s habit.
Seeing only this one line, Deng Yi felt as if he saw again that girl standing beneath the palace gate, ordering him to open the door.
Even at this point, she still said this battle must not be fought.