Chapter 283 - 78: Stalling

Chapter 283: Chapter 78: Stalling

Recalling that night, Eunuch Qi felt as if he were in a dream. He nodded. "Your Majesty is blessed by the heavens; no evil can harm you."

Xiao Yu smiled, but only briefly. The smile vanished in an instant.

"Also, Mr. Xie is waiting in the side hall," Eunuch Qi said in a low voice. "The King of Zhongshan has been plotting for a long time. Not everyone in the palace can be trusted. Mr. Xie will remain by Your Majesty’s side."

Xiao Yu murmured an "oh" and said nothing.

Eunuch Qi added, "Your Majesty’s decision to give the order token to Mr. Xie was an excellent one."

He knew Xiao Yu was cold and distant toward Xie Yanfang, blaming him for failing to save his parents and himself.

’He didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. An Emperor, after all, could throw a tantrum at anyone. What did it matter if they were part of the Royal Family? They were all his subjects.’

’But an Emperor also had to know how to read the situation and handle people.’

’Thankfully, the Xiao Emperor had already done so of his own accord, no persuasion needed.’

Xiao Yu said, "He’s my uncle. He can’t abandon me. He will protect me with everything he has."

Eunuch Qi said, "Your Majesty is wise."

With that, he lowered the bed curtains. Just as he was about to withdraw, Xiao Yu spoke from within. "Put out all the lamps."

Surprised and pleased, Eunuch Qi acknowledged the order. He instructed the other eunuchs to extinguish all the lamps, then led them out.

Although it was daytime, the chamber was dim with the curtains drawn. Xiao Yu lay with his eyes open, staring at the canopy.

’What difference would it make if I gave him the order token? It couldn’t stop the Dragon Power Army anyway. I might as well earn some goodwill from it.’

He reached under his pillow, pulled out the bamboo tube, and clutched it tightly to his chest.

.....

.....

Eunuch Qi arrived at the side hall to see Xie Yanfang leaning back in his seat, writing.

"You should get some rest too, Mr. Xie," he said softly.

Xie Yanfang smiled at him. "You go on and rest, Eunuch Qi. I’ll be done after I finish this letter."

Eunuch Qi gestured toward the Emperor’s bedchamber. "He had all the lamps put out as soon as you arrived."

Xie Yanfang looked in that direction and sighed softly. "Yu has suffered."

Eunuch Qi also sighed. "As long as Your Majesty can grow up safely, none of this suffering will have been in vain."

"His Majesty will certainly grow up safely," Xie Yanfang said.

Eunuch Qi said no more. As an Eunuch, he kept his distance from everyone but the Emperor. With a final reminder not to overexert himself, he took his leave.

Xie Yanfang didn’t ask him to stay, nor did he rest. He continued writing until several letters were finished before he finally set down his brush. Du Qi came in from outside. "How long will this buy us?"

Xie Yanfang chuckled. "It won’t even buy us a day. Heir Xiao is already here; why would he care about saving face now?"

He had His Majesty do this not to stall for time, but to grow closer to him, to add fuel to the fire, and to ensure the coming confrontation would be known to all the world.

The clamor of gongs and drums and the display of unfurled banners shattered the tranquility of the Capital City, leaving the populace alarmed and uneasy.

"What’s happening?"

"There is no need to panic." Government officers and the city’s patrol Guards were explaining to the people, "To ensure the safety of the capital’s citizens, His Majesty has summoned the King of Zhongshan to reinforce our troops by one hundred thousand. In attack, they can support the Border County; in defense, they can protect the Capital City."

’So that’s what this is about!’ The people breathed a collective sigh of relief. ’Thank goodness. Even though Chu Ling is gone, the court still has a plan. As long as they’re reinforcing the troops and strengthening the Capital City’s defenses, we’ll be fine.’

To ensure more of the populace heard this "good news," the officials took fifteen days for what was a ten-day journey, only then meeting with the forces of the Heir of Zhongshan King.

In addition to the crowds that had already gathered near the King of Zhongshan’s army, even more people followed after hearing the news. They gathered in the vast wilderness to witness the Heir of Zhongshan King receive the imperial edict.

That night, countless bonfires lit up the wilderness. The officials had brought wine and meat bestowed by the Emperor to reward the soldiers, and the atmosphere was electric.

Inside the tent of the Heir of Zhongshan King, however, it was silent.

Xiao Xun stared at the imperial edict before him, then raised a hand and tossed it into the brazier.

"I hate imperial edicts more than anything," he said.