Palace Coup 48

Xie Yuan was so furious that he smashed a set of tea cups.

"She won’t listen to you? Does she refuse even to heed her own uncle? I will personally go to the manor and bring her back."

If she truly does not know her place and dares to block his path, a ruthless gleam flashed briefly in his eyes. Then he, as her uncle, would show no mercy.

Madam Xie spoke up, "Since she is so stubborn and unruly, it seems she has made up her mind. She still has about a hundred retainers with her. If you go, sir, it would be best to bring others from the clan along, with enough men."

Her words made Xie Yuan pause. Then he reconsidered—if he brought clan members, they would have to share the spoils. Decisively, he said, "No need. Just summon all the retainers in the household."

Bringing a young lady back was nothing more than a matter of a single order.

Night had already fallen when they finally gathered scattered retainers, numbering about a hundred. It was already curfew time.

Xie Yuan was so angry he ignored that Xun Ming was still at home, berating several retainers who moved too slowly.

Madam Xie said beside him, "She won’t get away. We’ll leave early tomorrow."

While Xie Miaoxuan was immersed in her martial insights, the main branch of the Xie family, led by Xun Ming, was marching with a large force through the bustling market streets toward her location.

Old Wen had arrived early at the capital’s market today. The young lady had given his grandson a name the other day and promised he could join her household soon, with a steady income. The whole family had been joyful these past two days.

Even his seriously ill daughter’s complexion was improving.

Thinking of his grandson’s favorite snack, candied hawthorn skewers, he decided to surprise him.

Clutching three skewers tightly, he walked briskly toward the city gate.

Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves thundered behind him. "Beggar, get out of the way!"

Xun Ming, already seething with anger, saw an old man in ragged clothes blocking the path ahead. He snatched a spear from a retainer and hurled it fiercely.

Thud—

Lost in joy, Old Wen felt a chill in his chest and was violently thrown forward.

The skewers he held rolled to the ground as blood gushed from his chest.

"...Candied hawthorn..."

He struggled to retrieve the skewers before him, but the short distance felt like an insurmountable chasm.

"Ah... murder!"

The crowd around stirred in panic. Someone’s foot just stepped on the skewers.

---

"No... don’t step on it, it’s for the banquet..."

Xun Ming, seeing the old beggar still breathing, kicked him aside and spat, "Blocking my path means death."

A crowd followed, exiting through the city gate.

No one noticed the beggar’s corpse left at the street corner.

Before Xie Yuan and the others stretched vast farmlands appeared.

A swarm of men swept through the unharvested fields like locusts, trampling down crops along the way.

Xie Yuan gazed covetously at the sprawling estate.

This must be tens of thousands of acres!

On the outskirts of the capital, it was worth at least fifty thousand taels of silver.

Xie Qi had silently acquired such a huge property near the capital—what was he plotting?

Before being purged from the clan, these holdings should have been under the clan leader’s control. Xie Qi was utterly reckless.

They made no effort to conceal their approach, and soon patrol retainers blocked their way.

Xun Ming had already relayed the intelligence to Xie Yuan. Seeing a dozen or so vigorous retainers armed with knives guarding the road, Xie Yuan roared, "Open your eyes wide! I am the clan leader of the Xie family, the elder uncle of Xie Miaoxuan!"

Madam Xie said, "You must be the retainers who escorted Miaoxuan to the capital. Do you still remember these three?"

Cuier, Nian Momo, and Wen Zhuo stepped forward.

The retainers blocking the road hesitated, knives neither fully raised nor lowered.

These three had accompanied the party from Nanhai Commandery to the capital. They were all recognized, especially Cuier, who had been the young lady’s personal maid.

They truly were the young lady’s kin. Initially, they intended to seek support from Xie Yuan. Although the young lady defected at the last moment, as Xie retainers, many hesitated. They dared not truly attack Xie Yuan and his group, caught in a stalemate.

"Step aside! Where is Xie Miaoxuan? Bring her out to see me!"

Some wiser men, sensing trouble, hurried back to inform Xie Miaoxuan.

The commotion was loud enough that she already heard the thunder of hooves. Grasping her sword, she stepped outside.

She collided face-to-face with the retainers who had come to deliver the message.

"Miss, the clan leader has arrived."

---

Her brows furrowed tightly. "The main branch of the Xie family?"

"Yes, and they brought over a hundred men, all armed."

They came with ill intent.

"Go notify Langjun to summon all the retainers."

By the time she arrived at the standoff, the surrounding fields were already devastated, golden wheat scattered and trampled in the mud.

The farmers gathered around silently, angry but afraid to speak.

Xie Miaoxuan’s expression was dark and terrifying.

Cuier, upon seeing her, turned to Xie Yuan and the others. "Master, this is the young lady."

Xie Yuan and Madam Xie looked toward Xie Miaoxuan. The girl was dressed in riding attire—tight-waisted sleeves, fair skin, a high nose bridge, and sharp, heroic features.

Cuier said, "Miss, the master has come. Hurry and pay respects."

She had awaited this day for an unknown time. Thinking of all her schemes undone by Xie Miaoxuan’s last-minute betrayal, causing her much suffering, she could hardly wait to see Xie Miaoxuan punished by Xie Yuan.

She tried to approach Xie Miaoxuan, who sidestepped smoothly.

"You, traitor, dare to show your face before me?"

Xie Miaoxuan’s gaze was cold, her glassy eyes filled with chilling frost. Cuier was startled but seeing the clan leader behind her, she straightened her chest, thinking that if she behaved well now, she might regain Madam Xie’s favor.

"Miss, are you still angry with me?"

"But no matter how angry you are, you cannot fail to pay respects when you see the clan leader."

Looking at Xie Miaoxuan’s watery eyes and the heroic spirit in her brows, Cuier’s resentment gnawed at her heart like ants.

Both were orphaned daughters—why did the young lady still hold such pride?

"Miss has always been like this, reckless and self-willed, disregarding the greater good. Now you even ignore the clan leader. I accompanied you all the way to the capital, yet you insist on following Xie Yuanju on your own and even threaten to kill me for advising you. I, Cuier, cannot serve such a mistress."

"Moreover, you say I betray you, yet these items were gifts from you to me. Now, just because I said something you disliked, you accuse me of stealing. Is this how you command your subordinates—with slander and framing?"

Cuier’s words lifted her arrogance, secretly thinking that once Xie Miaoxuan relented today and offended the clan leader, her days in the Xie household would surely grow difficult.