Zhong Changrong stared at the new official document on his desk, scrutinizing it from every angle in an attempt to find fault. Yet whether it was the wording or the format, he—a military man—could find no flaw.
Pretending not to understand? Impossible. The Grand Tutor had been considerate of military officials like him, writing in plain and straightforward terms.
"Liang Qiang, son of Left Flank Army Secretary Liang Ji and Vanguard Army Captain, is to report to the capital military headquarters for orders." Zhong Changrong gritted his teeth as he read it aloud.
Even the father’s name was specified. There was no way he could find another person named Liang Qiang from the Vanguard Army now.
"How dare Deng Yi—" Zhong Changrong snatched the document, ready to tear it apart.
His deputies hurriedly intervened, "General, it bears the imperial seal—it carries the same authority as an imperial decree. It must not be defiled."
Right. By virtue of the Grand Tutor’s regency, in the current Great Xia, the Grand Tutor’s word was law. Fuming, Zhong Changrong slammed the document back onto the table.
"Don’t worry, General. The young lady must know about this," one deputy consoled. "She’s on good terms with the Grand Tutor. Didn’t she say it was with his help that she succeeded?"
"Exactly. Perhaps she just hasn’t had time to write to us yet," another added. "Maybe this is also her intention."
Since Chu Zhao became Empress, the Grand Tutor had consistently supported and even indulged her. Beyond jointly overseeing state affairs with the Emperor and quelling the Prince Zhongshan incident, Zhong Changrong knew more than others: back when the young lady fought her way into the Imperial Palace protecting the Little Highness, Deng Yi had initially refused to open the palace gates—until she persuaded him.
Even earlier, when the young lady tried to leave the capital, it was Deng Yi who caught and brought her back.
The young lady had known Deng Yi for a long time, and their relationship ran deep. Logically, Zhong Changrong should feel reassured. But could anyone in such a high position of power ever be truly trusted?
"General, we’re overthinking this," one deputy remarked. "We’re only focusing on the feud between the Liang and Chu families, but the ones with the deeper grudge against the Liang family are the Xie family. Grand Tutor Deng naturally doesn’t want to see the Xie family grow stronger in the military, which is why he deliberately appointed a Liang descendant."
Everyone in the hall suddenly understood—it all made sense now.
So that’s how it is. Zhong Changrong’s expression eased slightly.
"This might actually be a good thing," one deputy said with a laugh. "We don’t need to reconsider anything. We can just proceed as originally planned."
A good thing? Everyone turned to look at him.
The deputy chuckled. "The Grand Tutor sent Liang Qiang, and the court document leaves the decision to us. So let’s send both Xie Yanlai and Liang Qiang. That way, the matter is no longer our concern—it becomes an issue between the Xie and Liang families."
Let them fight it out among themselves.
Brilliant! Everyone in the hall laughed, and Zhong Changrong nodded in agreement. The young lady could sit back and watch the tigers fight. He glanced at the document on the desk.
Still, his brow remained furrowed. After a moment of contemplation, he looked up and ordered, "Summon Captain Xie."
……
……
Xie Yanlai strode into the hall, bringing a gust of wind with him.
"General Zhong, our Luo City—" he began angrily.
Before he could finish, Zhong Changrong cut him off. "Yes, yes, I know. Your Luo City is busy and far away. I’m just toying with you by making you run back and forth."
Xie Yanlai hooked a chair with his long leg, pulled it over, and slumped into it lazily. "As long as the General understands. I won’t hold it against you for tormenting me like this—just assign us an extra hundred military horses."
"A hundred horses?" Zhong Changrong sneered. "So you can run around playing every day?" Seeing that Xie Yanlai was about to say more, he rapped the table. "Enough nonsense. I called you here to discuss something—about the assignment to the capital."Upon hearing these words, a trace of a mocking smile flickered at the corner of Xie Yanlai's lips. The next moment, he lowered his gaze to look at his fingers and said, "Hasn't the matter of entering the capital already been decided? What more is there to say?"
Yes, it had been decided. However, Zhong Changrong seemed distracted and didn't respond. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "What arrangements has your family made for you?"
Family? Xie Yanlai glanced at him. "What do you mean?"
Since he had joined the Border Army, he hadn't returned home. The Xie family hadn't said anything about it but had sent over a dozen servants to attend to his daily needs.
Zhong Changrong was vigilant and had investigated these servants, discovering they were all carefully selected—capable in both literary and martial arts. Once, when Xie Yanlai was trapped in a difficult battle and lost contact, the servants went with the soldiers to search for him and encountered an ambush. Astonishingly, three of them managed to kill twenty Western Liang scouts.
The Xie family hadn't sent these servants merely to look after his daily life; they were there to assist him in achieving military merits and to strategize for his advancement.
Zhong Changrong hadn't expelled the Xie family's servants, turning a blind eye as long as their schemes were aimed at gaining merits and achievements.
"About this trip to the capital," he looked at Xie Yanlai and asked, "what did your family say?"
Xie Yanlai replied lazily, "What does my family have to do with entering the capital?"
Zhong Changrong slapped the table impatiently. "Don't play dumb with me. With such a good opportunity, your family must have made arrangements."
Xie Yanlai laughed even more mockingly. "Is this a good thing?"
Of course, it was a good thing—an audience with the emperor, an imperial reception, recounting merits at court, and being granted official titles and nobility. Zhong Changrong sneered, "Whether it's good or bad is determined by your family."
Xie Yanlai gave a half-smile. "I wouldn't know. My family hasn't said anything. They don't interfere with my affairs here."
Don't interfere? Zhong Changrong was taken aback and asked, "Your family didn't tell you to go to the capital?"
"I came here by imperial decree, and I'll return by imperial decree," Xie Yanlai said impatiently. "General Zhong, stop dragging my family into everything."
As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow sarcastically.
"General, why are you so concerned about other people's families? Do you always base your actions on what others' families do?"
After he finished speaking, he noticed that Zhong Changrong, unlike his usual self, didn't retort angrily. Instead, he wore a distracted expression.
"Hey," Xie Yanlai couldn't help but remind him irritably.
Zhong Changrong grunted and glanced at him. "It's nothing. You may return to Luo City."
A flicker of surprise passed through Xie Yanlai's dark eyes. He swung his long legs but didn't stand up to leave. Instead, he shifted to a different sitting position.
"What's going on?" he frowned. "Why are you sending me back to Luo City again? Wasn't it decided that I would enter the capital?"
He had asked this question as soon as he entered, insisting it had been decided.
But he hadn't specified who had decided it, especially since Second Master Liang had ultimately produced the Grand Tutor's order, designating Liang Qiang to enter the capital.
Zhong Changrong looked at him and said, "It has been decided. Liang Qiang will go."
Xie Yanlai let out a cold laugh. "Fine, very fine, Zhong Changrong. You really do base your actions on other people's families."
Zhong Changrong snapped angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting? When have I ever based my actions on other people's families?"
"Not based on other people's families? Then why did you agree to send me, only to bow and scrape the moment someone showed you the Grand Tutor's hand order?" Xie Yanlai retorted.
Zhong Changrong slammed the table. "You bastard, what are you saying?"
"I don't care who you're looking at. You said I would go, and now I insist on going," Xie Yanlai said, flicking his sleeve as he stood up and strode out."You little rascal." Zhong Changrong also stood up, blurting out, "This isn't some good thing to be involved in. Why would you want to go?"
Xie Yanlai paused mid-step and chuckled. "How is it not a good thing?"
But before Zhong Changrong could respond, he tossed out a remark.
"Even better then. I, Xie Yanlai, have just this one quirk—the worse something is, the more I want to jump right into the fray."
With that, he strode out.
Zhong Changrong glared after him in frustration, his expression complicated. He wanted to say something but ultimately only muttered, "That damned brat."
...
...
"Young Master." Xiao Shan entered carrying a mountain-high bundle, peeking out from behind it with an ingratiating smile. "It's a long journey, so I've prepared your luggage for you. Would you like to take a look—"
Xie Yanlai was crouched in front of a chest, rummaging for something. Though he commanded troops in Luocheng, he had kept a room here since first arriving with Chu Zhao and staying at the prefectural office. Whether out of oversight or indifference, the room had been left untouched, now thick with dust from disuse.
Without turning at Xiao Shan's voice, Xie Yanlai snapped, "Get lost."
Without a word of protest, Xiao Shan dropped the luggage with a thud and bolted out, leaving only a choked "I'll miss you, Young Master."
Xie Yanlai spat in disgust and continued searching. Light footsteps sounded behind him.
"Young Master." Someone called.
This time, Xie Yanlai still didn't turn, but instead of cursing, he asked, "What is it?"
A servant in blue stood behind him—Xie Yanlai's true personal attendant. Hesitating slightly, the man said softly, "The family's opinion is that you needn't return just yet. You're still young; there's no rush for rewards. Focus on your duties—steady steps lead to great distances—"
Before he could finish, Xie Yanlai turned with a mocking smile. "Spare me the lecture. Remember this clearly: I came here not for the family, but for the Emperor. If I'm to forgo merits and rewards, if I'm to act a certain way, it's the Emperor who should tell me. Everyone else can keep their advice to themselves."
The servant bowed his head, offering no further argument. "Understood. This humble servant hears the Ninth Young Master."
Xie Yanlai said, "Dismissed."
The attendant withdrew at once.
Xie Yanlai turned and sat on the floor, stirring up dust. He flicked his sleeves and leaned against the chest, silent.
From the moment that Liang fellow produced Deng Yi's handwritten order, he knew this so-called return to the capital for debriefing would turn into a struggle for rewards.
He also knew that what had initially been Zhong Changrong's personal favor—sending him—had instantly become a necessity dictated by circumstances.
For Zhong Changrong, having someone from the Xie family go was the most advantageous choice.
That way, the Chu clan could watch safely from the sidelines as others fought, reaping benefits without risks.
When he was summoned a second time, he was prepared to hear Zhong Changrong's contrived reasoning for sending him. But unexpectedly—
Zhong Changrong had changed his mind and told him not to go.
This—Xie Yanlai clenched his fist, grinding out through gritted teeth, "This honest fool!"
The situation was so clear, the choice so straightforward, yet Zhong Changrong had to ask superfluously if the Xie family wanted him back. Upon hearing they didn't, he actually decided against sending him!
This Zhong Changrong—always loses his head at critical moments, dithering and fussing, who knows what he's thinking! Just like that foolish young lady of his, Chu Zhao!
Xie Yanlai's clenched fist slowly relaxed.Of course, he knew what Zhong Changrong was thinking. Deng Yi wanted Liang Qiang to enter the capital, and the Xie family must have known about it. Yet, the Xie family neither issued a written order for Xie Yanlai to return to the capital nor privately sent word for him to go back. It was clear they intended to avoid the conflict this time.
If the Xie family chose not to contend, Xie Yanlai’s return to the capital would cause them some trouble. And if the Xie family faced trouble, he, Xie Yanlai, would become the culprit—blamed, criticized, and even punished by his family.
Thinking of this, Xie Yanlai found it both amusing and ironic. Despite bearing the Xie surname, they always treated him as separate from the Xie family. Chu Zhao did this, and now Zhong Changrong did the same.
He raised his hand, gazing at a tiger-head pendant he held.
It had been seized from a camp of the King of Xiliang. Although they hadn’t captured any nobles from the Western Liang royal court at the time, the enemy had fled in such haste that they left behind rare treasures. The other gold, silver, and jewels were unremarkable, so he had let the soldiers divide them among themselves.
Only this tiger head, carved from an unknown material and strikingly lifelike, caught his interest. He kept it, intending to give it to—
Setting aside these messy matters, he realized it had been a year since he last saw her.
He wanted to go, to see her, even if just for a glance.
Return to the capital.
Return to the capital!
To hell with the trouble and disputes! He would go see her, if only for a moment!
Xie Yanlai clenched his fist, sprang up like a leaping fish, and rose to his feet.
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