Xiao Yu looked at the smiling man.
Earlier, his sister hadn't told him that Xie Yanlai was still alive.
When he learned of Xie Yanlai's death, he had felt regretful at the time.
Now seeing him alive, he didn't feel particularly joyful either.
"Alright, thank you, Uncle," he said, lowering his gaze again. "You've worked hard."
Xie Yanlai replied, "No need for thanks. Everyone would want to do such a good deed."
Xiao Yu said, "But you didn't want to, Uncle." He tightened his grip on the chopsticks and looked up. "I know you were threatened by Xie Yanfang. You could have left with Sister—"
"Your Majesty, you're overthinking this," Xie Yanlai interrupted him, shaking his head with a tsk-tsk. "Speaking of your third uncle like that will hurt his feelings. Everything he does is for your empire."
Xiao Yu stood up. "He's not doing it for me. He's doing it for the empire. Now that he can't move, he's forcing you to do his work for him." His eyes reddened. "Uncle, I never thought he would harm Sister—"
"Your Majesty," Xie Yanlai cut him off, pointing at the table. "I came here to eat. Let's not discuss such unappetizing topics."
Xiao Yu's expression dimmed as he sat back down. "Yes, I understand. I won't speak of it again."
Xie Yanlai finished the food in his bowl in a few bites, then looked at the red-eyed young boy who appeared wronged.
"There are many things in this world you can't anticipate," he said. "For example, when someone leaves, don't expect them to return."
He stood up and gently tapped Xiao Yu's shoulder.
"Just focus on being Emperor steadily. Don't think about driving a wedge between me and Xie Yanfang. Even if Xie Yanfang dies, Chu Zhao won't return."
"Empress Chu has been convicted. You will no longer have this Empress."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's eyes, already red-rimmed, welled up with moisture.
Xie Yanlai paid no attention to whether the Emperor was about to cry and continued, "I remain here for the sake of this empire—not for Xie Yanfang, nor because I'm threatened by him."
He withdrew his hand and stood straight, looking down at Xiao Yu.
"This empire isn't actually yours."
"You possess this empire because of your bloodline, but the empire's current state exists because of her efforts."
"I cannot stand by and let people like you waste her hard work."
With that, he put on the mask from the table and strode away.
The hall returned to silence as the palace maids and eunuchs quietly reentered.
Xiao Yu sat at the table, the moisture in his eyes fading as his expression turned wooden. "More rice," he said.
The palace maids hurried forward to serve him.
Xiao Yu quietly ate another bowl of rice, then stood and walked out.
"Will Your Majesty go to the study?" a eunuch asked respectfully.
Xiao Yu replied, "I've just eaten. I won't be reviewing memorials."
One can only govern diligently with energy.
When one lacks spirit, it's better to rest properly.
This was a habit his sister had taught him.
Xiao Yu's voice paused.
"To the Imperial Garden," he said. "You all will play cuju for me to watch."
The eunuchs happily acknowledged the command.
The atmosphere in the palace had been suffocating lately, but fortunately, His Majesty remained as he was before.
The eunuchs called their friends together and noisily escorted the Emperor to the Imperial Garden.
Xiao Yu spent half a day in the Imperial Garden, watching the eunuchs play cuju and even joining a round himself. Then he returned to his study and carefully reviewed the memorials Xie Yanlai had delivered, continuing until lamps were lit.
"Your Majesty, please rest for a while."
"Would Your Majesty like some sweet soup?""Your Majesty, would you like to play chess?"
Amid the bustling attendance of palace maids and eunuchs, Xiao Yu had his late-night meal, played a game of chess with two eunuchs, and then it was time to rest. After washing up and getting into bed, the lights in the bedchamber were extinguished one by one.
Just like before.
……
……
Xiao Yu lay in bed, clutching the bamboo tube tightly.
Sister Chu had always kept this bamboo tube for him, but he had rarely used it since.
He had been sleeping alone for a long time.
Though he slept alone, he knew Sister Chu was next door, just a few steps away if he got up and ran to find her.
Even when Sister Chu was away on campaigns, he knew she would return.
But now it was different—she would never come back.
Xiao Yu threw off the covers, jumped out of bed, and ran out barefoot.
"Your Majesty—"
The tranquility of the bedchamber's night was disrupted.
……
……
Qi Gonggong was not on duty at night, but being old, he found it hard to sleep, especially with the recent upheavals.
The incident was unexpected, yet not entirely so.
Such was life in the Imperial City—those who were laughing and carefree one moment could be at each other's throats the next.
For every winner, there was a loser.
There was no fairness to speak of; it all came down to fate, to whose life was tougher.
That girl's fate was indeed tough, but not in a place like the Imperial City.
Still, he wasn't too heartbroken; instead, he felt relieved. It was better for her to leave—the Imperial City was no good place.
Staying here too long changed people.
He didn't want that girl to change either.
Lost in his thoughts, Qi Gonggong finally began to feel drowsy when he heard hurried footsteps outside his door.
Who would come to him in the middle of the night?
Ever since he stopped hovering around the Emperor, even his adopted sons and grandsons had drifted away.
As the thought crossed his mind, Qi Gonggong rose to check, but the door was already pushed open. A figure, wrapped in the night breeze of early autumn, rushed in and clung to his waist.
"Qi Gonggong."
Looking down at Xiao Yu in his arms, Qi Gonggong felt a sense of déjà vu. That night, the child had clung to him just as tightly, a small hand gripping the corner of his robe.
Back then, the boy hadn't even reached his waist; now, he was up to his shoulders.
"I thought I could do many things now."
"I thought I could control many people, make them revolve around me, make them do what I wanted."
"I thought I could reap the benefits without effort."
"But when harm came, I realized I'm actually nothing. I can't do anything."
Xiao Yu looked up at the old eunuch, tears streaming down his face.
"It turns out my so-called power can only hurt those who don't guard against me, who care for me and trust me."
And those who cared for him without guarding against him were so few.
When he wanted to cry out his sorrow and fear without restraint, only this old eunuch remained.
Qi Gonggong gazed at the young boy's face in his arms, sighed softly, and instead of pushing him away, gently patted his back.
"Your Majesty, you're too eager to be an adult," he said softly. "And you don't truly understand what it means to lose."
Losing wasn't just that night when he watched his parents die.
True loss isn't about losing people—it's about losing heart.
……
……
Outside the Xie residence, the night was bright with lanterns, servants shouting repeatedly, "The young master has returned."
Amid the shouts, many people hurried out from within the household—besides the steward, managers, and servants, there were also young masters.
They stood solemnly at the entrance, watching a black carriage approach, escorted by imperial guards.
A masked man stepped out of the carriage.
"The young master has returned," the crowd called out in a flurry, bowing in unison.Xie Yanlai walked steadily forward without glancing sideways. Someone was still running over from inside the gate, clearly having just heard the news and equally clearly reluctant to be there.
"Putting on such airs," the man cursed under his breath. "Flouncing about with that stinking attitude—needing escorts for both departures and returns. Doesn't even know what he truly is—"
Xie Yanlai halted and said, "Xie Xiao."
Xie Xiao's voice cut off abruptly as he watched the man step across the threshold, his face still masked, appearing ferocious under the lantern light.
"Young Master has returned," he said through gritted teeth.
Xie Yanlai said, "You're late. Do you not wish to follow my rules?"
Xie Xiao glanced around. Some of the young masters signaled for him to say less, while others winked and gestured for him to back down as well.
Back down? Xie Xiao snorted inwardly. What could this bastard possibly do to him?
"Third Uncle never had such rules before," he sneered.
He then shot a sidelong glance at Xie Yanlai. Go on, hit me. Isn't he just good at biting like a dog?
But Xie Yanlai didn't rush over to beat him as he had before. Instead, he said, "He had his rules, I have mine. People are different, and so are their rules."
Explaining to him? Was this an attempt to posture as the head of the family and win him over with reason? Xie Xiao scoffed again. "Do you really think you're in charge here?"
Xie Yanlai said, "Attendants."
Xie Xiao froze, as did the others around him. In the next moment, servants stepped forward and responded, "Yes, Young Master. What are your orders?"
Xie Yanlai pointed at Xie Xiao and said, "For insubordination and insolence, break his legs."
Xie Xiao was stunned once more, and the people around him stirred uneasily. Was he serious?
The servants, however, showed no hesitation. They immediately stepped forward and seized Xie Xiao. "Apologies, Young Master Xiao."
Xie Xiao was horrified, especially when he saw servants approaching with clubs.
"You can't be serious!" he cried out. "How dare you—I—what have I done? I'm a young master! Even my father has never—"
Before he could finish, a piercing scream erupted at the entrance.
The faces of those standing at the gate turned ashen under the lantern light, filled with disbelief.
Xie Yanlai had gone mad!
"One more thing," Xie Yanlai said as he continued forward, then turned back as if remembering something. "Send him back to Dongyang. Tell his father I never want to see this son of his in this household again."
The steward solemnly acknowledged the order.
Apart from Xie Xiao's screams, no one at the entrance made a sound.
Xie Yanlai strode away, countless gazes fixed on his back, brimming with shock.
...
...
Deep within the Xie residence, Xie Xiao's screams did not carry far. Moreover, after a few cries, he fainted.
The courtyard here remained as quiet as if uninhabited. Under the swaying lantern light along the corridor, someone approached.
A maid gently opened the door and called out, "Cai Bo."
"Should the Young Master be awake by now?" Cai Bo asked softly.
The maid nodded. "He just woke up."
Cai Bo hurried inside. Only a single lamp burned in the room, casting a dim glow. Behind the curtains, the silhouette of a reclining figure was visible.
"Young Master," Cai Bo said, "I fear that lad is determined to tear the Xie family apart."
A soft laugh came from behind the curtain.
"Let it fall apart," he said. "I look forward to seeing him forge a new Xie family."
...
...
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