Xie Yanfang did not speak further, merely watching the child in Xie Yanlai's arms quietly.
Xie Yanlai, however, was quite uncomfortable, pressing down on the child's shoulders as if trying to lift him away like a cat.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
The eunuchs also gathered around.
"Little Highness was sleeping and ran out as soon as he woke up." "His clothes aren't properly fastened." "Little Highness, be careful not to catch a chill."
Xie Yanlai gripped the child's shoulders, frowning as he asked, "What do you want? Just tell them."
Xiao Yu looked up and asked, "Where is Sister?"
Who is Sister? A palace maid taking care of Little Highness? Xie Yanfang thought to himself but remained silent, watching Xiao Yu and Xie Yanlai.
Xie Yanlai clearly knew who he meant, frowning as he turned to the eunuchs. "Where is she?"
The eunuchs naturally knew as well and hurriedly replied, "His Majesty summoned her earlier."
But just now, the eunuch from His Majesty's side said His Majesty had retired to rest. Both Xie Yanlai and Xie Yanfang looked at the eunuch.
The eunuch quickly added, "She left, she left after speaking. We don't know where she went."
Xie Yanlai snorted, "Wandering around everywhere." Then, as if remembering something, he curled his lips and said, "Probably with Lord Deng." He patted Xiao Yu. "Go back now. I'll go fetch her for you."
Xiao Yu nodded, released his grip, and no longer resisted the eunuchs, allowing them to wrap him in his robe.
Xie Yanlai turned to leave but pivoted back on his heel.
"Your Highness," he said, pointing at Xie Yanfang with a half-smile. "This is Third Young Master, Xie Yanfang. You know him, right?"
Xiao Yu glanced at him, then bowed to Xie Yanfang. "Greetings, Third Uncle. Thank you for taking care of my father and mother."
As he spoke the last sentence, the child's tender voice grew hoarse.
A clever child—naturally, he knew who Xie Yanfang was and could deduce what this Third Uncle had been doing. His reluctance to face him directly was likely because he did not want to confront the tragedy of his parents. Xie Yanfang stepped forward, crouched down, and looked up at the child's face.
"Your Highness, they were my sister and brother-in-law," he said softly. "Go rest properly for now. I will come later to explain everything to you. A'Yu is a brave child and should know and remember what has happened."
Xiao Yu nodded.
Xie Yanfang said no more and stood up. "Yanfang takes his leave."
Xiao Yu did not linger further and followed the eunuchs away.
Only after watching Xiao Yu leave did Xie Yanlai speak again. "Third Brother, let's go see the Grand Tutor."
Xie Yanfang nodded and, along with Du Qi, followed Xie Yanlai back toward the outer hall.
The two brothers walked one behind the other, somewhat silent—though this was not unusual. Even back at home, they had rarely exchanged many words, especially since Xie Yanlai often kept to himself.
"Seeing Little Highness safe puts my mind at ease," Xie Yanfang said. "My sister was most reluctant to part with him before she passed."
Xie Yanlai grunted in acknowledgment. "The eunuchs have checked. Little Highness is perfectly fine."
Xie Yanfang asked, "How is His Majesty?"
A rather blunt question.
Xie Yanlai glanced back at him, leaning in to whisper, "Not well, neither in spirit nor in body."
His reply was equally blunt.
Xie Yanfang nodded. "I understand. I will be careful with my words when I see His Majesty."
Xie Yanlai turned his head away, then back again, and smiled. "Then again, perhaps it won't be necessary. After meeting the Grand Tutor, we probably won't need to see His Majesty anymore.""This remark—" Xie Yanfang pondered thoughtfully, roughly understanding the situation. Although he had only inquired about Deng Yi while focusing on Chu Zhao, fortunately his memory was excellent—he never forgot what he saw or heard. This Deng Yi was originally a palace gate official.
Overnight, he had transformed into the Grand Tutor, even having the authority to decide whether the Emperor could be seen.
It was evident that he had already gained the Emperor’s deep trust and heavy responsibilities.
At this moment, the master of the Imperial City was Deng Yi.
Deng Yi—Xie Yanfang silently repeated the name in his heart, feeling somewhat emotional. Among the court’s high-ranking officials and the domineering imperial relatives, who would have thought that a minor official no one paid attention to could soar to such heights overnight?
Such is life—seemingly unchanging, yet one never knows what will happen next. Its unpredictability and variability are the very joys of being human.
He asked no further questions, and Xie Yanlai did not volunteer more information. The two brothers passed through the imperial guards and arrived at the front hall. Here, there were fewer guards but more officials, bustling about with hurried steps. Their expressions ranged from blank to fearful, and some whispered among themselves in hushed tones, creating a tense and eerie atmosphere.
"...Where is Grand Tutor Liao? Did he really have the sense not to come?"
"...What sense? Even if he lacked it, he had to pretend. Grand Tutor Deng directly sent troops to tell him not to come..."
"...Does he really have the final say?"
"...He’s currently purging the remnants of the Third Prince and the Zhao Family. Do you think he has the final say? If he says you are guilty, you are—even if you’re not. Who would dare disobey?"
"...Why are there so many troops here? They don’t look like imperial guards."
"...Has the Capital Garrison entered? Impossible—the gates haven’t even opened."
When the officials gathered and whispering saw Xie Yanlai approaching in armor, they immediately fell silent. Upon spotting Xie Yanfang, they grew excited.
"Young Master Xie the Third!"
"Young Master Xie the Third is still here!"
"Young Master Xie the Third is safe and sound, as expected."
Xie Yanfang kept his gaze forward, not engaging with any of the officials, and followed Xie Yanlai as they strode swiftly.
They arrived in front of a hall where the guards were far fewer than at the Emperor’s bedchamber earlier. Yet Xie Yanlai, who had been striding confidently all the way, stopped well in advance.
"Report to the Grand Tutor," he announced loudly to the guards at the door. "Xie Yanfang, younger brother of the Crown Princess, has returned and requests an audience."
……
……
The Grand Tutor Hall was not crowded with officials.
At this moment, only Deng Yi and the young girl were present.
Deng Yi sat reviewing documents, while Chu Zhao paced back and forth with a furrowed brow.
"Miss Chu," Deng Yi said, "why are you so anxious?"
Chu Zhao stopped walking. "How can I not be? Xiao Xun has escaped!"
As soon as things in the palace had settled slightly, her first action was to send Uncle Zhong to capture Xiao Xun. But when Uncle Zhong arrived at the post station, he found only a scene of corpses—the Crown Prince of Zhongshan and his entourage were nowhere to be seen. A search of the city eventually revealed that, near the city gates, there was a residence with a hidden tunnel through which the Crown Prince of Zhongshan had fled the city—
"Why is it strange that the Crown Prince of Zhongshan escaped?" Deng Yi said. "He’s no fool, and his father is even shrewder. Since they dared to come, they must have had a plan to retreat unscathed."
That was true. Xiao Xun’s luck was exceptionally good. Chu Zhao sighed. "But he poses a threat to the Little Highness, Lord Deng—"
Deng Yi lifted his eyes and saw the girl’s hopeful gaze—regardless of its sincerity.
Chu Zhao said, "The Little Highness’s safety rests entirely in your hands, my lord."
Deng Yi replied, "It seems the Empress’s safety requires no effort from me."Chu Zhao shook her head with a faint smile. "Your subject is not yet the Empress," she said. "The Grand Tutor may simply address me as Crown Princess."
Deng Yi could no longer restrain himself this time, letting out a laugh that carried complex emotions. As he gazed at the young woman before him, he recalled the events that had unfolded earlier in the hall.
She had led troops to storm the city gates. Though startling, the revelation that Chu Ling possessed a hidden army had somewhat tempered the surprise.
But then she declared she would become Empress.
Did she truly understand what she was saying?
Did she realize whom she was addressing?
In that moment, even Deng Yi—who prided himself on having witnessed countless surprises—found himself utterly speechless with shock.
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