Three Steps: From Assassin to Empress - Chapter 62
Chapter 62: Beauty Leads to Disaster
Xie Kui’s expression turned solemn. He remained silent, his sleeves covering his hands as he looked north. After a moment, he nodded slightly at Wang Daokui, then turned and walked toward the moon-gate deeper inside the garden.
Wang Daokui took a few steps forward, still wanting to say something, but the boy with the two buns had already stepped forward with a smile, respectfully gesturing to him, clearly indicating that it was time for him to leave.
Wang Daokui gritted his teeth. Back then, the Wang clan of Langya was fully in charge of that case, while the Xie clan of Jianchang only exercised discretionary power.
If the whole truth were to be thoroughly investigated, it would only be their Wang clan’s foundation that would fall. The Xie clan could still sit on their high pedestal and remain a secluded aristocratic family.
Right now, he was the one negotiating the grand plan with the Qiang royalty. Although Xie Kui had agreed, he wasn’t directly involved.
If His Majesty were to find out in the future, the nine generations of their Wang clan would lose their heads, while the Xie clan could rest easy…
His eyes changed slightly. He stood still, lost in thought for a moment, then slowly walked out of the small courtyard.
…
The Return
The emperor had issued an order that the Shouchunwu case was to be jointly re-examined by the Grand Commandant, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Censorate. The importance placed on this case drew the attention of the entire capital.
The case was both difficult and simple. When investigated, the key to convicting Yu Ming lay with a single Qiang person.
Yu Ming was from Yizhou, which bordered Yanmen Pass. Beyond the pass was the grassland, where the Qiang people lived.
At that time, Han people living on the border would intermarry with the Qiang people outside the pass. Later, when the Qiang people moved south to conquer, the two ethnic groups became bitter enemies. The bloodlines of mixed Han and Qiang marriages were not tolerated by either group. countless infants were drowned or abandoned.
Yu Ming had an adopted younger brother, a foundling he picked up from the roadside as a youth. The boy had both Han and Qiang bl00d.
Although by then, Yu Ming and his adopted brother, Yu An, were at odds and hated each other, it didn’t stop this from becoming a reason for the noble clans of the south to attack him. It became the greatest evidence of his collusion with the Qiang.
How could a general of the Southern Dynasty have a brother with Qiang bl00d?
Back then, it would have been simple for Yu Ming to break the stalemate. He only needed to summon his adopted brother, Yu An, and publicly kill him to show his determination to be at odds with the Qiang tribe. This would have bought him a little more time.
But he didn’t. He died in Jiankang. It was only a few days before his death that Yu An, who had been traveling due to a falling out with his brother, received news of him.
The warm and fragrant wind of the capital blew in his face. Yu An stepped off the large ship, squinting as he looked up at the towers hidden in the mist.
He was in a trance, remembering seventeen years ago. He was just a boy then when he heard that his brother’s entire family had been convicted. He rode a single horse, traveling by moonlight and starlight.
He galloped thirteen thousand li in three days and two nights.
He thought that if he was fast enough, he could offer his head to save his brother’s family.
But he was still too late.
He only managed to save his three-year-old nephew, naming him Ying Xiu, and took him into seclusion in the mountains to avoid being hunted.
He had thought that he would never set foot in Jiankang again.
After all this time, he was back.
…
A Son’s Innocence
Ying Xiu walked back and forth in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, craning his neck and looking out. He didn’t know when his father would enter the palace. He couldn’t help but ask the chief eunuch not far away.
The chief eunuch secretly wiped a bead of sweat. How should he speak to the future empress to show his loyalty?
He took small, quick steps forward and said respectfully, “My Lord, His Majesty has already sent people to pick up Lord Yu. According to the time, he should be arriving soon.”
Ying Xiu obediently said, “Oh,” and brought a small stool to sit at the hall entrance, waiting eagerly.
As he waited, his thoughts began to wander. Dad has never liked the noble clans. Although Xie Zhou isn’t from a noble clan, he seems to be even more powerful than them…
Will Dad be angry that I’m with Xie Zhou?
Ying Xiu rubbed his hands. It wasn’t cold, but he had a habit of making small movements when he felt guilty.
On the layers of stone steps below the platform in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, several figures appeared in the distance. A few eunuchs were surrounding a nine-foot-tall figure walking toward them.
Ying Xiu stood up with a start and waved happily at his dad.
The palace city was solemn and majestic. This was Yu An’s first time entering the palace.
He had come to the capital to clear his brother’s name. He never thought he would enter the palace. To his surprise, the officials of the Three Ministries had been incredibly accommodating, carefully recording his testimony. At the end, someone told him that Ying Xiu was waiting for him in the palace.
Ying Xiu, in the palace?
He had a bad feeling.
He saw someone waving at him from the majestic hall in the distance. The uneasy feeling in Yu An’s heart grew stronger.
When he got closer, it was indeed Ying Xiu.
“…Why are you in a place like this?” Ignoring the eunuchs next to him, Yu An walked into the hall and asked Ying Xiu in a low voice.
Ying Xiu was stunned for a moment and answered honestly, “Because Xie Zhou is here.”
Yu An seemed to realize something. He looked around the palace, and his expression changed slightly. “Xie Zhou, is he the current emperor?”
Before Ying Xiu could nod and praise his dad’s quick wit, his dad had already pulled him over and sighed. “The Yin family are not…”
He had just started to speak when Yu An cautiously looked around. He found that the hall was filled with people, both in plain sight and in the shadows.
Judging by the subtle sounds of their breathing, these people were all one-in-a-million experts.
Ying Xiu, oh Ying Xiu, what kind of person have you gotten yourself involved with?
Looking at Ying Xiu’s clear, naive expression, Yu An sighed inwardly. He wanted to say something but found it hard to start. He could only whisper to Ying Xiu, “When you’re with people from the Yin family, you must be careful. If things get really bad, just use your light-foot skill to slip away quietly. Dad will naturally come to help you.”
Yin was the imperial surname of the Southern Dynasty. Ying Xiu knew this. He thought for a moment and nodded earnestly. “Okay!”
He actually wanted to say, Dad, I’m already very careful. I don’t pull Xie Zhou’s blanket at night, and I don’t kick him off the bed.
But looking at Yu An’s serious expression, as if he had aged ten years, Ying Xiu decided not to say anything.
As if he had thought of something, Yu An spoke again. Although he was very restrained, his voice still held a hint of shock. “The male empress they are talking about outside, is that you?”
Ying Xiu gave a guilty smile. Not far away, the chief eunuch who was silently watching quickly spoke up, “Lord Yu, don’t just stand there. Please sit down.”
With that, the chief eunuch immediately ordered people to serve them tea. Not only that, but he also sent all the pastries from the Imperial Kitchen at once, filling a whole table.
Whenever Ying Xiu encountered a question he couldn’t answer, the chief eunuch would thoughtfully pour tea into Yu An’s cup. Yu An, who had lived in seclusion, was not good at rejecting others’ kindness, so he drank it whenever it was full.
“Do you know what people are saying about that… How can I be at ease with you and him…” Yu An said as he drank the tea.
The chief eunuch kept pouring the tea, Yu An kept drinking, and Ying Xiu kept chewing slowly.
For a moment, the scene was very harmonious.
“…No more,” Yu An hugged his empty cup, refusing to let the chief eunuch pour him more tea.
Thinking about it, he was surprised. The chief eunuch, who was in charge of the inner court and was above ten thousand people, was so respectful and polite to Ying Xiu.
It showed how much the tyrant cared for Ying Xiu.
When the master was so devoted, the servants wouldn’t dare to bully him.
However, the emperor’s heart was hard to predict. How long could this favor last?
Yu An was very worried about Ying Xiu’s future. Ying Xiu was completely unaware until he realized that Yu An had suddenly fallen silent. He then belatedly asked, “Dad, what’s wrong?”
Yu An glared at him. ‘What’s wrong with me?’ I’m afraid you’ll be tormented to death by the tyrant.
After beating around the bush, he finally got back to the point and found out that Ying Xiu was actually the Wang clan of Langya’s assassin. Yu An was silent for a long time. Finally, he gave a smile.
Ying Xiu was very familiar with this smile. Whenever his dad smiled like this, it meant someone was about to have a bad day.
…
An Unspoken Dread
In the hall, the older man smiled chillingly, and the younger one looked at him blankly.
Outside the hall, a palace servant was about to announce the emperor’s arrival, but the emperor gently waved his hand, stopping him.
Looking at His Majesty’s figure, the palace servant couldn’t help but mutter in his heart. He felt that His Majesty was dressed even more dignified and solemn than usual today, as if he were going to meet some great personage.
Yu An was about to give Ying Xiu a few more pointers when Ying Xiu suddenly stood up, his eyes curved into a smile, and he rushed in a certain direction. “Xie Zhou! You’re back!”
Xie Zhou reached out and skillfully caught the youth who had rushed toward him. He lowered his eyes and looked at Ying Xiu for a long time before looking up at Yu An.
Yu An also stood up and watched this scene, unable to describe how he felt.
Ying Xiu had no memory of his birth parents, but Yu An remembered everything clearly. The late emperor was moody, suspicious, and fickle. He would grant a title to his brother who had returned victorious, and then, without a moment’s hesitation, he would use it as an excuse to exterminate his entire family.
How could the current Emperor Zhaosu, who had the late emperor’s bl00d, be a good person?
Over the years, countless people had cursed him as a tyrant. The heads of those noble officials, marquises, and generals had rolled down, enough to build a towering monument of bodies.
He was only afraid…
Yu An looked up, his eyes fixed on the emperor. There was no expression on his face.
The tall and majestic emperor held Ying Xiu in his arms, his eyes still and his demeanor tranquil. It was as if he had reined in his power, looking down at him calmly with a cold, weary expression that came from being in a high position for too long. In his eyes, all living things were just ants.
And he, Yu An, was no different from those ants. The only reason he could appear before the emperor was because of Ying Xiu.
The emperor was arrogant, cold, and there wasn’t even a hint of disgust. He just glanced at him lightly.
Yu An’s heart trembled. He wasn’t a fool. The palace servant had taught him the proper etiquette for meeting the emperor. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed to the emperor. “This commoner greets Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!”
Seeing his dad kneel, Ying Xiu quickly broke free from Xie Zhou’s embrace and went forward to help his dad up. However, no matter how much he tried, Yu An wouldn’t get up.
The emperor’s gaze fell on Ying Xiu’s hand. He subtly frowned and said softly, “Please rise, Lord Yu.”
Only then did Yu An get up. He stood quietly to the side. Ying Xiu’s hand was still on him, but he carefully pulled away.
Ying Xiu might not have been able to see it, but Yu An, as an outsider, could clearly see the infamous tyrant’s possessiveness toward Ying Xiu was indescribable.
Sigh, he knew that Ying Xiu had always liked good-looking people since he was a child. He just didn’t expect him to attract a person like this when he grew up.
Beauty leads to disaster, beauty leads to disaster.