Palace Coup 47

"Indeed," Xie Yuanju affirmed on the side, raising a hand to suppress the restlessness of the personal guards.

Lige said, "It seems I need to revise my teaching schedule for you."

Such a talented seed for martial arts naturally required careful cultivation.

New plans were already taking shape in Lige's mind, awaiting his return to carve them anew upon the wooden tablets.

Xie Yuanju, however, considered much more. He stated, "Before you have fully grown, the possession of a treasure becomes a crime. Today's events must not be spoken of outside."

Xie Miaoxuan understood that his reasoning was sound. Even without considering the inherent difficulties of her status as a woman, in the treacherous and unpredictable territory of the capital, her innate supernatural talent would likely arouse the jealousy and suspicion of people who had previously harbored no animosity toward her.

While she was still incapable of standing entirely on her own, lying low and growing in strength was the wisest strategy.

Her gaze swept over the gathered figures one by one.

Lige was the master who instructed her, Xie Yuanju was her prospective husband, and she needed no confirmation of Xie Xiao's loyalty.

Meeting her gaze, all the personal guards struck their right fists against their chests and dropped to one knee. "We swear to the death to protect the young lady's safety."

At this moment, Xie Miaoxuan knew she no longer needed to rely on the lingering protection of her adoptive father to completely secure the loyalty of the guards.

From now on, she possessed the power—forged by her own hands—to protect herself and others.

...

When Xun Ming, covered in wounds, was carried back to the manor, Xun Cheng had not yet returned.

Lying in bed, he felt as though he were roasting in a pan of boiling oil, venom radiating from his eyes.

He lashed out with his foot, kicking away the servant who was applying medicine. "Useless trash! When you saw me being humiliated by that wretched woman, how could you just stand there without coming to my aid?"

Xiao Xia dropped to his knees with a thud, tears streaming down his face. "This slave did not, this slave was no match for them, I was beaten by them too, look..."

He extended his arms to display the bruises covering his skin in dark, purplish patches.

At the time, the young master had ordered him to guard the horses in the rear, promising that it would take only a moment to bring people back to the capital, and telling him to clear out some space in the carriage to load treasures.

Yet when he finished tidying the carriage, he discovered the young master pinned to the ground and beaten by that woman.

He had rushed forward immediately, only to be struck by some unknown projectile, suffering excruciating pain.

After making a few more attempts to approach, he realized it was the young gentleman by the woman's side who was kicking pebbles from the ground to strike him.

Therefore, he was truly wronged.

Unwilling to listen to his sophistry, Xun Ming picked up the medicine bowl and smashed it straight against the servant's forehead.

Fresh blood instantly streamed down from the crown of his head.

Paralyzed by pain, Xiao Xia trembled, not daring to raise a hand to cover the wound, his eyes rolling craftily. "Young master, you must avenge this! It was Xie Miaohan who sent you to find those people. Since you suffered such a massive loss, it is only right that you go to her for an explanation."

"We are outsiders after all, powerless to handle that woman, but the Xie clan at least holds the status of elders, and Xie Yuan is that woman's own eldest uncle. Surely they can deal with her?"

"Today, the Heir Apparent went to great lengths to find her, and we merely went to remind her that it was time to return, only to be subjected to a brutal beating by her. She shows utter disregard for the Xie clan. Someone so unfilial and devoid of brotherly love deserves to be severely disciplined by the clan elders."

Xun Ming halted his intended follow-up blow. Mulling over Xiao Xia's words, he found them remarkably sensible.

He had gone out of his goodness of heart to advise someone, only to suffer an unprovoked beating; the Xie clan naturally owed him an explanation.

Moreover, this wretched woman needed to be taught a stern lesson.

With the senior members of the clan stepping forward, could a mere female afford to disregard ritual propriety and moral teachings?!

Even before setting foot in the capital, the hussy dared to treat him thus; he would undoubtedly ruin her reputation entirely.

"Quickly, send a message to Xie Miaohan, and prepare the carriage and horses for the Xie residence."

For the past two days, Xie Yuan had remained trapped within the manor like an ant on a hot pan, anxiously awaiting news from Xun Ming's end.

Only the final day—tomorrow—remained of the three-day limit he had promised the Grand Tutor.

There was no shortage of wealthy individuals in the capital; countless people coveted his fifth-rank position as a military advisor and his eldest son Xie Bu's sixth-rank post as a diarist of imperial daily life.

If he missed this opportunity, not only would he be thoroughly looked down upon by the Grand Tutor's faction, but he also feared he would never again have a chance to enter the imperial court!

Xie Yuan's complexion was exceptionally grim, and when speaking of Xie Miaoxuan, he discarded any trace of the hypocritical benevolence he usually feigned.

"I should have known from the start that the daughter born to someone like Xie Qi would naturally possess a rebellious spine. If not for the scarcity of men we could dispatch at the time, we should have sent a hundred or so guards from the estate to escort her. Regret comes too late! Madam, tomorrow is the final day; sitting here idly waiting will not do. Let Han'er go to the Marquis's estate and inquire about the progress."

Madam Xie lowered her teacup, her fingers tracing the rim in a manner that concealed any trace of her satirical smile. Over that thousand-li journey northward, the road had been fraught with hardships, dangers, and rampant banditry; leaving aside whether he would be willing to risk his own estate's guards, the expenses for the round trip alone were astronomical.

Xie Miaoxuan had lost nearly a thousand skilled fighters along the way.

Only by seeing Xie Miaoxuan's people dead could her strength upon returning to the clan be successfully diminished.

Seated beside her, Xie Miaohan could no longer contain herself and sprang eagerly to her feet. "Father, I will go at once."

"Hold on."

Madam Xie frowned. "How can you, a young lady of good family, repeatedly call upon an unmarried man?"

"Mother, what time is it now? Who cares how many times I've gone out?"

Xie Yuan's expression darkened further.

"Madam, Han'er is right. Once I and Bu'er secure official positions in the court and attain official status, that will be the greatest honor for her; otherwise, who would ever deign to notice our Xie residence?"

"I am not trying to obstruct you, my lord. The two of you, father and daughter, share the exact same temperament—you are far too impatient. I had a method prepared and was on the verge of speaking when the two of you rushed in and interrupted."

"Furthermore, Han'er visiting the Marquis's estate constantly... once or twice may pass, but it cannot happen a third time. Whatever has been done will inevitably leave traces. Han'er has already reached maidenhood; she truly cannot continue to show her face in public so frequently."

Unable to wait for her to elaborate leisurely, Xie Yuan urged, "Do tell us, Madam, what method is this?"

Madam Xie took a sip of tea. "If my conjecture is correct, given that Xun Cheng holds the post of Minister of the衛 (衛 indicating military/guard commands), it would take him at most a single day to track down the whereabouts of a person anywhere in the vicinity of the capital."

"Yet this is already the second day."

"If he has still brought no news by the second day, it is likely that Xun Ming took it upon himself to share Han'er's worries and went on his own initiative to persuade Xuan'er to return. If I am not mistaken, we should see Xuan'er today."

In private, Han'er had listened to her instructions, dangling Xun Ming along in accordance with her guidance.

From these interactions, she had discerned that Xun Ming harbored his own little schemes—nothing more than wanting to take her daughter as his principal wife while also absorbing Xie Miaoxuan's vast wealth into his household, enjoying the blessings of multiple wives.

Since he harbored such ambitions, it was quite likely that Xun Ming would manage to locate Xie Miaoxuan today and bring her back.

Although Xun Ming could not inherit a title of nobility, he was nonetheless a legitimate son raised in a prestigious, aristocratic family of immense wealth and influence, possessing a certain romantic flair of his own.

A young woman like Xie Miaoxuan, raised in the remote southern borderlands, would inevitably be captivated upon suddenly encountering such a gentleman.

Moreover, if Xun Ming were wise, he would have his elder brother Xun Cheng lend him a detachment of the imperial guards; even if Xie Miaoxuan truly harbored rebellious intentions, she would have no means of resistance.

Her calculations had been thorough, but when Xun Ming arrived at the Xie residence battered and bruised, bringing the news that Xie Miaoxuan had not only refused to return obediently but had instead given him a thorough beating, the calculated composure vanished entirely from Madam Xie's face.

Leaving behind only a sheet of gloomy, murderous intent.