At the deep autumn palace banquet, lotus seed soup was always served.
The Little Emperor was not a picky eater, but he could eat an extra bowl of lotus seed soup with fresh osmanthus flowers added.
However, today he only took a few bites before setting it aside.
Xiao Yu picked up the dispatch and read it again.
Qi Gonggong, seeing it was a letter from the Empress, did not urge him to eat further and instructed the attendants to clear the dishes.
The Empress was away on a campaign, and dispatches arrived once every half-month. As the rebellion was quelled and victories mounted, the dispatches became more frequent, arriving almost every three to five days.
Since learning of Xiao Xun's death and the Empress's great victory, the court had been filled with a joyful atmosphere. Even the Little Emperor, who was usually quiet and never showed his emotions, had been unable to suppress his delight, his lips curving into a smile.
But this letter brought no smile to Xiao Yu's face; instead, his expression was filled with sorrow.
"Ah," he sighed deeply and said to Qi Gonggong, "How heartbroken Sister Chu must be."
The latest news was that Xie Yanlai's body had been found.
Earlier, along with the victory bulletin announcing Xiao Xun's death, came the news that Xie Yanlai had led a dozen men into Zhongshan Commandery and successfully assassinated Xiao Xun, but his own fate remained unknown.
In truth, everyone had already speculated that Xie Yanlai was dead, but without a body, the Empress refused to believe it.
Now that the commandery city had been captured, the people of the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion confessed that, in a fit of rage, they had dismembered all the assassins' bodies and buried them in the mansion's garden as fertilizer.
The garden of the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion was dug up, and over a dozen bodies were found. Though decomposed, efforts were made to piece them together to give the deceased some dignity.
Xie Yanlai's body was among them.
Of course, the letter did not describe this scene in detail. Even Xiao Yu, who had witnessed the horrors of battle, dared not imagine it. He let out a heavy sigh.
This was already an uncountable number of sighs for the day. Qi Gonggong looked at the child's furrowed brow and sighed along with him. "Indeed, what can be done? War always claims lives. The Empress's father also died on the battlefield."
Xiao Yu shook his head. "Uncle and General Chu are different."
General Chu had actually died of illness. Sister Chu had long been prepared for his departure. But Xie Yanlai was different. From the night he defended the palace gates, Xie Yanlai had always been brave and skilled in battle, charging at the forefront, solving problems and easing Sister Chu's burdens.
Sister Chu trusted him deeply and relied on him heavily. She surely never imagined that one day he would die.
Just as he himself had never imagined losing his parents.
He, too, had never thought Xie Yanlai would die.
Xiao Yu had not seen this uncle for a long time, but whenever he thought of him, a clear image came to mind: that night at the city gates, those emotionless eyes staring at him, and their daily encounters in the palace, where Xie Yanlai showed him no respect at all.
This uncle did not like him.
Or rather, he did not like his position.
This was the complete opposite of his other uncle.
That uncle liked him, but only because of his position.
Yet Xiao Yu felt no particular affection for the uncle who liked him—after all, he only grew close to Xie Yanfang because of his status. As for Xie Yanlai, the uncle who disliked him, he felt no resentment either.
He had even wondered what would happen if these two completely different uncles were to confront each other in a life-or-death struggle, and who would emerge victorious. Now, he would never see the outcome.
What a pity.
Xiao Yu let out another heavy sigh.
"Your Majesty should bestow great honors upon General Xie Yanlai," Qi Gonggong said softly.
Xiao Yu nodded. "Whatever rewards Sister Chu gives him, I will double them." Then he asked, "Is Uncle Yanfang going to Zhongshan Commandery? To bring Sister Chu back?"Qi Gonggong said, "We are going to escort General Xie Yanlai's coffin back to the capital."
Xiao Yu straightened up, his eyes brightening. "Why don't I go along as well?"
Qi Gonggong also looked expectant. "To be honest, Your Majesty, this old servant would like to go too." Then he sighed helplessly, "But with the Empress away and Lord Xie having departed, the court cannot be left unattended. Only Your Majesty can hold the fort. With Your Majesty in the court, the Empress will feel most at ease while outside."
Xiao Yu leaned back in his chair and glanced at him. "Qi Gonggong, just say straight out that I can't go. No need to beat around the bush or use Sister Chu as an excuse. I'm not a child anymore."
Qi Gonggong gave a sheepish smile, neither admitting nor denying it, and only said, "In this old servant's heart, Your Majesty will always be cherished like a child."
Xiao Yu laughed heartily and waved his hand. "I know your intentions, Qi Gonggong. You're different from others; there's no need to be so cautious when speaking with me. You may go attend to your duties. I need to write a reply to my sister."
Qi Gonggong smiled and acknowledged the order but did not leave immediately. He arranged the desk neatly and set out two plates of pastries.
"Grandpa Qi, we can handle these tasks," two eunuchs said with ingratiating smiles, stepping forward to assist.
The Emperor had many eunuchs around him, each with specific duties; these two were specially assigned to serve his writing needs.
Of course, in Qi Gonggong's presence, these eunuchs had to take a back seat.
But these young rascals were growing increasingly restless.
"I've set everything up. It puts my mind at ease to have you serve after that," Qi Gonggong said cheerfully, without shooing them away.
The two eunuchs smiled and replied, "With your guidance, Grandpa, we feel more assured in our work."
Xiao Yu paid no attention to the eunuchs' chatter. Holding the letter in one hand and nibbling on a pastry with the other, he neither stopped Qi Gonggong from working nor prevented the eunuchs from vying for tasks.
For these people, serving the Emperor was the greatest honor, a bestowed grace, and the very meaning of their existence.
Being Emperor was simple.
Just as Xie Yanfang had said, all an Emperor needed to do was nothing.
When the Emperor did nothing, others would step up to work—and even compete for the chance to do so.
Qi Gonggong took his leave. At the doorway, he glanced back and saw the two eunuchs standing attentively by the desk, eagerly asking, "Which brush would Your Majesty prefer to use?" and "Would Your Majesty like something to drink?"
Xiao Yu, still reading the letter, responded to them: "This brush will do," "Just some water—lukewarm, not too cold or hot," and "Xiao Yuanzi, fetch me that paper pressed with osmanthus flowers the other day."
The room buzzed with lively activity.
His Majesty had grown up. He was no longer the child who shrank in the dark, frightened by the world. He was learning more and more how to be an Emperor.
Qi Gonggong withdrew his gaze and instructed the eunuchs standing guard around the hall: "Listen carefully to His Majesty's commands. I am going to rest."
The eunuchs chorused their acknowledgments. Two hurried over to escort him out, while more remained stationed outside the hall, unmoving—eager not to miss this opportunity now that the Emperor's favorite had left.
"Grandpa, look at those little brats, getting so bold," one eunuch supporting Qi Gonggong spat out resentfully.
Another quickly nodded in agreement. "You should teach them a lesson."
Qi Gonggong said, "Remember, in this Imperial Palace, only one person may teach lessons—and that is the Emperor. No one else should even think of it. The more you think about it, the more lessons you'll receive.""Gonggong, those people want to steal His Majesty's closeness to you," a eunuch whispered.
The Emperor had originally relied solely on Qi Gonggong, but as His Majesty grew older, he needed more people around him. A child's dependence is easily won, yet most easily changed.
Qi Gonggong smiled faintly: "Don't worry, it won't happen."
Since that child no longer acted like a child, he would no longer treat him as one either.
As an old-timer who had survived in the palace this long, he knew how to maintain an emperor's closeness—by not being close to the emperor at all.
......
......
"Someone."
After finishing his letter, Xiao Yu called out.
A eunuch from outside the door rushed in first.
"Take this letter to Minister Xie and have him deliver it to the Empress for me," Xiao Yu said, then asked, "What's your name?"
The eunuch hastily gave his name.
Xiao Yu nodded and called him by name: "From now on, you shall deliver my messages."
Overjoyed, the eunuch responded loudly, accepted the letter with both hands, and hurried away.
Xiao Yu waved off the eunuchs standing by the desk. The two eunuchs quickly retreated. Listening by the door to the silence inside, they couldn't help but glance up and saw the Little Emperor leaning back in his chair, seemingly lost in thought.
When the Little Emperor was silent, his gradually maturing narrow eyes grew increasingly profound, carrying a calmness beyond his years.
Suddenly, the corners of his lips curved upward—he smiled.
The two eunuchs were startled and quickly averted their gaze.
Xiao Yu looked at the letter on the desk, his smile spreading. Sister Chu was about to return.
The King of Xiliang had been repelled, the rebellious Prince Zhongshan was finally eliminated. From now on, Sister Chu wouldn't have to rush about in battles and would never leave again.
......
......
When the eunuch delivered the Emperor's letter, Xie Yanfang was already preparing to go out.
"Tell His Majesty not to worry," Xie Yanfang said to the eunuch with a smile. "I'll run faster than any courier."
The eunuch bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Seventh Master Xie muttered: "The child still remembers the Empress well." Watching Xie Yanfang fasten his cloak, he added, "But who would have thought that Xie Yanlai would die like this."
Xie Yanfang pursed his lips. Truth be told, he hadn't expected Xie Yanlai to do this either, yet it wasn't surprising that Xie Yanlai had acted this way.
This child, taken in by the Xie family midway, had been raised to be a lone warrior.
The ultimate fate of a lone warrior is to die in a blaze of glory.
This was Xie Yanlai's destined end.
To die a worthy death is a joyous thing, but—
Xie Yanfang sighed softly: "Who knows how heartbroken the Empress must be."
That was why he had to personally receive Xie Yanlai.
Giving the deceased a grand send-off was the best comfort for the living.
Then he asked: "Are the preparations for welcoming Yanlai all ready?"
Seventh Master Xie nodded: "Don't worry, everything along the route has been arranged. We'll ensure this lad returns in glory."
This was also the glory of their Xie family.
Xie Yanfang said nothing more. Taking the reins, he mounted his horse and looked ahead, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
The child missed her, and the adult missed her too.
All the messy branches and vines had been cut away, creating this unique, unprecedented Empress.
She was the treasure he, Xie Yanfang, had polished.
Time to bring her home.
He urged his horse into a gallop, with Du Qi and others swiftly following behind.
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