Ashes to Crown

Chapter 203: Chapter 30: Palace Banquet (3)

Xie Yanfang looked at Mr. Xie. ”The reason you think Miss Chu should have greeted us is because you feel she is beneath us. If you saw her as you see Deng Yi, you wouldn’t think that way.”

Mr. Xie was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. ”But how can she compare to Deng Yi?”

That scoundrel Deng Yi schemed his way to the top, seizing power during the chaos. The late Emperor entrusted his heir to him, and now he holds the Jade Seal, the Tiger Talisman, and all military authority. As Regent, he rules the court with an iron fist.

”She’s just like Deng Yi,” Xie Yanfang said.

”At such a young age, she came from the Border County to the Capital City. First, to clear her father’s name, she fought and viciously cursed the Liang Family. Then she confronted the Third Prince and single-handedly organized the Chu Garden Literary Meeting to build her reputation. She controls an unconventional army, rose to prominence amidst the chaos, saved the Imperial Grandson, was entrusted by the late Emperor, and now attends court with the new emperor.”

”Seventh Uncle, you can’t underestimate her just because she’s a woman,” Xie Yanfang said softly. ”She isn’t reliant on us. Her current standing isn’t because of us. On the contrary, the fact that the Xie family still has its place today is because of her.”

Mr. Xie fell silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh. ”I know that, of course. I’m just—” He clenched his fists. ”Unwilling to accept it.”

’The Xie family has a great legacy and immense power,’ he thought. ’Xie Yanfang’s fame is known throughout the land. Yet in the end, we’re standing on equal footing with these two nobodies—or even a step below them! How can I accept that?’

”There’s nothing to be bitter about. Think of the Yang and Zhao families. Think of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, or even the late Emperor. Are any of them happy with how things turned out?” Xie Yanfang said. ”Seventh Uncle, our Xie family has survived. We can still stand tall in the imperial court. That alone is a stroke of incredible luck. Do you have any idea how many people are bitter about *us*?”

Mr. Xie gave an arrogant snort. ”Let them be bitter.”

Xie Yanfang smiled. ”Exactly. Let them be bitter. But we shouldn’t be bitter about Miss Chu. We need to win her over and build a good relationship with her, lest she be pulled away by others who are feeling just as bitter.”

’Just now, as he was persuading Mr. Xie, wasn’t he also telling himself the very same thing?’

’He remembered the first time he met that girl. She had told him frankly that she came to make his acquaintance. He had accepted, but he’d told Uncle Cai that it was merely an acquaintance, not a true connection.’

’A true connection required a sincere exchange of benefits.’

’Back then, neither the girl nor the father behind her had enough standing to forge a real connection with the Xie family.’

’Now, she could. It had happened so fast, in the blink of an eye.’

’She was growing even faster than he had at thirteen.’

A sudden knock on the carriage window interrupted Xie Yanfang’s thoughts. Mr. Xie slid the window open and saw Du Qi outside.

”The Empress wishes to see you, Young Master,” he said in a low voice.

Mr. Xie said urgently, ”Turn the carriage around—”

Xie Yanfang stopped him. ”There’s too much traffic on the road; it’ll be difficult to turn around. It’s not far, I’ll walk from here.”

Everyone had worn informal attire for the palace banquet today. On the Imperial Street, otherwise filled with only Imperial Guards and servants, the sudden appearance of a graceful young master in a white robe drew countless eyes. He was instantly recognized as Third Young Master Xie.

Xie Yanfang paid no mind to the prying eyes. Accompanied by Du Qi, he strolled nonchalantly against the flow of traffic, heading toward the Imperial City.

”Where is Third Young Master Xie going?”

”He can do whatever he pleases. He’s the Imperial Uncle, after all—the only one.”

Third Young Master Xie! Qi Leyun nearly threw open the window curtain to lean out for a better look, but her friends held her down firmly. ”Behave yourself! If you keep acting so improperly, your mother said she’ll punish you. A mother disciplining her daughter is only right and proper. Not even the Empress could interfere with that.”

Qi Leyun pouted and sat back down, her eyes lighting up with excitement. ”Even though Ah Zhao didn’t marry Third Young Master Xie or that Xie Yanlai, she’s still related to him now. And she can see him whenever she wants—summon him and he has to come—”

The other girls clapped a hand over her mouth. ”Hush! Don’t talk so much. What’s past is past, don’t bring it up again.”

Qi Leyun let out a pair of muffled protests.

’But then she suddenly thought, had the past really just... passed?’

’Third Young Master Xie, Xie Yanlai...’

’What a shame.’

’The would-be lovers had ultimately become an uncle and his nephew’s wife.’