Unlike the prominent Yang and Zhao families who controlled the court, ever since the Crown Princess married into the imperial family, no one from the Xie family had held an official position in the capital. Those who had previously served as officials either resigned or were assigned to provincial posts.
While even the sons of favored servants from the Yang and Zhao families were eagerly given official positions, Xie Yanfang, a renowned young master of the Xie family, remained idle at home.
Over the years, the Crown Prince had repeatedly proposed that Xie Yanfang take up an official post, but Xie Yanfang had always declined for various reasons. After so many refusals, the Crown Prince’s already short temper was provoked.
"My marriage alliance with your Xie family was not merely for bearing children," the Crown Prince said coldly, his eyes filled with malice. "Third Young Master Xie, you once said that marrying into my family was your punishment. Yet you live so comfortably—it hardly seems like punishment."
The Third Prince grew increasingly insolent, the Emperor continued to turn a blind eye, the Zhao family grew more arrogant, and the Yang family was clearly losing ground.
Yet the Xie family remained in the background, enjoying their leisure.
The Crown Prince had granted the Xie family the status of imperial relatives not out of kindness, nor because he was infatuated with the beauty of the Xie family’s women.
He wanted the three factions to compete so that he, as the ruler, could govern with ease.
"Your Highness, you wrong us," Xie Yanfang said with a helpless expression. "By doing nothing now, we are actually offering Your Highness the greatest assistance."
The Crown Prince sneered, "Explain your twisted logic."
"The Third Prince cannot be allowed to remain," Xie Yanfang said.
The Crown Prince was startled, as if he were seeing the thirteen-year-old Xie Yanfang again—the boy in white who had suddenly appeared on the hilltop, holding a crossbow. Though he looked like a celestial being, the shock he brought was ghostly.
Though the Crown Prince was no stranger to killing and deeply despised his third brother, he had never dared to consider eliminating him—the Emperor was still alive.
"Do you think he is a chicken or a dog?" the Crown Prince scolded. "That you can just get rid of him? He is deeply favored by our father, supported by the Zhao family, and don’t think for a moment that he has spent all these years hiding away just to study."
Under the guise of studying, the Third Prince had been building connections and reputation. No one knew how many people and resources he now controlled.
Xie Yanfang smiled and said, "That is why, with the Yang family in the open and me in the shadows, we can better serve Your Highness."
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, "How?"
"The Yang family’s prominence draws everyone’s attention. There are many things they cannot do openly and many people they cannot befriend. That is where we come in," Xie Yanfang explained, presenting a scroll. "This is a record of the people I have visited over the years—some from prominent families, some talented individuals living in seclusion, and others who may seem insignificant now but could prove useful in critical moments."
The Crown Prince took the scroll, opened it, and read. A smile spread across his face, and the malice in his eyes faded. "Excellent, excellent. My uncle truly could not accomplish this. For instance, this one—"
He pointed to a name, both annoyed and amused.
"A few years ago, when my uncle went to visit him, the man heard about it, packed his belongings overnight, and climbed over the wall to flee."
It wasn’t that the man necessarily refused to serve the Crown Prince, but he despised the Yang family’s reputation and refused to associate with them.
Compared to the Yang family, the Xie family was indeed more likable.
As the Crown Prince’s gaze swept over the names, it paused on one.
"This Chu Ling—"
Xie Yanfang knew the Crown Prince would have questions.
The Crown Prince prided himself on his martial prowess but disliked those with martial talent who did not submit to him. Thus, he would not like Chu Ling.He explained: "Although this Chu Ling has been disrespectful to Your Majesty, willfully defied the imperial decree, and was consequently dismissed by Your Majesty, he has still managed to retain the position of Garrison General for over a decade. This suggests that Your Majesty must still harbor some lingering affection for him. Such a person, at a certain moment, might say something that could play a significant role. Therefore, it’s worth keeping him as a backup—"
The Crown Prince laughed heartily. Sometimes, intelligence alone isn’t all-powerful.
"Third Brother, everything you’ve said is correct," he said. "But Chu Ling is going to die."
Xie Yanfang was indeed unaware of this and looked surprised. "I’ve heard nothing of it."
"It’s not surprising you don’t know," the Crown Prince said with a laugh. "He’s always been a nobody—who would care about news of him?"
Even if Chu Ling died, who would care?
Xie Yanfang asked curiously, "Your Highness, how did you come to know this?"
"His Majesty told me," the Crown Prince said casually. "If he’s going to die, let him die. How dare he still write to His Majesty? What? Does he want a posthumous title?"
How ridiculous! The Crown Prince laughed uproariously.
Xie Yanfang did not laugh. Lost in thought, he asked, "So, aside from His Majesty, no one else knows?"
The Crown Prince found this amusing. "What if others knew? Would he have the face to go around telling people he’s about to die? Everyone wishes he’d die sooner."
With that, he waved his hand dismissively.
"Since you refuse to take an official post, just pick someone from your family to send to the Border Commandery to replace Chu Ling. It’s of little importance and won’t attract much attention, so the Zhao Family won’t seize the opportunity."
Xie Yanfang gave an "Oh."
Did that "Oh" mean agreement or not? The Crown Prince glared at him. This young man seemed distracted.
"What are you thinking about?" he demanded.
Chu Ling—Xie Yanfang let the name drift through his mind and said, "No wonder his daughter has returned to the capital. It’s to send the fledgling back to the nest."
Still thinking about Chu Ling? The Crown Prince waved his hand dismissively. "Stop thinking about him. He’s not worth the effort—an insignificant person."
"No," Xie Yanfang said with a faint smile. "Though insignificant, this time he might still be of some use to Your Highness. You must be aware of the Third Prince’s literary gathering."
The Crown Prince sneered. "I even know that after the gathering, he plans to have the assembled scholars spread the idea that the heir should be chosen based on virtue, not seniority."
The Zhao Family and the Third Prince were growing impatient. With the Emperor’s health failing, if they waited until His Majesty passed away, the Crown Prince’s succession would be legitimate, and no amount of scheming would matter.
Xie Yanfang said, "Your Highness need not concern yourself with such petty tricks."
The Crown Prince laughed heartily. "Of course, I don’t care. What can an incompetent child achieve with mere words? I’m just waiting for him to stir up trouble. I’ve been looking for an excuse to crush those rebellious traitors."
Xie Yanfang nodded with a smile. "In the face of status, position, and power, favor is fragile. However, before that, Your Highness could also embarrass the Third Prince."
The Crown Prince looked at him. "I wouldn’t stoop to disrupting his literary gathering."
The more unruly the Third Prince became, the more magnanimous the Crown Prince needed to appear as an elder brother. There was no need to upset His Majesty over a literary gathering.
Xie Yanfang said, "Your Highness need not appear in person. Chu Ling’s daughter has already acted on your behalf."
Chu Ling’s daughter? The Crown Prince was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Xie Yanfang smiled. "Either on someone’s advice or through some opportunistic scheme by Chu Ling’s nephew, the Third Prince obtained an invitation to the literary gathering. But that invitation was publicly snatched away by Chu Ling’s daughter, who berated her cousin for being unworthy."He had known about the commotion in the building since it began and immediately understood how to use this incident and this person.
"Even a woman disdains the invitation to Third Prince's literary gathering—doesn't that make the gathering utterly ridiculous?"
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