Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 25
byChapter 25: Old Debts, New Schemes
My court is more dramatic than a storybook.
Early the next morning, Xie Nanqiao was lost in thought while staring at a scroll of grain and fodder accounts from the Northern Frontier.
My Lady. Uncle Cheng’s voice sounded from outside the door, carrying a rare hint of hesitation. Lady Wang requests an audience.
Xie Nanqiao’s fingertips paused. Wang Zhaoruo? At a time like this?
Is she alone?
Yes, she only brought one personal maid. She arrived in a plain green sedan chair through the side alley, Uncle Cheng whispered. This old servant noticed her expression is not as it usually is.
Xie Nanqiao set down the accounts. The image of that arrogant and brilliant face flashed through her mind. They hadn’t met since the conflict at the waterside pavilion. With the Wang family currently teetering in the storm, Wang Zhaoruo’s visit now could not be out of goodwill.
Invite her to the front hall. Xie Nanqiao stood up, her tone calm. I will be there shortly.
Wang Zhaoruo stood in the hall, not sitting for a long time. Her hair was tied up simply with only a white jade hairpin, devoid of her usual extravagant jewels. Though she wore light makeup, it could not hide the dark circles under her eyes or the exhaustion between her brows.
Yet her back remained ramrod straight, her chin slightly tilted. In those almond eyes that were usually filled with arrogance, there was now an anxiety masked by feigned composure.
Lady Wang. Xie Nanqiao nodded slightly, signaling the maid to serve tea. I wonder what brings you here today?
Wang Zhaoruo didn’t take the tea. Her gaze fell directly on Xie Nanqiao’s face as she went straight to the point. Xie Nanqiao, I am here today to make a deal.
Xie Nanqiao was slightly startled.
I know you have leverage over the Wang family. I also know my elder brother was taken to the Imperial Prison last night. The joint trial by the three judicial offices is imminent, and the Wang family’s mansion is about to collapse.
She took a step forward, her voice lowered but becoming even clearer. But the Wang family will not fall—at least, not completely because of this. Noble Consort Zheng is pregnant. You know what that means.
Xie Nanqiao’s pupils constricted slightly.
Noble Consort Zheng was pregnant? She hadn’t heard of this yet.
The Emperor finds it difficult to produce heirs. Whether this child is a boy or a girl, they will be the apple of his eye. A mocking smile curled on Wang Zhaoruo’s lips. Therefore, my brother will not die, and the Wang family will not fall. At most, titles will be stripped and salaries docked, followed by a period of reflection behind closed doors. Once the storm passes in three to five months, everything will return to normal.
What exactly are you trying to say? Xie Nanqiao asked calmly.
I want you to persuade Xie Heng to stop here. Wang Zhaoruo stared at her. Don’t dig any deeper. Doing so will only implicate more people.
Xie Nanqiao suddenly understood. The Wang family wasn’t afraid of the current evidence; they were afraid that further digging would pull out even more fatal secrets.
Why should I agree? Xie Nanqiao countered.
Because of this. Wang Zhaoruo took a palm-sized gilded copper box from her sleeve. Inside were not jewels, but a stack of yellowed papers with scorched edges. This is a copy of the original ledgers from the Lujiang Commandery dam collapse twenty years ago. That disaster flooded three counties, causing over ten thousand casualties. The imperial disaster relief funds were embezzled at every level, and the matter was eventually swept under the rug.
The Lujiang dam collapse. She had heard her brother mention it. It was one of the largest corruption cases during the late Emperor’s reign, involving several high-ranking officials, yet it ended with only a few scapegoats being executed.
Her father, Xie Xianyuan, was the Vice Censor-in-Chief at the time. He was demoted for insisting on investigating the case and died of illness shortly thereafter.
One of the masterminds back then was surnamed Xu, Wang Zhaoruo said solemnly. Xu Shuhuai’s grandfather, Xu Qing’an.
Xie Nanqiao was shocked, a chill rising from the soles of her feet.
The Xu family later spent a great deal of effort to smooth over the matter and destroy all evidence. This copy was a backup kept by my grandfather back then.
Wang Zhaoruo closed the copper box. If this item is presented to the Emperor, not only will Xu Shuhuai lose his position, but the Xu family’s century-long reputation will be ruined.
She paused. Furthermore, Xie Heng and Xu Shuhuai are working together to promote the Northern Expedition and rectify the bureaucracy. If such a scandal involving the Xu family breaks out now, how will his political enemies attack him? How will the Emperor view him?
Xie Nanqiao’s hand inside her sleeve trembled slightly. She thought of Xu Shuhuai’s eyes, which were always smiling; his family actually carried such a blood debt.
I don’t believe it. She heard her own voice, sounding strangely calm. If such a thing really existed, the Wang family should have used it to threaten Xu Shuhuai long ago. Why wait until today?
Because it wasn’t needed before. Wang Zhaoruo smiled, a hint of frantic satisfaction in her expression. In the past, the Wang family was at the height of its power. Why use such a mutually destructive method? But things are different now. This is one of my family’s trump cards. Using it to trade for the Wang family’s peaceful transition is very fair.
She placed the copper box on the table and pushed it toward Xie Nanqiao. You can take it to show Vice Director Xie or Xu Shuhuai. Tell them that if they stop here, this item will never see the light of day. If they insist on a fight to the death, we will accompany them to the end.
Xie Nanqiao stared blankly at the copper box for a long while before reaching out to pick it up. It felt heavy in her hand, like a piece of red-hot iron.
I cannot make decisions for my brother, but I will pass this along.
Straightforward enough. Wang Zhaoruo turned to leave, but stopped at the door and looked back. Xie Nanqiao, do you think your brother and Xu Shuhuai are some kind of upright, honorable men? Whose hands in the imperial court are clean? It’s nothing more than the winners becoming kings and the losers becoming bandits.
With that, she strode away. Xie Nanqiao stood alone in the hall, clutching the copper box, her fingertips icy.
A breeze swept through the corridor, slightly pulling together her scattered thoughts. No longer hesitating, she gripped the copper box and passed through the moon gate that separated the clamor of the front hall from the silence of the study.
Xie Heng sat behind the desk, his expression as calm as usual. Xu Shuhuai stood by the window with his back to them, his fingers unconsciously tracing the carvings on the window frame.
Xie Nanqiao repeated Wang Zhaoruo’s words, her voice a bit dry. She looked at her brother’s profile and then at Xu Shuhuai’s stiff back. Complex emotions welled up in her heart, along with an indescribable sense of disappointment.
She asked softly, Are those ledgers real?
Xu Shuhuai turned slowly. His face lacked its usual smile, yet there was no panic from being exposed—only a deep exhaustion and a calm that suggested he had long expected this.
It’s true, he said softly. My grandfather, Xu Qing’an, was the Director of the Bureau of People’s Affairs at the time, in charge of water conservancy in Lujiang Commandery. Three months before the dam collapsed, he accepted bribes from local officials to reduce the dam’s construction funds by thirty percent, using inferior materials to make up the difference. After the collapse, he participated in the embezzlement of disaster relief funds.
Suddenly, the study fell into a deathly silence.
My father only told me about this on his deathbed. Xu Shuhuai walked to the desk and looked at the copper box, emotions churning in his eyes. He said the Xu family owes over ten thousand lives, and this sin must be carried by future generations. That’s why after I entered the court, I never vied for power or profit. I only wanted to do some practical work in the Ministry of Agriculture to make amends as much as possible.
Looking at the deep pain in his eyes, Xie Nanqiao suddenly understood why he always maintained that cynical, playful demeanor.
Xie Heng finally spoke, his voice still indifferent. The Wang family wants to use this to make us stop.
More than that. Xu Shuhuai gave a bitter smile. Wang Zhaoruo is right. If this is exposed, both you and I will be implicated. The Emperor hates corruption that harms the nation most of all, especially when it involves the lives of the people. At that time, the Wang family will fan the flames, saying we knew about this but concealed it, or even that I formed a faction with you for mutual protection.
Xie Nanqiao’s heart tightened. She looked at her brother, but saw no panic in Xie Heng’s eyes.
Wang Zhaoruo made a mistake, Xie Heng said slowly. She shouldn’t have come in person, and she certainly shouldn’t have handed this item to Nanqiao.
Xu Shuhuai was startled. What do you mean?
She was too impatient. Noble Consort Zheng is pregnant; the Wang family seems to have a protective talisman, but in reality, they are walking on even thinner ice. The Emperor might forgive the Wang family for the sake of his offspring, but he will never tolerate the inner palace colluding with external relatives to use an imperial heir as a bargaining chip to threaten court officials—especially during the critical moment of the Northern Expedition.
His gaze fell on the copper box. This item is the Wang family’s trump card, but it is also their death warrant. The fact that the Wang family has been driven to such desperate measures proves they have no other way out.
Then how should we respond? Xie Nanqiao asked.
Xie Heng pondered for a moment and looked at Xu Shuhuai. How much was your grandfather involved in those ledgers? Who else was there besides him?
Xu Shuhuai closed his eyes. My grandfather was one of the executors. The masterminds were the then-Minister of the Bureau of People’s Affairs and two Commandery Governors. But they have all been dead for many years.
In other words, if these ledgers come to light, the biggest victim will be your Xu family, but it won’t implicate any other forces still in court.
Xie Heng said slowly, The Wang family wants to use it to check us, but they forgot that once this item is made public, the first one to be silenced will be the Wang family itself.
Xu Shuhuai looked up sharply.
The Emperor can tolerate the Wang family’s corruption, factionalism, and even secret dealings with the Northern Dynasties, because these fall within the scope of imperial balancing acts.
Xie Heng’s voice was calm to the point of cruelty. But the Emperor can never tolerate the Wang family holding leverage that could overturn the court or threaten imperial power at any time. Especially when this leverage involves the future of an imperial heir.
He walked to the desk, picked up the copper box, and weighed it. Wang Zhaoruo thinks this is a protective talisman, but it is actually the blade of a guillotine hanging over the Wang family’s head. Her handing this over today is either a blunder born of desperation, or…
Or someone forced her to do it, Xu Shuhuai interjected, doubt flashing in his eyes. Wang Yu is in prison. Who is in charge of the Wang family now?
Xie Heng exchanged a look with him. Simultaneously, they thought of a name: Wang Yuzong.
Wang Yu’s cousin, a man whose methods were even more smooth and sophisticated than Wang Yu’s.
He is forcing our hand. Xie Heng placed the copper box back on the desk, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth. Internal strife within the Wang family. Wang Yuzong wants to use us to eliminate Wang Yu’s faction so he can take over. These ledgers are the knife he handed us.
Xie Nanqiao listened with a racing heart. She had thought it was a simple matter of threat and counter-threat, but she hadn’t expected such intricate calculations hidden behind it.
Then we…
We will beat them at their own game. Xie Heng looked at his sister, his gaze softening slightly. Nanqiao, do not interfere in this matter further. The waters of the Wang family are too deep; it would be dangerous for you to be involved.
He looked back at Xu Shuhuai. I will handle the matter of the ledgers. Since Wang Yuzong wants to kill with a borrowed knife, we will give him a hand. But it will be done our way.
Xu Shuhuai nodded, that familiar smile reigniting in his eyes. I understand.
Upon hearing the news, Noble Consort Zheng fainted from crying several times in the inner palace. Initially, the Emperor did not want to see her, but after hearing from the imperial physician that the Noble Consort was pregnant, he was both shocked and delighted. Fearing she would cry herself sick, he had no choice but to go and comfort her.
Noble Consort Zheng knelt before the Emperor, tears streaming down her face as she held up a memorial of apology with both hands.
Your Majesty, this concubine should not have pleaded for the Wang family out of selfishness. Today, that girl Wang Zhaoruo actually had the audacity to take the Xu family’s old evidence to threaten Lady Xie, attempting to blackmail the court. When this concubine learned of it, she was terrified and wished she could beat that reckless girl to death immediately.
The Emperor sat behind the imperial desk, looking at her with a somber expression.
Noble Consort Zheng kowtowed, her forehead touching the ground. This concubine does not dare to ask Your Majesty to forgive the Wang family. I only beg Your Majesty to give the Wang family a way to live for the sake of our unborn child, allowing them to hand over all evidence and redeem themselves through service. This concubine guarantees with her life that from now on, the Wang family will never dare to have divided loyalties and will surely serve Your Majesty with total devotion.
She wept piteously, her slightly protruding abdomen appearing exceptionally fragile under the palace lanterns.
The Emperor remained silent for a long time before finally sighing and helping her up. Since my beloved consort is pregnant, do not be like this. I have my own discretion regarding the Wang family’s affairs.
He didn’t say he would forgive them, nor did he say he wouldn’t. But Noble Consort Zheng knew that in the end, the Emperor could not bear to lose this child, nor could he bear to lose her.
Little did she know that while she was kneeling and weeping before the Emperor, a secret report had already been delivered to his desk. It detailed Wang Zhaoruo’s visit to the Xie manor today and the existence of the gilded copper box.
There was even a small note appended: According to investigation, this item originally belonged to Wang Yuzong and was only handed over to Wang Zhaoruo three days ago.
After reading it, the Emperor held the secret report near the candle flame. The tongues of fire licked the paper, quickly turning it to ashes.
He gazed at the dancing flames, the expression in his eyes dark and unreadable.
Soon, Wang Yu’s sentence was handed down: his title was stripped, he was fined three years’ salary, and he was to reflect on his errors behind closed doors. The other involved members of the Wang family were either demoted or fined, but none were sentenced to death.
It was shockingly light.
At the same time, Wang Yuzong was appointed as a Grandee of the Radiant Light. Although it held no real power, it was a prestigious and noble position that allowed him to move freely within the palace.
Anyone with eyes could see that although the Wang family had been severely wounded, they had not fallen. They had even gained a smarter leader.
Xie Heng and Xu Shuhuai sat opposite each other, drinking tea.
Wang Yuzong has indeed risen to the top. Xu Shuhuai blew on the tea foam. This man is much harder to deal with than Wang Yu.
But he is also more aware of the current situation, Xie Heng said indifferently. Since he used our hands to eliminate Wang Yu, he won’t be our enemy in the short term. He might even take the initiative to show goodwill to consolidate his position.
Those ledgers…
I already entered the palace last night to meet the Emperor and report the whole story. Xie Heng set down his teacup. The Emperor only said one thing: Xu Qing’an is dead; Xu Shuhuai is usable.
Xu Shuhuai’s hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. He whispered, Thank you.
No need to thank me. Xie Heng looked out the window. On the branches of the old plum tree in the courtyard, tiny buds were already shivering in the wind. The Emperor keeps you because the Northern Expedition needs you, and the court needs balance. The Wang family keeps you because they need this leverage to restrain me. And I keep you…
He paused, his voice very soft. Because you are Xu Shuhuai.
As the words fell, it seemed as if even time paused with them. Silence spread between the two, with only the sound of the wind wailing outside the window, carrying a lingering chill that refused to dissipate.
Author’s Note:
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