Xie Yanfang stood still, his cloak draped over his shoulders.
The maidservant quietly withdrew, not daring to disturb the young master's contemplation.
Cai Bo, however, paid no mind, knowing it was the girl he was pondering.
"Don't overthink it. Miss Chu did play a role," he said. "But the Chu family's foundation is weak. Everyone avoiding her won't resolve the matter. We still need to arrange for the Seventh Madame to step forward."
Xie Yanfang shook his head. "There's no need for the Seventh Madame to appear."
Cai Bo was somewhat surprised. Had the young master had an epiphany?
"Let others handle it," Xie Yanfang turned to him with a smile. "Not in the name of our Xie family."
Ah, so it was the same as before—cheering for that girl from the shadows, leaving no trace of their involvement.
It really was like raising a child.
Let's hope it doesn't turn out to be an ungrateful wretch!
"Yes, I understand," Cai Bo replied, then coughed lightly. "Everyone else is manageable, but this one—"
He pointed to a name on the paper, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"I'm afraid even you, young master, won't be able to sway him."
Xie Yanfang lowered his gaze slightly and saw two characters on the paper: Deng Yi.
...
...
The Imperial City felt much colder in winter, but the Grand Tutor's hall was as warm as spring.
Deng Yi looked up from his desk, piled high with documents, and gazed at Xie Yanfang standing before him.
"These transfer rosters were issued by the Grand Tutor, correct?" Xie Yanfang said with a smile, handing over a scroll of documents bearing the prominent seal of the imperial jade.
Deng Yi smirked faintly. "Where did Lord Xie obtain this document? By protocol, this order should have already left the capital by now."
Intercepting an imperial decree was a grave crime.
Xie Yanfang replied calmly, "I intercepted it."
Deng Yi stared at the young master, whose face was as radiant as spring blossoms, and asked coldly, "What is the meaning of this, Lord Xie?"
Xie Yanfang removed his cloak and sat down opposite Deng Yi. "It means I disagree," he said, his slender fingers lightly tapping the documents on the desk. "Therefore, it will not be issued."
Persuasion? Deng Yi might be swayed by others, but never by him.
So, he wouldn't waste his breath trying.
He simply needed to ensure Deng Yi couldn't carry it out.
The Grand Tutor might have the final say in court, but matters weren't settled by words alone—they required countless people to execute.
Xie Yanfang withdrew his hand, gently stroking his fingers. Though he lacked the authority to wield the imperial seal and issue irrevocable decrees in court, his influence reached far and wide, entwined with countless officials.
Deng Yi was well aware of this. Since becoming Grand Tutor, he had experienced constant obstacles in his work. It was clear someone was pulling strings behind the scenes, but there was no evidence, and even an investigation would never trace it back to Xie Yanfang.
"Does Lord Xie presume upon his status, thinking I cannot hold you accountable?" Deng Yi asked.
Xie Yanfang was the Emperor's uncle, but he was not indispensable in court. If Deng Yi truly wanted to expel him, it was not impossible.
"I know the Grand Tutor can," Xie Yanfang said, looking directly at Deng Yi. "But I advise you not to do so. If we both suffer, the Great Xia will be in peril."
Deng Yi laughed scornfully. "Since Third Young Master is aware of this, why not advise yourself?" He slammed his hand heavily on the documents. "If you, Xie Yanfang, do not fear the downfall of Great Xia, do you think I, Deng Yi, would?"
The sound abruptly intensified the tension in the room.
In truth, since Xie Yanfang's arrival, all the officials inside had withdrawn. Now, hearing the noise from within, the officials hiding under the corridor eaves quickly retreated further—a fight had broken out, and they needed to keep their distance to avoid getting burned.Xie Yanfang's expression remained calm as he addressed the Grand Tutor: "I know the Grand Tutor isn't afraid, but the reason I dare to act this way is because stopping you now won't endanger the Great Xia."
"Correct. A single troop of Xiliang soldiers attacking our rear won't endanger the Great Xia," Deng Yi said coldly. "But if Chu Ling dies abruptly and the Yunzhong Commandery troops fall into chaos, that would truly endanger the Great Xia. Others might not know, but you and I both understand what Prince Zhongshan would do once Yunzhong Commandery descends into chaos."
He pressed his hand on the documents, leaning slightly forward.
"Young Master Xie the Third prevents me from appointing new generals with such high-sounding rhetoric, simply because these aren't your people."
"Do you think by stopping me, you can install your own men?"
"If you dare disregard the danger to Great Xia, why should I, Deng Yi, fear anything?"
"I, Deng Yi, can serve as Grand Tutor to anyone. But you, Young Master Xie the Third, can't become everyone's uncle."
Such vulgar language—typical of petty men gaining power. Xie Yanfang reached out to press Deng Yi's hand, also leaning forward: "The Grand Tutor doesn't trust me, and I don't trust the Grand Tutor either. Therefore, we must still trust Chu Ling."
Trust Chu Ling? Deng Yi stared at Xie Yanfang.
"Trust that Chu Ling will certainly make proper arrangements before his death—that he won't cause chaos or let Western Liang bandits exploit any weakness." Xie Yanfang spoke with sincere expression. "Grand Tutor, if Great Xia falls into crisis, we ourselves will be endangered. General Chu is no different from us. If Great Xia falls, his daughter as Empress would face certain death. He would never let his daughter fall into danger."
After locking eyes with him for a moment, Deng Yi straightened up: "If Yunzhong Commandery officers cannot be transferred, then officers from outside Yunzhong cannot be transferred either. Minister Xie, those private troops your family maintains must not set foot in Yunzhong Commandery."
If he couldn't replace officers, the Xie family shouldn't think about deploying their own troops either.
Xie Yanfang also straightened up, offering no defense against the accusation of maintaining private troops, merely stating: "Although unexpected situations have occurred outside Yunzhong Commandery, I believe General Chu will quickly resolve these Western Liang stragglers and bandits without needing assistance from other troops."
......
......
The atmosphere in the room returned to springlike warmth. Xie Yanfang draped his cloak over his shoulders and bowed in farewell.
"Minister Xie." Deng Yi called out to stop him, asking, "Where does your Xie family's Yan Lai plan to abduct Her Majesty the Empress?"
After the ambush, Chu Zhao refused to return. Now that Western Liang stragglers had crossed into Yunzhong Commandery, there was still no news of Chu Zhao's return.
Nor was there any news of Xie Yanlai, who was reportedly sent under imperial orders to retrieve the Empress.
"Young Master the Third, holding the Son of Heaven hostage can command the nobles, but holding the Empress hostage can only command General Chu Ling—and the gains wouldn't outweigh the losses. You should understand this clearly."
Xie Yanfang turned back, smiling as he said: "The Grand Tutor worries too much. We merely wish to ensure Her Majesty the Empress's safety."
With that, he said no more and departed at a leisurely pace.
Standing outside the hall, the bleak wind dispelled the warmth and blocked Deng Yi's line of sight. Xie Yanfang smiled faintly. Actually, Deng Yi was mistaken. It wasn't their Xie family's Yan Lai who had abducted the Empress—rather, it should be the Empress who had abducted Xie family's Yan Lai.
How could Xie Yanlai's reckless departure from the capital under false imperial orders be for the purpose of bringing her back?
If he cherished her, naturally he would cherish her wishes as well.
......
......
Dense snow pellets scattered from the sky—the northwest's first snowfall. But there was no joy of auspicious snow heralding a bumper harvest. No one even noticed it had begun to snow.Torches lay scattered along the city walls, their dying embers sending up trails of smoke. Blood-stained soldiers crouched among them, listlessly gnawing on dry rations. It was unclear how long they had gone without food, yet even with provisions in hand, they felt little hunger—as though eating no longer mattered.
Clang! Clang! Clang! A gong shattered the silence, accompanied by shouts of "The Xiliang bandits are back!" The soldiers dropped their hardtack and scrambled toward the battlements.
On the plains below, a horde of riders surged forth like wolves and tigers, their roars and jeeps echoing as snowflakes whirled and splattered across the ground and sky.
"These damned Xiliang scum," an officer muttered. "They're determined to crush us."
Beside him, an official with a bandaged arm cried out, "Reinforcements—when will they arrive?"
The officer glanced toward the rear. "The reinforcements from Yunzhong Commandery are too far. Six days at the earliest."
The official grabbed him with his uninjured hand. "I mean the nearest reinforcements—not Yunzhong, that’s too distant to even hope for. What about Taiyuan Commandery? They could reach us in less than six days."
The officer looked at him, his cracked lips twitching. "There are none."
"What do you mean, 'none'?" the official demanded, staring.
"Aside from Yunzhong, all other troops remain stationary, holding their positions," the officer stated bluntly. "Sir, our only choice is to hold out and wait for Yunzhong’s reinforcements."
The official stared as if comprehending yet refusing to understand.
"Six days?" he hissed, jabbing a finger toward the walls. "Look how few of us are left! Why not just say it outright—our only choice is death?"
Following his gesture, the officer saw the dozen or so remaining defenders on the ramparts turn vacant eyes toward him, their gazes already devoid of life.
"Correct," the officer nodded. "You’re right, sir. Our only choice is death."
He raised his blade.
"Brothers! We must hold this city! If the Western Liang troops take it, not only will we die—every soul within will perish! And not just our city—countless others nearby will fall—"
The numb soldiers lifted their weapons and roared, "Death—!"
Their voices were too hoarse to even cry "Hold!" The wounded official smiled bitterly. "Is there truly no other way?"
The officer met his gaze. "Don’t worry. Even if the Western Liang troops seize the city, General Chu’s reinforcements will retake it."
The official nearly laughed. Yes, he wasn’t worried. Once General Chu arrived, the city would be reclaimed. The court would eventually drive out the Xiliang bandits and avenge them all—
But they—all these people—once dead, would simply be gone.
He wasn’t afraid to die. He just… couldn’t accept it. Could not accept it!
Whirling around, the official strode to the war drums and began pounding them with his uninjured arm. He tilted his head back, letting snowflakes sting his face and eyes with icy needles.
As the drums thundered, the distant Xiliang soldiers drew their bows. Arrows swept toward the walls like a blizzard, slicing through the swirling snow.
……
……
After the volley, several more defenders fell wounded. Under arrow cover, the Western Liang troops pressed closer to the walls—dragging siege ladders behind them.
"Ready the civilians for defense!" the officer barked.
No one knew how many of these conscripted townsfolk would survive the battle.
From within the city, weeping seemed to swell abruptly. Standing on the ramparts, the officer’s ears filled with a hollow, buzzing roar."Lord Li!" he couldn't help roaring, "Have you lost the strength to beat the drum just because of one injured arm?"
The official's drumming had indeed ceased. Holding the drumsticks, he stared blankly into the distance beyond the city walls.
"Look, is that reinforcements?" he said.
Reinforcements?
The officer hurriedly looked in disbelief and indeed saw snow mist billowing over the distant plains, as if thousands of troops and horses were charging forth.
From within the snow mist, a large banner unfurled, fluttering in the wind. Against the vast white expanse, the black banner with golden-threaded character "Chu" shone like sunlight breaking through clouds, gleaming brilliantly.
Chu!
"General Chu's reinforcements!"
"General Chu has arrived!"
The previously numb soldiers on the city walls erupted in shouts. The cries swept through like a gale, causing the approaching Xiliang soldiers to instantly waver and stagger, their formation thrown into disarray.
General Chu?
Chu Ling has come?!
......
......
Snow pellets turned into snowflakes in the fierce wind, draping the distant land in a white veil, yet none settled near the city gates.
Hooves, glints of blades and swords, and flying flesh and blood prevented any snowflakes from landing.
But the battle wasn't particularly intense, thought the official still clutching the drumsticks on the wall, because from the moment the Chu banner was sighted, the thunderous host arrived in the blink of an eye.
Some wore armor, others did not. Those at the front were better equipped with full arrays of weapons, while those behind carried a chaotic mix of blades, spears, sickles, hammers—anything at hand.
There was no tactical formation either—just a crowd surging forward, cutting down anyone in their path—
Yet this ferocious style of combat caught the Xiliang soldiers, most adept at field battles, completely off guard. They transformed from a pack of fierce beasts into panicked poultry, scattering and jumping about with no ability to resist.
Thus, it appeared less intense.
But in truth, it was still fierce, especially one young officer among them. Wielding a horseman's lance, wherever he passed, Xiliang soldiers' flesh and blood flew alongside snowflakes, casting an eerie glow.
The clamor of battle was deafening, yet it seemed to end in an instant.
The Xiliang soldiers who had charged to the city walls were all slaughtered, and those who fled did not escape with their lives. In the distance, another contingent watched the battle, the Chu banner waving among them. This group was even more peculiar—not only were they without military attire, but there were women among them.
The fleeing Xiliang soldiers, thinking they had found a weak point, mustered their last strength to charge forward. But one girl rode out to meet them, with a single stroke she cut a Xiliang soldier from his horse. Others swarmed in, quickly dispatching the fleeing Xiliang troops. The remaining forces then spread out like eagles taking flight, blocking all escape routes in every direction.
The battle was over.
The official stood on the city wall, looking at the others around him—all now cloaked in a layer of white snow.
"You—" the officer stepped forward, shaking off the snow from his body, and shouted, "Are you reinforcements sent by Garrison General Chu Ling?"
The young officer holding the horseman's lance below the gate looked up. Against the backdrop of carnage and swirling snow, his phoenix eyes lifted, and the corners of his mouth curved into a smile: "No."
No?
The officers and soldiers on the city wall were stunned, unsure whether it was the sight of the young officer or his words that left them dumbfounded.
The young officer swung his lance, pointing into the distance, and declared loudly: "It is Empress Chu."
Empress Chu?
The people on the wall were even more bewildered. Their gaze followed the young officer's lance to the distance, where the contingent previously stationed there was now galloping toward them. At the lead was a woman on horseback, clad in black cloak astride a black horse, her face as pale as snow.
Empress?
Empress!
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