Ashes to Crown

Chapter 71: Chapter 34: Behind the Scenes

Unlike the illustrious Yang and Zhao Families, who held sway over the imperial court, the Xie family had no members serving as officials in the Capital City since the Crown Princess Consort’s marriage. Those who had previously held office either resigned or were dispatched to posts in the county governments.

It was said that for the Yang and Zhao Families, even the son of a favored servant would be eagerly granted an official post, to say nothing of their own scions. Yet a renowned young master of the Xie family like Xie Yanfang remained at leisure at home.

Over the years, the Crown Prince had repeatedly suggested that Xie Yanfang accept an official position, but Xie Yanfang always demurred, offering one excuse after another. After so many refusals, the Crown Prince’s notoriously short temper finally snapped.

”My alliance with the Xie family was not formed merely for the purpose of siring children,” the Crown Prince said coldly, his eyes filled with malice. ”Third Young Master Xie, you yourself once said this alliance was a punishment for you. Yet you live so comfortably. This hardly seems like a punishment.”

’The Third Prince grows ever more audacious, yet the Emperor continues to turn a blind eye. The Zhao Family’s influence swells by the day, and the Yang Family is clearly losing ground.’

’And yet the Xie family hides in the background, enjoying a life of leisure.’

’He had granted the Xie family the status of imperial relatives not out of benevolence, nor because he was captivated by the beauty of a Xie woman.’

’It was so the three factions would fight amongst themselves, allowing him, the one in power, to rule with ease.’

”Your Highness, you misunderstand,” Xie Yanfang said, his expression one of resignation. ”My inaction at this moment is, in fact, the best way I can assist you.”

The Crown Prince sneered. ”Let’s hear this twisted logic of yours.”

”The Third Prince must be eliminated,” Xie Yanfang said.

The Crown Prince jumped in surprise. It was as if he was seeing the thirteen-year-old Xie Yanfang all over again. He had been standing at the bottom of a hill, looking up at the boy who had suddenly appeared at its peak. The boy had been dressed in white, a crossbow in hand. And though he had the face of an angel, the fright he inspired was that of a phantom.

’Though he himself was no stranger to killing and utterly detested his third brother, he had never truly dared to consider eliminating him—not while the Emperor was still alive.’

”Do you think he’s some stray dog you can just put down?” the Crown Prince snapped. ”He is deeply favored by the Emperor and has the Zhao Family catering to his every whim! And don’t be fooled into thinking he’s spent all these years just hiding away with his books.”

’Under the guise of scholarship, he’s been gathering connections and building his reputation. There’s no telling how many men and how much money the Third Prince now commands.’

Xie Yanfang smiled. ”That is precisely why. With the Yang Family operating in the open and me in the shadows, we can better serve Your Highness.”

”Oh?” the Crown Prince said. ”And how?”

”The Yang Family makes a lot of noise, so all eyes are on them. There are many things they cannot do conveniently and many people they cannot associate with. That is where we come in,” Xie Yanfang said, producing a scroll. ”This is a list of people I have visited over the years. There are members of prestigious clans, talented hermits from the mountains and wilds, and some seemingly insignificant individuals—diamonds in the rough who will prove useful when the time is right.”

The Crown Prince reached for the scroll and unfurled it. A smile spread across his face, the malice in his eyes dissipating. ”Not bad, not bad at all. My uncle certainly couldn’t have managed this. Take this one, for example—”

He pointed to one of the names, a look of both annoyance and amusement on his face.

”A few years ago, my uncle went to pay him a visit. When the man heard he was coming, he packed his bags that very night, scaled his own wall, and fled.”

’It wasn’t necessarily that the man was unwilling to serve him, but that he disdained the Yang Family’s reputation and refused to associate with them.’

’Compared to the Yang Family, the Xie family certainly left a much better impression.’

Just as the Crown Prince was about to look away, his eyes slid over a name and paused.

”This Chu Ling—”

Xie Yanfang knew the Crown Prince would have questions.

’The Crown Prince prided himself on his martial prowess, but he disliked any prowess that did not submit to his own. Therefore, he would naturally dislike a man like Chu Ling.’

He explained, ”Although this Chu Ling showed great disrespect toward His Majesty, defied an imperial edict out of sheer arrogance, and was subsequently cast aside, he has still managed to hold his position as General Wei for over a decade. This suggests His Majesty must still harbor some unresolved feelings for him. A person like that might, at a critical moment, say a single word that could have a massive impact. So, I’m keeping him in reserve—”

The Crown Prince burst out laughing. ’Sometimes, even cleverness has its limits.’

”Third Son, everything you’ve said is correct,” he said. ”But Chu Ling is dying.”

Xie Yanfang was genuinely surprised by this. ”I’ve heard nothing about it.”

”It’s no surprise you don’t know,” the Crown Prince said with a laugh. ”He’s a man no one ever hears from. Who would pay attention to news about him?”

’Even if Chu Ling were dead, who would care?’

Xie Yanfang asked, curious, ”Your Highness, how do you know?”

”The Emperor told me,” the Crown Prince said casually. ”If he’s going to die, then let him. And he still has the gall to write a letter to the Emperor? What, is he hoping for a posthumous title?”

How amusing. The Crown Prince roared with laughter.

Xie Yanfang did not smile. His expression grew pensive. ”So, apart from His Majesty, no one else knows?”

The Crown Prince found this amusing. ”What if they did? Would he have the audacity to go around telling everyone he’s dying? Most people can’t wait for him to drop dead anyway.”

He waved a hand dismissively.

”Since you’re unwilling to accept a post, just pick someone from your family and send them to the Border County to take over Chu Ling’s position. It’s an insignificant post, so it won’t draw too much attention. Better than letting the Zhao Family snatch it up.”

Xie Yanfang murmured an ”oh.”

’Does that ”oh” mean yes or no?’ The Crown Prince glared. ’The boy seems to be lost in thought.’

”What are you thinking about?” he demanded.

’Chu Ling.’ Xie Yanfang mulled the name over. ”No wonder his daughter has returned to the Capital City,” he said. ”So he’s sending his young back to the nest.”

’Still thinking about Chu Ling?’ The Crown Prince waved his hand dismissively. ”Forget about him. He’s not worth your thoughts. An insignificant man.”

”No,” Xie Yanfang said with a smile. ”He may be insignificant, but this time, he can be of service to Your Highness. You are, of course, aware that the Third Prince is holding a literary salon.”

The Crown Prince sneered. ”I’m even aware that once his salon is concluded, he intends to have these gathered scholars spread the notion that the heir should be chosen based on merit, not seniority.”

The Zhao Family and the Third Prince were growing impatient. The Emperor’s health was failing. If they waited until the Emperor actually passed away, the Crown Prince’s succession would be perfectly legitimate, and all their schemes would be for naught.

Xie Yanfang said, ”Your Highness need not concern yourself with such petty tricks.”

The Crown Prince laughed. ”Of course I’m not concerned! He’s just an incompetent whelp. What can he possibly achieve with mere words? I’m just waiting for him to stir up trouble. In fact, I was just lamenting the lack of a good reason to put down those treacherous rebels who dare to challenge their superiors.”

Xie Yanfang nodded with a smile. ”Compared to status and power, mere favor is fragile indeed. But before it comes to that, Your Highness can still cause the Third Prince a bit of embarrassment.”

The Crown Prince looked at him. ”I would not stoop to disrupting his little salon.”

’The more insolent the Third Prince becomes, the more he must play the part of the magnanimous elder brother. There was no need to displease the Emperor over a simple literary salon.’

Xie Yanfang said, ”Your Highness need not act personally. Chu Ling’s daughter has already made the first move on your behalf.”

”Chu Ling’s daughter?” The Crown Prince was puzzled. ”Explain.”

Xie Yanfang smiled. ”Somehow—whether through the Third Prince’s secret instruction or some opportunism on his own part—Chu Ling’s nephew obtained an invitation to the salon. However, Chu Ling’s daughter publicly snatched the invitation from him, declaring her cousin unworthy of it.”

He had learned of the commotion in the building as soon as it began, and he knew instantly how to make use of the incident—and the person.

”If an invitation to the Third Prince’s salon is something even a young woman scorns... well, doesn’t that make the whole salon a laughingstock?”