Chapter 53
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“Jiang Yanchi… has ascended to the throne?” Zhao Lingqu’s voice suddenly deepened, and he approached, lowering his voice. “How did he ascend, and why didn’t we hear any news about this in the capital before…”
“This… Grand Tutor Su says there may be some irregularities in this matter. It was the Crown Prince who controlled the Forbidden Army, sealing the city gates. News couldn’t get out…” The attendant explained anxiously. “This upheaval came suddenly, and even Grand Tutor Su didn’t anticipate it at the time. That Xu Changling is officially the deputy leader of the Forbidden Army, but he’s a muddled person, having already been duped by Zhou Wen. That Xu Yi who thought he had the capital in his hands all along, so he dared to…”
Zhao Lingqu, with a stern expression, swept his gaze through the deep forest, approaching in Chu Xie’s direction. “While the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman gains. This allows Jiang Yanchi to have another stroke of good luck. With Xu Yi’s failure this time, when the new emperor ascends the throne, he can mobilize the vassal state troops around the Imperial City, which spells doom for the Xu family.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that Jiang Yanchi has already killed Xu Chengjin on the battlefield. Now Xu Yi is surrounded by the city’s four vassal state commanders and is being escorted to the capital.”
Chu Xie listened as the footsteps grew closer.
“No worries, I’ll kill Chu Xie first.”
Xu Chunmu behind him became alert, releasing the hand covering Chu Xie’s mouth and gripping the hilt of his sword at his side.
Chu Xie hesitated for a moment, puzzled about why they wanted to kill him, not Xu Chunmu.
A voice from the follower came, “The Grand Tutor said not to harm Chu Xie.”
“The young emperor is in Puyang, Huaiqi, and Xiping, searching for this person. If they find him dead at our hands, it will arouse the young emperor’s suspicion and backlash…”
“Su Mingan is always so cautious, learning to act indecisively from those Wei people. We have him right in front of us, yet we can’t kill him. He must have already grown suspicious of me. When he returns to the capital, I’ll be in trouble as well.” Zhao Lingqu lowered his voice, as the sky grew darker. He couldn’t determine whether Chu Xie was still hiding in the woods.
“Grand Tutor Su said you shouldn’t worry.”
The person whispered in Zhao Lingqu’s ear, and to his surprise, Zhao Lingqu let out a low laugh. “So, the little Emperor has such intentions to the little eunuch. That’s quite amusing. I just saw Chu Xie with another man.”
“So, my lord, it’s best to ensure your own safety. The Emperor is paranoid, stuck between a rock and a hard place, and he trusts no one. Once Chu Xie ascends to the throne with your support, their interests will become irreconcilable.” The person who followed him spoke in a hushed tone, “Grand Tutor Su has already found out the details. Chu Xie has a close relationship with Xu Chunmu. This isn’t their first time escaping in private… With the Xu family’s recent downfall, Chu Xie will certainly face consequences too. Not long ago, Xu Chunmu even faked Chu Xie’s death and brought him back to the Northern Territory…”
So that was it.
Chu Xie and Xu Chunmu, son of Shen Qianan and grandson of Xu Yi, were actually in love with each other.
This is too funny.
Shen Qian died due to Xu Yi’s betrayal back then, but Chu Xie surprisingly fell in love with Xu Chunmu. They even went so far as to elope twice.
“The young Emperor is filled with youthful exuberance. This time, Chu Xie is clearly running away with Xu Chunmu and forming an alliance with the Xu family to scheme against the young Emperor. Jiang Yanchi is searching the city thinking that Chu Xie died at the hands of Xu Yi in Puyang County. Killing him now would not be worth it and would only incur the new Emperor’s wrath. Think carefully, the young Emperor is sharp and will eventually uncover the truth. Sooner or later, Chu Xie will be executed alongside the Xu family. Why provoke the Emperor’s suspicion at this moment.”
Zhao Lingqu let out a cold laugh.
When Shen Qian attacked the Yue Clan’s royal city back then, he massacred 150,000 Yue Clan soldiers and caused endless slaughter in the city, leading to the destruction of his family.
“None of the Shen family members shall survive. I will take Chu Xie’s life sooner or later.”
He turned his horse and rode back along the official road.
Listening to the fading sound of hooves, Chu Xie missed a few sentences. After asking Xu Chunmu, he said, “The Crown Prince has ascended the throne, and my father… my father…”
Xu Chunmu’s eyes turned red: “My father, he took troops and left the fief privately, and he was slain on the battlefield… How can the Crown Prince be so heartless…? Now that the new Emperor has ascended, my older brother, Xu Changling, is still in the capital city. He…”
“No, I must return to the capital!”
Ancestors, why would you think of returning to the capital at a time like this!
Chu Xie sensed the severity of the situation from these fragmented words alone. He immediately restrained Xu Chunmu and said, “Listen to me. If I were Jiang Yanchi, now reluctantly ascending to the throne, surrounded by formidable enemies, I would place the blame for Jiang Jingan’s death on your Xu family, along with your father leading troops south. It’s a grave crime that won’t be pardoned. One to warn a hundred. To maintain control of the court. Yubei Wang is a weak man; he’ll surely corroborate Jiang Yanchi’s claim. If you return now, you’ll only add another lost soul!”
“But, but my grandfather, my brother… they…”
Chu Xie held Xu Chunmu tightly. “You mustn’t return. I don’t care whether they live or die, but Xu Chunmu, you can’t die!”
It was as if he had just regained some clarity, and he firmly pushed down the dampness in his eyes. He held Chu Xie’s hand comfortingly. “You should go… head southwest for now. I will go back to the capital to handle my brother and my grandfather. I’ll find you later.”
“Xu Chunmu!”
Chu Xie drew back his hand, extremely upset. “Going back to the capital will not change anything. What can you say there? Can you say that your Xu family didn’t rebel? Can you say that Jiang Jingan wasn’t killed by Xu Yi, but by me? Or do you want to confront Jiang Yanchi and question whether he ascended to the throne by patricide, exposing his illegitimate rule to the world? Xu Chunmu, going back to the capital will be completely futile! You won’t be able to save them. Xu Yi brought this upon himself by rebelling. He was meant to die! You can’t do anything about it!”
Xu Chunmu’s expression suddenly changed.
“Do you want me to watch them die? They’re my family! What do you want me to do, just stand by and watch them die?”
Chu Xie’s back stiffened, and he suddenly released his hand.
This was the first time Xu Chunmu had ever gotten so angry with him.
“Chu Xie, how can you speak so lightly… Have you ever saved anyone? Has anyone else ever occupied your heart besides yourself?”
“It doesn’t matter if everyone else dies; as long as you’re alive, it’s okay, isn’t it?”
Chu Xie’s hand began to tremble slowly.
No, it’s not.
“Chu Xie, just like how I did everything to save you. My grandfather, my brother, they’re my family. Even if I can’t save them, I must save them! You might not understand, but you can’t, in my presence, say they deserve to die!”
“My grandfather has been kind to me. To me, he doesn’t deserve to die.”
Chu Xie lowered his head slowly.
He also had someone he had to protect. If Xu Chunmu died in the capital, his little sister wouldn’t survive either.
I am also protecting my only family now.
Chu Xie’s emotional turmoil lasted only a moment before he regained his composure. With a determination to break the mold, he held Xu Chunmu’s hand. “Don’t you like me? Now, I’m begging you, come with me to live in seclusion. We can cut all ties with the capital for the rest of our lives, okay?”
In just a few days, it was Chu Xie who now pleaded for a life of seclusion. It was an example of how fortunes could change quickly.
Xu Chunmu hesitated, a hint of inner struggle in his eyes, and then he fell into a long silence.
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
He was rejected.
Xu Chunmu, why were you such a stubborn person? This only ignited the flames of anger in Chu Xie once again.
Why did he have to do everything that was so thankless?
“Alright, I can’t stop you. Since you want to go back, we’ll return to the capital together.”
Chu Xie said in frustration, as if breaking a jar.
“Ah Xie, you don’t have to—”
“What don’t have to!”
Chu Xie was extremely frustrated, and even the smallest comment from Xu Chunmu could provoke his fiery temper. “I don’t care what you want to do, but one thing, I won’t let you die! Xu Chunmu, no matter what you plan to do, when you go back, you can’t die! You must cherish your life a little, and not go after things that are suicidal!”
Xu Chunmu was taken aback by this tirade and fell silent, unable to say a word.
“Did you hear me? Let’s go back and try. If the young emperor can listen to reason, we can save one person at a time. If he won’t listen, then it’s fate. People live, they do what they can and accept the rest. Xu Chunmu, anyway, you can’t die. Even if I die, you can’t lose your life!”
Chu Xie was agitated, and he kicked away some nearby dead branches and weeds in frustration.
Behind him, Xu Chunmu remained silent, his eyes now filled with affection.
“All right, Ah Xie. I promise you, I won’t die. I also believe that His Majesty is not a heartless and foolish monarch. I’ve made up my mind; I will plead to lead 300,000 troops to push back the northern Xiong to the western border. I’ll trade achievements for forgiveness. All I hope for is that he can spare a few lives in our Xu family, even if it means losing our positions and power…”
When Jiang Yanchi’s name came up, Chu Xie felt an unusual surge of emotions once again.
If they returned to the capital this time, how would he face that b*stard?
Did he really have to marry him?
***
The capital.
Zhao Prison.
Xu Yi was escorted back to the city and thrust into Zhao Prison. He saw the new emperor waiting inside. Seeing Jiang Yanchi, adorned in a jet-black robe with golden cloud patterns, brought back memories of standing by the city walls, gazing at the young Xuanhe Emperor.
“Your Majesty.”
Xu Yi knelt and, with iron chains binding his wrists, folded his hands and performed a respectful bow, observing the proper etiquette.
“Lord Marquis Xu,” Jiang Yanchi’s eyes showed no signs of amusement. “For decades, the Xu family has enjoyed prosperity, and it all began with your actions, but now, it ends with you. Do you feel deeply moved?”
“Deeply moved, it is indeed fate,” Xu Yi sighed, “it was fate that I would be defeated.”
“It’s not fate; it’s me,” the new emperor said as he stepped forward, his shoes pressing against the kneeling Xu Yi’s knees, “who wanted you to be defeated.”
“Your Highness, when did you let Zhou Wen sideline Xu Chang… The authority of the Imperial Guards is the last line of defense within the Imperial City. Yet you’ve used it for regicide. Isn’t that ridiculous?” There was a faint smell of rust in the air, and Xu Yi knew that his life was in grave danger. “Jiang Yanchi, your heart is filled with too much anger. You’ve never received proper upbringing from a young age. A person like you as an emperor will surely bring disaster to the world…”
“You can never become a wise ruler.”
A razor-thin blade pressed against Xu Yi’s chest.
Jiang Yanchi pulled a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. “Whether there’s disaster or not, Marquis Xu, you won’t be around to see it.”
“Where is Chu Xie?”
The blade pierced slightly, tearing through his prisoner’s clothes and drawing a few drops of blood.
“Did you kill him?” His tone was calm but carried a barely noticeable tremor.
“In the current situation, Your Majesty is only asking me this. Why doesn’t Your Majesty inquire about why I rebelled? Why doesn’t Your Majesty ask me about what happened back then—”
The blade did not penetrate. Instead, it scraped against his side, leaving a gash on the skin.
Xu Yi, who was accustomed to the wounds left by swords and spears on the battlefield, remained upright, merely grunting in pain and clutching his injured side.
“I’m asking, where is Chu Xie?” Jiang Yanchi lowered his sleeve and tightly gripped the short blade in his hand.
Blood dripped from the blade, falling into the darkening crevices in the stone.
The prison fire flickered, casting intermittent light and shadow in the cell.
Xu Yi looked up and met Jiang Yanchi’s cold, fragmented eyes.
This time, the blade rested against his neck, just a little more pressure, and it would completely sever his throat.
“Chu Xie is a cunning and malevolent advisor who meddles in politics,” Xu Yi declared, as if he had cast away all fear. “Your Majesty has recently ascended the throne and is already rushing to find this treacherous man. If he truly returns, won’t Great Wei be—”
“Where is he?” The blade cut a little skin and flesh. “I’m sparing your life for this one question. I don’t want to hear anything else.”
“In that case, Your Majesty might as well kill me directly. Why bother asking this one question?”
Jiang Yanchi kicked Xu Yi in the chest, stepping on the wound on his side, emphasizing every word. “If he’s alive, it’s just killing you If he’s dead, I’ll exterminate your entire clan.”
“Chu Xie, is he alive or not?”
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