The officials stood on the high platform of the training ground, watching the commotion before them.
Xie Yanlai's words had stirred up the Capital Garrison, and they could no longer intervene—otherwise, the garrison's resentment would surely turn against them.
"The Xie family's descendants are all the same," Director Zhu remarked coolly. "Troublesome."
Young Master Xie the Third was refined and gentlemanly, yet troublesome; this Xie the Ninth was roguish and equally troublesome.
"Sir, more and more civilians are gathering upon hearing the news," someone said, looking into the distance. The Capital Garrison's location was not remote, and the disturbance was bound to attract attention, especially since it had already caused a stir earlier.
"Sir, should we set up barriers to stop them?" someone requested instructions.
Director Zhu sneered, "Stop them? With things escalating like this, if we block the civilians, do you believe rumors will spread that the Capital Garrison is rebelling? The dynasty is still unstable. Prince Zhongshan has already declared himself king, and if not for Xiao Xun being held as a hostage, he would have marched on the capital."
Who knew how many of Prince Zhongshan's spies were lurking in the capital, waiting to fan the flames?
"Let everyone come and see!" Director Zhu pointed sharply. "The Xies are fighting with the Capital Garrison."
Let them witness what the Xies are capable of!
As Imperial Relatives, how were the Xies any different from the previous Yang and Zhao families?
Why should Xie the Third pretend to be noble and elegant? How dare he wield power and influence while still enjoying a good reputation?
The officials around him understood his meaning and nodded in agreement.
"Sir, we’ve already sent someone to report to the Grand Tutor," one official whispered. "And we’ve requested the Imperial Guards to come as well."
It would be best to arrest this Xie Yanlai directly under the Grand Tutor’s order.
Before he finished speaking, another official beside him let out a sharp laugh.
"He’s down!" he shouted.
The surrounding officials were startled. What was down? The Xies?
"Xie Yanlai," the official laughed, pointing toward the training ground. "He’s been knocked down!"
The officials hurriedly looked and saw the previously arrogant young officer stumbling to his knees, his hair disheveled and hanging loose, looking utterly disgraced.
As he knelt, the noisy surroundings suddenly fell silent.
"Young Master!" the soldiers from the Border Army exclaimed in alarm, seeming ready to rush forward, but they were blocked by the officers maintaining order at the front.
"Well done!" cheers erupted from the Capital Garrison side, though the voices were sparse and subdued, as if only two or three had shouted. When they cheered, their comrades turned to look at them—
It felt strange. The few soldiers who had cheered grew inexplicably self-conscious and fell silent.
Xie Yanlai paid no attention to his surroundings and made no effort to stand. Instead, he slumped to the ground, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked up at the soldier before him.
"Not bad," he said, raising an eyebrow. "You look scrawny, but your skills are solid. Consider yourself impressive."
The soldier, flushed and panting, showed no excitement or triumph. Hearing this, he gritted his teeth and said, "I’m not impressive. This doesn’t count. Next time, fight me one-on-one."
Xie Yanlai scoffed. "Who do you think you are, worthy of a fight with me? You’ve missed your chance. People like you—I wouldn’t even glance at you on the street."
His words stirred the previously tense and silent crowd, eliciting a wave of curses.
Standing among the crowd, Zhang Gu shook his head helplessly. A Jiu’s mouth—it really begged for a beating.Although many were cursing, this time when Xie Yanlai pushed himself up from the ground and challenged the next opponent, no one stepped forward.
"What? Giving up already?" Xie Yanlai retied his disheveled hair, revealing his face. The bruises on his face had already swollen, mixed with uncleaned bloodstains, making him look terrifying.
An officer from the Capital Garrison stepped forward and said, "Captain Xie, we're not conceding defeat—we just can't take advantage of you. You're fighting alone, and we can't continue competing against you."
He clasped his hands in salute.
"You're impressive, we admit."
None of the Capital Garrison soldiers behind him objected, clearly agreeing with their officer.
But Xie Yanlai didn't accept this. He scoffed, "What do you mean 'you're impressive'? I am impressive. What, not convinced? Don't worry, this isn't over yet."
Not over? Before the officer could respond, other Border Army soldiers shouted, "Young Master, let me!"
The soldiers surged forward, the officers at the front barely able to hold them back until Xie Yanlai raised a hand and waved.
"What's the rush?" he barked. "Stand down!"
The surging soldiers halted.
Xie Yanlai looked around at the Capital Garrison on three sides and said, "If you're not convinced by single combat, next we'll have a mock battle between our forces."
He retied his messy sleeves and robes.
"Don't worry, as guests from afar, we'll make sure you lose convincingly!"
What insolence! The previously quiet Capital Garrison erupted again.
The Border Army soldiers roared in unison, "Bring it on! Bring it on!"
Naturally, the Capital Garrison refused to back down, shouting, "Come on then! Come on!"
The spectators outside the training ground had grown dense. Many couldn't hear or see the details clearly, but when word spread that the fighting would continue with many participants in a larger battle, they too erupted: "Fight! Fight!"
Director Zhu on the high platform flicked his sleeves and sneered, "Fine! Fine!"
......
......
The streets of the capital grew even noisier, with cavalry galloping through and a group of officials moving among them, followed by imperial guards.
The officials wore heavy official robes and bore grave expressions, looking intimidating, but the citizens no longer panicked.
News had spread—a fight had broken out in the Capital Garrison.
Some heard it from outsiders who had witnessed it while passing by, while wealthy families in the city sent servants to investigate.
Every street, alley, teahouse, and tavern was abuzz with discussion.
When it was confirmed to be a brawl rather than a battle, some idlers even rode horses or carriages toward the outskirts to watch the spectacle, while others grew displeased.
"How disgraceful! How could they brawl in the Capital Garrison? Do these Border Army soldiers forget why they're here?"
"The Border Army? They're here to showcase their military achievements."
"What achievements are there in fighting their own people?"
"Haven't you heard? The commander of the Border Commandery is Xie Yanlai, the ninth young master of the Xie family—Young Master Xie the Third's own brother."
This made the teahouse even livelier.
"The Imperial Uncle! Then it's no surprise he's throwing his weight around—"
"Not all Imperial Uncles are the same. Young Master Xie the Third would never act like this. Don't drag him into his brother's affairs."
"Indeed, they're different. Have you forgotten what kind of person this Xie Yanlai is?"
Xie Yanlai—it seemed people had somewhat forgotten.
With Xie Yanfang in the Xie family, everyone else paled in comparison. But as a Xie family member, many still remembered—"He was always getting into fights back when he was in the Capital Garrison and the Imperial Guard. My nephew served in the army and said this kid was utterly detestable, yet no one dared to provoke him."
"Have you forgotten what happened three years ago? When the Xie family publicly disciplined their son, the one they flogged in the street was Xie Yanlai."
"Now I remember! I heard he caused the deaths of an entire village!"
"That's right! Why is someone like him still alive?"
"Because his surname is Xie—he’s the Imperial Uncle."
"Young Master Xie the Third is truly unlucky to have such a younger brother."
"What a disgrace to the family."
"—Eunuchs have come out of the Imperial City—"
Hearing this, people in teahouses, taverns, and alleyways stopped their discussions and rushed out to look. Sure enough, they saw three palace eunuchs escorted by imperial guards hurrying from the direction of the Imperial City toward the city gates.
"The Emperor must have heard the news. Is he sending someone to fetch his uncle?"
"Look, that eunuch is wearing a red robe—he’s a first-rank chief eunuch who serves directly by the Emperor’s side."
"Let’s disperse. There’s nothing more to see. The Emperor will surely protect his uncle—after all, he only has a few uncles left."
……
……
"Sister," Xiao Yu called out from inside the hall.
Chu Zhao, standing outside the hall, turned and waved to him.
Xiao Yu happily walked over and took Chu Zhao’s hand.
"Sister, may I borrow Qi Gonggong?" Chu Zhao said. "I need him to do something for me."
"What’s mine is yours, Sister. You don’t need to ask to borrow him," Xiao Yu replied, then asked curiously, "Has Uncle returned? I overheard the tutors whispering about it during the break."
But the tutors didn’t dare speak too freely in front of him, so he hadn’t caught the full story.
Chu Zhao smiled. "Do you remember that uncle?"
It had been over two years since Xie Yanlai last saw Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu laughed. "Sister, I was six years old two years ago, not a baby who can’t remember things."
He didn’t know how other six-year-olds were, but from that age onward, he remembered everything he saw.
Especially this particular uncle—one who didn’t seem to like him and showed no interest in being his uncle.
……
……
When Qi Gonggong arrived at the Capital Garrison, he could hear the commotion from afar. Crowds of onlookers had gathered with their families, and numerous vendors were hawking tea and snacks from their baskets, making it even livelier than during the New Year.
He felt both annoyed and amused—what a spectacle this was.
But perhaps it was for the best. Sometimes absurdity could soothe the public and prevent rumors from spreading.
Better for people to be entertained now than to panic.
Officials were gathered on the high platform. Some hurried to bow and greet Qi Gonggong upon his arrival, while others merely nodded coolly, and a few even scowled.
"What brings Qi Gonggong here?" Director Zhu asked bluntly, gesturing toward the officials and soldiers nearby. "The Grand Tutor is already aware and has made a decision."
State affairs were the Grand Tutor’s domain—the Emperor, who had not yet assumed personal rule, had no say in the matter.
Before Qi Gonggong could respond, Director Zhu pointed toward the foot of the platform and added, "Seventh Master Xie has also come in person."
Qi Gonggong looked over and saw a group of people standing below the platform, neither in official robes nor military uniforms. Aside from the young masters of the Xie family, Seventh Master Xie was among them.
Seventh Master Xie had already spotted Qi Gonggong and raised his hand in salute.
Qi Gonggong hurriedly returned the gesture.
He understood Director Zhu’s implication: since the elder was present, the Emperor, as a junior, need not intervene.
Qi Gonggong wasn’t surprised by Director Zhu’s attitude. Though merely a low-ranking director, he had the backing of the Grand Tutor.The court is a place of shifting tides, where even the Son of Heaven, enthroned in supreme authority, must engage in battles of wits with his ministers, while the ministers, in turn, tailor their approach to the emperor based on his disposition.
When the ruler is weak, the ministers grow strong.
Qi Gonggong was neither offended nor angered. With a gentle smile, he said, "Her Majesty the Empress sent me to observe, as this concerns the Border Army."
Director Zhu paused. Indeed, there was no room for criticism here. The Empress herself led the Border Army in battle, so she had every right to inquire into its affairs.
"Take a look then," he redirected, pointing ahead. "Such absurdity in the Border Army—even Her Majesty has never seen the like, I suppose."
Qi Gonggong looked forward and saw officers and soldiers embroiled in a chaotic brawl, tangled together indiscriminately. Their uniforms were torn, leaving most of them bare-chested.
"This... this is a full-on brawl," Qi Gonggong remarked with a laugh.
Before his words faded, the erratic beat of drums erupted. A soldier was hoisted up by several others, clutching a command flag in his hand—
It turned out to be a contest between two sides vying for the flag.
"We've got it!"
"We've won!"
"We've won again!"
Amid the cheers, the losers began to curse—directing their insults at both the opposing side and their own comrades. The targets of their abuse retaliated without hesitation, filling the training ground with a storm of unrestrained, vulgar shouting and swearing.
Despite the fierce arguments and scuffles, as the command flag waved, the brawling soldiers disentangled themselves and re-formed their ranks.
Xie Yanlai stood unsteadily at the front of his unit. He was in no better state than the others—his upper garment long gone, covered in dust from head to toe. Grinning at the opposing officer, he said, "What can we do? Look, you've lost again."
The officer, who still had a short vest clinging to his torso, turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"What do you mean, 'what can we do'?" he retorted. "You've lost before too."
"Three to two," Xie Yanlai held up his fingers. "You lost in the formation battle, and again in the siege battle. The only one you won was the ambush—and that was only because you knew the terrain—"
"Stop talking nonsense," the officer snorted, cutting him off. "It was clearly your slow reaction!"
As the two exchanged words, the soldiers behind them joined in with taunts: "So what?" "We're just better than you." "Why boast when you've lost?"
Yet, no one rushed forward to resume the fight—this was a military drill, after all, and rules mattered. The commanders had not given the order.
"Still not convinced, eh?"" Xie Yanlai raised an eyebrow. "Then let's compete again. This time, you choose what to compete in."
But the officer did not immediately accept the challenge as he had before. Hesitating, he said, "Let's call it quits for now." He glanced toward the high platform. "Too many people have been stirred up. If we keep fighting, none of us will come out unscathed."
On the high platform stood officials in red, purple, and blue robes, while beyond the training ground, the clamor of the crowd swelled. Everywhere one looked, there were masses of people.
Xie Yanlai scoffed. "What's there to fear? It's just a fight." He added, "Besides, it was the officers who incited the brawl."
Pointing at himself, he strode toward the high platform without waiting for the officer's response.
"Your Excellencies," Xie Yanlai called out loudly as he reached the base of the platform, "the fight is over now."
The officials on the platform regarded him indifferently.
Director Zhu said coldly, "Then take him away."
The imperial guards stationed around immediately stepped forward. Xie Yanlai remained silent, but noise erupted behind him.
"No need to take him away."
"We were just conducting a military drill."
"Does that mean you'll take all of us away, then?"Xie Yanlai turned his head and snapped irritably, "What's it to you? I finished fighting alone and wasn't satisfied, so I let you all join in—"
His words were cut short as he realized it wasn't just the Border Army behind him—the Capital Garrison had followed as well.
The leading officer looked at him with a cold sneer and said, "If you say 'fight' and we refuse, can you even start a fight? How is that 'none of our business'?"
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