Ashes to Crown

Chapter 240: Chapter 58: Unmoving

Xie Yanfang stood still, a cloak draped over his shoulders.

The maidservant quietly withdrew, not daring to disturb her master’s contemplation.

Uncle Cai, however, paid it no mind. He knew who was on his master’s mind: that girl.

”Don’t dwell on it. Miss Chu certainly played a role,” he said. ”But the Chu Family’s foundation is weak. Everyone avoiding her won’t solve the problem. We’ll still need to arrange for Seventh Madam to make an appearance.”

Xie Yanfang shook his head. ”Seventh Madam won’t need to get involved.”

Uncle Cai was a little surprised. ’Has the young master had an epiphany?’

”Let others handle it,” Xie Yanfang said, turning to him with a smile. ”Just not in the name of the Xie family.”

’Heh. So it’s just like before. Waving flags and cheering for that girl, all while remaining anonymous.’

’It’s as if he’s raising a child.’

’I just hope he isn’t raising an ungrateful wretch!’

”Yes, I understand,” Uncle Cai said, then cleared his throat. ”The others will be easy enough to persuade, but this one—”

He pointed to a name on the paper, his lips twisting into a smirk.

”I’m afraid even you won’t be able to sway this one, Young Master.”

Xie Yanfang lowered his gaze, his eyes falling upon the name on the paper: Deng Yi.

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The Imperial City was much colder and gloomier in the winter, yet the Grand Tutor’s hall was as warm as spring.

Deng Yi looked up from a desk piled high with documents at Xie Yanfang, who stood before him.

”These transfer orders were issued by the Lord Grand Tutor, were they not?” Xie Yanfang said with a smile, handing over a scroll. The mark of the Jade Seal was emblazoned upon it.

Deng Yi gave a smirk. ”Mr. Xie, where did you get this? By all rights, this imperial decree should have left the Capital City by now.”

Intercepting a court’s imperial decree is a capital offense.

”I intercepted it,” Xie Yanfang stated frankly.

Deng Yi looked at the young man, whose face was more radiant than a spring blossom, and asked coldly, ”What is the meaning of this, Mr. Xie?”

Xie Yanfang unfastened his cloak and sat down across from Deng Yi. ”It means,” he said, ”that I do not agree.” His long, slender fingers tapped lightly on the document. ”And so, it will not be sent out.”

’Persuasion? Deng Yi might be swayed by others, but never by me.’

’So I won’t waste my breath trying.’

’I just need to make it impossible for him to succeed.’

The Lord Grand Tutor may have the final say at court, but things aren’t accomplished by words alone. His orders must be carried out by countless people.

Xie Yanfang drew his hand back, gently stroking his fingers. Though he lacked the authority to wield the Jade Seal at court and have his every word treated as law, his hands pulled the strings of countless court officials.

Deng Yi knew this, of course. He had felt it ever since becoming Grand Tutor. His efforts were shackled at every turn. It was obvious someone was working against him behind the scenes, but there was never any proof. Even if he investigated, nothing could ever be traced back to Xie Yanfang.

”Are you relying on your status, Mr. Xie, thinking I cannot hold you accountable for this crime?” Deng Yi said.

Xie Yanfang was the Emperor’s maternal uncle, but he wasn’t indispensable to the court. If one really wanted to drive him out, it wasn’t impossible.

”I know you can, Lord Grand Tutor,” Xie Yanfang said, looking at Deng Yi. ”But I advise you not to do so. If we both end up ruined, the Great Xia will be in peril.”

Deng Yi scoffed. ”If you know that, Third Young Master Xie, why don’t you take your own advice?” He slammed his hand down on the document. ”If you, Xie Yanfang, are not afraid of putting the Great Xia in peril, do you think I, Deng Yi, am?”

The sharp sound made the atmosphere in the room instantly tense.

In fact, all the officials had withdrawn from the room when Xie Yanfang entered. Hearing the noise from within, those who had been spying from the corridor immediately retreated further. ’They’re fighting! They’re fighting! Stay back, don’t get caught in the crossfire!’

Xie Yanfang’s expression remained placid. ”Lord Grand Tutor,” he called out. ”I know you are not afraid. But the reason I dare to do this is that stopping you right now will *not* put the Great Xia in peril.”

”That’s right. A squad of Western Liang Soldiers raiding our rear won’t put the Great Xia in peril,” Deng Yi said coldly. ”But if Chu Ling dies suddenly and the County Soldiers of Yunzhong County fall into disarray, *that* is what will endanger the Great Xia. Others might not know it, but you and I both know what the King of Zhongshan will do the moment Yunzhong County is thrown into chaos.”

He pressed his hand on the document, leaning forward slightly.

”Third Young Master Xie, you forbid my appointments of new generals, and you make it sound so noble, but it’s only because these men aren’t *your* men.”

”Do you think that by stopping me, Third Young Master Xie, you’ll be able to install your own people?”

”If you’re not afraid of endangering the Great Xia, what do I, Deng Yi, have to fear?”

”I, Deng Yi, can be Grand Tutor to anyone. But you, Third Young Master Xie, can’t be uncle to just *any* emperor.”

’How utterly vulgar.’ — ’But that’s to be expected from an upstart drunk on power.’ Xie Yanfang reached out and pressed down on Deng Yi’s hand, also leaning in slightly. ”The Lord Grand Tutor doesn’t trust me, and I don’t trust the Lord Grand Tutor. So, we’ll have to trust Chu Ling.”

’Trust Chu Ling?’ Deng Yi stared at Xie Yanfang.

”Trust that before Chu Ling dies, she will have made the proper arrangements. She won’t let chaos erupt, and she won’t give the Western Liang bandits an opening,” Xie Yanfang said, his expression earnest. ”Lord Grand Tutor, if the Great Xia is in peril, so are we. General Chu is in the same boat. If the Great Xia is in danger, his daughter, the Empress, faces a dead end. He will not let his own daughter fall into danger.”