My cousin was exceptionally intelligent from a young age. Her becoming the Crown Princess was not due to the influence of the Xie family but rather because of Xie Yanfang.
The Crown Prince’s marriage was originally a matter of contention between the Yang and Zhao families. The Empress was no longer alive, but the Emperor still cherished his past affection for her. The Yang family sought to strengthen their ties through marriage, while the Imperial Concubine, having accompanied the Emperor for many years, enjoyed his deep favor, and the Zhao family also hoped to secure a marital alliance.
Although the Xie family of Dongyang was a prominent clan, they were merely a local influential family, not one of national renown. In the eyes of the Yang and Zhao families, as well as the Emperor, they were insignificant.
The Xie family had never imagined they could become relatives of the imperial family.
By a twist of fate, the Crown Prince, who enjoyed horseback riding and archery, often traveled for leisure. On one occasion, he arrived in Dongyang.
However, the Crown Prince was arrogant by nature. He refused to meet with any of Dongyang’s prominent families, declined their banquet invitations, rejected their gifts, and even dismissed the local officials. Instead, he led his entourage to set up camp in the wilderness, where they engaged in hunting, archery, and feasting.
No one dared to disturb him, observing only from a distance.
Unexpectedly, Xie Yanfang alone slipped into the Crown Prince’s hunting grounds. Standing atop a hill, he shot an arrow and took the Crown Prince’s prey.
At that time, Xie Yanfang was only thirteen years old.
Trespassing privately while armed with a weapon—this young boy could have been surrounded and killed on the spot. The Xie family, and even all the officials and nobles of Dongyang, would have faced severe punishment.
But when surrounded, the young Xie Yanfang showed no fear. Holding the prey, he laughed and said, “So it turns out the Crown Prince’s archery skills are inferior to mine.”
The Crown Prince, being fond of martial prowess, could not allow this boy to die with the satisfaction of having bested him.
Thus, the two competed in archery, horsemanship, and even stone-lifting, despite Xie Yanfang’s frail physique.
Though their conversation was not particularly congenial, they enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
Finally, the Crown Prince raised a long blade and asked Xie Yanfang if he conceded defeat. If he did, he would be put to death.
Xie Yanfang remained unafraid.
“I was born with no worries about food or clothing, agile and intelligent, mastering whatever I learn and pursuing whatever I desire,” the thirteen-year-old boy said with a carefree smile. “Having heard of the Crown Prince’s prowess in archery and immense strength, I came to see for myself. Now that I have witnessed it, I have no regrets. To learn the truth in the morning and die in the evening—such is fulfillment.”
The Crown Prince was both annoyed and amused. “So if I punish you, I’d be granting your wish?”
Xie Yanfang thought for a moment. “If Your Highness truly wishes to punish me, why not marry my sister instead?”
This statement was even more absurd. Marrying the Crown Prince was considered the greatest honor in the world, one that would elevate a family to imperial kinship. Countless noble families vied for this privilege.
Yet this boy called it a punishment—a truly disrespectful remark.
“Marrying the Crown Prince is indeed the highest honor,” Xie Yanfang explained. “The Xie family would bask in the spotlight. But for me, such attention would be scorching. Any praise I receive would be seen as a reflection of Your Highness’s glory. If I make even the slightest misstep, I would be accused of tarnishing that glory. For the rest of my life, I would never be free to act as I wish.”
The Crown Prince laughed heartily. He disliked scholars, especially those like the Third Prince, who hid cunning behind a facade of eccentricity. This Xie boy was also cunning, but his cunning was as straightforward as a warrior’s.
He was right—becoming his Crown Princess would not be an easy life. The Xie family, by seizing the position of Crown Princess, would inevitably provoke the wrath of the Yang and Zhao families. They would be drawn into conflicts, forced either to suppress the Yang and Zhao families or be constrained by them. What was once a two-sided struggle would become a three-sided battle.
This was exactly the situation the Crown Prince wanted.
But the noble families in the capital feared the Yang and Zhao families and were unwilling to contend with them, which also reflected their disregard for him as the Crown Prince.No one expected a young lad from the Xie family to dare venture here to recommend himself. The Crown Prince, being valiant himself, admired the brave most, so he had Xie Yanfang leave quietly the same way he came. The next day, the Crown Prince met with local officials and prominent families, specifically engaging in conversation with the head of the Xie family.
At that time, the Xie family head had no idea what was happening. It wasn’t until a month later, when the Crown Prince requested the Emperor to issue an edict designating a daughter of the Dongyang Xie family as the Crown Princess, that the family finally understood what had transpired. Her grandfather, father, and uncles—everyone—were nearly frightened to death.
The Crown Princess couldn’t help but smile faintly.
As the eldest daughter of the main branch of the Xie family, she was the undisputed choice. She had leaped from being a young lady of a prominent family to the Crown Princess, and in the future, she would become the Empress of Daxia—the most revered woman in the world.
In her childhood, no fortune-teller had ever claimed she possessed a noble destiny, nor had she been treated with special regard. The status she held today was earned by her cousin risking his life.
At just thirteen, he had gambled and made the Xie family renowned throughout the land.
At twenty-three, Xie Yanfang could naturally ensure the Xie family remained untroubled.
“You know best in these matters; I won’t worry about them,” the Crown Princess said with a smile.
Xie Yanfang nodded. “Elder Sister, I told you before your marriage: all you need to do is be a good wife and mother. There’s no need to concern yourself with other matters.” He glanced at her and added, “For instance, don’t join the Crown Prince in selecting assignments for me anymore.”
The Crown Princess chided him, “The Crown Prince and I are close. As my husband, he casually asked, and I casually answered. Is that not allowed?”
Seeing Xie Yanfang’s half-smiling expression, she waved her hand dismissively.
“Alright, alright, I understand, little brother. Don’t worry.”
Xie Yanfang smiled and said no more.
“Is everything well at home?” the Crown Princess asked. “I’ve heard that Yan Lai is extremely disobedient, constantly stirring up trouble and damaging the family’s reputation. When that woman brought him to our doorstep years ago, they should have just beaten him to death. After all these years, who knows if he’s even truly of our bloodline?”
“Whether he is of our bloodline or not is for our family to decide. As for reputation, Elder Sister, you needn’t worry. Others’ disobedience and troublemaking won’t harm the Xie family’s prestige—on the contrary, it will only enhance it.” Xie Yanfang paused and smiled. “Because the Xie family has me.”
Seeing the young man’s calm smile, the Crown Princess sighed inwardly. The women of the Xie family were generally plain in appearance, but the men were all exceptionally handsome.
Though she had never met that illegitimate son recognized later in life, letters from home described him as extremely good-looking, no less so than Xie Yanfang.
But what did good looks matter? The only one she regarded as a younger brother was Xie Yanfang—not even her own blood brothers measured up.
“Third Brother, you must marry a wife of exceptional beauty,” she said.
So that their children would all be good-looking.
Xie Yanfang laughed heartily. “Truly, an elder sister is like a mother. Even away from our home in Dongyang, I feel as if I’m still in Mother’s presence.”
The Crown Princess scolded him affectionately.
A palace maid hurried over and whispered, “The Crown Prince requests the young master’s presence.” She added, “At the training grounds.”
Xie Yanfang acknowledged and stood up. The Crown Princess rose as well, cautioning him, “Don’t compete with His Highness in strength anymore. His stone locks are getting heavier and have already crushed and killed many people. You must not suffer even a scratch.”"A person only has one life, and betting it once is enough." Xie Yanfang chuckled softly. "Sister, you are now the Crown Princess, so I no longer need to risk my life."
Indeed, as long as she remained the Crown Princess and eventually became the Empress, even if the Xie family held no real power, no one in the empire would dare provoke them. The Crown Princess smiled faintly and patted his shoulder. "Hurry along now."
As Xie Yanfang turned to leave, the Crown Princess called out again, "After you finish speaking with the Crown Prince, don’t rush off. I’ll have Yu'er return. He’s been studying, and you, as his uncle, haven’t even met him yet."
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s legitimate son had been named Yu by the Emperor and was now six years old.
Xie Yanfang smiled and agreed.
……
……
The Crown Prince, stripped to a thin inner garment with his arms bare, set down the stone lock and took a towel handed to him by his equestrian attendants. Wiping away his sweat, he glanced at Xie Yanfang.
Xie Yanfang circled the stone lock, looking eager to give it a try.
"Want to test your strength?" the Crown Prince asked with a laugh.
Xie Yanfang shook his head. "Back in Dongyang, I couldn’t even lift Your Highness’s stone lock. Now, it’s even more impossible."
A fierce glint flashed in the Crown Prince’s eyes. "Is that so? So the Xie family has lost all its boldness now? You won’t even do what I command?"
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