Really? The minor official was dumbfounded—could a simple form of address make such a big difference?
"If you really went, my lord?" the official asked. Would the Emperor throw a tantrum and cause a scene?
"Of course not," Xie Yanfang replied with a smile. "His Majesty would chat with me about trivial matters, and after I left, he would send a eunuch to summon my uncle again. This time, he would explicitly ask for Xie Yanlai—" He paused here and shook his head. "No, he probably wouldn’t say anything at all. He’d just run out directly, with the eunuchs scrambling after him in confusion. He’d dash all the way to Xie Yanlai, throw himself at him, and say, 'Uncle, I need to talk to you.'"
That alone would be enough.
Witnessing this, the eunuchs would be startled and reflect: So His Majesty wasn’t looking for Xie Yanfang but for Xie Yanlai? Or perhaps, even after speaking with Xie Yanfang, the Emperor still sought out Uncle Yanlai for a conversation—
Then, it would be clear how highly Uncle Yanlai stood in the Emperor’s heart.
"Young master," the official couldn’t help saying, "aren’t you overthinking this?"
The Emperor was just a six-year-old child—what were all these convoluted schemes? Besides, why bother? They were all one family.
Xie Yanfang smiled. It wasn’t that he was overthinking—the Emperor might be a six-year-old child, but he was also a member of the Xie family.
And the Xies had plenty of cunning to spare.
Although the minor official seemed unrelated to the Xies, he had actually been placed in his current position by the Xie family. In truth, he was a servant of the Xies, and he knew full well what the Xies were like.
Since Xie Yanfang had put it this way, the official pondered seriously for a moment and said, "Is it because Xie Yanlai defended the city that day and rendered great service, so His Majesty wants to elevate him?"
But even if Xie Yanlai had protected the Emperor and rendered meritorious service, his status and position in the eyes of the world could never compare to Xie Yanfang’s.
Thus, the Emperor was deliberately slighting Xie Yanfang, using him to make everyone aware of Xie Yanlai’s standing.
The official’s expression sharpened instantly. He refused to believe the Emperor had thought of this himself. No matter how cunning a child might be, someone must have put him up to it!
Did this Xie Yanlai, thinking he had secured great merit by protecting the Emperor, grow insatiably greedy?
Absurd. Ridiculous.
Did he not realize that even with the credit for saving the Emperor, a single word from Xie Yanfang could make him vanish from the court or even from his own home?
What great merit of Xie Yanlai saving the Emperor? It should be the great merit of the Xie family saving the Emperor.
Seeing the official’s expression, Xie Yanfang laughed.
"No, no," he shook his head. "His Majesty isn’t doing this for Xie Yanlai’s sake, nor is he being particularly kind to him. He’s doing it to make sure I know about it."
That was why the eunuch had come to him, exuberantly announcing that the Emperor requested his presence.
The official was stunned. This—this—he truly didn’t understand. What was all this?
Xie Yanfang pursed his lips, a mix of amusement and helplessness in his eyes.
That child hated him.
He had known it since that early morning when he arrived at the palace, and Xiao Yu called out "Uncle!" and rushed past him straight into Xie Yanlai’s arms.
Overnight, the child had lost both parents. Fear and hatred needed an outlet, and that hatred wasn’t only directed at enemies—it could also be aimed at family.
Especially family he had once admired and adored.
He hadn’t been able to save his parents, nor had he been there to protect him in his moment of danger.
The more the child had once adored him, the more he now hated him.
And he didn’t even try to hide it, using these clumsy methods to make sure he knew.
Of course, for a six-year-old child, managing this much was already quite impressive.
Truly, a Xie through and through.Xie Yanfang looked at the minor official and said, "Let this matter end here. Do not bring it up again, and do not trouble Xie Yanlai."
The official's expression was full of admiration. "Young master truly possesses the magnanimity to tolerate others."
Xie Yanfang smiled. "This is just a trivial matter, mere childish temper."
Of course, there were times when he would not tolerate others, but children and Xie Yanlai were not worthy of such consideration.
"How is the Empress?" Xie Yanfang asked the official.
The official replied, "I inquired just the day before yesterday. She is safe and well."
Xie Yanfang said, "Ask again today."
The official chuckled. "Her Majesty's journey has everyone worried. You really shouldn't have agreed to it. We're all on edge, and you have to face the Grand Tutor's cold demeanor. If anything were to happen, the Grand Tutor would surely make things difficult for you."
Xie Yanfang smiled. "The Grand Tutor's coldness and hostility toward me are not because I agreed to the Empress's journey."
The official said no more. The young master had the magnanimity to tolerate others, but he himself should not overstep by jesting. "I will go inquire personally. Please wait a moment, sir."
Xie Yanfang nodded and watched the official leave. Instead of immediately turning to his administrative duties, he murmured thoughtfully, "If I go to His Majesty now, I could learn of her news right away."
He laughed at himself and shook his head.
The child was rarely this happy; it was best not to disturb him.
...
...
Outside the Emperor's bedchamber, eunuchs and guards stood in solemn silence.
Inside the hall, a child's sharp cry of "Ah!" pierced the quiet.
Yet neither Qi Gonggong nor the guards moved, as if they had heard nothing.
"Uncle," Xiao Yu clung to Xie Yanlai's arm, his small face filled with terror. "How is Sister?"
Xie Yanlai could feel the child trembling all over. "She suffered a minor injury, just superficial. It won't endanger her life. She has already continued on her journey."
The child's eyes were dazed, still struggling to shake off the fear. "Sh-she just continued on?"
Xie Yanlai sat, picking up a teacup with one hand, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Of course. What else? Come back crying? Is your sister that kind of person?"
Xiao Yu held onto his arm silently for a moment. Sister Chu Zhao certainly was not. When she had protected him before, with enemies in pursuit, she had killed them outright and then ridden forward with him, always forward—even when this uncle's arrows were aimed at them, even when the Grand Tutor had shut the palace gates and driven them away, Sister had shown no fear—
"Sister isn't afraid," he said. "Sister is the strongest."
Xie Yanlai scoffed. "Not afraid, sure. But the strongest? Hardly. She's just average. She's merely been lucky."
Xiao Yu retorted, "Being lucky is also a strength, and not everyone has it."
Xie Yanlai snorted and withdrew his arm.
"Has Sister written any letters?" Xiao Yu asked again, his eyes fixed intently on him. "Let me see."
Xie Yanlai immediately shook his head. "No. The courier dispatches are urgent; there's no time for her to write letters."
Xiao Yu looked disappointed but pressed on, "Then can I write a letter to Sister?"
Xie Yanlai said, "The couriers don't have time to take or read letters either." However, glancing at the child who was looking up at him with eager eyes, he did not outright refuse. "Any letter you write will only reach her after she arrives in Yunzhong Commandery."
The child's eyes lit up with a smile. "That's fine, that's fine. Sister can read many at once then."
Xie Yanlai stood up. "If there's nothing else, I take my leave."The child grasped his hand and called out, "Uncle, if it were anyone else, they definitely wouldn't tell me that my sister was attacked. They would only say everything is fine." Looking up at Xie Yanlai with a face full of dependence, he added, "Uncle is the most trustworthy person to me."
Xie Yanlai looked down at the child who hadn't even reached his waist, a slight curve forming at the corner of his mouth. "Such matters are inherently risky. Sweet words cannot bring peace of mind; only by knowing the truth can one feel at ease."
He reached out and gently touched the child's cheek.
This was probably the first time Xie Yanlai had been so intimate with him. Xiao Yu seemed startled, freezing for a moment. He had often thrown himself at Xie Yanlai, clinging to his waist or arms, but Xie Yanlai would always push him away with disdain.
This uncle was even more handsome than that other uncle, but his aura wasn't as likable. Though his hands were pale and fair, when they touched his face, they felt as rough as coarse stone.
"Since you know I can put your mind at ease, don't resort to petty tricks in the future," Xie Yanlai said softly. "Little one, if you don't like Xie Yanfang, just go and tell him directly. Don't use me as a pawn—once or twice is enough. Don't keep doing it endlessly."
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