The chess piece landed on the board with a crisp sound.
At the same time, Seventh Master Xie, having finished listening to the servant's account, smashed his teacup to the ground. The white porcelain shattered with a clear ring.
"What does the Empress mean by this?" he turned and said. "When did it become her place to interfere with our Xie family affairs? Why is she meddling!"
Xie Yanfang studied the chessboard and said, "How should I put it? Yan Lai is a member of the Xie family, but not entirely anymore. Since he joined the Border Army, half of him now belongs to Her Majesty the Empress."
He placed another piece, the sound harmonizing with the chess move.
"We want to suppress Yan Lai's reputation, while the Empress wants to elevate the Border Army's prestige. So it's only natural for her to intervene in this matter."
"She—" Seventh Master Xie raised his eyebrows, about to speak.
Xie Yanfang waved the chess piece in his hand at him as a reminder: "The Empress."
That woman from the Chu family was no longer the young girl from before. Three years had passed, Chu Ling was gone, and she sat firmly on the throne as Empress.
By her own merit.
Xie Yanfang had warned them before not to underestimate this girl, to treat her as an independent party. Seventh Master Xie had agreed verbally but never really took it seriously. Now, having witnessed it firsthand, he had to admit it.
"The Empress's intentions are hard to fathom," Seventh Master Xie said. "She has Your Majesty in her grasp, and I feel her influence keeps expanding. She's never been willing to get close to us either."
Xie Yanfang placed the piece in his hand and said, "Seventh Uncle, don't overthink it. We are all Your Majesty's relatives—that's the closest connection possible. As for Yan Lai, the commotion this has caused is enough. Whether we keep him confined at home or not isn't that important. If the Empress wants him to go, then let him."
Seventh Master Xie reluctantly agreed.
Xie Yanfang comforted him further: "I'll go see the Empress later. After all, Yan Lai is our family member."
Since the Empress had ordered Xie Yanlai to apologize to Your Majesty, he, as a member of the Xie family, ought to go as well.
Seventh Master Xie smiled. "With you here, it's truly not a big deal." He then frowned. "I just feel frustrated when things I had under control get disrupted by unexpected events."
And this wasn't the first time either.
Xie Yanfang said, "Life can't always go as planned. But it can't always go wrong either. Just like this chess game—sometimes clear, sometimes obscure—but if you focus and take it step by step, my side will eventually return to clarity—"
Seventh Master Xie turned to look at the chessboard and chuckled.
"You're playing against yourself. What's there to win or lose?"
Whether you win or lose, it's all you. Smart people always have these strange ideas. Seventh Master Xie was used to it by now. He sat down, poured himself another cup of tea, and listened to Xie Yanfang's moves.
"Speaking of which," he said, "why is the Empress protecting Xie Yanlai? For the Border Army's sake, she could choose someone else. It's not like Xie Yanlai is the only one who came from the Border Army."
After he finished speaking, there was no response from Xie Yanfang, nor the sound of chess pieces.
Seventh Master Xie turned and saw Xie Yanfang holding a chess piece, resting his chin on one hand, his gaze fixed intently on the board—
So absorbed in playing against himself. Seventh Master Xie shook his head and didn't speak further. He finished his tea in one gulp, not wanting to disturb Xie Yanfang's enjoyment of the game, and stood up to leave.
The pavilion fell into silence. A gust of wind swept through, carrying petals that danced into the pavilion and landed on the chessboard.
Xie Yanfang placed his piece and picked up a petal.
"It's because she likes him," he said.
He and Cai Bo had joked in private several times about that girl and Xie Yanlai—their relationship was anything but ordinary.
But so what? His relationship with that girl wasn't ordinary either.Due to family backgrounds, circumstances, and various events, relationships between people are always complex.
Yet the bonds between people can also be simple.
She protected him simply because she liked him.
Cai Bo approached at that moment, overheard, and asked curiously, "Who likes whom?"
Xie Yanfang looked up and said, "Anyone can like anyone."
Cai Bo frowned, "What time is it now? What is the young master thinking about? Who cares who likes whom, and what does it matter? What does it have to do with us?" He then smiled and added, "Even if it did matter, if the young master doesn't like it, it can become irrelevant."
Xie Yanfang laughed heartily and placed a chess piece, "Cai Bo is right." He then asked, "Is everything prepared?"
Cai Bo nodded, "Everything at court has been arranged. They will bring it up after Yan Lai reports on his duties." He continued, "Seventh Master must be furious that he didn't bring him back this time?" Shaking his head with a smile, "Actually, there's no need to be angry. No matter how lively the commotion on the streets, it has nothing to do with the court. The excitement comes and goes quickly."
Xie Yanfang stared at the chessboard, picked up a piece, and asked, "Has everyone arrived?"
Cai Bo nodded, "They have."
Xie Yanfang placed the piece and smiled broadly at the board, "The game is clear now."
…
…
By the time Liang Qiang reached the city gate, the parade had already ended, but the city's boiling excitement was still palpable.
He reined in his horse at the gate and gazed ahead, as if imagining the bustling scene inside the city.
Behind him, over a dozen soldiers also halted their horses and stood solemnly. Neither the towering gate nor the lively city stirred any emotion in them.
Seeing their military uniforms, the surrounding citizens immediately gathered around.
"Are you from the Border Army?"
Liang Qiang looked at the inquiring crowd and nodded.
The people erupted with enthusiasm, "Brave men!" "Hurry into the city!" "What a pity you missed the flower rain." "No matter, just say the word, and we'll welcome you again!"
Someone even shouted, "Brave men, take off your clothes!"
The commotion at the city gate surged once more.
Faced with the joyful crowd, Liang Qiang and his soldiers remained calm. However, a clansman accompanying Liang Qiang made to dismount—
"Ah Qiang!" he exclaimed excitedly, unable to contain himself, "So many people welcoming us! Our Liang family has finally—"
"This is the glory of the Border Army, not the Liang family's," Liang Qiang interrupted him, his eyes carrying a warning. "Eighth Brother, don't speak recklessly. If you cause trouble, it will involve our Liang family."
The clansman stiffened, instinctively glancing around, and whispered, "Yes, I understand."
Although Liang Qiang had said not to bring attendants for this return to the capital, his father, still uneasy, had selected a distant clansman to accompany him.
This was also an opportunity for advancement. By following Liang Qiang, the clansman no longer had to do odd jobs in the city to make a living, and many in the family envied him.
He couldn't afford to anger Liang Qiang, much less cause any trouble.
Liang Qiang looked again at the enthusiastic crowd, raised his hand in a salute, and said, "Thank you all, but we are of the Border Army, yet not entirely."
Are they or aren't they? What does that mean? The crowd was puzzled.
"I am of the Border Army, but this trip to the capital is a private matter," Liang Qiang explained. "So, thank you for your kindness, but I cannot accept it."
Nevertheless, he untied and removed his outer robe.
"To avoid misunderstandings, everyone, remove your military uniforms."
The soldiers behind him complied and took off their uniforms.
Without another word, Liang Qiang urged his horse forward, passing through the crowd and into the city.The crowd stared blankly at this group of men wearing only undergarments and holding their outer robes—
"If that's considered a private matter," one citizen wondered aloud, "they're still Border Army soldiers, still heroes."
Why couldn't they accept a welcoming ceremony?
"This is their humility," another citizen realized, watching the procession enter the city gate with admiration. "The Border Army is truly both brave and courteous."
A chorus of admiration rose behind them.
Walking beside Liang Qiang, his clansman couldn't help but voice the same doubt.
"You're brave too," he muttered. "Your achievements surpass even Xie Yanlai's. If he deserves this, so do you. Besides, this would be the perfect opportunity to restore our Liang family's reputation."
Let everyone in the capital know that the Liang family had returned in glory!
Liang Qiang remained silent. Upon entering the city, the commotion became more palpable. The ground was strewn with flowers, silk blossoms, and red ribbons, resembling a colorful carpet.
Seeing their group—imposing in presence but oddly dressed—people remarked:
"Are they trying to imitate General Xie?"
"Who do they think they are? Do they even qualify to imitate him?"
Mocking questions arose from all sides.
The clansman looked somewhat uneasy, then indignant. "Of course we qualify!"
Liang Qiang cut him off: "Say no more."
Seeing the young man's impassive expression, the clansman awkwardly added, "Ah Qiang, you've truly become steady. You're definitely meant for great things."
Whether they qualified, whether they achieved great things—even what they did—was not for Liang Qiang to decide as he swayed on his horse.
But it didn't matter. He would surely shake the entire city. His name, Liang Qiang, would be known to all.
Isn't this what one strives for in life? Isn't this enough?
"To the Grand Tutor's residence," he said.
...
...
The Grand Tutor was not at his residence at that moment.
He stood in the court hall, watching the young man enter.
The young man remained bare-chested, carrying a bundle of thorny branches on his back, walking slowly through the solemn hall lined with civil and military officials.
Though his steps were measured, no matter how one tried to avoid looking, it was impossible to ignore the towering dragon throne ahead.
On the dragon throne sat the Little Emperor.
The Little Emperor had grown taller, but he couldn't block Xie Yanlai's view. Yanlai's gaze traveled past the young emperor to the figure of a woman behind the pearl curtain.
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