In stark contrast to Xie Yanlai's restless pacing and fidgeting in the duty room, Xie Yanfang had remained seated and unmoving for a long time, with only officials and clerks bustling around him.
The documents on the desk seemed endless, yet Xie Yanfang showed no signs of fatigue in his demeanor or appearance.
Did Deng Yi think such tasks would tire him?
Though he was a scion of a noble family and had never held minor bureaucratic positions like Deng Yi, the affairs of a great clan were no less demanding than those of a county or commandery—in fact, they were even more intricate.
As for Deng Yi, how could someone who had leapt from petty officialdom to high rank manage without scheming and scrambling? Would he still resort to gift-giving as before?
If he were still offering bribes now—Xie Yanfang chuckled softly, pen in hand—it would truly be a joke.
A eunuch hurried in and bowed respectfully. "Lord Xie."
Xie Yanfang glanced at him, recognizing him as one of the Emperor's attendants, and asked with a smile, "What instructions does His Majesty have?"
The eunuch gave a helpless smile. "His Majesty—" He glanced around, and the officials eavesdropping nearby quickly retreated.
Xie Yanfang said to the eunuch, "It's fine. Speak freely. His Majesty can say whatever he wishes."
The Emperor, as the Son of Heaven, was supreme. Even though he was only six years old, his words were golden edicts. If he said anything improper, Xie Yanfang was there to ensure it was smoothed over and made proper.
Understanding Xie Yanfang's meaning, the eunuch smiled even more deferentially and said, "His Majesty insists on seeing you, Lord Xie. He's throwing a tantrum and refusing to eat. We servants are at a loss—"
The Emperor was a child, but when he lost his temper, no one dared to discipline him. He rarely threw fits, but once he did, no one could calm him down.
This hadn't been the case before. It was only after the Empress left the palace that they experienced it.
Since the Empress's departure, the Emperor refused to let the lamps be extinguished at night. The halls blazed with light, but he couldn't sleep or eat well, and his tantrums began.
Yet, when it came to court sessions and studies, the Emperor remained diligent and earnest, never complaining. The officials couldn't be asked to intervene in such private matters—only family could soothe, discipline, or restrain these emotional outbursts. But now, the Emperor had no family left in the palace.
That was why his only maternal uncle was so crucial.
This time, the Emperor's tantrum was because he demanded to see his uncle.
Xie Yanfang listened but did not rise immediately. Instead, he asked, "Is His Majesty asking for his uncle or for Lord Xie?"
The eunuch was taken aback. Was there a difference? Wasn't Lord Xie the uncle, and the uncle Lord Xie?
"Think carefully about what His Majesty said," Xie Yanfang reminded him.
The eunuch thought for a moment and confirmed, "He asked for his uncle."
Xie Yanfang smiled and pointed outside. "Go find Xie Yanlai. He's on duty here today."
The eunuch was startled. Xie Yanlai?
Of course, he knew who Xie Yanlai was—another of the Emperor's uncles, and one of considerable status, now in command of the entire Imperial City's guards. But with Xie Yanfang here, why would the Emperor need to see any other uncle?
Was Xie Yanfang too busy and sending his brother to pacify the child?
"Go on," Xie Yanfang said, reading the eunuch's wandering thoughts. "Once His Majesty sees him, the tantrum will stop."
Really? the eunuch thought. The Emperor's temper was formidable, but this seemingly gentle nobleman's temper was no small matter either. He dared not provoke either the Emperor or Young Master Xie the Third, so he had to obey.
Let that Xie Yanlai deal with the Emperor. If the Emperor was in a rage, he could vent it on Xie Yanlai.
...
...Xie Yanlai entered the Emperor's bedchamber with a grim expression. Before he could perform the formal greeting, a child came running toward him with pattering footsteps.
"Uncle!" Xiao Yu threw himself into his arms, wrapping his arms around his waist.
The eunuch following behind was startled—why hadn't His Majesty lost his temper? Had the Emperor mistaken which uncle had arrived?
Qi Gonggong followed with a smile, calling out, "Your Majesty, slow down." Then he bowed respectfully to Xie Yanlai, "Commandant."
Xie Yanlai remained stern-faced, using two fingers to lift Xiao Yu away. "I haven't paid my respects yet."
Xiao Yu steadied himself and looked up at him, saying first, "Uncle is excused from formalities."
Qi Gonggong smiled and said, "Your Majesty and the Commandant should speak privately. We servants will wait outside." With that, he stepped out and noticed the eunuch standing there with his mouth agape. He gave him a push.
The eunuch snapped out of it. The young Emperor had a bad temper, Xie Yanfang had a bad temper, Minister Deng Yi had a bad temper, and Qi Gonggong, the chief eunuch of the inner palace, had the worst temper of all—
Though he wore a smile, countless eunuchs and palace maids had met their end at his hands during this period.
The eunuch shuddered and hurriedly retreated.
"What do you want?" Xie Yanlai pushed the child away and asked in a low voice, glancing at the dining table nearby. "I won't feed you."
Xiao Yu shook his head. "Uncle, I called you here to ask about something else." He took his hand and led him further inside. "Come sit over here."
Xie Yanlai withdrew his hand but said nothing more, following Xiao Yu inward.
The eunuch, who had retreated to the doorway, glanced back and couldn't help but murmur, "So he really was looking for this uncle."
Qi Gonggong, walking ahead, overheard and said with a faint smile, "Figured it out, did you?"
The eunuch hurried to catch up with Qi Gonggong, and the two stood together outside the hall. Seeing Qi Gonggong's expression, the eunuch understood everything. He forced a bitter, ingratiating smile and said, "Why didn't you give me a hint? I ran around in confusion and kept His Majesty waiting."
Qi Gonggong looked at him, a smile playing on his lips. "Because His Majesty didn't say."
His Majesty had only said he wanted to see his uncle. He hadn't elaborated or explained, deliberately letting those who heard misunderstand. Why would Qi Gonggong bother to enlighten this eunuch?
Qi Gonggong's smile turned wistful. Perhaps everyone who becomes Emperor changes, even a six-year-old child.
...
...
A minor official placed a cup of tea on the table.
"Lord Xie, please have some tea," he said respectfully. "Commandant Xie has gone to see His Majesty. I'm not sure what they're discussing. Should I send someone to inquire?"
Xie Yanfang accepted the tea and replied, "No need. He's probably asking about the Empress."
The Empress's absence from the palace had not been announced to the court officials. It was only said that she had been injured while rescuing Xiao Yu and needed to recuperate, hence she would no longer attend court or receive guests. The court officials didn't mind; they would be glad if she remained in seclusion indefinitely.
Of course, those close to Xie Yanfang knew where the Empress had gone.
The minor official nodded in understanding and chuckled, "So His Majesty really was looking for Commandant Xie." Then he shook his head and complained, "That eunuch is such a fool, disturbing you for no reason."
Xie Yanfang smiled faintly. "Don't blame him. His Majesty intended for him to do so."
The minor official was puzzled. What did that mean?
"His Majesty deliberately let me know that he wanted to see his uncle," Xie Yanfang explained. "But the uncle he wanted to see wasn't me."
The Xie family was the maternal family of the Little Emperor.
The eunuchs knew that the Xies in court were the Emperor's uncles.
But they didn't know that the Emperor addressed his uncles from the Xie family differently.The Little Emperor used to call him Third Uncle, but since entering the court, he has simply addressed him as Lord Xie to show respect.
The title "Uncle" has always belonged to only one person.
Xie Yanlai.
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