Chapter 282 - 78: Delay (Part 2)

Chapter 282: Chapter 78: Delay (Part 2)

...

...

The officials dispersed, each going off to their busy tasks. Only Deng Yi, Xie Yanfang, and the Xiao Emperor remained in the court hall.

Some news could be shared, but other information was only for their ears.

Though they had long been preparing for this day, its actual arrival was still a shock.

"The King of Zhongshan’s private army isn’t a hundred thousand strong," Xie Yanfang said, looking at Deng Yi. "It’s two hundred thousand."

Deng Yi’s expression was calm. "The King of Zhongshan is waging an unjust war. The court’s troops can fight one against ten."

Xie Yanfang said, "An army of two hundred thousand, and we only discovered them eight hundred *li* away. This means they’ve already cut off the courier stations and checkpoints along the way. I’m afraid Empress Chu doesn’t know yet and won’t be able to send support."

Hearing this, Xiao Yu, sitting on the dragon throne, clenched his hands.

Deng Yi said, "The court isn’t sending reinforcements for the battles in the Border County. Naturally, the battles here don’t require the Border County to send troops either. There is no need for the Empress to know."

Xie Yanfang nodded. "As long as the Grand Tutor has a plan. I believe the court will be victorious in this war."

Deng Yi gave a slight nod without another word. He bowed to the Emperor, then turned and strode away.

"Your Majesty," Xie Yanfang said to Xiao Yu, "you may go back and rest now."

He reached out a hand.

"You have done everything you needed to do."

Xiao Yu said, "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Xie." But he did not take the offered hand, instead walking down from the throne on his own.

Xie Yanfang said nothing, letting his hand fall. He followed Xiao Yu and Eunuch Qi out of the grand hall. Outside, Imperial Guards stood in dense formation, protecting Xiao Yu.

Xie Yanfang stopped and bowed. "This servant respectfully sees Your Majesty off."

Xiao Yu had never summoned him to the inner palace.

But this time, Xiao Yu stopped and turned back. "Mr. Xie, the situation is urgent. You may come see me at any time. No need to climb over the wall anymore."

Xie Yanfang looked up to see Eunuch Qi approaching, presenting an order token with both hands.

"Mr. Xie," he said, "this is the command token for the Imperial Guard of the Inner Palace. After the Empress left, it was given to Young Master Yanlai. After Young Master Yanlai left, this old servant has been holding onto it."

Xie Yanfang reached out, took it, and smiled at Xiao Yu. "Alright. I won’t climb over the wall anymore."

...

...

People came and went in the Grand Tutor Hall as officials bustled about in a noisy clamor.

Deng Yi sat behind his desk. A Clerk stood beside him, softly reading the contents of a scroll. Deng Yi listened while warming his hands by a fire, looking somewhat at ease.

"Grand Tutor," a Eunuch approached and said in a low voice, "His Majesty has given command of the Imperial Guard of the Inner Palace to Xie Yanfang."

The Clerk stopped reading and raised an eyebrow. "Well, that was fast."

Although the Grand Tutor held the Jade Seal and the Tiger Talisman, controlling the Great Xia, there was one force not under his command: the Dragon Power Army.

After the turmoil, the Imperial City was purged, and the Emperor’s Imperial Guard were all placed under the command of the Dragon Power Army.

And the Dragon Power Army was held firmly in Empress Chu’s grasp.

When Empress Chu left, she handed it over to Xie Yanlai—though logically, it should have gone to Xie Yanfang.

Xie Yanlai was a military commander, so giving it to him was more suitable and could, at a stretch, be justified.

When Xie Yanlai left, it was given directly to the Xiao Emperor—

still not to Xie Yanfang.

Everyone in the palace and the court was sharp-eyed. They immediately began to speculate on the implications. Who didn’t trust Xie Yanfang? Empress Chu or the Xiao Emperor?

For a time, private discussions abounded.

Deng Yi, of course, knew who it was, as did the people around him. They didn’t need to discuss that. What they discussed was *when* Xie Yanfang would finally get it.

"The King of Zhongshan has given him a helping hand, then," the Clerk said.

Deng Yi said, "It was only a matter of time. Even without the King of Zhongshan, Mr. Xie would have gotten his wish soon enough."

’His Majesty has no one else to rely on. How could he truly remain distant from his own maternal uncle? A child’s moods, a child’s heart—they are the most fickle things in the world.’

’He had tried to stop her back then, but that girl insisted on going to the Border County. In that case, she couldn’t complain if someone else won over the Emperor.’

’Of course, who the Emperor grew close to had nothing to do with him, nor did he care. He was the Grand Tutor, a position independent of the Xiao Emperor. And the Xiao Emperor could do nothing to him either.’

"Once the imperial edict is drafted, send it out immediately," Deng Yi said. "Select an Imperial Decree Officer. Do it with great fanfare."

The officials answered in affirmation.

...

...

Xiao Yu no longer paid any mind to how busy the officials were. He knew he had already done all he could. Upon returning to his bedchambers in the inner palace, he obediently went to rest.

He hadn’t slept the previous night. Xie Yanfang had explained the movements of the King of Zhongshan’s army and coached him on what to say and how to draft the imperial edict.

Even though it was daytime, he had to have the lamps lit to be able to sleep.

Ever since Empress Chu had left, Xiao Yu needed the lamps lit to sleep alone.

Eunuch Qi helped Xiao Yu wash up, tucked him into bed, and said softly, "Your Majesty, rest easy. Everything will be alright. Her Ladyship is in the Border County, so Western Liang won’t be able to break through. The Grand Tutor and Mr. Xie are in the Capital City, so the King of Zhongshan won’t be able to break through either."

Xiao Yu nodded. "I know. I’m not afraid. They tried to kill me before. They failed the first time, and they’ll fail the second time, too."