Chapter 63: An Illegitimate Access to the Throne

He seated himself in the high place without bidding Xun Yu rise, a look of keen amusement in his eyes. "No matter. He was originally the young master of the marquisate; it was on my account that his jealousy was deeply stirred. Having been proud and arrogant for so many years, naturally he would not regard me, a half-brother met midway, as of any consequence."

Hearing this, Xun Yu felt his heart skip a beat. Far from feeling any relief, he lowered his torso even further, pressing his forehead against the floor. "Your Highness, rest assured. I shall have him locked within the residence this very moment, so that he will never again have the means to go out and stir up trouble."

After a long silence, the person in the seat above uttered a single response: "Mm."

Xun Yu let out a vast breath of relief.

He wiped the cold sweat from his brow, resolving firmly this time to properly rein in Xun Ming and never again afford him the opportunity to speak presumptuously and offend this personage.

"Your Highness, the plant planted within the imperial palace has brought forth the latest intelligence. The Emperor has passed away. He Dai has sealed off the news and withheld the announcement of the demise while exerting all his strength to win over Shi Chong. Furthermore, he has secretly dispatched men to escort Prince Li into the capital. Your subordinate surmises that once he gains control of the imperial guards, he will inevitably compel the Emperor to command the feudal lords. When that time comes, it will be an opportune moment for Your Highness to swing your troops northward and purge the court of evil ministers."

"The Emperor's acquisition of the throne was illegitimate to begin with. If not for him seizing the opportunity of the late Emperor's passing while Your Highness was away in the fiefdom and too late to amend the imperial edict, Your Highness would be the one seated in that position today."

"Now, regardless of Your Highness being the direct imperial lineage of the late Emperor, He Dai secretly seeks to introduce that plump collateral-branch Prince Li into the capital. As long as we expose his intentions and let the court officials know, the court will inevitably fall into chaos. At that time, Your Highness may once again summon the hearts of the realm under the banner of orthodoxy. Younger brother succeeding elder brother is truly a matter of course and in accordance with proper names. Your Highness ascending the precious throne will be the collective desire of all, and every noble family in the realm will revere you."

He paused, stealing a cautious glance at Xun Cheng's expression, and hesitated before saying, "It is only that his actions are overly cautious. If this is delayed any longer, I fear Zhu Ben will detect it. Zhu Ben has always been at odds with him, and the borderlands will fall into chaos."

Xun Cheng stroked his jade thumb-ring, his lowered gaze falling upon Xun Yu at his feet.

"No matter. Zhu Ben has guarded the borderlands for many years and cannot maintain a thorough grasp of the capital's situation. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. When necessary, you shall lend He Dai a helping hand to hasten his actions."

"Understood."

Once the person in the high seat departed, the room grew quiet once more.

Trembling, Xun Yu rose to his feet. Gazing at the already empty chamber, he summoned his attendants and issued orders to place Xun Ming under house arrest.

A harsh look flashed through his eyes.

He had cast his lot and his entire household with the Prince of Shaoyou precisely so that he could propel the Xun clan to become the leader of the noble houses in a single stroke, securing the paramount position among the aristocracy under his own guidance.

He would tolerate no errors whatsoever.

Xun Ming... this foolish son of his would eventually come to understand his painstaking efforts.

That day marked three days remaining until the appointed time between Xie Miaoxuan and the Xie clan.

In the busiest teahouses and wine lanes of the capital, a piece of news spread with the speed of wildfire.

***

"Elder townsfolk, fathers and mothers, have you all heard the scandal concerning that grand madame of the eldest branch of the Xie clan, the one who ordinarily loves burning incense and worshipping Buddha the most?"

"Do tell, let us hear it."

"Word has it that she was caught red-handed in an illicit affair with that venerable Daoist priest, Qiongshan of Xuandu Palace! The two of them were caught in the act unclad, locked in each other's arms, upon a bed of considerable size."

Clatter—

These words fell like cold water into boiling oil, instantly igniting a surging uproar.

Someone refused to believe it. "Who throughout this entire capital does not know that the Xie grand madame burns incense and worships Buddha day in and day out? How is it that the Buddha she believes in led her to the pure domains of the Daoist gates? You spout such random nonsense—take care lest you be reported to the magistrates."

The originator of the gossip was immediately displeased. "Why would I deceive you? I hear it was actually caught in the act by the legitimate eldest daughter of the Xie clan's second branch. Right now, the people have already reached the very gates of the Xie residence. If you don't believe it, go over and take a look for yourself."

Thus, the tale spread from ten to a hundred. While commoners gathered in the streets to gawk, families of various high-ranking officials and noble lords within the capital also received the news one after another, and in flocks, they began surging toward the gates of the Xie estate.

When the clamorous and noisy commotion outside drifted into Shihua Courtyard, Xie Yuan was just rinsing his mouth with concentrated tea held in the slender hands of the Thirteenth Concubine. Suddenly hearing such an explosive din, he could not help being startled.

Frowning, he tried to make out what the commotion outside was all about when the gatekeeper hurried in, panic written across his face. "Master, it is bad! A great crowd of troublemakers has gathered at the entrance, and they say, they say—"

"Say what, you wretched slave! What is the meaning of stammering when you speak?"

"They say the grand madame engaged in an illicit affair with Daoist Priest Qiongshan at Xuandu Palace, and right now the gates are packed with onlookers!"

"How can this be?"

"It's true, Master! Who throughout the capital does not recognize Daoist Priest Qiongshan? Right now, he himself has been bound hand and foot and dumped right at the entrance, and accompanying him as proof are his letters of correspondence with the grand madame!"

"What?!"

Xun Yuan's complexion instantly darkened. He strode at a brisk pace toward the main courtyard, where Madame Xie was currently being groomed and washed under the ministration of her maids and nannies.

Upon waking this morning, her eyelids had been twitching incessantly. Nanny Jiang, attending by her side, had thoughtfully brought a cold compress to soothe her.

"Nanny Jiang, go and see what the commotion is about at the gates."

"Madame, it must be those commoners gathering for the early market that are making such a noise."

"There is neither festival nor holiday—how could they make such a clamor?"

Madame Xie had already been vexed in spirit the previous night. Having finally managed to fall asleep, she had been repeatedly startled awake, and her mood today was exceptionally poor as she allowed a deft-handed maid to massage her temples.

"Master—ah!" A maidservant, having just bowed to him and prepared to announce the Master's arrival to Madame Xie, was shoved violently aside by him.

"Step aside!"

Rushing into the courtyard, Xie Yuan hurled abuse straight at Madame Xie's face. "Vile woman! How dare you carry on behind my back with Daoist Priest Qiongshan?!"

Hearing these words, Madame Xie felt her heart leap violently in terror. She jerked to her feet, the long, flowing sleeves of her robe sweeping a table full of rouge and powder down to the floor.

How could he know? This was impossible.

Yesterday, she had clearly confirmed that Qiongshan had breathed his last before she departed. By now, his corpse should have been discovered only recently by the serving Daoist acolytes.

With death comes the end of all matters; how could such news have leaked out?

She forced herself to remain calm. Who on earth was playing tricks behind the scenes? This was intended to ruin her reputation and drive her to a wretched end!

"Lord Husband, this is slander! How can you so lightly credit such preposterous nonsense?"

"Vile woman, you still refuse to admit it? That Daoist Priest Qiongshan is right outside the gates at this very moment, and upon his person are the letters exchanged between you and him over these years as proof!"

"This is impossible!"

Madame Xie suffered a tremendous shock. It was true that she had exchanged correspondence with Qiongshan, but last night she had personally searched those letters out from Qiongshan's hidden compartment and burned every single one of them!

And as for Qiongshan being alive, as Xie Yuan claimed—how could that be? She had clearly watched him draw his last breath.

Over the past few days, Xie Yuan had already been driven half-mad with exhaustion on account of Xie Miaoxuan's affairs. Never had he imagined that just as he finally gained a few days to catch his breath, he would encounter such an affair, shattering his three souls and seven魄 to pieces.

Now the entire capital was buzzing with the news, and he was the very last person to find out.

With heavy, thudding steps, he strode forward, seized Madame Xie by the hair, and dragging her in a fury out of the chamber, marched with great strides toward the front gates.