As night fell, Xie Yanfang returned to the Xie family residence.
Not the previous Xie residence.
That estate had been the first to be surrounded and set ablaze last night, though of course, the Xie family members had already evacuated beforehand.
The Xie family naturally owned more than one property in the capital.
Upon seeing Xie Yanfang enter, the household members grew visibly emotional, addressing him with a jumble of titles—Third Brother, Third Uncle, Young Master the Third. The Xie clan remained numerous, entirely unscathed by the turmoil.
Clad in bloodstained robes, Xie Yanfang’s icy gaze softened slightly at the sight. Though the events were tragic, amid this sudden upheaval, the Xie family had not only emerged unharmed but had also slain the Third Prince, settling their vendetta on the spot.
The household members looked upon Young Master Xie the Third with overwhelming joy.
Dressed in blood-soaked garments, his face paler than usual, they could only imagine the peril he had faced—fighting his way out of the city last night, charging toward the hunting grounds, and battling his way back.
They had been terrified, unable to bear the thought of what would happen if anything befell Xie Yanfang.
“We’re just glad you’re safe,” several of the younger members choked out, tears welling in their eyes.
Xie Yanfang smiled. “Even if something happened to me, there would still be all of you. As long as a single Xie remains, our family endures. There’s no need to worry.”
His words stirred them even more.
“Third Brother! How can any of us compare to you?” “Third Uncle, we only regret we couldn’t aid you more.”
Xie Yanfang replied, “Each contributes as they are able. Those who fight alongside me lend their strength, and those who preserve their lives amid chaos lend theirs as well.”
At this point, Du Qi stepped forward. “Enough. The young master needs to rest. Whatever else must be said can wait.”
Xie Yanfang had not slept for a full day and night. The crowd quickly made way.
As Xie Yanfang moved past them, he remembered something and turned to call out, “Seventh Uncle.”
Seventh Master Xie promptly responded.
“Does Yan Lai know the address of our new home?” Xie Yanfang asked.
Seventh Master Xie replied, “We haven’t informed him yet. After the incident, we’ve kept our doors shut. Until your return, we refrained from any rash actions.”
Xie Yanfang nodded. “Yan Lai has rendered meritorious service guarding the Imperial City and now commands the city gate guards. Make sure to inform him of our address, so he doesn’t lose his way home.”
Seventh Master Xie looked astonished, as did the others.
Xie Yan Lai?
Meritorious service?
Xie Yan Lai was still alive?
“One more thing,” Xie Yanfang added, calling for Cai Bo. He pressed his fingers to his temples; exhaustion washed over him now that he was home after the long ordeal. “Issue orders to all branches: from now on, Yan Lai is to be treated as my equal.”
The crowd was even more stunned. Equal to Xie Yanfang meant that whatever Xie Yanfang was privy to, Xie Yan Lai would also know; whoever Xie Yanfang could command, Xie Yan Lai could command; whatever orders Xie Yanfang could issue, Xie Yan Lai could issue as well—
“What gives him the right?!”
Many exclaimed without thinking.
Cai Bo would not question the order, and Xie Yanfang offered no further explanation to the crowd. Du Qi barked at them to quiet down and accompanied Xie Yanfang as he departed.
What gives him the right? Xie Yanfang pondered as he walked. Simply because he was the one whom the Little Highness clung to, calling him “Uncle.”
Xie Yanfang closed his eyes again. How strange the ways of the world could be.
To achieve his goals, he had deliberately avoided the Little Highness, never imagining that this avoidance would become a regret.
“Young Master, don’t dwell on it,” Du Qi urged. “You must rest now.”
Both physically and mentally, the shocks of the past day and night had been overwhelming.Xie Yanfang opened his eyes. Yes, there was no need to dwell on it. These matters were trivial. As long as Little Highness remained safe, everything could be managed.
People transition from unfamiliarity to familiarity, and familiarity can just as easily revert to unfamiliarity.
He entered his chamber, removed his bloodstained robes, and stepped naked into the bathing area. Lifting a bucket of cold water, he poured it over his head from crown to foot. After repeating this three times, he dried himself, wrapped in a white gown, and collapsed onto the bed.
The maids approached, gently drying his disheveled long hair with warm air.
The room fell into tranquil silence as the young master sank into deep slumber.
But the next moment, Xie Yanfang’s eyes snapped open again. He pushed himself upright, startling the maids who nearly tugged his hair in their haste. Trembling with fear, they dropped to their knees.
The young master paid them no mind.
"Something still isn’t right," he murmured.
Realizing he was deep in thought, the maids dared not disturb him. They remained kneeling, holding their breath in silence.
Countless scenes and faces flickered through his mind, each dismissed in turn until only one small figure remained.
The girl, upon seeing him, had rushed over joyfully, her eyes brimming with concern.
He closed his eyes, brushing her image aside, replacing it with the eunuchs’ words, Little Highness’s remarks, and Deng Yi’s gaze—
When Deng Yi spoke to him, his eyes would drift toward the girl, as if gauging her reaction.
Xie Yanfang opened his eyes again, sweeping these thoughts away until only one final image lingered: the girl stepping out of the grand hall, moving gracefully amid the imperial guards, raising a hand in summons—and someone immediately stepping forward to receive her orders.
This was not surprising. To escort Little Highness safely into the palace, she must have had forces at her command.
Now, the Imperial City was under her control.
There was nothing amiss in this. In fact, it was precisely as it should be.
Xie Yanfang closed his eyes once more, lay back down, and sank into sleep.
Only then did the maids breathe again, softly tending to the young master’s scattered locks. The room was utterly still, save for the occasional faint crackle of cinnamon bark in the incense burner, releasing a delicate fragrance.
…
…
That night, a heavy rain fell.
The capital was washed clean; the fires and bloodstains were nearly erased. But the charred ruins of buildings could not be restored.
Most families could manage repairs and continue living in their homes. Qi Leyun’s family, however, was less fortunate—their house had been completely burned down. Unlike the Xie family, who had multiple residences to move into, they had no such luxury.
Relatives and friends in the city had all suffered losses, and with anxieties running high, their homes were too crowded to accommodate extra guests. In a flash of inspiration, Qi Leyun led her family to seek refuge at Chu Manor.
Qi Leyun arrived with her father. The exterior of the Chu residence remained intact, seemingly untouched by the recent turmoil.
She had worried needlessly that Chu Zhao might face retaliation—it appeared that in the Third Prince’s eyes, Chu Zhao was utterly insignificant.
The area outside the Chu estate also seemed more bustling than other places. Elderly folk sat mending shoe soles, children darted about, and they even greeted the newcomers.
"What brings you here?" one child asked, eyeing them up and down.
The child’s demeanor was so peculiar he might have been mistaken for a beggar who hadn’t eaten in days.
Old Master Qi nearly reached for coins to offer, but Qi Leyun stopped him just in time—the child’s clothing was far from shabby, and a golden necklace gleamed around his neck—
Children, oblivious to the world’s sorrows, played without a care. Qi Leyun shooed him away and knocked on the Chu family’s gate. She knocked until her hand ached before someone finally responded from within. Upon hearing their request to see Old Master Chu, the person inside immediately refused, stating he would not receive visitors. The sound of additional bolts being drawn echoed from behind the door—
What was this? Were they really so timid?
Quickly, Qi Leyun clarified that she wished to see Chu Zhao.The movement inside the door stopped, but it still didn’t open. After a short while, light footsteps approached, and a woman’s voice asked, “Who is it? Qi Leyun?”
It was Chu Tang! Though displeased that it wasn’t Chu Zhao who had come, Qi Leyun suppressed her temper and knocked on the door. “Open up, and we’ll talk.”
To her surprise, Chu Tang didn’t open the door, claiming it wasn’t safe.
“What are you afraid of?” Qi Leyun was both annoyed and amused, pointing outside. “The elderly and children are all out there playing.”
She slapped the door repeatedly, urging her.
“Back when you were afraid Chu Zhao would cause trouble and drag you down, you came to stay at my place. Have you forgotten how I treated you then?”
The door swung open, and Chu Tang stood in the doorway, covering Qi Leyun’s mouth with a slightly panicked expression. “Don’t shout, don’t let anyone hear.”
What if someone heard?
Besides, there weren’t many people outside—just the elderly, women, and children.
What was there to fear?
Qi Leyun pushed away Chu Tang’s hand from her mouth.
“Why are you so timid? My house was burned down, and what I went through last night is beyond your imagination. I’m not even scared, yet you’re here safe and sound—what are you afraid of?”
Chu Tang looked at her with a complicated expression, forcing a dry laugh. “You’re something else.”
Qi Leyun didn’t want to bicker further and introduced her father. Master Qi stepped forward to explain their purpose—to see Master Chu, as such a significant matter required the heads of both families to sit down and discuss.
But Chu Tang curtsied and said, “Uncle, my father was frightened and has fallen ill. He cannot receive guests.”
Qi Leyun scoffed. “You’re all so cowardly!”
Chu Tang looked at her and sighed softly. “Ah, actually, I wanted to say… I never knew I could be this brave.”
What did that mean? Qi Leyun was puzzled.
Chu Tang didn’t elaborate further and said, “Our house is intact, but if you stay here, I’m afraid it might be inconvenient for you. Uncle, you should still—”
Qi Leyun grew upset. “Chu Tang, is this how you treat me?” Her eyes shifted. “But you’re not the one in charge here. Where’s Chu Zhao?” She pushed past Chu Tang, trying to enter. “I refuse to believe Chu Zhao would turn away my family in our time of need.”
Chu Tang quickly grabbed her. “Chu Zhao was also frightened and has fallen ill. He can’t see anyone.”
Qi Leyun’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How is that possible? It’s not surprising your father was scared, but how could Chu Zhao be frightened?”
What kind of talk was that! Master Qi coughed from behind, scolding his daughter, “If it’s inconvenient, then let it be.”
Frustrated and hurt, Qi Leyun stared at Chu Tang. “Now I understand—even sisterly bonds can’t be relied upon.”
Chu Tang sighed. “This place isn’t safe. I’m doing this for your own good.”
Qi Leyun sneered. “You always say the right things, making it seem like you’re always in the right.”
Chu Tang gave a wry smile, glanced outside, and her eyes flickered. Since that was the case, she couldn’t be blamed for what came next.
“Fine, then,” she said, turning to Master Qi. “The Chu Garden is still vacant. If you don’t mind, Master Qi, you can settle there.”
Before Master Qi could respond, Qi Leyun hugged Chu Tang joyfully. “I knew it! The friends I make are always loyal and righteous.”
Chu Tang replied with a complicated expression, “As long as you’re happy.”
……
……
After arranging for the Qi family to stay in the Chu Garden and seeing Qi Leyun and her father off, Chu Tang let out a sigh of relief and glanced outside.
A ten-year-old boy squatting at the street corner grinned at her, tossing a small knife up and down in his hand. Across the way, an old woman also looked her way, the needle in her hand glinting coldly. Chu Tang shivered involuntarily and slammed the door shut with a bang."Add two more door bolts," she instructed the servants.
The heavy sound of the bolts sliding into place brought Chu Tang some reassurance. That foolish Qi Leyun, talking about how safe it was outside, with elderly and children playing outside—were those really elderly and children? They were people who could kill!
And were they really playing? They were watching the Chu residence.
What nonsense about the Chu residence being safe and sound—the experiences here were something none of you could ever imagine.
Truth be told, she still didn't quite understand what had happened. How did Chu Zhao suddenly leave? How did the killing outside suddenly erupt? How did half-grown children and white-haired old women jump into the residence? How did so many strangers suddenly appear inside? And how did those children and old women end up killing all of them—
Later, the ground shook with the heavy tread of horses' hooves and footsteps, people were running across rooftops, and it seemed like thousands of troops had gathered outside the Chu residence. Then, the troops left, but the Chu residence didn't become quiet.
It was still those elderly, weak, women, and children, coming and going as if nobody was around, cleaning up the corpses.
They even found her hiding spot in the rock garden.
"Miss Chu Tang, Sister A-Zhao says to leave the household matters to you. Keep your parents calm," that half-grown child said, squatting on the rockery, twirling a small knife and grinning. "We'll guard the outside and keep you safe, but if your parents try to run out, we won't be so polite."
What keeping safe—this was clearly imprisonment.
Sister A-Zhao's orders—
Where did this Chu Zhao find such a younger brother—
But since it was her order, it should be alright, right?
Chu Tang gathered her spirits to discipline the servants and comfort the people hiding in the Chu garden. Then she went to check on her father and mother. Her father had fainted from fright—this time it was real, not pretended. Jiang Shi was also badly frightened, saying that when the fighting outside started, Chu Lan had screamed "My life is over!" and fainted dead away.
Chu Tang had the maids brew ginseng soup and force-fed it to Chu Lan. Though he hadn't woken up yet, his breathing was steady. She repeatedly reassured Jiang Shi that it was just government troops eliminating bandits and everything was fine now. She personally locked the door to their room, leaving Jiang Shi and her father inside.
By the time all this was done, dawn had broken, and then that half-grown child—
"My name is Xiao Tu," the child said.
This Xiao Tu told her that government troops had taken control of the capital and peace had been restored. Chu Tang immediately rushed to inform the people hiding in the Chu garden. Those worried about their relatives and homes tentatively emerged and saw elderly, weak, women, and children cleaning the streets outside—indeed, it was safe. So they all gradually left.
A day and night passed.
It seemed as if nothing had happened outside the Chu residence.
The capital also seemed to have returned to normal—so much so that Qi Leyun could come running over to seek shelter.
There was no news of Chu Zhao.
Chu Tang pressed her hand to her chest, though she didn't seem too worried. No news was good news.
The things this Chu Zhao did were becoming more and more frightening.
Who knew what would happen next.
......
......
Qi Leyun's family moved into the Chu garden, making the area outside the Chu residence even livelier.
Though living in the Chu garden, they were still busy repairing their old residence and purchasing daily necessities themselves. The adults were constantly bustling in and out.
In contrast, the Chu residence remained tightly shuttered, appearing quite peculiar."Chu Tang." Unable to knock the door open, Qi Leyun simply found a ladder to lean against the wall and called Chu Tang over to talk. "Why are you still so scared? Everything's fine now. How is Chu Zhao? Open the door—I'll have a really good doctor my family knows take a look at her."
Chu Tang shook her head and waved her hands. "No need, no need. She doesn't need to see a doctor. Resting quietly is best."
Qi Leyun rested her arms on the wall, looking quite pleased. "Let's see who dares call her fierce now. She's clearly as timid as a mouse."
Chu Tang forced a dry laugh.
"Zhou Jiang and the others are out now, and they even sent someone to ask about me," Qi Leyun said, leaning on the wall. "Thankfully, everyone is safe. Though a few sisters injured their legs while running and hiding at home. Still, no one is scared anymore. We've agreed that once the ban is lifted, we'll all go to the tavern for a drink to celebrate this narrow escape. Ah, but if Chu Zhao isn't better by then, it'll be embarrassing—I won't be able to cover for her anymore—"
As she chattered on, Chu Tang suddenly pricked up her ears.
"Listen—outside, there are hoofbeats," she said.
Qi Leyun fell silent and indeed heard the urgent sound of galloping hooves outside, growing denser and louder, as if many horses were charging.
The nightmare from that night was still deeply etched in her heart, surging up with the rapid hoofbeats and instantly swallowing her. The girl's face turned pale, her hands gripping the wall tightly, her eyes filled with terror.
What was happening?
Could it be, again—
"By His Majesty's decree—"
A sharp, high-pitched voice rang out, one cry after another.
...
...
In the summer of the fifth year of Yongning, the Third Prince, Xiao Zhu, committed treason, murdered his elder brother, slaughtered the Yang Family, terrorized the capital, and caused thousands of casualties—an act intolerable to heaven.
Xiao Zhu was stripped of his title and reduced to a commoner. The Zhao Family was executed in its entirety, with nine generations exterminated.
A daughter of the Chu Family, brave and wise, wielded a blade and rode a horse to protect the imperial eldest grandson.
For the eternal stability of the nation, the imperial eldest grandson, Yu, is hereby enfeoffed as Crown Prince, and the Chu Family daughter, Zhao, as Crown Princess.
So it is decreed.
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